NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Department of Justice Releases Report on Officer-Involved Shooting of Christopher Mercurio

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), today released a report on Christopher Mercurio’s death from an officer-involved shooting in Valencia, California, on January 11, 2023. The incident involved a deputy from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The report is part of the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ongoing efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report provides a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ’s findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal charges were not appropriate in this case.  

    “We recognize the considerable challenges and difficulties faced by all those impacted, including Mr. Mercurio’s family, the law enforcement agencies involved, and the community as a whole,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The California Department of Justice aims to partner with law enforcement to build a just and equitable legal environment, ensuring that the rule of law is upheld, and justice is accessible to everyone.”

    At approximately 10:58 PM, on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, a LASD deputy went to the Macy’s department store in the Valencia Town Center, in Valencia, in response to a trespassing call. At the Macy’s, the deputy contacted Mr. Mercurio. Mr. Mercurio refused to leave and struck Deputy Gonzalez in the head. Mr. Mercurio continued to advance towards Deputy Gonzalez and ignored commands to step back. Shortly thereafter, the deputy fired two shots at Mr. Mercurio and fatally wounded him.

    Under AB 1506, which requires DOJ to investigate all incidents of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state, DOJ conducted a thorough investigation into this incident and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the deputy involved acted without the intent to defend themselves and others from what each of them reasonably believed to be the imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of the deputy. As such, no further action will be taken in this case. 

    As part of its investigation, DOJ has identified three policy and training recommendations related to this incident. The first recommendation is that LASD expand its de-escalation policy to promote officer safety so that it includes specific guidelines, definitions, and examples of potential de-escalation techniques, including a variety of tactics and strategies covering an array of circumstances. In addition, it is recommended that LASD provide its deputies with improved training on de-escalation tactics, techniques, skills, strategies, and approaches for safely and effectively addressing situations without use of force whenever possible.

    The second recommendation is that LASD policies provide deputies with effective guidance and training regarding how to identify people with a mental health condition by considering several factors, including: (1) self-reporting, (2) information provided by witnesses, (3) the agency’s and justice system’s previous knowledge of the individual, or (4) an officer’s direct observations. In addition, it is recommended that LASD provide deputies with effective training on how to interact with people who have mental health conditions, and procedures to follow during these encounters.

    The third recommendation is that LASD provide refresher training on deputy requirements and responsibilities after an officer-involved shooting. In addition, it is recommended that deputies fully understand that they are not to discuss the matter with any member or person other than a supervisor in the very limited manner proscribed by LASD policy, or other authorized personnel like the Homicide Bureau Investigator, or the Division of Law Enforcement.

    A copy of the report can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Vicor releases a DCM™ family of regulated 48V to 12V DC-DC converters

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vicor has released a new DCM family that supports 48V-centric power delivery networks with greater system efficiency and performance. The DCMs (DCM3717 and DCM3735) range in power levels from 750W up to 2kW and provide an industry-leading power density of 5kW/in3. Power system designers requiring scalable solutions can parallel devices for higher power capability.

    Vicor DCM3717 and DCM3735, non-isolated regulated 48V-12V converters ease the migration to 48V power delivery. (Download high res image)

    Learn more about the Vicor DCM3717 and DCM3735.

    Follow Vicor on Social Media
    Twitter: @VicorPower »
    Vicor Corporation on LinkedIn »

    About Vicor Corporation
    Vicor Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and markets modular power components and complete power systems based upon a portfolio of patented technologies. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Vicor sells its products to the power systems market, including enterprise and high-performance computing, industrial equipment and automation, telecommunications and network infrastructure, vehicles and transportation, aerospace and defense. www.vicorpower.com

    Vicor is a registered trademark and DCM™ is a trademark of Vicor Corporation.

    Contact
    Stephen Germino
    Director of Media Relations
    978 749-8243

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f49cfb9-b938-4667-af76-da4fcac5eb22

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April girder setting brings overnight I-5 lane and overpass closures in DuPont

    Source: Washington State News 2

    Crews will set girders for a new overpass at Steilacoom-DuPont Road April 4, 5, 11 and 12

    DUPONT – If April showers bring May flowers, then April girder setting will bring a new overpass, eventually, to a heavily used Interstate 5 intersection in DuPont. Nighttime travelers who use I-5, or the Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass in DuPont, will see some delays and detours in April. Over two weekends, construction crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will place 13 girders over I-5, just north of the existing Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass.

    What to expect

    Overnight Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, and again Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12, crews will reduce travel lanes in both directions of I-5 to a single lane. That one lane will detour up and over the Steilacoom-DuPont Road off- and on-ramps. Law enforcement will be in place to assist with traffic control at both the northbound and southbound I-5 ramps. 

    • I-5 lane closures start at 8 p.m.  
    • At 10 p.m. one lane will begin using the off- and on-ramps at Steilacoom-DuPont Road.
    • Lanes begin reopening at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6.
    • The same closure hours will be in place overnight Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12.

    Overnight closure of Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass

    To keep travelers moving on I-5, the Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass will close during overnight while girders are installed. Here’s what to expect:

    • Northbound I-5 travelers needing to use exit 119 at Steilacoom-DuPont Road will detour to 41st Division Drive and return to southbound I-5 to exit 119.
    • Travelers on Steilacoom-DuPont Road heading to northbound I-5 will detour to southbound I-5 to exit 118 at Center Drive and return to northbound I-5.
    • Emergency vehicles will have access to the Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass.

    Project information 

    The weekend overnight closures allow crews from Atkinson Construction to set 170-foot-long girders, each weighing approximately 206,000 pounds. The girders will support a replacement overpass and diverging diamond interchange. The new overpass will be completed in 2026 as part of the I-5 Mounts Road to Steilacoom-DuPont Road Corridor Improvements project.

    Backups are expected and travelers on both directions of I-5 should plan for additional overnight travel time. Please help keep road workers safe. When approaching a work zone, please remember to: 

    • Slow down – drive the posted speeds for worker and traveler safety.
    • Be kind –workers are out there helping to keep people safe and improve the roadways.
    • Pay attention – both to workers directing travelers and surrounding traffic.
    • Stay calm – expect delays, leave early or take alternate routes if possible; no meeting or appointment is worth risking someone’s life.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug trafficking, murder-for-hire and kidnapping conspiracies send cartel leader to prison for life

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, TEXAS – A 41-year-old Mexican citizen residing in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison following his multiple convictions related to a murder-for-hire scheme that brought three sicarios aka hitmen across the border into Laredo, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Noe Gonzalez-Martinez aka Tocayo was a leader and manager of the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN). A federal jury deliberated for approximately one hour before convicting him Dec. 13, 2023, on all counts following a three-day trial. They found him guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder for hire, conspiracy to kidnap, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking-related crime and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. 

    U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Gonzalez-Martinez to serve the rest of his life plus 60 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard about his role as a leader/organizer and his conduct in the crimes as well as the substantial progress Gonzalez-Martinez made toward the completion of the offenses.

    “Drug trafficking and violence go hand-in-hand, and this is particularly true in the case of cartels, as this case shows,” said Ganjei. “The Department of Justice is committed to preventing the cartels from ever gaining a foothold in America, and the vigorous prosecution of their leadership is a critical component of that. Through the conviction of Mr. Gonzalez-Martinez, the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) has dealt a major blow to the CDN cartel. This is, however, just the beginning. SDTX is pursuing every opportunity and every avenue to dismantle cartel operations on both sides of the border. Stay tuned.”

    “With drug trafficking comes violence that typically spills over from Mexico and into the United States, particularly the southwest border. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) tenacious agents did not only thwart the drug trafficking activities of this violent CDN but successfully managed to halt several murders, one of which would have been carried out by the drug trafficking organization’s trusted lead enforcer Noe Gonzalez Martinez,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. “This case is a testament that the DEA is definite in its fight against these foreign terrorist drug trafficking organizations who illegally crossed into the United States for the sole purpose of kidnapping and murdering an American Citizen. We will continue to bring to justice anyone thinking about ripping peace out of our American neighborhoods and communities.”

    “This brazen scheme planned out by CDN is a direct threat to the safety and stability of South Texas. The campaign of terror, drug-trafficking, and violence this man employed has no place on American soil. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with our federal partners, have prioritized Mexican cartels, like CDN, and will continue to aggressively combat their criminal acts until they are no more,” said ICE-HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee.

    During the trial, the jury heard evidence that between Sept. 7, 2021, and Sept. 13, 2021, Gonzalez-Martinez and several other CDN members traveled from Nuevo Laredo into Laredo. There, Gonzalez-Martinez solicited the help of other CDN affiliates to recruit, plan and coordinate the kidnapping and murder of an individual the cartel believed had stolen from them.

    The investigation revealed Gonzalez-Martinez communicated via cellphone with co-conspirators to plan and coordinate the recovery of drugs and proceeds from the intended victim. In addition, Gonzalez-Martinez provided co-conspirators with an address where they could retrieve firearms to execute the murder.

    On Sept. 13, 2021, co-conspirators took possession of an automobile and firearms to carry out the murder. The firearms included a .45 caliber pistol, .357 magnum revolver, and two AR-15s.

    Testimony also revealed the CDN’s operations and additional details of the murder-for-hire plot. The three sicarios were to kidnap the suspected drug thief and return him to Mexico for cartel members to make an example of him. If they were unable to do so, they were to kill him and return the stolen property to the cartel.

    The jury heard from law enforcement who were able to thwart the crime and take the hitmen into custody prior to carrying out the murder. Authorities apprehended Gonzalez-Martinez July 29, 2022, at the international port of entry in Laredo.

    At trial, Gonzalez-Martinez attempted to convince the jury someone else was responsible for arranging and overseeing the commission of the crime. The jury did not believe defense’s claims and found him guilty as charged. 

    The three sicarios – Juan Antonio Martinez-Padilla aka Juan Antonio Martinez-Lopez aka Otoniel Martinez-Padilla, 60, Gregorio Gonzalez-Barragan, 34, and Rodolfo Reyna-Zapata, 27, all from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, previously received sentences of 240, 352, and 352 months, respectively.

    Gonzalez-Martinez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    DEA, ICE-HSI and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Jose Angel Moreno and AUSA Steven Chamberlin prosecuted the case.

    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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Orlando Man Sentenced To 32 Years For Possessing Illegal Firearms And Selling Fentanyl That Killed A Woman

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton has sentenced Joel David Fonseca Flores (45, Orlando) to 32 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl that resulted in death, possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On June 27, 2024, a federal jury found Fonseca Flores guilty of the conspiracy resulting in death charge. Prior to trial, on June 3, 2024, Fonseca Flores pleaded guilty to the other two offenses. 

    According to evidence presented at trial, Fonseca Flores and his co-defendant, Misty Lynn Parady (35, Orlando), sold fake “M30” pills laced with fentanyl to “N.K.” Between April 2020 and April 2022, Fonseca Flores and Parady sold N.K. what she, at first, believed to be oxycodone. After some time, N.K. realized that the pills she was buying from them contained fentanyl.

    On October 31, 2021, N.K. warned Parady by text message that she had tested positive for fentanyl. Parady relayed that information to Fonseca Flores. On March 31, 2022, within days of purchasing “M30” pills from Fonseca Flores, N.K. sent a text message to Parady containing an image of her drug test, showing that N.K. had tested negative for oxycodone and positive for fentanyl.

    Despite these and other warnings, Fonseca Flores and Parady continued to supply N.K. with the counterfeit fentanyl pills, and N.K. ultimately died from a fentanyl overdose on April 4, 2022.

    Following a traffic stop of Fonseca Flores and Parady’s vehicle on October 3, 2022, about six months after N.K.’s death, officers seized fake “M30” fentanyl pills from the vehicle. The fake pills were tested by the DEA lab and were shown to contain fentanyl. Inside the car, officers also recovered cocaine, a digital scale, baggies, and hundreds of dollars in cash. Fonseca Flores, a convicted felon, also possessed a firearm.

    On April 4, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested Fonseca Flores and Parady when they executed a search warrant at their home in Orlando. Inside the home, law enforcement found three firearms, ammunition, fake M30’s (fentanyl), other illegal drugs, cash, and drug paraphernalia.

    On May 24, 2024, Misty Lynn Parady pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. She was sentenced on August 26, 2024, to six years and six months in federal prison.

    “Cases like this reinforce drug traffickers care only about profit and driving addiction,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division. “DEA will pursue drug traffickers with everything we have to make our communities safe and healthy.”

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Orlando Police Department Overdose Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kara M. Wick, Stephanie McNeff, and Michael P. Felicetta.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: River Hills Man Sentenced to 21 Months’ Imprisonment for Paying Health Care Kickbacks

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that, on March 21, 2025, Justin Drew Hanson was sentenced to 21 months’ incarceration for paying healthcare kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.  Hanson was also ordered to pay over $2.2 million in restitution to Medicaid and Medicare as well as a $75,000 fine.

    According to court records, Hanson and his co-defendant, Mohammed Kazim Ali, owned a Milwaukee-area clinical laboratory called Noah Associates.  Beginning in 2017, Ali and Hanson engaged in a three-year-long scheme to pay kickbacks to the owner of a Milwaukee substance use treatment clinic in exchange for referrals of Medicaid and Medicare patients for urine drug testing performed by Noah Associates.  Hanson and Ali procured sham agreements that further concealed their fraud, ultimately paying over $400,000 in kickbacks to procure the tests.  The tests, however, were not ordered by any physician and were not medically necessary for the treatment of patients.  As a result of the scheme, Medicaid and Medicare paid Noah Associates over $2.2 million for the unnecessary tests.  Hanson personally received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Noah Associates during the scheme. 

    At sentencing, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller emphasized the seriousness of Hanson’s crime, including Hanson’s manipulation and breach of trust of the Medicaid and Medicare programs to receive millions of dollars that were not truly earned.  Judge Stadtmueller further noted that Hanson’s criminal conduct was significant and detrimental because he stole “from every taxpayer citizen in the United States.”  In addition to his sentence, Hanson will also be excluded from participation in the Medicaid and Medicare programs and has shut down Noah Associates.  His co-defendant, Ali, also pleaded guilty for paying healthcare kickbacks and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment earlier this year.

    “Mr. Hanson’s kickbacks resulted in Medicaid and Medicare – and taxpayers – repeatedly paying for unnecessary services,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling.  “Rather than bill the government for tests that patients truly needed, Hanson abused the Medicaid and Medicare programs for his own benefit.  The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to hold individuals who engage in these schemes accountable for their actions.”

    “The FBI will relentlessly pursue individuals like Mr. Hanson whose actions defrauded the American people and wasted taxpayer money,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle of the FBI Milwaukee Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible for schemes to defraud the American people are brought to justice.”

    “HHS-OIG is dedicated to protecting the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid and to ensure taxpayer money is used as intended to serve vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).  “The kickback scheme in this case undermined the public’s trust in our nation’s health care system and can interfere with impartial medical decision-making. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who manipulate taxpayer-funded health programs to boost their profits.” 

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Carter and Julie Stewart handled the prosecution.     

    ###

    For further information contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    (414) 297-1700

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two arrests following fatal collision in Colindale

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating a fatal collision in Colindale have made two arrests.

    Two men – aged 18 and 19 – were arrested on Wednesday, 26 March on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop. Both are currently in police custody.

    This follows an incident in Grahame Park Way, NW9 on Tuesday, 25 March where a car was in collision with a female pedestrian.

    Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the woman – aged in her 60s – died at the scene.

    Her family are being kept updated with the progress of this investigation and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

    The car involved did not stop but was later found abandoned in nearby Franco Avenue.

    Detectives from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are investigating the collision and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. They are keen to hear from anyone who saw the incident or anyone leaving the car in Franco Avenue, including road users who have camera footage, to get in contact.

    You can call detectives on 020 8246 9820 or dial 101 and quote CAD4453/25March. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan: Rights chief deplores deadly army strikes on North Darfur market

    Source: United Nations 2

    Human Rights

    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has again called for greater protection of civilians in war-torn Sudan following deadly army airstrikes in North Darfur earlier this week. 

    Volker Türk issued a statement on Wednesday saying he was deeply shocked by reports that hundreds of civilians were killed, and scores injured, in the 24 March strikes on a busy market in Tora Village.

    The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a rival military known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been at war for nearly two years.

    On Wednesday, international media reported that the army had recaptured the capital, Khartoum, which had mostly been under RSF control since fighting erupted in April 2023.

    The army recaptured the presidential palace last Friday and is now reportedly in control of all the bridges across the River Nile which connect the different areas of the capital area. 

    Indiscriminate killings continue

    The UN rights chief said his Office, OHCHR, learned that 13 of those killed in Monday’s airstrikes belonged to a single family, and that some of the injured are also reportedly dying due to the extremely limited access to healthcare.

    OHCHR have also received reports that in the aftermath of the attack, members of the RSF arbitrarily arrested and detained civilians in Tora.

    Both the RSF and Government forces have been accused of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas during the brutal conflict.  

    “Despite my repeated warnings and appeals to both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law, civilians continue to be killed indiscriminately, maimed and mistreated on a near daily basis, while civilian objects remain an all-too-frequent target,” said Mr. Türk.

    He once again urged both parties to take all measures to avoid harming civilians and attacking civilian objects.

    The High Commissioner warned that Indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilians, and civilian objects, are unacceptable and may constitute war crimes. 

    “There must be full accountability for violations committed in this latest attack, and the many other attacks against civilians that have preceded it. Such conduct must never become normalized,” he said. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Commercial importers provided 30-day extension to submit financial security before the end of CARM transition period

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    March 26, 2025
    Ottawa, Ontario

    When the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system was launched externally on October 21, 2024, a 180-day transition period was introduced to grant commercial importers additional time to post their financial security electronically while benefitting from the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) Program. In response to feedback received from stakeholders, the CBSA will grant a 30-day extension to the transition period.

    Importers will now have until 3 am EDT on May 20, 2025, to post their financial security in the CARM system. Importers who do not post financial security in CARM by May 20, 2025, will no longer be able to benefit from having their goods released electronically at the border prior to making payment of the duties and taxes. Without RPP, importers will have to pay all duties and taxes before goods can be released.

    Once enrolled in the RPP Program, importers are not required to visit a commercial office to pay for the duties and taxes owed at time of release of their commercial shipment. Electronic enrollment also means that importers can avoid longer paper-based processing times. As such, all importers are strongly encouraged to make arrangements to post financial security well before the deadline of May 20, 2025.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta taps into Germany’s markets

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel Beverage Pre-Launch Efforts and Launch Event at MAPS Air Museum with Tramonte Distributing of Ohio Leads to Record Breaking Initial Account Acquisition for American Rebel Light Beer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    American Rebel Beer Shatters Initial Account Acquisition Market Goals

    Nashville, TN, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), proudly reports a very successful launch event was held with its northeast Ohio distributor, Tramonte Distributing (tramontedistributing.com) at the MAPS Air Museum (mapsairmuseum.org) in North Canton, Ohio. Tramonte’s distribution territory covers a six-county region of northeast Ohio, including the city of Akron. This expansion marks a significant milestone as the company continues to grow its presence in the Midwest.

    “We had an incredible time with the folks from Tramonte, their customers and all the veterans and fans that attended our northeast Ohio launch event at MAPS,” said American Rebel CEO Andy Ross. “We tied our launch event and performance in with a Hunting & Fishing Outdoors Show sponsored by the Rubber City Radio Group, a local radio station ownership cluster that includes WQMX, WONE, WAKR and WNWV. It was great to share an ice-cold Rebel Light with everyone that came out to the event and supported American Rebel. Tramonte is part of the Miller/Coors distribution network; and we want to thank them for all their efforts. In just a few weeks Tramonte has an 11% penetration rate into their market with American Rebel Light. We think that is amazing and we know we’re very fortunate to be working with some of the best distributors in the country.”

    “The launch party of American Rebel Light at the MAPS Air Museum at the Akron Canton Airport was a huge success,” said Mike Tramonte, President, Tramonte Distributing. “The attendees loved the venue, the concert, the Hunting and Fishing Show, the time spent with Andy and Todd but most of all they really enjoyed sampling the American Rebel Light beer. The comments were overwhelmingly positive. Tramonte Distributing is proud to have American Rebel Light in its portfolio. You folks produce a great beer!”

    The relationship with Tramonte Distributing puts American Rebel Beer in front of a wide audience in Ohio, bringing its Premium Light Lager to light beer drinkers looking for a beer that shares their core values. The Tramonte agreement completes a seamless distribution network, ensuring that American Rebel Beer is available in local bars, restaurants, and retail outlets.

    “We are excited to partner with Tramonte Distributing to bring American Rebel Beer to Akron, OH, and the surrounding counties,” said Todd Porter, President of American Rebel Beverages. “This agreement represents our commitment to expanding our reach and sharing our passion for America’s Patriotic Beer with the amazing people of northeast Ohio.”

    Tramonte Distributing Company was founded in 1940 in Akron by Giacomo Tramonte, and true to its roots, remains in the city of Akron where they are the only alcoholic beverage distributor. Tramonte family members remain active in the company and the company prides itself on being a solid corporate citizen, encouraging responsible consumption, sponsoring a Safe Ride program during key holiday periods and contributing to local and national charities.

    To continue the launch effort, American Rebel Beer and Tramonte Distributing will host a series of events, including Rebel Light Kick-Off Parties featuring CEO Andy Ross and his band, beer tastings, and promotional giveaways. The festivities will continue through 2025, offering a perfect opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri and North Carolina and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or follow us on our social media platforms.

    About American Rebel Light Beer

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About Tramonte Distributing

    Tramonte Distributing Company was founded in 1940 in Akron by Giacomo Tramonte, and true to its roots, remains in the city of Akron where they are the only alcoholic beverage distributor.

    The business began with distribution rights for the Miller and Duquesne brands. Shortly thereafter they added Fort Pitt Beer, Cribari Wines and Weidemann Beer. Tramonte continued to acquire brands and in the late 1960’s acquired Molson brands through a highly unusual process. Jack S. Tramonte purchased the Molson inventory at a Summit County Sheriff’s sale and thus became a Molson Distributor.

    In addition to its core business, Tramonte Distributing prides itself in being a solid corporate citizen. Joining its breweries, Tramonte is in the forefront of the effort to encourage responsible consumption, sponsoring a Safe Ride program during key holiday periods. Tramonte also offers certified TIPS training to retailers.

    Tramonte family members currently active in the business include Michael A. Tramonte, President; Jack T. Tramonte, Vice President and Jack F. Tramonte, Secretary/Treasurer and Jack J. Tramonte. The fourth generation recently joined the business, Michael J. Tramonte, Rachael Tramonte and Anne Tramonte McKee. From its Akron headquarters, Tramonte’s 100 employees serve customers in Summit, Medina, Portage, Wayne, Ashland, And Stark counties. For more information go to tramontedistributing.com.

    About MAPS Air Museum

    MAPS Air Museum is an internationally known museum of aviation and serves as a center of aviation history for Northeast Ohio. The museum features exciting educational displays of its collection of acquired artifacts, interactive exhibits and historical archives in its own library. Whether you have an hour or a whole day, there’s something for you at MAPS. For more information go to mapsairmuseum.org.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebelbeer.com or americanrebel.com. For investor information, visit americanrebel.com/investor-relations.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of a launch party, actual launch timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contact:
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
    info@americanrebel.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Human Services, IUP Announce Collaboration to Train Future Physicians in Clinical Setting at Torrance State Hospital, Helping to Address Urgent Need for Rural Health Care Workers

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    March 25, 2025 – Torrance, PA

    Department of Human Services, IUP Announce Collaboration to Train Future Physicians in Clinical Setting at Torrance State Hospital, Helping to Address Urgent Need for Rural Health Care Workers

    DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh today joined leadership from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to announce the signing of a clinical training affiliation agreement for students at IUP’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine at Torrance State Hospital. This partnership with IUP will educate and train future osteopathic physicians in a clinical setting at Torrance State Hospital while also addressing the urgent need for health care professionals in rural and underserved communities.

    “I began my career practicing medicine in teaching hospitals in Philadelphia, and I saw firsthand how vital hands-on clinical experience in a real hospital environment was to the medical professionals in training,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “It is our hope that this partnership with IUP will give students the skills they need to promote individuals’ health and wellbeing while contributing to their communities’ health and investing in their future careers. I’m grateful for the work staff at Torrance do every day to support Pennsylvanians, and this partnership with IUP will be a vital part of the rural health solution.”

    Speaker list:
    Phil Mader, Director of State Hospital Operations,
    Stacey Keilman, Chief Executive Officer, Torrance State Hospital
    Dr. Michael Driscoll, President, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
    Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, Department of Human Services
    Jonathan Longwill, District Director for Senator Joe Pittman
    Dr. Daleep Rathore, Interim Chief Medical Officer, Department of Human Services
    Dr. Ryan Smith, Founding Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, IUP Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Dr. Miko Rose, Founding Dean, IUP Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Upper Tantallon — RCMP seeking information in relation to an arson

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is seeking information in relation to an arson that occurred in Upper Tantallon.

    Yesterday, at approximately 2:30 a.m., RCMP officers and fire services responded to a report of a 2016 Ford Mustang on fire on Hemlock Dr. Investigators learned that the vehicle was lit on fire by a woman who fled in a nearby sedan or small SUV.

    No injuries were reported.

    The woman involved is described as being between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-7, 130 pounds.

    Investigators are asking anyone in the Westwood Hills area with security camera footage of suspicious vehicle activity to come forward.

    Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    File #: 25-41069

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Indigenous women in Surrey will have new complex-care housing, support

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Indigenous women with complex mental-health and substance-use challenges in and around Surrey will soon have access to safe, culturally supportive housing and wraparound services to help them with their recovery. 

    “Combining culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care with safe, secure housing is essential in helping Indigenous women heal and rebuild their lives,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “These new complex-care housing units offer the supports needed to help people stabilize and improve their well-being, all under one roof and for as long as they need.”

    Starting in April 2025, complex-care housing services will be available for 10 Indigenous women living in Surrey with mental-health, substance-use and other concurrent health challenges. People living in this home will receive comprehensive, person-centred care that meets their specific needs, such as access to primary care, mental-health and substance-use services, counselling, cultural supports and daily living resources.

    “Complex-care housing has helped me tremendously,” said Kaitlynn, who has lived experience. “Not only was I able to get the right care to fit my needs, but it also allowed me and my daughter to be healthy, housed and together on my pathway to healing.”

    In partnership with the Province, this new initiative is led by the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) and the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA). AHMA and FRAFCA will support the women accessing these specialized housing services to maintain a connection or reconnect to their culture.

    “There’s a critical need to provide more supportive housing and complex care for people experiencing homelessness in Surrey,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “We are working with Indigenous organizations and health-care partners to ensure that culturally safe, wraparound care is available for Indigenous women so they can live full, healthy lives.”

    As of March 1, 2025, the Province has expanded complex-care housing services to more than 500 people through 27 complex-care housing projects throughout B.C. Budget 2022 and Budget 2023 invested a total of $430 million to create and expand the complex-care housing program.

    Complex-care housing is a key action in Belonging in BC, the Province’s homelessness action plan. It is also a part of the Province’s Safer Communities Action Plan, which is taking action to address the biggest challenges to keep people safe and communities strong. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 92,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including approximately 2,050 homes in Surrey.

    Quotes:

    Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for mental health and addictions —

    “Indigenous women in our community face unique challenges and these new housing units will provide the safe, supportive environment they need to thrive. By offering culturally appropriate care, we’re helping to create a foundation for healing and long-term well-being.”

    Margaret Pfoh, chief executive officer, Aboriginal Housing Management Association —

    “Complex-care housing is a direct response to the long-standing call for adequate, integrated health services in housing for Indigenous Peoples. Our approach is trauma-informed, culturally safe and proven to change lives. We know that it is crucial to respect people’s agency, dignity and choice when it comes to housing and services. People are living in encampments across B.C. for many reasons, and often it’s because of systemic racism and inter-generational poverty and trauma.”

    Kyla Painter, executive director, Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) —

    “Safe, stable housing that is rooted in culture and community is the foundation for healing. At FRAFCA, we see first-hand the barriers Indigenous women face in accessing the care and housing they need to rebuild their lives. This new complex-care housing project is a significant step forward in providing a supportive, culturally safe space where women can heal and thrive. We are proud to partner with AHMA and the Province to bring this critical service to Surrey.”

    Quick Facts:

    • In B.C., First Nations people are almost six times more likely to die from toxic-drug poisonings.
    • In 2023, 1,060 people experienced homelessness in Surrey, an increase of 65% from 2020.
    • In Metro Vancouver, approximately 33% of people experiencing homelessness identified as Indigenous.
    • A 2020 Point-in-Time Homelessness Count found Indigenous people experiencing homelessness in Surrey were more likely to be living with addiction, acquired brain injury, have a learning disability or cognitive impairment than non-Indigenous people experiencing homelessness.
    • Launched in 2022, complex-care housing is designed for those whose mental-health or substance-use challenges overlap with other serious health conditions, such as brain injuries or mobility impairments.

    Learn More:

    Learn about mental health and substance use supports in B.C.:
    https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/

    To learn more about complex-care housing, visit:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/complex-care-housing

    To learn more about the Safer Communities Action Plan, visit:
    https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/safer-communities/

    To learn more about Homes for People plan, visit:
    https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Electric cars are going mainstream – Elon Musk won’t change that

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    “When you ride Tesla, you ride with Hitler” according to a reworked second world war propaganda poster that was discovered in Oakland, California last month.

    When did an electric car brand supposedly become associated with the far right? Perhaps when its CEO, Elon Musk, embraced Donald Trump and the Maga movement that propelled him to a second term as US president. Tesla dealerships have been targets for protests and vandalism, while the company’s sales and stock price have fallen recently.

    “But those same political controversies may ironically help broaden the mass market appeal of electric vehicles,” says Hannah Budnitz, a research associate at the Transport Studies Unit of Oxford University.

    “This is an industry that needs to go beyond the early adopter tech bros – and now might be the moment.”

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    But first, a disclaimer

    Around a fifth of the greenhouse gas emissions heating Earth can be traced to a vehicle exhaust pipe. The more combustion engines that can be replaced with electric batteries, the less getting from A to B will exacerbate climate change.

    However, electric cars, like those sold by Tesla, are an imperfect solution to the climate crisis.

    “Huge amounts of land which could otherwise be used to house people or be dedicated to nature are still reserved for roads and car parks,” says Vera O’Riordan, an energy policy researcher at University College Cork.



    Read more:
    Electric cars aren’t enough to hit climate targets: we need to develop better public transport too

    And while driving an EV doesn’t emit CO₂, it does emit stuff you wouldn’t want to breathe in. Electric cars, which contain heavy batteries, wear down their tyres faster than conventional cars and generate more microplastic particles in the process, according to Henry Obanya, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Portsmouth.

    Obanya estimates that as much as a quarter of all microplastics in the environment could have come from car tyres.



    Read more:
    Car tyres shed a quarter of all microplastics in the environment – urgent action is needed

    So, the strategy of putting an EV in every garage has its limits (not least the fact that not everyone has a garage, or the space to charge an electric car).

    A more efficient way to decarbonise the second-largest emission source by sector (power generation is first) would be to follow the advice of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC, which is made up of scientists and other experts convened by the UN, recommends that countries plan their transport systems according to the maxim “avoid, shift, improve”.

    This involves, O’Riordan explains, avoiding unnecessary journeys by designing towns and cities with amenities in walking distance, shifting passengers onto higher-occupancy vehicles like buses by expanding public transport and improving all travel options by switching from fossil fuels to electric propulsion.

    Let’s assume that decades of car-first urban planning have boxed us in and we don’t have time to undo it before the climate is cooked. How can more motorists be persuaded to turn in their gas-guzzler for a battery-powered model?

    It’s the price, stupid

    Back to Budnitz – and the waning influence of the EV industry’s tech-bro boosters.

    “In 2010, when Tesla became the first American carmaker to go public since Ford in 1956, fully electric cars were still a niche technology,” she says.



    Read more:
    Why the Tesla backlash could help electric cars finally go mainstream

    Back then, Tesla adverts targeted the customers it thought would be early adopters: overwhelmingly, wealthy men like Musk. It worked. Survey after survey in North America and Europe showed that EV ownership in the early 2010s was skewed towards men and those on higher incomes.

    This is in stark contrast to electric car marketing at the dawn of motoring. In 1900, petroleum-powered cars were in the minority (22% of all cars) and were widely considered temperamental “adventure machines” that were prone to breaking down. Electric cars were pitched as a safer, cleaner alternative that was perfect for city travel.



    Read more:
    Electric cars were once marketed as ‘women’s cars’. Did this hold back their development over the next century?

    Perfect, in fact, for wealthy women. During the 1910s, when Victorian attitudes towards gender roles reigned and women were presumed to have limited mobility needs (no need to worry about your battery running flat if you’re not going far), 77% of EVs directly appealed to female consumers.

    “In the short term, this was a successful strategy: car manufacturers that advertised to female consumers survived much longer,” says economic historian Josef Taalbi (Lund University). The only major electric car producer in the US to survive into the 1920s advertised to women, he adds.

    In 2013, there were still less than 60,000 EVs on the road globally. A decade later, almost the same number are sold every day.

    “The transition to electric personal mobility is well underway around the world,” says Budnitz. “Tesla’s troubles won’t stop this – but they can give the car industry an opportunity to make the messaging around electric vehicles more diverse, equitable and inclusive for the mass market.”

    EV manufacturers can make their case to all drivers because they now offer a mass-market product, Budnitz argues. Nowhere is this more true than in Norway, which may become the first country to sell only zero-emission vehicles this year (88.9% of all vehicles sold in Norway in 2024 were fully-electric).

    What’s Norway’s secret?

    “Generous, comprehensive subsidies”, say Agnieszka Stefaniec and Keyvan Hosseini, transport researchers at the University of Southampton.



    Read more:
    How smaller, more affordable electric cars can accelerate the green transition

    “Our recent research shows that affordability is a tool to get everyone on board. When lower-income households face affordability barriers, it’s not just their problem – it’s the missing link to achieving 100%. Smaller, more affordable electric cars could be the game changer needed to bridge this gap.”

    – ref. Electric cars are going mainstream – Elon Musk won’t change that – https://theconversation.com/electric-cars-are-going-mainstream-elon-musk-wont-change-that-253060

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Joins Senate Colleagues to Urge Trump Administration to Reverse VA Contract Cancellations Impacting Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxic Chemicals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined a group of her Senate colleagues in a letter calling on the Trump Administration to reverse its cancellation of 585 contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including those that help veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins access lifesaving health care. This care is guaranteed under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act (PACT Act), which Senator Rosen voted for and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. It has since provided care and benefits to over 1 million veterans. Contracts targeted for cancellation by the Trump Administration help provide the necessary personnel and resources to conduct outreach to eligible veterans, screen applicants, and process claims. The senators are demanding that Trump reinstate all PACT Act contracts and commit to preserving all PACT Act-related programs in the future.
    “Carrying out such arbitrary cuts and contract cancellations under the excuse of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse is exactly the form of cynical action that prioritizes talking points about wasteful government spending rather than helping the veterans who have honorably served the American people. Any actions to hamstring implementation of the PACT Act – which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support – betrays our veterans and fully disregards congressional intent,” wrote the senators. “We ask that you take immediate action to protect and preserve all relevant programs, employees, and contractors in support of PACT Act implementation and ensure they remain unharmed by any further plans by you and DOGE.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been fighting for Nevada’s veterans. She has sent letters demanding that the VA reverses harmful plans to reduce their workforce, calling on the VA to permanently reverse layoffs, and pushing for answers regarding mass employee terminations. Earlier this month, she helped introduce legislation to reinstate veterans wrongfully fired by President Trump and Elon Musk. She also took to the Senate floor to oppose the actions of the Trump Administration and Musk to mass fire employees working at the VA. Senator Rosen also demanded the VA provide answers regarding mass employee terminations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Calls Out Trump Undermining Small Business Owners, Demands Admin Release Report on Proposed Cuts to the Bipartisan MBDA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WAHINSGTON, D.C. – As the Trump Administration seeks to dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is demanding that they immediately release their report outlining the proposed cuts and its potential impact on small business owners across America. Senator Baldwin and her Republican colleagues helped make the MBDA permanent and she helped bring home Wisconsin’s first Business Center in 2023, ensuring entrepreneurs and business owners did not need to travel or use Chicago or Detroit’s Business Center. Local Business Centers provide small business owners technical assistance, assisting with access to capital and contracts, and supporting job creation and retention. In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, the MBDA helped the country’s more than 12 million minority businesses access over $1.5 billion in capital and create or retain approximately 23,000 jobs.

    “I fought hard to bring this support to Wisconsin, helping our entrepreneurs and small business owners access capital, contracts, and markets – creating jobs and growing our economy,” said Senator Baldwin. “Right now, behind closed doors, the Trump Administration is weighing what resources they can rip away from our local businesses, workers, and economies – and I’m not going to stand idly by. This is wrong and at the very least, they need to be transparent and let the people of our state see the impacts of these proposed cuts.”

    Senator Baldwin worked to include the bipartisan Minority Business Development Act of 2021 as an amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, making the MBDA permanent and increasing its funding and reach.  President Trump’s Executive Order seeks to eliminate MBDA’s “non-statutory components and functions…to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” The Executive Order required a report from MBDA to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget explaining which of its components or functions are statutorily required and to what extent, to determine what can be restructured or cut. As Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce subcommittee charged with oversight of MBDA, Baldwin is requesting a copy of that report by April 2nd, 2025.

    Senator Baldwin’s full letter can be found here and below:

    Dear Deputy Under Secretary Latif:

    I write regarding the Executive Order issued on March 14, 2025, which seeks to dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). This action by the Trump Administration undermines the work of the only federal agency exclusively dedicated to supporting the development and expansion of minority-owned businesses, which contribute trillions to the U.S. economy, employ millions of workers, and support local economies.

    Congress affirmed its bipartisan support for MBDA by expanding its reach and making it permanent in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Our bipartisan amendment made the MBDA more effective by putting into statute the mission and goals of the agency and giving it the proper tools to carry them out successfully. It also created a presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development to lead the agency. This allowed MBDA to increase their programs and outreach to minority-owned businesses and allowed for the expansion of MBDA business centers into additional states—including Wisconsin.

    The Executive Order ignores Congress’s bipartisan commitment to MBDA’s reliability and geographic reach and would instead eliminate MBDA’s “non-statutory components and functions…to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” Any plans by this Administration to restructure MBDA should include input from Members of Congress who are familiar with its impact. The Executive Order required a report from MBDA to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget explaining which of its components or functions are statutorily required and to what extent. It is critical to include the Senators who represent states with MBDA Business Centers in this evaluation process, and the first step is providing me with a copy of the report to my Senate office to evaluate the scope of these proposed cuts. As Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce subcommittee charged with oversight of MBDA, I am requesting a copy of that report, which you would have already submitted to OMB, by April 2, 2025.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: The Staggering Cost of the Illicit Opioid Epidemic in the United States

    Source: The White House

    class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-details”>Summary

    Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, is cheaper to produce and easier to smuggle across borders, fueling the illicit opioid epidemic in the United States with devastating consequences. In 2023 alone, illicit opioids, primarily fentanyl, cost Americans an estimated $2.7 trillion (in December 2024 dollars), equivalent to 9.7 percent of GDP. Of this total cost, 41 percent ($1.1 trillion) is attributed to deaths, 49 percent ($1.34 trillion) to lost quality of life, and 10 percent ($277 billion) to other costs such as healthcare, reduced labor productivity, and crime-related expenses. Alarmingly, 93 percent of opioid deaths are caused by powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which typically originate in China and are trafficked through Mexico.

    This number dwarfs even pessimistic estimates of the effects of tariffs, like that of Goldman Sachs, who estimated losses of 0.4 percent of GDP.

    The CEA previously studied this issue and came up with a smaller number. The primary reasons are because it did not include the cost of reduced quality of life and because the number of deaths in 2015 was 33,000.

    Details

    Our cost estimates are based on a 2017 CDC study which we have updated to account for inflation and the sharp rise in opioid deaths and opioid use disorder (OUD) since then. According to the DEA, an estimated 74,702 Americans died in 2023, a staggering 1.6 times more than in 2017. Additionally, the number of Americans living with OUD increased by 2.7 times to 5.7 million during the same period. We have adjusted the calculations to reflect current prices as well as the alarming rise in opioid addiction and deaths. We scale up the loss of life estimates based on the increase in fatalities, while we scale up the other estimates to reflect the increase in the prevalence of those living with OUD. The breakdown of the cost estimates, all expressed in December 2024 dollars, is as follows:

    • Loss of life: $1.11 trillion. This estimate is calculated by multiplying the number of lives lost (74,702) by the value of statistical life in the United States and then adding productivity and healthcare costs that arise due to opioid fatalities. We inflation adjusted the $10.1 million value of a statistical life number provided by NIH (2017) to 2025 dollars ($13.0 million per life). The value of a loss of life is based on market and survey based evidence on what amount of money people are willing to forgo to change the probability of death. For example, many estimates rely on the value of life implied by the increase in wages required for people to take jobs with higher mortality risk.
    • Loss of quality of life: $1.34 trillion. This estimate is the product of three factors. First is a survey-based measure for the loss in quality of life for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) compared to those in full health. The measure shows that life with OUD has about 60 percent (0.626) of the quality of life of those in full health. Second is a measure of how much Americans value a year of life in full health. Adjusted for inflation, this value is estimated at $624,410 per person per year. Together these values imply that the lost quality of life costs $234,478 per year for each person living with OUD. We then multiply this value by the prevalence of OUD, estimated to be 5.7 million in 2023.
    • Healthcare system: $107 billion. This estimate represents the additional annual costs incurred by the healthcare system for treating individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) relative to the average annual costs of treating those without OUD. This amounts to $19,000 additional dollars per year per person with OUD. These costs were primarily borne by private insurers, Medicaid, and hospitals providing uncompensated care. Ultimately, these costs are passed on to all Americans through higher insurance premiums, taxes, and healthcare expenses.
    • Loss of labor force productivity: $107 billion. This estimate is calculated by multiplying the number of productive work hours lost due to opioid-related deaths, OUD, and incarceration by the average hourly total compensation (wages and benefits) for American workers.
    • Crime-related: $63 billion. This figure represents the sum of costs incurred for additional police protection, judicial activities, correctional facilities, and property loss resulting from opioid-related crime.

    Conclusion

    The enormous economic cost of the illicit opioid epidemic to Americans, estimated at $2.7 trillion in 2023 alone, underscores the urgent need to control the flow of lethal drugs pouring in from foreign countries. The human suffering and financial burden inflicted by this epidemic are unsustainable.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AutoScheduler.AI Recognized as a Winner of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, announces being recognized as a winner of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards in the Automated Planning and Scheduling category from the Business Intelligence Group. This prestigious recognition highlights the company’s commitment to innovation and its contributions to advancing artificial intelligence.

    AutoScheduler.AI ushers in a new era as the brains of a warehousing operation and is the only solution on the market designed to optimize operational activity to decrease touches and increase capacity per headcount. AutoScheduler.AI helps businesses manage what they need today to succeed while predicting what they need in the future to meet the increased demand in labor, space, and time.

    “We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from the Business Intelligence Group,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “This award is a testament to the dedication of our team and our mission to push the boundaries of AI to create meaningful solutions that improve lives and industries.”

    “The AI industry is evolving rapidly, and it is through the efforts of companies like AutoScheduler.AI that we see real-world applications driving change,” said Russ Fordyce, CEO of the Business Intelligence Group. “Their work exemplifies the kind of innovation and leadership that is shaping the future of artificial intelligence.”

    This year’s honorees represent the pinnacle of AI advancement, excelling in predictive analytics, generative AI, explainable AI, and beyond. Selected by a panel of industry experts, these winners exemplify the transformative power of artificial intelligence across diverse industries, from finance and healthcare to cybersecurity and autonomous systems.

    The Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards celebrate those at the forefront of AI’s evolution. From startups pioneering new applications to established enterprises leveraging AI to drive efficiency and innovation, these winners and finalists are setting new standards for the industry.

    For more details on the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards and a complete list of winners and finalists, visit https://www.bintelligence.com/awards/artificial-intelligence-excellence-awards.

    About AutoScheduler.AI

    AutoScheduler.AI empowers you to take full control of your warehouse with a cloud-based solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution. We automate critical tasks like labor scheduling, dock management, and task sequencing, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. You’ve already invested in the software to run your warehouse—what we do is provide the orchestration layer that ties it all together to make real-time data driven decisions. With AutoScheduler.AI, you get smart orchestration for a smarter, more agile warehouse. For more information, visit: http://www.autoscheduler.ai.

    About Business Intelligence Group www.bintelligence.com

    The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization’s proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

    Contact:
    Becky Boyd
    MediaFirst PR
    Becky@MediaFirst.Net
    Cell: (404) 421-8497

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c292b523-c116-4e5b-898b-942f46926d2a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Leads Bipartisan Bills to Address Doctor Shortage in Rural Areas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is continuing his efforts to increase access to reliable, quality health care for Arkansans by championing legislation that supports and attracts the next generation of doctors and medical professionals to The Natural State.

    Boozman and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently introduced the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act to ease financial burdens on medical professionals completing their medical training, and the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act to increase available medical residency spots and prioritize placement in rural and underserved areas. 

    Nationwide, the U.S. faces a projected shortage between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034 according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. More than 500,000 Arkansans live in an area defined by the federal government as lacking the adequate number of health professionals to serve the population. 

    “Addressing the shortage of medical professionals is a necessary step in ensuring Arkansans are able to access affordable and reliable health care no matter where they live,” said Boozman. “These bipartisan bills are practical efforts to encourage students to pursue careers in medicine by helping mitigate some of the financial barriers and burdens associated with internship and residency requirements while also ensuring more medical school graduates train and go on to practice in the communities that desperately need them.”

    Boozman and Rosen’s Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act would help alleviate the health care provider shortage by allowing medical professionals to defer their student loan payments without accruing interest until the completion of their respective residency or internship programs. This deferment will decrease the financial burden for future doctors, dentists and other medical providers who face a median medical debt of over $200,000 upon graduation.

    The senators also introduced the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act to redistribute available residency slots in a manner that prioritizes areas experiencing physician shortages. Medical professionals are more likely to practice medicine where they completed their residencies, and opening more opportunities in rural communities is a strong step forward to ensure Arkansans have access to reliable health care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Luján Work to Remove Hurdles to Organ Donation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced legislation to make it easier for living donors to give the gift of life by expanding eligibility for donor compensation to cover wages, travel, childcare and caregiver expenses associated with donation. The Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act will help Americans graduate from the transplant waitlist and return to living healthy lives by facilitating more donations from people who may be unable to donate due to cost barriers.

    Currently, the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program assists low-income donors with limited reimbursements, preventing potential donors from qualifying. In the U.S., the kidney transplant waiting list exceeds 92,000 people, though only about 6,000 living donations take place each year. By decreasing the financial strain imposed on donors, the HOLD Act can increase living donation and save lives.  

    “Thousands of lives are saved each year through organ donation,” said Boozman. “I am proud to join Senator Luján on this bipartisan initiative that reduces financial barriers to donation, ensuring Americans have the resources necessary to increase the potential donor pool and ultimately save lives.”

    “Every day, families lose their loved ones while waiting for an organ transplant while generous living donors are unable to step forward because of the financial burden,” said Luján. “The HOLD Act will help remove those barriers, you will not have to choose between your livelihood and the opportunity to save a life. I’m proud to partner with Senator Boozman on this bipartisan effort to support our living organ donors. By providing living organ donors with the resources they need, we can increase the number of donors, reduce the transplant waitlist, and save lives.”

    “No American should face out of pocket costs for giving the gift of life as a living kidney donor,” said ASN President Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN. “The HOLD Act advances that goal by simplifying the process by which living donors can offset the costs associated with donating a kidney. I commend Senator Luján and Senator Boozman for their leadership, which will allow more of the nearly 100,000 Americans on the waitlist to benefit from a lifesaving kidney transplant.”

    Full text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fire Alerts issued for Georgia, North and South Carolina

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Fire Alerts issued for Georgia, North and South Carolina

    Gages affected by Table Rock Reservoir Fire

    Dry conditions persist throughout Western Carolinas and North Georgia where downed trees from Hurricane Helene has increased fuel for wildfires. 

    Wildfires continue to burn in Georgia, North and South Carolina, with most occurring in the mountainous area of the three states. Two stream gages were damaged in the Table Rock Fire. Gage 021622847 and 021622845 are no longer recording data.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Urges U.S. Senate to Support End to Harmful, Misguided Tariffs on Canada

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is urging members of the U.S. Senate to pass a resolution (S.J. Res. 37) introduced by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine that would terminate the unjustified Trump tariffs imposed on Canadian imports.

    “The IAM firmly stands in support of fair-trade policy and the use of measures such as tariffs when used properly to help level the playing field for the workers we represent,” wrote Bryant in the letter to U.S. Senators. “The use of tariffs can be an effective enforcement measure to punish bad trade actors such as countries that do not respect the rights of workers. These new tariffs on Canada, one of our closest allies and largest trading partners, are unjust and will have lasting negative impacts on American and Canadian workers.”

    The letter from IAM International President Brian Bryant to U.S. Senators continues:

    “The IAM believes in fair trade and understands the necessity of tariffs when strategically deployed to protect workers and ensure equitable competition. However, the current tariffs on Canada—a vital ally and major trading partner—are not only misplaced but actively damaging to workers on both sides of the border.

    “The justification for these tariffs, citing fentanyl concerns, is demonstrably false. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data reveals that less than 1% of fentanyl seizures originate from the U.S.-Canada border, while over 96% stem from the southern border with Mexico. This stark discrepancy exposes the fallacy of targeting Canada and underscores the urgent need to reverse this detrimental policy.

    “The IAM represents workers in critical sectors such as aerospace, defense, and manufacturing, all of which rely heavily on seamless U.S.-Canada collaboration. These tariffs disrupt vital supply chains, destabilize economies, and threaten the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers, including over 100,000 aerospace workers across both nations.

    “Based on a flawed premise, these tariffs inflict unnecessary harm on working families in both the United States and Canada.”

    Read the complete letter here.  

    The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries. 

    goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Briefs: February-March 2025

    Source: US Geological Survey

    News Briefs: February-March 2025

    News Briefs – featuring coastal and ocean science from across the USGS.

    Check out recent news highlights below!

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    USGS and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names have implemented name changes following Executive and Secretary’s Orders.

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    USGS scientists from all three Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program Science Centers attended and presented an array of topics at Coastal…

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Protecting Workers Who Maintain New York Highways

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today highlighted New York State’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety on New York State’s highways and her proposal to further protect the workers who build and maintain roads and bridges. Included in her FY 2026 Budget, the Governor’s plan would make the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program permanent, expand it to include MTA Bridges and Tunnels and NYS Bridge Authority properties, and enhance penalties for assaults against transportation workers. A group of construction industry officials, labor leaders and safety advocates came together today to advocate for these safety enhancements on the one-year anniversary of the expansion of New York’s “Move Over Law” — a lifesaving piece of legislation requiring all drivers to move over when hazard vehicles, highway worker vehicles and tow trucks are stopped on the roadway.

    “The men and women in labor who have dedicated themselves to improving our roads and bridges risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of all drivers,” Governor Hochul said. “By permanently driving down speeds in work zones and enhancing penalties for assaults against them, I am working to strengthen our laws to ensure these dedicated workers can make it home safe themselves.”

    The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program is the result of legislation signed into law by Governor Hochul in September 2021. The legislation authorized a 5-year pilot program run as a joint effort by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) to enhance the State’s ongoing efforts to slow motorists down in work zones to make New York’s highways safer. More than 420,000 Notices of Liability have been issued statewide, with close to 78,400 repeat offenders since the AWZSE program launched in May 2023. And in locations where the cameras have been present more than once, fewer Notices of Liability are being issued, meaning that people are slowing down when cameras are present.

    In addition to her proposal to make the AWSZE permanent, the Governor’s Budget also includes language to enhance penalties for assaults against transportation workers, extending protections similar to those provided to many MTA and retail workers. These actions will improve safety for both workers and drivers. Just last year, while setting up a work zone on a Long Island Expressway ramp in Syosset, a car veered around Department of Transportation trucks, which were carrying attenuators. The driver got out of his car and accosted the highway maintenance crew for obstructing his trip up the ramp. Video of the beginning of the incident can be found here. The Governor’s proposal would hold bad actors accountable and deter actions like this in the future.

    State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “This commonsense legislative package put forward by Governor Hochul will provide much needed worker safety protection and peace of mind for thousands of State Department of Transportation highway forces by making the work zone camera program permanent, and increasing punishment against those who threaten to do them harm. Our highway workers deserve the respect of the traveling public every second they are out there doing their jobs in the name of safety. I strongly believe that both pieces of legislation will prompt more New Yorkers to slow down, pay attention and think twice before threatening or physically hitting one of our workers.”

    New York State DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said. “As someone who spends a lot of time in a car driving across the State, I drive past road work zones all the time, and I unfortunately see too many people driving in ways that put road maintenance crews and other drivers at risk. Taking the time to slow down and move over can prevent a tragedy and make sure we all get to our destinations safely.”

    New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program is a critical tool to enhance safety in work zones across the State. We are committed to enhancing safety for all highway workers and strongly support Governor Hochul’s proposal to make this effective program permanent.”

    New York State Bridge Authority Executive Director Dr. Minosca Alcantara said, “There is no excuse for speeding and reckless driving in work zones. All of our fellow New Yorkers who are out working on the roads need to get home safe to their families. Expanding AWZSE to the Bridge Authority and making it permanent across the State is imperative to ensure crews are safe while doing their jobs.”

    MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan said, “AWZSE is changing motorist behavior for the better: drivers are slowing down, resulting in fewer work zone accidents and injuries. This successful pilot program has made our roadways safer for both drivers and workers in construction zones. I look forward to this initiative becoming permanent and being expanded for widespread use.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Our highway employees work day in and day out to maintain our roads and keep New Yorkers safe, it’s only right that we prioritize their safety while on the job. In my role as Chair of The Senate Transportation Committee, I am always committed to protecting these vital workers, which is why I carry the Senate legislation expanding the automated work zone camera program while making it permanent. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership on worker safety across New York.”

    Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli said, “Protecting our workers is of utmost importance. The investments are critical and will help reduce fatalities and injuries on New York’s highways.”

    New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “Keeping highway workers safe is a priority for the Union Movement. These workers endure hazardous conditions while performing their jobs for our safety; we must protect them. We thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to addressing enforcement and more aggressive repercussions for repeat violators who endanger the workforce that keeps our roads safe and our infrastructure running smoothly.”

    New York State Building and Construction Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera said, “It is well-known that construction sites are inherently dangerous and the added hazards and less-controllable variants of roadways and highspeed traffic only increase the risks for highway workers. This is why we must continue to push forward key legislation that encourages drivers to proceed with more caution and mindfulness around highway work areas and holds them accountable when they act recklessly. We applaud Governor Hochul for her ongoing leadership and action on this important issue. Every hard-working New Yorker, including our brave tradesmen and tradeswomen working on our roadways, deserve to return home safely to their families at the end of each shift.”

    LiUNA Vice President and New England Regional Manager Donato A. Bianco, Jr. said, “The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program has effectively caused drivers to slow down and pay attention, helping to protect the men and women working tirelessly to keep our highway system operational and properly maintained. LIUNA has proudly and staunchly advocated for this program since its inception, and its inclusion by Governor Hochul and the Senate in their respective proposed budgets demonstrates a strong commitment to prioritizing workers’ safety. We all owe it to the workers that skillfully do this dangerous job to take every possible action to ensure they go home safely at the end of the day, and we look forward to seeing the program included in the final enacted Budget.”

    CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said, “CSEA applauds Governor Hochul’s leadership on this issue and calls on the New York State Legislature to make the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program permanent.”

    CSEA Thruway Local President Sean Kennedy said, “We must explore all avenues to protecting road and highway workers risking their lives every day. The AWZSE program serves as a deterrent to distracted and reckless driving while boosting safety for workers as well as the traveling public.”

    New York State Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said, “PEF believes that all public employees should be able to go to their jobs, perform their duties professionally and return home safely to their families after work. Too often, PEF members are harassed or assaulted on the job or injured unnecessarily at work. PEF supports Governor Hochul’s Budget proposal to expand the use of automated work zone cameras to ensure drivers are alert and maintaining an appropriate speed in work zones. PEF also supports the Governor’s proposal to increase the penalties for assaults and harassment of department of transportation workers and urges the Governor and both houses of the Legislature to expand these increased penalties for assaults against any public employee in the performance of their duties. The time has come to address these issues on behalf of New York’s dedicated public employees.”

    New York Construction Materials Association President and CEO Ron Epstein said, “We wholeheartedly support Governor Hochul’s steadfast commitment to enhancing work zone safety and strengthening protections for transportation workers. The critical safety measures outlined in the Governor’s Budget proposal are essential for safeguarding the lives of the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly on our roads, ensuring they return home safely to their families at the end of each shift. We commend the Governor for her leadership in prioritizing these vital efforts and we stand ready to collaborate to make our work zones safer for everyone.”

    Associated General Contractors of New York State President and CEO Mike Elmendorf said, “Working in a work zone on a road or highway is inherently dangerous, but it is made needlessly so by all too frequent excessive speed and distracted driving. That’s why the construction industry and our partners in government, and labor worked hard to enact New York’s automated work zone speed enforcement program — and it is working. While it has documented shockingly high speeds in work zones, it is succeeding in getting drivers to use caution and slow down in work zones. That keeps both drivers and the men and women working there safer. We commend Governor Hochul for her efforts to make sure construction workers and drivers alike can return safely to their homes and families by creating this important program — and this year proposing to make it permanent and increase penalties for those who are still speeding in work zones. Let’s stick with what works and make this critical program permanent this year.”

    American Automobile Association New York State Safety Committee Chairman John Corlett said, “With the construction season about to get fully underway, work zones and construction zones will be popping up on roads across the Empire State. AAA is supporting the Governor’s plan to make work zone speed cameras permanent. April 21 will mark the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week. As the weather gets better, speeds will start picking up, which makes the roads riskier for everyone and we need responsible drivers who will safely navigate work zones to ensure that everyone makes it home to their families at the end of the day.”

    New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways President and Town of Elmira Highway Superintendent Matt Mustico said, “The people working on our roads deserve to go home safe at the end of the day. It’s that simple. The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program is already making a difference — drivers are slowing down and paying more attention. That’s exactly what’s needed. Making this program permanent is common sense. On behalf of town highway superintendents and our association stakeholder members across New York State, we urge the Legislature to include this critical safety measure in the final State Budget. Protecting our highway workers while keeping our roads safe for New Yorkers should be something we can all agree on.”

    Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council President Michael Lyons said, “The expansion of work zone camera systems in New York reflects the commitment of the State to protecting transportation workers and ensuring their rights and safety on the job. The Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council represents over 22,000 Union construction workers in the area and the State’s focus on improving working conditions, reducing accidents and ensuring workers are equipped with the necessary safety training and resources is an initiative that we can back unequivocally.”

    New York State Association of Towns Executive Director Christopher A. Koetzle said, “The New York Association of Towns is committed to protecting the dedicated professionals who ensure the safety and maintenance of our roads. We strongly urge state legislative leaders to include transportation worker safety initiatives as part of the State Budget, ensuring a safer work environment for those who keep our infrastructure running smoothly.”

    New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said, “NYCOM commends Governor Hochul and Department of Transportation Commissioner Dominguez, for their commitment to prioritizing the safety of our state and local transportation workers. Ensuring a secure work environment is a fundamental responsibility of the State, and no employee should face threats, harassment or physical harm while performing their duties. These proposals are critical to safeguarding the men and women who maintain our roadways and send a strong message that any form of violence against them is unacceptable.”

    Long Island Contractors’ Association Executive Director Marc Herbst said, “Protecting our workers is foundational to every issue we advocate for as an industry. There is no question that we need to do all we can to ensure that the workers who go out to build, repair and maintain our vital infrastructure have every protection we can provide. Both the expansion of the work zone safety camera program and transportation worker protection from harassment and assault are vital to ensure our workers know we have their backs and truly appreciate their contributions to our roadways.”

    Construction Industry Council Executive Director John Cooney, Jr. said, “The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley Inc. thanks Governor Kathy Hochul for including in her Executive Budget the inclusion of both the expansion of automated work zone camera program and transportation worker protection from harassment and assault. We thank NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Theresa Dominguez and New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank Hoare for standing up for transportation worker safety and highlighting the need for these two important budget worker safety items. The construction and transportation industries deserve to have all workers involved to have a safe and protected work environment. The proposals for the expanded work zone camera program and expanded transportation worker harassment and assault protections deserve to be a final product of this year’s New York State Budget.”

    New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said, “Our dedicated county highway crews work all hours of the day and night to maintain and improve our local roads and bridges, ensuring the safety of all who travel them. It is imperative that we take every measure possible to protect these essential workers from harassment, assault and reckless drivers. The New York State Association of Counties stands firmly in support of initiatives aimed at safeguarding our transportation workers and enhancing their well-being.”

    Verra Mobility Executive Vice President Jon Baldwin said, “New York State has demonstrated tremendous leadership with the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement pilot program, and the results speak for themselves. Drivers are slowing down, paying attention and prioritizing safety in work zones. New York’s continued investment in this initiative reflects a dedication to fostering safer work environments and safer roads for all. As leaders in smart transportation solutions, we applaud the State’s commitment to safety and support a permanent solution for protecting lives.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: Otay Ranch Village 13 Project Settlement Will Reduce Wildfire Risk While Increasing Opportunity for New Housing

    Source: US State of California

    Wednesday, March 26, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a final settlement agreement regarding the Otay Ranch Village 13 project, which resolves concerns pertaining to the project’s wildfire and greenhouse gas impacts and benefits the people and environment of California. Specifically, under the agreement, the proposed housing development will include the same number of units on a more compact footprint, reducing wildfire ignition risk and protecting approximately 300 additional acres of open space compared to the original plan. While decreasing the development footprint, the settlement also increases the opportunity for new housing by allowing the developer to apply to the County of San Diego to build up to 2,750 housing units (increased from 1,938) within the more compact building area. This will allow for additional housing supply while reducing the project’s environmental impacts, including wildfire risk. The agreement also includes payment of nearly $2 million in attorneys’ fees to the California Department of Justice and the environmental groups that filed litigation challenging the County’s approval of the project for violating the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Attorney General Bonta is joined by the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Endangered Habitats League, California Native Plant Society, Preserve Wild Santee, and California Chaparral Institute in today’s settlement with the project applicant.

    “From Los Angeles to San Diego, we are seeing devastating wildfires ravaging our communities right before our eyes. We can no longer ignore the realities of climate change,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s settlement recognizes that environmental protection and housing go hand in hand, aiming to create more resilient, sustainable homes while reducing wildfire risk and protecting our environment.”

    Today’s settlement requires measures to reduce wildfire risk and greenhouse gas emissions, including:

    • Providing a continuous program of surveillance for wildfire ignitions.
    • Ensuring an educational program on wildfire ignition prevention for project residents.
    • Installing sprinkler systems on multi-family residential buildings that meet National Fire Protection Association Standard 13.
    • Achieving net-zero energy design for all single-family residential and commercial buildings.
    • Requiring all buildings to be fully electric.
    • Prohibiting installation of natural gas infrastructure.
    • Creating a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Fund of at least $15 million, which will fund greenhouse gas emissions reductions projects in San Diego County.

    The Otay Ranch Village 13 project site is located in southwestern San Diego County in an area that has in the past been affected by wildfires. The County approved and certified a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Otay Ranch Village 13 project on November 18, 2020. The Attorney General’s lawsuit challenged the FEIR’s failure, in violation of CEQA, to adequately address the risk of wildfire despite acknowledging the very high potential for wildfire hazards in and around the project site as well as the FEIR’s failure to adequately analyze or mitigate the impact of substantial vehicle trips and increased greenhouse gas emissions generated by the project. Under the settlement, the parties will request that the Court stay the litigation until the County approves a revised project that complies with the terms of the settlement.

    A copy of the settlement can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How two recent productions of Oedipus offer different meanings through the role of the chorus

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will Shüler, Vice-Dean of Education and Senior Lecturer, School of Performing and Digital Arts, Royal Holloway University of London

    The London theatre scene was all abuzz in January 2024 when two different star-studded West End productions of the ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus were announced within minutes of each other.

    The first production of the Sophocles tragedy, adapted and directed by Robert Icke and starring Mark Strong and Leslie Manville, ran from October 2024 to January 2025, with a Broadway transfer to New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company planned for this autumn.

    The second – which closes at the end of this month – opened weeks later at the Old Vic in a version by Ella Hickson, co-directed by Hofesh Shechter and Matthew Warchus, and starring Rami Malek and Indira Varma.

    Historically, ancient Greek tragedies were retellings of ancient myths, performed in ways that encouraged the audience to reflect upon an old story in a new way. Two London productions of Oedipus might seem like overkill, but they actually demonstrate the versatility of the tragic form.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Both productions rework the myth, allowing contemporary audiences to consider different perspectives on the play’s themes of power and knowledge.

    One of the defining aspects of the ancient Greek tragedy is the chorus. Originally they performed in the orchestra of an ancient theatre – the space between the actors and the audience. Their performance of odes was in song and dance form, and the content might reflect upon the play’s events from their perspective, provide background that was either directly or indirectly related to the plot, or spur on the action of the play.

    In Oedipus, the chorus is comprised of citizens of Thebes. The city is suffering from a terrible curse and Oedipus, the king, takes it upon himself to rectify this by following the advice of the gods to discover and punish the murderer of the previous king, Laius.

    The chorus first enters singing – and dancing – about the disasters the people have been facing and prays for their end. For the rest of the play, from the foot of the palace, the chorus observes Oedipus’s investigation, horrific discovery and the piteous aftermath for his family.

    The treatment of the role of the chorus in these two West End productions are essential to the different meanings they make and how they invite audiences to reflect upon the myth in relation to our own world.

    In the Icke adaptation, Oedipus is with his family (wife Jocasta, mother Merope, brother-in-law Creon and three adult children Antigone, Polynices and Eteocles) at his campaign headquarters on the evening of the election.

    In this version the challenge the city faces is governmental corruption. Icke has included more family members than are in Sophocles’s original text and cut the role of the chorus entirely. Its exclusion means the governmental corruption is seen almost entirely from the point of view of this political family.

    The only perspective we get from the citizens is an opening video sequence as Oedipus is interviewed by the press, and the frequent election result updates. The people elect Oedipus. They want what he promises – an end of governmental corruption.

    Icke’s Oedipus strives to do the right thing and break from the string of corrupt, deceitful, narcissistic politicians who have been plaguing the city. The play thereby draws contemporary connections to “draining the swamp” and the “fake news” accusations of Donald Trump.

    Without reflections from the people (the chorus), the play becomes a personal drama about the family’s interests and public image. Oedipus and Jocasta’s grisly ends are entirely about their personal horror at the discovery they have made – that she is actually his mother.

    There is no reflection on how the play’s ending relates to the ongoing trouble faced by the citizens. In this version of events the final impression feels pessimistic – even when leaders try to do the right thing, the system ensures that they will fail.

    In the Old Vic production, the play is set in a Thebes that is suffering from extreme drought (likely alluding to the climate crisis). In Hickson’s adaptation, the chorus remains, but their words have been removed. Only their dance is performed between the scenes of the actors.

    This is not to say that the Sophocles text has been “translated” into movement by Shechter, but rather that the historic function of the chorus (to contemplate, to reflect, to spur on) remains by means of what is communicated in dance – which, according to the Guardian’s theatre critic David Jays becomes “the irresistible core of the tragedy”.

    In the play’s script, each scene ends with the deceptively simple word: “dance”. In performance, Oedipus’ investigation into what is causing the drought, contemplation of prophecies and public speeches to the people of Thebes are all interspersed with Shechter’s evocative choreography. We see their suffering, we see their prayers, we see their perseverance. Their needs never fade into the background but remain the consistent pulse of the play.

    In this version, when Oedipus has his moment of revelation, the rain comes and the people dance in it. This moment imparts impressions of renewed faith, solidarity, fruitfulness, pride, rebirth and life continuing.

    Oedipus enters having blinded himself, not out of personal horror, but in order to cleanse the city and ensure its continued godly favour. In contrast to the Icke production, Schechter and Warchus’s version – though still tragic – is ultimately hopeful.

    The leader has taken responsibility for what they have done and put the needs of the people over his own ambitions and desires. The last moment is not Oedipus’s. It is the chorus’s – and we watch them dance.

    Will Shüler does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How two recent productions of Oedipus offer different meanings through the role of the chorus – https://theconversation.com/how-two-recent-productions-of-oedipus-offer-different-meanings-through-the-role-of-the-chorus-252862

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Budd, Luján Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Support for Families of Substance Abuse Victims

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the bipartisan Families Care Act today, directing the Administration for Community Living (ACL), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to provide peer support services for children, grandparents, and caregivers impacted by the opioid crisis.

    “The opioid crisis claims tens of thousands of lives every year, leaving families and caregivers to bear the heavy emotional and practical burdens of supporting children hurt by addiction. No family should be forced to walk this difficult path alone. That’s why Senator Luján and I introduced the Families Care Act, to guarantee that families have the support and resources they need to care for children while providing an opportunity for those who have faced similar life circumstances to share their experiences with others,” said Senator Budd.

    “I’m proud to reintroduce the Families Care Act with Senator Budd to support all of the caregivers who step in when substance use disorder tears families apart. Far too many grandparents and relatives become the primary caregiver when a substance use disorder overtakes their loved one. This legislation will help provide increased support through peer assistance and education, helping reduce caregiver stress and loneliness. By providing essential resources and fostering a supportive community, we can improve caregivers’ well-being and help them show up every day to care for the people they love,” said Senator Luján.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    The legislation would require the ACL to provide peer support services through the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP).

    Senators Budd and Luján previously introduced this legislation in 2024, which was passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee as part of the Older Americans Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Cornyn Reintroduce Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Substance Use Disorder Recovery and Expand Workforce

    US Senate News:

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

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have reintroduced two critical pieces of legislation to strengthen recovery services for people struggling with substance use disorders, as well as expand the addiction medicine workforce.

    “I’m proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation with Senator Cornyn to expand substance use disorder recovery services and strengthen the treatment workforce,” said Senator Luján. “Substance use disorder remains a serious issue in New Mexico, and this legislation will help by training more professionals, investing in peer recovery services, and expanding training opportunities. These are essential steps for delivering effective, long-term solutions and supporting the well-being of our community.”

    The Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act: This legislation supports peer support services by reauthorizing grant programs that allow organizations to develop and enhance peer recovery and general recovery support while fostering collaboration with other harm reduction entities. As the U.S. faces a severe behavioral health crisis, exacerbated by an epidemic of substance use disorders (SUD), this legislation aims to address recovery and rehabilitation efforts. 

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    Improving Access to Addiction Medicine Providers Act: This legislation will amend the Public Health Service Act to expand the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), allowing fellowships to be awarded for training professionals in the addiction medicine field. This bill will help address workforce shortages and ensure culturally competent care for diverse communities affected by substance use disorders.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Remembers Root Family as Sarah Root’s Killer is Now in U.S. Custody

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    RED OAK, Iowa – After nine years working on behalf of Iowan Sarah Root, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) was able to bring closure for the Root family when their daughter’s killer, an illegal immigrant who ICE failed to detain and escaped by skipping bail, was delivered into U.S. custody to face justice on Friday.
    Most recently, Ernst’s position on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee gave her a platform to advocate for action on behalf of Sarah and the Roots during Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s confirmation process. Since then, she has continued working with the Trump administration, including Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to extradite Mejia, so he faces justice in the United States.

    Senator Ernst has been working with Sarah’s parents, Michelle and Scott Root, since 2016.
    “For nine years, I have fought for justice for Sarah Root. All this time, I have been telling Sarah’s story alongside her parents – Michelle and Scott – so this illegal immigrant could face consequences, and her family could finally have some closure,” said Senator Ernst. “I will always stand up for Iowans, and it has been an honor to work alongside the Roots. While this tragedy should never have happened in the first place, I’ve been grateful to work with the Trump administration to get this done. This work, coupled with my Sarah’s Law, will help ensure no family has to face what the Roots faced ever again.”
    “For nearly a decade, my family and I never received closure about what happened that fateful night my daughter was killed by an illegal immigrant, until Senator Ernst got involved,” said Michelle Root. “Senator Ernst has been there from the beginning, and our family is very grateful for her willingness to push for Sarah’s Law and the extradition of Sarah’s killer, so he faces justice. She has always done an amazing job honoring Sarah through every floor speech and each call to action. I truly appreciate the fight, passion, and the love she shows. While we can’t get our Sarah back, we can make sure another family doesn’t have to endure the heartbreak we have experienced. It’s unconscionable it took over nine years after our beautiful Sarah was taken from us to get this done, but Senator Ernst never flinched and consistently fought to make this a reality.”
    “Senator Ernst and President Trump have been working on this since the very beginning in 2016, and it means so much to me that, thanks in part to their work, Sarah’s life has not been forgotten. I would also like to thank Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. Marshals Service, officials in Honduras, and all the unseen people who have been instrumental in making this happen,” said Scott Root. “While nothing can bring my daughter back, ensuring her killer faces justice combined with the passage of Sarah’s Law, my hope is that no family has to endure what mine did ever again.”
    Background:
    On January 31, 2016, Mejia was driving drunk when he struck and killed 21-year-old Sarah Root on the night of her college graduation. Before her family could even lay her to rest, a loophole in the law allowed her killer to be released and escape the consequences of his crimes. Since then, Ernst has fought on behalf of the Root family and the safety of Iowans.
    Since the tragedy, Senator Ernst worked tirelessly to pass Sarah’s Law to bring closure to the Root family and ensure this never happens again. This year, she shepherded the legislation through the Senate and the House, and President Trump made this legislation the law of the land.
    Earlier this month, Senator Ernst hosted Scott Root, Sarah’s father, as her guest for President Trump’s joint address and praised this administration for taking action on behalf of Iowans and prioritizing them over illegal immigrants.

    MIL OSI USA News –