Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Dr. Mick Zais, former deputy and acting U.S. Secretary of Education, penned an op-ed in the Post and Courier discussing school choice and the benefit of Education Savings Accounts for students in South Carolina.
Commentary: SC students lose in fight over education savings accounts
The Post and Courier
By Senator Tim Scott and Dr. Mick Zais
We live in a society where we can personalize anything based on our individual needs and preferences, whether it’s the channels we watch, the food we order or the cars we drive. Ironically, there remains so much resistance to parents being able to choose the education that is best-suited to help their children succeed.
No two children are the same. Each child has different interests, talents and needs. So what should we expect from a one-size-fits-all school system where every child learns the same material, on the same schedule, in the same way? Mediocrity, at best — and that’s exactly what we’re getting.
Only 26% of eighth graders are proficient in math, and just 31% are proficient in reading. South Carolina’s eighth graders ranked 39th in math proficiency and 38th in reading proficiency nationwide. Our students deserve better. Disastrous school closures galvanized the most powerful interest group in education: parents. Now, more than ever, parents are exercising their right to oversee their children’s education. They want a say in where, how, what and by whom their children are taught. As a result, school choice — in its many forms — is rapidly expanding across the country, including here in South Carolina.
In South Carolina, we are fortunate to have 95 charter schools serving 49,000 students. Another 49 schools are in the planning stage to help serve the 15,000 students on waiting lists. Charter schools work, and parents know it. From 2009 to 2023, Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes studied more than 2 million students across 29 states, and while it had significant concerns about S.C. charters, it concluded that nationally, charter schools “produce superior student gains despite enrolling a more challenging student population.”
Education savings accounts can provide parents with yet another option. With these scholarships, parents can choose which education best meets their child’s needs from numerous state-approved, public or private providers. These accounts are efficient — the funds go directly to the student’s education, not the school system’s operation.
South Carolina’s program provides opportunities for lower- and middle-income families to attend private K-12 schools, a privilege that affluent families have always enjoyed. Under the program, qualifying students could receive scholarships of up to $6,000 to attend state-approved private schools. But the scholarships are not limited to private school tuition. Public-school students can benefit as well. Parents are permitted to use these dollars to pay transfer fees between school districts, or to pay for individual classes or services. Parents can also use the dollars to pay for textbooks, tutoring, computers, online courses, transportation and other instructional expenses. This year, nearly 2,000 South Carolina students used these scholarships. And the number of scholarships was set to increase to 10,000 next year and 15,000 the year after.
However, much of that came to a halt when South Carolina’s Supreme Court ruled that using money from the program for private school tuition violates our state constitution because it provides taxpayer dollars directly to private schools. We disagree. The scholarships do not fund schools; they fund students. And the parents of the students can direct the money to an educational provider of their choice.
Using food stamps, a single mom can choose the grocery store from which she will buy her family’s food. Using Medicare, a senior can choose the hospital from which he will receive care. Using federal and state grants, a low-income student can choose the college she will attend. The Education Scholarship Trust Fund program was no different. The South Carolina Legislature thought it wise to give parents the ability to choose the best education for their child.
Relatedly, the court’s decision also begs the question: If the scholarships for K-12 education are unconstitutional, what other programs are? Is the LIFE scholarship unconstitutional because a student can use it to attend Presbyterian College? Is the SC HOPE scholarship unconstitutional because a student can use it to attend Bob Jones University? Is the Palmetto Fellows program unconstitutional because a student can use it to attend Newberry College? Is South Carolina’s tuition grants program unconstitutional because it can be used at private institutions?
In the back-and-forth between the court and the Legislature, families are caught in the crosshairs. For many, South Carolina’s program was a chance to escape a one-size-fits-all system and find a school that meets the unique needs of their child. This is especially true for low-income families whose students are often trapped in perennially failing schools.
School choice is a lifeline to opportunity. Whether in the form of charters, education scholarships or other programs, we must continue the work of making educational freedom a reality for all students. Students and their parents are counting on us.
Click here to read the op-ed.
A woodland restoration project has received a boost after a Teesside company paid £290,000 to Tees Valley Wildlife Trust for breaching its Environmental Permit.
An area of cleared woodland.
The Lazenby Bank Woodland Restoration Project includes improvements to 215 acres of woodland near Wilton International industrial complex at Teesside.
It comes after Sembcorp Utilities (UK) Ltd, which operates a biomass power station at Wilton, breached its environmental permit by wrongly classifying hazardous waste as non-hazardous during its disposal at landfill.
It submitted an Enforcement Undertaking to the Environment Agency proposing a charitable donation to Tees Valley Wildlife Trust of £290,000. It’s also introduced new operating procedures to ensure waste is disposed of correctly in future.
An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer made by companies or individuals to make amends for their offending, and usually includes a payment to an environmental charity to carry out environmental improvements in the local area.
Work carried out on the site, next to Wilton International, includes:
Clearing unmanaged coniferous woodland to restore habitats where ancient woodland is present – a high priority nationally for conservation.
Seeding and re-planting with a greater variety of native trees to improve wildlife biodiversity and diversity of woodland, delivering long-term carbon sequestration.
Improved access to the area through new and improved access gates, footpaths and tracks to improve community access to the natural environment in what is an urban area.
Community engagement to encourage volunteers to get involved in tree planting as well as training placements with young people from the community to reduce anti-social behaviour.
The image shows an example of improved natural woodland.
The Trust will also use the funds to carry out river channel management over three years at nearby Coatham Marsh nature reserve to maintain good habitat conditions for wildlife.
Ian Preston, Installations Team Leader at the Environment Agency in the North East, said:
We always consider enforcement options on a case by case basis and Enforcement Undertakings allow companies to put right what went wrong and contribute to environmental improvements and outcomes.
In this case the payment has allowed a planned and important community project to be delivered at pace – an environmental investment that has enhanced the local area for people and wildlife.
Tom Harman, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, added:
It’s vital to see funds like this being reinvested into protecting our landscapes for people and wildlife.
Lazenby Bank Woodland and Coatham Marsh are incredible nature assets for our communities in the Tees Valley. The project will help restore nationally important habitats for priority species and secure improvements for public access.
Image shows an example of improved natural woodland. Credit: Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.
Waste was misclassified
In September 2019 the Environment Agency carried out an audit into Sembcorp’s disposal of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA), which is a product of the incineration process.
Enquiries revealed Sembcorp had classified all its IBA as non-hazardous and disposed of it at a non-hazardous landfill.
But data showed that its IBA contained concentrations of lead, copper, zinc and nickel – waste that should be classified as hazardous.
Data supplied from 2015 onwards showed the misclassification had been taking place since at least that date.
An independent report from a company instructed by Sembcorp concluded that while the IBA should have been classified as hazardous, there was no significant risk to human health or the environment as a result of the wrong disposal. Environment Agency specialists agreed with this conclusion.
Sembcorp accepted responsibility for the misclassification and set out all the steps it had taken to prevent it happening in the future. As soon as the issue had been identified the company started disposing of its IBA at a hazardous landfill facility.
I am humbled to have Holocaust survivors and their families with us today.
Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that more than a year has passed since the appalling 7th October terror attacks by Hamas.
We welcome, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The deal offers hope, as well as much needed relief.
We will do our utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages. Since the beginning, we have asked for the unconditional immediate release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Dear Friends,
Every year on this day, we come together to mark the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
We mourn the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as they sought to destroy an entire people.
We grieve the Roma and Sinti also targeted for genocide, the people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people, and all those enslaved, persecuted, tortured, and killed.
We stand alongside victims, survivors and their families.
And we renew our resolve never to forget:
Never to forget the atrocities that so “outraged the conscience” of humankind.
And never to forget their putrid foundations: millennia of antisemitic hate – manifest in marginalisation, discrimination, expulsions, and murder.
Dear Friends,
This year, our commemoration marks a milestone.
80 years ago, the Holocaust ended.
And our efforts began to keep the terrible truth alive; building on the work of those who chronicled Nazi atrocities as they were perpetrated around them – and against them.
The courage of survivors in telling their stories has played an enormous role.
We are deeply grateful to them all.
But the responsibility belongs to every one of us.
Remembrance is not only a moral act. Remembrance is a call to action.
To allow the Holocaust to fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future.
The extraordinary Auschwitz survivor, Primo Levi – who bore witness to all he had seen and endured – urged us to carve the knowledge into our hearts.
And we must.
To know the history of the Holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink.
It is to understand how the Nazis were able to commit their heinous crimes, with the complicity of others.
And it is to comprehend our solemn duty to speak-up against hate, to stand-up for the human rights of all, and to make those rights a reality.
Dear Friends,
Following the hell of the Holocaust, countries came together:
They created the United Nations and our Charter 80 years ago – affirming the worth of every human person…
They adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – for which we owe a debt of gratitude to the Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin…
And they established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the foundation of all international human rights law.
As one of the drafters, Lebanese diplomat and intellectual, Charles Malik, said, the Declaration was:
“…Inspired by opposition to the barbarous doctrines of Nazism and fascism.”
The dignity of every member of our human family is enshrined in that document, which draws from traditions around the world.
It is a pure expression of our shared humanity.
And in dark times it remains a shining light.
Dear Friends,
Today, our world is fractured and dangerous.
Eighty years since the Holocaust’s end, antisemitism is still with us – fuelled by the same lies and loathing that made the Nazi genocide possible.
And it is rising.
Discrimination is rife.
Hatred is being stirred-up across the globe.
One of the clearest and most troubling examples is the spreading cancer of Holocaust denial.
Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, diminished, and dismissed.
Efforts are being made to recast and rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators.
We must stand up to these outrages.
We must promote education, combat lies, and speak the truth.
And we must condemn antisemitism wherever and whenever it appears – as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry which we see proliferating today.
Because we know these evils wither our morality, corrode our compassion, and seek to blind us to suffering – opening the door to atrocities.
The United Nations has long worked to combat antisemitism, through a wide range of activities, including our Holocaust Outreach programs.
And we recently launched our Action Plan on antisemitism, recommending the ways the United Nations System can further enhance those efforts.
In these days of division it is all the more important – that we hold fast to our common humanity…
And renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.
Every one of us has a duty.
The history of the Holocaust shows us what can happen when people choose not to see and not to act.
And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prescribes that:
“…every individual and every organ of society… shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms…”
Each of us must answer that call: denounce lies; resist hate; and ensure our common humanity overcomes division.
These causes are at the very core of the United Nations.
We will never forget. And we will never waver in that fight.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Morning, everybody. How we doing? It’s an honor to be here. It’s an honor to serve on behalf of the president and serve on behalf of the country. It’s an amazing job, beyond what anyone can fathom.
But in talking to the chairman and so many other folks here, we’re in capable hands. The warfighters are ready to go. If you see what the president said last week in his executive orders, he’s hitting the ground running. He’s made it very clear there’s an emergency at the — at the southern border, that the sovereign — the protection of the sovereign territory of the United States is the job of the Defense Department, and the cartels are foreign terrorist organizations.
As a result, this Pentagon snapped to last week. We helped move forward troops, put in more barriers, and also to ensure mass deportations — support of mass deportations in support of the president’s objective. That is something the Defense Department absolutely will continue to do.
And today, there are more executive orders coming that we fully support, on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of COVID mandates, the Iron Dome for America. This is happening quickly. And as the secretary of defense, it’s an honor to salute smartly, as I did as a junior officer and now as the secretary of defense, to ensure these orders are complied with rapidly and quickly.
Every moment that I’m here, I’m thinking about the guys and gals in Guam, in Germany, in Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, on missile defense sites and aircraft carriers. Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting.
We’re going to hold people accountable. I know the chairman agrees with that. The lawful orders of the president of the United States will be executed inside this Defense Department swiftly and without excuse. We will be no better friend to our allies and no stronger adversary to those who want to test us and try us.
So, Mr. Chairman, thanks for welcoming me today.
GENERAL CHARLES Q BROWN: My pleasure.
SECRETARY HEGSETH: I look forward to serving the troops, the warriors of this department. It’s the honor of a lifetime, and we’re going to get to work. God bless you all.
Q: [Off mic] wristband? Who’s that?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: This right here is Jorge Oliveira. He was killed in Afghanistan on — he was — asked about what I wear on my wrist every single day. It was a troop I served with, a soldier I served with in Guantanamo Bay when I was a platoon leader. He was killed in Afghanistan, not in my unit but when I was there. It’s these guys that we do this for, those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.
Q: Secretary, should we expect additional troops to be sent to the border soon?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: Whatever is needed at the border will be provided, whether that is through state active duty, Title 32 or Title 10, because we are — we are reorienting. This is a shift. This is not the way business has been done in the past.
This is — the Defense Department will support the defense of the territorial integrity of the United States of America at the southern border to include reservists, National Guard, and active duty in compliance with the Constitution, with the laws of our land, and the directives of the commander in chief.
Q: [Off mic] looking at the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, yes?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: Those will be decisions made by the White House. I look forward to conversations about anything we need to do to ensure we’re securing our southern border.
Q: Mr. Secretary, how are you going to change military training?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: I’m sorry?
Q: Are you going to change military training?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: Military training will be focused on the readiness of what our troops in the field need to deter our enemies. More rapid fielding, more rapid opportunity to train as we fight will be something we want our units to do across the spectrum.
One more.
Q: [Off mic] exceptions —
Q: [Off mic] Joint Chiefs of Staff and other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: I’m standing with them right now. Look forward to working with them. Thank you.
Q: [Off mic] an exception to the executive order for some transgender troops that?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: There’ll be an executive order on that right now, today.
Q: [Off mic] for Afghans who served?
SECRETARY HEGSETH: Hey, we’re gonna — we’re gonna make sure there’s accountability for what happened in Afghanistan and that we stand by our allies. Thank you.
Source: Republic of France in English The Republic of France has issued the following statement:
On this international day dedicated to the remembrance of genocides and the prevention of crimes against humanity, France commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau 80 years ago and remembers the victims of the Holocaust. President Macron, accompanied by Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad, will take part in the ceremonies.
On January 27, 1945, the world discovered the horror of the genocide carried out by the Nazis and their allies. To make sure the world never forgets the atrocities and their victims, the UN proclaimed this date to be the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The Nazi regime and its collaborators systematically exterminated the Jewish people and a number of other groups because of their ethnic origins, beliefs, physical features or sexual orientation.
France defends universal, inalienable, indivisible human rights by combating all forms of discrimination, racism and xenophobia, and all types of hate speech. Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism must be strongly opposed and firmly punished because they undermine the unity of our society as well as the rights, freedoms and dignity of all. Along with promoting our national zero-tolerance policy toward anti-Semitism, our diplomatic corps works each day to defend human rights and fight all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and discrimination.
Within the European Union, our country remains a leader in this regard, actively supporting the European strategy on combating anti-Semitism and fostering Jewish life.
To tackle current challenges, we are playing an active role in promoting the European model of digital regulation in order to suppress online hate speech.
Our diplomatic corps continues to speak out against anti-Semitism in all the regional and international organizations that France belongs to.
France also works to foster remembrance and the transmission of knowledge, a critical task now that fewer and fewer survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust are still alive, and with disinformation and revisionist history fueling noxious political discourse.
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs recently announced France’s candidacy for the 2027 presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an international organization that does important work in the areas of Holocaust research, education and remembrance.
Remembering the victims of the Holocaust is our shared duty. We must remember that intolerance, hate speech and discrimination create a breeding ground for humanity’s darkest acts.
With the world facing divisions and fractures, and the massive spread of hate speech, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs will continue to lead the fight against all forms of xenophobia and anti-Semitism.
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
January 27, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., co-chair of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, blasted Donald Trump’s firing of 17 federal inspectors general last night. IGs are independent watchdogs that investigate waste and fraud within government agencies, and have been a nonpartisan check on abuse of federal taxpayer resources.
“Donald Trump is systematically dismantling the protections against abuse, corruption and fraud within the federal government,” Wyden said. “Courts should immediately strike down this blatantly illegal action. Firing IGs without notifying Congress 30 days in advance is clearly illegal. The only reason for Trump to carry out the midnight massacre of more than a dozen inspectors general without notice is to make it easier for him to break the law and help him and his wealthy cronies profit from the government without anyone looking over his shoulder.”
HSE Expert Club “Eastern perspective» held its first event — a business session dedicated to launching and developing a successful business in India. The club was created by HSE experts to discuss tools, trends and insights on cooperation between Russia and the countries of Southeast Asia, the Near and Middle East, and North Africa. The participants were addressed by experts with many years of successful experience working in the Indian market in the interests of the world’s largest corporations.
It is no coincidence that the first event of the Eastern Perspective was dedicated to India. Today, this country is the fastest growing economy in the world among the G20 countries with more than 7 percent annual GDP growth, a growing consumer market and high rates of technological progress. This opens up unique opportunities for Russian companies, emphasized the moderator of the event, Deputy Director for Marketing Communications at the National Research University Higher School of Economics Dmitry Chubarov.
India is one of the most promising countries for entrepreneurs planning to start or grow their business.
Leading world experts today call this country a “market of billions of chances,” said the associate professor Schools of Oriental StudiesFaculty of World Economy and World Politics HSE University Olga Kharina. “Many countries want to have India as a partner, and Western countries are already doing this successfully. Therefore, we also need to use this chance in our own interests – the interests of business and, of course, the state,” she noted.
Today, the dynamics of the development of Indian industries are as follows: the share of industrial products in the import structure reaches 50%, the annual growth of the beauty industry is 76%, the share of fintech in the volume of attracted financing among startups is 40%, and the share of e-commerce in the volume of attracted financing among startups is 20%. The average age of the population of this country is 28 years, which makes it one of the largest labor markets in the world. About 70% of the population is young people under 35 years old.
In 2023, India accounted for more than 40% of all smartphone sales in Asia. The number of internet users in India is expected to reach 700 million by 2025. There are already about 450 million, and 1.2 billion mobile users. The Indian smartphone market is the fastest growing in the world. In addition, in 2020, a $ 1.4 trillion transport infrastructure plan was adopted, which includes improving roads, railways and airports. Textile exports are expected to reach $ 100 billion by 2027. India is the second largest producer of crude steel in the world, and the third largest aviation market. The value of the chemical and petrochemical industry reaches $ 1,178 billion, and auto component exports are worth $ 13.3 billion.
Olga Kharina reviewed several cases related to the development of business of Russian entrepreneurs in India. Their experience showed that obtaining all the necessary permits for work in this country is a more complicated process than expected. It is also important to take into account the specifics of working with local regulatory authorities and carefully study the legislation and tax procedures.
Olga Kharina also presented a “treasure map” of Indian states, each of which has its own economic characteristics and laws. Thus, the state of Maharashtra (where the financial center of Mumbai is located) is the largest taxpayer and an important center for business. The state of Uttar Pradesh is the most populous (more than 220 million people), but the economy is mainly agricultural. The state of Gujarat is a leader in the production and export of such goods as chemicals, petrochemicals and textiles.
“India is located in the center of South Asia and has a strategic position as a gateway between East and West Asia. With access to the Indian Ocean, it plays a key role in trade and transport between the countries of Central Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and East Africa. Russia and India maintain close economic ties that are strengthening every year. In recent years, various agreements have been signed on mutual trade, as well as on strategic partnership in the fields of energy, defense and technology,” the speaker emphasized.
As for the most promising areas for business, India is one of the largest consumers of energy resources, and Russian companies can develop their activities in the field of oil and gas supplies, as well as participate in energy projects. Russia can also offer its developments in the field of IT and innovative technologies, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain. In addition, India is an important importer of agricultural products, and Russian companies can supply there grain, fish, meat, dairy products. At the same time, Indian technologies in agribusiness can be useful for Russian farmers.
The Indian government actively supports the “Make in India” program, which is aimed at developing manufacturing and stimulating foreign investment in the country.
“You need to have the knowledge, skills and competencies to build a successful business in new markets, which we now call the Global East – friendly markets that are supported by both Russia and other countries,” emphasized Natalia Guseva, professor at the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics at the HSE and head of the HSE educational programs “Business with the East.”
She presented the educational programs “Eastern Perspective” for entrepreneurs working with countries of the Near and Middle East, North Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region.
“You will have a clear understanding of the potential and specifics of Eastern markets depending on what company you work for or what startup you plan to do. When entering new markets, offering your products and services, you must have a clear understanding of the vectors and potentials of development, the features of the financial and tax systems. You also need to understand the main political trends, the features of the local society. You need to clearly assess the export potential, due to which you will compete. Most Russian companies that had experience in international business were mainly focused on the European markets, and that competition strategy was mainly based on low prices, but in the Eastern markets this strategy will be ineffective,” Natalia Guseva emphasized.
Expert in developing GR tools and strategies for promoting companies on the Indian market, representative of the media conglomerate The Times of India Group in Russia Nair Devadathan spoke about the country’s features that businessmen entering this market should pay attention to. Thus, according to him, caste, religiosity and beliefs are very important in Indian society (for example, entrepreneurs build relationships with partners based on astrological horoscopes). Business connections are also of great importance: to enter the market, it is necessary to find a partner from among local residents – this way the company will be able to receive many preferences and more favorable conditions. “India should be understood as Bollywood,” he said. At the same time, this country loves Russian culture, especially theater and film adaptations.
According to Nair Devadathan, not only large companies and medium-sized businesses can succeed in this country, but also small production facilities and even individual entrepreneurs – such examples already exist. At the same time, Indian consumers may be interested in absolutely any product, including those subject to sanctions, or services – for example, from the beauty industry or the arts, education or tourism.
“Promoting Russia is a business in itself. All our young people use social networks, so you need to pay attention to this,” he is convinced.
In conclusion, Dmitry Chubarov invited the business session participants to take the HSE educational programs dedicated to the East. “The expertise, experience and cases that will be discussed will not be based on abstract textbooks, but on the daily successful practice of both Russian and international companies that are currently operating in the Indian market,” he summed up.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Defendant also participated in scheme to illegally obtain $28,350 in unemployment insurance benefits from the State of California during COVID-19 Pandemic.
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Victor Ojo, 30, of Belcamp, Maryland, to 72 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Victor Ojo received the sentence for aggravated identity theft and his role in an attempted bank-fraud scheme that had an intended loss amount of $1.5 million. Additionally, Victor Ojo admitted to participating in a fraudulent scheme to obtain $28,350 in unemployment insurance benefits. So, Judge Rubin ordered Victor Ojo to forfeit $20,014.03 and to pay $78,350 in restitution.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Andrew McKay, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s (TIGTA) Mid-Atlantic Field Division, and Scott Moffit, Special Agent in Charge of TIGTA’s Cybercrime Investigations Division.
According to his guilty plea, from April 2016 through at least August 2019, Victor Ojo conspired with Damilola Ojo, Jamelia Thompson, Raissa Kaossele, and others, to commit bank fraud using the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Modernized Internet Employer Identification Number (MODIEIN) system. The MODIEIN is the IRS system that allows users to register for a unique Employer Identification Number (EIN). It requires users to enter the valid name and Social Security Number of a real living person to obtain an EIN for a business.
The defendant and his co-conspirators created and used various EINs to carry out the scheme. They obtained many of the EINs from the IRS using stolen Personally Identifiable Information. These EINs, in conjunction with fraudulently obtained state business certificates, allowed the co-conspirators to open bank accounts at various financial institutions to deposit stolen and/or altered checks and to receive fraudulently obtained wire transfers and other funds. Many of the wire transfers were the result of Business Email Compromises. Once obtained, the co-conspirators rapidly withdrew the proceeds, transferring them to other bank accounts.
Victor Ojo and his co-conspirators victimized individuals through identity theft, businesses through financial account compromise, and banks through misdirecting wire transfers and making fraudulent transactions. After Victor Ojo’s arrest, law enforcement discovered evidence linking him to fraudulent activity. Law enforcement found numerous financial documents; a jacket, shirt, and hat that they saw Victor Ojo wearing in bank-surveillance footage while interacting with the fraudulent accounts; and a $14,000 check with someone else’s name on it. They also found passports in other people’s names and a Colorado ID with authentication features in someone else’s name.
In the plea agreement, Victor Ojo admitted that he engaged in additional fraudulent activities prior to his arrest for bank-fraud conspiracy. Specifically, Victor Ojo and co-conspirators fraudulently obtained $28,350 in unemployment insurance benefits from the State of California using a victim’s identification.
Around August 1, 2021, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) issued a Bank of America debit card in that victim’s name to an address in Lanham, Maryland. The card was linked to a Bank of America account that the EDD deposited a total of $28,350 in unemployment insurance benefits into.
The EDD made the first deposit on August 8, 2021. On August 10, 11, 24, and 25, Victor Ojo used the card to withdraw thousands of dollars from various ATMs in Harford County, Maryland. Victor Ojo was also captured on surveillance cameras making the withdrawals on August 10, 11, and 25.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the TIGTA for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph L. Wenner, Paul Riley, and John D’Amico who prosecuted the federal case. He also recognized Joanna B.N. Huber, Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force Paralegal Specialist, for her assistance.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after Pete Hegseth was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Defense:
“President Trump has promised to restore American dominance on the world stage and enact his peace-through-strength agenda following years of weakness under Joe Biden. I am confident my friend Pete Hegseth will play an invaluable role in carrying out that mission at a time when our nation and our world need it most. With Pete at the helm, the status quo will be shaken up and the warrior spirit will finally be restored at the Pentagon.”
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is leading a new £2 million initiative to help prevent food shortages that could potentially trigger civil unrest in the UK.
The project, called Backcasting to Increase Food System Resilience in the UK, is being led by experts from Anglia Ruskin’s Global Sustainability Institute and has received £2,048,461 in funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Building on recent research that found that over 40% of food experts believe widespread civil unrest linked to food shortages, such as demonstrations and violent looting, is possible or likely in the UK within the next 10 years, the new project aims to urgently address vulnerabilities in the nation’s food supply.
The UK’s food system is currently optimised for efficiency rather than resilience, relying heavily on imports, seasonal labour, and just-in-time supply chains.
This makes it particularly susceptible to disruptions that could lead to a collapse, defined as a situation where the public lack access to affordable food, resulting in economic productivity losses, disease outbreaks, extreme hunger, malnutrition, or civil unrest.
Potential causes of such a collapse include geopolitical instability and conflict around the world, pandemics, extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, and trade tariffs.
The project aims to identify and find ways of mitigating the potential tipping points that could lead to a collapse and prioritise the areas within the UK food system that urgently need to strengthen their resilience to likely risks and shocks.
To achieve these goals, the researchers will work closely with key stakeholders including food producers, importers, distributers and retailers.
A “backcasting” mapping exercise will be carried out to identify the most likely pathways leading to civil unrest with a focus on addressing problems at the early stages of these pathways, well before any unrest arises.
Anglia Ruskin University is leading the project in partnership with experts from the University of York, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of the West of England and the Royal Agricultural University.
Other partners include WTW, the Food Farming & Countryside Commission, the Food Ethics Council, WRAP, DEFRA, Trussell, Sustain, Better Food Traders, Samworth Brothers, the Food Standards Agency, the Institute of Grocery Distributors and WWF.
“The Backcasting to Increase Food System Resilience in the UK project is a major investment into understanding how future shocks could significantly impact the UK food system and how we can build resilience to these.
“The food system is exposed to various risks from climate change and biodiversity loss to geopolitical events, such as wars or cyberterrorism. Supporting the UK’s food system stakeholders from farmers through to retail, by working with them to build on their knowledge to deliver a transformation towards resilience, is vital.
“The project will also involve placements inside organisations focusing on food system challenges, to better understand the interventions that may be possible, and allow wider lessons to be captured and shared. These placements will be open to PhDs from across the UK and will be announced in 2026.”
Professor Aled Jones, Director of the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
Families in Powell River have access to 28 new child care spaces opening at Kelly Creek Community school, including 12 spaces for children younger than three, and 16 spaces for children ages three to five.
“Access to affordable and reliable child care makes life easier for families,” said Rohini Arora, parliamentary secretary for child care. “These new child care spaces in Powell River will help more parents and caregivers go to work and school, and are conveniently located on school grounds. We’re going to keep working to bring down costs and build a bright future for British Columbians.”
The Province partnered with the qathet School District (SD47) to build the new child care centre at Kelly Creek Community school. The $1.1-million investment from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund supported construction, as well as furniture and appliances bought for the facility.
“We are thrilled to have another child care option for the families in qathet,” said Jaclyn Miller, board chair, qathet School District. “The centre at Kelly Creek will provide children five and youngerwith a strong start to their school experience, fostering connections and continuity alongside the school they will likely attend, while strengthening their sense of belonging within the community.”
The Province also worked with the qathet School District to open a new child care centre at Edgehill Elementary school, which opened in fall 2024. The two projects have added a total of 56 new child care spaces in Powell River.
“I am over-the-moon happy with the staff and my experience at Edgehill YMCA Child Care,” said Sarah, whose child attends the program. “Thank you so much for bringing more child care spaces to Powell River. “This is the child care I wanted for my treasured child.”
School districts throughout B.C. are partnering with the provincial government to create new child care spaces to help address the child care needs of families within their communities. Child care on school grounds makes life easier for families by requiring only one dropoff and pickup location, streamlining their daily routines, reducing stress and creating a smoother transition for children.
Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s accelerated space-creation programs have helped fund more than 40,000 new licensed child care spaces in B.C. and 23,000 of those are now open. Funding the creation of new child care spaces is part of the Province’s ChildCareBC plan to build access to affordable, quality, inclusive child care as a core service families can rely on.
Quotes:
Randene Neill, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast –
“Families in communities like Powell River face unique challenges when it comes to accessing affordable, quality child care. The new child care spaces at Kelly Creek Community school and Edgehill Elementary school are a game-changer for families here, providing vital support for parents and ensuring children in our rural community have the same opportunities to thrive as those in larger centres. By investing in child care, we’re helping to build a stronger, more connected Powell River.”
Cathy Poole, vice-president, Children and Youth Services, YMCA BC –
“YMCA BC is proud to partner with the qathet School District and the Government of B.C. to extend our child care services to families in the Powell River community. The program at Kelly Creek YMCA Child Care will be structured on our national YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum and led by our professional early childhood educators who are committed to providing the children with happy, healthy learning experiences.”
Learn More:
For more information about ChildCareBC, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare
More information about the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund is available here: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund
Good news from the Ministry of Environment’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) monitoring program: in 2024, no invasive zebra or quagga mussels or spiny waterflea were found in Saskatchewan waters. Last year, the program tested more than 450 water samples from waterbodies all across the province.
“Our surveys confirm that Saskatchewan’s efforts to protect our lakes and rivers from AIS have been successful,” Environment Minister Travis Keisig said. “Collaborating with our partners, the ministry will continue to implement a robust AIS prevention program that includes monitoring, roadside watercraft inspections and decontamination, and public awareness and education, to ensure that success continues.”
In 2024, the ministry inspected more than 3,500 watercraft across the province. Ministry staff intercepted and decontaminated six watercraft carrying invasive zebra or quagga mussels and decontaminated more than 250 watercraft coming to Saskatchewan from high-risk areas infested with AIS that were not properly cleaned, drained or dried. The AIS program also focused on several species of invasive fish, including goldfish, koi and Prussian carp, as well as flowering rush, an invasive aquatic plant that can quickly outcompete native plants in our waterways.
Invasive mussels continue to spread in many waters across North America, including waterbodies in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, as well as in 34 states including North Dakota and Minnesota. AIS such as invasive mussels pose a serious threat to Saskatchewan. Once established, these organisms are nearly impossible to eliminate. They can significantly affect aquatic habitat and fisheries and can cost the province millions of dollars each year to manage.
In the fight against AIS, partnerships are key. The ministry works closely with Saskatchewan’s AIS Task Force, which includes other government agencies, researchers and conservation organizations. The province also partners with Canada Border Services Agency and other federal, provincial and territorial governments to co-ordinate prevention efforts across Western Canada.
Watercraft users also have an important part to play in reducing the spread of AIS:
Carefully follow the clean-drain-dry protocols for watercraft and gear that comes in contact with the water, before moving between waterbodies.
Stop at roadside watercraft inspection stations or risk a $500 fine, plus $80 surcharge.
Remove drain plugs on all watercraft during transport, as required by law.
For more information, visit the AIS page on saskatchewan.ca.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is forwarding to the Connecticut General Assembly the nominations of several jurists to serve in positions on Connecticut’s courts, including the Honorable William H. Bright, Jr. as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable Robin L. Wilson as a judge of the Appellate Court, and 13 other jurists as judges of the Superior Court.
Additionally, the governor is nominating two jurists to serve as family support magistrates and three as administrative law judges on the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
“Nominating judges to serve on our courts is one of the most important responsibilities of a governor, especially because judges are the final authority on the interpretation of the law and the constitution, and for ensuring that justice is administered fairly and without prejudice,” Governor Lamont said. “Judge Bright has been an excellent leader of our Appellate Court over these last four and a half years, and he has had an impressive career handling all types of cases both on the trial and appellate levels. Likewise, Judge Wilson is an incredibly well-respected member of Connecticut’s legal community, having served in the Superior Court for more than two decades. I am confident that these nominees each have the high standards and qualifications the people of Connecticut deserve to have serving for them on the bench.”
Judge Bright, 62, of Columbia, is currently the chief judge of the Appellate Court. He is being nominated to fill the associate justice seat on the Supreme Court that was most recently held by the Honorable Raheem L. Mullins, who was recently nominated by Governor Lamont to become chief justice.
Judge Bright has served on the Appellate Court since 2017 and as chief judge since 2020. In the role of chief judge, he has been responsible for managing the operations of the Appellate Court, in addition to sitting on a full docket of cases, assigning cases to authoring judges, reviewing all opinions of the court before publication, overseeing clerks for judge trial referees, and addressing personnel and building management issues.
Immediately prior to his nomination to the Appellate Court, Judge Bright served as a judge of the Superior Court from 2008 to 2017, presiding over criminal, civil, habeas corpus, and juvenile trials. While on the Superior Court, he served as the presiding judge of the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s statewide mediation program in 2017, chief administrative judge for civil matters from 2015 to 2017, administrative and presiding judge for the Tolland Judicial District from 2013 to 2017, and presiding judge of a civil complex litigation docket from 2011 to 2013.
Before being nominated to the bench, he was a partner with the law firm of McCarter and English from 2003 to 2008, and with Cummings and Lockwood from 1987 to 2003. With both firms, he worked as a trial attorney, handling cases in both state and federal courts and representing individuals, government entities, and small and large businesses in environmental, property, and commercial matters.
Judge Bright graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, summa cum laude, and earned a Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from the University of Chicago Law School. He is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and a member emeritus of the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court.
“I want to thank Governor Lamont for his faith and confidence in me,” Judge Bright said. “It is truly an honor to be nominated and considered for a position on our state’s highest court. It has been my distinct pleasure to serve the people of Connecticut as a judge of the Superior Court and the Appellate Court over the past 17 years. If confirmed, I promise to bring to my job as an associate justice of our Supreme Court the same work ethic, fidelity to the law, and respect for the parties and attorneys who appear before us that I have strived to demonstrate every day since becoming a judge.”
Judge Wilson, 64, of New Haven, is currently a judge of the Superior Court, where she has served since 2003. She is being nominated to fill the seat on the Appellate Court that will become vacant following the confirmation of Judge Bright to serve on the Supreme Court.
Judge Wilson is presently assigned to the Waterbury Complex Litigation Docket, presiding over complex civil cases. Prior to this, she served in the Civil Division of the New Haven Judicial District for 15 years, also presiding over complex civil cases, including medical and legal malpractice cases, motor vehicle accident cases involving catastrophic injuries, and commercial contract disputes.
Immediately prior to her nomination to the Superior Court, she served as an administrative law judge on the Workers’ Compensation Commission from 1994 to 2003. She also worked from 1986 to 1994 as an assistant attorney general in the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, serving in both the Child Support Department and the Workers’ Compensation Department.
In recognition of her influence and leadership, Judge Wilson has been honored as one of the NAACP’s 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut and as one of the 100 Women of Color Leadership in the State of Connecticut.
Judge Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government, with honors, from Connecticut College, a Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law, and a Master of Laws degree in labor relations from New York University School of Law.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by Governor Lamont’s nomination to serve as an Appellate Judge for the State of Connecticut,” Judge Wilson said. “It is an absolute honor and privilege to have this opportunity. If confirmed by the legislature, I am committed to upholding the principles of fairness, justice, and integrity as I take on this important responsibility and will work hard every day to prove myself worthy of the governor’s trust. Thank you, Governor Lamont, for entrusting me with this opportunity to serve our great state.”
There are currently 22 judicial vacancies in the Superior Court. The 13 nominations Governor Lamont is making to fill those positions include:
David G. Bothwell, 55, of Fairfield: Bothwell graduated from Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He currently serves as legal counsel and legislative liaison to the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Prior to that, he spent his entire career as a criminal defense attorney in both his own private practice, as well as many years with the Connecticut Division of Public Defenders.
Tracie C. Brown, 53, of Windsor: Brown graduated from Southern Connecticut State University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is currently the chief operating officer for the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Previously, she was the assistant legal director for the Connecticut Department of Correction, where she focused on constitutional and employment law. Prior to that, she served as a principal attorney and commission counsel for the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. In that capacity, she presided over contested cases as a hearing officer and represented the commission at the Connecticut Superior Court, Appellate Court, and Supreme Court.
Michael C. D’Agostino, 53, of Hamden: D’Agostino graduated from the University of Virginia and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is currently a partner at Morgan Lewis and Bockius, residing in its Hartford office, where he handles a wide range of commercial litigation matters for clients in Connecticut’s courts, as well as courts across the country. From 2013 to 2025, he served the 91st Assembly District of Hamden in the Connecticut House of Representatives, and in this capacity severed for several years as the House chair of the General Law Committee.
Jesse Giddings, 43, of North Haven: Giddings graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Roger Williams University School of Law. He is currently a supervisory assistant state’s attorney in the Hartford State’s Attorney Office. Prior to that, he served as an assistant state’s attorney in Hartford, focusing primarily on the prosecution of serious felony cases.
Diana M. Gomez, 42, of Easton: Gomez graduated from Central Connecticut State University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She is currently an assistant public defender in the Ansonia-Milford Judicial District, specializing in criminal defense of indigent defendants. She has worked in the Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services for the past eleven years. Prior to serving as a public defender, she worked in private practice. Additionally, she serves on many boards, committees and commissions.
Donald R. Green, 58, of Meriden: Magistrate Green graduated from Trinity College and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is currently a family support magistrate and has served in this capacity for six years. He presides over cases involving adjudication of parentage, child support, modifications, and contempt petitions. He was formerly an assistant attorney general at the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, where he served primarily in the Child Protection Department.
Kaitlin A. Halloran, 41, of West Hartford: Halloran graduated from New York University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. In 2010, she co-founded Halloran & Halloran, where her practice focused on personal injury, wrongful death claims, medical malpractice and business litigation. Halloran & Halloran merged with BBB Attorneys in 2021, where she litigated complex cases. Halloran also maintains a very active pro bono special education law practice and has helped many families navigate the system and access services for their children.
Angeline Ioannou, 55, of West Hartford: Ioannou is a graduate of Sacred Heart University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law (now Widener University Commonwealth Law School) in Wilmington, Delaware. She is currently the managing partner of the Hartford office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith, LLP. Ioannou has more than 25 years litigating complex tort and medical malpractice matters involving wrongful death and catastrophic injuries.
Kevin C. Kelly, 65, of Stratford: Kelly obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, a Master of Arts degree from Fairfield University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is currently an attorney and owner of Kevin Kelly and Associates, a practice that is focused on elder law, estate planning, probate administration and litigation, and municipal law. Prior to his legal career, he worked for the Connecticut Department of Social Services. From 2011 to 2025, he served the 21st Senatorial District of Monroe, Seymour, Shelton, and Stratford in the Connecticut State Senate, and in this capacity represented his caucus for several years as minority leader.
Daniel Shapiro, 58, of Westbrook: Shapiro graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and obtained his Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School, where he also obtained a Master of Studies in environmental law. He is currently a deputy associate attorney general and chief of health and education for the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. He has practiced law for more than 30 years with a primary focus on health and education matters. Prior to his current role, Shapiro worked as an attorney for the Connecticut Department of Public Health and as an attorney for the Connecticut Legislative Commissioners’ Office.
Kevin Shea, 58, of Madison: Shea graduated from the University of Connecticut and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is a partner with Clendenen and Shea, LLC in New Haven, where he has practiced for the past 24 years representing individuals, companies, institutions, and municipalities as both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of civil litigation. He was previously an associate with Delaney, Zemetis, Donahue, Durham, and Noonan, P.C., and Wiggin and Dana, LLP, and worked as an in-house litigation attorney with United States Surgical Corporation in Norwalk.
Latonia C. Williams, 41, of West Hartford: Williams graduated from Howard University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is currently a partner at Shipman and Goodwin LLP, where her practice focuses on a range of commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts, including commercial bankruptcies, landlord-tenant disputes, and commercial foreclosures. Additionally, she serves on the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Client Security Fund Committee, the board of directors for Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc., and as her firm’s hiring chair.
Yonatan Zamir, 48, of Woodbridge: Zamir graduated from University of Illinois and received his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law. He is currently a staff attorney at New Haven Legal Assistance Association, where his focus is on housing law and eviction prevention. He also co-teaches the Reentry Clinic at Yale Law School, through which he supervises students in serving clients facing barriers to reentry in areas such as housing and employment, as well as in assisting those clients’ seeking pardons or criminal conviction erasure. Prior to coming to Connecticut, he served as counsel to a member of Congress and a Congressional committee. He started his legal career at the Legal Aid Society of New York.
The two family support magistrate nominees include:
Benedict R. Daigle, 43, of Cromwell: Daigle obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Connecticut, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He currently serves as an assistant public defender, legislative/family magistrate for the Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services. Prior to that, he held roles with the City of Hartford, the Connecticut Association for Community Action, and other government and nonprofit entities. He serves in several roles within the Connecticut Bar Association, including as a member of the House of Delegates and Board of Governors and co-chair of the Legal Aid and Public Defense Committee. He has served as a board member of various nonprofit organizations.
LeeAnn Neal, 39, of Waterbury: Neal graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She is currently an assistant attorney general in the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, serving in the child protection section. In this role, she represents the Connecticut Department of Children and Families in state court proceedings. Prior to her current position, she worked as a staff attorney at the Center for Children’s Advocacy, where she advocated for youth in education and delinquency cases. She also previously served as an assistant state’s attorney with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice, representing the state in both adult criminal and juvenile delinquency matters in the New Britain and Waterbury Judicial Districts.
The three workers’ compensation administrative law judge nominees include:
Michael L. Anderson, 54, of North Stonington: Anderson graduated from the University of New Hampshire and the University of Connecticut, and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Vermont Law School. He is currently a trial lawyer with Anderson Trial Lawyers in Norwich, where he represents injured workers in the Workers’ Compensation Commission and those seriously injured due to the negligence of others. He currently serves as chairman of the Town of North Stonington Board of Finance. He has been practicing law for more than 20 years.
Christine Conley, 42, of Groton: Conley graduated from Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is currently an attorney with McGann, Bartlett and Brown, LLC, where she represents employers and municipalities in defending work-related injuries. She has experience in worker’s compensation and personal injury, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She is a Connecticut board certified workers’ compensation specialist. She formerly worked for Embry, Neusner and Arscott, and the Law Offices of Lori M. Comforti, representing individuals with workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. Prior to representing individuals, she was an associate at Murphy and Beane. From 2017 to 2025, she served the 40th Assembly District of Groton and New London in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
Colette Griffin, 66, of Newtown: Griffin graduated from the University of Bridgeport and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac School of Law. She is currently a partner with Strunk Dodge Aiken Zovas and has served as the chair of both the workers’ compensation and animal law sections of the Connecticut Bar Association. She was previously a partner with Howd and Ludorf, LLC, where she began and ran their workers’ compensation practice. She serves on the workers’ compensation legal advisory and medical advisory committees.
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission (Pine Barrens Commission) today filed a lawsuit against Long Island developer David Roberts and his company, Roberts Premier Development, LLC (Roberts Premier), for removing trees and vegetation to construct a commercial cabinetry and woodworking business on protected Pine Barrens land without proper approval. The Pine Barrens are located on top of Long Island’s largest source of drinking water, and their preservation is necessary to ensure residents’ access to clean water. Roberts damaged 13,000 square feet of this land by clearing natural vegetation and grading soil to build a 5,500 square foot commercial barn without authorization from the Pine Barrens Commission, harming the Pine Barrens’ delicate ecosystem. With this lawsuit, Attorney General James and the Pine Barrens Commission seek to require Roberts to remove the barn and associated infrastructure, restore the property to its previous state, and pay civil penalties for the destruction he caused.
“Long Island’s Pine Barrens are one of New York’s most precious environmental treasures, and we are committed to protecting it,” said Attorney General James. “Preserving this land is critical to the health of Long Island’s drinking water. Any bad actor that takes action to harm our protected lands must be held accountable. I am grateful to the Commission for their partnership and look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the Pine Barrens are preserved for generations to come.”
“We’re happy to partner with Attorney General James in this action against Roberts Premier Development. There’s a reason the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act included a Comprehensive Land Use Plan that has for three decades guided land use in this spectacular region,” said Central Pine Barrens Commission Executive Director Judith Jakobsen. “It’s because there’s a place for development in the Central Pine Barrens and a place for ecological preservation. When someone breaks the rules, they should suffer the consequences.”
The Long Island Central Pine Barrens is a 106,000-acre natural area in Suffolk County that is home to some of New York’s greatest ecological diversity, including many endangered or threatened animal and plant species. In 1993, New York adopted the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act, which established the Pine Barrens Commission to safeguard the Pine Barrens and develop and oversee a comprehensive land use plan for the area. The Act designated 55,000 acres of the Pine Barrens as a core preservation area and specified that any entity seeking to engage in development activities such as clearing, excavation, or construction in the area must apply for and receive a waiver from the Pine Barrens Commission.
Roberts Premier acquired a four-acre Pine Barrens property in Brookhaven, Suffolk County in July 2022. The property falls within a residential zoning district that strictly prohibits any non-residential use of land. In August 2022, Roberts applied for a permit from the town to build a new 5,500 square foot barn but did not apply for any waiver from the Pine Barrens Commission for its planned clearing, excavation, and construction on protected Pine Barrens land. Before hearing back from the town on his building permit application, Roberts moved forward with the project, clearing vegetation, grading the land, and fully constructing a new barn. Roberts was issued a building permit on November 28, 2022.
In March 2023, the town alerted the Pine Barrens Commission that approximately 13,000 square feet of natural vegetation had been removed from Roberts’ property and that a new barn had been constructed in its place. By this time, Roberts Premier had added storage containers, which are not permitted in residential districts, and set up parking areas and paved roadways on the protected land. The Commission discovered in June 2023 that a custom cabinetry and millwork business, Green Leaf Cabinet Corp., had set up a website citing the Pine Barrens property as its business address and included a map directing potential customers to the newly constructed barn.
The compound built by Roberts Premier on protected Pine Barrens land.
In April 2023, the Pine Barrens Commission issued a Notice of Violation to Roberts and Roberts Premier, stating that the company had engaged in prohibited conduct by building the new barn for non-residential use and clearing Pine Barrens land without authorization. In June 2023, the Commission inspected the property and found extensive evidence that Roberts was conducting a commercial carpentry business on the property, including industrial-grade manufacturing woodworking equipment and machinery, commercial-grade power supply, construction equipment, and industrial-grade HVAC equipment.
The lawsuit filed today seeks to mandate the removal of the unauthorized structure and associated infrastructure and require the development and implementation of a restoration plan for the affected land under the Commission’s supervision. Attorney General James is also seeking civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation and $1,000 for each day the violations persist. The lawsuit follows unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a resolution with Roberts Premier and Roberts.
This matter was handled for the Pine Barrens Commission by Executive Director Judith Jakobsen, Pine Barrens Manager Julie Hargrave, Enforcement Officer Frank Carbone, and Counsel John C. Milazzo.
This matter was handled for OAG by Assistant Attorney General Abigail Katowitz-Liu and Section Chief Elizabeth Morgan of the Environmental Protection Bureau under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Monica Wagner. The Environmental Protection Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic and is part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced state parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) saw a record 88.3 million visits in 2024. Total visits statewide surged by over four million, which is a five percent increase compared to the previous record year in 2023. These numbers reflect Governor Hochul’s commitment to expanding access to parks and outdoor recreation, including her investment in the park system’s 100th anniversary last year, the 2024 total solar eclipse viewing events that broke state tourism records, and her free swimming initiatives.
“This new attendance record is a result of our commitment to expanding opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy safe, healthy recreation, whether it’s through swimming, hiking, camping, or gathering to take in our world-class vistas, beaches and waterfalls,” Governor Hochul said. “We are fortunate that our state parks offer a much-needed break from the addictive digital landscape many are exposed to, and with my “Unplug and Play” strategy, we are going to make sure even more New Yorkers and future generations have access to phenomenal recreational facilities in their state parks and in their own communities.”
Over the last two decades, State Parks’ attendance has climbed steadily, increasing 66 percent, with last year marking the 12th consecutive annual increase. Contributing to this surge in visitation was the New York State park and historic site system’s Centennial in 2024. The year-long celebration honored influential figures and milestone moments in State Parks’ development and gave the agency an opportunity to connect with local communities across the state by hosting dozens of Centennial-themed events.
On April 8, State Parks hosted a range of events and activities to celebrate the rare total solar eclipse that passed through western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Adirondacks. Governor Hochul was one of 45,000 visitors who experienced the celestial event at Niagara Falls State Park. The eclipse brought record-setting tourism numbers in New York from April 6 to April 9 of last year.
Governor Hochul’s free swimming initiatives fortified the new record. Prior to the July 4 weekend last year, Governor Hochul removed swimming pool entry fees at State Parks for the entire summer. Through Labor Day, pool attendance increased 36 percent, with over 542,000 people visiting a State Park pool. Twenty-two facilities hosted free swimming lessons, tripling the number of facilities from previous years and teaching over 2,000 students how to swim.
State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “State Parks is one of the most admired parks systems in the world, welcoming many millions more visitors than ever before to unplug and play! Governor Hochul’s continued support for outdoor recreation and land conservation, paired with the passion and hard work of our State Parks team, undoubtedly helped us reach this new record. We look forward to working with partners around the state to keep the momentum going, aid in the mental and physical wellness of all, drive affordability and help deliver economic boosts to communities around the Empire State for years to come.”
Assemblymember Ron Kim said, “I am incredibly excited to join Governor Hochul and my colleagues in continuing to invest in our state parks, recreational areas, and cultural sites. They have proven to be an essential engine for New York’s economic development, bringing millions of annual visitors and immeasurable intrinsic value to our communities, which is critical for long-term sustainable growth.”
Camping continued to be an in-demand offering at State Parks in 2024 with 2,206,986 campers pitching their tents at New York’s state park facilities. With more than 226,000 reservations, those campers spent a collective 753,731 nights under the stars while providing a boost to local economies.
The New York State Parks Wellness Challenge was launched Jan. 1 to encourage both mental wellness and outdoor recreation while also educating residents and visitors on wellness-focused activities within State Parks in 2025. The challenge was designed to align with Governor Hochul’s efforts to encourage New Yorkers to get off their devices and enjoy the outdoors. The challenge includes 50 missions that can be completed at various State Parks. Once participants finish 25 of the available 50 missions, they will receive a commemorative sticker and postcard mailed to their address as a prize.
Governor Hochul’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget proposes $200 million for State Parks to invest in and aid the ongoing transformation of New York’s flagship parks and support critical infrastructure projects throughout the park system. The Governor’s new Unplug and Play initiative also earmarks $100 million for construction and renovation of community centers through the Build Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS), $67.5 million for the Places for Learning, Activity and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) initiative helping New York communities construct new playgrounds and renovate existing playgrounds; and an additional $50 million for the Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative supporting municipalities in the renovation and construction of swimming facilities.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 88 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call (518) 474-0456. Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
In 2024, Saskatchewan RCMP’s Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams (SERT) continued to work diligently with frontline RCMP officers from detachments across the province to remove harms from communities and help keep Saskatchewan residents safe.
Saskatchewan RCMP’s SERT – which includes Crime Reduction Teams (CRT), the Human Trafficking and Counter Exploitation Unit (HTCEU), Offender Management Unit (OMU), Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams (STRT) and Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Teams (WEST) – helps protect community well-being by tackling serious and gang-related crimes, and take dangerous drugs and weapons off the streets.
Removing harms from Saskatchewan communities
Illicit drugs continue to harm people across the province. In 2024, Saskatchewan RCMP’s SERT teams seized: – 6,572 grams of cocaine; – 4,732 grams of methamphetamine; – 130 grams fentanyl; – 6,349 grams of other illicit drugs; and – 86 tablets.
Saskatchewan RCMP’s SERT removed 230 firearms from the hands of criminals across the province in 2024.
Investigational highlights
In July 2024, Yorkton STRT seized approximately 161 grams of methamphetamine and 14 firearms, along with other items, from a business, a rural property and a vehicle in the Yorkton area. During a subsequent search of the rural property, RCMP officers located a severely injured, forcibly confined adult male inside a barn. Investigation determined the man had been kidnapped. Two adult males faced kidnapping, drug and firearms charges, among others.
Swift Current STRT laid charges against two individuals after seizing 31 firearms from a residence in Lafleche, SK and a rural yard site south of the town in November 2024.
In October 2024, North Battleford Crime Reduction Team – Gang Task Force (CRT-GTF) executed search warrants at two residences in North Battleford. At the residences, officers located and seized a loaded handgun, a rifle, approximately 81 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 58 grams of crack cocaine, ammunition, a sum of cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia. As a result of investigation, two adult males and an adult female were arrested.
While executing a search warrant at an apartment building in La Ronge in February 2024, La Ronge CRT seized a loaded handgun, 60 grams of cocaine, 31 grams of methamphetamine, a sum of cash and other drug paraphernalia. Two adults were arrested and charged.
In August 2024, Swift Current STRT executed two search warrants in Swift Current as part of an ongoing investigation. Officers located and seized 503 grams of methamphetamine, 52 grams of fentanyl and 105 grams of cocaine, among other evidence. An adult male was arrested at the business and charged.
What is SERT?
Saskatchewan RCMP SERT is made up of 108 RCMP officers and 31 civilian support staff. With different teams located in 10 Saskatchewan communities, SERT is readily mobile and able to quickly deploy to surrounding areas. Teams are also assisted every single day by over 1,500 RCMP employees, including more than 1,000 sworn officers at 80 plus detachments across the province.
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced the former assistant general manager of a Richmond Heights, Missouri hotel to 39 months in prison for committing multiple frauds and ordered her to repay $226,882.
From March to October of 2023, Angelique Patterson, 40, manipulated the hotel’s reservation system to alter the records of customers who had paid using cash or credit cards. Patterson retroactively changed those reservations to falsely show that the customers had used the hotel’s loyalty rewards system “points” for their stay. She then added her own credit or debit card information into the system and had the customers’ payments “refunded” to her.
On Oct. 4, 2023, although not on duty, Patterson tried to use the hotel’s desk computer and a coworker’s credentials to fraudulently refund herself an additional $61,998.
Patterson also used hotel customers’ credit card information from August through September of 2021 to make fake charges via the entertainment company she owned, Angel Entertains LLC. She obtained or tried to obtain $109,000 that way.
Patterson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in September to five counts of wire fraud.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gwen Carroll and Cort VanOstran prosecuted the case.
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 16, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Kyle Pickett, 30, of Windsor County, Vermont, with being a felon in possession of two firearms.
Pickett entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on January 23, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Niedermeier. Judge Niedermeier ordered that Pickett be detained during the pendency of this matter.
According to court records, on November 25, 2023, Pickett possessed two loaded firearms, a Winchester Model 62 .22 rifle and a Winchester Model 42 410 shotgun, in a Ford Ranger pick-up truck, which had been stolen from a residence in Orange County, Vermont. Pickett had multiple prior felony convictions, and thus was prohibited from possessing those firearms.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Pickett is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Pickett faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Pickett is represented by Sara M. Puls, Assistant Federal Public Defender.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago businessman has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in mortgage and vehicle loans and using stolen identities to secure credit from financial institutions.
YALE SCHIFF fraudulently obtained mortgage loans, vehicle loans, lines of credit, and credit cards by making false statements to financial institutions regarding his employment, income, and encumbrances on the collateral he pledged for the loans. After obtaining the loans, Schiff filed false documents with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, causing the fraudulent release of the liens. Schiff then pocketed the loan proceeds, causing losses to the lenders. Schiff used the same mortgaged properties for multiple loans, each time fraudulently removing the lien and keeping the proceeds.
Schiff used various false and stolen identities to carry out his fraud scheme. Schiff bought vehicles under the false identities and fraudulently removed liens on the cars before selling them for a profit. He also opened bank accounts and lines of credit using the false identities and other aliases, funding the accounts with advances from other fraudulently obtained lines of credit and credit cards. In one instance, Schiff used a credit card issued in the name of an elderly woman whom he knew was in a memory care facility at the time, and in another instance he used a credit card issued in the name of a friend who had passed away.
Schiff, 50, of Riverwoods, Ill., pleaded guilty in 2023 to a federal bank fraud charge. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland on Jan. 16, 2025, ordered Schiff to pay $2,955,954 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“Defendant, over the course of at least 13 years, engaged in a calculated, sustained, prolonged, multi-faceted scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions, individual buyers of property, and individuals whose identity he used,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri H. Mecklenburg argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s conduct was prolonged, willful, and widespread.”
Schiff’s brother, JASON SCHIFF, of Lincolnwood, Ill., and a business associate, DAVID IZSAK, of Chicago, were also charged as part of the federal investigation. Jason Schiff pleaded guilty to causing a false report and statement to be made to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Jason Schiff was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $306,610 in restitution. A jury convicted Izsak on ten counts of financial institution fraud. Izsak is awaiting sentencing.
A man who attempted to solicit a minor to engage in prostitution was sentenced on January 24, 2025, to 292 months in federal prison.
Joshua Johnson, age 50, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after an August 7, 2024, jury verdict finding him guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a child and destruction of evidence. The evidence at trial showed that, in December 2023, Johnson responded to an ad on a website for prostitution. He exchanged text messages with a person who stated that she was 13 years old; she actually was an undercover law enforcement officer. Johnson sent messages describing sex acts he could perform with the minor, and he traveled to Hiawatha, Iowa, to meet with her. After meeting with officers, Johnson wiped his cell phone.
Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Johnson was sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Hiawatha Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced January 24, 2025, to one year in federal prison.
Pablo Perez-Chavez, age 24, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 29, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported following a conviction for an aggravated felony.
At the guilty plea, Perez-Chavez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Perez-Chavez was convicted in January 2023 in the Northern District of Iowa of possession of a firearm by an alien, served 10 months’ imprisonment and placed on a three-year term of supervised release before being deported in May 2023. On July 15, 2024, immigration officials learned Perez-Chavez had illegally returned to the United States after Perez-Chavez reported to the Linn County Jail to serve a state OWI sentence. Perez-Chavez was also charged with violating the terms of his supervised release by reentering the United States without permission.
Perez-Chavez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Perez-Chavez was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Perez-Chavez was also sentenced to four months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively for violating the terms of his supervised release on his prior firearm conviction. There is no parole in the federal system.
Perez-Chavez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ACCRA, Ghana, January 27, 2025/APO Group/ —
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) (www.SECAM.org), the coordinating organ of the Catholic Church in Africa, is seeking skilled volunteers to contribute to the life of the Catholic Church across Africa. Volunteers will work directly with the SECAM Secretariat, in a variety of areas including communications, marketing, digital marketing, project management, executive assistance, and translation and interpretation (English-French-Portuguese).
These volunteer opportunities will allow individuals to play an integral role in advancing the mission of the Church in Africa, fostering collaboration across dioceses, and contributing to social and community development initiatives. The roles offer valuable experience at an executive level, working within a dynamic and impactful environment.
Positions are remote/online (unpaid) with a minimum commitment of 2 days per week for at least 3 months. Volunteers can be based anywhere in the world.
SECAM is seeking skilled volunteers in the following areas:
Communications: Develop and execute strategies to enhance SECAM’s visibility.
Marketing: Drive campaigns to promote SECAM’s mission.
Digital Marketing: Enhance online engagement and presence.
Project Management: Oversee and implement key initiatives.
Executive Assistance: Provide high-level administrative support.
Translation and Interpretation (English-French-Portuguese): Ensure effective communication across language barriers.
Application deadline: February 30, 2025.
Interested candidates can apply here: https://apo-opa.co/4hd5qDe
This is an excellent opportunity to make a tangible impact in the Church’s noble mission while gaining professional experience that will enrich your CV and broaden your network.
According to the 2022 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report compiled by the United Nations, the global number of volunteers stands at 862.4 million. Embracing volunteerism provides individuals with unparalleled firsthand professional experience, allowing them to enrich their CVs with valuable expertise gained through meaningful contributions.
There is a palpable sense of fear among environmentalists and those concerned about climate change following Trump’s re-election. His “drill baby drill” support for fossil fuels in the U.S. and frequent criticisms of renewable energy suggest that the world can expect to see a U.S. government that is far less interested in addressing climate change.
In addition to leaving the Paris deal, Trump is likely to peel back the climate change elements of former president Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and disempower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Trump’s nominee to head the EPA, Lee Zeldin, has promised to “pursue energy dominance.” Meanwhile, Chris Wright, Trump’s choice for energy secretary, is the CEO of Liberty Energy, a fracking company.
Despite the challenges a second Trump administration is likely to bring, Canada can continue to address climate change by working with sub-national leadership in the U.S.
Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement.
U.S. states still making progress
There are clear indications that Trump will move to dismantle key environmental policies. A dominant Trump adviser, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has indicated his support for removing US$7,500 tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs), apparently viewing it as a way to undermine Tesla competitors.
Canada must accelerate its own transition to a low-carbon economy by supporting renewable energy initiatives in engineering, construction, transportation and carbon sequestration.
Renewable energy opportunities that align with U.S. interests exist, and can be pursued irrespective of Trump’s policies. For example, Canada has an opportunity, jointly with the U.S., to expand our mutual critical mineral industry.
Electrification is set to proceed apace regardless of the political leanings of governments, and the transformation of transportation from fossil fuels to electricity and battery power will require vast amounts of lithium, a mineral Canada has in large quantities. It will also require large investments in cutting-edge battery technology, which is a key limitation to green electrification.
Considering both the need for these minerals and how tightly integrated the auto industry is in North America, such integration of supply chains fits within Trump’s general goal of reducing reliance on China. Canada can leverage this role to try to ensure it captures key portions of the supply chain that will create good jobs, particularly as oil demand inevitably winds down.
Canada could also be a key partner in expanding nuclear energy production. We understand the resistance many have to this suggestion, but it’s worth reconsidering given the intermittency of renewable energy such as wind and solar.
By taking these steps, Canada could make significant contributions to helping tackle climate change both in North America and around the world.
Andy Hira is the Director of the Clean Energy Research Group based at Simon Fraser University. The group has received funding from the Willow Grove Foundation and SFU.
John J Clague does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
As is the usual practice in leadership bids, each has sought to advance competing visions tied to their personal credentials and desirability as candidates.
In contrast, Carney has framed himself as a pragmatic outsider. To his supporters, his monetary management of both Brexit and the 2008 financial crisis shows he can effectively address Canada’s economic challenges while remaining above the apparent politicking, ideological excesses and questionable policy decisions of the Trudeau years.
The importance of the ground game
It’s difficult to say for certain who is most likely to prevail. Most polls suggest many Liberals are still undecided, although Carney and Freeland are at the same level of support among Canadian voters at large.
The incredibly short timeline for the race — voters need to be registered as Liberals by the end of today to vote for a leader — does not provide enough time for discernible trends to emerge. Despite the focus on the personality of the candidates, the Liberal leadership will be won or lost on the basis of “ground-game” organization — that is, who can identify, register and mobilize the greatest number of supporters.
At this point, however, it’s safe to say that Carney has an advantage. Compared to Freeland, he has secured the endorsements of most senior cabinet ministers, including Francois-Philippe Champagne, Melanie Joly, Steven Guilbeault, Harjit Sajjan and Jonathan Wilkinson. This provides not only legitimacy but, far more importantly, greater organizational prowess.
Also important is the fact that, in an environment of anti-Trudeau sentiment, he has much more — though not complete — distance from the incumbent government. It’s difficult to see how Freeland, regardless of her experience, can effectively avoid associations with the consequences of the past or existing policies that she herself was instrumental in bringing about.
Of course, Carney has his own challenges. He will likely have to clarify his relationship with the departing Trudeau government. Since 2020, the precise nature of his role as an informal policy adviser to the prime minister — including as the chair of a task force on economic growth — remains a mystery.
And for all of his emphasis on the importance of good policy, the substance of his actual, announced policy proposals are thin, including an ambiguous stance on the carbon tax.
Impressive resumé
Nonetheless, Carney simply has far more flexibility and potential than the more rigid limitations of Freeland’s candidacy. When compared to Freeland, Carney’s pitch to Canadians seems, at least on paper, to be a much smarter response to Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.
His impressive resumé has the potential to be a strong, substantive contrast to the sloganeering that has so far been offered by the Conservatives. Carney could represent a reasonable alternative to voters who, while desiring change, aren’t sold on Poilievre.
But can Carney really reverse the fortunes of the Liberal Party? Although the next leader of the party is guaranteed to be Canada’s 24th prime minister, they face near Herculean odds in establishing a term that will last more than a couple of weeks due the near certainty of a non-confidence vote in Parliament after it resumes on March 24, 15 days after the Liberal convention.
Poilievre’s Conservatives are well over 20 points ahead in public opinion polls as they benefit from an anti-incumbent sentiment that, although commonly expressed in a personal dislike for Trudeau, is really about a deeper discontent with Canada’s structural and economic challenges.
While Carney’s outsider status may inspire the Liberal faithful, his electoral performance is more likely to highlight the drawbacks of political inexperience. Although he has potential in terms of political skills, he may not have the time to realize that potential.
Past Liberal leaders
Historically, and to a greater degree than the Conservatives, the Liberals have been successful at recruiting leaders with accomplishments outside of partisan electoral politics.
The difference, however, is that — with the exception of academic Michael Ignatieff in 2011 — each of these former leaders had some, albeit limited, experience. They may have been recruited for their potential as future prime ministerial candidates, but each accumulated the requisite political experience.
Carney, on the other hand, has never run for office nor made any public interjections into partisan conflicts.
Special skill set
Electoral politics requires a special skill set that, unless it comes naturally, can only be learned through experience. It requires a unique combination of policy aptitude, communication ability, emotional intelligence, coalition-building and raw instinct.
Those qualities are honed with frequent exposure to voters, whether through stump speeches, stakeholder meetings or community barbecues. Carney simply does not have these experiences.
And faced with an anti-incumbent mood, his administrative experience may be casting him not as an interesting outsider, but as a technocratic voice of the very economic, political and cultural elite who Canadians are upset with.
Sam Routley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in Nature Medicine estimates heat and cold related deaths in Europe as a result of climate change.
Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, Lecturer at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, said:
Is this good quality research? Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?
“The study is of high quality, offering a thorough assessment of future scenarios regarding net changes in temperature-related mortality, factoring in various climate, demographic, and adaptation scenarios. Its conclusions are strongly supported by solid data. However, it’s important to note that the applicability of these results is primarily limited to European urban settings.”
What does this study add to our understanding of heat/cold deaths after climate change? Was there doubt before now that on balance deaths would increase in Europe with warmer temperatures?
“Previous estimates based on historical data have suggested that for every heat-related death, there are roughly 10 cold-related deaths. This raises important questions about the net impact of temperature changes due to anthropogenic climate change. This new study underscores a crucial point: without any adaptation to temperature, projections suggest that temperature-related deaths are likely to increase overall, with heat-related deaths surpassing cold-related ones. A related study in Europe also highlighted the significance of mitigation efforts in shaping this net effect, noting that in the most extreme scenarios, mitigation could lead to a positive outcome, balancing the impact of temperature change (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00150-9/fulltext).”
What does the study tell us about excess heat deaths even under relatively optimistic scenarios?
“In the most optimistic scenario—warming is kept below 2°C—while assuming no adaptation to heat, heat-related deaths are projected to outnumber cold-related deaths by 12 per 100,000 person years in 2050-2054. By the end of the century, this gap is expected to widen, with heat-related deaths potentially exceeding cold-related deaths by 50 per 100,000 person years.
“It is clear a hotter world is a more dangerous world. With every fraction of a degree of warming, we will also face increased spread of mosquito-transmitted disease and more intense extreme weather, among other threats to human health.”
Dr Luke Parsons, Applied Climate Modeling Scientist, Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, said:
“I appreciate that this study used different temperature-mortality relationships for different age groups, because we know that different age groups in different locations can respond differently to temperature extremes.
“Additionally, these researchers derived local temperature-mortality relationships and did not extrapolate spatially to grossly different geographies- for example, many studies have tried to estimate global temperature-related mortality changes under warming, but we these studies often lack data for most of Africa (outside of South Africa) and many other countries, so studies often have to make very broad assumptions about how people will react to temperatures without concrete local health data to validate form relationships.
“Despite these strengths, something I worry about that I didn’t see addressed in this paper:
“Heat waves are often associated with increases in deaths, but many studies also find increased deaths in cold times of year, concluding that cold season deaths are due to colder temperatures; therefore, as the globe warms and the cold season becomes warmer, we should see decreases in deaths. However, a variety of other factors could lead to cold-season deaths (such as respiratory infections during the cold season)- if we are indeed over-counting cold-season deaths and their potential reductions in a warmer world, the net impacts of increasing temperatures could result in even larger numbers of early deaths than studies like this estimate. However, we also don’t know how humans will react to the heat- as far as I can tell, these studies don’t take into account migration (for example, do people leave exceedingly hot areas in southern Europe in a warmer world?) or other possible factors- although they do try to account for potential adaptation.
“Additionally, as the authors acknowledge, the health data are aggregated to the city level, and within cities, people can respond quite differently in disparate neighborhoods to temperature extremes depending on social networks, income, housing, and other factors. We have this problem with health data in the US often as well- to keep data anonymous, it is often aggregated, but then we lose really important local information about how more and less vulnerable areas within cities are being impacted by climate change.”
Dr Matthew Maley, Lecturer in Environmental Ergonomics at Loughborough University, said:
Is this good quality research? Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?
“The study should be commended for accounting for variations in demographics (i.e. age) whilst presenting various future climate change scenarios in various adaptation scenarios.”
What does this study add to our understanding of heat/cold deaths after climate change? Was there doubt before now that on balance deaths would increase in Europe with warmer temperatures?
“This study confirms a consistent trend of increasing heat-related deaths, particularly under high-warming scenarios. The study also extends what we know by including European regions not included in previous studies.”
The study focuses on a relatively low mitigation and adaptation scenario – (SSP3-7.0) – can you comment on this? How likely/unlikely is it considered to be?
“It’s certainly a pessimistic scenario but one that could be our reality given current emission trajectories and failure to achieve our international climate change goals.”
What does the study tell us about excess heat deaths even under relatively optimistic scenarios?
“The more optimistic scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5) predict an increase in heat-related deaths, though to a lesser extent than SSP3-7.0. This emphasises that adaptation measures must accompany mitigation efforts to manage heat-related health impacts effectively.”
The study suggests that a significant amount of these deaths could be reduced with adaptation. In the cities where the largest death tolls are predicted (Barcelona, Rome, Naples, Madrid, Milan, Athens), what kinds of adaptation measures would be most effective?
“Effective adaptation measures for these Mediterranean cities could include:
Increase green space to enhance urban ventilation and implement reflective building materials.
Develop early warning systems akin to storm warning systems.
Targeted interventions for vulnerable populations (e.g. older adults).
Encourage behaviour change (e.g. advise to not go outdoors in peak temperatures).”
Dr Christopher Callahan, Postdoctoral Scholar in Earth System Science, Stanford University, said:
“This study is an impressive synthesis of heat- and cold-related mortality across Europe. While climate change may reduce cold-related deaths in winter, these results are unambiguous that increased heat-related mortality will outweigh these potential benefits, with an escalating death toll for every degree of global warming.
“One limitation of this study is that their numbers only account for about 40% of the population of the countries analyzed. The total death toll of climate change in these countries is likely substantially greater than these numbers indicate.
“One of the scenarios the authors examine is SSP3-7.0, which is a scenario of relatively high warming. While the most extreme emissions scenarios appear less likely today than previously, we should not discount the potential for very high levels of warming even given current climate policy. Many countries are on track to miss their stated emissions targets, and the rise of the second Trump administration in the United States may impede further progress on emissions reductions.”
Dr Raquel Nunes, Assistant Professor in Health and Environment at the University of Warwick Medical School, said:
“The findings of this study have serious implications for public health. As climate change leads to more extreme heat events, the number of heat-related deaths is expected to rise, putting additional pressure on healthcare systems. Vulnerable groups, such as older adults, those with chronic illnesses, and low-income communities, will be at the highest risk. Without strong adaptation measures, public health systems could struggle to cope with the increased demand for emergency services and hospital admissions.
“To protect public health, governments and policymakers need to invest in early warning systems, public education campaigns, and infrastructure improvements to help individuals stay cool and safe. Health professionals must also be trained to recognise and respond to heat-related illnesses. Additionally, social policies that provide support for vulnerable populations, such as access to cooling centres and affordable healthcare, will be essential in reducing the impact of extreme temperatures.
“This study highlights the urgent need for a coordinated public health response to climate change, focusing on prevention, preparedness, and adaptation to reduce future health risks. A significant proportion of current and future heat-related illnesses and deaths is preventable. What is essential now is the development and implementation of policies and actions aimed at minimising both morbidity and mortality.”
Prof Tim Osborn, Director of the Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (UEA), said:
“Cold weather and hot weather kill tens of thousands of people across Europe every year. Climate change is bringing less severe cold weather but more frequent hot weather, but it isn’t yet known if that means more or fewer people will die from temperature-related deaths in future. The clear finding of this new research is that the net effect of climate change will be more temperature-related deaths in future. Put bluntly, the increase in hot weather will kill more people than the decrease in cold weather will save.”
“While this new study isn’t the final say on the matter, and more research will certainly refine and could still change the overall prediction of future temperature-related deaths, it does break new ground by scrutinizing people’s vulnerability to extreme temperatures by age and by city to a much better level of detail than previous work. This extra level of detail ought to make the new study’s results more reliable.”
“This study also confirms two more general features about climate change. First, the harm from climate change impacts people very unevenly (in this case, with far greater increases in temperature-related deaths predicted for southern Europe than for northern Europe, where milder winters may even reduce the number of deaths). Second, we can greatly reduce the harm from climate change by adaptation — making changes that increase our resilience to extreme weather — but these adaptations are far more successful if we also limit the amount of climate change that we are faced with by accelerating the move away from fossil fuels as our primary energy source.”
Prof Simon Gosling, Professor of Climate Risks & Environmental Modelling at University of Nottingham, said:
“This is a high quality study that uses established modelling methods. It shows an increase in the overall number of deaths from temperature due to future global warming could be avoided if society makes big adaptations to heat. However, we are talking about a really big level of adaptation here – a level where the risk of dying from the heat is half of what it is nowadays. The models aren’t specific about how such a high level of adaptation could be achieved in reality. The way that this might be seen in the real world is through a combination of societal adjustments – in our cities, our homes, public services and work environments. Examples include increasing the amount of green spaces in our cities to help keep them cool, providing cooling centres where people can get relief from the heat, changing our work environments and work policies so that people are at less risk from heat stress at work, and by ensuring the people most vulnerable to heat are cared for and protected. There are some great examples of how this is starting to happen, but it’s a challenge that society has to rise to and achieve at scale, because this study very clearly shows that without high levels of adaptation, we are looking at an overall increase in deaths due to temperature in the future. Reducing global warming is also really important – lowering greenhouse gas emissions will help to significantly lessen the blow on society if we don’t achieve the high levels of adaptation needed to avoid an increase in deaths in the future.”
‘Estimating future heat-related and cold-related mortality under climate change, demographic and adaptation scenarios in 854 European cities’ by Pierre Masselot et al. was published in Nature Medicine at 16:00 UK time on Monday 27 January 2025.
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03452-2
Declared interests
Professor Tim Osborn: No interests to declare.
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
The Official Receiver’s Office (ORO) today expressed its sincere apologies over the loss of seven magnetic backup tapes on December 23 last year, and the delay in reporting the incident.
The ORO received a report on January 22 that the magnetic backup tapes were lost in transit from the Immigration Tower to Queensway Government Offices by ORO staff.
The tapes contain personal data of about 76,000 individuals. The ORO said it is notifying the affected parties by batch.
The tapes were stored in a locked protective case and the data therein is encrypted with AES-256, a highly secure encryption algorithm. Having consulted the Digital Policy Office, the ORO considers that the risk of personal data leakage is extremely low.
Based on the current investigation, the ORO said there is no evidence that the data contained on the tapes has been read or compromised.
The incident has been reported to the Police Force, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, the Security Bureau and the Digital Policy Office.
In addition to stressing that it is extremely concerned about the incident and has taken immediate action to review all transit procedures and data protection practices, the ORO made it clear that it has refined such procedures with immediate effect.
It is also conducting a thorough investigation into the staff concerned and the details of the case, including the delay in reporting the loss to senior management.
Appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken, the ORO noted.
It added that it has reminded its staff to comply with departmental guidelines and exercise due care in handling personal data. Furthermore, the ORO will review all guidelines on data security and examine the adoption of safer and more effective backup methods and procedures.
Published: January 21, 2025Last Updated: January 27, 2025
WASHINGTON – Immigration and the demonizing of immigrants was central to President Trump’s 2024 election campaign and since his re-election, he and his staff have aggressively pursued immigration enforcement but also to reshape the nation’s immigration laws. The proposals include promises to carry out the largest deportation program in American history, attempt to end birthright citizenship, and overturn a 13-year policy that has kept Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from executing raids in “sensitive areas” such as K-12 public schools.
Educators, students, and families are understandably concerned about the safety of their families and communities especially with an administration that calls children – students – criminals. Children exercising their right to attend public schools are not criminals and no one should demonize them for political gain.
That is why the National Education Association, on behalf of its more than three million members, put together this NEA comprehensive immigration guide to help schools and communities prepare for the onslaught of immigration actions by the Trump administration.
NEA President Becky Pringle noted when issuing the guidance:
“As educators, we are united in supporting every student—no matter the language they speak or their place of birth – and ensuring they have access to safe, welcoming public schools. Tragically, for our nation, the incoming Trump administration is committed to a mass deportation agenda that will inflict irreversible harm on our students, their families and communities.
“As educators, we have accepted the sacred responsibility to protect students—every single student, regardless of their immigration status—and to protect families and communities. We have a professional and moral responsibility to keep our students safe, especially if, and when, Trump sends ICE into our communities. We remain committed to using the power and strength of the largest labor union in the country to ensure every public school is a safe space for every student, and to uphold the constitutionally protected right of all students to access a public education.”
To that end, the guidance lays out information regarding immigration and schools, including information around enrollment issues, Plyler v. Doe, and Safe Zones resolutions, how educators can legally and safely engage in immigration advocacy, a FAQ around mass raids, a Know Your Rights guide around immigration enforcement, and an update on the DACA program.
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more atwww.nea.org
Published: January 27, 2025Last Updated: January 27, 2025
NEA President Becky Pringle issued the following statement in response to these unprecedented and harmful actions.
“Donald Trump and extreme politicians want to shut the door to equal educational opportunities for all children by attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs on public college and university campuses and beyond. This is just the latest example of how these politicians seek to turn back the clock and ensure that students who speak a different language, who are first-generation Americans, or who go by a different pronoun are no longer welcome and supported. These unwarranted attacks on DEI will have a chilling effect on programs that provide equity and opportunity for all Americans.
“The relentless assault on DEI supports and programs are the latest boogeyman for far-right politicians and their allies. They go hand in hand with their efforts to whitewash history, to ban books about important figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, and to silence the voices of educators who teach about uncomfortable truths in our schools. They are weaponizing the federal government to roll back civil rights protections that have been in place since the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.
“Let’s not let politicians distract us from their failures to fully fund public education, and from addressing the important issues for parents and families such as keeping students safe from gun violence, providing adequate resources for their public schools, and fixing the educator shortage and pay issues, to name a few. We know what’s at stake. That’s why we are coming together — parents, students, educators, and social justice advocates —to fight for all our students’ right to be seen and supported, and to have the resources they need to live into their brilliance.”
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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more atwww.nea.org
On Dec. 28, 2024, at approximately 12: 55 a.m., Airdrie RCMP was dispatched to the north west area of Airdrie, near Williamstown, for a report of multiple stabbings. With the assistance of Calgary Police Service Hawks helicopter, Airdrie RCMP successfully located one male suspect. The suspect was arrested near the scene without incident.
As a result of the incident, three victims were identified, two of which are young persons. All victims were immediately transported via Alberta Health Services ground ambulance to the hospital. Two victims are in serious, but stable condition. The third victim remains in hospital and is being treated for none life-threatening injuries related to the incident.
The lone individual arrested remains in police custody, and is facing charges of:
Aggravated assault x3
Assault with a weapon x3
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose x1
Carrying concealed weapon x1
This is an isolated incident, and there is no fear for public safety at this time. This is an active and ongoing investigation, any further information pertaining to the investigation will be updated accordingly.
MamaBull Token, built on Solana, is set to revolutionize crypto for developing countries with the upcoming Mamapay.io platform, which blends blockchain with real-world finance and offers generous rewards.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MamaBull Token ($MAMA), a highly anticipated cryptocurrency built on the Solana blockchain, will officially launch on January 27, 2025. Designed to symbolize strength and innovation in the crypto space, MamaBull offers a unique combination of speed, affordability, and real-world utility. The project’s dedicated website, mamabulltoken.com, is live and provides insights into the token’s features and upcoming developments.
A key component of MamaBull’s ecosystem is Mamapay.io, an upcoming financial platform scheduled for April 2025. The platform aims to transform the way users manage and transfer assets globally. By integrating blockchain with traditional banking services, Mamapay.io delivers a seamless experience for handling crypto and fiat assets. With features such as offshore bank accounts, debit cards, and compliance-focused financial solutions, the platform ensures security and regulatory adherence for a user-friendly experience.
Why MamaBull Token?
MamaBull sets itself apart in the crypto market by utilizing Solana’s high-speed infrastructure, guaranteeing ultra-fast transactions and low fees. Dedicated to financial inclusion, MamaBull aims to offer accessible financial services to underserved regions, connecting decentralized finance (DeFi) with traditional banking systems.
More than just a meme-inspired digital asset, MamaBull — dubbed “The Mother of All Streets” — delivers practical applications and long-term utility for holders while offering significant profit potential. As a memecoin with real utility, MamaBull presents an exciting opportunity for users to earn substantial returns by participating in its ecosystem.
Through its staking and rewards system, MamaBull allows holders to generate passive income over time. Users who stake their $MAMA tokens on mamapay.io can expect generous returns, which will encourage long-term participation and foster ecosystem stability. The token’s design prioritizes community incentives, ensuring that loyal holders are well-rewarded for their commitment.
Future cross-chain integrations with Ethereum and BNB Chain will further expand MamaBull’s reach. These integrations will ensure smooth connectivity across multiple blockchain networks and enhance users’ access to the DeFi ecosystem.
Within the Mamapay.io ecosystem, $MAMA holders can access exclusive benefits, including cashback rewards, reduced transaction fees, and revenue-sharing opportunities. These benefits significantly increase the potential profits available to participants.
Mamapay.io: A Game-Changer in Global Finance
As a pivotal part of the MamaBull ecosystem, Mamapay.io is set to redefine global financial operations by merging blockchain technology with traditional finance. The platform will enable crypto-to-fiat conversions, simplifying cross-border transactions for users.
By offering offshore banking solutions, Mamapay.io provides enhanced security and financial flexibility. Additionally, $MAMA-powered debit cards will allow seamless spending worldwide, integrating crypto into daily financial activities easily.
Compliance remains a top priority for Mamapay.io. The platform fully complies with AML and KYC regulations to create a secure and trusted financial environment for all users.
Security and Transparency
Security and transparency are fundamental to MamaBull’s development, ensuring confidence among investors and users. The project’s smart contracts have been fully audited, and ownership has been renounced. Most importantly, minting operations have been permanently turned off to prevent potential manipulation.
A burned liquidity pool has been implemented to support price stability and reinforce long-term sustainability within the ecosystem.
A Roadmap for Sustained Growth
MamaBull’s roadmap outlines a strategic path toward long-term growth and adoption. The initial phase focuses on launching the token and building a strong community through targeted marketing campaigns.
Subsequent phases will introduce strategic partnerships with influencers and secure listings on major exchanges, increasing visibility and market reach. The rollout of governance features and staking mechanisms will empower the community to actively shape the project’s future.
Future developments will emphasize the integration of Mamapay.io’s banking solutions, further positioning MamaBull as a key player in merging traditional and digital financial systems. Long-term initiatives include regular token burns and continuous feature enhancements to drive sustained value for holders.
Join the MamaBull Revolution
MamaBull is more than just a crypto; it represents a movement toward financial inclusion, empowerment, and innovation. Combining speed, affordability, and groundbreaking financial solutions, MamaBull is set to make a lasting impact in the evolving crypto-fintech landscape. With its potential for high profits and real-world utility, MamaBull offers an exciting opportunity for those looking to capitalize on the growing crypto space.
For the latest updates and developments, visit mamabulltoken.com and follow social media accounts:
Disclaimer: This content is provided by MamaBull. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.