NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican national previously deported multiple times pleads guilty to illegal re-entry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Juan Vera-Cervantes, 45, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. He was then turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who handled the case, stated that on February 25, 2025, Border Patrol agents observed a white cargo van with a Tennessee license plate traveling on the I 490. A check of the license plate revealed that Vera-Cervantes was the registered owner of the vehicle, and he had been previously deported multiple times from the United States and had his final order of removal reinstated on three different occasions. During a traffic stop of the vehicle, Vera-Cervantes stated that he is a citizen and national of Mexico without immigration documents to be in the United States legally. He was then administratively detained.

    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.

    The plea and sentence are a result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Juan Ramirez.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prior felon going to prison for 10 years on multiple drug and gun charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nader Ngoopos a/k/a Nike, 26, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison pleaded guilty by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that between 2016, and late 2018, Ngoopos agreed with others to obtain cocaine and heroin in the Buffalo area and travel to Olean, NY, to distribute the cocaine and heroin. Ngoopos personally traveled to Olean on at least a weekly basis, selling cocaine and heroin out of various locations in Olean, including North 8th Street and South 11th Street. Co-conspirators also sold cocaine and heroin as part of the conspiracy on a weekly basis.

    On October 15, 2018, Ngoopos participated in an armed robbery at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, with two others. The three gained entry to a dormitory at St. Bonaventure, and broke into a dorm room where Ngoopos, who possessed a firearm, believed he and his co-conspirators would find marijuana and money. Once they gained entry, Ngoopos and his co-conspirators pointed their firearms at the heads of the two occupants of the dorm room, threatened them, and then stole about an ounce of marijuana and approximately $300 – $400.

    On September 2, 2021, law enforcement officers observed Ngoopos get into a vehicle in Buffalo. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it sped away leading officers on a high-speed chase. Eventually, the car came to a stop on East Amherst Street. As the car came to a stop, Ngoopos got out of the car and ran away, dropping a pistol. In June 2020, Ngoopos was convicted in Cattaraugus County Court of a felony and legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

    The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonse Wright, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Access Canberra is speaking your language

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Concierge Tejas estimates he speaks with customers in Hindi or Gujarati at least 25–30 times a week.

    Many frontline service staff at Access Canberra speak multiple languages.

    This not only reflects the diversity of the Canberra community but allows them to assist customers who may not be comfortable communicating in English.

    Across Access Canberra’s five service centres, staff speak 12 languages, in addition to English.

    These are:

    • Hindi
    • Punjabi
    • French
    • Japanese
    • Vietnamese
    • French
    • Thai
    • Greek
    • Gujarati
    • Croatian
    • Tibetan
    • Indian.

    Staff wear badges, allowing customers to identify them easily to see which languages they speak.

    Woden Service Centre Concierge Tejas is often the first friendly face customers see when they enter the Centre and speaks Gujarati, Hindi and English.

    “Being a Concierge I think I speak in Hindi and Gujarati at least 25–30 times a week to help members of community,” he said.

    He finds the badge helps Canberrans with little English feel more at ease.

    “Wearing the badge gives members of the community an idea that I speak different languages. It invites members of the community who may be anxious of walking into a service centre because they can’t correctly interpret or understand English. I have also seen people who can understand English very well, but speaking it is the problem. Thus, whenever I can, I assist the Customer Service Officer and customer complete a transaction by translating for both,” Tejas said.

    “As soon as a customer finds out that I can speak their language, they are delighted and relaxed that they can communicate in a much clearer and better way. Customers are more at ease because I can translate government policies and legislation for them, making comprehending them easier.”

    Tejas has worked at Access Canberra since 2021.

    “My vision every day is to help members of community who visit the service centre in every possible way,” he said.

    “I am proud of wearing this badge because I know I can make a difference and put a smile on someone’s face.”

    Many Access Canberra transactions can be carried out online. Visit accesscanberra.act.gov.au to find a translation option on the homepage.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: DA for Gungahlin Tennis Facility approved

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Gungahlin Tennis Facility will be built off Horse Park Drive in Amaroo.

    The Development Application has been approved for the new Gungahlin Tennis Facility.

    This brings the sporting venue another step closer for tennis-lovers.

    Gungahlin Tennis Facility will be built off Horse Park Drive in Amaroo.

    It will include:

    • 10 full-size tennis courts
    • two hot shot courts
    • a hitting wall
    • a pavilion
    • LED lighting
    • carparking
    • landscaping.

    Gungahlin is one of the country’s fastest growing regions. Tennis is also a growing sport, and the new venue will help attract even more players.

    The Gungahlin Tennis Facility is being built by the ACT Government in partnership with Tennis Australia and Tennis ACT.

    “Tennis ACT is looking forward to the construction phase of the Amaroo Tennis Centre and a wonderful tennis facility for the community of Gungahlin and the greater ACT and region,” CEO of Tennis ACT Mark La Brooy said.

    “After a number of years of planning, community consultation, Estate Development Planning and now the approval of the development application, this sees the realisation of a vital piece of infrastructure that will bring tennis to one of the important growth corridors in the ACT.”

    The Gungahlin Tennis Facility will offer a range of programs for all ages.

    These will include:

    • Hot Shots Tennis and school programs
    • Book A Court
    • Cardio Tennis
    • Adult Social Tennis
    • Junior and Senior Canberra Tennis League
    • all-abilities programs.

    Tennis Australia’s established tennis pathways will also help develop young players.

    As well as keeping more young people in the sport, it will support many to realise their sporting dreams.

    The new facility will also have capacity to host major tennis events, bringing more people to Canberra.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Hatch sought in McLaren Vale business break-in

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are investigating a break-in at a McLaren Vale business in the early hours of Tuesday 1 April.

    Just before 5.30am on Tuesday 1 April, a shed on Main Road, McLaren Vale was broken into and a number of surfboards, 20 wetsuits, and power tools, including a Makita sander, lawnmower and whipper snipper were stolen.

    CCTV captured a small blue hatchback towing a caged trailer travelling east along Main Road, McLaren Vale before turning onto Tatachilla Road and entering the rear of the property via a laneway.

    Anyone who recognises the vehicle or has any dashcam or CCTV footage from the area that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    Quote reference 25-39M

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DelBene, LaHood Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Build 2 Million More Affordable Homes, 67,000 in WA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

    Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Darin LaHood (IL-16), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Don Beyer (VA-08), Randy Feenstra (IA-4), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and over 100 of their bipartisan House colleagues introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, legislation that would support the financing and development of nearly 2 million more affordable homes across the country. This would include nearly 67,000 units in Washington. The bill would expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit), our nation’s most successful affordable housing program.

    Since its creation, the Housing Credit has built or restored more than 3.5 million affordable housing units, nearly 90% of all federally funded affordable housing during that time. Roughly 8 million American households have benefited from the credit, and the economic activity that it generated has supported 5.5 million jobs and generated more than $617 billion in wages.

    “Too many families are struggling to find a safe, affordable place to call home. This is a pervasive problem across the country,” said DelBene. “When people have stable housing, it has a ripple effect throughout other aspects of life. They’re better able to support their families and succeed at work. This overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation makes smart, targeted investments to increase affordable housing supply and help meet the needs of growing communities in Washington and elsewhere.”

    “As I travel throughout Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, I frequently hear how the shortage of affordable housing impacts our communities throughout central and northwestern Illinois,” said LaHood. “To address this growing crisis across the country, Congress must strengthen tools to drive investment into affordable workforce housing and expand housing options for hardworking families nationwide. I am proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act alongside Representatives DelBene, Tenney, Beyer, Feenstra, and Panetta to strengthen our communities and support economic development.”

    “Since 1986, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit has supported the development of more than 8,300 units through $55M of allocations in NY-24 alone,” said Tenney. “The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act leverages private investments to increase access to affordable housing for low-income families in rural communities. It is a privilege to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation to ensure this vital program continues to serve those who need it most.”

    “My community, like many others around the country, is facing a crisis in affordable housing,” said Beyer. “This bill would expand and update the most effective tool for financing affordable housing, and take a big step forward in addressing the massive need for affordable housing across the nation.”

    “In rural Iowa, access to affordable housing is critical for young families looking to plant their roots, local businesses attracting employees, and the long-term growth of our economy. However, with housing costs consistently increasing and construction projects being more difficult to finance in rural areas, we need to enact smart and cost-effective strategies to expand the housing supply and bring down prices,” said Feenstra. “I’m glad to work with my Ways and Means Committee colleague, Rep. Darin LaHood, to introduce the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to expand and improve incentives in the tax code to build more housing. This commonsense policy will pay dividends for affordable housing in rural Iowa and help our families find housing options that fit their budgets.”

    “Too many working families struggle to find affordable housing, be it in California’s 19th Congressional District or across the country,” said Panetta. “The bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, helping finance nearly 2 million affordable homes over the next decade while creating jobs and generating economic growth.  By incentivizing the development of affordable housing through this public-private partnership, we can start to tackle the housing crisis and provide more families with the opportunity to not just work, but also to live in the same community.”

    “The reintroduction of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act is a vital step toward addressing our nation’s housing crisis. Expanding the Housing Credit is the most effective way to increase the supply of affordable housing, leveraging public-private partnerships to build and preserve homes for working families, seniors, and vulnerable communities. At a time when rents are rising and supply is lagging, strengthening the Housing Credit will ensure that more Americans have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing,” said Ayrianne Parks and Jennifer Schwartz, Co-chairs of the ACTION Campaign. “The ACTION Campaign thanks Representatives Darin LaHood, Suzan DelBene, Claudia Tenney, Don Beyer, Randy Feenstra, and Jimmy Panetta for their leadership.”

    “The overwhelming bipartisan support for the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 underscores the critical need to increase the supply of affordable rental homes,” said Emily Cadik, Chief Executive Officer, Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. “We thank Congressman LaHood, Congresswoman DelBene, Congresswoman Tenney, Congressman Beyer, Congressman Feenstra, and Congressman Panetta for their leadership and the more than 100 bipartisan cosponsors for supporting this commonsense solution to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, a proven, pro-growth tool with a nearly 40-year record of leveraging private investment to fill a critical need.”

    The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will support the financing of nearly two million new affordable homes across the country by:

    • Increasing the number of credits allocated to each state by 50 percent for the next two years and making the temporary 12.5 percent increase secured in 2018 permanent.
    • Increasing the number of affordable housing projects that can be built using private activity bonds. This provision stabilizes financing for workforce housing projects built using private activity bonds by decreasing the amount of private activity needed to secure Housing Credit funding. As a result, projects would have to carry less debt, and more projects would be eligible to receive funding.
    • Improving the Housing Credit program to serve at-risk and underserved communities, including veterans, victims of domestic violence, and rural Americans.

    More information about the legislation’s impact in Washington can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Increased diesel reserves to improve resilience

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The minimum stockholding obligation for diesel importers will increase from 21 to 28 days’ cover, bolstering New Zealand’s diesel reserves and resilience to supply disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.
    The Coalition Government consulted on the proposal late last year and has agreed that from 1 July 2028, fuel importers that have more than a 10 per cent market share must hold an additional seven days’ supply onshore.
    “We use around 11 million litres of diesel every day in New Zealand, and it is vital for the economy – from food production and distribution to emergency electricity generation and the movement of essential goods and services,” Mr Jones says.
    “While the chances of a severe and sustained fuel disruption are low, the consequences for Kiwis and our economy would be catastrophic.
    “Our diesel reserves are lower than reserves for other fuel types, meaning we are particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions. The Fuel Security Study I released in February found our diesel cover of 21 days in reserve could be tight to manage, even for a minor disruption.
    “Building our resilience must carefully balance the risks with the cost of mitigation to the sector and ultimately consumers. A reserve of 28 days is a good compromise and means we will be able to better ride out smaller disruptions and, in the event of a major supply event, it will give us time to get solutions in place.”
    Fuel security continues to be a priority for the Government as work progresses on a Fuel Security Plan for New Zealand, a commitment in the New Zealand First-National Coalition Agreement. The plan is expected to be delivered later this year.
    “Establishing the requirement to hold more diesel reserves from July 2028 allows operators enough time to determine how to incorporate additional diesel into their networks and if necessary, to build or refurbish existing tanks,” Mr Jones says.
    The minimum stockholding obligation for diesel importers with a market share of less than 10 per cent will be reviewed next year.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Seek Answers & Return of Maryland Father Wrongfully Deported to El Salvador

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice admitted the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a father who was living legally in the United States under protected status — was an “administrative error.”  Mr. Garcia, 29, who fled El Salavador in 2006 and migrated to the U.S. in 2011, is married with a five-year old child and two step children who are all U.S. citizens.  According to USA Today: After finishing a shift working as a sheet metal apprentice and picking up his son from his grandmother’s house, Mr. Garcia was pulled over by ICE officers in several vehicles and erroneously told that his status had changed.  He was handcuffed and placed in an ICE vehicle and eventually sent to an out of state detention facility before being flown out of the country to a notorious prison in El Salvador known as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
    In 2019, an immigration judge granted Mr. Garcia protection from deportation on the grounds that he might be at risk of persecution from local gangs in his home country.  ICE officials under the Trump Administration in 2019 did not object to the judge’s ruling.
    Last week, Justice Department lawyer Erez Reuveni told a federal judge that Mr. Garcia “should not have been removed.”  The judge agreed and wrote a scathing opinion finding that the Trump Administration’s actions “shocks the conscience” and that the government had acted “without any lawful authority” and was holding Mr. Garcia in “direct contravention” of U.S. law.  The judge ordered the U.S. to return Mr. Garcia to the United States.  However, the Trump Administration contended Mr. Garcia could not be returned to the U.S. because he is in Salvadoran custody and U.S. courts have no jurisdiction there, even though the U.S. is reportedly paying the El Salvadoran government $6 million to house deportees from the United States.  Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump Administration’s request to temporarily block a lower court order.
    Today, 25 U.S. Senators, including Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) wrote to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Tedd Lyons urging them to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. 
    In their letter, the Senators call on the Trump Administration to comply with the lower court order requiring that they facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return and ask for responses to a series of questions regarding ICE’s enforcement policies that may have led to this grave error – and what measures they will take to ensure such an incident does not occur again.
    “We write to express our concerns regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, an action which the Administration admitted in a recent court filing was an “administrative error.” It is unacceptable that anyone would be deported without proper due process, especially where an immigration judge has granted the individual protected status that explicitly prohibits his return to El Salvador. We demand that the Administration bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home immediately,” the 25 U.S. Senators wrote.
    “Per court filings, Mr. Abrego Garcia came to the United States in 2011 as a teenager fleeing gang threats in his home country of El Salvador. In 2019, ICE arrested Mr. Abrego Garcia over an unfounded and anonymous allegation that he was involved with MS-13, which placed him in deportation proceedings. The U.S. immigration judge in the case ultimately found that it was in fact Mr. Abrego Garcia who was at risk of being the victim of gang violence,” the Senators continued. “This ruling was made under the Trump Administration in 2019 and was in fact required by law under section 241(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act once the immigration judge made the factual determination that Mr. Abrego Garcia faced a likelihood of torture in El Salvador. At the time, the Trump Administration made no effort to appeal the judge’s ruling or pursue Mr. Abrego Garcia’s deportation further. Court filings attest that Mr. Abrego Garcia has complied with regular ICE check-ins, has no criminal charges, and has had no contact with any other law-enforcement agency since his release in 2019.
    “Mr. Abrego Garcia is currently being held at CECOT, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador notorious for human rights abuses, after being deported in violation of the law to the very country where his return was impermissible,” they noted. “And when the Administration makes a mistake as severe as sending an individual with protected status to a foreign prison, it cannot simply shrug off responsibility and allege that there is nothing it can do to reunite him with his wife and child, who are American citizens.
    “On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge in the District of Maryland ordered the government to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to the United States, and on Monday the Fourth Circuit denied the government’s motion to stay the order. The Administration should promptly comply with the district court’s order,” the Senators urged.
    In addition to Van Hollen, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators: Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    The Senators closed the letter with a series of questions to Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:
    The standard and legal course for the government to take to deport someone with protected status would be to reopen the case, introduce evidence that grounds for terminating the protected status exist, and then allow an immigration judge to make a determination as to their status. Why was that course of action not taken in this case?  
    In the past, DHS and ICE worked to quickly return people to the U.S. who were erroneously deported. Why is DHS and ICE no longer following these well-established procedures and practices?   
    Vice President J.D. Vance and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have both claimed that Mr. Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, but the government was unable or unwilling to provide any evidence to substantiate that claim to the court. Please provide any evidence of Mr. Abrego Garcia’s membership in MS-13.
    Given that the Administration is reportedly paying $6 million to El Salvador to detain deported immigrants at CECOT, why does it believe that there is nothing it can do to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family in the United States? Please provide a copy of the agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador on the detention of people deported from the U.S. in CECOT.
    Are there any other cases that the Administration is aware of in which an immigrant with protected status was illegally deported without due process? If so, identify those cases and explain what, if anything the government is doing to rectify those errors. 
    Will the Administration commit to reviewing all of the cases of its deportees to ensure that it has appropriately identified all of the errors? 
    What actions will the Administration take in the future to ensure that immigrants with protected status are afforded their appropriate due process? 
    Full text of the letter follows:
    Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,?? 
    We write to express our concerns regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, an action which the Administration admitted in a recent court filing was an “administrative error.” It is unacceptable that anyone would be deported without proper due process, especially where an immigration judge has granted the individual protected status that explicitly prohibits his return to El Salvador. We demand that the Administration bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home immediately.  
    According to court filings, on March 12, 2025, shortly after Mr. Abrego Garcia had picked up his son from the boy’s grandmother’s house, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped Mr. Abrego Garcia, inaccurately telling him that his protected status had changed. After giving his wife a few minutes to arrive to take custody of his son, ICE arrested and detained him without any further explanation as to the reason for his arrest. ICE then transferred Mr. Abrego Garcia and other detainees to Texas, where on March 15, 2025, they were loaded onto planes and deported to El Salvador. Mr. Abrego Garcia was reportedly on the only plane that was not sent under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act but instead was transporting migrants with formal removal orders signed by a judge. This occurred despite the fact that ICE knew, as the Administration conceded in court, that his protected legal status specifically prohibited his removal to El Salvador.  
    Per court filings, Mr. Abrego Garcia came to the United States in 2011 as a teenager fleeing gang threats in his home country of El Salvador. In 2019, ICE arrested Mr. Abrego Garcia over an unfounded and anonymous allegation that he was involved with MS-13, which placed him in deportation proceedings. The U.S. immigration judge in the case ultimately found that it was in fact Mr. Abrego Garcia who was at risk of being the victim of gang violence. The judge found that Mr. Abrego Garcia and his relatives credibly testified that gang members had been trying to extort his family and recruit him and his brother to join the gang, forcing his family to move multiple times, ultimately compelling both him and his brother to flee to the United States out of fear.  
    The immigration judge agreed that Mr. Abrego Garcia would likely face persecution if deported back to El Salvador and thus granted him a form of legally mandated protection known as “withholding of removal.” Withholding of removal, which may only be granted by an immigration judge, provided Mr. Abrego Garcia the ability to stay and work in the United States despite being the subject of a deportation order. This ruling was made under the Trump Administration in 2019 and was in fact required by law under section 241(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act once the immigration judge made the factual determination that Mr. Abrego Garcia faced a likelihood of torture in El Salvador. At the time, the Trump Administration made no effort to appeal the judge’s ruling or pursue Mr. Abrego Garcia’s deportation further. Court filings attest that Mr. Abrego Garcia has complied with regular ICE check-ins, has no criminal charges, and has had no contact with any other law-enforcement agency since his release in 2019.  
    Mr. Abrego Garcia is currently being held at CECOT, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador notorious for human rights abuses, after being deported in violation of the law to the very country where his return was impermissible. Though the Administration has admitted in court that his deportation was a mistake, it alleges that there is nothing it can do to address this injustice, given that Mr. Abrego Garcia is now in the jurisdiction of the government of El Salvador as part of an agreement to imprison U.S. deportees in exchange for financial compensation.  
    Your unwillingness to immediately rectify this “administrative error” is unacceptable. Under multiple Democratic and Republican administrations, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE followed the rule of law and worked to quickly return people who were wrongfully deported, in the rare instances where such “administrative errors” occurred. The Administration’s mass deportation agenda does not transcend immigration law or the need for due process. And when the Administration makes a mistake as severe as sending an individual with protected status to a foreign prison, it cannot simply shrug off responsibility and allege that there is nothing it can do to reunite him with his wife and child, who are American citizens. On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge in the District of Maryland ordered the government to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to the United States, and on Monday the Fourth Circuit denied the government’s motion to stay the order. The Administration should promptly comply with the district court’s order.
    To address our concerns about this matter and to provide clarity on the Department of Homeland Security and ICE’s policy regarding the immigration enforcement actions against immigrants with protected status, we ask that your Administration answer the following questions by April 22, 2025: 
    The standard and legal course for the government to take to deport someone with protected status would be to reopen the case, introduce evidence that grounds for terminating the protected status exist, and then allow an immigration judge to make a determination as to their status. Why was that course of action not taken in this case?  
    In the past, DHS and ICE worked to quickly return people to the U.S. who were erroneously deported. Why is DHS and ICE no longer following these well-established procedures and practices?   
    Vice President J.D. Vance and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have both claimed that Mr. Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, but the government was unable or unwilling to provide any evidence to substantiate that claim to the court. Please provide any evidence of Mr. Abrego Garcia’s membership in MS-13.
    Given that the Administration is reportedly paying $6 million to El Salvador to detain deported immigrants at CECOT, why does it believe that there is nothing it can do to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family in the United States? Please provide a copy of the agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador on the detention of people deported from the U.S. in CECOT.
    Are there any other cases that the Administration is aware of in which an immigrant with protected status was illegally deported without due process? If so, identify those cases and explain what, if anything the government is doing to rectify those errors. 
    Will the Administration commit to reviewing all of the cases of its deportees to ensure that it has appropriately identified all of the errors? 
    What actions will the Administration take in the future to ensure that immigrants with protected status are afforded their appropriate due process? 
    We appreciate your prompt attention to this vital matter and look forward to reviewing your fulsome, timely response. 
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Reed, Coons Lead National Security Senators in Sounding Alarm Over Recent Firings at NSA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, without cause or justification, President Donald Trump fired the top American cybersecurity official responsible for countering foreign cyber threats, just as the U.S. is confronting the most complex, sophisticated, and sustained attacks on U.S. cyber infrastructure our nation has ever experienced. The abrupt firing of General Timothy Haugh, the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), as well as the reassignment of Wendy Noble, the Deputy Director of the NSA, comes on the heels of the Trump Administration undermining the federal government’s election-related cyberdefenses, the mass-firing of federal cybersecurity personnel across multiple agencies, and an attempt to shift cyberdefense responsibilities onto states and municipalities.
    This week, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chris Coons (D-DE), led 21 of their committee colleagues in a letter to President Trump regarding the still unexplained ouster of General Haugh and Deputy Director Noble and warning that the Trump Administration’s actions are exposing the U.S. to serious threats from foreign adversaries and sophisticated cybercriminals.
    “These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure,” the 24 Senators wrote. “In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.”
    The senators also highlighted the impact this move would have on the dual-hat arrangement, in which a single officer leads both the NSA and CYBERCOM, and stressed that prematurely severing this agreement could put U.S. national security at risk.
    They continued, “Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”
    Joining Vice Chairman Warner and Ranking Members Reed and Coons in this letter are U.S. Senators: Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).
    As members of the key committees tasked with conducting oversight over NSA, the senators requested written justification for why General Timothy Haugh and Deputy Director Wendy Noble were removed from their posts, and asked for a Congressional briefing regarding any additional actions the administration plans to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.
    Full text of the letter follows:
    Dear President Trump,
    We write with alarm at the sudden and inexplicable firing of the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, General Timothy Haugh, as well as the reassignment of the Deputy Director of the NSA, Wendy Noble. Not only have both dutifully served this nation for decades under both Democratic and Republican administrations, but their removals were conducted in the middle of the night with no consultation with Congress and, according to reports, at the behest of a private citizen who has a record of promoting conspiracy theories.
    These actions severely compromise our ability to keep Americans safe. As you are well aware, our nation currently faces serious cyber threats from foreign adversaries, such as from China’s Salt Typhoon, with near-daily attacks against our critical infrastructure. In addition, our nation’s military is engaged in ongoing operations against multiple threats, from the Houthis in Yemen to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Given the dangers facing the United States, it is inexplicable that the Administration would remove the senior leaders of NSA/CYBERCOM without cause or warning, and risk disrupting critical ongoing intelligence operations.
    Furthermore, we urge you to exercise careful consideration and consultation with Congress on any further actions that may impact NSA’s or CYBERCOM’s abilities to provide the critical intelligence and operational support to policymakers and warfighters. This includes, but is not limited to, any considerations to terminate the dual-hat arrangement. Premature termination of the dual-hat arrangement would severely degrade the speed and effectiveness of NSA’s and CYBERCOM’s abilities to execute their missions and could have dire consequence for our national security. As Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis has repeatedly made clear in the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2017, 2018, and 2020, clear criteria must be met before any termination can be considered and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs must together certify that separation will not “pose risks to the military effectiveness of the United States Cyber Command that are unacceptable to the national security interests of the United States.”
    As Members of the respective committees of oversight, we request that you formally provide in writing a justification for why Director Timothy Haugh and Ms. Wendy Noble were removed from their posts and provide a briefing to Congress on any additional actions you plan to take with respect to NSA and CYBERCOM, including but not limited to the separation of the dual-hat.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Seek to Raise Federal Minimum Wage to $17 by 2030

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – The last time the federal minimum wage was raised it was July of 2009 – Barack Obama had just been elected president, iPads hadn’t come out yet, and the world was experiencing a global recession.  Since then, corporate profits have risen as has the costs of goods, but the federal minimum wage — which is supposed to ensure workers can afford the basic necessities — remains stuck at $7.25 an hour.
    U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are looking to ensure American workers can earn a living wage, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality by raising the minimum wage to $17 by 2030 for all workers and gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and youth workers.
    Today, Reed and Whitehouse teamed up with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), to introduce the Raise the Wage Act.  This bill would incrementally raise the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour by 2030, benefiting an estimated 64,000 Rhode Islanders.  
    Rhode Island is among 30 states and the District of Columbia that have enacted higher wage floors.  Currently, the minimum wage in Rhode Island is $15 an hour.  Servers in the restaurant industry and other hospitality workers who derive a large portion of income from tips have had their hourly wages capped at $3.89 since 2017.
    Last year, nearly one in four workers in the U.S. made less than $17 per hour. The Raise the Wage will raise the federal minimum wage to $17 over five years, eliminate the tipped subminimum wage over seven years, eliminate the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities over five years, and eliminate the subminimum wage for youth workers over seven years. According to analysis by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), passing the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 would provide raises to over 22.2 million workers across the country by 2030.
    If the federal minimum wage had increased with worker productivity over the last 57 years, it would be over $23 an hour today, not $7.25 an hour, which translates to a full-time salary of about $15,000 per year.
    “The $7.25 an hour minimum wage is a starvation wage. It must be raised to a living wage – at least $17 an hour,” Senator Sanders said. “In the year 2025, a job should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, we can no longer tolerate millions of workers trying to survive on just $10 or $12 an hour. Congress can no longer ignore the needs of the working class of this country. The time to act is now.”
    “The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 for too long.  No one in today’s economy can make ends meet working for such meager pay.  Rhode Islanders deserve a raise and workers deserve to be fairly compensated.  Right now, those making minimum wage can’t afford housing, food, and transportation so taxpayers end up subsidizing employers that pay so little.  When all businesses have to operate on a level playing field with fair pay it helps prevent costly turnover and re-training of workers.  The Raise the Wage Act would help strengthen families, businesses, and our economy,” said Senator Reed.
    “As rising costs squeeze families across Rhode Island, it’s well past time to increase the federal minimum wage,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “Our legislation will help more Americans get a foothold in the middle class by paying them a livable wage.”
    Today, the value of the current federal minimum wage – $7.25 per hour – is the lowest it has been since 1956 and has declined by over 32 percent since it was last increased in 2009. While approximately four million tipped workers in the U.S. depend on tips for as much as half of their income or more, the tipped sub-minimum wage has remained stagnant at just $2.13 per hour since 1991. The current median wage for at least 37,000 workers with disabilities is just $3.50 per hour.
    Meanwhile, across every state in the country, a living wage for a worker in a family with two working adults and one child is greater than $17 per hour, according to the Economic Policy Institute’s (EPI) Family Budget Calculator. Many of these low-wage workers face persistent economic insecurity, struggling to put food on the table and afford basic necessities, including housing, health care, and childcare. Black and Hispanic workers disproportionately feel the burden of these low wages as compared to their white counterparts, and that disparity is even worse for women of color. Nearly 40 percent of Hispanic women and 35 percent of Black women make less than $17 per hour.
    Joining Sanders, Reed, and Whitehouse on this legislation are U.S. Senators: Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-A), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    More than 85 organizations endorsed the Raise the Wage Act of 2025, including: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Economic Policy Institute (EPI), Equal Pay Today, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), National Education Association (NEA), National Employment Law Project (NELP), The National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), One Fair Wage, Oxfam America, Patriotic Millionaires, UNITE HERE, United Autoworkers (UAW), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), United for Respect, and United Steelworkers (USW).
    Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Gallego Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Veterans’ Access to Skilled Trade Educational Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) recently introduced the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would extend educational benefits in the Post-9/11 GI Bill to include partially online (or hybrid) versions of skilled trade training programs. Joining Senators Tillis and Gallego were Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). 

    “This commonsense legislation modernizes the Post-9/11 GI Bill to expand veterans’ access to high-quality skilled trade and vocational programs for in-demand career pathways like welding and HVAC, ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to succeed in today’s workforce,” said Senator Tillis. “By supporting hybrid learning opportunities, we’re providing veterans with the flexibility to gain critical skills, find gainful employment, and contribute to our economy after their service.”

    “Our veterans deserve access to training programs that prepare them for the modern economy, and increasingly those programs are happening in a hybrid format,” said Senator Gallego. “I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan, commonsense bill that will expand educational opportunities for veterans so they can succeed after their service.” 

    Full text of the legislation is available HERE.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Services moving to new Canberra Hospital building

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Emergency Department will be located at street level.

    When Canberra Hospital’s Critical Services Building opens in August, it will house a range of hospital services.

    While services will stay where they are until August, many critical care services will move to the new building, to be known as Building 5.

    This will transform the hospital campus. So, it’s important to have an idea of what is moving and where, so you’ll know where to find things next time you visit.

    The Critical Services Building will include Canberra Hospital’s main reception.

    You will also find the following services there.

    Emergency Department (ED) with dedicated children’s emergency area

    The Emergency Department will be located on street level.

    Its dedicated entrance will have improved features to make pick-up and drop-off safer and easier.

    The ED will have room to grow in the years to come.

    Its location will allow for better connections between acute services, as well as direct lift access to the new Helipad.

    The dedicated children’s emergency area will have its own triage and waiting area, enabling paediatric patients, carers and families to stay together, separate to the rest of the ED.

    Operating theatres
    The building’s new operating theatres will be located on Level 3.

    These will include state-of-the-art hybrid and interventional radiology suites to allow use of the latest advances in medical technology.

    Sterilising Services Unit
    Located on Level 4, the centralised Sterilising Services Unit will have the latest equipment and machinery.

    It will also have direct lift access from the building’s operating theatres to improve efficiency.

    Intensive Care Unit (ICU) The Intensive Care Unit will be located on Level 5.

    Bed capacity in the ICU will increase over time, ensuring it can grow with the community’s health needs.

    Two outdoor terraces connected to the ICU will enable patients to go outside as part of their healing and recovery.

    One of these terraces will also have a dedicated visitor courtyard that can be accessed through a visitor’s lounge.

    This will help support families and carers at a vulnerable and stressful time.

    Inpatient cardiology services
    Cardiology services will be located on Level 6.

    These will comprise the Acute Cardiac Care Unit, the Cardiac Catheter Lab, and the Cardiac Day Unit.

    Locating these services together will help patients transfer smoothly between them.

    The Acute Cardiac Care Unit will expand. The number of Cardiac Catheter labs and Cardiac Day beds will also increase.

    There will also be a dedicated lab for cardiac electrophysiology procedures, which evaluate the electrical activity of the heart and diagnose arrhythmias. Another larger lab will be able to accommodate more complex procedures such as TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation).

    Inpatient wards
    Inpatient wards will be located on levels 6 and 7.

    There will be five inpatient wards throughout, including the Acute Cardiac Care Unit, providing both surgical and medical inpatient beds.

    The wards will include the Acute Medical Unit, Emergency General Surgery and Trauma, Neurosurgery and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, and Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery.

    Medical imaging
    While the hospital’s main medical imaging suites will remain in Building 12, there will be additional medical imaging facilities in the Critical Services Building.

    This will include X-ray, CT, ultrasound and MRI.

    This state-of-the-art new building will create a better-connected hospital.

    It has been built to future-proof acute care services. As the Canberra community grows over time and into the future, so too will hospital services.

    Find out more on the Built for CBR website.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The bookworm’s guide to Canberra

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Support a small Canberra business by shopping at your local bookstore.

    Is it just us, or is reading having a moment? Whether it’s more book chats at work, Booktok taking over your social feed or simply walking past a new book shop or cafe, all signs are pointing to yes.

    If you’re looking for a way to get into reading, from reading on a budget to joining a book community, there is something for everyone in Canberra.

    Shop at Canberra local bookshops:

    Wanting to support a small Canberra business? Check out the bookshops in your region:

    North Canberra:
    South Canberra:

    Head to your local library:

    Canberra is home to many libraries with one in every region.

    Libraries are a great way to read without over-consuming and enjoy books for free.  There are also home library services to deliver books to your door and multicultural services available in select libraries.

    Check out the Lifeline Bookfair: 

    The Lifeline Bookfair is a book-lovers dream event. Not only are you getting second-hand books, but you are also donating to Lifeline.

    There are multiple events throughout the year at EPIC and at Tuggeranong, but if you can’t wait you can always check out Lifeline’s permanent store, Book Lovers Lane at the Fyshwick Markets. Lifeline also accepts book donations at their warehouse in Mitchell. Just make sure you read the checklist to ensure your books are resalable.

    Join or create a book club:

    Canberra has some amazing book clubs to join, you can find them through Facebook, or you can join and create one through ACT Libraries.

    Café Stepping Stone host a monthly silent book club at its Strathnairn cafe. This isn’t your ordinary book club. It is silent, and there is also no assigned reading. Participants simply bring along whatever they like and read along quietly with fellow readers. Hours of uninterrupted reading time? Yes please! Find out when the next event is.

    Tough Guy Book Club is a network of men’s book clubs in local pubs. They are scattered all over Australia, with Canberra home to a few different meet ups. They get together, read, chat and have a good meal at a pub. See when and where they are meeting next.

    Canberra Fantasy Book Club is all about reading fantasy! If you love dragons, witches, fairies and all things mythical, then this might be the group for you. Join the Facebook page here.

    ACT Libraries allows you to register and create a book club at your preferred branch. You can access 12 copies of the same book from their collection of 375 titles, create an online account and membership card, and get discussion guides. Sign up for a book club or learn more.

    Follow and find a street library:

    Did you know you can find libraries on several Canberra streets? Street libraries allow you to bring a book and swap it with one already in the library.

    If a street library is missing from your suburb, you can create your own!

    Read from Canberra authors:

    Civic Library regularly showcases Canberra authors and their books. You can find copies of recent books, and all can be borrowed from the library. Books from local authors are held for two years in the showcase before getting added to the ACT Heritage library or placed in the general lending collection within libraries ACT.

    Book cafes: 

    Wanting to sip on a delicious drink or enjoy a tasty treat while indulging in a new book? Pulp Book Café is a cosy coffee shop with an added focus on books!

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Belco skatepark half-pipe now open

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The new skate park is an exciting new space for Canberrans to be active.

    A new competition half-pipe at the Belconnen skatepark is now open.

    The original Belconnen skatepark was built more than 30 years ago.

    The new half-pipe – or vert ramp – is seven metres tall and adds to the parks appeal. It will be an exciting new space for Canberrans to be active and learn new skills including:

    • skateboarding
    • freestyle BMX.

    The half-pipe was built in sections, which were transported to site and then craned into place and put together.

    The project also includes lighting, minor landscaping and two murals.

    The first mural was painted by James Houlcroft. The pigeon-headed figures represent the range of skaters who are part of the Canberra skateboarding community. James was exploring the common environments of skaters and pigeons, such as public areas with concrete and corners.

    The second mural was painted by Eddie Mo in collaboration with Paul Licayan, known as ‘PAW’ in the street art world. Eddie’s mural replicates the shape and style of the underside of a skateboard. It reflects the culture and history of the Belconnen skatepark, where the practice of decorating the underside of a board is popular.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Northbourne Avenue road safety camera to be moved

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The camera will monitor for speed and red-light offences.

    From Wednesday 10 July, there will be a fixed road safety camera in place at the intersection of Northbourne Avenue and Bunda Street.

    This camera will monitor for speed and red-light offences.

    The camera is not an additional one in the fixed camera network. It is a relocation of an existing camera previously installed at the intersection of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue.

    The new location was chosen for several reasons including its proximity to the bus interchange and light rail stop and high level of pedestrian movement in that area.

    Road safety cameras detect and deter unsafe driving behaviours and improve pedestrian safety in town centres throughout Canberra.

    “Road safety cameras play an important role in supporting road safety in the ACT by reducing speeding on our roads and supporting the ACT Government’s Vision Zero strategy,” Access Canberra’s Executive Branch Manager of Service Delivery and Engagement Emily Springett said.

    “Speed limits are set to balance the need for safe and expedient travel as numerous studies have shown that ‘low level’ speeding contributes to a significant percentage of road casualties and fatalities in the ACT.”

    For more information on the ACT Road Safety Camera program visit the Access Canberra website.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool City Council awards new highway maintenance contract

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool City Council has awarded a multi-million pound highways maintenance contract to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of the city’s roads.

    The Council has approved the crucial £13m highway maintenance contract be awarded to two companies – which will run for up to five years.

    The contract award comes as the Council nears the completion of the Highways Improvement Plan 2 (HIP2), which has seen more than £11m invested in the city’s roads.

    The Council’s Cabinet has approved the awarding of the new contracts to two experienced companies, Dowhigh Ltd and Huyton Asphalt Civils Ltd.

    As part of the contract, the two firms are committed to creating social value that will see benefit to the community in addition to the work carried out.

    Liverpool City Council has also recently announced a new £4million contract for the Traffic Signal Upgrade Programme.

    This initiative aims to modernise six key junctions, enhance pedestrian safety, reduce congestion and promote active travel.

    In addition, Liverpool City Council is a key partner in ADEPT Live Labs 2, a three-year, UK-wide £30 million programme funded by the Department for Transport that aims to decarbonise the local highway network.

    The Council is pioneering the use of smart road and highway technologies with a series of experiments across the city on roads, pedestrian crossings and cycle paths.

    The hope is that these new technologies will reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, alleviate congestion, and create more sustainable neighbourhoods.

    Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said: “The safety and upkeep of our roads are vital for our community.

    “These contracts allow us to maintain essential services. They will also see us work in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

    “This means that road-users will notice roads getting repaired quicker, with the work meeting higher standards.

    “The Council has a responsibility under the Highways Act 1980 to maintain roads and these contracts will ensure that we continue to deliver necessary repairs, including pothole repairs, resurfacing, and drainage maintenance to the highest possible standards.

    “The council has chosen to work with these companies because of their proven track record and their local presence, which helps to ensure good value for money.”

    Matt Corke, Framework Director at Dowhigh, said: “We are proud to be awarded this vital contract by Liverpool City Council.

    “As a local, family-run business with deep roots in Merseyside, we’re committed to delivering high-quality, long-lasting highway repairs that make a real difference to communities across the city.

    “Through close collaboration with the Council, we’ll focus on efficient pothole repairs and resurfacing, helping to make Liverpool’s roads safer and more reliable.

    “We’re equally committed to creating meaningful social value – from supporting local employment and skills development to working alongside responsible local businesses.

    “Together, we’ll build better roads and brighter futures for Liverpool residents.”

    Tony Carney, Managing Director of HA Civils, expressed his delight in continuing the long-established and successful partnership with Liverpool City Council. He said: “As a proud Liverpool business, we are committed to building upon the great work we’ve delivered over many years and supporting the Council’s vision for a fairer, cleaner, and stronger city.

    “Through this contract, we will prioritise significant carbon reduction, create sustainable local employment opportunities, deliver measurable social value through our HA Means More initiatives, and provide an exceptional, reliable local service throughout the contract.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Childcare places increased in Liverpool thanks to grant funding

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Over 2,500 new childcare places are being created in Liverpool that will support working parents – and there are more to come.

    The increase has been made possible by grant funding received from the government to support the national expansion of funded childcare places as well as places which are part of the “wraparound” programme for primary school-aged children.

    So far, Liverpool City Council has awarded over £1.5m to providers which will create 366 early years places, 303 before-school places and 1,858 after-school places – 2,527 in total – for youngsters from families with eligible working parents. And a fourth round of applications is due to open shortly.

    The grant funding streams, which can support either capital work such as buildings or equipment for early years places, or increasing staff numbers and other running costs for wraparound places, has been distributed to childcare settings, such as nurseries or child minders, or breakfast and after-school clubs for primary school children.

    Ofsted-registered providers were invited to apply for funding as part of a stringent process. Applicants had to provide financial accounts, cashflow forecasts and a business plan. If providers were applying for building work they also needed to supply a quote, with further quotes requested if their application was successful. Providers were also visited by the grants team to talk through their project.

    For each funding stream, a grant panel team assessed all applications against numerous criteria to ensure fairness, with 78 being successful. Successful providers will continue to have their projects monitored to ensure value for money.

    Applications received by the council ranged from converting unused rooms to complete new builds.

    From last April, the national expansion of funded childcare places has seen eligible working parents of two- year-olds able to access 15 hours a week of childcare with the offer further expanded to nine-month olds up to three-years-olds last September. The offer is set to expand further from this September with children aged from nine months to three years able to access 30 hours of childcare a week.

    Since changes to the entitlements, uptake in Liverpool has been impressive. With 94 per cent of eligible families of two-year-olds who applied for a Childcare Choices code now taking up a funded place when the first change was implemented, equating to 1,756 children.

    With the further expansion to nine-month-olds to three-year-olds 97 per cent of families who applied for a code took up a funded place, equating to 2,085 children now benefitting from an early years education.

    Parents eligible for funded childcare should visit the Childcare Choices website.

    Cllr Liz Parsons, cabinet members for Children’s Social Services, said: “It’s great news that early years providers in Liverpool have grasped this opportunity to apply for funding to ensure that as many as possible of our working families can take up the expanded childcare offer.

    “Our early years providers are vital for Liverpool, not only ensuing that parents are able to work but that youngsters get the benefits of an early years education which is so important for their development as they get ready to set off on their school journey.

    “It is also exciting to see that the wraparound offer in the city is set to become stronger which will again give more support to working parents.

    “The available funding has been carefully allocated by the council’s panel to ensure that real value is generated for Liverpool’s families and we’re already looking forward to seeing the applications we receive in the fourth round.”

    Neil Verdin, headteacher at Pleasant Street Primary School, one of the providers which has secured funding for its wraparound service, said: “The successful grant application has allowed Pleasant Street to increase our capacity for extended provision.

    “Previously, we were unable to meet the demand due to restricted space but now the grant contributed to a modern new ‘Cedar Room’ being built. This has allowed us to increase our intake, with available spaces currently matching parental requests for places.”

    Brian Quinn, owner of The Childcare Academy in the Baltic Quarter, said: “The government expansion grant has been a great opportunity. What we’ve been able to do is open a new space for nine additional babies, 15 spaces for pre- and after-school clubs and a holiday club in the summer holidays.

    “We’ve had an exponential growth and success with the expansion grant, and we couldn’t be happier with the result.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: A day in the life of a DAS Ranger

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    “It’s amazing to be an advocate for the voiceless while also connecting with community members,” says Ranger Elly.

    Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a Domestic Animal Services (DAS) ranger looks like? For Ranger Elly, every day is different.

    The work DAS rangers do is fast-paced and challenging. Rangers like Elly often work on an 11-hour four-day roster, working on-call which means no day is the same. Rangers tend to perform several different duties, spending some time in the office. Most of the time, however, they are out in the field completing hands-on work. Some day-to-day duties may involve responding to dog attacks, animal nuisance complaints or assisting with lost and impounded dogs.

    Elly has been working as a ranger for a couple of months. What you might not expect is that she has a Communications and Media degree.

    “I applied for the role after uni and went through the competitive online application process. I wanted to do something that was challenging and rewarding. I believe they look for a diverse skillset in the role. I also decided that I didn’t want to be working in an office all day. The work I do as a Domestic Animal Services ranger has a positive impact on the community. The role is so diverse, and I know I’m making a tangible difference,” Elly said.

    “The field work is often dynamic and compassionate. I love working with animals. It’s amazing to be an advocate for the voiceless while also connecting with community members,” Elly said.

    Elly enjoys being a ranger. Like any job, it does have its difficulties.

    “Being a Domestic Animal Services ranger can have its challenges as well. We deal with confronting situations, like dog attacks. A small percentage of the community don’t always work with rangers in a safe or appropriate way. We work daily with members of the community who don’t meet key elements of compliance in pet ownership. An important reminder to the community is, all cats and dogs need to be registered,” Elly said.

    Many Canberrans understand the work the rangers do. However, there are certain myths about her work that Elly hopes to bust.

    “I think some people think we go out of our way to infringe people or take their dog away, but we don’t. This is only done when necessary. We spend a lot of time working with the community. One of our priorities is to educate the community first and foremost,” she said.

    Besides Rangers, there are a lot of other people working behind the scenes at DAS too. There is a kennel team who care for the dogs at the shelter. There are also team members who manage adoptions, work with the community and run educational programs.

    “I sometimes think people misunderstand our work. We’re a big team which involves lots of different people doing great things. We’re fortunate to have a lot of dedicated volunteers. They help walk the dogs and enrich their lives while they are with us,” Elly said.

    The next intake of Domestic Animal Services volunteers will be in August. It will bring fresh faces and new energy to the volunteer team.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: CIT Woden Campus hits maximum height

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    This milestone brings the campus another step closer to completion.

    The main building at the CIT Woden Campus has reached its full height.

    This brings the project another step closer to completion.

    This major milestone was celebrated today with a topping out ceremony on the building’s fifth floor.

    The topping out ceremony finished with the tradition of placing a tree atop the new building. This marks the completion of the structural framework.

    For a project with sustainability at its core, it was fitting that the ceremonial tree was crafted from timber frame offcuts.

    The tree will become part of on-campus public art for students, staff and the community to enjoy.

    The main building’s structure and architectural finish are made from sustainably sourced engineered wood products, manufactured in Australia.

    Visible throughout the building, the MASSLAM columns and beams, and cross-laminated timber floors showcase construction innovation and environmental responsibility.

    The building’s roof and glazed timber façade will also be finished in the coming months.

    The focus will then turn to its internal fit out, landscaping and art before building commissioning and preparing to welcome staff and students.

    The CIT Woden Youth Foyer and new Public Transport Interchange will also open alongside the campus.

    The project is a key part of revitalising Woden Town Centre as a place to live, work, visit, commute and now study.

    The CIT Woden Campus will open to students in semester 2, 2025.

    It will support up to 6,500 students each year, and offer the skills and training required for tomorrow’s careers in IT, cybersecurity, business and hospitality.

    Canberrans can take advantage of the campus’s student-operated facilities, including:

    • a café
    • a restaurant
    • a hair and beauty salon
    • retail spaces.

    The project is a collaboration between the ACT Government, CIT, delivery partners Lendlease, local businesses and the community.

    It has already delivered over 450 jobs for Canberrans. It has also created over 5,000 hours of training for students, apprentices and trainees.

    The project will create more new jobs as the campus prepares to open.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Matthews Asia Co-Founder Mark Headley Returns as Executive Chairman

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matthews Asia today announced that co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mark Headley, has been appointed Executive Chairman and will assume the CEO responsibilities. Mark, who will continue to serve on the Matthews Asia Board of Directors and as the newly appointed Chairman and interim CEO, succeeds Cooper Abbott, who left the firm on April 7, 2025.

    Mark Headley brings his extensive investment and operational leadership back to the firm he co-founded with Paul Matthews in 1995. During his long tenure at the firm, he held both CEO and CIO roles as well as being a Portfolio Manager on a range of mutual funds. Under Mark’s leadership, he helped guide the firm through a significant period of growth as well as managing the firm during challenging periods in financial markets that included the Global Financial Crisis in 2007.

    Over his two decades at Matthews, and in partnership with Paul Matthews, Mark helped lead the evolution and growth of the firm to become a leading and highly regarded Emerging Market investment manager for Asia-focused investments. With a strong commitment to active management and fundamental research, he helped the firm develop its investment approach and build a deep bench of investment talent. The firm’s focus on investments in Asia and Emerging Markets created a unique value proposition which remains in place today along with a deeply embedded client-centric culture.

    Paul Matthews, founder, said, “I am extremely pleased that Mark has been appointed Executive Chairman of the firm we founded together over 30 years ago. During Mark’s time at Matthews, the success of this firm had been driven by his deep understanding of Asia’s markets and an unwavering focus on exceeding our clients’ expectations. I am confident that Mark is the right person to lead the company. As a former CEO and Portfolio Manager of Matthews, he has the proven strategic and operational leadership experience that will help the firm navigate through these challenging markets and set the firm onto a path towards its next period of growth and innovation.”

    Mark Headley, Executive Chairman, said, “I am delighted to be rejoining Matthews. I am particularly excited to work closely with Sean Taylor, CIO, and a talented group of experienced professionals at the firm. I am confident that we can deliver long-term growth opportunities for our clients, employees and shareholders.”

    About Matthews Asia

    Matthews is an independent, privately owned investment manager founded in 1991 on a belief that Global Emerging Markets offer exceptional long-term growth potential. As a trusted and experienced investor, Matthews takes a long-term, active, fundamental investment approach to construct highly differentiated portfolios that focus on Emerging Markets, Asia and China. The firm manages assets on behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally in vehicles that include SMAs, mutual funds and active ETFs. For more information about Matthews, please visit www.matthewsasia.com.

    Media Contact in the U.S.:
    Dukas Linden PR
    Sarah Lazarus/Christian Healey
    +1 617-335-7823/+ 1 781-439-2500
    sarah@dlpr.com/christian@dlpr.com

    Media Contact in Europe/Asia:
    Mark Lidstone
    Matthews Asia
    mark.lidstone@matthewsasia.com

    Disclosure
    This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not, in any way, constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or product mentioned herein. Investing in international and emerging markets may involve additional risks, such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation.
            
    Matthews Asia is the brand for Matthews International Capital Management, LLC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Risch, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve the Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and James Risch (R-ID) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) by increasing the transparency and ensuring the accountability of its funding program. Since 1991, the Recreational Trails Program has provided funding to states to develop and maintain outdoor recreational trails, allowing millions of Americans and their families to enjoy activities such as hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and 4-wheel driving.
    “Minnesota snowmobilers, hikers, ATV users, cyclists, and countless others who enjoy the outdoors rely on the Recreational Trails Program to explore our state’s natural wonders and support our local businesses,” said Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will ensure states receive the resources they deserve to protect and improve these trails for generations to come.”
    “The Recreational Trails Program provides Idahoans and visitors to our state with access to our public lands,” said Risch. “This legislation ensures trail maintenance projects can continue and future generations can enjoy Idaho’s great outdoors for years to come.”
    “From Vermont’s green mountains to Utah’s ‘Mighty Five’ National Parks, America is home to unmatched natural beauty. The Recreational Trails Program plays a vital role in helping build and maintain hiking trails across the country so folks can enjoy and explore our great outdoors,” said Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will support this crucial program to ensure that future generations can experience the joy of hiking our nation’s scenic trails for many years to come.”
    “From Murphy to Manteo, North Carolina’s network of recreational trails not only attracts tourism to our state, but also allows North Carolinians to enjoy the natural beauty our state has to offer. I am proud to join Senator Klobuchar in introducing this bipartisan legislation to help maintain, improve, and expand upon the natural infrastructure of our public lands,” said Budd. 
    The RTP Full Funding Act—which is supported by recreational groups from snowmobilers to cyclists and hikers to off-highway power sport vehicle users—will ensure that federal funds collected for this program are maximized to support more trail projects in the future. The bill signals strong support for bringing the Recreational Trail Program funding in line with the revenue collected from the federal gas tax already paid by off-road recreational vehicle users without impacting funding for other federal transportation programs. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Curtis (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
    The RTP Full Funding Act will increase the accuracy and transparency of RTP funding by:

    Requiring a study to determine the total amount of funds collected;

    Improving reporting on expenditures from the RTP to improve accountability and oversight; and

    Streamlining RTP funding distribution to the states by reducing unnecessary paperwork.

    The bill is supported by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), Motorcycle Industry Council,  Safe & Responsible Use at the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, American Trails, International Mountain Bicycling Association, The Corps Network, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, American Council of Snowmobile Associations, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation, American Hiking Society, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), PeopleForBikes, Back Country Horsemen of America, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association, and Rails to Trails Conservancy.
    “The Recreational Trails Program has produced tens of thousands of successes across the nation, benefiting the health, safety and enjoyment of millions of hikers and bicyclists and ATVers and snowmobilers and equestrians and more.  It has forged national and regional partnerships among those who use trails – overcoming potential competition with plans that deliver great opportunities for all.  RTP projects benefit from the sharing of best practices and from widespread volunteerism and Public-Private-Partnerships.  Because RTP offers flexibility in uses including maintenance and education, the program can improve other trail projects.  Best of all, RTP unifies the nation across our diversity – north and south, urban and rural, young and old, Red and Blue and more, and connects more Americans to their shared legacy of public lands and waters.  We thank our wonderful  Congressional Champions for making this possible!” said Marianne Fowler and Derrick Crandall, Co-Chairs of the Coalition for Recreational Trails.
    “The RTP is vitally important to trail users everywhere.  The program funds trail construction, maintenance, safety, interpretation, and other important projects. The funding for this program has remained flat for too long.  We would like to thank the bill sponsors for taking action to ensure that these important priorities will be fully funded,” said Duane Taylor, Director of Safe & Responsible Use,  Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.
    “The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations applaud the continued leadership of Senators Klobuchar and Risch and the active support of Senators Welch, Budd, Tillis, Merkley and Curtis to return to outdoor recreation the resources required to build and maintain our recreational trail infrastructure. Their persistence in pushing for this funding partially addresses the greatest inequity contained in our federal aid highway program.
    “In the past decade almost $3 billion in revenue generated by motorized trail enthusiasts has been deposited in the Federal Highway Trust Fund. Unfortunately, the vast majority of that revenue has been diverted to infrastructure inaccessible to motorized recreational products. While the Recreational Trail Program makes a portion of that funding available for motorized trail infrastructure, it is woefully deficient.
    “The public should know that 100% of the RTP funding released by the Klobuchar/ Risch legislation is generated by motorized recreation with the federal gas taxes paid every time our recreation vehicles are filled up. Only a portion of those funds are returned to the trails, with 30% guaranteed for motorized trails, 30% for non-motorized trails and 40% for multiuse trails.
    “This legislation is a step in the right direction for the continued support of the trails system – and the rural communities across the United States! Thank you for your support and leadership!” said Jaret Smith, President of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, and Christine Jourdain, Executive Director of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations.
    “The Recreational Trails Program is vital for building and maintaining trails for cyclists across the country.  At PeopleForBikes, we strongly support more funding for all bicycle infrastructure programs and applaud the bipartisan leadership of this legislation for their support of recreational trails,” said Jenn Dice, CEO of PeopleForBikes.
    “American Hiking Society and the 59 million strong hiking community praises the bipartisan leadership of Senators Klobuchar and Risch in support of the Recreational Trails Program! The RTP Full Funding Act of 2024 will ensure that the over three decades long impact of RTP can continue to provide the tens of millions of non-motorized and motorized trail users in urban and rural areas the benefits of trails including health and wellness, connectivity, and economic growth. Hikers and trail users across the country thank Senators Klobuchar, Risch, Budd, Welch, Tillis, Curtis, and Merkley for their support of our nation’s trails!” said Tyler Ray, Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy, American Hiking Society.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Colleagues’ Bill to Help Adjust Military Life Insurance for Inflation Passes House

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Keith Self (TX-03) released the following statements after their Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, which would help ensure life insurance packages for service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living and inflation, passed the House of Representatives: 

    “We need to make sure service members, veterans, and their families have the financial support they need and deserve,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Our bill would help ensure the Veterans Affairs Department can offer competitive life insurance packages that keep pace with the current cost of living.”

    “While we can never fully repay the debt that we owe to those who serve our country, we should work each and every day to get them the benefits that they deserve,” said Sen. Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that the life insurance offered for our veterans and servicemembers is keeping pace with real-world costs to help protect the financial security of the families of those who serve.”

    “Our nation’s service members and veterans put their lives on the line to protect America and defend our freedom,”said Sen. Cruz. “I am proud to partner with my colleagues to honor and provide for those who bravely sacrificed to serve the United States of America. Adjusting the value of the life insurance policies of servicemembers and veterans in line with inflation will ensure that America rightly honors their memory and cares for their loved ones after they are gone.”

    “Our servicemembers, veterans and their families make countless sacrifices every day to protect our nation, and we are indebted to their selfless service,” said Sen. King. “With the bipartisan Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, we can ensure life insurance packages for military members adjust with the rising cost of living — giving more peace of mind to military families as they increasingly face the difficulties of an unstable economy. I’m grateful to my colleagues for coming together to honor our commitment to the brave men and women who have given so much to our country.”

    “Our servicemembers put their lives on the line for their country, and we must secure the well-being of their families and loved ones in the event of a tragedy,” said Rep. Strickland.“The passage of this bill makes it clear that Congress continues to stand by our military families.” 

    “I’m proud the House came together in unanimous support and passed the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025,” said Rep. Self. “This commonsense legislation ensures that our veterans and their families receive the full value of the benefits they’ve earned by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to review and adjust the maximum coverage for servicemembers’ and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance programs to keep pace with inflation, ensuring these benefits keep pace with rising costs.”

    This legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

    Background:

    The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act would help ensure the maximum group insurance available to service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living. From 2006 to 2023, the maximum insurance value available for service members and veterans remained static, lagging far behind inflation rates. This bill would strengthen the financial safety net for veterans, service members, and their families by requiring a report to the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding cost of living increases and inflation rates every five years to ensure they don’t go years without assessing inflation rates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strengthening Alberta’s ties in eastern Canada

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Highway Speed Cameras go live on I-90 and I-5 in Spokane, Skagit Counties to encourage safe driving

    Source: Washington State News 2

    Pilot program will mail courtesy notices – not tickets – to drivers

    OLYMPIA – A new pilot program using cameras to identify speeding vehicles on two Washington roadways launches this week.

    The Washington State Department of Transportation is partnering with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Washington State Patrol to reduce the number of speed-related crashes with a pilot program created by the state Legislature. Highway Speed Cameras placed on two highways in different parts of the state will track speed and license plates of speeding vehicles. The registered owners of the vehicles observed speeding will receive courtesy notices through the mail encouraging them to slow down – but there will be no fine to pay.

    The goal of this program is to change driver behavior, prevent collisions and injuries and save lives. In 2023, the state saw an increase in the number of fatal and serious crashes, including 810 total roadway deaths. On state-run highways alone, there were 358 fatal or serious injury crashes where speeding was cited as a factor, and that does not include local roadway crashes. Speeding is one of the leading high-risk factors for fatal and serious injuries statewide, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

    Program details

    The pilot program is funded by $1 million from the state Legislature. It will be tested in eastern and western Washington at the following locations starting Thursday, April 10:

    • Southbound Interstate 5 between Cook and Bow Hill roads in Skagit County.
    • Eastbound I-90 near Liberty Lake between the Liberty Lake and State Line Interchanges in Spokane County.

    These locations were selected after program managers reviewed crash data and targeted roadways where speed was a factor in fatal and serious injury collisions. The locations were also selected because they provided enough space between on- and off-ramps to obtain accurate data.

    When a driver receives a courtesy notice, it informs them of the speed at which their vehicle was traveling and the potential cost of a ticket for that speed. The message on the courtesy notice focuses on safety. This program does not issue fines, nor does it affect driving records. Learn more about the pilot program and leave comments at the Highway Speed Cameras online open house through June 30.

    Following the pilot program’s conclusion in June, WSDOT will analyze the data from the cameras, review public feedback and report back to the Legislature.

    New safety tool

    These cameras will track speeds using the “average speed method.” This involves placing multiple cameras at each location and tracking the time it takes a vehicle to travel between two different measure points. The vehicle’s average rate of speed between those two locations will be used to determine if the driver was speeding. The cameras will hover 19 feet over the roadway from trailers placed on the side of the road. They will remain in those locations until late June.

    This program is different from the upcoming Work Zone Speed Camera Program, which aims to slow drivers as they pass through active road construction work zones. The Work Zone Speed Camera Program uses mobile cameras that will move to various work zones around the state, generating images that could result in a $248 infraction for the second violation and each additional infraction.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Automotive Component Manufacturer Selects Scotland County for Southeast Operation, Adding 35 New Jobs

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Automotive Component Manufacturer Selects Scotland County for Southeast Operation, Adding 35 New Jobs

    Automotive Component Manufacturer Selects Scotland County for Southeast Operation, Adding 35 New Jobs
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein announced Bailey Manufacturing Company (BMC), a manufacturer of stamped metal automotive parts, will add 35 new jobs in Scotland County. The company will invest more than $4.3 million in a new production facility in Laurinburg. 

    “Bailey Manufacturing’s decision to locate to Scotland County is more proof that North Carolia is a top state for businesses across all industries,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Our state’s manufacturing legacy and longstanding commitment to innovation will continue to attract growing companies to every corner of the state.” 

    Bailey Manufacturing supplies stamped metal components for the automotive industry. In addition to metal stamping, the New York-based company also offers machining, welding, and assembly services for its list of customers, including automotive manufacturers such as General Motors and many others. BMC produces and ships 13 million parts annually throughout the United States, Mexico, China, and South Africa. The 50,000-square-foot facility in Laurinburg will double production capacity for BMC and offer more manufacturing, warehousing, and administrative space. 

    “Bailey Manufacturing is excited to join the growing list of automotive suppliers in North Carolina.  Our new southeast facility will allow us to better serve our growing customer base,” said John Hines, President of Bailey Manufacturing Company. “I want to thank North Carolina, Scotland County, Scotland County EDC and the City of Laurinburg for their assistance in making this project a reality and look forward to a prosperous future together.”  

    “BMC is a great addition to our automotive supply chain of more than 250 manufacturers,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “North Carolina is home to 20 of the top global OEM suppliers, the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, and one of the largest state-maintained transportation networks to get parts to customers all over the world.” 

    While wages vary by position, the annual average salary for the new positions will be $52,000, exceeding Scotland County’s average of $46,708. These new jobs could potentially create an annual payroll impact of more than $1.8 million for the region. 

    A performance-based grant of $120,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help the company locate to North Carolina. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require matching participation from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met. 

    “I am pleased to welcome Bailey Manufacturing Company to Scotland County,” said N.C. Senator Danny Earl Britt. “Our hardworking people are ready to help the company establish its operation in Laurinburg that will lead to future success.” 

    “These new jobs and investment are welcome additions for our community,” said N.C. Representative Garland E. Pierce. “This decision by Bailey Manufacturing Company validates Scotland County as a great place for growing companies to do business.” 

    In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Richmond Community College, North Carolina’s Southeast, Scotland County, Scotland County Economic Development Corporation, and City of Laurinburg. 

    Apr 8, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of Supreme Court Justice in Maryland

    Source: US State of California

    Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, pleaded guilty today to attempting to kill a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

    “This calculated attempt on the life of a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice was a heinous attack on the Court itself,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Anyone who thinks they can use violence or intimidation to influence our courts will be met with the full force of the law and face up to life in prison.”

    “Nicholas Roske sought to commit a despicable, premeditated attack on a Supreme Court Justice and today is another step toward accountability,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “No violent attacks can be tolerated, whether those targeted are public officials or private citizens – and the FBI and our partners will aggressively investigate and bring to justice all those who engage in such plots.”

    “The attempted assassination of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice is an extreme, brazen act, one that we — along with our federal, local, and state law-enforcement partners — will not tolerate,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “It’s through these partnerships that we’re able to hold criminals accountable and uphold the rule of law. We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who are involved in planning and executing acts of violence against others.”

    As part of his guilty plea, Roske admitted that on June 7, 2022, he flew from Los Angeles International Airport to Dulles International Airport with a firearm and ammunition in his checked baggage. He then took a taxi from the airport to Montgomery County, Maryland, with the intent to kill the Supreme Court Justice.

    According to the criminal complaint and the Government’s factual allegations, on June 8, 2022, at approximately 1:05 a.m., two Deputy U.S. Marshals, protecting the residence of a Supreme Court Justice, observed Roske arrive in and get out of a taxi in front of the residence. Roske wore black clothing and had a backpack and suitcase. Upon observing Roske, the two Deputy U.S. Marshals started to get out of their vehicles as the defendant proceeded to walk down the street.

    Shortly after, Roske told a Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center call taker that he was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, had a gun in his suitcase, and flew from California to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice.

    Montgomery County Police Department officers responded to the location and took Roske into custody. A search of Roske’s suitcase and backpack revealed a firearm; black tactical chest rig and tactical knife; two magazines, each containing 10 rounds of ammunition; 17 additional rounds of ammunition; pepper spray; zip ties; a hammer; screwdrivers; a nail punch; a crowbar; a pistol light; duct tape; hiking boots with padding on the outside of the soles; and lock-pick tools, along with other items.

    Law enforcement transported Roske to a Montgomery County Police Department station where he was read his Miranda rights. Roske then stated that he was upset about a recently leaked Supreme Court draft decision on abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The defendant also admitted that he came from California with the intent to use the firearm and burglary tools and to kill the Supreme Court Justice.

    Roske faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, MCPD, and Police Department for the U.S. Supreme Court for their work and cooperation in the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Sullivan and Coreen Mao for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Senior Member of Violent D.C. Drug Crew Is Sentenced to 420 Months in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON –Broadus Jamal Daniels, 30, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 420 months (35 years) in prison in connection with drug and gun charges related to a drug-trafficking conspiracy.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Daniels, aka “Wardy,” was found guilty by a federal jury on September 16, 2024, of possessing machine guns in furtherance of drug trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of machine guns, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

                In addition to the 35-year prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Daniels to serve four years of supervised release.

                According to the evidence presented at trial, Daniels, was a “big homie” or senior member in a street gang known as Jugg Gang, or “JG.”  In approximately August 2018, the Jugg Gang became allied with a neighboring D.C. street crew known as “Push Dat Shit” or “PDS.”  PDS maintained gang territory in the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, Southeast, and adjacent areas, and operated an open-air drug market outside a grocery located on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, Southeast.

                Between August 2018 and April 2023, members of the allied PDS/JG street crew sold drugs from Holiday Market and from “trap houses” that they maintained in apartment buildings surrounding that location. As their drug business grew, PDS/JG became the target of drive-by shootings conducted by rival gangs – shootings they referred to as “spinning the block.” Beginning in August 2019, a PDS/JG member began assembling AR-pistol assault rifles from kits purchased from online retailers and modified them to be capable of fully automatic fire. Such firearms are defined as “privately made firearms” by the ATF but are frequently referred to as “ghost guns” on the street.

                As proved at trial, PDS/JG members used, carried, and possessed these “ghost gun” AR-pistol machine guns to defend their territory from rival gangs, and also to “spin the block” on rival gangs to deter their rivals from entering PDS/JG territory.

                This sentencing is part of an ongoing joint investigation which has resulted in 26 convictions, and the seizure of two vehicles, 35 firearms, four machine guns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 60 pounds of marijuana, 41 grams of cocaine base, dozens of oxycodone pills, and approximately $500,000 in cash.

                Daniels’ co-defendant, Andre Alonte Willis, who was a leader of PDS, was sentenced February 20, 2025, to 20 years in prison on five felony convictions related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

                The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James B. Nelson and Justin F. Song and Paralegal Specialist Melissa Macechko.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Seizure of contraband at Stony Mountain Institution medium security unit

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 8, 2025 – Stony Mountain, Manitoba – Correctional Service Canada

    On April 5, 2025, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, packages containing contraband were seized within the medium security at Stony Mountain Institution.

    The contraband included cannabis and THC concentrates. The total estimated institutional value of this seizure is $1,047,740.00. 

    The police have been notified and the institution is investigating.

    The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) uses a number of tools to prevent drugs from entering its institutions. These tools include ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates and visitors.

    CSC is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone. CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions.

    CSC has set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC institutions. These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates and staff members working at CSC institutions.

    The toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, helps ensure that the information shared is protected and that callers remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Leads New York Delegation Letter Requesting Full State Funding for MTA Capital Plan

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, led a letter signed by members of New York’s delegation to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, requesting full funding of the $68.4 billion MTA Capital Plan for 2025–2029 as part of this year’s state budget.

    The letter comes as the Trump Administration has moved to rescind federal approval of New York’s congestion pricing plan and has threatened to withhold critical transit funding, actions that could jeopardize vital infrastructure projects across the state.

    In their letter, the Members wrote: “By ensuring that the MTA Capital Plan is adequately funded, we can fortify our transit infrastructure, shield New Yorkers from unpredictable actions from the Trump Administration, and make proactive investments to protect the region’s economy from future disruptions.

    “The MTA’s Capital Plan is essential for maintaining a modern, resilient, and efficient transit system that meets the needs of all New Yorkers. With the potential loss of federal funding jeopardizing critical transit infrastructure projects, it is crucial that we secure full state funding to mitigate any budget shortfalls and safeguard the transformative improvements outlined in the Capital Plan. The consequences of deferred maintenance are already evident, as over 13,000 equipment failures result in delays annually.

    “Fully funding the Capital Plan is not just about keeping trains and buses running. It is a crucial step in preserving our region’s economic stability and ensuring that public funds are spent wisely. The MTA service area is home to nearly 70% of all jobs in New York State, and the transit system plays a vital role in keeping the state’s economy moving. According to a recent report from the Partnership for New York City, the 2025–2029 Capital Plan is projected to generate $106 billion in economic output and more than 70,000 jobs statewide, including nearly 20,000 jobs outside of New York City,” the Members continued.

    Representative Nadler was joined on the letter by Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26),  Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)

    Full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Work well underway on Acton Emergency Services Station

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The new station will house ACT Fire and Rescue and ACT Ambulance services.

    Construction is progressing well on Acton’s new state-of-the-art emergency services station.

    The new station will house ACT Ambulance Service and ACT Fire & Rescue. It will further improve response times in the city centre and inner north.

    Construction is on schedule to be complete in December 2024.

    While the building may look finished at that point, there will still be more to do. The station is expected to be operational by June 2025.

    The new station will:

    • house one Fire and Rescue pumper and one aerial appliance, with two crews per shift.
    • be able to house up to six ambulance vehicles, including EV-charging capacity for our hybrid single response unit (SRU) fleet, and at this stage, one 24/7 ambulance crew.

    The station’s design emphasises energy efficiency and aligns with the ACT’s Climate Change Strategy goals.

    Its EV chargers will meet the needs of the agency’s electric vehicle fleet.

    Solar panels on the roof are expected to create 142MWh per year.

    The station is located between Clunies Ross Street and Parkes Way.

    Once open, it will equip ACT first responders with the facilities and infrastructure they need to carry out their vital work.

    Find out more about Acton Emergency Services Station on the Built for CBR website.

    The station is located between Clunies Ross Street and Parkes Way.

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    MIL OSI News –