NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI: Urgently Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Va., March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Urgent.ly, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULY) (“Urgently”), a U.S.-based leading provider of digital roadside and mobility assistance technology and services, today announced that it will host a conference call on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2024. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

    Those wishing to participate via webcast should access the call through Urgently’s Investor Relations website at https://investors.geturgently.com. Those wishing to participate via telephone may dial in at 1-844-481-2521 (USA) or 1-412-317-0549 (International). The replay will be available via webcast through Urgently’s Investor Relations website.

    About Urgently

    Urgently is focused on helping everyone move safely, without disruption, by safeguarding drivers, promptly assisting their journey, and employing technology to proactively avert possible issues. The company’s digitally native software platform combines location-based services, real-time data, AI and machine-to-machine communication to power roadside assistance solutions for leading brands across automotive, insurance, telematics and other transportation-focused verticals. Urgently fulfills the demand for connected roadside assistance services, enabling its partners to deliver exceptional user experiences that drive high customer satisfaction and loyalty, by delivering innovative, transparent and exceptional connected mobility assistance experiences on a global scale. For more information, visit www.geturgently.com.

    Contacts:
    For Press: media@geturgently.com
    For Investor Relations: investorrelations@geturgently.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New investment in toy libraries to support children with disability

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    The Albanese Government has reinforced its commitment to building a better future for children with disability or development delay by investing another $600,000 in toy libraries.

    Toy libraries offer families and carers an affordable way to borrow toys, puzzles and games that support children’s early learning and development through play.

    With this additional funding, our investment in Toy Libraries Australia now totals $2.3 million, supporting more than 280 toy libraries across the country.

    Today’s announcement will enable 30 toy libraries to extend their opening hours and offer low-sensory borrowing sessions. It will help some toy libraries hold specialised play sessions, train volunteers and buy specific toys, to better include families. A new specialist mobile service will also be set up to support toy libraries across Western Australia.

    Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth visited Unley Toy Libraries in Adelaide, South Australia today, which has a huge range of toys for children with disability.

    “This continued investment reinforces the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to the early years and supporting Australian children with disability or development delay and their families,” Minister Rishworth said.

    “We know that all children learn through play, and toy libraries really help parents and carers to nurture children’s early development with tools and activities they may not otherwise have access to.

    “Children with disability or developmental delay and their families deserve to have cost-effective and accessible specialist sensory, fine motor and gross motor skill toys for play. This funding will ensure that toy libraries are more accessible across the country and properly equipped for all children.

    “We are proud to support organisations like Toy Libraries Australia, that empower and embrace children with disability to enrich their learning to achieve their full potential.” 

    Toy Libraries Australia CEO, Debbie Williams welcomed the additional Australian Government funding.

    “Families tell us that children with disability need additional support to access a toy library,” Ms Williams said.

    “That could be more space to move around, less sensory stimulus, or one-on-one time with the toy librarian. Additional sessions will allow toy libraries to meet these diverse needs and provide an inclusive and accessible service for all.”

    More than 50,000 families and 80,000 children access toy libraries every year. Memberships are usually as low as $2 a week.

    The facilities mean many families don’t have to buy large ranges of expensive toys for their children.

    The funding is delivering on an election commitment and supports families and children, and their development. It is in line with the Government’s commitment to the Early Years.

    More information on toy libraries is available at the Toy Libraries Australia website.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bristol Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Violent Robbery Spree in 2022

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LONNY CROSS, 46, of Bristol, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 188 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised released, for committing numerous violent robberies across Connecticut in September and October 2022.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 5 and October 13, 2022, Cross committed 37 robberies and attempted robberies of gas station convenience stores, mini-markets, and liquor stores in North Branford, Waterbury, Wolcott, Plymouth, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, West Haven, Wethersfield, Bristol, Southington, Naugatuck, Watertown, Franklin, Norwich, Waterford, Groton City, Stonington, Ledyard, Darien, Norwalk, Stratford, and Seymour, Connecticut, and Port Chester, New York.  In total, Cross stole more than $58,000 in cash.  Several of the robberies occurred on the same day, only minutes apart.

    For many of the robberies, Cross traveled to the store with Rebecca Barbera, who would sometimes enter the store to determine the number of employees and customers in the store, exit the store, and then report that information to Cross.  Cross then entered the store, displayed a knife or facsimile firearm while threatening employees with statements including “I know where you work” and “if you call the police I’ll come back and blow your head off,” and stole cash and other items.

    Cross grabbed some victims and held a knife to them.  During a robbery in Wethersfield on September 24, 2022, Cross threatened the 12-year-old son of the store owner with a knife and robbed the register.  The boy was alone behind the counter while his father was in a back office when Cross entered the store.

    On October 14, 2022, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of Cross’s residence and a black 2014 Chevrolet Impala that Cross was known to drive.  The search of the residence revealed clothing consistent with clothing worn by Cross in several of the robberies, as well as quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, and narcotics paraphernalia.  A search of the car revealed 120 bags heroin, approximately 14 grams of crack, and a knit hat matching the description of one worn by Cross during a robbery the day before.  Cross, who was on state parole for prior robbery convictions, was arrested on state charges on that date.  The morning after his arrest, from jail, Cross directed Barbera and others to go to a storage unit and dispose of a weapon he had used in the robberies.

    Cross’s criminal history includes 18 convictions for robbery and other offenses.  He engaged in two previous robbery sprees and received state sentences of 10 years of incarceration and 15 years of incarceration, respectively.

    Cross has been detained since his arrest.  On May 21, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, and one count of Hobbs Act Robbery.

    Barbera pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.

    This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, Orange Police Department, Port Chester (N.Y.) Police Department, and numerous other police departments from the municipalities where the robberies occurred, with the assistance of Connecticut State Parole.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Colombian National Sentenced to Prison and Another Pleads Guilty for Roles in Conspiracy to Kidnap and Assault U.S. Army Soldiers in Colombia

    Source: United States Attorneys General 12

    A Colombian national was sentenced and another pleaded guilty in separate hearings today in the Southern District of Florida for their respective roles in kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia.

    Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, 47, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison. Silva Ochoa pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person.

    Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    “Protecting Americans, wherever they may be throughout the world, is of paramount importance, and the United States will use every available tool to bring to justice those who harm our citizens,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In particular, kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. military service members will not go unanswered, and we will hold to account anyone who commits these violent acts against those who protect us.”

    “Members of our military, whether serving here or abroad, can count on this Department of Justice’s respect, support, and protection,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Kidnappings and assaults against U.S. service members will not be tolerated. To those who would dare commit such reprehensible acts against America’s heroes, know this: We will identify you; we will find you; and we will prosecute you as aggressively as the law permits.”

    “The FBI’s commitment to investigate criminal acts against the U.S. military beyond our borders is clearly demonstrated by our persistent pursuit of justice for the two kidnapped soldiers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “Our close cooperation with Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities was essential to this international investigation’s success. To all would be kidnappers the message is clear: target our citizens with violence anywhere in the world and we will hold you accountable for your actions.”

    According to court documents, Silva Ochoa and Uribe Chiran, both of Bogotá, and their co-defendant, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá. The two victims, while serving on orders in Colombia, went to an entertainment district in Bogotá to watch a soccer game on the evening of March 5, 2020. They eventually went to a pub, where they lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated. Medical examinations later confirmed the presence of benzodiazepines in the two victims. The defendants targeted the two victims at the pub, incapacitated them with drugs, and kidnapped them to acquire the victims’ valuables and credit and debit card information. Silva Ochoa and Arango Castellanos used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money.

    Silva Ochoa was extradited in April 2024 from Chile to the United States. Uribe Chiran was extradited in September 2024 from Colombia to the United States. Co-defendant Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January 2024, and was sentenced in May 2024 to 48 years and nine months in prison.

    The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices in Bogotá and Santiago, Chile, provided significant assistance in this matter. The United States thanks Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.

    Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Klobuchar & Warner Unveil Legislation to Undo President Trump’s Senseless Taxes on Canadian Goods

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) unveiled legislation to undo President Donald Trump’s wildly unpopular tariffs on Canadian goods, which amount to a 25 percent tax on goods imported from one of America’s top trading partners and closest allies.

    “Americans want prices to go down—not skyrocket, which is exactly what will happen if Congress lets President Trump slap new taxes on goods from one of our largest trading partners and closest allies,” said Kaine. “We don’t need to guess what kind of damage these senseless new taxes will do. During Trump’s first term, his trade wars spelled disaster for Virginians, particularly for farmers and foresters who were hit especially hard. Congress has a responsibility to stop that from happening again, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in blocking Trump from destroying our economy.”

    “This Administration is igniting a reckless trade war and regular Americans are paying the price,” said Klobuchar. “Costs for everyone will go up and our farmers and businesses will suffer. Canada is Minnesota’s top trading partner and is a key U.S. ally. We must reverse these damaging tariffs before it’s too late.”

    “Virginians can’t afford the cost of President Trump’s tariffs, which will raise prices on everything from groceries to houses and cars,” said Warner. “Congress must step in before President Trump tanks our economy.” 

    In Virginia in 2024, Canada was the largest export market and accounted for 15 percent of Virginia exports. In Virginia in 2022, top goods exports to Canada included motor vehicles and transportation equipment, such as medium- and heavy-duty trucks. 56.1 percent of Southwest Virginia’s economic output is dependent on trade.

    Polls have overwhelmingly demonstrated that the American people do not support Trump’s trade wars. According to a recent survey by Public First, just 28 percent of American adults supported specifically applying tariffs to Canada, while 43 percent opposed.

    Specifically, the senators’ legislation would work by terminating the February 1 emergency that Trump used to launch his trade war with Canada, and thus eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports implemented as a result. Trump’s order cites the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), an unprecedented use of IEEPA in its nearly half century history. After an initial one-month delay, President Trump decided to move forward with the tariffs, with the import taxes starting to be collected on March 4, 2025. In total, President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs will cost the average American household up to $2,000 a year, with the Canada tariffs making up a significant portion of that. These IEEPA tariffs represent the largest tax increase on American families in recent history.

    Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Scott, Schumer, Jeffries, Murray, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect the Rights of American Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, March 5 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, alongside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Congressional and labor leaders, today reintroduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), comprehensive labor legislation to protect the rights of workers to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits and safer workplaces. The legislation was renamed in honor of former AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka.

    Joining Sanders, Scott, Schumer, Jeffries and Murray on the PRO Act are Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), as well as 210 cosponsors in the House.

    “Never before in the history of our nation have income and wealth inequality been greater than today. Workers are falling further and further behind. In response, millions of Americans have expressed their desire to join a union,” said Sanders. “However, the billionaire class is fighting with all its might to put down attempts by workers to exercise their constitutional right to unionize. That includes the decision by President Trump to illegally fire National Labor Relations Board Member Gwynne Wilcox and effectively shut down the NLRB. Without a functioning NLRB, corporate bosses can illegally fire unionizing workers, flagrantly violate labor laws and render free and fair union elections near impossible. Supporting the immediate reinstatement of Member Wilcox and the swift passage of the PRO Act would be major steps toward building real worker power. The PRO Act is long overdue and I am proud to be introducing this bill in the Senate.”

    “Unions are essential for building a strong middle class and improving the lives of workers and families. Regrettably, for too long, workers have suffered from anti-union attacks and toothless labor laws that undermined their right to form a union,” said Scott. “As union approval remains at record highs, Congress has an urgent responsibility to ensure that workers can join a union and negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The PRO Act is the most critical step Congress can take to uplift American workers. I urge my House and Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in advancing the most significant update for workers’ labor organizing rights in over eighty years.”

    “As we speak Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are stealing the American dream away from working families, rigging every lever of society in favor of the billionaire class,” said Schumer. “That’s why we need the PRO Act, to empower hardworking Americans to bargain for better wages, benefits, and safer working conditions. I’ve been involved in this fight for a very, very long time, and I will stay in this fight for as long as it takes – until every worker gets the wage they deserve, until the right to organize is protected and encouraged and secure, and until we finally make the PRO Act the law of the land.”

    “Right now, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are attacking workers, including mass firing people by the tens of thousands, left and right, regardless of how important that work is,” said Murray. “Reintroducing the PRO Act is more important now than ever. This is about making sure we are not just pushing back—but also pushing forward: charting a positive vision for workers and daring Republicans to make their actions match their words. Who do you stand with—the billionaires like Elon Musk and Donald Trump—whose favorite two words are ‘you’re fired?’ Or do you stand with hard working American women and men. People who just want fair pay, decent treatment, and a government that works to make their lives better, not worse? That should not be too much to ask! I’m going to keep fighting, come hell or high water, to make it easier for workers to join together and fight for the better pay and working conditions they deserve.”

    “When our unions are strong, the United States of America is strong,” said Jeffries. “While Republicans are focused on giving handouts to their billionaire donors, Democrats will continue to fight to make sure that every American worker can organize and thrive and fight for better wages, better pay, better safety conditions and better benefits. Thanks to the leadership of Ranking Member Bobby Scott, that is exactly what the PRO Act does and we will not rest until we get this legislation across the finish line.”

    “Billionaires know there’s no greater threat to their power than a union card,” said Clark. “That’s why they’re using miles of red tape to deny the American people their basic, constitutional right to organize. We can cut that red tape for good. The PRO Act is yet another chance for Republicans to show where they stand: with working people or their billionaire donors.”

    “The PRO Act will safeguard the fundamental right of American workers to collectively bargain and organize and will ensure workers receive fair treatment while holding their employers to just standards,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). “I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to strengthen the right of our nation’s hardest-working men and women to organize and negotiate for better wages, benefits, and conditions. A strong workforce is the foundation of a strong nation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see this vital legislation through.”

    “Americans believe in the power of unions and tens of millions of working people would become union members tomorrow if they could. But American labor law is broken, weighted on the side of the bosses and against the workers. In too many workplaces, in too many industries across the country, big corporations and billionaire CEOs still retaliate against us for organizing. They refuse to negotiate our contracts, force us to sit through hours of anti-union propaganda, and engage in illegal union-busting every day. Now they have an unelected, unaccountable, union-buster trying to illegally fire tens of thousands of our fellow workers in federal jobs and an administration rolling back the workplace protections. The PRO Act is long overdue, and the American people agree. We urge elected leaders of both parties to move this critical legislation forward so that all workers have the chance to stand together and build better lives for themselves and their families,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

    Large corporations and the wealthy continue to capture the rewards of a growing economy while working families and middle-class Americans are left behind. From 1979 to 2023, annual wages for the bottom 90% of households increased just 44 percent, while average incomes for the wealthiest 1% increased more than 180 percent.

    Unions are critical to increasing wages and creating a strong economy that rewards hardworking people. Through the power of collective bargaining, the typical union worker earns 16 percent more than the typical non-union worker.

    The American people’s support for unions is surging. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 70 percent of Americans approve of labor unions — remaining at near record highs. Despite growing support for unions, billionaire- and special interest-funded attacks on the rights of workers, unions and labor laws have eroded union density and made it harder for workers to organize. The share of American workers who are union members has fallen from roughly one in three workers in 1956 to a new low of 9.9 percent in 2024. The PRO Act restores fairness to the economy by strengthening the federal law that protects the right of workers to join a union and bargain for higher pay, better benefits and safer workplaces.

    The PRO Act would protect the right to organize and collectively bargain by:

    • Bolstering remedies and punishing violations of the rights of workers through authorizing meaningful penalties for employers that violate their rights, strengthening support for workers who suffer retaliation for exercising their rights and authorizing a private right of action for violation of the rights of workers.
    • Strengthening the rights of workers to join together and negotiate for better working conditions by enhancing their right to support secondary boycotts, ensuring unions can collect “fair share” fees, modernizing the union election process and facilitating initial collective bargaining agreements.
    • Restoring fairness to an economy rigged against workers by closing loopholes that allow employers to misclassify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors and increasing transparency in labor-management relations.

    More than 18 organizations endorsed the PRO Act, including the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Autoworkers (UAW), United Steelworkers (USW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), National Nurses United (NNU), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), the American Federation of Musicians, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), Transport Workers Union (TWU), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).

    Read the bill text here.

    Read a fact sheet here.

    Read a section-by-section summary here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Funding cuts jeopardize global fight against tuberculosis, WHO warns

    Source: United Nations 2

    Health

    The UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that severe funding cuts – particularly in the United States – are threatening decades of progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), still the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

    The health agency highlighted that essential prevention, testing and treatment services are collapsing, leaving millions at risk.

    The hardest-hit regions include Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, where national TB programmes depend heavily on international support.

    “Any disruption to TB services – whether financial, political or operational – can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide,” said Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO Global Programme on TB and Lung Health.

    Last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also raised the alarm over funding cuts, noting the immediate impact on key health programmes combatting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and cholera.

    A devastating setback

    Over the past two decades, global TB programmes have saved more than 79 million lives, averting approximately 3.65 million deaths last year alone.

    A significant portion of this success has been driven by US Government funding, which has provided about $200 to $250 million annually – approximately a quarter of the total international donor funding secured.  

    The US has been the largest bilateral donor for programmes combatting the disease.

    However, newly announced cuts for 2025 through executive orders will have devastating impacts on TB response efforts in at least 18 high-burden countries, where 89 per cent of expected US funding was allocated for patient care.

    The impact will be particularly devastating in Africa, where treatment disruptions and staff layoffs could exponentially increase TB transmission rates.

    Immense burden

    Early reports from TB-affected countries indicate that funding constraints are already dismantling essential health services.

    Among the most pressing concerns are health worker layoffs, drug shortages and supply chain breakdowns, data and surveillance systems are collapse, and disruptions to TB research and funding.

    “Without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB is at risk. Our collective response must be swift, strategic and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB,” urged Dr. Kasaeva.

    Call for urgent action

    WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting governments and global partners in the fight against TB.

    “In these challenging times, WHO remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting national governments, civil society and global partners in securing sustained funding and integrated solutions to safeguard the health and well-being of those most vulnerable to TB,” the agency said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 6 March 2025 New home, new outlook on life Cece felt like she’d struck it lucky when she walked into her new Kāinga Ora home in Christchurch after living in emergency housing.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    “When they showed me the house I was crying. I felt like I was living in a dream and that I’d won Lotto. I moved in here on December 17 just in time for Christmas,” she says.

    Cece and her dog Ray Charles are now happily settled into their new home, which Cece has tastefully furnished with community donations and colourful op shop finds. Even the garden is sprinkled with bright ornaments.

    “When I moved in here, I only had two plates and Ray [the dog]. I’m so thankful for all the donations of furniture I’ve received,” she says.

    In 2011, Cece was walking across a pedestrian crossing on her way to work one morning when she was hit by a car and broke her hip. After having a hip replacement, she now lives with chronic back pain and uses a mobility scooter to get around when she’s not at home.

    Cece and Ray Charles

    When Cece had to move out of a private rental home three years ago, she struggled to find another suitable place to live. Emergency housing was the only option until she was matched to her new Kāinga Ora home.

    Cece says her new home is perfect for her. It has a concrete path up one side that allows her to drive her mobility scooter straight inside the gate to her house. There is also space inside her front door to park her mobility scooter if she needs it and the bathroom has a walk-in shower.

    Cece is also loving being part of a community in the new development where she lives, which includes several family homes. Until recently, she was a child and youth worker specialising in arts and crafts.

    Just a few days after moving into her new home, Cece held an impromptu arts and crafts session for her neighbours’ kids in the development’s communal area. “I’ve been given so much that I want to give it back. After the Christmas party, the kids left a gift on my doorstep on Christmas Day,” Cece says.

    Now that she’s settled into her new home, Cece is thinking about what to do next. “I’m planning to get another job and have been looking at teacher aide jobs. Or I might do my master’s degree,” she says.

    In the meantime, she’s enjoying every moment in her new home.

    “This house is such a blessing. Every morning, I clean any spot I can see. It’s a privilege to have this house.” 

    Page updated: 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Wanted Defendants from Mexico Secured in Arizona

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jose Bibiano Cabrera-Cabrera, 37; Jesus Humberto Limon-Lopez, 43; and Jose Guadalupe Tapia-Quintero, 53; all of Mexico, appeared last week for their initial appearances after they were secured from Mexico on February 27, 2025.

    The defendants taken into U.S. custody include leaders and managers of drug cartels recently designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel). These defendants are collectively alleged to have been responsible for the importation into the United States of massive quantities of poison, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, as well as associated acts of violence.

    Tapia-Quintero is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine with Intent to Import into the United States; Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine; Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Conspiracy to Commit Promotional Money Laundering; Conspiracy to Commit Concealment Money Laundering; and Aiding and Abetting. He is facing up to life imprisonment.

    Limon-Lopez is charged with Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; Distribution of Methamphetamine; Distribution of Fentanyl; Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Cocaine; and Conspiracy to Unlawfully Export Firearms and Ammunition. He faces up to life imprisonment.

    Cabrera-Cabrera is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; and Conspiracy to Unlawfully Export Firearms and Ammunition. He faces up to life imprisonment.

    An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

    The OCDETF Arizona Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Arizona Army National Guard, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Scottsdale Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney Office for the District of Arizona.
     

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-13-00179-PHX-SRB
                                          CR-21-01864-TUC-SHR
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-030_Cabrera-Cabrera

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Alto Ingredients, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-end 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    – Implemented Cost Savings Expected to Yield Approximately $8 Million Annually –
    – Integrated Accretive Acquisition of a Beverage-grade Liquid CO2Processor –
    – Considering Asset Sales, a Merger or Other Strategic Transactions –

    PEKIN, Ill., March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alto Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTO), a leading producer and distributor of specialty alcohols, renewable fuels and essential ingredients, reported its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Bryon McGregor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alto Ingredients said, “During the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, we implemented cost saving initiatives, including cold idling our Magic Valley plant, and lowering total company headcount by 16%. We expect these staffing reductions to save approximately $8 million annually beginning in the second quarter of 2025. While ensuring high customer service, we rightsized the company to our smaller organizational footprint to position for long-term sustainable growth.

    “On January 1st, we acquired a beverage-grade liquid carbon dioxide processor adjacent to our Columbia site. Bolstering economics and increasing asset valuation, this immediately accretive transaction has a compelling payback of less than two years as well as opportunities for cost synergies and expanded production. At our Pekin Campus, we continue to diligently pursue opportunities to optimize carbon, which has been historically underutilized and undervalued. Lastly, with the assistance of our financial and legal advisors, we are considering a broad range of options, including asset sales, a merger or other strategic transactions to better align the long-term value potential of the company.”

    Chief Financial Officer Rob Olander added, “Our restructuring has improved Alto’s financial position going forward. In doing so, during the fourth quarter of 2024, we recognized over $30 million in asset impairments and prior acquisition-related expenses, which reset our base. Combining our reduced expense run rate with our improved performance at the Pekin wet mill, our synergistic acquisition of premium liquid CO2 processing and our entry into the European market, we are optimistic about 2025.”

    Financial Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to 2023

    • Net sales were $236.3 million, compared to $273.6 million.
    • Cost of goods sold was $237.7 million, compared to $276.2 million.
    • Gross loss was $1.4 million, including $3.5 million in realized losses on derivatives, compared to a gross loss of $2.5 million, including $2.3 million in realized losses on derivatives.
    • Selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.4 million, compared to $7.8 million.
    • Expenses related to the Eagle Alcohol acquisition were $5.7 million, compared to $0.7 million.
    • Asset impairments were $24.8 million comprised of $21.4 million related to Magic Valley and $3.4 million related to Eagle Alcohol, compared to $6.0 million related to Eagle Alcohol.
    • Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $42.0 million, or $0.57 per share, compared to $19.3 million, or $0.26 per share.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was negative $7.7 million, including $3.5 million in realized losses on derivatives, compared to positive $3.5 million, including $2.3 million in realized losses on derivatives.

    Cash and cash equivalents were $35.5 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $30.0 million at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024, the company’s borrowing availability was $88.1 million including $23.1 million under the company’s operating line of credit and $65.0 million under its term loan facility, subject to certain conditions.

    Financial Results for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to 2023

    • Net sales were $965.3 million, compared to $1,222.9 million.
    • Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $60.3 million, including $32.5 million in expenses related to asset impairments and the company’s Eagle Alcohol acquisition, or $0.82 per share. This compares to $29.3 million, including $6.5 million in net expenses related to asset impairments, the company’s Eagle Alcohol acquisition and a USDA cash grant, or $0.40 per share.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was negative $8.5 million, including $2.5 million in realized losses on derivatives and $5.4 million in costs related to the biennial outage in the second quarter, compared to positive $20.8 million, including $1.6 million in realized gains on derivatives.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Results Conference Call
    Management will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will deliver prepared remarks via webcast followed by a question-and-answer session.

    The webcast for the conference call can be accessed from Alto Ingredients’ website at www.altoingredients.com. Alternatively, to receive a number and unique PIN by email, register here. To dial directly up to twenty minutes prior to the scheduled call time, please dial (833) 630-0017 domestically and (412) 317-1806 internationally. The webcast will be archived for replay on the Alto Ingredients website for one year. In addition, a telephonic replay will be available at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, through 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. To access the replay, please dial (877) 344-7529. International callers should dial 00-1 412-317-0088. The pass code will be 5306551.

    Use of Non-GAAP Measures
    Management believes that certain financial measures not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are useful measures of operations. The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as unaudited consolidated net income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, provision for income taxes, asset impairments, unrealized derivative gains and losses, acquisition-related expense and depreciation and amortization expense. A table is provided at the end of this release that provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure, net income (loss). Management provides this non-GAAP measure so that investors will have the same financial information that management uses, which may assist investors in properly assessing the company’s performance on a period-over-period basis. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or any other measure of performance under GAAP, or to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities as an indicator of cash flows or as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider this measure in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the company’s results as reported under GAAP.

    About Alto Ingredients, Inc.
    Alto Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTO) is a leading producer and distributor of specialty alcohols, renewable fuels and essential ingredients. Leveraging the unique qualities of its facilities, the company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and commercial products in the Health, Home & Beauty; Food & Beverage; Industry & Agriculture; Essential Ingredients; and Renewable Fuels markets. For more information, please visit www.altoingredients.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
    Statements and information contained in this communication that refer to or include Alto Ingredients’ estimated or anticipated future results or other non-historical expressions of fact are forward-looking statements that reflect Alto Ingredients’ current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of the communication. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning Alto Ingredients’ projected outlook and future performance, including the timing and effects of its cost savings initiatives and its acquisition of a liquid carbon dioxide processor adjacent to its Columbia plant; Alto Ingredients’ capital projects, including its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project and opportunities to optimize carbon; and Alto Ingredients’ other plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. It is important to note that Alto Ingredients’ plans, objectives, expectations and intentions are not predictions of actual performance. Actual results may differ materially from Alto Ingredients’ current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Alto Ingredients’ business and plans. These factors include, among others adverse economic and market conditions, including for renewable fuels, specialty alcohols and essential ingredients; export conditions and international demand for the company’s products; fluctuations in the price of and demand for oil and gasoline; raw material costs, including production input costs, such as corn and natural gas; adverse impacts of inflation and supply chain constraints; and the cost, ability to fund, timing and effects of, including the financial and other results deriving from, Alto Ingredients’ repair and maintenance programs, plant improvements and other capital projects, including CCS, and other business initiatives and strategies. These factors also include, among others, the inherent uncertainty associated with financial and other projections and large-scale capital projects, including CCS; the anticipated size of the markets and continued demand for Alto Ingredients’ products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the alcohol production, marketing and distribution industries; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; successful compliance with governmental regulations applicable to Alto Ingredients’ facilities, products and/or businesses; changes in laws, regulations and governmental policies, including with respect to the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax and other benefits Alto Ingredients expects to derive from CCS; the loss of key senior management or staff; and other events, factors and risks previously and from time to time disclosed in Alto Ingredients’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, specifically, those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section contained in Alto Ingredients’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2024.

    Company IR and Media Contact:
    Michael Kramer, Alto Ingredients, Inc., 916-403-2755
    Investorrelations@altoingredients.com

    IR Agency Contact:
    Kirsten Chapman, Alliance Advisors Investor Relations, 415-433-3777
    altoinvestor@allianceadvisors.com

    ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
         
      Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Years Ended
    December 31,
       2024     2023     2024     2023 
             
    Net sales $ 236,347     $ 273,625     $ 965,258     $ 1,222,940  
    Cost of goods sold   237,738       276,150       955,536       1,207,287  
    Gross profit (loss)   (1,391 )     (2,525 )     9,722       15,653  
    Selling, general and administrative expenses   (7,358 )     (7,823 )     (29,736 )     (29,864 )
    Acquisition-related expenses   (5,676 )     (700 )     (7,701 )     (2,800 )
    Gain (loss) on sale of assets   —       (153 )     830       (293 )
    Asset impairments   (24,790 )     (5,970 )     (24,790 )     (6,544 )
    Loss from operations   (39,215 )     (17,171 )     (51,675 )     (23,848 )
    Interest expense, net   (2,474 )     (2,126 )     (7,644 )     (7,425 )
    Income from cash grant   —       —       —       2,812  
    Other income, net   150       449       508       553  
    Loss before provision for income taxes   (41,539 )     (18,848 )     (58,811 )     (27,908 )
    Provision for income taxes   173       97       173       97  
    Net loss $ (41,712 )   $ (18,945 )   $ (58,984 )   $ (28,005 )
    Preferred stock dividends $ (319 )   $ (319 )   $ (1,269 )   $ (1,265 )
    Net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (42,031 )   $ (19,264 )   $ (60,253 )   $ (29,270 )
    Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.57 )   $ (0.26 )   $ (0.82 )   $ (0.40 )
    Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted   73,835       72,969       73,482       73,339  
                                   
    ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (unaudited, in thousands, except par value)
     
    ASSETS December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Current Assets:    
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 35,469   $ 30,014
    Restricted cash   742     15,466
    Accounts receivable, net   58,217     58,729
    Inventories   49,914     52,611
    Derivative instruments   3,313     2,412
    Other current assets   5,463     9,538
    Total current assets   153,118     168,770
    Property and equipment, net   214,742     248,748
    Other Assets:      
    Right of use operating lease assets, net   20,553     22,597
    Intangible assets, net   4,509     8,498
    Other assets   8,516     5,628
    Total other assets   33,578     36,723
    Total Assets $ 401,438   $ 454,241
    ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
    (unaudited, in thousands, except par value)
     
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Current Liabilities:    
    Accounts payable $ 20,369     $ 20,752  
    Accrued liabilities   24,214       20,205  
    Current portion – operating leases   4,851       4,333  
    Derivative instruments   1,177       13,849  
    Other current liabilities   7,193       6,149  
    Total current liabilities   57,804       65,288  
                   
    Long-term debt, net   92,904       82,097  
    Operating leases, net of current portion   16,913       19,029  
    Other liabilities   8,754       8,270  
    Total Liabilities   176,375       174,684  
                   
    Stockholders’ Equity:    
    Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000 shares authorized;
        Series A: no shares issued and outstanding as of
        December 31, 2024 and 2023
        Series B: 927 shares issued and outstanding as of
        December 31, 2024 and 2023    		   1       1  
    Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000 shares authorized;
        76,565 and 75,703 shares issued and outstanding as of
        December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively    		   77       76  
    Non-voting common stock, $0.001 par value; 3,553 shares authorized;
        1 share issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023    		   —       —  
    Additional paid-in capital   1,044,176       1,040,912  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   4,975       2,481  
    Accumulated deficit   (824,166 )     (763,913 )
    Total Stockholders’ Equity   225,063       279,557  
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 401,438     $ 454,241  


    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss

      Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Years Ended
    December 31,
    (in thousands) (unaudited) 2024   2023   2024   2023
    Net loss $ (41,712 )   $ (18,945 )   $ (58,984 )   $ (28,005 )
    Adjustments:        
    Interest expense   2,474       2,126       7,644       7,425  
    Interest income   (112 )     (265 )     (689 )     (854 )
    Unrealized derivative (gains) losses   (5,495 )     8,162       (13,574 )     9,679  
    Acquisition-related expense   5,676       700       7,701       2,800  
    Provision for income taxes   173       97       173       97  
    Asset impairments   24,790       5,970       24,790       6,544  
    Depreciation and amortization expense   6,548       5,698       24,408       23,080  
    Total adjustments   34,054       22,488       50,453       48,771  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ (7,658 )   $ 3,543     $ (8,531 )   $ 20,766  


    Segment Financials (unaudited, in thousands)

      Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Years Ended
    December 31,
       2024     2023     2024     2023 
    Net Sales                              

    Pekin Campus, recorded as gross:

    		                              
    Alcohol sales $ 100,216     $ 113,588     $ 415,710     $ 502,217  
    Essential ingredient sales   42,011       48,483       169,308       217,702  
    Intersegment sales   316       307       1,243       1,427  
    Total Pekin Campus sales   142,543       162,378       586,261       721,346  

    Marketing and distribution:

    		                              
    Alcohol sales, gross $ 37,230     $ 46,844     $ 216,295     $ 262,587  
    Alcohol sales, net   60       73       229       365  
    Intersegment sales   2,831       2,920       10,833       11,654  
    Total marketing and distribution sales   40,121       49,837       227,357       274,606  
                                   
    Western production, recorded as gross:                              
    Alcohol sales $ 41,306     $ 44,496     $ 115,389     $ 166,971  
    Essential ingredient sales   12,769       16,650       36,953       57,264  
    Intersegment sales   —       35       (122 )     134  
    Total Western production sales   54,075       61,181       152,220       224,369  
             
    Corporate and other   2,755       3,491       11,374       15,834  
    Intersegment eliminations   (3,147 )     (3,262 )     (11,954 )     (13,215 )
    Net sales as reported $ 236,347     $ 273,625     $ 965,258     $ 1,222,940  

    Cost of goods sold:    		                              
    Pekin Campus (1) (2) $ 139,899     $ 163,497     $  563,033      $ 710,089  
    Marketing and distribution   36,348       46,311       213,023       259,234  
    Western production (1)   59,449       65,042       172,209       230,444  
    Corporate and other   3,592       2,802       12,285       12,122  
    Intersegment eliminations   (1,550 )     (1,502 )     (5,014 )     (4,602 )
    Cost of goods sold as reported $ 237,738     $ 276,150     $ 955,536     $  1,207,287  

    Gross profit (loss):    		                              
    Pekin Campus $ 2,644     $ (1,119 )   $  23,228     $ 11,257  
    Marketing and distribution   3,773       3,526       14,334        15,372  
    Western production   (5,374 )     (3,861 )     (19,989  )     (6,075 )
    Corporate and other   (837 )     689       (911  )      3,712  
    Intersegment eliminations   (1,597 )     (1,760 )     (6,940  )      (8,613 )
    Gross profit (loss) as reported $ (1,391 )   $ (2,525 )   $  9,722      $ 15,653  

    (1) – includes depreciation and amortization expense
    (2) – includes unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives

    Sales and Operating Metrics (unaudited)

      Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Years Ended
    December 31,
       2024     2023     2024     2023
    Alcohol Sales (gallons in millions)          
    Pekin Campus renewable fuel gallons sold   32.1     31.8     125.7     136.2
    Western production renewable fuel gallons sold   22.3     20.4     60.5     67.0
    Third party renewable fuel gallons sold   19.0     20.2     108.3     102.6
    Total renewable fuel gallons sold   73.4     72.4     294.5     305.8
    Specialty alcohol gallons sold   21.7     20.1     91.5     76.7
    Total gallons sold   95.1     92.5     386.0     382.5
               
    Sales Price per Gallon          
    Pekin Campus $ 1.89   $ 2.23   $ 1.95   $ 2.40
    Western production $ 1.86   $ 2.18   $ 1.91   $ 2.49
    Marketing and distribution $ 1.96   $ 2.32   $ 2.00   $ 2.56
    Total $ 1.88   $ 2.24   $ 1.95   $ 2.47
               
    Alcohol Production (gallons in millions)          
    Pekin Campus   55.4     51.6     212.4     209.7
    Western production   21.2     20.8     58.7     68.1
    Total   76.6     72.4     271.1     277.8
               
    Corn Cost per Bushel          
    Pekin Campus $ 4.17   $ 5.10   $ 4.45   $ 6.32
    Western production $ 5.79   $ 6.44   $ 5.73   $ 7.45
    Total $ 4.63   $ 5.46   $ 4.72   $ 6.58
               
    Average Market Metrics          
    PLATTS Ethanol price per gallon $ 1.60   $ 1.96   $ 1.69   $ 2.22
    CME Corn cost per bushel $ 4.26   $ 4.76   $ 4.24   $ 5.64
    Board corn crush per gallons (1) $ 0.08   $ 0.26   $ 0.18   $ 0.21
               
    Essential Ingredients Sold (thousand tons)          
    Pekin Campus:          
    Distillers grains   85.3     80.2     336.4     332.7
    CO2   52.7     43.4     188.6     182.4
    Corn wet feed   41.4     25.0     121.8     95.0
    Corn dry feed   22.0     23.3     87.2     90.6
    Corn oil and germ   21.0     18.2     75.1     73.8
    Syrup and other   10.0     12.7     38.6     41.2
    Corn meal   9.3     9.0     35.4     36.8
    Yeast   5.4     6.2     23.2     25.9
    Total Pekin Campus essential ingredients sold   247.1     218.0     906.3     878.4
               
             
    Western production:          
    Distillers grains   144.3     152.0     394.5     459.7
    CO2   14.6     13.8     57.7     55.5
    Syrup and other   17.2     47.5     54.8     119.1
    Corn oil   3.1     2.8     7.6     8.0
    Total Western production essential ingredients sold   179.2     216.1     514.6     642.3
               
    Total Essential Ingredients Sold   426.3     434.1     1,420.9     1,520.7
               
               
    Essential ingredients return % (2)          
    Pekin Campus return   49.5%     51.9%     49.7%     45.7%
    Western production return   30.3%     36.3%     32.0%     33.4%
    Consolidated total return   43.1%     46.8%     45.2%     42.4%
               

    ________________
    (1) Assumes corn conversion of 2.80 gallons of alcohol per bushel of corn.
    (2) Essential ingredients revenues as a percentage of total corn costs consumed.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy identifies 3 ways Congress can unplug the Biden admin’s “inflation machine”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) detailed the three ways in which Congress can work with the Trump administration to address inflation in a speech on the Senate floor.
    Key excerpts of the speech are below:
    “I don’t want to dwell on the past, but President Biden’s administration was an inflation machine. . . . What the American people are wondering every single day as they sell blood plasma to go to the grocery store is: when am I going to get some relief from these high prices? And we do need to provide them relief. I want to talk about three ways that we are in the process of trying to reduce those prices that my Democratic colleagues caused.”
    . . .
    “Number one: reduce spending. You see it every single day from President Trump. He said he was going to audit federal spending, and that is exactly what he is doing.” 
    . . .
    “Number two: deregulation. The federal government wants to regulate every breath we take. . . . It is just amazing, and each one of these regulations has a cost. The cost of all of our regulations today is in excess of $2 trillion—not billion, not million—$2 trillion.
    “What does that mean? That means when a business produces a product or it delivers a service—and it has to comply with a meaningless, gnarly federal regulation which costs money—that extra expense is added to the cost of the product or the service. Duh. I mean, businesses have to stay in business. They can’t eat the cost so they pass it on, and that leads to higher prices.”
    . . .
    “The third way we are attacking these high prices is by trying to stimulate the economy to increase wages so that we actually can grow out of these high prices so that people will have more money to spend when they buy a car or go to the grocery store. We are not going to do that with tepid GDP growth. . . . We are going to do that through the tax code.
    “We have about $4.5 trillion worth of tax cuts that we implemented back in 2017 that caused the economy to grow and wages to go up until COVID hit. Those tax cuts are expiring here very shortly, and we are going to extend them.”
    . . .
    “We are well aware that high prices are gutting the American people like a fish, but by reducing spending, by deregulating the economy, and by designing a tax code that looks like somebody designed it on purpose, we are going to get those high prices down.”
    Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. on the Passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    Our entire Communications Workers of America family is saddened by the death of Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Congressman Turner was a champion for all working people and a great friend to CWA members in Houston.

    As a native Houstonian, I had the honor of working closely with Sylvester throughout his career. He had the ability to bring people from all walks of life and different political parties together to focus on finding solutions to tough challenges. As a leader in the Texas legislature, he worked across the aisle to facilitate increased investment in our communities by telecommunications companies like AT&T, resulting in better service and thousands of jobs. As Mayor of Houston, he saw our beloved city through several natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, and he paid special attention to creating economic opportunities for young people in our city.

    My prayers are with Sylvester’s family during this difficult time. We will never forget Congressman Turner’s service to the City of Houston, the State of Texas, and our country. Although we will miss his leadership during these challenging times, we will fight on in his name.

    ###

    About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Thibodaux Social Worker Sentenced to 30 Months for Healthcare Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that JOHN CHRISTOPHER BARRILLEAUX (“BARRILLEAUX”), age 64, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, was sentenced on February 27, 2025 to 30 months in prison, after previously pleading guilty to healthcare fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347.

    According to court documents, from 2008 through 2024, BARRILLEAUX submitted false claims to private insurance companies for millions of dollars of healthcare services that were not actually provided. To hide the fraud, BARRILLEAUX created fake patient notes and submitted them to the insurance companies to support his bills.

    United States District Judge Barry Ashe sentenced BARRILLEAUX to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. BARRILLEAUX was also ordered to pay $4,592,650 in restitution to the victim companies, as well as a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

    Acting U.S Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former small business office manager sentenced to 4+ years in federal prison for embezzlement, identity theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A district judge sentenced a Collinsville woman to 51 months’ imprisonment after she embezzled more than $158,000 and stole the identity of a coworker while employed by AMK Heating and Cooling in Edwardsville.

    Angela L. Cooper, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and three counts of tax fraud. In addition to imprisonment, the judge ordered her to pay $168,536.12 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.

    “The U.S. Attorney’s Office aggressively prosecutes identity theft because the crime causes so much harm. Its victims suffer not only drained bank accounts, but they also endure sleepless nights, and it can sometimes take years to undo the damage,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud of our partnership with IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI, and we will continue to hold those who harm small businesses accountable.”

    According to court documents, Cooper served as the office manager for AMK and had access to the company’s checkbook and accounting software. Using these tools, Cooper fraudulently wrote more than 100 checks payable to herself and forged the signature of the business’s owner. Cooper tried to conceal her fraud by disguising the checks as payroll and loans to her from AMK. Over a two-year period, Cooper embezzled $158,658.41 from AMK.

    “By nature, greed continues to grow if left unchecked. For two years, Angela Cooper found multiple ways to steal from her employer. Cooper’s greed even extended to a coworker,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The FBI is proud to work alongside our IRS law enforcement partners to thwart corporate fraud and ensure justice for victims.”

    While employed by AMK, Cooper also had access to employee files and personal information like birthdates and social security numbers. Cooper used a coworker’s information to apply for and fraudulently obtain a Discover credit card. Cooper maxed out the credit card, accruing $9,877.71 in charges on the card in a matter of weeks. In doing so, she committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, which carried a mandatory two year minimum sentence.

    “Ms. Cooper broke the trust of her employer by embezzling well over $100,000 from them in her role as a bookkeeper,” said Special Agent in Charge Bill Steenson, IRS Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “The crime was compounded when she failed to report the stolen funds as income on her tax returns. All income is taxable, even stolen income and this sentence helps drive that point home.”

    Finally, Cooper failed to report the additional income in her 2019, 2020 and 2021 tax returns to the IRS. Although fraudulently obtained, the income was required to be reported on her tax returns. Her omission of the additional income caused a tax loss of over $35,000 to the IRS.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Springfield Field Office contributed to the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: GraniteShares ETFs Announces Name Change and Investment Objectives on some of its Short and Leveraged ETFs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GraniteShares today announced plans to amend the names and leverage factors for some of its short and leverage ETFs (the “Funds”). The change in leverage factor results in a modification of the investment strategy.

    Effective May 04, 2025, the Funds will aim to replicate +2, -2 or -1 times the daily variations of their underlying stocks. One of the Funds already trades on the NASDAQ. The Fund’s CUSIP and ticker are not expected to change.

    TICKER SYMBOL   CURRENT FUND NAME   NEW FUND NAME   CURRENT LEVERAGE FACTOR*   NEW LEVERAGE FACTOR*
    AMCL(1)   GraniteShares 1x Short AMC Daily ETF   GraniteShares 2x Long AMC Daily ETF   -100 %   200 %
    ARML(1)   GraniteShares 1x Short ARM Daily ETF   GraniteShares 2x Long ARM Daily ETF   -100 %   200 %
    GMEL(1)   GraniteShares 1x Short GME Daily ETF   GraniteShares 2x Long GME Daily ETF   -100 %   200 %
    MSTP(1)   GraniteShares 1x Short MSTR Daily ETF   GraniteShares 2x Long MSTR Daily ETF   -100 %   200 %
    CONI(2)(3)   GraniteShares 1x Short COIN Daily ETF   GraniteShares 2x Short COIN Daily ETF   -100 %   -200 %
    TSS(2)   GraniteShares 1.25x Short TSLA Daily ETF   GraniteShares 1x Short TSLA Daily ETF   -125 %   -100 %
    CURRENT
    FUND NAME    		   CURRENT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   NEW INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
    GraniteShares 1x Short AMC Daily ETF (1)   The Fund seeks daily inverse investment results of -1 time (-100%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC).   The Fund seeks daily investment results of 2 times (200%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC).
             
    GraniteShares 1x Short ARM Daily ETF (1)   The Fund seeks daily inverse investment results of -1 time (-100%) the daily percentage change of the ADR of Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM).   The Fund seeks daily investment results of 2 times (200%) the daily percentage change of the ADR of Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM).
             
    GraniteShares 1x Short GME Daily ETF (1)   The Fund seeks daily inverse investment results of 1 time (-100%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of GameStop Corp (NYSE: GME).   The Fund seeks daily investment results of 2 times (200%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of GameStop Corp (NYSE: GME).
             
    GraniteShares 1x Short MSTR Daily ETF (1)   The Fund seeks daily inverse investment results of 1 time (-100%) the daily percentage change of the common stock MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR).   The Fund seeks daily investment results of 2 times (200%) the daily percentage change of the common stock MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR).
             
    GraniteShares 1x Short COIN Daily ETF (2), (3)   The Fund seeks daily inverse investment results of -1 time (-100%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of Coinbase Global, Inc. Class A (NASDAQ: COIN).   The Fund seeks daily inverse investment results of -2 times (-200%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of Coinbase Global, Inc. Class A (NASDAQ: COIN).
             
    GraniteShares 1.25x Short TSLA Daily ETF (2)   The Fund seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of -1.25 times (-125%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of Tesla Inc, (NASDAQ: TSLA).   The Fund seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of -1 time (-100%) the daily percentage change of the common stock of Tesla Inc, (NASDAQ: TSLA).
             

    (1) Issued under the registration statement dated October 25, 2024
    (2) Issued under the registration statement dated October 18, 2024
    (3) Fund currently traded on NASDAQ

    Capitalized terms and certain other terms used in this Supplement, unless otherwise defined in this Supplement, have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

    About GraniteShares

    GraniteShares is an independent ETF issuer headquartered in New York City.

    GraniteShares current ETF offering is presented below:

    ETF NAME   TICKER     UNDERLYING STOCK   MANAGEMENT FEE/TOTAL EXPENSES  
    GraniteShares 2x Long AAPL Daily ETF     AAPB     Apple     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long AMD Daily ETF     AMDL     AMD     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 1x Short AMD Daily ETF     AMDS     AMD     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long AMZN Daily ETF     AMZZ     Amazon     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long BABA Daily ETF     BABX     Alibaba     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long COIN Daily ETF     CONL     Coinbase     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 1x Short COIN Daily ETF     CONI     Coinbase     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long CRWD Daily ETF     CRWL     CrowdStrike     1.30%/1.50 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long DELL Daily ETF     DLLL     Dell     1.30%/1.50 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long META Daily ETF     FBL     Meta     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long INTC Daily ETF     INTW     Intel     1.30%/1.50 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long INTC Daily ETF     MSFL     Microsoft     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long MU Daily ETF     INTW     Micron Technology     1.30%/1.50 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF     NVDL     NVIDIA     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Short NVDA Daily ETF     NVD     NVIDIA     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long PLTR Daily ETF     PTIR     Palantir     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Short QCOM Daily ETF     QCML     Qualcomm     1.30%/1.50 %
    GraniteShares 2x Long TSLA Daily ETF     TSLR     Tesla     0.95 %
    GraniteShares 1.25x Long TSLA Daily ETF     TSL     Tesla     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares 2x Short TSLA Daily ETF     TSDD     Tesla     0.95 %
    GraniteShares 2x Short TSM Daily ETF     TSMU     Taiwan Semiconductor     1.30%/1.50 %
    GraniteShares 2x Short UBER Daily ETF     UBRL     Uber     1.30%/1.50 %
                         
    ETF NAME   TICKER     EXPOSURE   MANAGEMENT FEE/TOTAL EXPENSES  
    GraniteShares YieldBOOST QQQ ETF     TQQY     Income on Nasdaq-100     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares YieldBOOST SPY ETF     YSPY     Income on S&P 500     0.99%/1.15 %
    GraniteShares YieldBOOST TSLA ETF     TSYY     Income on TSLA     0.99%/1.15 %
    ETF NAME   TICKER     EXPOSURE   MANAGEMENT FEE/TOTAL EXPENSES  
    GraniteShares Gold Trust     BAR     Gold     0.17 %
    GraniteShares Bloomberg Commodity Broad Strategy No K-1 ETF     COMB     Broad Commodities     0.25 %
    GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF     HIPS     High Income     0.70%/3.19 %
    GraniteShares Platinum Trust     PLTM     Platinum     0.50 %
    GraniteShares Nasdaq Select Disruptors ETF     DRUP     U.S. Large Cap     0.60 %
                         

    Gregory FCA for GraniteShares
    Kathleen Elicker, 484-889-6597
    graniteshares@gregoryfca.com

    Important Information

    Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Funds, please call (844) 476 8747 or visit www.graniteshares.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

    The investment program of the funds is speculative, entails substantial risks and include asset classes and investment techniques not employed by more traditional mutual funds.

    PRINCIPAL FUND RISKS (see the Prospectus for more information)

    GraniteShares Leveraged Long and Inverse Daily ETFs are not suitable for all investors. The funds seek daily leveraged investment results and are intended to be used as short-term trading vehicles. The funds pursue daily leveraged investment objectives, which means that the funds are riskier than alternatives that do not use leverage because the fund magnifies the performance of the underlying security. The volatility of the underlying security may affect the fund return as much as, or more than, the return of the underlying security. Investors who do not understand the Funds, or do not intend to actively manage their funds and monitor their investments, should not buy the Funds. The Funds are designed to be utilized only by traders and sophisticated investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily inverse and/or leveraged investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage and/or short sales and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. For periods longer than a single day, the Funds will lose money if the underlying stock’s performance is flat, and it is possible that the Funds will lose money even if the underlying stock’s performance increases over a period longer than a single day. An investor could lose the full principal value of his/her investment within a single day. The Funds track the price of a single stock rather than an index, eliminating the benefits of diversification that most mutual funds and exchange-traded funds offer. Although the Funds will be listed and traded on an exchange, an investment in a Fund may not be suitable for every investor. The Funds pose risks that are unique and complex.

    This information is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any Funds to any person in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

    THE FUNDS AREDISTRIBUTED BY ALPS DISTRIBIUTORS, INC. GRANITESHRES IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Amplify Energy Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Results, Year-End 2024 Proved Reserves, Juniper Capital Acquisition Update and Standalone Full-Year 2025 Guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amplify Energy Corp. (NYSE: AMPY) (“Amplify,” the “Company,” “us,” or “our”) announced today its operating and financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2024, year-end 2024 proved reserves, Juniper Capital (“Juniper”) acquisition update and full-year 2025 standalone guidance for the Company.

    Key Highlights

    • 2025 strategic initiatives include:
      • Completing the previously announced transformational combination with certain Juniper portfolio companies which own substantial oil-weighted producing assets and significant leasehold interests in the DJ and Powder River Basins (the “Transaction”) and integrating such assets into our operations
      • Continuing the Beta development program with six completions planned for 2025 including the C-48 and the A-45 which were deferred from the 2024 program
      • Expanding Magnify Energy Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amplify (“Magnify”), to enhance Amplify’s competitive advantage in operating our mature assets located in East Texas and Oklahoma
      • Creating incremental value in East Texas by monetizing portions of our portfolio and/or participating in joint development opportunities focused within the Haynesville formation
    • During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company:
      • Achieved average total production of 18.5 MBoepd
      • Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $12.5 million and a net loss of $7.4 million
      • Delivered Adjusted EBITDA of $21.8 million and Adjusted Net Income of $5.1 million
      • Generated $2.9 million of free cash flow
      • Completed the sale of undeveloped Haynesville acreage in East Texas for $1.4 million
    • For full-year 2024, the Company:
      • Achieved average total production of 19.5 MBoepd
      • Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $51.3 million and net income of $12.9 million
      • Delivered Adjusted EBITDA of $103.0 million and Adjusted Net Income of $35.8 million
      • Generated $18.0 million of free cash flow
      • Renegotiated prior surety bonds and reduced sinking fund payments by approximately $7.0 million per year
      • Initiated development drilling program at Beta, with the completion of two wells, which outperformed type curves
      • Generated $3.1 million of Adjusted EBITDA at Magnify
      • Renegotiated the iodine contract in Oklahoma, increasing annual Adjusted EBITDA by $2.4 million
    • Amplify’s year-end 2024 total proved reserves, utilizing Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pricing of $75.48/Bbl for oil and NGLs and $2.13/MMBtu for natural gas, totaled 93 MMBoe and had a PV-10 value of approximately $736 million
    • As of December 31, 2024, Amplify had $127.0 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility
      • Net Debt to Last Twelve Months (“LTM”) Adjusted EBITDA of 1.2x1
         
      (1) Net debt as of December 31, 2024, consisting of $127 MM outstanding under its revolving credit facility with ~$0.0 MM of cash and cash equivalents, and LTM Adjusted EBITDA as of the fourth quarter of 2024.
         

    Martyn Willsher, Amplify’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “In early 2024, we told stakeholders that 2024 had the potential to be a transformative year for the Company, and we believe that we delivered on that expectation throughout the year. The recently announced transaction with Juniper Capital expands our operations into the DJ and Powder River Basins, increases our scale, operating efficiency and margins, improves our inventory of attractive drilling locations, and provides us with a new core area for potential M&A activity. The transaction also resulted in a new long-term partnership with Juniper Capital, who have a long history of delivering substantial value to shareholders. At Beta, we safely and successfully initiated a drilling program, which has increased our confidence regarding the future inventory of the field and has enabled us to expand our development plans for this prolific asset in 2025 and beyond.”

    Mr. Willsher continued, “While we have focused our attention and resources on these two significant initiatives, our team has also delivered value to stockholders by pursuing opportunities to reduce operating expenses and maximize the value of our existing asset base. For example, Magnify Energy Services, our wholly owned subsidiary that provides oilfield services to Amplify-operated wells, expanded meaningfully in scope, realizing a significant increase in revenue and efficiency and reducing operating costs in East Texas and Oklahoma. We also renegotiated several existing contracts, like our iodine extraction contract, to receive improved economics. Although smaller in scope, these efforts have demonstrated management’s commitment to identifying areas to improve our operations and deliver value to stockholders. On the value maximizing front, we were able to monetize a portion of our acreage with Haynesville rights for several million dollars, while retaining an interest to realize upside value.”

    Mr. Willsher concluded, “We believe that our strategic and operational accomplishments in 2024 set the foundation for Amplify’s future and that in 2025 we will begin to capitalize on the growth potential of this significantly enhanced asset base.  By delivering on our 2025 strategic initiatives, we believe we can create immediate and long-term value for Amplify’s stockholders.”

    Juniper Capital Rocky Mountain Assets Update

    On January 15, 2025, Amplify announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with privately held Juniper to combine with certain Juniper portfolio companies owning assets and leasehold interests in the DJ and Powder River Basins. Such portfolio companies are oil-weighted and include approximately 287,000 net acres. We expect to close the acquisition in the second quarter of 2025. Amplify has provided more information on the portfolio companies and their assets and the value potential of the Transaction in its latest investor presentation, available on its investor relations website.

    On March 4, 2025, a definitive proxy statement was filed providing additional details on the Transaction. A special meeting of stockholders, to be held virtually, has been scheduled for April 14, 2025, at 9:00 am Central Time, where stockholders of record as of March 3, 2025 can vote to approve the issuance of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) (as described in more detail in the definitive proxy statement) in connection with the Transaction. In order to virtually attend, stockholders must register in advance at www.cesonlineservices.com/ampysm_vm prior to April 13, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. More information can be found in the definitive proxy statement on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Company’s website, www.amplifyenergy.com, under the Investor Relations section. Upon approval from our stockholders of the issuance of Common Stock and the resulting closing of the Transaction, Amplify and Juniper are expected to own approximately 61% and 39%, respectively, of the combined company’s outstanding equity.

    In anticipation of closing, Amplify is currently working with Juniper and its portfolio companies on integrating the Juniper assets into the Amplify organization. Furthermore, the Company expects to refinance a substantial portion of its outstanding debt and approximately $133 million in principal amount of the portfolio companies’ outstanding debt prior to closing the Transaction. Amplify intends to update the market with developments of the Transaction as they progress.

    East Texas Haynesville Monetization Update

    Starting in 2024, several operators expressed increased interest in buying or partnering with Amplify on our East Texas Haynesville interests. In December 2024, Amplify monetized ninety percent (90%) of its interests in certain units with Haynesville rights in Panola and Shelby Counties, while retaining a ten percent (10%) working interest and the ability to participate in any well drilled within the boundary of such units. Upon closing, such transaction generated approximately $1.4 million in proceeds.

    In January 2025, Amplify completed a second transaction with a separate counterparty. Amplify sold ninety percent (90%) of its interest in certain units with Haynesville rights in Harrison County, Texas, in addition to 11 gross operated wells. This transaction also established an Area of Mutual Interest (“AMI”) with the counterparty covering 10,000 gross acres. Amplify retained a ten percent (10%) working interest in the units it divested and purchased a ten percent (10%) working interest in the counterparty’s acreage. Amplify generated net proceeds of $6.2 million from these transactions and estimates the AMI has more than 30 potential gross drilling locations.

    2024 Year-End Proved Reserve Update

    The Company’s estimated proved reserves at SEC pricing for year-end 2024 totaled 93.0 MMBoe, which consisted of 82.2 MMBoe of proved developed reserves and 10.8 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves. Proved developed reserves were lower year-over-year, primarily due to lower SEC pricing for oil and natural gas, which fell from $78.22 to $75.48 for oil and from $2.64 to $2.13 for natural gas, and the impact of 2024 production roll-off. Total proved reserves were comprised of 44% oil, 19% NGLs, and 37% natural gas.

    At year-end 2024, Amplify’s total proved reserves and proved developed reserves had PV-10 values of approximately $736 million and $507 million, respectively, using SEC pricing. Proved developed reserve value at Bairoil was lower than 2023 due to a combination of SEC pricing, production performance and higher operating cost assumptions due to significant increases in regulated electricity rates. Proved undeveloped reserves have increased materially as a result of the successful 2024 Beta development program, with the Company adding 23 additional locations and approximately $200 million in PV-10 value. The initial production rates for the two Beta wells brought on-line in 2024 exceeded the type-curves included in our year-end reserve report, and Amplify will consider increasing the type curve assumptions for Beta development wells after evaluating results from the 2025 development program. Detail on the Company’s reserves by asset is provided in the table below. Additionally, Amplify has provided more information on its Beta development program and the substantial value potential of the field in its latest investor presentation, available on its investor relations website.

      Estimated Net Reserves1
    Region MMBoe % Oil and NGL Proved Developed PV-10 Proved Undeveloped PV-10 Total Proved PV-10
          (in millions)
               
    Beta 19.1 100% $144 $214 $358
    Oklahoma 27.0 46% 138 – 138
    Bairoil 16.4 100% 118 – 118
    East Texas/ North Louisiana 28.0 30% 75 4 79
    Eagle Ford (Non-op) 2.5 90% 32 11 43
               
    Total 93.0 63% $507 $229 $736
    (1) Amplify’s year-end 2024 total proved reserves, utilizing SEC pricing of $75.48/Bbl for oil and NGLs and $2.13/MMBtu for natural gas.
       

    Amplify’s reserves estimates were prepared by its third-party independent reserve consultant, Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc.

    Key Financial Results

    During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $7.4 million. The net loss was primarily attributable to a non-cash unrealized loss on commodity derivatives during the period. Excluding the impact of the non-cash unrealized loss on commodity derivatives in addition to other one-time impacts, Amplify generated Adjusted Net Income of $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $21.8 million, a decrease of approximately $3.7 million from $25.5 million in the prior quarter. The decrease was primarily due to lower realized oil prices (net of hedges) in the fourth quarter compared to the prior quarter.

    Free cash flow was $2.9 million for the fourth quarter, a decrease of $0.7 million compared to the prior quarter. Amplify has now generated positive free cash flow in 18 of the last 19 fiscal quarters.

      Fourth Quarter Third Quarter
    $ in millions 2024   2024  
    Net income (loss)   ($7.4 )   $22.7  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   $12.5     $15.7  
    Average daily production (MBoe/d)   18.5     19.0  
    Total revenues excluding hedges   $69.0     $69.9  
    Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure)   $21.8     $25.5  
    Adjusted net income (loss), (a non-GAAP financial measure)   $5.1     $9.8  
    Total capital   $15.3     $18.2  
    Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP financial measure)   $2.9     $3.6  
         

    Revolving Credit Facility

    As of December 31, 2024, Amplify had $127.0 million outstanding under its revolving credit facility, and net debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA was 1.2x (net debt as of December 31, 2024 and 4Q24 LTM Adjusted EBITDA). Fourth quarter net debt increased from the prior quarter due to expected changes in working capital and increased development activity, primarily at Beta.

    Corporate Production and Pricing

    During the fourth quarter of 2024, average daily production was approximately 18.5 Mboepd, a decrease of 0.5 Mboepd from the prior quarter. The decrease in production was driven by gas volumes, which were impacted by gas plant realizations in East Texas. Our oil volumes, although slightly higher compared to the prior quarter, were impacted by platform shutdowns following the completion of the emission reduction and electrification facility projects and several unexpected well failures and subsequent interventions at Beta. With the successful completion of the electrification and emissions reduction project in the fourth quarter 2024 and the intervention projects completed by end of January 2025, we are projecting Beta production to be significantly higher than the fourth quarter, before the impact of the 2025 drilling program. As of March 2, 2025, current 7-day average production rates at Beta were 4,834 gross Bopd (3,635 net Bopd), representing an approximate 9% increase from fourth quarter 2024 volumes, with minimal contribution from the recently completed C48 well, which we continue to draw down since completing in mid-February.

    The Company’s product mix for the quarter was 45% crude oil, 17% NGLs, and 38% natural gas.

      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
      December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
    Production volumes – MBOE:      
    Bairoil   293       294  
    Beta   308       304  
    Oklahoma   436       454  
    East Texas / North Louisiana   609       638  
    Eagle Ford (Non-op)   60       62  
    Total – MBoe   1,706       1,752  
    Total – MBoe/d   18.5       19.0  
    % – Liquids   62 %     60 %
           

    Total oil, natural gas and NGL revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were approximately $67.2 million, before the impact of derivatives. The Company realized a net gain on commodity derivatives of $4.1 million during the fourth quarter. Oil, natural gas and NGL revenues, net of realized hedges, decreased $3.3 million for the fourth quarter compared to the prior quarter.

    The following table sets forth information regarding average realized sales prices for the periods indicated:

      Crude Oil ($/Bbl) NGLs ($/Bbl) Natural Gas ($/Mcf)
                           
      Three Months Ended December 31, 2024   Three Months Ended September 30, 2024   Three Months Ended December 31, 2024   Three Months Ended September 30, 2024   Three Months Ended December 31, 2024   Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
                           
    Average sales price exclusive of realized derivatives and certain deductions from revenue $ 66.82     $ 71.74     $ 23.46     $ 21.63     $ 2.52     $ 1.84  
    Realized derivatives   1.43       (0.24 )     –       –       0.76       1.38  
                           
    Average sales price with realized derivatives exclusive of certain deductions from revenue $ 68.25     $ 71.50     $ 23.46     $ 21.63     $ 3.28     $ 3.22  
    Certain deductions from revenue   –       –       (1.37 )     (1.33 )     (0.01 )     0.00  
                           
    Average sales price inclusive of realized derivatives and certain deductions from revenue $ 68.25     $ 71.50     $ 22.09     $ 20.30     $ 3.27     $ 3.22  
                           

    Costs and Expenses

    Lease operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2024 were approximately $35.1 million, or $20.57 per Boe, a $1.8 million increase compared to the prior quarter. Due to increased well failures in the fourth quarter, Beta lease operating costs were higher compared to the prior quarter. Lease operating expenses do not reflect $0.9 million of income generated by Magnify in the fourth quarter.

    Severance and ad valorem taxes in the fourth quarter were approximately $5.4 million, a decrease of $0.6 million compared to $6.0 million in the prior quarter, and in line with expectations. Severance and ad valorem taxes as a percentage of revenue were approximately 8.0% in the fourth quarter.

    Amplify incurred $4.5 million, or $2.62 per Boe, of gathering, processing and transportation expenses in the fourth quarter, compared to $4.3 million, or $2.45 per Boe, in the prior quarter.

    Cash G&A expenses in the fourth quarter were $6.3 million, an increase of $0.1 million compared to the prior quarter and in-line with expectations.

    Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in the fourth quarter totaled $8.4 million, or $4.93 per Boe, compared to $8.1 million, or $4.62 per Boe, in the prior quarter.

    Net interest expense was $3.7 million in the fourth quarter, a decrease of $0.1 million compared to $3.8 million in the prior quarter.

    Amplify recorded a current income tax benefit of $2.1 million in the fourth quarter.

    Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Capital Investments

    Cash capital investment during the fourth quarter of 2024 was approximately $15.3 million. During the fourth quarter, the Company’s capital allocation was approximately 65% for Beta development drilling and facility projects, with the remainder distributed across the Company’s other assets.

    The following table details Amplify’s capital invested during the fourth quarter of 2024:

      Fourth Quarter   Full-Year
      2024 Capital   2024 Capital
      ($ MM)   ($ MM)
    Bairoil $ 0.2     $ 2.9  
    Beta $ 10.0     $ 53.7  
    Oklahoma $ 0.1     $ 3.2  
    East Texas / North Louisiana $ 2.8     $ 5.6  
    Eagle Ford (Non-op) $ 2.1     $ 4.1  
    Magnify Energy Services $ 0.1     $ 1.1  
    Total Capital Invested $ 15.3     $ 70.6  
           

    2025 Operations & Development Plan

    The following table details Amplify’s 2025 projected capital investments of $70 – $80 million:

    Capital Investment by Type (% of Total):  
    Beta Development 41 %
    Beta Facility 16 %
    Workovers & Other Facilities 25 %
    Non-op Development 18 %
    Total Capital Investments: 100 %
         

    Amplify’s 2025 operations and development plan is designed to continue unlocking the underlying value of the Company’s assets. To achieve this goal, we intend to 1) continue our development program at Beta, 2) execute on low-cost, high-return workover projects, and 3) reduce operating costs by increasing activity at Magnify.

    At Beta, Amplify intends to complete six wells in 2025. The C48 well, the first of the six wells to be completed in 2025, was drilled in the fourth quarter of 2024 and completed in mid-February. Similar to the A50 and C59 wells drilled in 2024, the completion of the C48 well was initially designed to target the D-sand. However, drilling conditions encountered in the D-sand and the quality of the C-Sand observed while drilling through the formation, led the team to alter the completion design and target the C-sand instead. The C48 will be the first test of the horizontal potential of the C-sand and we will share the results of the C48 well after obtaining sufficient initial production data.

    In 2024 Amplify brought online two new wells at Beta, the A50 well (brought online in June) and the C59 well (brought online in October), both of which exceeded internal projections and increased Beta’s overall production approximately 15% in January 2025 compared to January of 2024. Similarly, the six Beta completions planned in 2025 are expected to significantly increase Amplify’s oil production year-over-year. Additional information regarding the Beta development plan can be found in the investor presentation on the Company’s investor relations website.

    In addition to drilling and completing the six wells, Amplify intends to make continued investments in Beta’s facilities. In 2025, the Company expects to invest approximately $8 million to upgrade a 2-mile pipeline that ships all produced fluid from platform Eureka to platform Elly.

    At Bairoil, we continue to focus on enhancing water-alternating-gas injection performance through targeted well recompletions and conversions, which helps offset the asset’s nominal production declines. Our plan also includes an investment at our CO2 gas plant intended to reduce overall power usage and lease operating expenses in the second half of 2025.

    Amplify’s operating strategy in Oklahoma remains focused on prioritizing a stable free cash flow profile by managing production through an active workover program, artificial lift enhancements, extending well run-times and continuing to reduce operating costs.

    In East Texas, we are participating in the completion of four non-operated development projects, which we expect to be online by mid-year. The Company also continues to focus on prudent management of the field, such as optimizing field compression, artificial lift enhancement, and equipment insourcing, which is expected to improve the production profile and lower lease operating costs.

    In late 2023, we formed Magnify to in-source specific oilfield services to improve service reliability and to reduce overall operating expenses for the Company. Since its inception, Magnify has generated $3.7 million of Adjusted EBITDA with a capital investment of only $1.7 million. In 2025, we expect to invest an additional $1.4 million of capital in Magnify and project 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $5 million (with an annualized run rate of $6 million by year-end). We are evaluating additional accretive services for Magnify to service Amplify operated assets.

    In the Eagle Ford, we are participating in 14 gross (0.7 net) new development wells and two gross (0.4 net) recompletion projects. These non-operated wells, with highly accretive returns, are currently scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2025.

    Full-Year 2025 Guidance

    The following standalone guidance is subject to the cautionary statements and limitations described under the “Forward-Looking Statements” caption at the end of this press release. Amplify’s 2025 guidance is based on its current expectations regarding capital investment levels and flat commodity prices for crude oil of $71/Bbl (WTI) and natural gas of $3.75/MMBtu (Henry Hub), and on the assumption that market demand and prices for oil and natural gas will continue at levels that allow for economic production of these products. Additionally, the Company expects to invest approximately 90% of its capital in the first three quarters of the year primarily in connection with the Beta development program. Upon closing of the Transaction with Juniper, the Company will provide updated guidance to include the acquired assets.

    A summary of the standalone guidance is presented below:

      FY 2025E
           
      Low   High
           
    Net Average Daily Production      
    Oil (MBbls/d) 8.5 – 9.4
    NGL (MBbls/d) 3.0 – 3.3
    Natural Gas (MMcf/d) 45.0 – 51.0
    Total (MBoe/d) 19.0 – 21.0
           
    Commodity Price Differential / Realizations (Unhedged)      
    Oil Differential ($ / Bbl) ($3.25) – ($4.25)
    NGL Realized Price (% of WTI NYMEX) 27% – 31%
    Natural Gas Realized Price (% of Henry Hub) 85% – 92%
           
    Other Revenue      
    Magnify Energy Services ($ MM) $4 – $6
    Other ($ MM) $2 – $3
    Total ($ MM) $6 – $9
           
    Gathering, Processing and Transportation Costs      
    Oil ($ / Bbl) $0.65 – $0.85
    NGL ($ / Bbl) $2.75 – $4.00
    Natural Gas ($ / Mcf) $0.55 – $0.75
    Total ($ / Boe) $2.25 – $2.85
           
    Average Costs      
    Lease Operating ($ / Boe) $18.50 – $20.50
    Taxes (% of Revenue) (1) 6.0% – 7.0%
    Cash General and Administrative ($ / Boe) (2)(3) $3.40 – $3.90
           
    Adjusted EBITDA ($ MM) (2)(3) $100 – $120
    Cash Interest Expense ($ MM) $12 – $18
    Capital Expenditures ($ MM) $70 – $80
    Free Cash Flow ($ MM) (2)(3) $10 – $30
           
    (1) Includes production, ad valorem and franchise taxes
    (2) Refer to “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for Amplify’s definition and use of Cash G&A, Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, non-GAAP measures (cash income taxes, which are not included in free cash flow, are expected to range between $0 – $2 million for the year)
    (3) Amplify believes that a quantitative reconciliation of such forward-looking information to the most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP cannot be made available without unreasonable efforts. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures would require Amplify to predict the timing and likelihood of future transactions and other items that are difficult to accurately predict. Neither of these forward-looking measures, nor their probable significance, can be quantified with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Accordingly, a reconciliation of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures is not provided.
     

    Hedging

    Recently, the Company took advantage of volatility in the futures market to add to its hedge position, further protecting future cash flows. Amplify executed crude oil swaps covering the second half of 2025 through year-end 2026 at a weighted average price of $68.10. The Company also added natural gas collars for a portion of 2027 with a weighted average floor of $3.63 per MMBtu and a weighted average ceiling of $3.98 per MMBtu.

    The following table reflects the hedged volumes under Amplify’s commodity derivative contracts and the average fixed floor and ceiling prices at which production is hedged for January 2025 through December 2027, as of March 4, 2025:

        2025       2026       2027  
               
    Natural Gas Swaps:          
    Average Monthly Volume (MMBtu)   585,000       500,000       87,500  
    Weighted Average Fixed Price ($) $ 3.75     $ 3.79     $ 3.76  
               
    Natural Gas Collars:          
    Two-way collars          
    Average Monthly Volume (MMBtu)   500,000       500,000       87,500  
    Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($) $ 3.90     $ 4.06     $ 4.20  
    Weighted Average Floor Price ($) $ 3.50     $ 3.55     $ 3.50  
               
    Oil Swaps:          
    Average Monthly Volume (Bbls)   128,583       72,750      
    Weighted Average Fixed Price ($) $ 70.85     $ 69.19      
               
    Oil Collars:          
    Two-way collars          
    Average Monthly Volume (Bbls)   59,500          
    Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($) $ 80.20          
    Weighted Average Floor Price ($) $ 70.00          
               

    Amplify has posted an updated investor presentation containing additional hedging information on its website, www.amplifyenergy.com, under the Investor Relations section.

    Annual Report on Form 10-K

    Amplify’s financial statements and related footnotes will be available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which Amplify expects to file with the SEC on March 5, 2025.

    About Amplify Energy

    Amplify Energy Corp. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation and production of oil and natural gas properties. Amplify’s operations are focused in Oklahoma, the Rockies (Bairoil), federal waters offshore Southern California (Beta), East Texas / North Louisiana, and the Eagle Ford (Non-op). For more information, visit www.amplifyenergy.com.

    Conference Call

    Amplify will host an investor teleconference tomorrow at 10 a.m. Central Time to discuss these operating and financial results. Interested parties may join the call by dialing (888) 999-5318 at least 15 minutes before the call begins and providing the Conference ID: AEC4Q24. A telephonic replay will be available for fourteen days following the call by dialing (800) 654-1563 and providing the Access Code: 71724906. A transcript and a recorded replay of the call will also be available on our website after the call.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “outlook,” “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s expectations of plans, goals, strategies (including measures to implement strategies), objectives and anticipated results with respect thereto. These statements address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including things such as projections of results of operations, plans for growth, goals, future capital expenditures, competitive strengths, references to future intentions and other such references. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. These include risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things: the Company’s ability to successfully complete the proposed business combination between the Company and certain of Juniper’s portfolio companies, or the “Mergers”; the Company’s evaluation and implementation of strategic alternatives; risks related to the redetermination of the borrowing base under the Company’s revolving credit facility; the Company’s ability to satisfy debt obligations; the Company’s need to make accretive acquisitions or substantial capital expenditures to maintain its declining asset base, including the existence of unanticipated liabilities or problems relating to acquired or divested business or properties; volatility in the prices for oil, natural gas and NGLs; the Company’s ability to access funds on acceptable terms, if at all, because of the terms and conditions governing the Company’s indebtedness, including financial covenants; general political and economic conditions, globally and in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and the potential destabilizing effect such conflicts may pose for the global oil and natural gas markets; expectations regarding general economic conditions, including inflation; and the impact of local, state and federal governmental regulations, including those related to climate change and hydraulic fracturing, and the current administration’s potential reversal thereof. Please read the Company’s filings with the SEC, including “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and if applicable, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.amplifyenergy.com/investor-relations/sec-filings/default.aspx or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    A portion of this press release relates to a proposed business combination transaction between the Company and certain Juniper portfolio companies. This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the proposed business combination transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, exchange or transfer of the securities referred to in this document in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Important Additional Information Regarding the Mergers Will Be Filed With the SEC

    In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company has filed a definitive proxy statement. The definitive proxy statement will be sent to the stockholders of the Company. The Company may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AMPLIFY ARE ADVISED TO CAREFULLY READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGERS, THE PARTIES TO THE MERGERS AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MERGERS. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed by Amplify with the SEC from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Security holders and other interested parties will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents (when available) by (1) directing your written request to: 500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas or (2) contacting our Investor Relations department by telephone at (832) 219-9044 or (832) 219-9051. Copies of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at http://www.amplifyenergy.com.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    Amplify and certain of its respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Amplify in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers is also included in Amplify’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2024 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2024. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    This press release and accompanying schedules include the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, free cash flow, net debt, PV-10 and cash G&A. The accompanying schedules provide a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, net cash flows provided by operating activities, standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Amplify’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate such measures in the same manner as Amplify does.

    Adjusted EBITDA. Amplify defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus Interest expense; Income tax expense (benefit); DD&A; Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets (including oil and natural gas properties); Accretion of AROs; Loss or (gain) on commodity derivative instruments; Cash settlements received or (paid) on expired commodity derivative instruments; Amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives; Losses or (gains) on sale of assets and other, net; Share-based compensation expenses; Exploration costs; Acquisition and divestiture related expenses; Reorganization items, net; Severance payments; and Other non-routine items that we deem appropriate. Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as a supplemental financial measure by management and external users of Amplify’s financial statements, such as investors, research analysts and rating agencies, to assess: (1) its operating performance as compared to other companies in Amplify’s industry without regard to financing methods, capital structures or historical cost basis; (2) the ability of its assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest and support Amplify’s indebtedness; and (3) the viability of projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities. Since Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income or loss and because these measures may vary among other companies, the Adjusted EBITDA data presented in this press release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA are net income and net cash provided by operating activities.

    Adjusted Net Income. Amplify defines Adjusted Net Income as net income (loss) adjusted for loss (gain) on commodity derivative instruments, acquisition & divestiture related expenses, unusual and infrequent items, and the income tax expense or benefit of these adjustments using our federal statutory tax rate. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) excludes the impact of unusual and infrequent items affecting earnings that vary widely and unpredictably, including derivative gains and losses. This measure is not meant to disassociate these items from management’s performance but rather is intended to provide helpful information to investors interested in comparing our performance between periods. Adjusted net income (loss) is not considered to be an alternative to net income (loss) reported in accordance with GAAP.

    Free cash flow. Amplify defines free cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA, less cash interest expense and capital expenditures. Free cash flow is an important non-GAAP financial measure for Amplify’s investors since it serves as an indicator of the Company’s success in providing a cash return on investment. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to free cash flow are net income and net cash provided by operating activities.

    Net debt. Amplify defines net debt as the total principal amount drawn on the revolving credit facility less cash and cash equivalents. The Company uses net debt as a measure of financial position and believes this measure provides useful additional information to investors to evaluate the Company’s capital structure and financial leverage.

    PV-10. PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the present value of estimated future cash inflows from proved oil and natural gas reserves that are calculated using the unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior 12 months, less future development and operating costs, discounted at 10% per annum to reflect the timing of future cash flows. The most directly comparable GAAP measure to PV-10 is standardized measure. PV-10 differs from standardized measure in its treatment of estimated future income taxes, which are excluded from PV-10. Amplify believes the presentation of PV-10 provides useful information because it is widely used by investors in evaluating oil and natural gas companies without regard to specific income tax characteristics of such entities. PV-10 is not intended to represent the current market value of our estimated proved reserves. PV-10 should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the standardized measure as defined under GAAP.

    Cash G&A. Amplify defines cash G&A as general and administrative expense, less share-based compensation expense; acquisition and divestiture costs; bad debt expense; and severance payments. Cash G&A is an important non-GAAP financial measure for Amplify’s investors since it allows for analysis of G&A spend without regard to share-based compensation and other non-recurring expenses which can vary substantially from company to company. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to cash G&A is total G&A expenses.

    Contacts

    Jim Frew — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (832) 219-9044
    jim.frew@amplifyenergy.com

    Michael Jordan — Director, Finance and Treasurer
    (832) 219-9051
    michael.jordan@amplifyenergy.com


    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)

    Amplify Energy Corp.
    Selected Financial Data – Unaudited
    Statements of Operations Data
           
      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s, except per share data) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
    Revenues:      
    Oil and natural gas sales $ 67,189     $ 68,135  
    Other revenues   1,832       1,723  
    Total revenues   69,021       69,858  
           
    Costs and Expenses:      
    Lease operating expense   35,100       33,255  
    Pipeline incident loss   2,405       247  
    Gathering, processing and transportation   4,468       4,290  
    Exploration   10       –  
    Taxes other than income   5,356       5,997  
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization   8,418       8,102  
    General and administrative expense   9,486       8,251  
    Accretion of asset retirement obligations   2,156       2,125  
    Realized (gain) loss on commodity derivatives   (4,052 )     (6,375 )
    Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity derivatives   13,357       (18,672 )
    (Gain) loss on sale of properties   (1,367 )     –  
    Other, net   334       38  
    Total costs and expenses   75,671       37,258  
           
    Operating Income (loss)   (6,650 )     32,600  
           
    Other Income (Expense):      
    Interest expense, net   (3,684 )     (3,756 )
    Other income (expense)   (113 )     (130 )
    Total other income (expense)   (3,797 )     (3,886 )
           
    Income (loss) before reorganization items, net and income taxes   (10,447 )     28,714  
           
    Income tax benefit (expense) – current   2,132       (412 )
    Income tax benefit (expense) – deferred   886       (5,650 )
           
    Net income (loss) $ (7,429 )   $ 22,652  
           
    Earnings per share:      
    Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share $ (0.19 )   $ 0.54  
           
    Selected Financial Data – Unaudited      
    Operating Statistics      
           
      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s, except per unit data) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
    Oil and natural gas revenue:      
    Oil Sales $ 50,817     $ 54,353  
    NGL Sales   6,602       6,096  
    Natural Gas Sales   9,770       7,686  
    Total oil and natural gas sales – Unhedged $ 67,189     $ 68,135  
           
    Production volumes:      
    Oil Sales – MBbls   760       758  
    NGL Sales – MBbls   299       301  
    Natural Gas Sales – MMcf   3,883       4,165  
    Total – MBoe   1,706       1,752  
    Total – MBoe/d   18.5       19.0  
           
    Average sales price (excluding commodity derivatives):      
    Oil – per Bbl $ 66.82     $ 71.74  
    NGL – per Bbl $ 22.09     $ 20.29  
    Natural gas – per Mcf $ 2.52     $ 1.85  
    Total – per Boe $ 39.37     $ 38.88  
           
    Average unit costs per Boe:      
    Lease operating expense $ 20.57     $ 18.98  
    Gathering, processing and transportation $ 2.62     $ 2.45  
    Taxes other than income $ 3.14     $ 3.42  
    General and administrative expense $ 5.56     $ 4.71  
    Realized gain/(loss) on commodity derivatives $ 2.38     $ 3.64  
    Depletion, depreciation, and amortization $ 4.93     $ 4.62  
           
    Selected Financial Data – Unaudited      
    Asset Operating Statistics      
           
      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
      December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
    Production volumes – MBOE:      
    Bairoil   293       294  
    Beta   308       304  
    Oklahoma   436       454  
    East Texas / North Louisiana   609       638  
    Eagle Ford (Non-op)   60       62  
    Total – MBoe   1,706       1,752  
    Total – MBoe/d   18.5       19.0  
    % – Liquids   62 %     60 %
           
    Lease operating expense – $M:      
    Bairoil $ 11,800     $ 13,164  
    Beta   12,113       9,520  
    Oklahoma   3,948       3,644  
    East Texas / North Louisiana   5,887       5,592  
    Eagle Ford (Non-op)   1,351       1,335  
    Total Lease operating expense: $ 35,099     $ 33,255  
           
    Capital expenditures – $M:      
    Bairoil $ 190     $ 1,224  
    Beta   10,001       12,047  
    Oklahoma   168       1,449  
    East Texas / North Louisiana   2,758       2,303  
    Eagle Ford (Non-op)   2,125       1,157  
    Magnify Energy Services   82       44  
    Total Capital expenditures: $ 15,324     $ 18,224  
           
    Selected Financial Data – Unaudited              
    Balance Sheet Data              
                   
    (Amounts in $000s) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
                   
    Assets              
    Cash and Cash Equivalents $ –     $ –  
    Accounts Receivable   39,713       32,295  
    Other Current Assets   32,064       37,862  
    Total Current Assets $ 71,777     $ 70,157  
                   
    Net Oil and Gas Properties $ 386,218     $ 378,871  
    Other Long-Term Assets   289,081       290,188  
    Total Assets $ 747,076     $ 739,216  
                   
    Liabilities              
    Accounts Payable $ 13,231     $ 18,107  
    Accrued Liabilities   43,413       36,699  
    Other Current Liabilities   11,494       11,362  
    Total Current Liabilities $ 68,138     $ 66,168  
                   
    Long-Term Debt $ 127,000     $ 120,000  
    Asset Retirement Obligation   129,700       127,556  
    Other Long-Term Liabilities   13,326       10,822  
    Total Liabilities $ 338,164     $ 324,546  
                   
    Shareholders’ Equity              
    Common Stock & APIC $ 440,380     $ 438,709  
    Accumulated Earnings (Deficit)   (31,468 )     (24,039 )
    Total Shareholders’ Equity $ 408,912     $ 414,670  
                   
    Selected Financial Data – Unaudited      
    Statements of Cash Flows Data      
           
      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
           
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 12,455     $ 15,737  
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   (19,379 )     (18,078 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   6,924       1,839  
           
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
           
      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Cash Provided from Operating Activities:    
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 12,455     $ 15,737  
    Changes in working capital   4,770       5,937  
    Interest expense, net   3,684       3,756  
    Cash settlements received on terminated commodity derivatives   –       (793 )
    Amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives   159       –  
    Amortization and write-off of deferred financing fees   (315 )     (310 )
    Exploration costs   10       –  
    Acquisition and divestiture related costs   1,424       186  
    Plugging and abandonment cost   754       372  
    Current income tax expense (benefit)   (2,132 )     412  
    Pipeline incident loss   2,405       247  
    (Gain) loss on sale of properties   (1,367 )     –  
    Adjusted EBITDA: $ 21,847     $ 25,544  
           
    Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Provided from Operating Activities:    
    Adjusted EBITDA: $ 21,847     $ 25,544  
    Less: Cash interest expense   3,598       3,721  
    Less: Capital expenditures   15,324       18,224  
    Free Cash Flow: $ 2,925     $ 3,599  
           
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
           
           
      Twelve Months   Twelve Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s, except per share data) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA1to Net Cash Provided from Operating Activities:    
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 51,293     $ 141,590  
    Changes in working capital   32,272       (8,517 )
    Interest expense, net   14,599       17,719  
    Cash settlements received on terminated commodity derivatives   (793 )     (658 )
    Amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives   159       658  
    Amortization and write-off of deferred financing fees   (1,233 )     (1,980 )
    Exploration costs   61       57  
    Acquisition and divestiture related costs   1,633       219  
    Plugging and abandonment cost   1,640       2,239  
    Current income tax expense (benefit)   232       4,817  
    Pipeline incident loss   3,859       19,981  
    (Gain) loss on sale of properties   (1,367 )     –  
    LOPI – timing differences   –       (4,636 )
    Litigation settlement   –       (84,875 )
    Other   686       1,418  
    Adjusted EBITDA: $ 103,041     $ 88,032  
           
    Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Provided from Operating Activities:    
    Adjusted EBITDA1: $ 103,041     $ 88,032  
    Less: Cash interest expense   14,438       16,263  
    Less: Capital expenditures   70,644       33,744  
    Free Cash Flow: $ 17,959     $ 38,025  
      (1) Adjusted EBITDA includes a revenue suspense release of $8.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024. See “Revenue Payables in Suspense” table for additional information.
         
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Adjusted EBITDA1 and Free Cash Flow
           
      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss):      
    Net income (loss) $ (7,429 )   $ 22,652  
    Interest expense, net   3,684       3,756  
    Income tax expense (benefit) – current   (2,132 )     412  
    Income tax expense (benefit) – deferred   (886 )     5,650  
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization   8,418       8,102  
    Accretion of asset retirement obligations   2,156       2,125  
    (Gains) losses on commodity derivatives   9,305       (25,047 )
    Cash settlements received (paid) on expired commodity derivative instruments   4,052       5,582  
    Amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives   159       –  
    Acquisition and divestiture related costs   1,424       186  
    Share-based compensation expense   1,686       1,815  
    (Gain) loss on sale of properties   (1,367 )     –  
    Exploration costs   10       –  
    Loss on settlement of AROs   334       38  
    Bad debt expense   28       26  
    Pipeline incident loss   2,405       247  
    Adjusted EBITDA1: $ 21,847     $ 25,544  
           
    Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Income (Loss):      
    Adjusted EBITDA: $ 21,847     $ 25,544  
    Less: Cash interest expense   3,598       3,721  
    Less: Capital expenditures   15,324       18,224  
    Free Cash Flow: $ 2,925     $ 3,599  
           
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
           
           
      Twelve Months   Twelve Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s, except per share data) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
           
    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA1to Net Income (Loss):      
    Net income (loss) $ 12,946     $ 392,750  
    Interest expense, net   14,599       17,719  
    Income tax expense (benefit) – current   232       4,817  
    Income tax expense (benefit) – deferred   2,196       (253,796 )
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization   32,586       28,004  
    Accretion of asset retirement obligations   8,438       7,951  
    (Gains) losses on commodity derivatives   2,047       (40,343 )
    Cash settlements received (paid) on expired commodity derivative instruments   17,617       (8,273 )
    Amortization of gain associated with terminated commodity derivatives   159       658  
    Acquisition and divestiture related costs   1,633       219  
    Share-based compensation expense   6,799       5,280  
    (Gain) loss on sale of properties   (1,367 )     –  
    Exploration costs   61       57  
    Loss on settlement of AROs   470       1,003  
    Bad debt expense   80       98  
    Pipeline incident loss   3,859       19,981  
    LOPI – timing differences   –       (4,636 )
    Litigation settlement   –       (84,875 )
    Other   686       1,418  
    Adjusted EBITDA: $ 103,041     $ 88,032  
           
    Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Income (Loss):      
    Adjusted EBITDA1: $ 103,041     $ 88,032  
    Less: Cash interest expense   14,438       16,263  
    Less: Capital expenditures   70,644       33,744  
    Free Cash Flow: $ 17,959     $ 38,025  
      (1) Adjusted EBITDA includes a revenue suspense release of $8.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024. See “Revenue Payables in Suspense” table for additional information.
         
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
           
      Three Months   Three Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s, except per share data) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
           
    Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss):      
    Net income (loss) $ (7,429 )   $ 22,652  
    Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity derivatives   13,357       (18,672 )
    Acquisition and divestiture related costs   1,424       186  
    Non-recurring costs:      
    Income tax expense (benefit) – deferred   (886 )     5,650  
    Gain on sale of properties   (1,367 )     –  
    Litigation settlement   –       –  
    Tax effect of adjustments   (12 )     (39 )
    Adjusted net income (loss) $ 5,087     $ 9,777  
           
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
           
      Twelve Months   Twelve Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s, except per share data) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss):      
    Net income (loss) $ 12,946     $ 392,750  
    Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity derivatives   20,457       (47,958 )
    Acquisition and divestiture related costs   1,633       219  
    Non-recurring costs:      
    Income tax expense (benefit) – deferred1   2,196       (253,796 )
    Gain on sale of properties   (1,367 )     –  
    Litigation settlement2   –       (84,875 )
    Tax effect of adjustments3   (56 )     17,778  
    Adjusted net income (loss) $ 35,809     $ 24,118  
      (1) In 2023, we achieved three years of cumulative book income which resulted in the release of our valuation allowance of $284.9 million.
      (2) In 2023, non-recurring costs included a litigation settlement with the shipping companies and the containerships whose anchors struck the Company’s pipeline.
      (3) The federal statutory rates were utilized for all periods presented.
         
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Cash General and Administrative Expenses
                   
      Three Months      Three Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024
                   
    General and administrative expense $ 9,486     $ 8,251  
    Less: Share-based compensation expense   1,686       1,815  
    Less: Acquisition and divestiture costs   1,424       186  
    Less: Bad debt expense   28       26  
    Less: Severance payments   —       —  
    Total Cash General and Administrative Expense $ 6,348     $ 6,224  
                   
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Cash General and Administrative Expenses
                   
      Twelve Months      Twelve Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                   
    General and administrative expense $ 35,895     $ 32,984  
    Less: Share-based compensation expense   6,799       5,280  
    Less: Acquisition and divestiture costs   1,633       219  
    Less: Bad debt expense   80       98  
    Less: Severance payments   344       965  
    Total Cash General and Administrative Expense $ 27,039     $ 26,422  
                   
    Selected Operating and Financial Data (Tables)
    Reconciliation of Unaudited GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Revenue Payables in Suspense
           
      Three Months      Twelve Months
      Ended   Ended
    (Amounts in $000s) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2024
           
           
    Oil and natural gas sales $ –     $ 4,023  
    Other revenues   –       4,829  
    Severance tax and other deducts   –       (433 )
    Total net revenue $ –     $ 8,419  
           
    Production volumes:      
    Oil (MBbls)   –       33  
    NGLs (MBbls)   –       31  
    Natural gas (MMcf)   –       441  
    Total (Mboe)   –       138  
    Total (Mboe/d)   –       0.38  
           
        As of       As of  
      December 31,       December 31,  
      2024       2023  
    Standardized measure of future net cash flows, discounted at 10% ($ M)   $608,239       $626,131  
    Add: PV of future income tax, discounted at 10% ($ M)   $127,526       $130,882  
    PV-10 ($ M)   $735,765       $757,013  
                   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Micron Appoints Mark Liu and Christie Simons to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOISE, Idaho, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Micron Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced it has appointed two experienced business leaders, Mark Liu and Christie Simons, to its board of directors.

    Liu spent over 30 years with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), where he held increasingly important leadership positions, including senior vice president (2004-2012), co-chief operations officer (2012-2013), president and co-CEO (2013-2018), and executive chairman (2018-2024). Under his leadership, TSMC became the world’s largest semiconductor foundry. Currently, he is the founder and chairman of J&M Copper Beech Ventures, a multi-strategy investment fund. Liu began his career at Intel Corporation as part of the company’s development of its 32-bit microprocessor technology. He then moved to AT&T Bell Laboratory where he conducted fundamental high-speed electronics research. Liu’s other board commitments include the University of California, Berkeley Engineering Advisory Board. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from National Taiwan University, and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley.

    “Mark is a visionary leader with deep technical expertise and business acumen. He has decades of experience leading one of the world’s most advanced and sophisticated semiconductor companies, with fab operations at the largest scale,” said Micron Chairman, President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. “His experience will help guide Micron as we scale our business to address the growing opportunities unleashed by AI — from the data center to the edge.”

    Simons is a senior audit and assurance partner of Deloitte & Touche LLP. She is retiring from the company in May with nearly 30 years of experience serving technology clients worldwide. She has held several significant leadership roles at Deloitte while leading teams to address clients’ most challenging problems, including global equity and debt offerings and enterprise-wide digital transformations. Simons recently led Deloitte’s Global Semiconductor Center of Excellence, integrating the organization’s multifaceted capabilities to serve global semiconductor clients across consulting, advisory, tax, and assurance. She also recently served as the U.S. Technology, Media, and Telecommunications industry leader for Deloitte’s audit and assurance practice. Simons holds a bachelor’s degree in international business and finance from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is a Certified Public Accountant in California, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs.

    “Christie’s extensive experience in global technology and finance will provide invaluable insights as we continue to optimize Micron’s business to focus on innovation and growth,” said Mehrotra. “Her specific experience with the semiconductor industry will be a great asset as our board continues to shape Micron’s strategy to address the opportunities ahead.”

    “I am very pleased to welcome Mark and Christie to the Micron board of directors,” said Lynn Dugle, Micron’s lead independent director. “Mark’s executive experience with the world’s largest semiconductor foundry and Christie’s work delivering an array of services to global semiconductor companies bring additional strength to our board. We look forward to their contributions as we continue to position Micron for long-term success.”

    About Micron Technology, Inc.
    We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® and Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and compute-intensive applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.

    © 2025 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information, products, and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. Micron, the Micron logo, and all other Micron trademarks are the property of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Micron Media Relations Contact
    Mark Plungy
    Micron Technology, Inc.
    +1 (408) 203-2910
    mplungy@micron.com

    Micron Investor Relations Contact
    Satya Kumar
    Micron Technology, Inc.
    +1 (408) 450-6199
    satyakumar@micron.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Tactile Medical to Present at the Oppenheimer 35th Annual Healthcare MedTech & Services Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MINNEAPOLIS, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (“Tactile Medical”; the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TCMD), a medical technology company providing therapies for people with chronic disorders, today announced that management will participate in the Oppenheimer 35th Annual Healthcare MedTech & Services Conference, which is being virtually held from March 17th – 20th. Management will participate in a virtual presentation on Tuesday, March 18th at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

    A live audio webcast of the presentation will be accessible under the “Events & Webcasts” section of the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.tactilemedical.com. An archive of the webcast will be available for replay following the conference.

    About Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (DBA Tactile Medical)

    Tactile Medical is a leader in developing and marketing at-home therapies for people suffering from underserved, chronic conditions including lymphedema, lipedema, chronic venous insufficiency and chronic pulmonary disease by helping them live better and care for themselves at home. Tactile Medical collaborates with clinicians to expand clinical evidence, raise awareness, increase access to care, reduce overall healthcare costs and improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of patients each year.

    Investor Inquiries:
    Sam Bentzinger
    Gilmartin Group
    investorrelations@tactilemedical.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ending US birthright citizenship could have consequences for LGBTQ+ couples, lower-income parents and the surrogacy market

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Ashley Mantha-Hollands, Max Weber Fellow, Max Weber Programme for Postdoctoral Studies, European University Institute

    The first month of US President Donald Trump’s second term saw an onslaught of executive orders. The order aiming to change how birthright citizenship – the constitutional guarantee of citizenship to most children born within US territory – is granted could be the most consequential. Federal judges in Maryland, Washington state, Massachusetts and New Hampshire have issued nationwide injunctions against the order, and the San Francisco-based US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the Trump administration’s appeal.

    To date, most media outlets, civil and human rights organisations, and activist groups have expressed concern about how a change to birthright citizenship would impact undocumented people and their children. However, a change could also have a series of further consequences, particularly for children of LGBTQ+ couples and children born through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as surrogacy.

    There are at least three related outcomes to consider: tension between federal and state definitions of parentage, a heightened administrative burden for establishing proof of citizenship, and the potential harm to what is the world’s largest surrogacy market.

    Who are the parents? Not so simple

    In countries where children obtain citizenship based on the citizenship of their parents, the legal parameters of the family are of utmost importance. For this reason, countries often provide specific definitions of who “counts” as a parent. In the US, this responsibility falls to the states, which provide their own definitions. One common practice is known as the “parturient” rule, which holds that the person giving birth is the legal “mother” and her spouse the legal “father”. This practice is increasingly contested. With the rise of ART and, in particular, surrogacy, the person giving birth is not always the intended parent. In fact, at least 14 US states have recognized that the parturient rule does not encompass many types of family arrangements and have altered their administrative frameworks so that “intended parents” can be immediately placed on birth certificates.

    While the establishment of parentage occurs at the state level, establishing citizenship is a federal responsibility. As a result, the federal government also provides its own legal definition of parenthood. This definition includes the following family roles: a genetic parent, a non-genetic gestational parent, a non-genetic and non-gestational spouse of a genetic and/or gestational parent, and parents of an adopted child. By contrast, the definitions in Trump’s executive order would spark a return to traditional heteronormative definitions of parentage. The mother is defined as “the immediate female biological progenitor” and the father as “the immediate male biological progenitor”. Such definitions leave out not only most LGBTQ+ couples, but also some families seeking ART, because children born through these modalities may not be biologically related to the intended parents.

    If the order comes into force, it would result in a mismatch between federal and state definitions of parentage and likely invite many legal disputes, while leaving some children born through ART at risk of statelessness if their parents are unrecognized as such. Citizenship is vital to an individual’s personal security: stateless children can, in some cases, be separated from their intended parents. Moreover, without a legal status, children and their families cannot benefit from the full range of federal and state services, including access to the child welfare system, funding opportunities for higher education and health care. For example, according to officials in 24 states, children would lose benefits from the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which all US-born babies are currently eligible to receive.

    The bureaucratic burden

    The administrative burden of citizenship recognition for newborns is another overlooked issue in discussions about Trump’s order. In most cases, a birth certificate from a US state is sufficient to prove one’s citizenship status. After a child is born, hospitals normally transmit birth-certified information to the local municipality. The child’s birth certificate is then issued three-to-five business days later. The certificate suffices for recognition of citizenship and for federal documentation such as a passport.

    The executive order would increase the administrative burden for recognising citizenship. It is unclear, however, whether this burden would fall on the states or the federal government.

    In the first scenario, state bureaucracies would need to check the parents’ immigration status prior to issuing a birth certificate. This would undoubtedly cause confusion, as each state would need to provide new guidance and training to local bureaucrats on the medley of US immigration statuses and their attendant rights. The processing times for issuing birth certificates would increase, as verification procedures would require additional documentation. The fees for issuing certificates, currently between $7 and $35, would likely rise as well, since bureaucrats would need to investigate each birth rather than issue certificates automatically.

    If the administrative burden falls on the federal government, birth certificates would be issued in the same way and at the same cost by the states, but they would no longer be sufficient to prove a child’s citizenship. In this case, the government would need to issue citizenship certificates, which are normally reserved for proof of citizenship for children born abroad. Each case would require an individual investigation rather than being automatic, and while it’s hard to say how much fees could rise, current fees for citizenship certificates for children born abroad are north of $1,300. The processing of passport applications would take longer and likely be more costly, too, because a system to verify the immigration status of a child’s parents will need to be set up.

    In 2012, the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) released a report that outlined the potential impacts of ending the current approach to birthright citizenship. The report estimates, based on the costs of US citizenship certificates for children born abroad, that changing the existing law – which Trump’s order seeks to reinterpret – would cost parents “approximately $600 in government fees to prove the citizenship status of each baby and likely an additional $600 to $1,000 in legal fees”. The report describes these costs as a “tax” on “each baby born in the United States”.

    Alternately, the US could establish a new national ID card system, but this would also have bureaucratic costs. This type of ID card is common in European countries: with some variation between systems, cards can be used for travel within the EU (as an alternative to a passport) and are generally used to prove citizenship status to vote or receive certain social services. But unlike in the European states that issue these cards, the US government has no registry of vital records and would need a new administrative structure to create one. When the UK government discussed such a system in 2007, its total cost was estimated to be at least 5.75 billion pounds.

    The NFAP report mentions the federal systems that rely on the current practice of state-administered birth certificates and automatic citizenship to function. These systems include the Social Security Administration, which handles retirement, disability and family benefits, and the E-Verify system, which determines whether a person has authorisation to work in the US. The report states that systems such as E-Verify “have cost the American taxpayer billions of dollars. There is no reason to believe that a change to the Citizenship Clause requiring the verification of parents’ immigration status would be any less expensive.”

    Costs to the US surrogacy market

    The US surrogacy industry is the largest in the world. It is valued at over $20 billion (and is expected to grow to $195 billion by 2034), and attracts families from European and Asian countries where surrogacy is not as prevalent or is illegal. An important factor in the size of this market is the attractive environment for surrogacy arrangements. First, surrogacy is relatively mainstreamed in the US, and there are many companies that help with finding donors, surrogates and with navigating the legal process. Second, intended parents have the security of knowing their children will have immediate access to travel documents, such as a US passport, after birth. If a new definition of parentage goes into effect, thus removing the guarantee of US citizenship, the status of children born through surrogacy could be at risk. The attractiveness of the US surrogacy market would likely suffer, because parents would face time-consuming and costly steps to secure status and immigration documents to allow travel between the US and their home country.

    An unclear fate

    The approach to parenthood in the executive order on birthright citizenship aligns with the Trump administration’s overall push toward pronatalism and traditional heterosexual family models. Trump has also signed another executive order expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for “longing mothers and fathers”. The definition of parentage in this order also leaves out same-sex couples, who often receive IVF treatments.

    The fate of the birthright citizenship order is unclear, and it will likely end up reaching the Supreme Court. Legal debates must include the constitutionality of denying automatic citizenship to US-born children, the effect on children born via assisted reproductive technologies, and the bureaucratic and financial burdens placed on states and parents. While an end to birthright citizenship would immediately affect the children of undocumented people, taking a step back reveals other consequences that could impact the broader US public for generations to come.

    Les auteurs ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possèdent pas de parts, ne reçoivent pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’ont déclaré aucune autre affiliation que leur organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Ending US birthright citizenship could have consequences for LGBTQ+ couples, lower-income parents and the surrogacy market – https://theconversation.com/ending-us-birthright-citizenship-could-have-consequences-for-lgbtq-couples-lower-income-parents-and-the-surrogacy-market-250846

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Investors value green labels — but not always for the right reasons

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vasundhara Saravade, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of the Environment, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    Imagine you are choosing between two similar investment options. One has a green label, promising to fund climate-friendly projects and assets. The other offers a slightly higher return, but has no green label. Which do you choose?

    My recent study explored this question. My co-researchers and I found that, for most retail investors — individual, non-professional investors — the presence of a green label mattered more than the actual environmental impact of the bond or the higher financial return of a non-green option.

    This finding raises critical questions about how sustainable finance is marketed and whether green labels alone are enough to drive real environmental change.

    Green bonds and retail investors

    Green bonds are a financial tool designed to fund environmentally friendly projects. Institutional investors and governments have embraced them, but their adoption by everyday retail investors remains low.

    The Canadian market was one of the first to provide access to retail-level green bonds, but demand for such bonds was always oversubscribed. Low interest rates made it difficult to balance investor returns with lending profits. This imbalance squeezed sustainable investment firms like CoPower, which ultimately led to its green bond model winding down.

    With the urgent need to attract capital for climate financing, the role of retail investors is now a key topic of discussion. In 2021, these investors accounted for 52 per cent of global assets under management in 2021 — a figure expected to jump to nearly 61 per cent by 2030. This presents a massive opportunity to mobilize private capital toward sustainable finance.

    However, before retail investors venture into the green bond market, the sustainable finance sector must address a key question: do people invest in green bonds because they believe in their environmental benefits or simply because of the “green” label?

    And, more importantly, does the green label alone persuade retail investors to accept a “greenium” — choosing a lower-return green bond over a higher-return non-green bond — like professional investors do?

    The ‘green-label effect’ is real

    To determine this, my co-researchers and I conducted an experiment with over 1,000 self-identified retail investors to see how different framing techniques — such as labels, environmental impact and reporting descriptions — shaped their willingness to invest in green bonds.

    Our study identified a “green label effect.” Most retail investors relied on green labels as a shortcut to save time and avoid having to evaluate the environmental impact of a bond. Investors often relied on simplified decision cues like labels and financial returns to navigate complex financial information.



    Read more:
    Sustainable finance: Canada risks being left behind in low-carbon economy

    However, a small subset of environmentally conscious investors researched the validity of green bonds and aligned their investments with their values, even at the cost of lower returns.

    This highlights the need for green bonds that offer a competitive return, given that a majority still invest based on financial returns in addition to labelling. Labelling alone is not enough to drive mainstream retail investment in sustainable finance.

    Our study also found that certain types of personal characteristics made people more likely to invest in labelled green bonds, even if those bonds had the lowest financial returns. Investors with a high-risk tolerance were more likely to invest in green bonds.

    Additionally, previous investment experience played a role. Those who had moderately invested in stocks, had none to high levels of experience investing in bonds.

    The greenwashing challenge

    Our findings highlight both the potential and pitfalls of sustainable finance. The popularity of green-labelled bonds suggests that retail investors are open to sustainable investment and would help to drive growth in this market considerably.

    However, the fact that many choose labels without finding out whether the bond is actually green raises concerns about greenwashing. This practice occurs when companies exploit sustainability branding and use green labels on non-green bonds to avoid delivering environmental impact.

    If investors rely too much on green labels without verifying the actual impact of their investments, they may inadvertently support projects that fail to make a meaningful difference.

    As green finance regulations evolve, governments must strengthen labelling standards and transparency. This would ensure that labelled green bonds deliver on their promises.

    Stronger green taxonomies and consumer oversight mechanisms would help prevent misleading claims, protect investors and ensure sustainable finance can scale quickly. Without these safeguards, green bonds could lose credibility and fail to scale effectively.

    What should policymakers do?

    To expand the green bond market and align it with Canada’s climate goals, policymakers could introduce tax-free government green bonds or green infrastructure bonds. These would incentivize retail investors and raise their awareness of sustainable finance.

    Policymakers could allow banks to add green bonds to registered products like tax-free savings accounts or registered retirement savings plans. They could create new green registered products that would encourage individual-level savings and investment, like the first home savings account.

    Making verified climate-related financial disclosures easier to use could help retail investors better understand the impact of green products. This would reduce reliance on labels alone and encourage more informed decision-making.

    Green bonds have the potential to be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, but only if they’re backed by real accountability. As our study shows, labels matter a lot — but what’s behind them matters most.

    Vasundhara Saravade is affiliated with the Smart Prosperity Institute.

    – ref. Investors value green labels — but not always for the right reasons – https://theconversation.com/investors-value-green-labels-but-not-always-for-the-right-reasons-251021

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Chicago removes Sierra Leonean convicted of visa fraud

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement completed the removal of Prince Solomon Knox, 62, a Sierra Leonean national, to his home country March 1. Knox was arrested by ICE in St. Louis Feb. 4; he has previous convictions for visa fraud and domestic assault after lying about his prior affiliation with armed terrorist groups.

    Knox entered the U.S. at Chicago O’Hare International Airport April 14, 2004, and came to the attention of ICE in 2006 through an investigation involving allegations of fraud by ineligible combatants or imposter refugees to participate in the refugee resettlement program. The investigation revealed witnesses who provided testimony about involvement with multiple combatant groups in Western Africa, including the Revolutionary United Front, a group that made extensive use of child soldiers while committing acts such as amputating the hands, arms, and legs of tens of thousands of Sierra Leoneans using machetes.

    “Foreign nationals, from any country, cannot be allowed to abuse the visa system and migrate to the U.S. fraudulently,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago Field Office Director Sam Olson. “This is an example of someone not only attempting to escape responsibility in their home country, but also depriving those in the global community of the opportunity to seek desperately needed relief.”

    The investigation resulted in a federal grand jury indicting Knox on two counts of visa fraud and two counts of false statements, and ICE arrested him Dec. 21, 2006. Knox was convicted June 20, 2007, by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and sentenced to twelve months incarceration.

    An immigration judge ordered Knox removed June 6, 2008, while in custody, and he was later placed under an order of supervision pending removal.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AFSCME’s Saunders: The PRO Act will loosen billionaires’ grip on our economic future

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

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after a bipartisan group of House and Senate members introduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to Congress:

    “Working people want to be paid fairly. They want benefits like health care, a fair retirement, to know their jobs are secure and that their workplaces are safe and free from discrimination. They know the best way to secure these freedoms is through a union contract. That is why poll after poll shows unions are more popular than ever. But joining or forming a union is exceedingly difficult for far too many. As billionaires and wealthy companies rake in record profits, they are seeking even more control over our lives, using any means necessary to silence workers. Their anti-union extremism is deepening economic inequality, halting progress on health and safety, and harming millions. 

    “The PRO Act will loosen billionaires’ grip on our economic future and make clear that their days of using illegal union busting tactics without consequence are over. This legislation will level the playing field, giving workers the legal protections they need to organize without fear of retaliation or obstruction. It’s about time Congress prioritized workers over billionaires and gave them a fair shot at improving their workplaces.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, and Klobuchar Unveil Legislation to Undo President Trump’s Senseless Taxes on Canadian Goods

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON– Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, (D-VA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), unveiled legislation to undo President Donald Trump’s wildly unpopular tariffs on Canadian goods, which amount to a 25 percent tax on goods imported from one of America’s top trading partners and closest allies.
    “Virginians can’t afford the cost of President Trump’s tariffs, which will raise prices on everything from groceries to houses and cars,” said Sen. Warner. “Congress must step in before President Trump tanks our economy.”
    “Americans want prices to go down—not skyrocket, which is exactly what will happen if Congress lets President Trump slap new taxes on goods from one of our largest trading partners and closest allies,” said Sen. Kaine. “We don’t need to guess what kind of damage these senseless new taxes will do. During Trump’s first term, his trade wars spelled disaster for Virginians, particularly for farmers and foresters who were hit especially hard. Congress has a responsibility to stop that from happening again, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in blocking Trump from destroying our economy.”
    “This Administration is igniting a reckless trade war and regular Americans are paying the price,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “Costs for everyone will go up and our farmers and businesses will suffer. Canada is Minnesota’s top trading partner and is a key U.S. ally. We must reverse these damaging tariffs before it’s too late.”
    In Virginia in 2024, Canada was the largest export market and accounted for 15 percent of Virginia exports. In Virginia in 2022, top goods exports to Canada included motor vehicles and transportation equipment, such as medium- and heavy-duty trucks. 56.1 percent of Southwest Virginia’s economic output is dependent on trade.
    Polls have overwhelmingly demonstrated that the American people do not support Trump’s trade wars. According to a recent survey by Public First, just 28 percent of American adults supported specifically applying tariffs to Canada, while 43 percent opposed.
    Specifically, the senators’ legislation would work by terminating the February 1 emergency that Trump used to launch his trade war with Canada, and thus eliminate the tariffs on Canadian imports implemented as a result. Trump’s order cites the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), an unprecedented use of IEEPA in its nearly half century history. After an initial one-month delay, President Trump decided to move forward with the tariffs, with the import taxes starting to be collected on March 4, 2025. In total, President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs will cost the average American household up to $2,000 a year, with the Canada tariffs making up a significant portion of that. These IEEPA tariffs represent the largest tax increase on American families in recent history.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Carbon markets could boost climate action in least developed countries

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Economic Development

    While carbon markets have played a limited role in boosting sustainable development for the world’s least developed economies, a new report from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows that stronger domestic laws, regulations, and monitoring could pay big dividends.

    UNCTAD’s Least Developed Countries Report 2024 highlighted on Monday that the group of 45 least developed countries (LDCs) could use carbon market projects to enhance climate action by offsetting the buyers’ emissions at improved rates which will allow more investment.

    LDCs were among the first to join carbon markets – where carbon credits are bought and sold – but they face unique challenges in accessing the market due to their size and difficulties in attracting foreign investment.

    Geographic and financing limitations

    According to UNCTAD, six LDCs account for over 75 per cent of all carbon credits issued in voluntary markets and 80 per cent of those under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which allows countries to fund emissions-reducing projects in other countries and claim the saved emissions as part of their own efforts to meet international targets. Though LDCs participate, they represent only 1.5 per cent of global CDM projects, highlighting the potential for more inclusive participation.

    In 2023, the value of carbon credits from the poorest nations reached around $403 million, just a small fraction of the $1 trillion in annual investment needed for these countries to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

    This reflects the need for a stronger framework to make carbon markets a viable source of funding.

    Opportunities abound

    UNCTAD noted that land-based sectors like forestry and agriculture, where LDCs have considerable untapped potential, could provide significant carbon credits. The report estimates that emissions reductions from these sectors could equal 70 per cent of those from the global aviation industry in 2019, or around 2 per cent of global emissions.

    However, this opportunity requires viable carbon prices and accessible projects. A rate of $100 per ton is needed to make such projects profitable. Currently, LDCs are utilising just 2 per cent of their land-based mitigation potential, and without higher carbon prices, up to 97 per cent may remain untapped by 2050.

    Forging a path forward

    UNCTAD’s report calls for targeted actions to help LDCs benefit more fully from carbon markets. It recommends bolstering domestic frameworks with stronger regulatory capacity and systems for monitoring and reporting to ensure that communities directly benefit from the projects.

    The report also urges expanded international partnerships. Regional cooperation and South-South partnerships could help LDCs reduce costs and improve their positioning in carbon markets.

    Finally, capacity-building is key, with the report calling on development partners to provide resources to help least developed countries align carbon market projects with broader economic goals.

    These efforts could help least developed countries unlock significant climate potential, creating economic opportunities while advancing their climate goals, UNCTAD said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Securing the Alberta-U.S. border

    [. Alberta’s government recognizes the need for swift and decisive action that will curb drug trafficking and illegal border crossings to strengthen the province’s border security.

    The team’s first cohort has been deployed and hiring will continue until all 51 positions are filled. The IPT is now operational, working closely with the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency to identify and apprehend individuals suspected of drug smuggling, human trafficking and other illegal activities involving movement across the Canada-U.S. border. To date, 20 members of the Alberta Sheriffs have been assigned to the IPT to patrol between entry points, and to vehicle inspection stations along Alberta’s side of the border.

    Sheriffs Interdiction Patrol Team map

    “We are committed to strengthening security along Alberta’s southern border to put an end to the dangerous criminal activities that are destroying lives on both sides of the border. In addition to launching our new Interdiction Patrol Team, we are building three new vehicle inspection stations and increasing highway monitoring for suspicious activity. Our plan will ensure that Alberta’s southern border is secure.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    “Alberta’s government is increasing border security and has zero tolerance for illegal activities that threaten the well-being of Albertans or Alberta’s economy. The Alberta Sheriffs Interdiction Patrol Team puts more boots on the ground to identify where and when these activities are taking place, boosting security along our southern border and disrupting dangerous cross-border human, drugs and weapons trafficking in both directions. Let this be a message to all potential traffickers, especially those who traffic deadly fentanyl, you will get caught and you will go to jail.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    Alberta’s government continues to acquire equipment that will enable the IPT to detect and apprehend individuals committing illegal activity, including drones, night-vision optics and patrol canines. This team will patrol to detect and intercept illicit drugs, illegal firearms and unlawful attempts at illegal international border crossing. The IPT will be fully operational in coming months.

    Through this process, Alberta has identified further significant concerns with the shared Canada-U.S. border. In response, Alberta’s government is advancing further measures to increase the security of the southern border.

    In addition to the IPT, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors is dedicating $15 million over two years for three new vehicle inspection stations near the border, if Budget 2025 passes. This will give Sheriffs dedicated facilities to inspect commercial vehicles, whether they’re crossing into the United States or coming into Canada. The stations will be located on Highway 1 at Dunmore, Highway 3 at Burmis and Highway 4 at Coutts. The stations will include enhanced parking lanes for inspections, and winter ready buildings for year-round inspections.

    Another measure undertaken by Alberta’s government is to train highway maintenance workers to identify and report suspicious activity during highway maintenance operations. Volker Stevin has a contract to maintain about 600 kilometres of highways in southern Alberta and by empowering their workers to identify and report suspicious activity, Alberta’s government is layering further security measures without adding additional costs.

    “Border security is a priority, and Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors is doing its part to enhance security and surveillance through three new vehicle inspection stations and with the help of our highway maintenance contractors, who will be trained to detect and report suspicious activity, providing an extra pair of eyes along the border.”

    Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

    “The Interdiction Patrol Team will play a key role in eradicating crimes that seek to exploit the Alberta-Montana border in both directions. The Alberta Sheriffs are pleased to collaborate with the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency and our counterparts in the United States as we work to keep our shared border safe and secure.”

    Bob Andrews, chief, Alberta Sheriffs

    Alberta’s government also amended the Critical Infrastructure Defence Regulation in January 2025 to add a two-kilometre-deep border zone north of the Alberta-United States border to the definition of essential infrastructure under the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act. The act gives peace officers the authority to arrest individuals caught trespassing on, interfering with or damaging essential infrastructure and who do not have a lawful right, to be on the essential infrastructure.

    “Amending the Critical Infrastructure Defence Regulation is a key piece of our efforts to strengthen security in the area near the international border. We have quickly taken action that will support law enforcement in improving public safety, and tackle cross-border crime, drugs, illegal migrants and human-trafficking.”

    Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

    Quick facts:

    IPT will be supported by:

    • 51 uniformed officers equipped with carbine rifles (weapons for tactical operations)
    • 10 support staff, including dispatchers and analysts
    • four drug patrol dogs, critical to ensure reasonable suspicion to search vehicles
    • 10 cold weather surveillance drones that can operate in high winds with dedicated pilots
    • four narcotics analyzers to test for illicit drugs

    The IPT has already conducted more than 3,300 stops/contacts and has been successful in:

    • assisting with four Northbound unauthorized border crossings
    • executing 18 warrants and conducting two Judicial Interim Release hearings
    • conducting three arrests related to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking

    Related news

    • A plan to secure Alberta’s southern border (Dec. 12, 2024)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Unexplained death, Wairoa

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attribute to Detective Inspector Dave de Lange:

    An investigation has been launched after the death of a man in Wairoa yesterday.

    Emergency services were called to a Lucknow Street address about 4pm after a man was found unresponsive.

    He was pronounced dead at the scene.

    His death is currently being treated as unexplained, and enquiries are underway to establish the full circumstances of what has occurred.

    A scene examination will commence at the property today, and a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

    Further information will be provided when it becomes available.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Bowel screening changes to save hundreds of lives

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has agreed to progressively lower the age of eligibility for bowel cancer screening tests to align with Australia.“Today, I am pleased to announce that we are taking the first step by lowering the age to 58, with redirected funding of $36 million over four years. “This means free bowel screening will become available to all New Zealanders from the ages of 58 to 74,” Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Lowering the age of eligibility from 60 to 58 will see 122,000 Kiwis eligible for free tests in the first year and save hundreds of lives over the coming decades.“This is the first significant step we are taking to align our screening rate for bowel cancer with Australia as funding and access to additional colonoscopy resource becomes available.“The changes announced today are projected to prevent an additional 771 bowel cancers and an additional 566 bowel cancer deaths over the next 25 years.“Advice from the Ministry of Health clearly states that lowering the age to 58 for all New Zealanders will save even more lives than the previous government’s approach to lower the age to 50 for Māori and Pacific Peoples only.“Under our approach, we will be able to prevent 218 additional cancers and 176 additional deaths over 25 years in comparison to the settings proposed by the previous government.“This also aligns with the Government’s policy of ensuring that healthcare is delivered on the basis of need. “The evidence is clear: by delivering this first step for all New Zealanders, more lives will be saved. “The Government has also approved additional funding for targeted initiatives that aim to increase screening rates among population groups with low rates. Improving early detection of bowel cancers can be lifesaving, and this significant investment will be a game-changer for under-screened populations. “New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer globally. Every year, more than 3,300 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in New Zealand. Tragically, more than 1,200 Kiwis die from the disease. “We are committed to improving cancer detection and treatment for Kiwis. Last year we announced a $604 million uplift over four years to enable thousands more Kiwis to access life-saving cancer drugs.”“We will continue to deliver better outcomes for people with cancer as a result of the changes announced today.“By expanding eligibility for free bowel cancer screening tests, we will enable Kiwis to detect cancer earlier, undertake treatment, and ultimately save lives,” Mr Brown says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Putnam County Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Dean E. Dawson, 65, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty today to one count of willful failure to pay over employment taxes on behalf of his business.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Dawson operated RPC Group LLC, a Hurricane, West Virginia, real estate appraisal business. Dawson was responsible for withholding employment taxes from RPC Group’s employees and paying over those funds to the IRS. Between 2015 and 2022, however, Dawson willfully failed to pay over to the IRS the employment taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks. He also used the RPC Group’s business accounts to pay for personal expenses, including personal credit cards and his wife’s home mortgage, and issued checks to his wife from RPC Group even though she was not an employee of the business. In addition, from 2018 to 2023, Dawson did not file personal tax returns or pay income taxes. In total, Dawson caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $250,000.

    Dawson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Dawson also owes restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement.

    The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) is investigating the case.

    United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Trial Attorneys Brian E. Flanagan and Rebecca A. Caruso of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan T. Storage for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-120.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dominican National Pleads Guilty To Multi-Year Conspiracy To Traffic Cocaine Into The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Elyn Carpio-Pena (47, Dominican Republic) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Carpio-Pena faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to court documents, between October 2014 and May 2019, while residing in Mexico, Carpio-Pena served as an intermediary between drug suppliers in Mexico and wholesale narcotics purchasers in the United States, connecting the sellers and buyers and receiving a commission for each kilogram of cocaine purchased in the United States. Carpio-Pena also arranged for the drug proceeds to be laundered.

    In May 2019, Carpio-Pena moved from Mexico to the La Guajira area of Colombia. While there, he organized the maritime smuggling of cocaine from Colombia to the Dominican Republic with the ultimate destination often being the United States. Not only did Carpio-Pena serve as the intermediary between the cocaine buyers and cocaine owners, but he also arranged, organized, and coordinated the maritime cocaine shipments from Colombia to the Dominican Republic. Carpio-Pena was responsible for no fewer than 20 maritime cocaine shipments during his time living in Colombia, totaling at least 5,000 kilograms. Two of these cocaine shipments were interdicted and seized in Puerto Rico.

    In October 2021, Carpio-Pena left Colombia and returned home to the Dominican Republic where he continued to coordinate drug shipments. For the next three months, until January 2022, he received cocaine from Colombia via maritime vessel over the Caribbean Ocean no fewer than three times, totaling approximately 900 kilograms. The ultimate destination for this cocaine was often the United States.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

    The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Pardo.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Baldwin County Man Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a 9-year-old Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Baldwin County man has been sentenced on a charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank.

    U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced William Guy Long, 27, of Bay Minette, Alabama, to 276 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release.  Long was also ordered to pay $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. In October, Long pleaded guilty to the charge.

    According to the plea agreement, Long arranged a date with an escort and then offered the escort $500 if she would bring an underage girl to have sex with him. Long said he wanted someone 10-years-old or younger.  The escort told Long that she had a nine-year-old daughter.  Long said that he preferred younger, “like 4 or 5” but he would pay $800 if she would check her nine-year-old out of school that day and bring her to him.  An arrangement was made, but instead of getting the child, the escort contacted law enforcement.  Long’s abhorrent request was corroborated through text messages. ICE agents, along with the Hoover and Pelham Police Departments, conducted surveillance at the hotel.  When Long opened the door to his hotel room expecting to see the child with whom he planned to have sex, he instead was met by law enforcement.  Long admitted that he communicated with an escort for the purpose of soliciting a minor child for an unlawful sex act.  With Long’s consent, agents seized and searched his cell phone.  A review of Long’s messages revealed his correspondence with another individual whom he told, “get me a young one”—“the younger you find the more money I’ll pay FYI.”

    ICE investigated the case along with the Pelham Police Department and Hoover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.

    Child sex trafficking is a serious issue.  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received more than 27,800 reports of possible child sex trafficking in 2024.  This signifies more than a 30% increase since 2023. See https://www.missingkids.org/ for further information.

    The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 gave the Department of Justice more tools to address human trafficking.  One tool was creating a mandatory $5,000 special assessment that applies to non-indigent defendants for each count of conviction of certain offenses. The revenue generated from this special assessment is used to support programs to provide services to victims of human trafficking and other offenses.

    MIL Security OSI –