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  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Kudlow to Discuss How President Trump’s Tariffs Strategy is Working for Alabama

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    “We got a lot of panicans here in the Capitol, but at the end of the day, President Trump holds the cards.”
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss how President Trump’s tariffs strategy is working for Alabama workers and farmers.
    Read excerpts from the interview below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    KUDLOW: “Alabama Senator, Mr. Tommy Tuberville. Senator Tuberville, welcome, sir. So, you hear Mr. Trump […] brought everyone to the table. You know, I was talking to Senator Blackburn and others. They didn’t go to the Chinese table. They went to the United States [of] America Donald Trump table. So, it looks like Trump’s Art of the Deal was correct all along, Senator Tuberville. What do you make of it?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, exactly right, Larry. We got a lot of panicans here in the Capitol, but at the end of the day, President Trump holds the cards. All those cards are the American taxpayers, Larry. They’re behind President Trump. They understand what he’s trying to do. This is gonna be our last chance. We’ll never have a President like him again—simply for the fact that he knows what he’s doing. He’s a business guy, and he knows that we cannot continue to let China steal, defraud us, do everything possible to build their country up while we’re going south. We need to continue this. And again, we need to work with these people, you know, he’s got them standing in line at the White House. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons he has a 90-day pause [while] countries were just waiting to get in the door, but China’s not coming. I’m for just hammering China. Keep putting tariffs on them. Make them hurt because they are building right and left their military—one day they think they’re gonna take us on. We cannot allow that to happen, Larry. You know that.”
    KUDLOW: “Well, I think one of the offshoots of the discussion with China for Mister Trump. Look, 125% tariff. China’s not gonna be able to sell into our market. But selling all their subsidized manufacturing stuff with cheap wages, that’s their whole economy. So, we are just cutting them off at the knees. I guess what I’m saying is, Trump has completely outfoxed Xi Jinping. Trump is the master of the chessboard, not Xi.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Exactly. Larry, China sends daily 300 container ships that have thousands of containers on each ship, 300 a day to the United States of America with mostly junk. Okay? It should be made in the United States of America. Now they make some […] car parts and things like that. But at the end of the day, we can do that here. And President Trump knows we have to get manufacturing back. Bill Clinton [and] NAFTA almost put us under. I go through small towns, Larry, in Alabama, and manufacturing’s gone. Nobody lives there. The streets are closing down. If we don’t get it back now, it’ll never happen.”
    KUDLOW: “What are your folks in Alabama saying about the trade deal and all the discussion that goes with it?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, you got some car manufacturers that say, you know, ‘We got a problem,’ maybe a problem with powertrains coming in, you know, from some of the car dealers and manufacturers. But at the end of the day, the ones that I’m worried about, I’m worried about the bottom 50% of the people that actually work in this country, the people that make $50,000, $60,000 and below and our farmers. Larry, my god. If we don’t do something to help our farmers, it’s over. We lost 150,000 [farms] during the Biden administration. They’re having a terrible year this year with the weather—planting season is going on right now. They’re gonna have to replant [and] they’re gonna have a tough time even getting close to making a profit. So, he has to help with the commodity prices and President Trump will do that with these tariffs.”
    KUDLOW: “You know, we made a deal with the phase one trade deal with China. They’re supposed to have purchased a lot of farm commodities, they never did. They broke the deal. So now the farmers are in trouble. What do you—do you want federal spending for the farmers? Subsidies for the farmers? Tax cuts? Tell me what you want.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, what we did right before Christmas, Larry, they had a terrible last year, the year before that was really awful. Input costs under Biden were out of sight. You know, a cotton picker ten years ago was $600,000 dollars. Now it’s $1.5 million. It’s out of control. And it’s out of control because people across the world are taking advantage of us. We gave them $10 billion dollars—the farmers—right before Christmas to get a loan for this year’s crops. Now again, what did I just tell you, they planted their crops in the south, and they just got wiped out. We got 10, 15 inches of rain. And so, it’s gonna be tough on the farmers, but I’ll tell you they’re resilient. They’ll work hard. All we need to do is help them just a little bit, and they’ll be there.”
    KUDLOW: “Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Senator Tommy Tuberville, thank you for your wisdom as always.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Gillibrand, Wyden Lead A Group Of 21 Senators In Demanding That The Trump Administration Stop Their Attacks On Social Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Senator Ron Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, led a group of 21 senators in a letter calling on the Trump administration and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to stop their attacks on Social Security.

    This letter comes in the wake of the administration’s repeated actions to weaken the Social Security Administration (SSA), which include staffing cuts, plans for indiscriminate closures of field offices around the nation, and limits to phone services. These cuts are upending the lives of older adults and people with disabilities who rely on the Social Security benefits that they have earned to pay their rent, purchase groceries, and afford medical bills.

    “The changes undertaken by SSA leadership and the DOGE disregard the reality of daily life for those millions of Americans,” wrote the senators. “They are spearheaded by the out-of-touch, unelected leadership of the DOGE. They hurt our nation’s older adults and people with disabilities—our grandparents, our friends, and our neighbors. And they risk debilitating the Social Security System and denying Americans the money they are owed.”

    In addition to Gillibrand and Wyden, the letter to Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

    The full text of the senators’ letter is available here or below:

    Dear Acting Commissioner Dudek:

    We write to denounce the incessant havoc sparked by the Trump Administration’s continual cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Changes implemented by SSA leadership and the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) include heinous staffing cuts, plans for indiscriminate closures of field offices around the nation, and limits to phone services. It is difficult to see how DOGE’s attacks on the SSA, and the complicity shown by SSA leadership, will improve efficiency when we are already hearing stories upon stories of how SSA’s changes have damaged the system responsible for ensuring timely, accurate payments—upending the lives of older adults and people with disabilities who rely on Social Security benefits that they earned to pay their rent, groceries, and medical bills.

    Social Security lifts 22 million Americans, including 16 million older adults, out of poverty. Many older adults rely on Social Security for life-saving sustenance—to ensure they have food to eat, a roof over their heads, and money to pay for medications. In fact, 40 percent of older Americans rely on Social Security as their only source of retirement income. Over seven million veterans received a Social Security benefit in 2024, while SSDI and Supplemental Security Income serve millions of workers with disabilities and their children. DOGE’s attacks on the SSA will break down access to services, affect timely and accurate payment of benefits,6 and have disastrous consequences for Americans everywhere.

    It is precisely because older adults, people with disabilities, and other deserving Americans count on Social Security that we are deeply concerned with efforts by DOGE and SSA leadership to impede access to SSA services. SSA has announced plans to slash at least 12 percent of its workforce, and offered a buyout incentives to staff, at a time when SSA staffing is at a 50-year low. SSA has also announced plans to close six of its ten regional offices, which coordinate and support the efforts of SSA employees. DOGE, meanwhile, has placed dozens of SSA offices across the country on the chopping block. At the same time, SSA has decided to limit the services it makes available over-the-phone, after backing down from broader restrictions following an outcry by older adults and people with disabilities. SSA’s new limits on over-the[1]phone services are still unacceptable, and the process used by SSA—swift revisions after public outcry—suggest the agency is not talking to the Americans who rely on Social Security the most before it makes its decisions. Instead, it appears that SSA leadership is pushing out half-baked ideas that lead to public confusion and panic.

    SSA leadership should strive to serve the public, not Elon Musk and his cronies with the DOGE. We are already witnessing the consequences of SSA’s complicity in DOGE’s irresponsible actions and cruel intentions. Scammers have taken advantage of the confusion surrounding SSA changes to defraud older adults. The SSA website crashed 4 times in 10 days because servers were overloaded; phone wait time and foot traffic to field offices have skyrocketed. This chaos does not create “efficiency.” It harms older adults and people with disabilities while undermining a program that is already efficient: Even as Social Security uplifts millions of older adults and people with disabilities, less than one percent of Social Security payments are improper—a percentage that includes underpayments as well as overpayments.

    We are pleased that Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is skilled with technology, lives his life with unfettered access to services, and has not experienced what it is like to live with a severe disability or financial hardship. We are also pleased that the Trump Administration’s supposed “leadership” is comfortable enough to believe older adults will not mind a missed Social Security payment. However, their experiences do not reflect the experiences of millions of Americans who rely on Social Security. The changes undertaken by SSA leadership and the DOGE disregard the reality of daily life for those millions of Americans. They are spearheaded by the out-of-touch, unelected leadership of the DOGE. They hurt our nation’s older adults and people with disabilities—our grandparents, our friends, and our neighbors. And they risk debilitating the Social Security System and denying Americans the money they are owed.

    In light of our concerns, we ask that you answer the following questions:

    1. Reports indicate that an internal memo proposing changes to the Social Security claims process was circulated within SSA on March 13, 2025. The memo also reportedly details how the changes could significantly impact the ability of Social Security recipients to access their benefits, including through “longer wait times and processing time” and “increased challenges for vulnerable populations.” Please provide:
    1. An unredacted copy of the March 13, 2025 memo, which was sent from Acting Deputy Commissioner Doris Diaz to Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek;
    1. Copies of any other written communications that are related to the March 13, 2025 memo, including e-mail, texts, letters, memorandums, or other documents; and
    1. Copies of any written communications, including e-mail, texts, letters, memorandums, or other documents, related to SSA’s decision to revise its changes to phone services, as announced on March 26, 2025.
    1. SSA’s new limitations on over-the-phone services are likely to increase the number of visitors per-week to SSA field offices, a potential impact reportedly detailed by SSA leadership in its March 13, 2025 memo. The DOGE website lists numerous SSA offices throughout the United States that will have their lease terminated, and one analysis suggests that 47 SSA offices are slated for closure.

    Please answer the following questions about potential SSA field office closures:

    1. SSA claims in a press release on March 27th that the SSA “has not permanently closed or announced permanent closure of any local field office.” Public reporting shows that multiple SSA field offices across the country were publicly slated for lease termination, many of which were taken off DOGE’s website prior to the press release.
    1. Explain the reason for the removal of the field offices previously listed for lease termination on the DOGE website.
    1. Explain why the SSA did not issue a public correction of the information provided on SSA lease termination after its removal off the DOGE website.
    1. Provide detailed information on each location on the DOGE and GSA lease termination lists that include an SSA office, including any locations that include an SSA field office but are leased by other federal departments, such as the General Services Administration. Please include the following information for each location:
    1. What SSA functions operate out of the location, whether the location is open to the public, what services the location provides to the public, and how many members of the public visit the location each day.
    1. How the SSA office will be impacted by the lease termination listed on the DOGE website, including which services at the SSA office will cease to be offered to the public and whether the SSA office will be closed entirely.
    1. Which field offices is SSA planning to close, or considering for closure, through December 31, 2026, regardless of whether the location appears on the DOGE lease termination list? Please provide a detailed list that includes the name, city, and state of each field office.
    1. How will SSA analyze the impact of potential field office closures on people who use SSA services in light of SSA’s new limitations on over-the-phone services? If SSA does not plan to include the new limitations on over-the-phone services when analyzing potential field office closures, please explain why.
    1. SSA’s new limitations on over-the-phone services are likely to drive more people to use the SSA website, including “my Social Security” accounts, when filing for benefits or making changes to their payments. Past oversight conducted by the Senate Aging Committee demonstrated that federal departments and agencies often fail to make their websites fully accessible for people with disabilities, as required by law. Further, the unelected billionaire running DOGE demonstrated his callous disregard for people with disabilities when he decimated Twitter’s accessibility team after taking over the company.
    1. How many staff held a role in ensuring SSA website accessibility for people with disabilities on January 20, 2025?
    1. How many staff held a role in ensuring SSA website accessibility for people with disabilities on April 8, 2025?
    1. How many staff with a role in ensuring SSA website accessibility for people with disabilities were fired or accepted a buyout between January 20, 2025 and April 8, 2025?
    1. How many contracts related to ensuring SSA website accessibility for people with disabilities have been delayed or cancelled since January 20, 2025? Please describe each delayed or cancelled contract and provide a justification for each delay or cancellation.
    1. How many tests to evaluate SSA websites for accessibility for people with disabilities have been delayed or cancelled since January 20, 2025? Please provide a justification for each delayed or cancelled accessibility test.
    1. Please describe how SSA consulted with older adults and people with disabilities before making the initial decision, announced on March 18, 2025, to implement new limits to over-the-phone services. Please include the names of groups representing older adults and people with disabilities that were contacted for feedback. If SSA did not conduct this outreach, please explain why.
    1. Please describe how SSA will collect feedback from older adults and people with disabilities on the impact of its limits to over-the-phone services once those limits have been implemented, including:
    1. The groups representing older adults and people with disabilities that SSA will work with to collect feedback; and
    1. The number of in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and town-hall style meetings related to the limits on over-the-phone services that SSA will conduct through December 31, 2026, the planned locations of those events, and plans by SSA leadership to participate in those events and answer questions.

    If SSA does not plan to collect feedback from older adults and people with disabilities in this fashion, please explain why.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please respond by April 22, 2025.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration for Blocking California’s Access to Over $200 Million in Previously Awarded Education Funding

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) abrupt and unlawful rescission of prior agency actions that preserved states’ access to hundreds of millions of dollars in funding currently being used by school districts to support the academic recovery of students following the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney General Bonta joined 15 other attorneys general in filing the lawsuit, arguing that ED’s decision to rescind access to this funding is arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act, exceeds ED’s statutory and regulatory authority under the law, and will cause immediate and devastating harm to school districts in California and across the nation. In California alone, over $200 million in previously awarded and obligated funding is at stake – funding that school districts are already putting to use for programs such as afterschool and summer learning initiatives, the purchase of educational technology, and the provision of mental health services and support. 

    “The Trump Administration’s blatant disregard for the education of our children is on full display with this latest round of funding cuts,” said Attorney General Bonta. “With each step President Trump takes to dismantle the Education Department, he is throwing our schools into turmoil and jeopardizing the academic success of a generation of American children. As a father, I can’t stand by and let this happen. I’m taking the President to court for the 13th time to help ensure our kids get the educational opportunities they deserve.”

    On March 28, 2025, Education Secretary Linda McMahon notified state departments of education that ED had unilaterally rescinded its previous actions preserving states’ access to awarded and obligated education funding that is currently supporting ongoing programs and services in local school districts across the country. These programs and services address, among other things, the impact of lost instructional time; students’ academic, social, and emotional needs; and the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on economically disadvantaged students, including homeless children and children in foster care.  

    In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the multistate coalition assert that the Department’s actions are arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. The coalition seeks a court order vacating the termination and reinstating ED’s prior approvals allowing states to access this funding through March 2026. 

    Joining Attorney General Bonta in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and the District of Columbia, along with the Governor of Pennsylvania.

    A copy of the lawsuit is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Practice AI™ Showcases Innovation at ALM Legalweek 2025 in New York

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Practice AI™ is proud to announce its active participation at ALM Legalweek 2025, held from March 24th to 27th in New York City. As one of the most anticipated gatherings for legal professionals and technology innovators, the event provided an exceptional venue for exploring the evolving landscape of law and legal tech. Attendees experienced a vibrant mix of keynote sessions, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, all designed to foster meaningful dialogue on innovation and collaboration.

    Expanding Horizons Through Strategic Engagement

    The conference served as a vital networking platform where industry leaders, legal practitioners, and tech experts converged to share insights and forge new alliances. For Practice AI™, the opportunity to engage with forward-thinking professionals reinforced its commitment to driving transformative change in legal services.

    The event’s diverse agenda and comprehensive programming highlighted the critical role of technology in modernizing legal processes from case management to ethical AI integration.

    “Our presence at Legalweek reaffirmed our belief in the power of alliances. Partnerships allow legal and legal tech players not just to collaborate but to also explore new solutions and new horizons,” said Hamid Kohan, CEO of Practice AI™. This sentiment resonated strongly throughout the event, as discussions frequently centered on how strategic partnerships can accelerate innovation and deliver greater value to clients.

    “Legalweek was a powerful catalyst for meaningful conversations and new relationships. The energy and openness to innovation in legal tech made it the ideal environment to advance our business development efforts.” said Krista Garren, Business Development Manager of Practice AI™, while also adding the following: “It’s clear that collaboration is the engine behind real progress in legal tech, and this event helped accelerate that momentum for Practice AI™—momentum we’re excited to carry forward in our upcoming partnerships.”

    Opportunities for Collaboration, Partnerships, and Future Growth

    Throughout the event, Practice AI™, together with one of its strategic partners, Legal Soft, engaged in extensive dialogue with potential partners, sharing its vision for a future where legal services are more efficient, accessible, and ethically sound. The company’s commitment to innovation was evident as representatives explored avenues for joint initiatives, technology integration, and mutual growth. The exchange of ideas during networking sessions has paved the way for collaborative projects aimed at enhancing legal workflows and improving client outcomes.

    The discussions at ALM Legalweek 2025 reinforced the idea that collaboration is key to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid technological advancement. By connecting with a broad spectrum of professionals, Practice AI™ aims to position itself at the forefront of legal innovation, ready to contribute to a smarter, more connected legal ecosystem. Having recently launched lemon law demands, Practice AI™ has been collaborating with prominent lemon law firms to streamline their firm operations, with one firm (Lemon My Vehicle) praising the ability to use a fully-AI solution to do the heavy lifting while they supervise the entire process: “This is exactly what we look for in an AI solution; enough autonomy to do the redundant tasks, with appropriate amounts of supervision from the legal team to ensure consistency. We have been able to generate lemon law demands much faster with the same level of consistency and quality that we expect from our team.”

    Looking Ahead

    As the legal industry continues to adapt to the demands of the digital age, Practice AI™ remains dedicated to harnessing advanced AI technologies that streamline processes and empower legal professionals. The insights gained and connections made at Legalweek 2025 will undoubtedly influence the company’s strategic initiatives in the coming months. Practice AI™ is excited to embark on new collaborative ventures that promise to deliver innovative solutions, improve operational efficiencies, and set new benchmarks in legal tech excellence.

    For additional information about Practice AI™ and its innovative solutions, please visit our website or contact our media relations team.

    For media inquiries, please contact:
    Practice AI
    Address: 21731 Ventura Blvd. #175, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
    Phone: (424) 476-5858
    Email: sales@lawpractice.ai

    Visit us on social media:
    Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | X.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Calls on Xi Jinping, CCP to Allow TikTok Sale: “We Need to Keep the Pressure On”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) called on the Chinese Communist Party to allow ByteDance to sell TikTok to American owners. Ricketts made the comments while objecting to a unanimous consent request from U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) to extend the deadline for a potential sale.
    “ByteDance was given 270 days to make a deal,” said Ricketts. “The Communist dictator Xi Jinping clearly did not want it. They tried to lobby us. They avoided getting a deal done. President Trump came into office. They are still avoiding getting a deal done.”
    “The law is very clear. TikTok needs to be sold to an American owner to continue operation,” closed Ricketts. “Not some half-baked plan, as my colleague from Arkansas was describing, where the Chinese Communist Party would still have influence on the TikTok algorithm, still have the ability to push their propaganda to the American people. That cannot happen. We need to make sure that the Chinese Communist Party cannot do that in our country again. We won’t allow other TV or radio stations to have that much access. Why on earth are we doing it for the Chinese Communist Party? It is absolutely ludicrous. We need to keep the pressure on. We need to make sure that TikTok is sold.”
    [embedded content]
    Watch the video HERE
    TRANSCRIPT:
    Senator Ricketts: “Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
    “I echo my colleague from Arkansas comments with regard to TikTok.
    “Let’s recall that in Communist China, there really isn’t such a thing as a private company, as much as ByteDance might want to say it is.
    “Chinese Communist law is very clear that companies in China have to do what they’re told to do by the Chinese Communist Party.
    “And that’s one of the reasons TikTok is so dangerous.
    “TikTok, as has been covered by my colleague from Massachusetts, reaches 170 million people.
    “52% of those people say that they regularly get their news from TikTok.
    “As I’ve risen on this floor in the past, I’ve discussed specific cases where the Chinese Communists have been pushing their propaganda through TikTok.
    “Now let’s also bear in mind that we would not allow any American TV news station, even newspaper, to be able to own as much of the American marketplace as TikTok has today.
    “170 million people.
    “Current law says that you can only own 39%, for example, of the TV marketplace across the country.
    “That would roughly equate to about 50 million households in the United States – far above what we’re seeing here with what TikTok has access to.
    “So if we’re not going to allow Americans to be able to have such broad access to our population, why on earth would we allow the Chinese Communist Party to do it?
    “And by the way, the way, the Chinese Communist Party has no First Amendment rights in this country.
    “ByteDance was given 270 days to make a deal.
    “The Communist dictator Xi Jinping clearly did not want it.
    “They tried to lobby us. They avoided getting a deal done.
    “President Trump came into office.
    “They are still avoiding getting a deal done.
    “The people who are taking on the liability here are the companies that are facilitating this.
    “I urge those companies to reconsider.
    “You should think carefully about what you’re doing.
    “The law is very clear.
    “TikTok needs to be sold to an American owner to continue operation.
    “Not some half-baked plan, as my colleague from Arkansas was describing, where the Chinese Communist Party would still have influence on the TikTok algorithm, still have the ability to push their propaganda to the American people.
    “That cannot happen.
    “We need to make sure that the Chinese Communist Party cannot do that in our country again.
    “We won’t allow other TV or radio stations to have that much access.
    “Why on earth are we doing it for the Chinese Communist Party?
    “It is absolutely ludicrous.
    “We need to keep the pressure on.
    “We need to make sure that TikTok is sold.
    “I echo my colleague’s comments with regard to any sort of future Chinese ownership that would allow them to be able to continue to do this.
    “We need to make sure that this is no longer going to threaten our young people.
    “And therefore, Mr. President, I object.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan, Williams, Raskin, McClain Delaney Introduce Two Bills to Protect Federal Workers and Agencies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) introduced two pieces of legislation, the SERVICE Act and the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act, that would protect federal workers and their agencies from the reckless attacks of the Trump administration and secure their ability to continue serving the American people.

    One bill, the SERVICE Act, would prevent an agency from reducing its workforce by 5% or greater in a given fiscal year without conducting a full impact analysis of those cuts on the agency’s ability to carry out its mission, and the GAO evaluating the accuracy of that evaluation.

    The second bill, the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act, would amend 5 USC 3101, the general authority provision that allows the government to employ, from a ‘may employ’ to a ‘shall employ’, and requires an agency to justify their inability or refusal to comply with the requirement.

    “Our civil servants are the backbone of a government that serves the people, not political whims,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “The SERVICE Act and the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act will protect these workers from reckless cuts that undermine critical services and public trust. I urge my colleagues to pass these bills to protect our federal workforce and hold this slash-and-burn Administration accountable.”

    “Since Trump took office, our federal workers have faced scrutiny, wage insecurity, public doxxing, and wrongful terminations,” said Congresswoman Williams. “We all want a more efficient federal government, but ripping the rug out from underneath federal workers who show up daily to serve the public is not the way to go about it. Our country’s veterans, public health, national security, and more are all threatened by this administration’s reckless actions toward our federal agencies. The SERVICE Act and Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act would protect workers and keep these necessary federal agencies properly functioning and serving the people of this country.”

    “President Trump and Elon Musk continue their shocking assault on federal workers by sacking food safety inspectors, air traffic controllers, cancer researchers and park service rangers,” said Congressman Raskin. “DOGE is a demolition crew dismantling the critical services American families rely on. I’m grateful to join Congresswoman Williams in trying to legislate to stop Trump from destroying our government.”

    “I’m proud to support the SERVICE Act to protect the integrity of our government. No agency should be allowed to slash its workforce without fully understanding the consequences for its mission,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “The Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act goes even further, requiring agencies to justify every staffing shortfall. These aren’t just bureaucratic measures—they’re critical efforts to ensure our government works for the American people and that essential services remain intact.”

    Read the SERVICE Act here. See SERVICE Act one-pager here.

    Read the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act here. See the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act one pager here.

    Read the American Federation of Government Employees’ (AFGE) letter of support here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 10, 2025 Rep. Mullin’s Statement on House Republicans Passing Harmful Budget “Trump and his Republicans are continuing to prioritize billionaires over the hardworking families across America who rely on vital programs for survival. Despite false promises to lower costs, today House Republicans narrowly passed a budget resolution that will increase expenses… Read More

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Kevin Mullin California (15th District)

    “Trump and his Republicans are continuing to prioritize billionaires over the hardworking families across America who rely on vital programs for survival.

    Despite false promises to lower costs, today House Republicans narrowly passed a budget resolution that will increase expenses for everyday Americans who are already struggling with inflation. I voted no because Republicans are locking in higher costs for energy, food, health care and essential services, all while refusing to make the ultra wealthy pay their fair share.

    At the same time, Trump’s chaotic tariff war has been upending the economy, driving up prices and hurting American businesses. Instead of focusing on helping those affected by his policies, Republicans are doubling down on tax cuts for billionaires, leaving the rest of the country to deal with the consequences.

    Republicans’ budget has $880 billion in cuts to programs overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. There’s no other way to slice it, these cuts are directly targeted at Medicaid and as a member of that committee, I will do everything I can to protect the health care program that millions of Americans rely on.

    House Democrats will continue to fight against this harmful budget, which not only slashes programs families rely on, but also exacerbates the economic instability that is already gripping our nation. We will stand strong to protect healthcare, reduce costs, and ensure that our government works for the people, not for billionaires.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amo Statement on the SAVE Act

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) released the following statement after voting against the SAVE Act — a partisan Republican bill that would make it harder to vote for American veterans serving abroad, married American citizens who have changed their last name, and Americans who do not have a passport.

    “The SAVE Act proposed by House Republicans is a terrible piece of legislation. It doesn’t secure our elections; it adds unnecessary barriers that would prevent people from exercising their right to participate in the democratic process,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “In Rhode Island, Secretary of State Gregg Amore has rightfully explained the glaring issues with the bill — existing law already bans noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Despite Republicans claiming otherwise, the SAVE Act would restrict access to the ballot for military service members serving abroad, married women who change their names and lack access to a valid birth certificate, and the 52% of Americans who do not possess a passport and may not have $120 to get one. I strongly oppose this legislation. We will not restore trust in our elections through misguided efforts to exclude eligible American voters. Let’s get back to the business of carrying out America’s values by investing in voter registration and making sure every American can make their voice heard.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: E tū welcomes defeat of Treaty Principles Bill – E tū

    Source: Etu Union

    E tū, New Zealand’s largest private sector union, welcomes the overwhelming defeat of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill in Parliament yesterday. The bill, which sought to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, was rejected by 112 votes to 11.​

    E tū President Muriel Tunoho expressed immense pride in the union’s active opposition to the bill:​

    “I am extremely proud that E tū took a stand and made submissions to oppose the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill too. Thank you all for playing your part in this incredible fightback.​

    “It was right to finally see the bill consigned to the past and into the bin. The results show that this is not us.​

    “We don’t need to rewrite or re-define the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We just have to live them!”​

    E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh highlighted the bill’s potential to undermine the foundational agreement between Māori and the Crown:​

    “This bill sought to fundamentally alter the meaning of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by selectively and incorrectly interpreting the reo Māori text. It tried to undermine the separation of powers under the rule of law by using the power of Parliament to change Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitutional foundation, all based on a legal and historical fiction.​

    “This bill has done damage. It has given airtime to false and racist ideas.​

    “It also galvanised hundreds of thousands of people to stand up – toitū Te Tiriti. More than 90% of the submissions on the bill called for it to be abandoned. E tū and thousands of our members were among the voices in those submissions. The submissions stood up for the truth of Te Tiriti as the foundation on which we can build a society where tāngata whenua and tau iwi take care of each other.​

    “Now that Parliament has voted it down, we can start to repair the damage and to build an Aotearoa where we honour Te Tiriti and respect each other.”​

    E tū remains committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advocating for a just and inclusive society.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road blocked, SH1, Paekākāriki

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Wellington Police are advising motorists to be aware of the traffic delays on SH1 following an incident earlier this morning.

    At around 6.30am, Police were notified of debris on the Southbound lanes between the Paekākāriki off-ramp and the Paremata Haywards Road off-ramp.

    Traffic management is in place and motorists are advised to plan ahead and expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc. Issues Advisory for 1,587 Cases of 4 in/1.6 oz Bundle Marketside Celery Sticks Because of Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    April 10, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    April 10, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesProduceFoodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Due to possibility of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

    Company Name:
    Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc.
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Marketside

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Celery Sticks

    Company Announcement
    Oxnard, Calif. – April 10, 2025 – Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc. is voluntarily issuing a precautionary advisory of a single production lot of washed and ready-to-eat 4 in/1.6oz Marketside Celery Sticks with best if used by date 03/23/2025.
    This product is past its best if used by date and is no longer in stores, but consumers may have frozen the item for later use.
    This advisory is being initiated due to the possibility of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The potential for contamination was discovered during random sampling by the Georgia Department of Agriculture from a Georgia store location where one of multiple samples yielded a positive test result.
    Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
    To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.
    The specific products involved are 4 count 4 in/1.6 oz bundle packs of Marketside Celery Sticks sold at Walmart stores identified by having a UPC code 6 81131 16151 0 on back of bag, with Best if Used by Date 03/23/2025, and Lot Code: P047650 on front of bag. All potentially affected products are past their expiration date and no longer for sale.
    Consumers who have this product in their possession, including in their freezer, should not consume and discard the product.
    This voluntary advisory does not apply to any other Marketside or Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc. produced products.
    The only products involved in this advisory can be identified with the following details:
    Marketside Celery Sticks 4 in/1.6 oz Bundle Pack

    Store: 

    Walmart 

    Distributed to select stores in:

    AL, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MO, MT, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV, WY.

    Product UPC Code:

    6 81131 16151 0

    Lot Code:

    P047650

    Best If Used by Date:

    03/23/2025

    Pack Size & Packaging:

    4/1.6-ounce, bag

    Company Contact Information

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    04/10/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Congressman Honors Youth-Led Democratic Movement in Bangladesh and Meets with Activist Zahid F. Sarder Saddi to Discuss U.S. Support for Democratic Transition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Washington, DC, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ❝ Congressman Honors Youth-Led Democratic Movement in Bangladesh and Meets with Zahid F. Sarder Saddi to Discuss U.S. Support for Democratic Transition❞

    In a significant move recognizing the ongoing democratic movements in Bangladesh, U.S. Congressman Darren Soto met with Bangladeshi activist and community leader Zahid F Sarder Saddi shortly after taking his oath of office for his fifth term in the House of Representatives. Saddi commended Congressman Soto for his steadfast leadership and consistent support of the Bangladeshi-American community in Florida’s 9th District.

    Rep. Soto reciprocated the appreciation, commending Saddi for his dedicated advocacy and instrumental role in conveying the interests and needs of the Bangladeshi people both overseas and within the United States. The Congressman acknowledged the critical influence of Bangladesh’s ‘Gen Z revolution’ in challenging Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime and underscored the vital role democracy plays in shaping the future of the nation.

    During a detailed discussion in his Congressional office with Saddi, Rep. Soto extended an invitation to the student leaders of the July-August movement in Bangladesh. These student leaders played a crucial role in the political upheaval that led to the fall of the Hasina government and her subsequent flight to India. As a gesture of global solidarity and recognition, Rep. Soto is extending an invitation to these young leaders to visit the U.S. Congress, where they will receive a Congressional Proclamation acknowledging their contributions to democracy.

    Bangladeshi Americans have expressed profound gratitude to Congressman Soto for his steadfast commitment to empowering a peaceful and democratic future for Bangladesh. Over the past decade, Rep. Soto has built a strong reputation for advocating on behalf of Bangladesh, and his support during this transitional period is seen as vital in reinstating democratic governance in the country.

    In a tweet following the meeting, Congressman Soto conveyed his appreciation to Zahid F Sarder Saddi for the visit and for providing crucial updates on the democratic transition in Bangladesh. He reiterated America’s support for the restoration of democracy in the South Asian nation, emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights and governance principles.

    For nearly three decades, Zahid F Sarder Saddi has been a dedicated advocate for the Bangladeshi community, both in the United States and abroad. As a respected foreign affairs advisor, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the voices of Bangladeshi-Americans and those living in Bangladesh are heard in the halls of U.S. Congress. Having previously served as the Foreign Advisor to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Saddi continues to provide critical geopolitical insights on the Indo-Pacific region. His collaboration with U.S. policymakers remains instrumental in promoting global democracy and human rights.

    The invitation extended by Congressman Darren Soto marks a historic moment in recognizing the struggles of the Bangladeshi people and their fight for democratic restoration. As the world watches, the efforts of student leaders and advocates like Saddi underscore the ongoing movement toward greater political freedom and justice in Bangladesh.

    About —Zahid F Sarder Saddi

    Zahid F Sarder Saddi is a prominent Bangladeshi politician, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He served as a Foreign Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon’ Begum Khaleda Zia. He was also appointed as a Special Envoy to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP. Zahid F Sarder Saddi works with several organizations and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. He has been involved in the Bangladeshi American Society for over 25 years and works to carry the voice of Bangladeshi Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F Sarder Saddi has received numerous accolades, including a humanitarian award for his impactful work.

    To learn more about Zahid F Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F Sarder Saddi at info@zahidfsardersaddi.com. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement From Congressman Dan Goldman on Trump Administration’s Termination of Grants to Vera Institute of Justice

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    “The Trump Administration’s decision to terminate five federal grants to the Vera Institute for Justice, including ones already designated for mental health crisis response, violence reduction, and resources for survivors of domestic violence, constitutes a direct assault on our most vulnerable communities and every New Yorker’s public safety.  

    “The Vera Institute engages in critical work in New York City and cities nationwide to reduce crime and recidivism that make our communities safer. Their efforts safeguard immigrant and low-income Americans, support survivors of domestic violence and victims of crimes, bolster public safety through mental health programs, facilitate important law enforcement trainings, and increase access to affordable housing for formerly incarcerated people.  

    “By cutting funding for essential public safety programs that serve diverse communities across New York City, the Trump administration is undermining the safety and security of our city in order to pay for massive tax breaks for billionaires. 

    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are unlawfully cutting critical government programs that New Yorkers and Americans depend upon based on random keyword searches so that they can personally benefit from our federal government. I urge the Trump administration to immediately reinstate these funds so that the Vera Institute can pursue its mission of making our country safer.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Myanmar: UN seeks additional $240 million to bolster earthquake relief

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Humanitarian Aid

    The United Nations is ramping up its response to Myanmar’s devastating earthquake, calling for increased funding and an immediate ceasefire to ensure more aid reaches those in desperate need.

    The 7.7 magnitude earthquake – which struck on March 28 – has claimed over 3,600 lives, injured a further 4,800 people and left 184 still missing.

    The disaster has affected more than nine million people across 58 townships, with thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, reduced to rubble. Aftershocks continue to rattle the hardest-hit regions, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

    In response, UN agencies are calling for an additional $241.6 million to aid those in the most affected regions, while also channelling $134 million from the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Myanmar – which was released in December 2024.

    The revised plan identifies around two million newly affected people in urgent need of assistance, adding to the 4.3 million who were already in need before the quake.

    Myanmar was already in crisis before the disaster, with nearly 20 million – roughly a third of the population – in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, amid a brutal civil war between the forces of the military junta which seized power in February 2021 and opposition militias.

    Heartbreaking destruction

    During a visit to Myanmar, UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop met with communities devastated by the quake and urged international support for both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.

    She reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire to enable humanitarian response and recovery.

    “We need to continue to urge for a ceasefire, to stop the killing, stop the conflict so that the humanitarian workers, the search and rescue teams and those involved in rebuilding and reconstruction have the space to operate safely and securely,” she said.

    Ms. Bishop described the destruction as “heartbreaking” and praised the resilience of survivors.

    “I was particularly struck by those who have lost their homes but are determined to rebuild amid the rubble,” she said, stressing the need for global support.

    “The international community has a significant role to play in supporting additional funding during this particular time of need but also using their influence to ensure…that all actors in this conflict put down their arms and focus their efforts on restoring the shattered lives of the people of Myanmar.”

    Response overwhelmed

    UN agencies report that Myanmar’s vital public services, already strained by conflict and instability, are now overwhelmed.

    Myanmar’s remaining health facilities have critical shortages of medical supplies, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a humanitarian bulletin.

    More than 193 healthcare centres and 2,311 schools have been damaged or destroyed, while ongoing infrastructure failures have led to food shortages, rising prices, and an increased risk of infectious diseases.

    A cluster of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases has already been reported in Sagaing and Mandalay, exacerbated by the destruction of sanitation systems.

    Furthermore, extreme heat – reaching 44°C (111°F) – and heavy, off-season rains have worsened conditions for survivors, many of whom remain without shelter.

    Fragile infrastructure exposed

    The earthquake has also reignited concerns about Myanmar’s fragile infrastructure.

    The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) warned that rebuilding roads, bridges and key public buildings must be prioritised to prevent future disasters inflicting a similar level of damage.

    “This is not optional – it is a social and economic imperative,” the commission said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, SH1 Tirau

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died after a two-vehicle crash on SH1 near Tirau late last night.

    Emergency services were called to the scene about 10.40pm.

    Sadly one person died at the scene.

    The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Miramar homicide investigation

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard:

    Police continue to make steady progress in the investigation into the homicide of 63-year-old Abdul Nabizadah, who was found critically injured in Camperdown Rd, Miramar at 2.20am on Monday 17 March.

    Mr Nabizadah later died in Wellington Hospital from injuries Police believe were received while being assaulted and robbed at this location at around 12.30am.

    The investigation team are continuing to gather evidence of the events of the evening and are establishing a good understanding of what occurred.

    The investigation has established a link between the homicide and an aggravated burglary that occurred at a nearby Darlington Road address at about 2am, when a man was found by homeowners inside their house. Police have arrested a man alleged to be responsible for this burglary and he is due to appear in the Wellington District Court on 17 April.

    During the examination of the Camperdown Road scene Police located a woman’s large size Mirrou brand zip-up jacket with white stripes on the arms. It was found discarded on the walkway leading from Camperdown Road to Nevay Road. Police want to speak to the owner of this jacket to determine if it is connected in any way to the incidents of that night.

    The investigation team have previously sought information about a silver Mazda 6 vehicle seen on several occasions in the Miramar area on the night of the incidents.

    Following assistance from members of the public the investigation team have now identified this vehicle and believe it is connected to the two incidents. Police now urgently want to speak to the driver and occupants of this car on the night of the incidents and we encourage them to make contact with us.

    We are actively looking for a number of people who we know have relevant information and encourage them, along with anyone else that has relevant information, to contact us as soon as possible.

    If you have any information that could help the investigation team, please update us online now or call 105.

    Please use the reference number 250317/6324, or reference Operation Celtic.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Supporting Our International Students and Scholars

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    To the University Community,

    UConn prides itself on being both one of Connecticut’s greatest assets and a global university. We attract outstanding students from our state as well as students, faculty, and staff from more than 100 other countries to engage in world-class research and scholarship in our state. UConn faculty, staff, and students contribute to Connecticut’s future and help to change the world for the better through advances and innovation in a multitude of fields.

    As a follow-up to last week’s message on immigration resources and information: You may be aware of recent reports of student visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations disrupting the lives and academic careers of international students and scholars in the U.S.

    These actions have touched UConn as well, and while the number of impacted students here is small, consequences for those impacted are significant. UConn, through its International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) unit, monitors the SEVIS records of our international students and visiting scholars on F and J visas daily, auditing records for any changes initiated by external government officials.

    At the first sign of a change, the ISSS will email the student or visiting scholar to inform them of the update and ask them to visit the Center for International Student and Scholar Services (CISS) to meet with a staff member who can connect the student to legal resources and university support services.

    ISSS will also notify the student or scholar’s department head and dean so that the student’s academic unit can provide appropriate support. Each student or visiting scholar’s situation is unique, and support for each case is coordinated through ISSS in collaboration with many campus partners, including the Dean of Students Office, The Graduate School, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment, the Cultural Centers, academic deans, and department heads.

    UConn Health’s International Office administers a separate SEVIS program and will follow similar procedures. To date, no cases have impacted international students and scholars at UConn Health.

    Our university units are working together to prepare our campuses and respond as quickly as possible to this rapidly evolving situation. In February, UConn established a rapid response team to address immigration policy changes impacting our community. The team is co-chaired by Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, and Fany DeJesus Hannon, Dean of Students. It includes representation from the Office of the General Counsel, The Graduate School, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment, University Communications, and UConn Police.

    We understand that there are multiple conversations happening on campus about this important issue. We invite you to send your inquiries to Rae Alexander, rae.alexander@uconn.edu, to ensure your questions and concerns reach the team.

    You may be asking what you can do at this time:

    • International students and visiting scholars can visit the Center for International Students & Scholars website for updated guidance on travel concerns and emerging trends related to their immigration status, and to connect with international advising staff who can provide individualized guidance.
    • Undocumented students can reach out to the Dean of Students Office and view the Undocumented Student Resources
    • General student support is also available from the Dean of Students Office and The Graduate School.
    • UConn employees who have questions about their employment-based visa sponsorship can reach out to Alison Cutler or Christene Cooper in Human Resources.
    • The International Office at UConn Health is responsible for all visas for international students and staff/faculty employed through UConn Health. Reach out to Kaitlin Dornenburg, Department of Human Resources, for assistance.
    • All UConn faculty and staff can reach out to Rae Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, with general questions or concerns about changing immigration policies and their impact on our community.

    We also want to remind students of the mental health support services available to them:

    International students at UConn Health:

    International students at UConn Storrs and the regional campuses:

    International employees, including graduate assistants represented by the GEU at UConn Storrs and regional campuses:

    International employees at UConn Health:

    Finally, we encourage everyone to bookmark the new Legal Resources and Community Partners webpage, which will be updated as information and resources are confirmed.

    If you have not been directly impacted by what has been happening in the U.S., now is the time to check in on your friends and fellow Huskies who may be feeling scared and isolated. Now is the time for us as a community to support each other.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shapiro-Davis Administration and Statewide Advocates Highlight Victims’ Rights Week, Governor Shapiro’s Proposed $9 Million Investment in Victim Compensation

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 10, 2025 – Harrisburg, PA

    Shapiro-Davis Administration and Statewide Advocates Highlight Victims’ Rights Week, Governor Shapiro’s Proposed $9 Million Investment in Victim Compensation

    In honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and Office of Victim Advocate, teamed up with statewide victim advocacy organizations to highlight the importance of supporting survivors, raising awareness of their rights, and Governor Shapiro’s proposed $9 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in the 2025-26 state budget.

    National Crime Victims’ Rights Week highlights the importance of ensuring that victims of crime receive the support, protection, and justice they deserve. Last year, over 323,000 Pennsylvanians were victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, gun violence, assault, human trafficking, homicide, and other crimes.

    “Ensuring that victims are informed, respected, and supported throughout their healing journey is our top priority. No crime victim should have to worry about paying for medical care, no family should face the stress of funeral costs, and no survivor of sexual assault should have to choose between healing and financial hardship,” said Kathy Buckley, Director of PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services. “This week is about making sure victims know their rights-including their right to financial support to help through some of their most difficult times.”

    Speakers Include:
    Kathy Buckley, Director of the Office of Victims’ Services, PCCD
    Suzanne Estrella, Pennsylvania Victim Advocate
    Rebecca Buckham, Communications Manager, Children’s Advocacy Centers of PA (PennCAC)
    Gabriella Romeo, Public Policy Director, PA Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR)
    Jenna Mehnert Baker, Policy Director, PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Who Conspired to Traffic Child From Behind Bars Sentenced to More Than 15 Years

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Dallas man who coordinated the trafficking of a 17-year-old girl was sentenced on April 9, 2025, to more than 15 years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

    Christopher Jabar Jenkins, 33, was indicted in August 2023 and pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.  He was sentenced Wednesday to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Gren Scholer, to be followed by 35 years of supervised release.  Jenkins was also ordered to pay $82,300 in restitution to the victim.  

    According to plea papers, Jenkins admitted that between July 2022 and November 2022, he advertised the 17-year-old victim’s sexual services on commercial sex websites.  He also rented hotel rooms for commercial sex dates and negotiated with patrons.

    In an interview with the child, it was revealed that Jenkins physically assaulted her, threatened her at gunpoint, forced her to “brand” herself with a tattoo to indicate his ownership of her, and kept her identification as a way to ensure that she could not leave him.

    At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors described how the child was forced to work seven days a week, up to fourteen-hour days, and Jenkins took all of the resulting proceeds for himself.

    According to court documents, when Jenkins was arrested in September 2022 for unrelated charges, he passed the victim off to another trafficker.  Jenkins continued to traffic the victim while in jail.  During the recorded calls, Jenkins instructed the victim to continue participating in commercial sex acts.  He also coordinated with other coconspirators regarding the pricing, advertisements, work hours, travel, and other logistics to ensure the success of the criminal enterprise.  Jenkins specifically instructed a coconspirator to collect all of the money that the minor victim earned and to set it aside for him or add funds to his jail commissary account.  Records confirmed that an individual deposited money to Jenkins’ jail commissary account no less than seven times from September 13 to September 29, 2022.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, with invaluable assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Winters prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Takano, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Protect Students Against Fraud

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif)

    April 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) introduced the PROTECT Students Act, first of its kind legislation to codify student protections against fraud in every step of the college experience. This is companion legislation to a bill introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). 

    The PROTECT Students Act addresses several areas of the college experience to ensure that students are protected:

    • Increases oversight by creating uniform reporting and data gathering practices to ensure that complaints against institutions and their contractors, as well as student loan servicers, are investigated and resolved.

    • Holds universities accountable by ensuring schools are honest about their job placement data, predatoryrecruitment tactics, and ensure that former fraudsters cannot prey on students again.

    “Fraudsters are feeling empowered by this Administration, and the American people are looking for their government to do something,” said Rep. Takano. “Students who are hoping to better themselves through a college education deserve protections in law to ensure that the school they choose upholds their promise of high-quality education and a degree. Students deserve to have the backing of laws to take on for-profit colleges, discredited universities, and loan providerswho deceive them.”

    “Time and time again, for-profit colleges have scammed students into taking on mountains of student debt without offering a viable degree or career path—and sometimes have even shuttered their doors while a student is enrolled,” said Senator Durbin. “Our students deserve to be protected from the predatory tactics of these for-profit schools. The first Trump Administration let for-profit colleges off the hook by rolling back protections like the Gainful Employment Rule and stopping the review of borrower defense claims.  I am introducing the PROTECT Students Act to stand up for students when the Trump Administration won’t by ensuring that for-profit schools are held accountable for taking advantage of students.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two New Orleans Men Indicted for Bank Robbery and Possession of Stolen Vehicle

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KAILUS JAMES (“JAMES”), age29, and CEDRIC MAY (“MAY”), age 31, were charged on April 4, 2025, in a three-count indictment, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Count 1 charged them with conspiracy to commit bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Count 2 charged them with bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2113(a) and (d), and 2. Count 3 charged them with possession of a stolen vehicle, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2313 and 2.

    According to the indictment, on or about March 15, 2025, JAMES and MAY stole approximately $98,320.00 of United States currency, belonging to and in the care, custody, control, management, and possession of a JP Morgan Chase Bank, in New Orleans.

    If convicted, JAMES and MAY face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release, for Count 1; up to 25 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release for Count 2; and up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count 3.  JAMES and MAY also face a payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to all three counts.

    Acting United States Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.

    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).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prince George drug trafficker sentenced to over 12 years in prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Prince George man was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

    According to court documents, on April 1, 2024, law enforcement searched the residence of Robert Damian Atkins, 39, based on prior controlled purchases of narcotics. During the search, detectives recovered $10,625; an electronic money counter; a shotgun; three semi-automatic pistols; multiple firearms magazines, including a drum magazine; and multiple boxes of ammunition. During a search of Atkins’ vehicle, detectives recovered another pistol and a backpack that contained 191 grams of fentanyl, 112 grams of methamphetamine, 84 grams of cocaine, two digital scales, and a magazine for the firearm. In the trunk of the vehicle, officers located a bag containing multiple firearm cartridges.

    An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arranged to take Atkins into custody on his federal warrant after his court appearance in Prince George County General District Court on Oct. 7, 2024. After learning of his impending arrest, Atkins fled the courthouse and cut off his GPS ankle monitor. Law enforcement located Atkins later that day in Chesterfield and took him into custody.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Washington Field Division; and Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. The Prince George County Police Department assisted in the investigation.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller prosecuted the case.

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

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-158.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: April Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments Announced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the April Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments.

    The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

    Jesus Sebastian Herrera Chavez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Chavez, 21, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was an alien illegally in the United States. Further, Chavez intentionally assaulted someone with a firearm. The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-125

    Jimmie Leroy Cox, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Cox, 63, of Fairland, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Cox is also charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. Additionally, Cox knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-110

    Victor Hubert Dominguez-Castro. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Dominguez-Castro, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-116

    Leonard Ray Ellis. Robbery in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary. Ellis, 40, of Inola and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with taking property of value by force and violence. He is further charged with breaking into an occupied home intending to commit a crime. The FBI and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-111

    Ryan Leon French; Lexie Renee French. Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Ryan French, 46, and Lexie French, 42, of Tulsa, are charged with coercing a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. Ryan French is further charged with possessing videos depicting child sexual abuse material. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-117

    Maria Gabriela Labrada Rico. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rico, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2018. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-118

    Robert Nicholas Long. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor;Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender. Long, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice a minor child to engage in sexual activity and knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos that depict the sexual abuse of children. He is further charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. As a registered sex offender, Long committed a felony involving a minor child. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-132

    Pablo Lopez-Ramirez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez-Ramirez, 44, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May 2013. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-119

    Joshua Clay Murphy. Threatening to Assault and Murder a Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer with Intent to Retaliate; Threatening to Assault and Murder Immediate Family Members of a Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer with Intent to Retaliate; Threatening to Assault and Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate; Threatening to Assault and Murder Immediate Family Members of Federal Law Enforcement Officers with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate. Murphy, 47, of Milfay, is charged with retaliating against a former federal law enforcement officer by threatening to assault and murder the former officer and their family. Further, Murphy knowingly threatened to assault and murder federal law enforcement officers and their families with intent to impede or interfere with the officers’ duties. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-131

    Oscar Najera-De La Cruz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Najera-De La Cruz, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2014. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-120

    Jose Ramon Portillo-Chavez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Portillo-Chavez, 47, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jun. 2010. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-121

    Nick Lee Ramirez; Destiny Rayleen Steward. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Ramirez, 39, and Steward, 25, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. They knowingly possessed methamphetamine and more than 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute and maintained a residence for the purpose of drug distribution. Additionally, they both possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Steward possessed a firearm, knowing she was previously convicted of felonies. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-122

    Raciel Ramirez-Vasquez Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Vasquez, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-124

    Dominic Rocky Torres. Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery; Hobbs Act Robbery; Aiding and Abetting Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Torres, 22, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with conspiring with others and aiding and abetting others to obstruct commerce by robbery. Further, he knowingly aided and abetted in brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd and Jessica Wright are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-112

    Jose Pedro Zelaya-Figueroa. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Zelaya-Figueroa, 53, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jun. 2011. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 
    25-CR-123

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Angelo man posing as 11-year-old in child pornography production case sentenced to 50 years in federal prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A San Angelo man who impersonated an 11-year-old child and persuaded a 9-year-old female child to produce child sexual abuse material was sentenced Tuesday to 50 years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

    James Wilson, 57, was indicted in September and pleaded guilty in December 2024 to Production of Child Pornography and Transportation of Child Pornography.  He was sentenced Tuesday to 600 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who also ordered Wilson to pay $106,500 in restitution.

    According to court documents, Wilson employed a 9-year-old victim to produce at least two videos of her engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Wilson admitted to using a social media application to transport multiple videos of child pornography over the Internet.  He also admitted to possessing and transporting a video that depicted a 10-year-old female child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

    Wilson admitted to law enforcement that he had viewed and downloaded child pornography for several years.

    The vast collection of child pornography possessed by Wilson included videos from multiple identified child pornography series.  Minor victims from 13 of the series requested restitution due to trauma from their sexual abuse.  The Court awarded $106,500 in restitution to those victims.  

    FBI’s Dallas Field Division – San Angelo Resident Agency and the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Ohlhausen prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oklahoma City Trio Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Child Sex Trafficking and Witness Tampering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – ANTWON MONTRELL JACKSON, 43, and SARAH LARAYNA HOLLAND, 39, both of Oklahoma City, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit child sex trafficking, and SHANIKKA NICOLE JACKSON, 46, of Las Vegas, Nevada, has pleaded guilty to witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On February 20, 2025, a federal Grand Jury charged Antwon Jackson and Holland by Second Superseding Indictment with conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking and child sex trafficking. According to the public record, in July 2024, Antwon Jackson was Holland’s pimp, and the two worked together to set up commercial sex acts for both Holland and a minor female, using online advertisements to attract customers. Between July 20, 2024, and July 25, 2024, Holland and the minor engaged in commercial sex dates in multiple cities in the Western District of Oklahoma. Customers would pay for the sex act utilizing CashApp, and the majority of the money went to Antwon Jackson.

    On April 4, 2025, Shanikka Jackson, Antwon Jackson’s sister, was charged by Superseding Information with witness tampering. According to public record, between September 17, 2024, and December 5, 2024, Shanikka Jackson attempted to influence the minor to prevent her from testifying in the pending federal trial of Antwon Jackson.

    Last week, Antwon Jackson and Holland pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Second Superseding Indictment, and admitted they conspired to sex traffic a minor, set up commercial sex dates for the minor, benefited financially from those dates, and that they knew when they trafficked the minor, she was under 18 years old. Holland admitted she posted the online ads and transported the minor to commercial sex dates. Antwon Jackson admitted he directed Holland to post the ads and communicated with potential customers who had responded to the ads for the minor in an effort to set up dates. 

    Today, Shanikka Jackson pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information, and admitted she attempted to pass a message from Antwon Jackson to the victim, to try and influence the victim not to testify against her brother.

    At sentencing, both Antwon Jackson and Holland face up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 each. Shanikka Jackson faces up to three years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.

    This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Warr Acres Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bow Bottomly and Elizabeth Joynes are prosecuting the case.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Expatriate Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill U.S. Senator and Staff

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WILMINGTON, N.C. – An American citizen living in Thailand pleaded guilty Wednesday to threatening to kill United States Senator Thom Tillis and his staff.  Eric Charles Welton, 53, pled guilty to one count of threatening a federal official on account of his duties.

    According to court documents and information presented in court, Welton made multiple harassing and intimidating calls to the offices of Republican elected officials and GOP organizations in the United States. Welton claimed he made the threatening calls because he was angry about the large number of unsolicited political emails he received.  In September of 2021, Welton spoke with a staff member at the Senator’s Raleigh office and threatened to show up and “put a bullet through each of [their] heads.” Welton also threatened to come to North Carolina and “mow…down” the “whole [expletive] state,” and find the person who emailed him and cut off his hands.

    “Threatening to kill a public official and his staff is not only despicable, but also an affront to our democratic system of government,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated today.  “Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute threats or intimidation against public officials, so they can properly carry out their important duties.”

    “It is unacceptable to make violent threats against anyone. But when threats are directed at elected officials, it can impact their ability to effectively serve their constituents and their country. The FBI will not tolerate this type of intimidation for any reason especially when it comes to those who help run our democracy,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of FBI in North Carolina.

    Welton pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when sentenced in July.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is prosecuting the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-192-M-RN.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: State Senate Campaign Treasurer Admits Lying to Federal Grand Jury

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESSICA MARTINEZ, 43, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to making a false declaration before a federal grand jury.

    As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Martinez was the Treasurer for the campaign of Dennis A. Bradley, who was running for a Connecticut State Senate seat in 2018.  The Citizens’ Election Program (“CEP”) is a voluntary public election-financing program under which candidates for Connecticut state offices can apply to the State Elections Enforcement Commission (“SEEC”) for grants to fund their primary and general election campaigns.  On March 15, 2018, the Bradley campaign held an event at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant in Bridgeport.  Although CEP rules imposed a $2,000 limit on a State Senate candidate’s expenditure of personal funds, Bradley used personal funds to pay Dolphin’s Cove $5,597.31 for the campaign event, used personal funds for additional campaign expenditures related to the event, and received campaign contributions from several contributors at the event.  In subsequent filings with SEEC, the campaign omitted the Dolphin’s Cove event and that Bradley had incurred more than $6,000 in expenses related to it, and misrepresented the dates of contributions the campaign had received on March 15, 2018.  In July 2018, SEEC issued the campaign $84,140 in public funds.

    On September 23, 2020, Martinez appeared as a witness under oath before a federal grand jury in New Haven.  When asked about the Dolphin’s Cove event, Martinez falsely stated, “Dolphin’s Cove had zero to do with me and the campaign.  Dolphin’s Cove was a BDK event, (Bradley’s) law firm’s event, thanking the community, in which I knew State Senator Bradley was going to announce his run for state senate.” Martinez further stated, “There was no fundraising there.  There was no fundraising there.  But at any rate, I was not the treasurer yet.  The campaign did not begin. That was a BDK event.”

    The charge of making a false statement before the grand jury carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

    Martinez was arrested on May 25, 2021.  She is released on a $250,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

    Bradley is awaiting trial in this matter.  Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Targa Resources Corp. Declares Increase to Quarterly Common Dividend and Announces Timing of First Quarter 2025 Earnings Webcast

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP) (“Targa” or the “Company”) announced today that its board of directors has declared an increase to its quarterly cash dividend to $1.00 per common share, or $4.00 per common share on an annualized basis, for the first quarter of 2025, consistent with previously disclosed expectations. This dividend represents a 33 percent increase over the common dividend declared with respect to the first quarter of 2024. This cash dividend will be paid May 15, 2025 on all outstanding common shares to holders of record as of the close of business on April 30, 2025.

    The Company will report its first quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens for trading on Thursday, May 1, 2025, and will host a live webcast over the internet at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) to discuss its 2025 first quarter financial results.

    Event Information
    Event: Targa Resources Corp. First Quarter 2025 Earnings Webcast and Presentation
    Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
    Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
    Webcast: https://www.targaresources.com/investors/events or directly at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/waa5bt3q

    Replay Information 
    A webcast replay will be available at the link above approximately two hours after the conclusion of the event. A quarterly earnings supplement presentation and updated investor presentation will also be available at https://www.targaresources.com/investors/events.

    About Targa Resources Corp.

    Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent infrastructure companies in North America. The Company owns, operates, acquires and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary domestic midstream infrastructure assets and its operations are critical to the efficient, safe and reliable delivery of energy across the United States and increasingly to the world. The Company’s assets connect natural gas and NGLs to domestic and international markets with growing demand for cleaner fuels and feedstocks. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, and purchasing and selling natural gas; transporting, storing, fractionating, treating, and purchasing and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; and gathering, storing, terminaling, and purchasing and selling crude oil.

    Targa is a FORTUNE 500 company and is included in the S&P 500.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.targaresources.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our projected financial performance, capital spending and payment of future dividends. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Company’s control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Company. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and non-OPEC oil producing countries, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of our completion of capital projects and business development efforts, the expected growth of volumes on our systems, the impact of significant public health crises, commodity price volatility due to ongoing or new global conflicts, the impact of disruptions in the bank and capital markets, including those resulting from lack of access to liquidity for banking and financial services firms, and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Targa Investor Relations
    InvestorRelations@targaresources.com
    (713) 584-1133

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Gets Agreement from Energy Nominees to Pursue “All of the Above” Power Options

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource (ENR) Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) spoke with Dr. Preston Griffith, the nominee to serve as the Under Secretary of Energy, and Dr. Dario Gil, the nominee to serve as the Under Secretary of Energy for Science, about the need to prioritize energy storage technology as America works toward an “all of the above” energy future, making clear the value of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. During the exchange, Senator King asked the two nominees to commit to further research and development of emerging power technologies to help strengthen grid storage capacity and unlock America’s renewable energy potential.

    “One of the technologies I’m most interested in is storage because we are talking about development of the grid and stabilization of the grid. And I hope that both of you will remain committed to the research and development of storage capacity on the grid because I think that is part of the solution. Do you agree, Dr. Gil,” questioned Senator King.

    “Thank you for the question. Let me also just say since you are representing Maine, that I have a long connection with Maine. My wife and in-laws are from Maine, so I’ve been going for many decades and it’s a pleasure,” replied Dr. Gil.

    “Wonderful. Tell her to tell your in-laws she saw me working,” said Senator King.

    “Will do so. And yes, I completely agree on the importance of storage technology. It is an essential part not only of present electricity systems, but also in the future. I will also point out that within the science portfolio of the Department, we also have a lot of opportunity to accelerate the opportunity for discovery of novel, more safe, and efficient storage technologies. So, the commitment is twofold. It is both a recognition of the importance that storage plays but also that we have to do a lot of discovery to make sure that we can take a very significant leap forward, which we can do by harnessing these capabilities on AI and in the future quantum computing as well,” responded Dr. Gil.

    “Mr. Griffith, I assume you believe storage is a part of all of the above,” asked Senator King.

    “Yes, Senator, absolutely. Thank you for your question. It is the holy grail. We need all energy sources, technology — we need to bring them all to bear to meet this growing demand,” agreed Dr. Griffith.

    As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has advocated for climate solutions that deliver on the clean energy potential of the historic Inflation Reduction Act. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to deliver carefully considered, timely approvals of sorely-needed clean energy projects. Senator King has also been one of the Senate’s most vocal advocates for improving energy storage technologies and development and worked to include significant storage investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Most recently, Senator King reiterated the importance of an “all of the above” energy policy strategy during an ENR hearing considering the nominations of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner and Kaine Statement on Latest Safety Incident at DCA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement regarding an incident at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) where two airplanes bumped into each other on the tarmac:

    “Thank God no one was hurt this time. We need a full investigation into this incident as soon as possible. We have said this over and over and hate having to say it again: when planes are taking off and landing every minute of the day, FAA funding is cut, air traffic controllers are fired, and current staff is spread thinner to cover more—that is when mistakes happen. The traveling public deserves action.”

    MIL OSI USA News –