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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salinas Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Specialty Care in Rural Communities

    Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced her bipartisan, bicameral bill to increase rural communities’ access to specialty care providers. Modeled on a successful Oregon pilot program, the Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere (EASE) Act authorizes the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to create a virtual specialty care provider network that rural patients can access through telehealth.

    Salinas joined her Republican colleague, Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19), in introducing the EASE Act in the House. U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

    “People with chronic conditions depend on specialty care to stay healthy, yet many rural communities do not have sufficient access to these services,” said Rep. Salinas. “The bipartisan EASE Act is based on a successful pilot program from Oregon that used telehealth to connect rural patients with specialty care providers, reducing wait times and improving coordination between providers. I’m proud to introduce this critical legislation that would expand access to specialty care for millions of Americans.” 

    “We won’t have the next generation of ag and energy producers providing our country with food security and energy independence if we don’t ensure their families have access to quality care,” said Rep. Arrington. “The lack of specialty care for rural Americans has resulted in worse outcomes and higher costs. I’m proud to introduce the EASE Act, which leverages technology to close the health care gap in rural and underserved communities with greater access to specialty and integrated care.”

    “Everyone deserves access to quality, efficient health care. However, people in rural communities often face unacceptable barriers to care, including unsustainably high wait times and impossibly long drives to connect with specialists,” said Sen. Padilla. “Our bipartisan EASE Act would expand telehealth capabilities so rural communities can access specialty care, allowing for earlier intervention and reducing unnecessary emergency visits.”

    “Rural communities are disproportionately impacted by clinician shortages, an aging population, and transportation hurdles, which can make it tough to access specialty care,” said Sen. Mullin. “Harnessing the power of telehealth will help address these needs and expand access to essential health care services of which many patients are in desperate need. I am glad to join my colleagues in introducing this bill to ensure access to quality health care regardless of a patients’ zip code.”

    Specifically, the EASE Act would:

    • Authorize CMMI to enter into an agreement with a provider network comprised of nonprofit entities including federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, or rural emergency hospitals, at least half of which are located in rural areas.
    • Patients eligible for participation in this program must be located in rural and underserved areas and be enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP.

    The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: National Rural Health Association (NRHA), American Telemedicine Association (ATA), ATA Action, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Providence, OCHIN, The Libre Initiative, and the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals.

    “The National Rural Health Association applauds Representatives Arrington, Salinas, and LaHood and Senators Mullin and Padilla for the introduction of the EASE Act. A shortage of health care providers in rural areas means that patients can often have long wait times and challenges accessing needed specialty care. The EASE Act is an innovative piece of legislation that would leverage virtual technologies to reduce wait times, overcome geographic barriers, and improve care for rural Americans,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.

    “We need to rethink how we ensure Rural America’s access to specialty care. The EASE Act is an innovative and cost-effective way to provide reliable and integrated access to specialists. OCHIN applauds Reps. Arrington and Salinas for championing bi-partisan solutions that will redesign how high-quality care is delivered,” said Jennifer Stoll, Chief External Affairs Officer at OCHIN.

    “The EASE Act seeks to remove barriers health care access for families in underserved areas who can face delays of 30 to 70 days just to access basic specialty care. By empowering local clinics with virtual tools and better care coordination, the EASE Act would help communities take control of their health, empower patients, and strengthen local health networks,” said Isabel Soto, Policy Director for The LIBRE Initiative.

    To read the full text of the legislation, click here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Cantwell Reintroduce Bill to Help U.S. Host Cities Bolster Local Infrastructure Ahead of 2026 World Cup, 2028 & 2034 Olympics

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) – members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation – reintroduced the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act to provide federal funding for local communities to prepare for transportation demands and ensure the successful movement of fans, workers and goods during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2034 Winter Olympics that will all be held in the United States.
    “It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” said Sen. Moran. “Preparations are already underway for the games, and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”
    “With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This bill will help ensure the hundreds of thousands of fans visiting Seattle can get to and from games safely and efficiently by improving coordinated transportation planning across the Pacific Northwest.”
    The United States, Canada and Mexico were selected to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, and 11 U.S. cities are preparing to host World Cup matches, including Kansas City, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Transportation demands will increase greatly as host cities and surrounding communities are expecting hundreds of thousands of additional visitors from across the globe during the games. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics and Salt Lake City was selected to host the 2034 Winter Olympics.
    This legislation would create a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide host cities with funding for projects that improve transportation in the region during World Cup or Olympic games. Grants would support permanent transportation projects – building new roads, expanding light rail, purchasing new buses, creating bike lanes, improving existing roads or highways, or making airport terminal improvements. 
    The Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act would:
    Provide resources to host cities through grant funding for projects that improve transportation in the region during World Cup or Olympic games, which could include acquiring buses, improving airports, or building roads.
    Allow DOT to provide technical and planning assistance to host cities, states, and tribes within 100 miles of a World Cup or Olympic event to help improve coordination and prepare regional transportation systems for the influx of fans.
    Allow DOT to facilitate sharing public transportation equipment, such as buses, between host cities and other cities, helping reduce costs while meeting transportation demand.
    Direct the Department of Commerce to study the economic impact hosting the World Cup and the Olympics has on travel and tourism in the United States.
    “We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in support of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, Chief Executive Officer of KC2026. “Senator Moran continues to be a leader in transportation, mobility, safety and security in the Kansas City region. This legislation will give much needed support to our efforts to ensure safe and efficient transportation of people and goods throughout the region during the World Cup. More importantly, these investments and support will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”
    “On behalf of the KCATA, we are grateful that Senator Jerry Moran is demonstrating his foresight and leadership by introducing bipartisan legislation that will help us, and other host cities effectively host these games and move people to where they need to be,” said Frank White III, President and CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). “The Senator’s outreach and understanding of our needs to serve both visitors and residents will help us with effective planning and preparation to host sizable crowds on our transit systems next summer.”
    “We are excited for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to take place in the United States,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, U.S. Soccer Federation President. “We appreciate Senators Moran and Cantwell for introducing legislation to provide the 11 U.S. cities hosting World Cup matches, and the dozens more cities hosting team base camps, fan fests and other events and activities, with the resources they will need to welcome the hundreds of thousands of people that will travel here from around the world.”
    “The USOPC strongly supports the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Host Cities Act, and we thank Senators Moran and Cantwell for their leadership on this issue. This legislation is crucial to ensuring the United States is prepared to host the decade of sport ahead, from the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. This bill will make it possible for cities to enhance their infrastructure and provide a seamless experience for athletes and fans alike. The essential transportation assistance set forward in this bill will help make these global events a success and demonstrate American excellence on the world stage.” – The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
    “From ferries to trains, buses to highways, the World Cup will undoubtedly put Washington state’s transportation system to the test,” said Peter Tomozawa, CEO, Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 Organizing Committee. “We appreciate Senator Cantwell’s leadership to provide transportation agencies the support they need so we’re ready to showcase Washington to the world in 2026.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova took part in a round table dedicated to the two-year anniversary of the “Defenders of the Fatherland” foundation

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    April 3, 2025

    Tatyana Golikova took part in a round table dedicated to the two-year anniversary of the “Defenders of the Fatherland” foundation. On the left is the Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov. Photo by the press service of the National Center “Russia”.

    A round table dedicated to the second anniversary of the state fund “Defenders of the Fatherland” was held in the National Center “Russia”. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Defense, Chairperson of the state fund “Defenders of the Fatherland” Anna Tsivileva, Head of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency Veronika Skvortsova, veterans of the special military operation took part in the round table.

    “It is symbolic that in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, declared by the President of our country Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we are summing up the work of the “Defenders of the Fatherland” foundation for two years. The main thing is that as a new structure the foundation has been established. This became possible thanks to the efforts of caring people who give themselves to this work, dedicating their professional lives to it. Our main task is to ensure that, returning from a special military operation, our guys are maximally integrated into society, and families do not feel lonely when the defenders are fighting on the front lines. Work in this direction is an absolute priority for us. It is important for us to hear the guys themselves, so that they share their vision – how the work to support them should be structured and implemented,” emphasized Tatyana Golikova.

    Over the past two years, the fund has received 28 billion rubles from the federal budget to develop a support system for SVO participants. In 2025, funding is provided in the amount of more than 25 billion rubles, in 2026-2027 it will amount to more than 28 billion rubles.

    According to Tatyana Golikova, the foundation was helped to establish close cooperation primarily with the participants of the SVO, with government bodies, the Government of Russia, the regions of the country, and the expert community.

    In order to strengthen the coordination of the activities of federal and regional executive bodies, the Fatherland Defenders Foundation, and other organizations, a State Council commission was created on issues of supporting combat veterans – participants in the SVO and their family members.

    The support system is being fine-tuned, primarily based on feedback from participants in the special military operation and their relatives. For these purposes, work is being carried out within the framework of an open dialogue on the platform of the Russian Government with the participation of all regions and federal authorities and the expert community.

    Based on proposals from SVO participants, the state guarantees program for free medical care for citizens includes an out-of-turn procedure for providing medical care to combat veterans and providing a separate health worker to coordinate it, an out-of-turn procedure for undergoing preventive examinations and medical check-ups, providing specialized and high-tech care, and, if necessary, a mobile team visiting a combat veteran. In addition, rehabilitation opportunities have been expanded – starting this year, 17 thousand SVO participants will be able to undergo medical rehabilitation and spa treatment in 12 Social Fund centers. Currently, 3,528 SVO participants and their family members are undergoing treatment, 2,640 people have completed it. Compensation for travel expenses to and from the place of treatment is provided.

    Work is underway to improve the level of employment of SVO participants.

    Within the framework of the new national project “Personnel”, measures are being implemented to organize vocational training and additional vocational education for SVO participants and their family members. Subsidies are also being provided for the re-equipment of workplaces, their adaptation for SVO participants who have become disabled. It is planned that by 2030, 33 thousand such workplaces will be equipped.

    “On the instructions of the head of state, large-scale work is underway to create a network of specialized centers for complex prosthetics and rehabilitation and ensure their maximum accessibility. The centers will be created primarily based on the needs of the SVO participants, as outlined by the Ministry of Defense. The competencies the guys acquired on the front lines should be used further, not lost, their integration into everyday life is very important for all of us,” noted Tatyana Golikova.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexey Overchuk met with the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The current state and prospects for the development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries are considered.

    Alexey Overchuk met with the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son

    A meeting between Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son took place in Moscow. The meeting discussed the current state and prospects for the development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Vietnam. Representatives of relevant ministries and departments of the two countries took part in the event.

    During the intergovernmental negotiations, the parties discussed in detail the progress of joint projects in the fields of energy and transport, industry and agriculture, culture, science and education, tourism and other areas in which the countries are working within the framework of the strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam.

    The commitment to the consistent implementation of the agreements reached by the leadership of the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during an intensive and trusting dialogue, primarily at the high and highest levels, was confirmed.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In the year of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Dmitry Chernyshenko honored the memory of Cuba’s national heroes

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    April 3, 2025

    The Russian delegation headed by Dmitry Chernyshenko visited memorable historical sites in the city of Santiago de Cuba as part of a working visit to the Republic of Cuba.

    2025 marks the 65th anniversary of the restoration of bilateral diplomatic relations between Russia and Cuba.

    A Russian delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Russian-Cuban Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Dmitry Chernyshenko paid a working visit to the city of Santiago de Cuba.

    As part of it, the delegation visited a number of memorable historical sites. Thus, Dmitry Chernyshenko honored the memory of Cuban national heroes at the Santa Iphigenia cemetery, the Frank Pais Mausoleum of the Second Eastern Front, and the Moncada barracks.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the visit is being carried out on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, and also noted the symbolism of the beginning of the program in the city of Santiago de Cuba.

    The year 2025 marks the 65th anniversary of the restoration of bilateral diplomatic relations between Russia and Cuba, the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and the 510th anniversary of the city of Santiago de Cuba, the hero city and cradle of the revolution.

    “It is a great honor to be here and honor the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the sake of sovereignty and happiness of future generations. It is extremely important to remember this and raise our children in the spirit of respect and gratitude for everything they have done for us. Russia will support Cuba, helping the republic achieve its sovereignty. I wish you economic well-being and prosperity,” the Russian Deputy Prime Minister said.

    The Santa Iphigenia Cemetery is the largest in the city of Santiago de Cuba and the entire eastern part of the island and has the status of a national monument. There, the Deputy Prime Minister and members of the delegation laid flowers at the monument to the leader of the Cuban revolutionary movement, José Martí, national heroes Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and Mariana Grajales, as well as at the burial site of the remains of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

    “Russia and Cuba are a long-standing friendship and common values and principles – to defend national interests and strengthen sovereignty. The Republic has gone through many difficulties, in overcoming which Cubans have always shown fortitude and strength of spirit! I am grateful to the leadership of Santiago de Cuba for this opportunity to honor the memory of the heroes and leaders of the nation of the Island of Freedom! Russia, know that it is with you forever!” – wrote Dmitry Chernyshenko in the book of honored guests.

    In addition, during a working visit to the Republic of Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko held a working meeting with the Governor of the Province of Santiago de Cuba Manuel Falcon Hernandez.

    In the future, the delegation headed by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister will visit the capital of Cuba, Havana, where it will take part in the 22nd meeting of the Intergovernmental Russian-Cuban Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Virginia Tangvald’s Ghosts of the Sea opens in Quebec theatres on May 9 after screenings on the festival circuit

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    March 27, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Virginia Tangvald’s documentary Les enfants du large (Ghosts of the Sea), a family investigation shot all over the world, opens in Quebec theatres on May 9. The theatrical release will follow the film’s festival tour, first in Quebec and then in Toronto at the prestigious Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, in the Canadian Spectrum Competition. The filmmaker will be attending several screenings of her documentary on the tour.

    The film is a Canada-France co-production, produced by micro_scope with the NFB and Urban Factory, distributed by the NFB in Canada and Reservoir Docs internationally.

    Watch the trailer

    About the film

    Les enfants du large (Ghosts of the Sea) by Virginia Tangvald (micro_scope/NFB/Urban Factory, 97 min)

    While searching for clues about the death of her brother Thomas, who was lost at sea, the filmmaker embarks on a fascinating investigation into her family’s dark secrets. Calling into question the idyllic life of her father, legendary sailor Peter Tangvald, her quest dismantles the myth of absolute freedom. The film won the TV5 Audience Award for best French-language film at the Festival du nouveau cinéma last October.

    In 2024, Virginia Tangvald published her autobiographical story, Les enfants du large, alongside the launch of Ghosts of the Sea, her first feature documentary. A true literary success, the novel has sold more than 25,000 copies in France and Quebec, winning the Discovery of the Fall prize awarded by the French literary organization Société des gens de lettres.

    Festival tour – dates

    • Vues sur mer – Festival du cinéma documentaire de Gaspé
      Thursday, April 10, 9:15 p.m.
      Screening

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: nfb.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AI screening for opioid use disorder associated with fewer hospital readmissions

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release
    Thursday, April 3, 2025

    NIH-supported clinical trial shows AI tool as effective as healthcare providers in generating referrals to addiction specialists.
    An artificial intelligence (AI)-driven screening tool, developed by a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research team, successfully identified hospitalized adults at risk for opioid use disorder and recommended referral to inpatient addiction specialists. The AI-based method was just as effective as a health provider-only approach in initiating addiction specialist consultations and recommending monitoring of opioid withdrawal. Compared to patients who received provider-initiated consultations, patients with AI screening had 47% lower odds of being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after their initial discharge. This reduction in readmissions translated to a total of nearly $109,000 in estimated healthcare savings during the study period.
    The study, published in Nature Medicine, reports the results of a completed clinical trial, demonstrating AI’s potential to affect patient outcomes in real-world healthcare settings. The study suggests investment in AI may be a promising strategy specifically for healthcare systems seeking to increase access to addiction treatment while improving efficiencies and saving costs.
    “Addiction care remains heavily underprioritized and can be easily overlooked, especially in overwhelmed hospital settings where it can be challenging to incorporate resource-intensive procedures such as screening,” said Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “AI has the potential to strengthen implementation of addiction treatment while optimizing hospital workflow and reducing healthcare costs.”
    In a clinical trial, researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, compared physician-led addiction specialist consultations to the performance of their AI screening tool, which had been developed and validated in prior work. Researchers first measured the effectiveness of provider-led consultations at the University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, between March to October 2021 and March to October 2022, whereby healthcare providers conducted ad hoc addiction specialist consultations for opioid use disorder. They then implemented the AI screening tool between March to October 2023 to assist the healthcare providers and remind them throughout hospitalization of a patient’s need for an addiction specialist’s care. From start to finish, the trial screened 51,760 adult hospitalizations, with 66% occurring without deploying the AI screener and 34% with the AI screener deployed hospital-wide. A total of 727 addiction medicine consultations were completed during the study period.
    The AI screener was built to recognize patterns in data, like how our brains process visual information. It analyzed information within all the documentation available in the electronic health records in real time, such as clinical notes and medical history, to identify features and patterns associated with opioid use disorder. Upon identification, the system issued an alert to providers when they opened the patient’s medical chart with a recommendation to order addiction medicine consultation and to monitor and treat withdrawal symptoms.
    The trial found that AI-prompted consultation was just as effective as provider-initiated consultation, ensuring no decrease in quality while offering a more scalable and automated approach. Specifically, the study showed that 1.51% of hospitalized adults received an addiction medicine consultation when healthcare professionals used the AI screening tool, compared to 1.35% without the assistance of the AI tool. Additionally, the AI screener was associated with fewer 30-day readmissions, with approximately 8% of hospitalized adults in the AI screening group being readmitted to hospital, compared to 14% in the traditional provider-led group.
    The reduction in 30-day readmissions still held after accounting for patients’ age, sex, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and comorbidities, as calculated via an odds ratio. When analyzing the results using the odds ratio, the researchers estimated a decrease of 16 readmissions by employing the AI screener. A subsequent cost-effectiveness analysis indicated a net cost of $6,801 per readmission avoided for the patient, healthcare insurer, and/or the hospital. This amounted to an estimated total of $108,800 in healthcare savings for the eight-month study period in which the AI screener was used, even after accounting for the costs of maintaining the AI software. The average cost of a 30-day hospital readmission is currently estimated at $16,300.
    “AI holds promise in medical settings, but many AI-based screening models have remained in the development phase, without integration into real-world settings,” said Majid Afshar, M.D., lead author of the study and associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Our study represents one of the first demonstrations of an AI screening tool embedded into addiction medicine and hospital workflows, highlighting the pragmatism and real-world promise of this approach.”
    While the AI screener showed strong effectiveness, challenges remain, including potential alert fatigue among providers and the need for broader validation across different healthcare systems. The authors also note that while the various study periods – spanning multiple years – were seasonally matched, the evolving nature of the opioid crisis may have introduced residual biases. Future research will focus on optimizing the AI tool’s integration and assessing its longer-term impact on patient outcomes.
    The opioid crisis continues to strain healthcare systems in the U.S., with emergency department admissions for substance use increasing by nearly 6% between 2022 to 2023 to an estimated 7.6 million. Opioids are the second leading cause of these visits after alcohol, but screening for opioid use disorder in hospitals remains inconsistent. As a result, hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder frequently leave the hospital before seeing an addiction specialist, a factor linked to a tenfold increase in overdose rates. AI technology has emerged as a novel, scalable tool to potentially overcome these barriers and improve opportunities for early intervention and linkage to medications for opioid use disorder, but more research is needed to understand how AI can be used effectively in healthcare settings. 
    If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol conditions, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, you can go directly to FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357).
    About the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): NIDA is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy, improve practice, and advance addiction science. For more information about NIDA and its programs, visit www.nida.nih.gov.
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AFSCME’s Saunders: Patients who depend on Medicare and Medicaid deserve better than Dr. Oz

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):

    “At a time when our population is growing older and the need for access to home care, nursing homes, affordable prescription drugs, and quality medical care has never been greater, Americans deserve better than a snake oil salesman leading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    “Dr. Mehmet Oz has been shilling pseudoscience to line his own pockets. He can’t be trusted to defend Medicare and Medicaid from billionaires who want to dismantle and privatize the foundation of affordable health care in this country.

    “AFSCME members – including nurses, home care and child care providers, social workers and more – will be watching and fighting back against any effort to weaken Medicare and Medicaid. The 147 million seniors, children, Americans with disabilities, and low-income workers who rely on these programs for affordable access to health care deserve nothing less.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Multiple Defendants Indicted On Federal Drug And Gun Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Asheville has returned multiple indictments, charging several individuals with criminal charges that include unlawful firearm possession, straw purchasing of firearms, and trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    “Protecting our communities from drugs and guns is one of the Justice Department’s core missions,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Through Operation Take Back America we are stepping up our efforts to remove illegal firearms from our communities, eliminate drugs in our neighborhoods, and make sure our streets are safer for everyone.”

    Bryan Austin Herron, 23, of Marshall, N.C., was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that, on August 5, 2024, Herron unlawfully possessed a RugerEC9S 9mm handgun knowing he had prior felony convictions, including attempt to traffic methamphetamine.

    John Quentin London, 39, of Hendersonville, N.C., is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and unlawful possession of two firearms: a Smith and Wesson, model 649, .38 caliber revolver, and a Smith and Wesson, model SD9, 9mm pistol.

    Jason Mills, 46, of Hendersonville, is charged with multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that Mills trafficked fentanyl and methamphetamine in Henderson and Buncombe Counties between January and February 2024.

    Christopher O’Brien Moore, 30, of Shelby, North Carolina, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that, on June 6, 2024, Moore, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a federal racketeering conspiracy and multiple state felonies, unlawfully possessed a Glock, model 22, .40 caliber pistol and ammunition.

    Dontavis Raheem Pressley, 36, of Shelby, N.C., is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that, on August 13, 2024, Pressley possessed a Glock model 43, 9mm caliber pistol, knowing he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

    Tia Marche Ray, 33, of Asheville, is charged with five counts of straw purchasing firearms. The indictment alleges that between July 12, 2020, and August 3, 2022, Ray acquired six firearms from multiple dealers in Buncombe County, by making false statements in connection with the acquisition of the firearms, falsely representing that she was the actual buyer of the firearms.

    The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office; the Burke County Sheriff’s Office; the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office; the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office; and the Asheville Police Department for their respective investigations that led to the charges.

    The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville.

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

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fresno County Resident Charged with Federal Gun and Drug Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today against David Joseph Yama, 41, of Reedley, adding charges of possession of alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) with intent to distribute, three counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one count of carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    Yama continues to be charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl as charged in the original indictment.

    According to court documents, on Sept. 1, 2020, police officers went to a gas station in Clovis after a report of suspicious activity and contacted Yama and two associates. A search of the car that Yama had been driving uncovered a large amount of cash, ammunition, plastic baggies, vials containing fentanyl, more than 200 fentanyl pills, and more than 100 alprazolam pills. A search of Yama’s residence on the same day revealed additional controlled substances and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Several months later, in January 2021, Yama was stopped driving the same car. A search of the car resulted in the seizure of more alprazolam pills, ammunition, and a ghost gun. Prior to September 2020, Yama had been convicted of five felony drug trafficking and firearms offenses, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team, a multi-agency team composed of the DEA and the Homeland Security Investigations, the California Department of Justice, and the Clovis, Reedley and Fresno Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Karen A. Escobar are prosecuting the case.

    If convicted on the drug-trafficking counts, Yama faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for each count. For the count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense, he faces a mandatory, consecutive five-year penalty and a maximum of up to life in prison. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.

    This case is also being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ecuadorian National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Entering the US After a Prior Removal

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Maine: An Ecuadorian national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal.

    According to court records, on February 4, 2025, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the FBI conducted surveillance at a South Portland residence. After observing William Ariel Tamay Guaman, 23, get into a van, agents followed Tamay Guaman and conducted a traffic stop. An ERO agent familiar with Tamay Guaman approached the driver and asked for their name. Tamay Guaman provided a false name and was directed to step out of the vehicle. After briefly fleeing on foot and resisting arrest, he was taken into custody. He was positively ID’d by fingerprints.

    Tamay Guaman, who entered the country in or before 2019, was charged in the Cumberland County Unified Criminal Docket in March 2023 with two counts of reckless conduct involving a minor for offenses that occurred between 2020 and 2021. He was convicted and sentenced to 364 days of imprisonment on one count, to be followed by an additional, fully suspended 364 days and probation. In a separate proceeding, an immigration judge ordered Tamay Guaman to be removed from the United States, and he was deported in September 2023.

    Tamay Guaman faces a maximum prison term of two years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    ICE-ERO investigated the case with assistance from the FBI.

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Vice Chairman of Smyth County School Board Pleads Guilty

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ABINGDON, Va. – The former Vice Chairman of the Smyth County School Board pled guilty today to using at least six minor, male victims to produce child pornography.

    Todd  Stewart Williams, 54, of Chilhowie, Virginia, pled guilty today to four counts of persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing and attempting to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more minors to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct, in interstate commerce.

    “The Internet has expanded the manner in which young people can be targeted by those looking to exploit them,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “Importantly, this case demonstrates that even those who are entrusted by our communities to oversee the welfare of our children may harbor intentions to exploit them, and for that reason we must be ever vigilant and responsive when our young people report abuse. I am thankful to the FBI both in Virginia and elsewhere for their diligence in bringing this case to justice.”

    “There is no place in our communities for someone who manipulates and abuses children, especially by someone in a position of influence. In addition to committing numerous reprehensible acts against minors, Williams betrayed the trust of parents in Smyth County where he was elected to oversee the education and well-being of students,” said Stanley Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “The FBI Richmond team stands with parents and educators to protect our children and ensure justice is served for all who seek to harm them.”

    According to court documents, Williams’s criminal activity came to the attention of law enforcement in September 2022 when a 15-year-old teenager living in Oklahoma reported to the FBI that Williams, using the Snapchat username “todd_w3411” requested nude images and videos of him.

    During an interview with law enforcement, the teen told investigators he met Williams in a Snapchat group intended for gay teenage males. Soon after they began chatting, Williams reached out to the teen and offered to make in-app purchases in an online video game in exchange for nude pictures of the teen.

    The FBI’s investigation uncovered multiple instances of Williams’s exploitation of multiple minors.  In one instance, Williams used Snapchat to communicate with a then 12-year-old minor and offered to purchase items for an online game before eventually offering to buy nude pictures and videos from the boy.

    Between August 2022 and January 2024, Williams sent the young victim nearly $1,000 in exchange for nude images and videos.

    In January 2023, Williams met another teen on Snapchat and paid the teen to take pictures and videos of him sexually abusing his younger stepbrother, who was 10-years-old at the time. As directed by Williams, the teen would approach his stepbrother in his bedroom at night and force his stepbrother to watch pornography and engage in sexual acts.

    Because the teen reached his $600 monthly limit on Cash App transactions, Williams mailed him a debit card hidden inside a pair of shoes to ensure he was able to purchase his videos.

    In a six-month period, Williams paid over $3,500 for nude images and videos of the teen and his stepbrother.

    In yet another interaction with a young teenage boy on Snapchat, Williams paid over $3,000 in exchange for nude images and videos of him and his teenage boyfriend.

    In all, Williams spent more than $10,000 buying nude images from at least six underage male victims.

    At sentencing, Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of up to fifteen years in prison and up to thirty years.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Pierce is prosecuting the case.

    The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: FlowChai Launches Advanced AI-Powered Platform to Upends SEO Content Creation Through Natural Language Conversations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today marks the official launch of FlowChai, a breakthrough artificial intelligence (AI) content platform that is set to transform how individuals, agencies, and businesses produce high-quality, SEO-optimized written content. Through its proprietary conversational interface and advanced language models, FlowChai empowers users to generate, edit, and publish fully customized content at scale—faster and more efficiently than ever before.

    FlowChai introduces a new era in content generation by eliminating the traditional barriers of complexity and time. By enabling natural, real-time chat-based collaboration between users and an intelligent AI agent, the platform offers a seamless and personalized way to create engaging articles that are both search-engine friendly and aligned with brand voice.

    Engineered for Simplicity, Built for Power

    FlowChai is specifically designed to serve the modern digital ecosystem, where content is essential for visibility, growth, and customer engagement. Unlike rigid, template-based tools, FlowChai functions as an interactive writing assistant. Users can instruct the AI using plain English (or other supported languages), and the AI responds with coherent, compelling content tailored to specific needs.

    Whether users are crafting blog posts, product descriptions, marketing copy, listicles, or long-form articles, FlowChai delivers polished, SEO-friendly content without the typical friction found in older-generation AI tools.

    Core Capabilities of FlowChai

    1. Conversational Content Creation

    At the core of FlowChai’s user experience is its natural chat interface. Users communicate with the AI in everyday language, specifying goals, topics, tones, and more. The AI interprets and executes these requests instantly, producing human-like content that aligns with the user’s expectations.

    This conversational model, unlike standard prompt-based systems, promotes continuous feedback and revision. It allows users to refine content with simple instructions such as “add a call to action,” “reword this for a younger audience,” or “expand on paragraph three.” This approach not only ensures the AI’s understanding of the user’s needs but also enhances the user’s control over the content creation process.

    2. Intelligent and Effortless Scalability

    FlowChai can generate everything from a single article to an entire content library. This makes it ideal for:

    • Small business owners need a weekly blog
    • Marketing agencies managing multiple client campaigns
    • E-commerce stores create hundreds of product descriptions
    • Enterprise teams producing content at scale across various regions

    Content can be batched and requested in large volumes through automated workflows and chat commands—dramatically reducing the time and workforce typically required for high-volume writing. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses with high content demands, as it allows them to maintain a consistent content output without overburdening their resources.

    3. Brand Voice Customization and Control

    FlowChai learns and adapts to your specific writing style and brand tone over time. Through repeated use, it builds a contextual understanding of your preferences, ensuring that each article sounds consistent and aligned with your audience’s expectations. Users can also manually define brand voice guidelines or request revisions directly during chats, giving them complete control over their brand’s representation in the content.

    4. Multilingual Content Support

    With native support for multiple languages, FlowChai enables users to create localized content for global audiences. This opens doors for companies targeting international markets, translation services, and multilingual blogs—without the need for separate writers or third-party translation tools.

    5. Seamless Publishing and Platform Integration

    To enhance workflow efficiency, FlowChai integrates directly with WordPress and other content management systems. Users can instruct the AI to publish drafts, schedule posts, or push live content—all through the same conversational interface. This end-to-end publishing capability saves time and ensures a smooth content pipeline from idea to publication, making the process as seamless as possible for our users.

    Subscription Plans Designed for Every User

    FlowChai offers transparent and affordable pricing models designed to accommodate freelancers, startups, agencies, and corporations. All subscription plans include access to FlowChai’s advanced conversational agent and full platform capabilities, ensuring that quality content creation is within reach for all.

    Basic Plan – $9/month

    Ideal for individuals or bloggers. Includes up to 100 articles per month using standard quality models.

    Personal Plan – $49/month

    Designed for active content creators. Provides up to 500 articles monthly with standard model output.

    Professional Plan – $149/month

    Built for agencies and businesses. Supports up to 1,500 high-quality articles generated with premium models per month.

    All plans begin with a 14-day free trial, offering unrestricted access to all features. Users can cancel anytime. A 30-day money-back guarantee further ensures a risk-free experience for new subscribers.

    Built for Modern Creators

    FlowChai is not just a content tool—it is a fully responsive assistant that works with users to help them scale their ideas into impact. Whether managing SEO campaigns, building a brand, educating audiences, or launching products, FlowChai adapts to every content demand with speed and quality.

    With the explosion of content marketing in digital spaces, companies often struggle to maintain consistency, tone, and production speed. FlowChai solves this challenge by offering an AI-powered partner that responds instantly, learns over time, and continuously improves its ability to deliver publication-ready material.

    Getting Started with FlowChai

    To experience the full potential of conversational AI-driven content creation, users can visit www.flowch.ai and begin a free 14-day trial today. A credit card is required to start the trial, but no charges will be made unless the user continues after the trial ends. Users may cancel at any time by simply visiting their account settings and selecting the cancellation option. No questions asked.

    FlowChai is committed to transparency, innovation, and empowering users to take control of their digital voice with speed, accuracy, and confidence. We believe in providing our users with the most advanced tools and information to help them succeed in the digital landscape.

    About FlowChai

    FlowChai is a next-generation content automation platform powered by advanced artificial intelligence. By combining large language models with natural language processing and intuitive user interaction, FlowChai simplifies content creation for individuals, marketing professionals, and businesses. FlowChai’s mission is to eliminate creative bottlenecks and democratize content generation—so that everyone, regardless of technical skill, can build and scale their ideas into successful outcomes.

    For Media Inquiries or Partnership Opportunities, Contact:

    FlowChai Media Relations

    Email: hello@flowch.ai

    Website: https://flowch.ai

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about FlowChai

    1. What is FlowChai?

    FlowChai is an AI-powered content creation platform that enables users to generate SEO-optimized, high-quality articles through simple, natural conversations with an intelligent agent. It’s designed to simplify and scale content production for individuals, agencies, and businesses.

    2. How does FlowChai work?

    FlowChai works through a conversational interface. You chat with the AI agent just like you would with a human writer—giving it instructions, feedback, or revisions in plain language. The AI understands your input and creates content tailored to your goals, tone, and audience.

    3. Who is FlowChai for?

    FlowChai is ideal for:

    • Bloggers and freelancers who need fast, SEO-friendly content
    • Marketing teams producing articles, product descriptions, or landing pages
    • Agencies managing content for multiple clients
    • Businesses that want to scale their digital presence without hiring a large team

    4. What types of content can I create with FlowChai?

    You can generate a wide variety of content formats, including:

    • Blog posts
    • Product Description
    • SEO articles
    • Social media content
    • Newsletter content
    • Press releases
    • Long-form guides
    • Branded landing pages
    • And much more

    5. Does FlowChai create SEO-optimized content?

    Yes. FlowChai uses AI models trained to follow best practices for search engine optimization. The content it generates includes relevant keywords, clear structure, meta-friendly formatting, and natural readability—all essential for ranking well on search engines.

    6. Can I control the tone and style of the content?

    Absolutely. FlowChai gives you complete control over your brand voice. You can tell the AI to write in a formal, conversational, persuasive, or technical tone—or provide your brand guidelines. Over time, the AI learns your style and maintains consistency across all outputs.

    7. Is FlowChai capable of writing in multiple languages?

    Yes. FlowChai supports content creation in multiple languages, making it suitable for businesses targeting international or multilingual audiences.

    8. Can I publish directly to WordPress or other platforms?

    Yes. FlowChai integrates seamlessly with WordPress and similar CMS platforms. You can instruct the AI to publish content directly, schedule posts, or export drafts easily—straight from the chat interface.

    9. How many articles can I generate per month?

    FlowChai offers different subscription plans based on your needs:

    • Basic Plan: Up to 100 articles/month
    • Personal Plan: Up to 500 articles/month
    • Professional Plan: Up to 1,500 articles/month
    • All plans include access to the conversational AI agent and publishing features.

    10. Is there a free trial available?

    Yes. All plans include a 14-day free trial with full access to FlowChai’s features. No charges will be made unless you continue after the trial. A valid credit card is required to activate the trial, but you can cancel anytime.

    11. What happens if I’m not satisfied?

    FlowChai offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscription plans. If you’re not satisfied with the results, you can cancel and request a full refund—no questions asked.

    12. Is my content private and secure?

    Yes. FlowChai uses secure cloud infrastructure and encryption protocols to ensure that your data and content are private and protected. Your content is never shared or repurposed.

    13. Does FlowChai require any technical skills to use?

    No technical knowledge is needed. If you can use a messaging app, you can use FlowChai. Everything is done through natural conversation, making it incredibly beginner-friendly.

    14. Can I use FlowChai for bulk content projects?

    Yes. FlowChai is designed for scalability. Whether you need 10 articles or 10,000, the platform can handle bulk requests, helping agencies and enterprises meet demanding content schedules efficiently.

    15. How does FlowChai differ from other AI writing tools?

    Unlike traditional AI tools that rely on prompts or templates, FlowChai uses an intelligent conversational model. You engage in real-time dialogue, make edits on the fly, and get personalized content that evolves as you provide feedback. It’s not just a tool—it’s a virtual content team.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Honors Travis Parker of Enterprise as April “Veteran of the Month”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring U.S. Army Medical Corpsman Travis Parker as the April “Veteran of the Month.”

    Excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, and his complete remarks can be found here.

    “We learn a lot about a person by seeing where they choose to spend their time. For Medical Corpsman Travis Parker, he has chosen to give the last fifty years giving back to Alabama’s veterans.

    After being drafted into the Army, Travis chose to become a medic. He was passionate about combining his medical training with helping soldiers harmed overseas. After completing his training at Fort Sam Houston, Travis was assigned to finish his tour at Fort Rucker. It was there that Travis saw the scars of war firsthand, as he treated soldiers returning home from the Vietnam War.

    This experience left a lasting impact on Travis that led him to devote his time serving other veterans and raising awareness to the challenges they face. He decided to make Enterprise his permanent home and has contributed to the Wiregrass in so many ways that it’s hard to name them all.”

    Senator Tuberville recognizes a different Alabama veteran each month for their service and contribution to their community. Constituents can nominate an Alabama veteran and submit their information to Senator Tuberville’s office for consideration by emailing press_office@tuberville.senate.gov. 

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada announces new countermeasures in response to tariffs from the United States of America

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Yesterday, the United States administration announced a series of unwarranted and unjustified tariffs that will fundamentally change the international trading system. While some important elements of the Canada U.S. trade relationship have been preserved, new tariffs on automobiles have now entered into force. These are on top of the previously announced tariffs, including those on steel and aluminum, which remain in place.

    The U.S. tariffs will do harm to American workers and businesses, but Canada will also be impacted, with every Canadian feeling the effects. The Government of Canada’s position has always been clear: we will fight these tariffs, protect our workers, and build the strongest economy in the G7.

    The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, today announced new countermeasures to protect Canadian workers and businesses and defend Canada’s economy. These countermeasures include:

    • Twenty-five per cent tariffs on non-CUSMA compliant fully assembled vehicles imported into Canada from the United States.
    • Twenty-five per cent tariffs on non-Canadian and non-Mexican content of CUSMA compliant fully assembled vehicles imported into Canada from the United States.
    • Canada’s intention to develop a framework for auto producers that incentivizes production and investment in Canada.

    Most importantly, every single dollar raised from these tariffs will go directly to support our auto workers.

    These measures build on the Government of Canada’s previously announced supports to Canadian workers and business, including:

    • Temporarily waiving the one-week employment insurance (EI) waiting period.
    • Suspending rules around separation for a six-month period, so workers don’t have to exhaust severance pay before collecting EI.
    • Making it easier to access EI by increasing regional unemployment rate percentages.
    • Deferring corporate income tax payments and GST/HST remittances from April 2 to June 30, 2025, providing up to $40 billion in liquidity to businesses.
    • Deploying a new financing facility for businesses.
    • Providing more funding to Canada’s regional development agencies, so they can better support businesses.

    In a crisis like this, it’s important to come together and act with strength, purpose, and force – and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

    Quote

    “The global economy is fundamentally different today than yesterday. We must respond with purpose and force and take every step to protect Canadian workers and businesses against the unjust tariffs imposed by the United States, including on automobiles. We will never cease to defend the interests of Canadians, safeguard our workers and businesses, and continue our pursuit to build the strongest economy in the G7.”

    Quick Facts

    • Canada and the United States have the world’s most comprehensive and dynamic trading relationship, which supports millions of jobs in both countries. US$2.5 billion worth of goods and services cross the border every day.
    • On March 4, 2025, U.S. tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian goods and 10 per cent on energy and potash exports from Canada to the U.S. came into effect. On March 12, 2025, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminum products.
    • On April 3, U.S. tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian automobiles came into effect, targeting the auto industry and the more than 500,000 Canadians this industry supports across the country.
      • The U.S. also intends to apply 25 per cent tariffs on certain automobile parts before May 3. Under the U.S. tariffs certain exclusions linked to U.S. content may be available, specifically, the application of the 25 per cent tariff only to the value of the non-U.S. content in automobiles and auto parts that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under CUSMA.
    • Canada has responded to the U.S. imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods by introducing a suite of countermeasures designed to compel the U.S. to remove the tariffs as soon as possible. These countermeasures include:
      • Imposing tariffs of 25 per cent on a valued $30 billion in goods imported from the U.S., effective March 4, 2025.
      • Launching a public comment period on potential counter tariffs on additional imports from the U.S.
      • Imposing, as of March 13, 2025, 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on a list of steel products worth $12.6 billion and aluminum products worth $3 billion, as well as additional imported U.S. goods worth $14.2 billion, for a total of $29.8 billion to match U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum dollar-for-dollar.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bipartisan Steil-Hill Legislation, the STABLE Act, Clears Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (AR-02), and their colleagues on the Financial Services Committee voted to pass the Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy (STABLE) Act in a full committee markup. Congressman Steil introduced the STABLE Act in March of this year. Following passage, Congressman Steil issued the following statement:

    “I’d like to thank Chairman French Hill for his partnership on this legislation and my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee for their commitment to securing the Golden Age of digital assets,” said Steil.  “Digital assets are already impacting American families every day and their roll is continuing to grow. The STABLE Act protects consumers while cementing the U.S. Dollar as the world’s reserve currency and promoting the next generation of Web3 businesses here in the United States.”

    Background:

    • In February, Steil and Hill introduced a discussion draft establishing a framework for the issuance and operation of dollar-denominated payment stablecoins in the United States, and last week introduced the full proposal  which is cosponsored by Representatives Hill, Torres, Emmer, Huizenga, Meuser, Kim, Downing, Moore, Gottheimer, Haridopolos, Liccardo, Timmons, Lawler, Nunn, Rose, Stutzman.
    • Today, the STABLE Act passed through the House Financial Services Committee markup hearing by a vote of 32-17.
    • Over the past six weeks, members and stakeholders have provided feedback to improve the initial draft, including during separate hearings in both the Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee and the full Financial Services Committee.
    • Yesterday, the Washington Times published The Golden Age of Stablecoins, an Op-Ed written by Congressman Steil.
    • This bill is now eligible to move to the House Floor for a vote.
    • President Trump recently reiterated support for stablecoin legislation to pass through Congress and come to his desk before the August recess. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Melling transport improvements to start this year

    Source: New Zealand Government

    • The Melling Road of Regional Significance project will start this year.
    • The project includes a new grade-separated interchange and bridge, improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure, and better access to public transport like buses and trains through relocation of the train station.
    • The wider programme also includes a new cycling and pedestrian City Link Bridge connecting the relocated train station to the Hutt CBD.

    Construction on the Melling Transport Improvements project on SH2 in the Hutt Valley will start this year, Minister of Transport Chris Bishop says.

    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has now signed the delivery contract with AECOM and Fletcher Construction to deliver the project.

    “This is a critical project for the future of the Hutt Valley and will be transformational for the city of Lower Hutt – reducing congestion, improving safety, boosting public transport and active transport, and driving economic growth.

    “Of course, Melling is just one part of a complex jigsaw puzzle of the RiverLink programme being delivered by NZTA, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Hutt City Council. This wider programme will significantly increase the Hutt Valley’s resilience and improve protection from floods and severe weather events.

    “Around 40,000 vehicles travel north and south of Melling on the state highway every day, making it one of the busiest intersections in Lower Hutt and the wider network. It’s a severe bottleneck for traffic that slows down commuters and freight.

    “The project includes the construction of a new grade-separated Melling interchange and bridge over the Hutt River, improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure, and better access to public transport like buses and trains through the relocation of the train station with park and ride facilities south of the current station. 

    “The wider Riverlink programme, which also includes flood protection and city revitalisation, has an overall budget of approximately $1.5 billion comprising approximately $1 billion from NZTA (construction costs, property, consenting, design, investigations, demolition and other NZTA managed costs), $295 million from the Greater Wellington Regional Council and $180 million from the Hutt City Council.”

    “The project has been undoubtedly challenging from a cost perspective. NZTA has worked hard with AECOM and Fletcher Construction to bring costs for the project down and deliver value for money in a challenging environment. Approximately $200 million in savings has been found, and Cabinet agreed in late 2024 to provide NZTA with additional Crown funding to deliver this vital Road of Regional Significance.

    “I can also confirm that the wider programme will include the construction of a City Link Bridge, a key connection point between the Lower Hutt city centre and the relocated train station, providing better access to public transport like buses and trains.

    “The bridge will be delivered by Hutt City Council and will help unlock better public transport opportunities and housing within the city. The government has agreed to a variation of Infrastructure Acceleration Funding (IAF) already provided to Hutt City Council to enable this to proceed.

    “The Melling Transport Improvements project will contribute to an already strong pipeline of work underway or about to get underway, while also supporting local businesses, trades, and wider infrastructure opportunities in the region.

    “Over the coming months, NZTA will continue working through several elements of the project’s early stages, including finalising the detailed design. This will help ensure that when construction starts later this year, NZTA can work as efficiently as possible and keep the project on track.

    “I am confident the transport improvements at Melling will have significant benefits for motorists, freight, and those travelling to, through and from Lower Hutt once work is complete, and I want to thank Mayor Campbell Barry, GWRC Chair Daran Ponter, NZTA and Ngāti Toa and Taranaki Whānui.

    “Today is a great day for the Hutt Valley. Getting on with the Melling project will give much needed certainty to residents, businesses, and the wider community that have been calling for these improvements for many years. I look forward to being on site later this year to turn the first sod and kick off construction.”

    The Melling interchange and bridge construction is expected to be completed in 2031 with demolition of the old bridge to follow in 2032.

    Notes to editor:

    • The SH2 Melling Transport Improvements project is one of three projects within the RiverLink project.
    • RiverLink is a partnership between NZTA, Hutt City Council (HCC), Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), and mana whenua Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika.
    • The wider RiverLink programme includes crucial flood protection and river restoration work flood protection and city centre infrastructure upgrades.

    More information about the SH2 Melling Transport Improvements can be found at www.nzta.govt.nz/melling and wider programme works at www.teawakairangi.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Outcome of Timaru’s Evans Street consultation

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will proceed with the four-laning of a section of Timaru’s Evans Street/SH1 and associated removal of on-street parking, following public consultation and feedback.

    “After careful consideration of all the feedback received, we have decided to proceed with the removal of on-street parking to allow for the four-laning of this section of Evans Street,” says Ian Duncan, Acting Director Regional Relationships for NZTA.  

    “This decision has not been made lightly, and we understand that this was not the outcome many residents and businesses in Evans Street wanted. However, this change is necessary to improve traffic flow for all road users and the wider community.”

    Mr Duncan noted the four-laning is not a new concept for SH1 through Timaru – other sections of four-laning are already in place along Evans Street/SH1, as part of a joint Timaru District Council/ NZTA strategy since 2007. Timaru District Council continues to support this strategy. “Given one side of this section of SH1 is already four-laned, and the other side is three-laned, this change will reduce the domino effect from the merging to one lane then reverting back to two lanes again, leading to a smoother more efficient traffic flow.”

    The opportunity to expand from two to four lanes on SH1 through Timaru every ten years or so when sections of highway are being resealed is the ideal time to make these changes, he said. The four-laning also aligns with the government’s strategic priorities of economic growth, increased maintenance and resilience, and safety, on this section of highway which also services the Port of Timaru.

    Where exactly?

    On the southbound side of Evans St, the new dual lanes will extend to north of Te Weka St, joining with the existing dual lanes south of Wai-iti Road, easing a bottleneck for drivers. On the northbound side of Evans St, the dual lanes will extend north from Beverley Road to merge into one lane prior to the bus stop, just before Trafalgar St. This will require no-stopping lines from the Comfort Hotel to the Coast Motel on Evans St.

    The feedback

    Many of the residents in this area of Evans Street were against the changes as were people providing services to the area, while a smaller number of residents were in support or remained neutral on the changes. Other road users and transport organisations tended to be in favour of the changes. The main concerns raised in the feedback were safety when entering and exiting driveways, the impact on visitors, tradespeople and emergency services, pedestrian safety and potential effects on property values.

    For most affected properties, off-street parking is available, and vehicles can be turned around within the property boundary. Where access and manoeuvrability are issues, NZTA can look at access changes on a case-by-case basis, where possible.

    The road marking changes will be made early in the week starting 7 April as long as the weather is dry.  Once the road marking is in place, with yellow no-stopping lines, drivers will legally no longer be able to stop in the live traffic lanes and/or on the yellow lines.

    Traffic signals synching

    NZTA’s signals team has been reviewing the Evans St/ SH1 traffic signals over a number of days, at traffic peaks and ebbs to see if there are ways they could be improved to avoid delays on the state highway. At this stage, the phasing will remain as it is as any further changes will have more significant roll-on effects on local road access, says Mr Duncan. The team is continuing to monitor the situation leading into and after the four-laning goes in place regardless.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fatal crash – Lyell Highway, Sorell Creek

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Fatal crash – Lyell Highway, Sorell Creek

    Friday, 4 April 2025 – 2:40 am.

    Sadly, a man aged in his seventies has died as a result of a two vehicle crash on the Lyell Highway at Sorell Creek.
    Police and emergency services were called to the scene around 9:15pm after reports of a head on crash.
    The driver, and sole occupant of one of the vehicles sadly died at the scene. At this stage, it appears the man suffered a medical episode. The occupants of the second vehicle were uninjured.
    Investigations into the crash are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
    Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
    Anyone who witnessed, or has dash camera footage of a silver Great Wall Utility around the time of the crash, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously and quote TCRN: 25002254.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Padilla, Warnock Lead Group Demanding Reversal of Mass Firings of Head Start, Office of Child Care Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Luján and Warnock are the only two Head Start alumni to serve in the U.S. Senate

    Senators to Secretary Kennedy: “The termination of staff is alarming and will compound the challenges already facing these programs and services…with no clear planning nor considerations for how early childhood services will be impacted”

    Washington, D.C. — This week, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led 25 Senators in condemning the Trump Administration’s mass firings of federal employees at the Office of Head Start (OHS) and the Office of Child Care (OCC), and demanding Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. immediately reinstate these employees. The sweeping firings of staff from these critical HHS offices will severely restrict access to child care for working-class families and limit OHS and OCC’s ability to administer and conduct oversight of nearly $25 billion in federal investments in early childhood programs.

    The cuts included the closure of and termination of all staff at five of the 10 regional offices in San Francisco, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Seattle. The Senators emphasized that these indiscriminate firings did not factor in employee performance and failed to plan for inevitable disruptions to children, families, child care providers, and Head Start programs.

    “This attack on employees at a time when children, families, child care providers, and early educators are relying on critical early childhood programs undermines the Department’s role in administering and conducting oversight of early childhood programs, including Head Start programs and child care assistance for working-class families across the country,” wrote the Senators. “We are deeply concerned by reports of a high number of employees at OHS and OCC who have been fired across the country who provide critical support to Head Start programs and help make child care safer and more affordable. The termination of staff is alarming and will compound the challenges already facing these programs and services, including the lack of timely and transparent information, with no clear planning nor considerations for how early childhood services will be impacted.”

    The Head Start program currently serves nearly 800,000 children, providing comprehensive services to help children receive health care and insurance, while offering parents job training, education, housing support, and nutrition services. OCC administers the Child Care Development Fund, which includes the Child Care Development Block Grant that provides an average of over 1.3 million children from nearly 800,000 low-income families with child care subsidies each month.                      

    The Senators stressed that these cuts are especially alarming as child care programs have become increasingly unaffordable and harder to access. According to a recent survey of more than 10,000 early childhood educators, 55 percent of programs were underenrolled compared to their preferred capacity, citing affordability and staffing challenges as the primary concerns as opposed to a lack of demand.

    “The Administration’s decision to reduce staff comes at a time when it is increasingly expensive to run child care and early learning programs, the cost of child care continues to be out of reach for many working-class families, and the demand for quality child care continues to far outpace the supply,” continued the Senators. “We are deeply concerned about the exacerbation of these issues for child care providers and children and families as a result of the Administration’s termination of a large portion of OHS and OCC staff, including the sudden closure of five of the ten Regional Offices and RIFs.”

    In addition to Senators Luján, Padilla, and Warnock, the letter was also signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    The letter was endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Women’s Law Center, MomsRising, the Center for Law and Social Policy, Zero toThree, and Child Care For Every Family Network.

    Earlier this year, Senators Luján, Padilla, and Warnock joined Senator Kaine in expressing concerns about the threats to Head Start programs across the country as a result of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo that imposed a government-wide funding freeze.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy,

    We write to express our serious concern regarding the recent decision to fire federal employees at the Office of Head Start (OHS) and Office of Child Care (OCC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and we ask that you immediately reinstate these employees to full work status. Between the firing of probationary employees and the recent RIFs, these offices have been gutted and the ability for the federal government to support children and families and carefully oversee nearly $25 billion in federal investments in early childhood programs will be extremely hampered. It appears these firings occurred without regard to employee performance, input from career civil servants, or planning against disruptions to understand the impact on children, families, child care providers, and Head Start programs.

    This attack on employees at a time when children, families, child care providers, and early educators are relying on critical early childhood programs undermines the Department’s role in administering and conducting oversight of early childhood programs, including Head Start programs and child care assistance for working-class families across the country. We are deeply concerned by reports of a high number of employees at OHS and OCC who have been fired across the country who provide critical support to Head Start programs and help make child care safer and more affordable. The termination of staff is alarming and will compound the challenges already facing these programs and services, including the lack of timely and transparent information, with no clear planning nor considerations for how early childhood services will be impacted.

    The federal Head Start program currently serves nearly 800,000 children across the nation with comprehensive services to ensure children receive age-appropriate health care, dental care, and health insurance, and they provide referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support. For the last several years, there has been broad, bipartisan support in Congress to recognize the longstanding program’s important work by providing increased appropriations. Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients deliver services in every state and territory, farm worker camps, and over 155 Tribal communities. OHS provides Head Start programs with federal policy guidance, training, and technical assistance and administers grants in accordance to the Head Start Act. These federal employees play an important role to ensure that programs use their grant funds efficiently and effectively. Terminating OHS and Regional Office employees reduces the capacity to support and allow Head Start programs to use permissible flexibilities to effectively use their federal grant to best serve children in their communities.

    Further, OCC administers the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), which includes the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) that provides an average of over 1.3 million children from nearly 800,000 families with low-income with child care subsidies monthly. The federal child care program is also central to states’ efforts to ensure the health, safety, and quality of nearly every child care program in the country. OCC staff across the country support states in ensuring federal funds are used effectively to improve affordability, quality, and supply of child care options for families. These drastic terminations will weaken the ability to support states and oversee federal law, transparent information for families, professional development, and the timeliness and consistency of payment for child care providers.

    The Administration’s decision to reduce staff comes at a time when it is increasingly expensive to run child care and early learning programs, the cost of child care continues to be out of reach for many working-class families, and the demand for quality child care continues to far outpace the supply. According to a recent survey of more than 10,000 early childhood educators by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, more than half of programs indicated they were unable to serve their preferred number of children relative to their preferred capacity, with affordability and staffing challenges cited as the top reasons, rather than a lack of demand. We are deeply concerned about the exacerbation of these issues for child care providers and children and families as a result of the Administration’s termination of a large portion of OHS and OCC staff, including the sudden closure of five of the ten Regional Offices and RIFs.

    We ask that you immediately reinstate these employees to full work status, and we request your responses to the following questions by April 11, 2025:

    • To date, how many staff have been terminated within OHS and OCC, both in the Central office and in each Regional office? Please share the reasoning behind the closure of offices in regions 1, 2, 5, 9, and 10 (Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle), and what information and planning were used to decide which and how many of these offices would be closed?
    • Who decided which probationary and non-probationary employees within OHS and OCC were to be terminated and under what cause?
    • What assessment was done about the impact of the RIFs on children and families served by the programs? What are the steps being taken to minimize disruptions and continue the administration of Head Start programs and CCDF?
    • Was a review conducted to determine the impact of terminating OHS and OCC staff on early childhood programs, the impact on health and safety in care settings, the stewardship of nearly $25 billion in taxpayer dollars, the ability to meet the purposes of the federal statutes, and the impact on children, families, and communities?
    • Are there plans for additional staff terminations in the months ahead, and if so, how many and what offices? Regional office staff are the first point of contact for Head Start programs and State and Tribal child care agencies. Who are the new points of contact for programs? If this work has been reassigned to remaining regional offices, how will doubling their workloads create a system that is responsive to pressing program needs?
    • What percent of the Office of Grants Management team responsible for Head Start and Child Care programs have been fired since January? Can you guarantee that once a grant is awarded that grant recipients can draw down their awards?
    • Can the Secretary guarantee that funds will be awarded on time for Head Start grant recipients that are due to receive a new or continuing award on May 1st, and subsequent awards? If there are lapses in awarding grants, how long will they last and what communication will be done to support programs in the interim?

    Thank you for your attention to this critical issue, and we look forward to your response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Tells Court that Prisoners Have No Constitutional Right to Sex-Change Surgeries

    Source: US State of Idaho

    [BOISE] – Attorney General Raúl Labrador leads a 24-state amicus brief with Attorney General Todd Rokita of Indiana, defending an executive order by President Trump setting new guidelines affecting federal inmates claiming to experience gender dysphoria.  Federal and state authorities are operating well within the boundaries of the U.S. Constitution when they deny inmates’ requests for sex-change surgeries or hormone treatments, Attorney General Labrador told a U.S. district court in Washington D.C. this week in Kingdom v. Trump.
    The American Civil Liberties Union and Transgender Law Center have sued the Trump Administration, claiming the executive order constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
    “Across the country, there are growing numbers of incarcerated inmates claiming gender dysphoria at rates that far eclipse occurrences in general society,” said Attorney General Labrador.  “The Constitution leaves policy choices about best medical practices to policymakers, and there is nothing in the text or history of the Eighth Amendment which would allow prisoners to demand whatever medical intervention they desire.”
    The executive order — titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” — prohibits inmates in federal prisons and immigration detention centers from obtaining taxpayer-funded sex-change procedures.
    Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming joined the Idaho and Indiana-led amicus brief.
    The brief in defense of President Trump’s executive order can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strengthening New York’s Gun Safety Laws

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed three new laws to strengthen New York’s gun violence prevention efforts and keep New Yorkers safe. The Governor also unveiled new data showing a 53 percent decline in gun violence year-to-date, when compared to pandemic-era highs. As part of this year’s Budget, Governor Hochul is proposing a significant $370 million investment to fight gun violence and keep driving down crime.

    “We’re taking action to drive down gun violence in the State of New York — protecting our communities and making our streets safer,” Governor Hochul said. “Public safety is my number one priority, and by giving law enforcement additional tools to stop gun violence in its tracks, we’re building on our promise to put the safety of New Yorkers first.”

    In 2025, shootings have declined 53 percent year-to-date when compared to pandemic-era highs three years ago: from 497 shootings statewide from January to March of 2022 to 236 shootings statewide from January to March of this year. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced that gun violence declined to the lowest levels on record in the 28 communities participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative — including Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers — and the NYPD announced declines in shootings in New York City as well.

    Legislation S.744/A.436 will ensure there are penalties for using “pistol converters,” which are rapid-fire modification devices that can be easily attached to semi-automatic pistols to make them even deadlier by allowing rapid fire with one pull of the trigger.

    State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “Rapid-fire modification devices are capable of transforming firearms into fully automatic machine guns and are not permitted in New York State. These rapid-fire modification devices include a wide range of gun modification devices including bump stocks, trigger cranks, and burst trigger systems. The legislation Governor Hochul is signing today makes it explicitly clear that pistol converters, also known as auto-sears, which can be used to make traditional pistols fire as many as 15 rounds in under two seconds, are a subset of rapid-fire modification devices and should be treated as such under New York State Law. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and my colleagues throughout the Legislature who once again are standing up to the gun lobby to make New York a safer place.”

    Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “New Yorkers are sick of weapons manufacturers ignoring their role in the gun violence epidemic. For decades, Glock has known that its pistols can be easily and cheaply converted into illegal fully-automatic machine guns. It’s time to put people over profit. My first-in-the-nation bill has been signed into law, holding Glock and Glock-like gun manufacturers accountable for failing to prevent this easy conversion to illegal machine guns. Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing my bill, my partner Senator Hoylman-Sigal, and the advocates for working to prevent gun violence.”

    Legislation S.745/A.439 will strengthen the law that the Governor signed last year that requires credit and debit card issuers to use the merchant category code (MCC) for firearms and ammunition retailers by ensuring that it captures retailers whose bulk sales come from firearms, ammunition and firearms accessories.

    State Senator Zellnor Myrie said, “Since 2019, New York has been a national leader in taking on gun violence- and the laws Governor Hochul is signing today continues that progress. While the federal government turns a blind eye to the gun crime plaguing our communities, New York can show the way forward by passing new laws to stop the sale of weapons that can be converted into machine guns, centralize our gun violence prevention efforts, and standardize our response to mass shooting incidents wherever they occur.”

    Assemblymember Michaelle Solages said, “With today’s signing, Governor Hochul is taking a bold step to protect New Yorkers from gun violence. By requiring the use of merchant category codes for firearm and ammunition purchases, we are equipping financial institutions with a critical tool to help detect suspicious activity before it becomes a tragedy. This is a smart, data-driven approach to public safety, and I’m proud to lead the way with Senator Myrie and dedicated advocates.”

    Legislation S.743/A.437 strengthens the law the Governor signed last year that requires firearms dealers and gunsmiths to post and distribute at the time of sale information about the availability of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and warnings about the dangers of gun ownership, including increased risk of suicide, death during domestic disputes and unintentional death of children, household members and others. By providing consumers with this Surgeon General style warning, the law aims to promote the health and safety of the general public by educating and informing gun owners and potential buyers of the risks the weapons pose.

    State Senator Michael Gianaris said, “Education and information are key to responsible gun ownership, which will prevent injury and improve public safety. I am proud to have shepherded this proposal through the Senate and to now see it enacted into law.”

    Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “It is without question that there are enormous risks associated with gun ownership. By requiring firearm dealers and licensing officers to provide clear and accessible warnings about the heightened risks of suicide, domestic violence, and unintentional deaths, we are aiding people in becoming fully informed about the dangers of gun ownership while at the same time taking measures to help safeguard our communities. The inclusion of a prominently displayed 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will make it easier for those in distress to access avenues of assistance when they are at their most vulnerable. I want to thank Governor Hochul for signing this entire package of bills into law and my colleague, Senator Mike Gianaris, for partnering with me on this legislation which demonstrates New York’s commitment to promoting responsible firearm ownership while protecting public health and safety.”

    Assemblymember Harvey Epstein said, “It is critical that we address the gun violence epidemic in our state and nation. So many lives have been lost as a result of our failure to pass common-sense gun regulations. Today I am happy to join Governor Hochul as we pass this package of legislation that will make our state safer.”

    Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “We are in the midst of a mental health crisis and a gun violence epidemic, and we must do everything in our power as lawmakers to combat it. We can begin by passing common-sense anti gun-violence measures, which a vast majority of gun owners support and want, which is what these three bills signed today are. I am proud to stand with Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the legislature in our resoluteness to solve these epidemics playing out in our communities.”

    The $370 million investment to reduce and prevent gun violence and strengthen communities disproportionately impacted by crime includes, but is not limited to, the following programs and initiatives administered by DCJS:

    • $50 million through the Law Enforcement Technology grant program, which provides funding so police departments and sheriffs’ offices can purchase new equipment and technology to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crime.
    • $36 million for GIVE, which funds the 28 police departments and district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices in 21 counties outside of New York City.
    • $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach Program, which operates in 14 communities across the state: Albany, the Bronx, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Wyandanch and Yonkers. The program uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence.
    • $18 million in continued support for the State’s unique, nationally recognized Crime Analysis Center Network, and $13 million in new funding to establish the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters, a strategic information, technical assistance and training hub for 11 Centers in the State’s network and enhance existing partnerships and expand information sharing with the New York State Intelligence Center operated by the State Police, the locally run Nassau County Lead Development Center and the State’s Joint Security Operations Center, which focuses on protecting the State from cyber threats.
    • $20 million for Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower) in 10 communities to support mentoring, mental health services, restorative practices, trust building, employment and education support and youth development activities, among other programs and services that address trauma resulting from long-term exposure to violence, build resilience and strengthen youth, families and neighborhoods.

    The New York State Police, the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the State Office of Victim Services also will receive funding through that $370 million allocation.

    Other public safety initiatives outlined in Governor Hochul’s FY26 Executive Budget include $35 million for the next round of the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grants to increase safety and security of organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs or mission; or investments that expand support for victims and survivors of crime, including doubling funding for rape crisis centers to $12.8 million.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Puerto Rico police officer sentenced for child exploitation following ICE San Juan investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico sentenced Luis Javier Pérez-Badillo, a 50-year-old man from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, March 25 to 11 years in prison and five years of supervised release following an investigation by ICE San Juan’s Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force.

    Pérez-Badillo, a former officer with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography on Oct. 9, 2024.

    From on or about Oct. 11, 2023, through Feb. 21, 2024, Pérez-Badillo used a cellular phone with internet capabilities to knowingly transport images of child pornography.

    “The defendant, who was entrusted by the community to serve and protect, violated that trust by committing these crimes. As this case demonstrates, those who exploit children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who exploit minors for sexual purposes.”

    “The actions of this individual are a disgrace to the amazing men and women of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. As law enforcement officers, we are entrusted with the responsibility to protect and serve, not to harm. While no sentence can ever truly undo the harm caused to the victim, it is our duty to ensure that justice is served. This 11-year sentence clearly conveys that no one, regardless of their position, is above the law. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our children, “ said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos.

    For more information about ICE HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Project iGuardian | ICE and Know2Protect | Homeland Security, or to report suspicious activity in Puerto Rico call 787-729-6969 or the ICE tip line at 1-866-347-2423.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Aging Announces Increased Transparency to Keep Older Pennsylvanians Safe, Showcases How New Approach is Increasing Compliance Rates Across the Commonwealth

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 03, 2025 – Greensburg, PA

    Department of Aging Announces Increased Transparency to Keep Older Pennsylvanians Safe, Showcases How New Approach is Increasing Compliance Rates Across the Commonwealth

    The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) today followed through on a promise to boost transparency of its oversight of county Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), announcing the public can now see information that shows how quickly those agencies are conducting investigations of suspected elder abuse.

    Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich made the announcement at the Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging, further highlighting how the Department’s new, overhauled approach to AAA support and oversight has led directly to increased compliance rates across Pennsylvania for the time it takes a local agency to complete an investigation.

    Thanks to the Department’s increased efforts with AAAs, Westmoreland County AAA more than tripled its compliance rate for timely determinations in older adult protective services – from 29% in 2024 to 97% in 2025. That means older adults in Westmoreland County are receiving the assistance and care they need faster and more efficiently than before.

    “I commend the Westmoreland AAA leadership and the entire protective services team for their hard work and dedication to improving their performance,” said Secretary Kavulich. “With our Department’s assistance, Westmoreland AAA is showing how the Shapiro Administration’s approach of making supportive change is generating measurable results. While working steadily on a much-needed major overhaul of the Department’s performance monitoring system, we have also worked closely with AAAs to make sure they have the tools they need to improve. It is evident that our work is leading to real-world results that benefit and protect older Pennsylvanians.”

    Speaker list:
    Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich
    Carrie Nelson, Executive Director, Westmoreland County Agency Area on Aging
    Westmoreland County Commissioner Douglas Chew

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Asks Dr. Oz to Honor His Commitment to Come to Eastern Oregon

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    April 03, 2025
    With Dr. Oz confirmed today as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Oregon senator suggests dates when Dr. Oz could join him in Malheur County
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today invited Dr. Mehmet Oz to honor his recent commitment to join him for a Malheur County town hall so the Trump appointee could hear directly about Medicaid’s importance in the county with the state’s highest share of residents enrolled in the federal-state program that helps seniors, children, families and more cover medical and nursing home costs — known in Oregon as the Oregon Health Plan.
    Citing Dr. Oz’s March 14 confirmation hearing last month with the Senate Finance Committee in today’s written invitation, Wyden’s letter followed today’s Senate floor vote to confirm Dr. Oz as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  
    “I know you will honor your commitment to Oregonians to visit Malheur County so you can hear directly from citizens and dedicated health care workers how devastating proposed Medicaid cuts by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans would be to one of Oregon’s poorest counties,” wrote Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “The importance of Medicaid in Malheur County cannot be overstated. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon’s 36 counties”.
    Wyden, who has held 1,110 open-to-all  town halls throughout Oregon in keeping with his commitment to hold at least one such town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties, reminded Dr. Oz just how vital the Oregon Health Plan is for residents of this rural county.
    “The Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and farmworkers in Malheur County. It is what allows families to place their aging loved one in a local nursing home,” wrote Wyden, who voted against the nomination of Dr. Oz in the Finance Committee as well as today on the Senate floor. “The Oregon Health Plan helps kids have access to counseling at school, support they would not receive otherwise. It allows kids and adults with disabilities to go to school, go to work, and thrive at home, in their communities, because they have access to home-based care. And it is what guarantees life-saving treatment for the sickest Oregonians, in their darkest hours.”
    “Not only that, the Oregon Health Plan is the economic lifeblood of Malheur County,” Wyden wrote. “Malheur County boasts one hospital, one nursing home, and a community-based mobile crisis team, operating 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for people who experience a behavioral health crisis. These pillars of the community offer stable employment for doctors, nurses, aides, counselors, janitors, and administrators, among others.”
    Wyden told Dr. Oz he could schedule a town hall with him on April 23 in Malheur County during the Senate’s upcoming state work period, or between June 19-21 during the June state work period.
    The entire letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Cortez Masto Move to Crack Down on Criminal Digital Transactions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced the bipartisan Combatting Money Laundering in Cyber Crime Act to enhance the Secret Service’s investigative authority over criminal digital asset transactions.
    “As money laundering schemes continue to evolve, so must our capacity to combat them,” Grassley said. “By enhancing Secret Service’s authority to investigate criminal digital assets, our bill significantly improves law enforcement’s ability to effectively anticipate, identify and prevent cybercrime.”
    “Dangerous criminals are constantly changing their tactics and using new technology to avoid detection,” Cortez Masto said. “Our law enforcement agencies need to adapt to keep communities safe. I will continue to fight to pass this bipartisan legislation that would help the Secret Service more effectively combat cybercrime.”
    Find bill text HERE.
    Background: 
    The Treasury Department and Justice Department have long warned that digital assets like cryptocurrencies are being used for money laundering, drug trafficking, ransomware attacks, theft and fraud schemes, terrorist financing and other crimes. While the Secret Service investigates a variety of cybercrimes, crimes perpetrated through unlicensed money transmitting businesses are currently outside of the agency’s jurisdiction.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Colleagues Push to Expand Telehealth Access, Make Telehealth Flexibilities Permanent

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined a bipartisan group of 60 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The legislation will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make telehealth flexibilities permanent and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current flexibilities are set to expire on September 30 unless Congress extends them. 
    “Again and again, Iowans have shared stories with me about their difficulties accessing medical care. Temporary telehealth policies have helped Americans across the country, especially in our rural communities. The CONNECT for Health Act will update out-of-date laws to make recent telehealth innovations permanent, empowering patients and providers,” Grassley said.
    The CONNECT for Health Act would:
    Permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to the location of the patient, including homes;
    Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services;
    Allow more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services;
    Remove unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services;
    Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and
    Require more published data to learn how telehealth is being used, telehealth’s impact on quality of care, and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.
    The bill is led by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). 
    Additional cosponsors include Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), along with Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Angus King (I-Maine.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.).
    The CONNECT for Health Act has the support of more than 150 organizations, including the American Medical Association, AARP, American Hospital Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics and American Telemedicine Association.
    Background:
    This legislation was first introduced in 2016 and is considered the most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress. Since 2016, several provisions of the bill have been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, including provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care and home dialysis.
    In 2020, as then-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley helped make mental telehealth services a permanent benefit under Medicare.
    The full text of the bill is?available here.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Element Appoints Claire M. Murphy to Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) (“Element” or the “Company”), the largest publicly traded, pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, is pleased to announce the promotion of Claire M. Murphy to Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer.

    “Claire is a passionate, meticulous and empathetic leader who has played an integral role helping to establish our new leasing centre of excellence in Ireland,” said Laura Dottori-Attanasio, CEO, Element. “She is a tremendous addition to our global Executive Team, and I am confident she will continue to be an integral partner, driving our organization towards success and delivering value to our clients, team members, and communities.”

    Ms. Murphy, who joined Element in 2024 as VP and Assistant General Counsel Leasing, brings more than 20 years’ experience across legal, sustainability, strategy, and human resources. In her new role, she leads legal and sustainability initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment of Element’s legal, regulatory, and governance functions. Additionally, she has responsibility for corporate real estate, and protecting Element’s data and digital security.

    “At such a pivotal time for our organization, I am honoured to step into this new role as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer,” said Ms. Murphy. “I look forward to driving forward our legal, sustainability, data, and digital security strategies, while working collaboratively with our talented global team to deliver meaningful impact and continued success.”

    About Element Fleet Management

    Element Fleet Management (TSX: EFN) is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world. As a Purpose-driven company, we provide a full range of sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions to optimize and enhance fleet performance for our clients across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Our services address every aspect of our clients’ fleet requirements, from vehicle acquisition, maintenance, route optimization, risk management, and remarketing, to advising on decarbonization efforts, integration of electric vehicles and managing the complexity of gradual fleet electrification. Clients benefit from Element’s expertise as one of the largest fleet solutions providers in its markets, offering economies of scale and insight used to reduce operating costs and enhance efficiency and performance. At Element, we maximize our clients’ fleet so they can focus on growing their business. For more information, please visit: www.elementfleet.com

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information regarding Element, its business and the fleet industry, which are based upon Element’s current expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. In some cases, words such as “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “could”, “predict”, “project”, “model”, “forecast”, “will”, “potential”, “target”, “by”, “proposed” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information in this news release may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to, among other things, the Company’s expectations regarding new product offerings, including the benefits of the products, client demand and profitability, the Company’s ability to execute on its product plans, and the Company’s expectations regarding the risk and insurance industries. By their nature, these statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific, which give rise to the possibility that our predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct. External factors outside of Element’s reasonable control may impact our ability to achieve our goals and expectations, including industry dynamics, legislation and regulatory actions, the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to us and our affiliates or associates, client decisions and preferences. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements and may require Element to adjust its initiatives and activities. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting our stakeholders and others in understanding our objectives and strategic priorities and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. In addition, a discussion of some of the material risks affecting Element and its business appears under the heading “Risk Management & Risk Factors” in Element’s Management Discussion and Analysis for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023 and the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, and under the heading “Risk Factors” in Element’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as Element’s other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which have been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed on Element’s profile on www.sedarplus.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AGF Reports March 2025 Assets Under Management and Fee-Earning Assets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGF Management Limited reported total assets under management (AUM) and fee-earning assets1 of $52.1 billion as at March 31, 2025.

                         
    AUM
    ($ billions)    		 March 31,
    2025    		   February 28,
    2025    		   % Change
    Month-Over-
    Month    		   March 31,
    2024    		   % Change
    Year-Over-
    Year    		  
    Total Mutual Fund $29.8   $31.1       $26.7      
    Exchange-traded funds + Separately managed accounts $3.0   $2.9       $1.7      
    Segregated accounts and Sub-advisory $6.2   $6.6       $7.4      
    AGF Private Wealth $8.5   $8.6       $8.0      
    Subtotal
    (before AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets1)    		 $47.5   $49.2       $43.8      
    AGF Capital Partners $2.5   $2.5       $2.7      
    Total AUM $50.0   $51.7   -3.3 % $46.5   7.5 %
    AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets1 $2.1   $2.1       $2.1      
    Total AUM and fee-earning assets1 $52.1   $53.8   -3.2 % $48.6   7.2 %
                         
    Average Daily Mutual Fund AUM $30.1   $31.2       $26.5      
    1 Fee-earning assets represent assets in which AGF has carried interest ownership and earns recurring fees but does not have ownership interest in the managers.
       
    Mutual Fund AUM by Category
    ($ billions)    		 March 31,
    2025    		   February 28,
    2025    		   March 31, 2024  
    Domestic Equity Funds $4.4   $4.5   $4.2  
    U.S. and International Equity Funds $18.1   $19.3   $15.7  
    Domestic Balanced Funds $0.1   $0.1   $0.1  
    U.S. and International Balanced Funds $1.7   $1.7   $1.7  
    Domestic Fixed Income Funds $2.0   $2.0   $1.7  
    U.S. and International Fixed Income Funds $3.2   $3.2   $3.1  
    Domestic Money Market $0.3   $0.3   $0.2  
    Total Mutual Fund AUM $29.8   $31.1   $26.7  
                 
    AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets
    ($ billions)    		 March 31,
    2025    		   February 28,
    2025    		   March 31, 2024  
    AGF Capital Partners AUM $2.5   $2.5   $2.7  
    AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets $2.1   $2.1   $2.1  
    Total AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets $4.6   $4.6   $4.8  
                 

    About AGF Management Limited

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

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

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $52 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces April 2025 Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.02083 per common share for the period of April 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025, which is equal to $0.25 per common share on an annualized basis. The dividend will be paid on April 30, 2025 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 15, 2025.

    About Diversified Royalty Corp.

    DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.

    DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care provider with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive janitorial, building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.

    DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.

    Forward Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”, “confident”, “plan” and “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: the amount and timing of the April 2025 dividend to be paid to DIV’s shareholders; DIV’s objective to continue to pay predictable and stable monthly dividends to shareholders; and DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular there can be no assurance that: DIV will be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; or DIV will achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2025 and in its most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, copies of each of which are available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that, among other things, DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

    All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information included in this news release is presented as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

    THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    Additional Information

    Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

    Contact:
    Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8470

    Greg Gutmanis, Chief Financial Officer and VP Acquisitions
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8471

    The MIL Network –