Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
SIOUX FALLS—United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Watertown, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 19, 2025.
Anthony Thomas Lee Baker, 43, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of the firearm was also ordered.
Baker was indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024.
The charges arose from an incident when Baker, driving a vehicle, was stopped by law enforcement in Watertown, South Dakota. He was found to be in possession of a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Baker is prohibited from possessing any firearm based on a prior felony conviction. More specifically, Baker has at least three prior violent felony convictions, including one for possession of another firearm following his conviction for a crime of violence in Ramsey County, Minnesota, in 2017.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Baker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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.
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, bipartisan legislation to eliminate the out-of-pocket costs associated with childbirth. Specifically, the legislation would prevent cost-sharing for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum health care for Americans with private health insurance and ensure pregnancy and childbirth services are covered without copays, coinsurance, or deductibles. While Medicaid generally covers childbirth and other pregnancy-related health care for many Americans at zero-cost, this legislation would provide similar benefits to the majority of Americans who are covered under private insurance.
“In recent years, we’ve made tremendous progress to lower health care costs and expand access to care,” said Kaine. “But we have more work to do—especially as Americans grapple with more and more economic uncertainty. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to reduce costs related to maternal care and childbirth for millions of expectant and new mothers, and will keep doing all that I can to ensure that high-quality care is within reach for mothers and their newborns throughout their lives.”
The average out-of-pocket cost of maternal care and childbirth for mothers with commercial insurance is approximately $3,000, with 1 in 6 mothers paying over $5,000 out-of-pocket. Some families also receive bills and bill amendments months after a hospital stay, creating confusion about what they must pay and challenges figuring out how they will afford these unpredictable expenses. Nearly half of Americans say they cannot afford to pay a $1,000 emergency expense. The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would ensure health care is affordable to American moms.
Full text of the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is available here.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (“PSI” or “Subcommittee”), will hold a hearing entitled, “The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies: How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccines.” In conjunction with the hearing, the chairman released an interim Majority Staff Report, along with more than 2,400 pages of records, detailing the failure of federal health agencies to properly warn the public of the risks of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The report, which follows Chairman Johnson’s Jan. 28, 2025 subpoena to the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), reveals how federal health officials who were aware of reports of heart inflammation conditions associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines delayed notifying the public while downplaying the risks.
Records produced pursuant to the subpoena reveal the following: in the first half of 2021, federal health officials had ample evidence of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions occurring in young adults who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Although a number of these records were previously made available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), the Biden administration’s heavy redactions prevented a full understanding of what federal health officials knew and what actions they took.
As detailed in the report and records Chairman Johnson released, beginning in February 2021, federal health officials were put on notice by counterparts in Israel of individuals experiencing myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions after receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Over the next three months, federal health officials continued to receive information on cases of heart inflammation following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. By mid-May 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) officials were drafting a formal notification for health care providers and other officials.
Records indicate that while health officials were drafting the notification, a key vaccine safety monitoring system, VAERS, began showing a safety signal for a heart inflammation condition in young adults who had received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Within days of the safety signal, the top ranking official at the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), then-Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, pushed back on the CDC’s plan to formally notify healthcare providers, ultimately resulting in the formal notification being rejected in favor of a posting on CDC’s website.
The report builds on the work of many individuals who fought tirelessly to obtain records through the FOIA process under the Biden administration. The chairman credits Brenda Baletti, Ed Berkovich, Brian Hooker, Amy Kelly, Zachary Stieber, Naomi Wolf, and many others who worked persistently to expose the truth about the association of myocarditis with the COVID-19 vaccines.
With the release of the interim report and the corresponding subpoenaed documents produced by the Trump administration, the public will be able to access a more complete record of the Biden administration’s failure to warn the public about the health risks of COVID-19 vaccines without heavy FOIA redactions.
Key findings from the report include:
Despite their awareness of the risks, U.S. health officials downplayed the risks of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
U.S. health officials delayed for months alerting the public, and ultimately rejected a formal notification to health care providers about the risks to young people of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
U.S. health officials were made aware by at least early 2021 that some of their vaccine safety monitoring systems may not have been capturing all cases of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
The hearing will be live streamed beginning at 2:00pm EST here.
The interim PSI Majority Staff report can be found here.
The records, which at the request of HHS contain minimal redactions for Personally Identifiable Information, are linked below:
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) in introducing the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act to increase awareness and access to mental health care throughout the AANHPI community.
“Accessing mental health care continues to be a challenge for Nevadans from all backgrounds,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m focused on improving access critical health care for AAPI Nevadans. Together, we can reduce the stigma around mental illness and keep our kids and families safe.”
According to data collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), members of the AANHPI community have the lowest rates of mental health service utilization of any racial/ethnic group, with only 35 percent of Asian adults with a mental health problem receiving treatment in 2023. In 2023, an estimated 65 percent of the AANHPI community, who met criteria for a mental health problem, did not receive necessary treatment. And, even though suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States, it is the leading cause of death for AANHPI youth ages 10 to 24, and they are the only racial or ethnic group in this age category whose leading cause of death is suicide.
Specifically, the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act would instruct SAMHSA to:
Establish a national outreach and education mental health and substance misuse strategy for the AANHPI community by partnering with advocacy and behavioral health organizations that have an established record of serving AANHPI communities; and
Conduct research and collect disaggregated data on the state of behavioral health among AANHPI youth and on the shortage of AANHPIs in the behavioral health workforce.
Senator Cortez Masto has been a leader in the Senate on mental health issues. She helped fund and implement the 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline, and passed bipartisan legislation to expand behavioral health crisis support services. She successfully fought to include $1 billion to support mental health services in schools in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act. This legislation would expand Medicare negotiation of drug prices to lower drug costs for Americans across the country and reduce federal spending.
“Hard-working Nevadans often struggle to afford the high prices of the medications that they rely on,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This commonsense fix builds on the legislation, passed and signed into law by Democrats, that caps insulin at $35 a month and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices. We will continue to deliver real solutions that lower costs for American families and end Big Pharma’s price gouging.”
This legislation builds on the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed into law in 2022, that empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time. The SMART Prices Act would extend this progress by more than doubling the number of prescription drugs Medicare must negotiate to a minimum of 50 per year, allowing the costliest prescription drugs and biologics to have negotiated prices five years after approval by the Food and Drug Administration, and by increasing the discount that Medicare is allowed to negotiate. This could save seniors thousands of dollars each year and would allow Medicare to begin negotiations earlier and bring down the price of more expensive drugs.
Senator Cortez Masto has been a champion of affordable, quality health care, including mental and behavioral care. Cortez Masto has pushed pharmacy benefit managers to help lower prescription drug costs. To lower health care costs for all Nevadans, Cortez Masto worked to expand health care subsidies for individuals and families getting health care through the exchange. She recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide patients with transparent and timely access to prescription medications and treatments.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON – Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:
“The recent revelations that Joe Kent, DNI Gabbard’s chief of staff and the nominee to lead the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), sought to alter an intelligence assessment to align with false political narratives pushed by Donald Trump are deeply disturbing, disqualifying, and frankly, dangerous. This was a blatant attempt to politicize national security to appease a president who has repeatedly shown contempt for facts and for the intelligence professionals sworn to defend this country.
“For years, the Director of National Intelligence has railed against so-called ‘deep state’ manipulation of intelligence. Now we learn that her closest aide, and Trump’s hand-picked nominee to one of the most sensitive roles in government, was actively pushing to distort intelligence because it contradicted a preferred political narrative.
“This is unacceptable. The Senate should immediately halt consideration of Mr. Kent’s nomination to lead NCTC, and the Senate Intelligence Committee has an obligation to conduct rigorous oversight to determine whether Kent or other Trump officials have attempted to politically interfere with other assessments.
“When intelligence is manipulated to fit a political agenda, our security is at risk. Our ability to prevent terrorist attacks, counter adversaries, and make sound decisions is only as good as the accuracy and integrity of the intelligence that informs it. Our intelligence agencies must be permitted to speak truth to power, not twist the truth to serve power.”
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Dr. Andrew Gillen, Dr. Michael Lindsay, Dr. Mark Brown, Mr. Mike Pierce, and Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on the state of higher education. During the hearing, Sen. Tuberville discussed the reasons for the skyrocket of prices in higher education institutions during recent years.
Sen. Tuberville also introduced Dr. Mark Brown, President of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, to the Committee.
Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.
Sen. Tuberville’s introduction of Dr. Brown can be found below or on YouTube or Rumble.
INTRODUCTION OF DR. MARK BROWN:
TUBERVILLE: “It’s my pleasure to introduce our second witness, Dr. Mark A. Brown. As a matter of fact, he’s about 20 miles from where I live, as we speak, in Auburn, Alabama. Dr. Brown is the president of Tuskegee University, home of the Tuskegee Airmen, who we’re very proud of. It’s a Historically Black College in Alabama. He is the first alumnus in Tuskegee’s 143-year-history to lead the university. A retired Air Force Major General, Dr. Brown brings unmatched experience in education leadership, federal student aid policy, and HBCU advancement. We are thankful to have you here today to hear your perspective, Dr. Brown. “
ON THE COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION:
TUBERVILLE: “Gentlemen, thanks for being here. I’m passionate about this. I spent [40] years in education—more than anybody in this room probably, maybe other than Dr. Graham, although you spent a little time in the military. I’ve been in high schools all across this country, almost in all 50 states. We’ve gone backwards. [We’re here] today to talk about higher education. I spent 30 years in that and have done a lot of great things for a lot of kids, men and women, rich and poor. It’s got to be merit based, folks. If we don’t merit base this thing, we will not survive as an educational system. This country gives you an opportunity.
I was in a situation where athletics was merit-based. I didn’t care who you were. I had to win games. I recruited kids that had good grades, would go to class, and could play football. And if they couldn’t do those three things and work at it, I didn’t recruit them. It’s got to be the same thing in college in terms of getting a good education. I know of a school that has a happiness degree. That [isn’t] gonna get it. I’m for paying everybody’s way through college, but not for a degree where when they get out, they can’t get a job at Walmart. We need degrees that kids can prosper [with], raise a family, and have a great life in this country. So, I’d like to ask each one of you just one question, starting over with Dr. Gillen.
Dr. Gillen, what factors do you see that have caused massive skyrocketing costs at our universities across the country?”
GILLEN: “So, I would argue that the main driver of higher college cost is what’s called the Bowen Revenue Theory of Cost. When you look at higher education, […] the idea here is not that, you know, higher faculty salaries or increases in institutional aid are driving higher spending. It’s that when more revenue is available, colleges will spend as much as they can. And it makes sense, these are all mission driven institutions, right? If you give each of these schools a million more dollars, they’ll find a good way to spend it. The problem is if you keep doing that, eventually those good ways to spend it aren’t so convincing anymore. But when we have these mission driven institutions, the more money they have, the more money they’re going to spend.”
TUBERVILLE: “Dr. Lindsay?”
LINDSAY: “I think the opportunity that is before is, as you say, to bring accountability and outcomes. And I think we have to be very intentional about the kind of formation that’s occurring on our campuses. I’m really proud of the fact that we have something called the Good Work Initiative, which is basically trying to transform on campus employment opportunities where students are paid a little bit more than minimum wage to give them a little bit more spending money, but we also pair it with professional development and vocational discernment exercises to help them. So, that when they graduate, they actually have that kind of professional experience. It’s a pilot [program]. We’ve had good success with it. We’re allowing the opportunity for more students to take on more leadership roles, giving them good things for their resumes, but also buttressing their opportunities when they graduate.”
TUBERVILLE: “Dr. Brown?”
BROWN: “Senator, I’ll use a real example. I went to my Board of Trustees for this upcoming year and said that I would like to freeze tuition for two years at our school. They approved the freezing of the tuition, but when I looked at the cost of insurance—which is a subcomponent of that tuition—we had to go up. So, the real cost to the customer—the family—was more.
The same is true of the cost of dining, the cost of food that goes into a dining hall contract, and the cost of the utilities it takes to run the campus. My campus is much like any other business. Those costs, we would not be able to absorb, and so our cost went up because costs in the economy went up. It was not that we would spend more because we had more. Those costs were real, and we had to realize those as a school [that] operates just like a business in that sense.”
LOWERY-HART: “Thank you for the question. I would say in the community college sector, there hasn’t been a massive skyrocket rising in prices. At Austin Community College, we haven’t raised tuition in 12 years. I think we’ve raised it once in 15 [years]. We’re the sector of higher education that lives within our means, because our students are so price-sensitive. And I think there could be a lot to learn from how community colleges effectively manage their budgets.”
TUBERVILLE: “I agree with you on that. I’ve been in a lot of community colleges. You do a good job, by the way. And I think more kids need to go to community colleges.
Mr. Pierce?”
PIERCE: “I think it’s my turn to talk about for-profit colleges, which seems to be missing from my colleague’s responses to your question. We have watched the proprietary sector raise costs far in excess of other sectors of the higher education system. And we’ve also watched some of the largest participants in the for-profit college market turn into private non-profit colleges or enter into deals with public colleges. I think we’re not at a place where we were a decade ago talking about the proprietary sector. We should be looking at the backroom deals that some of the largest colleges in the country are cutting with these private companies and how these deals are driving the increase in costs that are being pushed on our most vulnerable students.”
TUBERVILLE: “Good. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Jerry Moran, Cory Booker, and Markwayne Mullin introduced the bipartisan, bicameral DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act to boost funding for Down syndrome research. Specifically, the legislation would authorize the INCLUDE (Investigation of Co-Occurring Conditions Across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome) Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and increase funding for Down syndrome research for the next five years.
“Hundreds of thousands of Americans live with Down syndrome, and yet its research has been underfunded for decades,” said Hickenlooper. “This bill is named for my friend DeOndra Dixon, who lived a full, vibrant life and wanted the same for all people living with Down syndrome. We are determined to get this bill across the finish line for her, and for every American who will benefit from research on many different health conditions.”
“Research, supported by the NIH, has helped improve and extend the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, but there is still more to learn,” said Moran. “This legislation will invest in scientific studies on Down syndrome to help members of the Down syndrome community and their families find answers and solutions for the health challenges they face.”
“Every year, around 6,000 babies are born in the United States with Down syndrome, and while the life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased drastically over the years, many are still at an increased risk for certain medical conditions,” said Booker. “This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize critical funding for research, increase the number of clinical trials for individuals with Down syndrome, and ultimately help improve the quality of life for people with Down syndrome and their families.”
“People with Down syndrome are a gift from God, and I’m glad to be working in a bipartisan way to support federal Down syndrome research,”said Mullin. “We know that people with Down syndrome are at an increased risk of developing certain medical conditions, like heart defects and Alzheimer’s disease, so it’s critical we do everything we can to better health care outcomes and improve quality of life.”
The INCLUDE Project was launched in June 2018 to further research on health and quality-of-life needs for individuals with Down syndrome. The project investigates conditions that affect individuals with Down syndrome and the general population, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, autism, cataracts, celiac disease, congenital heart disease, and diabetes.
The legislation is named after DeOndra Dixon, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Ambassador and Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee, who died at the age of 36 in 2020.
The House version of the bill is led by representative Diana DeGette and cosponsored by representatives Richard Hudson, Rosa DeLauro, Tom Cole, Pete Stauber, and Eleanor Holmes Norton.
“GLOBAL, our self-advocates and families, and our researchers and medical professionals, celebrate Senate reintroduction of the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act which is a necessary next step to ensuring continued and growing federal investments at the NIH to advance Down syndrome research that will elongate life and improve health outcomes for our children and adults with Down syndrome” said Michelle Sie Whitten, President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. “I am deeply grateful for the efforts of our dear friends and champions Senators Hickenlooper and Moran along with Senators Booker and Mullin who have reintroduced this important legislation today. Our hearts are full knowing this legislation will be an enduring legacy celebrating the life and advocacy of our beloved Ambassador DeOndra Dixon.”
Full text of the legislation available HERE.
Students, staff and the surrounding community are one step closer to more on-campus supports at Simon Fraser University (SFU) – Burnaby as construction starts on a new student residence and will begin later this year on a new child care facility.
“A safe and secure place to live and conveniently located child care can be transformative for students and parents working or studying on campus,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “These new facilities will provide shorter commute times, allow students to focus on their studies and help ease pressure on the local rental market. Projects like this are one way we are investing in infrastructure that supports people in B.C.”
The new eight-storey residence will provide an additional 445 beds for students at the Burnaby campus. It will include a mix of studio and four-bedroom apartments, as well as two- and four-bedroom townhouses. Construction is expected to start in fall 2025 on a stand-alone child care centre, which will add 160 new child care spaces to more than 410 existing spaces in the Burnaby campus and at SFU’s Sapperton location. With these new spaces, more than 570 child care spaces will provide support to the SFU community.
Once complete, the residence will bring the total number of student beds on the SFU Burnaby campus to more than 3,000.
“I have met with many students at post-secondary campuses in B.C., and access to housing and child care are big factors when deciding if they can afford to build a better life for themselves,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “Since 2018, our government has made historic investments in student housing, making it easier for thousands of students across the province to gain the skills they need to fill the in-demand jobs our economy needs.”
Construction is expected to be completed on the student-housing residence and child care facility in fall 2027. The total capital cost of the project is $196.6 million, shared between the Province and SFU.
This project is Phase 3 of SFU’s ongoing student-housing expansion. Phases 1 and 2 added a combined 856 new beds for students, with funding for Phase 2 provided by the Province.
“Watching the Phase 3 site come to life has reinforced how vital new student housing is for our community,” said Ali Asgar Abdul Udaipurwala, a fourth-year undergraduate student at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, who lives in residence at the Burnaby campus. “As a community adviser and area co-ordinator, I have loved planning late-night events, movie nights and study breaks in our halls. I am excited for Phase 3 to become our next home away from home.”
Since 2018, the government has committed $2 billion to expand on-campus student housing at public post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. To date, 6,100 beds for students are open, with another 4,600 underway.
Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s space-creation programs have helped fund the creation of more than 40,900 new licensed child care spaces in B.C., with more than 24,900 of those operational. This child care project received $16 million through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, which is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding provided under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Quotes:
Joy Johnson, president,Simon Fraser University–
“We are grateful for the Province’s continued investment in student housing and child care across the province. I look forward to continued growth of SFU’s resident student community on Burnaby Mountain and to continued partnership with the provincial government as we move forward. The post-secondary sector is united in our efforts to support British Columbians in tackling shared challenges, from housing to health care and beyond, as we make a difference for students and for communities across B.C.”
Rohini Arora, parliamentary secretary for child care, and MLA for Burnaby East –
“Creating 160 new child care spaces on SFU campus, where hard-working students, families and single parents can easily access the care they need, is one of the ways we are helping Burnaby get ahead. By ensuring parents, especially mothers, can access high-quality child care in Burnaby while attending higher education or working, we are setting both this generation and the next up for success.”
Learn More:
For more information about Simon Fraser University, visit: https://www.sfu.ca/
OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general in urging Congress to take immediate action to address the looming budget shortfall for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). Established by Congress in 2010, WTCHP provides free medical care and monitoring for first responders, survivors, and families impacted by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Without further congressional intervention, WTCHP is projected to experience a significant funding shortfall as early as Fiscal Year 2026.
“For nearly 15 years, the World Trade Center Health Program has been a lifeline for first responders and survivors impacted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a nation, we cannot turn our backs on them — ever,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I’m proud to be joining a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in urging Congress to fully fund this critical program.”
WTCHP has been an essential resource for more than 135,000 Americans exposed to toxic dust and debris following the collapse of the Twin Towers. These include firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, construction workers, volunteers, and community members who were present in the aftermath. Many of them are now suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses, cancers, mental health conditions, and other serious ailments directly linked to their exposure. They live in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico.
In the letter, the attorneys general argue that despite being reauthorized in 2015 and 2019 with overwhelming bipartisan support, the program now faces a severe funding shortfall that could result in the denial of care to thousands of current and future enrollees. The program is authorized to run until 2090, but the attorneys general contend that the far-off date is essentially meaningless if the program is not funded during that period.
In sending today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of American Samoa, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA)
GAINESVILLE, GA — Today, Reps. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) and Chuck Edwards (NC-11) sent a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) President and CEO Don Moul advocating for a sensible approach to address Chatuge Dam spillway safety concerns. Additionally, the lawmakers requested critical information central to the modifications, including the TVA’s completed risk assessment and a comprehensive economic impact analysis of each proposal.
Reps. Clyde and Edwards highlight the potential economic impacts that TVA’s current proposals would have on their communities:
“We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the proposed Chatuge Dam Spillway Safety Modifications at Lake Chatuge, which is located in both of our districts. While we recognize the critical importance of ensuring the safe operation of Chatuge Dam – and safeguarding the many residents living in the valleys below – we urge you to carefully consider the potential economic impacts that any lake drawdowns would have on the residents and small business owners of the mountain communities of Hiawassee, Georgia, and Hayesville, North Carolina. These towns and surrounding mountain communities rely heavily on Lake Chatuge’s recreational tourism during the summer months to sustain their rural economies.”
The lawmakers detail how devastating a potential lake drawdown would be for North Georgia and Western North Carolina:
“…the proposals outlined by the TVA for potential repairs include lake drawdowns to an elevation as low as 1,908 feet – 10 feet below the normal winter pool – for the entire duration of the construction project, with some proposals expected to last as long as eight years. Such drawdowns would devastate the rural, mountain economies of surrounding towns, including Hiawassee, Georgia and Hayesville, North Carolina – leading to the shuttering of small businesses, the displacement of rural workers, and the upending of these communities for decades to come. For example, a 2021 assessment by the University of Georgia found that Towns County’s tourism-related output was $117.4 million, supporting 1,362 jobs or approximately 24% of county employment, and generated $30.8 million in wages.”
Additionally, the lawmakers share their constituents’ serious concerns about the TVA’s proposals:
“Residents across Towns County, Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina have contacted our offices to express serious concerns about the potential economic impacts of the TVA’s proposed lake drawdowns on their small businesses and financial futures.
“One constituent shared how the proposed drawdown would diminish the time they cherish with friends and family on the lake. A local business owner, whose livelihood depends on Lake Chatuge’s seasonal tourism, wrote about the devastating economic consequences an eight-year drawdown would have for Towns County: ‘Implementing a drawdown of this magnitude and duration threatens to eliminate thousands of jobs… bankrupt numerous businesses… [and] erode the tax base.’”
In closing, Reps. Clyde and Edwards request critical information central to the TVA’s spillway modification proposals:
“Specifically, we request that the Tennessee Valley Authority:
Publish the TVA’s completed risk assessment of the Chatuge Dam;
Commission a comprehensive economic impact analysis for each proposal outlined in the April 2025 Notice of Intent (NOI);
Explore mitigation measures that would minimize economic harm, such as restricting drawdowns to recreation off-seasons.
“We further ask that the TVA maintain full transparency in its communications with our offices and with the residents of surrounding communities throughout the Lake Chatuge dam modification process. We look forward to working with local officials, stakeholders, and TVA to reach the best solution that effectively balances the safety of spillway operations and the continued economic prosperity of our mountain communities.”
Read the full letter HERE.
Background
A recent TVA study identified a key vulnerability in the spillway of Chatuge Dam. While the conditions of the current spillway are not an emergency, the TVA is aiming to improve the safety of the spillway to reduce the risk of the dam’s long-term operations. The TVA study has judged the spillway at Chatuge Dam exhibits some of the vulnerabilities that led to the damage and failure of the Oroville Dam spillway in California. To address the issue, the agency announced four potential alternatives for a long-term solution.
Last month, Rep. Clyde visited the Chatuge Dam with Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, Towns County EMA Director Marty Roberts, and members of Rep. Chuck Edwards’ staff to meet with Tennessee Valley Authority officials and discuss the TVA’s proposed plans to address spillway safety concerns.
Additional information on the Tennessee Valley Authority receiving public input on Chatuge Dam safety modifications can be found HERE.
Details on the TVA’s notice of intent, including proposed plans, is available in the Federal Register HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA)
GAINESVILLE, GA — Today, Reps. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) and Chuck Edwards (NC-11) sent a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) President and CEO Don Moul advocating for a sensible approach to address Chatuge Dam spillway safety concerns. Additionally, the lawmakers requested critical information central to the modifications, including the TVA’s completed risk assessment and a comprehensive economic impact analysis of each proposal.
Reps. Clyde and Edwards highlight the potential economic impacts that TVA’s current proposals would have on their communities:
“We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the proposed Chatuge Dam Spillway Safety Modifications at Lake Chatuge, which is located in both of our districts. While we recognize the critical importance of ensuring the safe operation of Chatuge Dam – and safeguarding the many residents living in the valleys below – we urge you to carefully consider the potential economic impacts that any lake drawdowns would have on the residents and small business owners of the mountain communities of Hiawassee, Georgia, and Hayesville, North Carolina. These towns and surrounding mountain communities rely heavily on Lake Chatuge’s recreational tourism during the summer months to sustain their rural economies.”
The lawmakers detail how devastating a potential lake drawdown would be for North Georgia and Western North Carolina:
“…the proposals outlined by the TVA for potential repairs include lake drawdowns to an elevation as low as 1,908 feet – 10 feet below the normal winter pool – for the entire duration of the construction project, with some proposals expected to last as long as eight years. Such drawdowns would devastate the rural, mountain economies of surrounding towns, including Hiawassee, Georgia and Hayesville, North Carolina – leading to the shuttering of small businesses, the displacement of rural workers, and the upending of these communities for decades to come. For example, a 2021 assessment by the University of Georgia found that Towns County’s tourism-related output was $117.4 million, supporting 1,362 jobs or approximately 24% of county employment, and generated $30.8 million in wages.”
Additionally, the lawmakers share their constituents’ serious concerns about the TVA’s proposals:
“Residents across Towns County, Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina have contacted our offices to express serious concerns about the potential economic impacts of the TVA’s proposed lake drawdowns on their small businesses and financial futures.
“One constituent shared how the proposed drawdown would diminish the time they cherish with friends and family on the lake. A local business owner, whose livelihood depends on Lake Chatuge’s seasonal tourism, wrote about the devastating economic consequences an eight-year drawdown would have for Towns County: ‘Implementing a drawdown of this magnitude and duration threatens to eliminate thousands of jobs… bankrupt numerous businesses… [and] erode the tax base.’”
In closing, Reps. Clyde and Edwards request critical information central to the TVA’s spillway modification proposals:
“Specifically, we request that the Tennessee Valley Authority:
Publish the TVA’s completed risk assessment of the Chatuge Dam;
Commission a comprehensive economic impact analysis for each proposal outlined in the April 2025 Notice of Intent (NOI);
Explore mitigation measures that would minimize economic harm, such as restricting drawdowns to recreation off-seasons.
“We further ask that the TVA maintain full transparency in its communications with our offices and with the residents of surrounding communities throughout the Lake Chatuge dam modification process. We look forward to working with local officials, stakeholders, and TVA to reach the best solution that effectively balances the safety of spillway operations and the continued economic prosperity of our mountain communities.”
Read the full letter HERE.
Background
A recent TVA study identified a key vulnerability in the spillway of Chatuge Dam. While the conditions of the current spillway are not an emergency, the TVA is aiming to improve the safety of the spillway to reduce the risk of the dam’s long-term operations. The TVA study has judged the spillway at Chatuge Dam exhibits some of the vulnerabilities that led to the damage and failure of the Oroville Dam spillway in California. To address the issue, the agency announced four potential alternatives for a long-term solution.
Last month, Rep. Clyde visited the Chatuge Dam with Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, Towns County EMA Director Marty Roberts, and members of Rep. Chuck Edwards’ staff to meet with Tennessee Valley Authority officials and discuss the TVA’s proposed plans to address spillway safety concerns.
Additional information on the Tennessee Valley Authority receiving public input on Chatuge Dam safety modifications can be found HERE.
Details on the TVA’s notice of intent, including proposed plans, is available in the Federal Register HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is joined by Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) and 24 colleagues to condemn recent comments from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy where he suggested individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cannot lead fulfilling lives and oppose HHS proposals to track autistic individuals via private health data.
The Members point out serious concerns about cutting funding, dismantling education programs, and the sidelining of expert advisory committees like the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Members write to the HHS Secretary as they promote the “Make America Healthy Again,” (MAHA) slogan but recent cuts to programs across federal agencies will have the opposite effect.
In a letter to the Secretary the members urge him to retract his statements and call for a renewed commitment to evidence-based ASD research, support for caregivers, funding for IDEA programs, and full implementation of the Autism CARES Act of 2024.
“We are deeply concerned and outraged about your recent comments and proposed actions related to autism spectrum disorder,”wrote the Members in the letter. “We write today as Members of Congress, but also as parents, family members, and Representatives of loved ones with ASD to demand that you retract your comments and make clear to the nation that individuals with autism play a constructive and valuable role in American society.”
“Instead of vilifying and tracking Americans with ASD, MAHA should help the ASD community by implementing key programs, including: evidence-based research that focuses on improving quality of life, support for caregivers of individuals with ASD, increased access to early childhood screening and interventions, care for adults with ASD and co-occurring psychiatric conditions, and continued access to public health information relating to ASD. It is essential to develop the workforce of the next generation of behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists, special educators, and other related health professions,” continued the Members.
“This should go without saying but Americans with autism are valuable and constructive members of our communities who lead meaningful and joyful lives,” said Rep. Balint. “I was appalled but not surprised to hear the Secretary continue to spread baseless lies about autism spectrum disorder under the guise of making Americans healthier. I’m standing with colleagues to implore the Secretary to listen and learn more from people with autism and immediately retract these harmful comments. Misinformation coming from someone who should be fighting for the health and safety of our country is not only disgusting but poses real risks to public health.”
“Secretary Kennedy is peddling lies that are devastating to individuals with autism spectrum disorder,” said Rep. Min. “Conspiracy theories like those that Secretary Kennedy has pushed forward cause major harm to public health and should have no place in the Health and Human Services Department. He must take back and apologize for these hateful comments.”
“The Autism Society of America is deeply concerned by ongoing threats to critical services and the misalignment in research priorities under the current Administration. The proposed cuts to Medicaid, and disruption of Autism-related programs, risk dismantling the essential infrastructure that millions of Autistic individuals and their families depend on,” said Tracey Staley, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of America. “We appreciate the vital role that Congress plays in overseeing these matters and ensuring accountability and transparency in policies that impact the disability community.”
“As a non-partisan organization, the Autism Society of America remains committed to working with HHS to ensure that policy and research reflect the diverse needs of the Autism community and uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals on the spectrum,”Staley continued.
The letter was signed by Reps. Bonamici, Cleaver, Correa, Craig, Elfreth, Garcia (CA), Goodlander, Huffman, Johnson (GA), Kaptur, Krishnamoorthi, McCollum, Norton, Quigley, Ramirez, Raskin, Sherman, Takano, Tlaib, Tonko, Torres (NY), Velázquez, Vindman, and Watson Coleman.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
Ahead of Memorial Day, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the Sergeant Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez Congressional Gold Medal Act to posthumously recognize Edinburg-native Sgt. Gonzalez’s service during the Vietnam War.
“Every Memorial Day, we are reminded that our freedoms are not free. Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez is a South Texas hero who sacrificed his life to protect the soldiers in his platoon. Though we can never repay his sacrifice, the Congressional Gold Medal shows our nation’s appreciation for his heroism and will carry on his legacy for years to come.”– Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz
Background:
The Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez Congressional Gold Medal Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a gold medal dedicated to Sgt. Gonzalez to recognize his service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War.
Sgt. Gonzalez displayed extraordinary bravery and leadership as a platoon commander. While under heavy enemy fire, he maneuvered his unit and saved a wounded comrade despite being injured himself. He continued to lead his men and refused medical attention even after being seriously wounded. He continued to lead his platoon up until his death.
His actions led to accolades, including the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, the Military Merit Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the namesake of the USS Gonzalez.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
May 21, 2025
The resolution recognizes the soldiers’ service and sacrifice to our nation and NATO allies
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today commended the unanimous Senate passage of his bipartisan resolution honoring the four American soldiers—including one Illinoisan—who were stationed in Lithuania and tragically died in March while on a mission to recover a vehicle immobilized during a training exercise. The soldiers include Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. from Joliet, Illinois; Staff Sergeant Edvin F. Franco; Staff Sergeant Troy S. Knutson-Collins; and Private First-Class Dante D. Taitano—all part of the 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
“Last night, the Senate honored the brave American service members, including Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. from Joliet, Illinois, who tragically died during a mission in Lithuania earlier this year. It was a mission fraught with extreme danger and challenges, and this resolution reminds us of the daily service and sacrifice of our military members,” Durbin said. “The resolution also expresses our gratitude to our Lithuanian ally—who dropped everything and faced great odds to help us recover their bodies and bring these fallen soldiers home—a reminder of the common defense underlying our alliance.”
On April 3, thousands of Lithuanians took to the streets in Vilnius—including the Lithuanian President—to pay their respects to our fallen American soldiers. The resolution also reaffirms the importance of the NATO alliance and the need to support our Baltic allies.
Durbin spoke about the four American soldiers and his resolution on the Senate floor last month.
Text of the resolution can be found here.
Joining Durbin in sponsoring the resolution are U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
May 21, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Joseph Edlow, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Elliot Gaiser, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC); John Squires, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); and Stanley Woodward, to be Associate Attorney General. Durbin’s opening statement focused on whether the nominees’ allegiance is to the President or to the rule of law.
Key Quotes:
“Earlier this year, I asked Justice Department nominees a simple question: may a public official defy a court order? Shockingly, the nominees, including the future Solicitor General John Sauer, refused to give an unequivocal answer. Just days ago, Mr. Sauer repeated this egregious error before the Supreme Court. During arguments in the case challenging the President’s illegal birthright citizenship executive order, Justice Barrett, …a Trump nominee, asked Mr. Sauer if the Administration would follow circuit court rulings. Mr. Sauer responded that the federal government’s policy is to ‘generally respect circuit precedent but not necessarily in every case.’ As our colleague Senator Kennedy said earlier this year, ‘don’t ever, ever, take the position that you’re not going to follow the order of a federal court. Ever.’”
“Mr. Gaiser has been nominated to lead the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides legal advice to the President and all executive branch agencies. I want to hear whether he believes that the policy of the federal government [should be] to ignore court rulings that don’t suit the President’s whims.”
“Beyond unlawfully attempting to end birthright citizenship, which is enshrined in the Constitution, the Administration has made it harder for legal immigrants to apply for citizenship and naturalize. This Administration has made it harder for Dreamers, who want to do the right thing. Now these were kids who were brought to the United States by their parents… They want to apply for programs like DACA so that they can receive work permits and continue to contribute to the American economy. I am disappointed to hear that Mr. Edlow, nominated to lead USCIS, opposes DACA, when even President Trump claims that he doesn’t want to deport Dreamers. Despite his personal opinions, I want to hear how Mr. Edlow will ensure that USCIS will promptly process DACA applications of eligible Dreamers.”
“In the name of carrying out Trump’s mass deportation agenda, Attorney General Bondi has made DOJ a shell of itself. Thousands of federal law enforcement agents have been diverted from preventing drug trafficking and violent crime to deporting immigrants who pose no threat to our safety. Mr. Woodward, nominated to be the number three official at the Justice Department, would oversee Justice Department grantmaking, the Civil Rights Division, and many other components that are now under attack.”
“The Justice Department, at the direction of DOGE, took their chainsaw to hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants to support public safety and our police. Programs supporting violence reduction, victims’ services, child protection, and substance use and mental health treatment have been gutted… For nearly 70 years, under Republican and Democratic Administrations alike, the Civil Rights Division protected the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans. Once known as the ‘crown jewel’ of the Justice Department, it has now been reduced to litigating a narrow set of cases aligned with the MAGA agenda. This is anathema to how this Division has operated historically.”
“I want to hear from Mr. Woodward whether the Justice Department will continue to capitulate or if he will help restore the Justice Department to its intended function—to protect the safety and rights of all Americans.”
Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.
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Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to discuss her Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, bipartisan legislation that would require insurance companies to fully cover the costs associated with childbirth, including labor and delivery and prenatal, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care. Even with insurance, childbirth can cost families thousands of dollars, and expenses are even greater for women who have additional health complications during pregnancy, a high-deductible health plan, or gaps in their coverage. As a result, new mothers are twice as likely as other young women to have medical debt.
The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would require that costs associated with birth be categorized as essential health benefits (EHB) and would remove the relevant services from insurance cost-sharing.
Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) cosponsor this legislation.
“The costs associated with having a baby can be astronomical, and we should be doing everything we can to lower them,”said Senator Gillibrand.“The fear of an enormous bill leads some women to delay seeking prenatal or postpartum care, or to avoid it entirely, which creates worse outcomes for both women and their babies. That is unacceptable. I am proud to be introducing this bipartisan legislation to require insurance companies to fully cover care throughout pregnancy and a year postpartum. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to get this bill passed.”
The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would eliminate cost-sharing for a variety of services, including:
Ultrasounds
Delivery services, including anesthesiology, fetal monitoring, consultations with specialists, and services relating to postpartum health
Comprehensive postpartum care for physical and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by pregnancy, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and postpartum depression and anxiety
Mental health care and treatment for substance use disorder related to new parenthood for adoptive parents
Care for miscarriages
The bill is expected to cause only a minor increase of $30 annually per enrollee in average premiums. Any rise in premiums due to covering out-of-pocket pregnancy costs will be likely less than annual inflation in premiums.
The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is supported by medical providers and pro-family advocates, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Catholic Health Association, March of Dimes, American Principles Project, Concerned Women for America, and the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
MINSK, May 21 (Xinhua) — The 12th International Exhibition of Arms and Military Equipment MILEX-2025 opened on Wednesday at the Minsk International Exhibition Center “BelExpo”. More than 150 companies from Belarus, Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, and India are taking part in the event. They are demonstrating samples of weapons and military equipment that reflect the main trends and development prospects of the global arms market.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko sent a greeting to the participants and guests of the international exhibition. “In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, we are holding this representative forum in honor of our common heroes. The generation of victors bequeathed to us to preserve peace and freedom in our native land, won at an unprecedentedly high price. In the name of this goal, we, the allied countries, are increasing our defense potential and strengthening cooperation in the field of security,” A. Lukashenko’s press service quotes him as saying.
The President of Belarus expressed confidence that the international exhibition of weapons and military equipment will allow a wide range of specialists and experts to become familiar with the most advanced achievements of both Belarusian manufacturers and foreign partners.
MILEX-2025 presents more than 750 samples of weapons, military and special equipment of Belarusian production. Among them are the anti-aircraft missile system “Buk-MB-2K” with the first Belarusian anti-aircraft guided missile, the grenade launcher system “Sapfir”, the armored personnel carrier V-2. The total area of the exhibition exceeds 11.5 thousand square meters.
The 11th International Scientific Conference on the Development of Weapons, Military and Special Equipment and Dual-Use Technologies will be held as part of the scientific and business program of the event. The conference will address current issues of creating systems to counter high-precision weapons, electronic warfare, radio-technical and radar reconnaissance, troop and weapon control, and radio communications. A separate section will be devoted to the topic of unmanned systems for various purposes.
The organizers of the 12th International Exhibition of Arms and Military Equipment MILEX-2025 are the State Military-Industrial Committee and the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, as well as the National Exhibition Center “BelExpo”. The event will last until May 24. –0–
MUNCIE, Ind., May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Merchants Corporation (Nasdaq: FRME) has amended the ex-dividend date for its recently declared cash dividend of $0.36 from June 5, 2025, to June 6, 2025. The payment date for the quarterly dividend will remain as June 20, 2025, as previously announced on May 16, 2025.
About First Merchants Corporation:
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation has one full-service bank charter, First Merchants Bank. The Bank also operates as First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors (as a division of First Merchants Bank).
First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).
FIRST MERCHANTS and the Shield Logo are federally registered trademarks of First Merchants Corporation.
For more information, contact: Nicole M. Weaver, First Vice President and Director of Corporate Administration 765-521-7619 http://www.firstmerchants.com
Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
Earlier this morning, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) penned a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to swiftly approve Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s May 19 emergency disaster declaration in light of recent devastating storms.
“If approved, this declaration would immediately unlock critical funding to support state and local efforts to remove debris and take emergency protective measures,” the Senators wrote.
“After touring the devastated neighborhoods, we can personally attest to the scale of the damage and the clear need for the governor’s request to unlock this first step of federal assistance to support first responder efforts,” they explained.
This emergency designation would unlock resources for immediate needs such as debris removal while the damage is assessed for a more widespread disaster declaration. Senator Hawley spent Monday on the ground in St. Louis, Missouri, meeting with victims and surveying the damage inflicted by Friday’s tornadoes, and has set up a portal on his website to help constituents with insurance claims.
Read the full letter here or below.
May 21, 2025
The Honorable Donald J. TrumpPresident of the United StatesThe White House1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, DC 20500
Dear President Trump,
We write to support Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s May 19 request for an emergency disaster declaration, pursuant to the Stafford Act, following devastating tornadoes and storms in the St. Louis region. If approved, this declaration would immediately unlock critical funding to support state and local efforts to remove debris and take emergency protective measures.
As you may know, on May 16, 2025, severe storms and tornadoes struck the St. Louis region and areas of southeast Missouri, claiming at least seven lives and causing widespread damage and destruction. Preliminary damage assessments are slated to begin tomorrow in preparation for the Governor’s request for a major disaster declaration. Importantly, Governor Kehoe’s emergency declaration request would expedite funding to the State of Missouri in the interim and provide important reinforcement for recovery efforts currently underway.
After touring the devastated neighborhoods, we can personally attest to the scale of the damage and the clear need for the governor’s request to unlock this first step of federal assistance to support first responder efforts. We respectfully urge your immediate consideration and approval of this emergency declaration request.
Sincerely,
Josh Hawley United States Senator
Eric S. Schmitt United States Senator
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla Hosts Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus Roundtable With Professional Athletes
WATCH: Padilla joins athletes to share stories and reduce stigma surrounding mental healthWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Members of the Senate and Congressional bipartisan mental health caucuses commemorated Mental Health Awareness Month by hosting a roundtable in the Capitol with professional athletes focusing on the growing mental health crisis and overcoming the harmful associated stigma. U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, also joined the roundtable.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 1 in 5 American adults experience a mental illness each year. However, less than half of individuals in crisis actually receive mental health services. While many challenges prevent people from seeking help, one of the biggest hurdles is the historic stigma associated with mental health, tragically causing many individuals to be ashamed or embarrassed to get the help they need for themselves or their loved ones. The roundtable aimed to tear down this stigma and reinforce the message that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Reducing stigma and talking about mental health are the most important ways to open doors to lifesaving care for those who need it most.
The roundtable featured remarks from Senate and House mental health caucus co-chairs and NFL, NBA, MLS, and NWSL players.
“It’s one thing to build the strength to deal with a mental illness — particularly in high-pressure environments like professional sports — and it’s another to use that strength to help others by publicly sharing your story,” said Senator Padilla. “By bringing voices to the table from outside the political realm this Mental Health Awareness Month, I hope more people suffering in silence can see these stories and the athletes they look up to, and we can start to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. Regardless of political affiliation, we can all agree that we need more investments in mental health care — not less — and I will keep advocating for the services and resources that we know can save lives.”
“I know from personal experience what it’s like to watch someone struggle with their mental health and feel helpless. That is why discussions like these are so important, and I’m grateful to the athletes who shared their stories and perspectives on how to connect more people with care,” said Representative Salinas. “It takes a lot of courage to open up about your personal mental health journey. My hope is that by having honest conversations like this one, we will finally break the stigma and encourage more Americans to seek help if they need it.”
Senator Padilla is a leading advocate for expanding mental health care access, especially for underserved communities. In 2023, Padilla launched the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus to serve as a forum for Senators to collaborate on and promote bipartisan legislation and solutions, hold events to raise awareness of critical mental health issues, and destigmatize mental health. Earlier this month, Padilla condemned the Trump Administration’s proposed dissolution of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) restructuring plan and the White House Office of Management and Budget’s HHS budget proposal. Earlier this year, Padilla led 12 Democratic Senators in warning HHS Secretary Kennedy that additional staffing cuts at SAMHSA would have disastrous ramifications for millions of Americans struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges. Padilla applauded the Federal Communications Commission for making critical improvements to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by adopting the main provisions of his Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023.
Additionally, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation earlier this year to combat the growing youth mental health crisis in America through early intervention and prevention services. Last year, Padilla passed a Senate resolution to raise the alarm about the mental health care crisis American children face and highlight the urgent need to increase our investment in mental health care for children and adolescents. Padilla previously introduced a trio of bills to address the unique mental health needs of military children, Latinos, and farm workers.
Video of Senator Padilla’s opening remarks at today’s roundtable is available here, and his closing remarks are available here. Footage of his remarks can be downloaded here.
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) blasted the Trump Administration’s recent harmful revocations of international student visas, including on ideological grounds, underscoring the lack of due process regarding these revocations and the chilling effect of these actions in suppressing freedom of thought and expression. In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, the Senators condemn the revocation of hundreds of California student visas and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) termination of several hundred California students’ Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records.
The Senators called on the State Department to immediately stop their “Catch and Revoke” AI-powered initiative, an effort to monitor millions of social media accounts of student visa holders and green card holders to gather evidence of alleged terrorist sympathies. The technology is reportedly being used to monitor international students’ speech through SEVIS and other publicly available resources, leading to the revocation of student visas or green cards for students exercising peaceful expression, without due process. This step to surveil international students’ activity is an unprecedented leap toward stifling students’ First Amendment rights and their freedom of speech. The Senators pushed for restoring revoked visas and full transparency.
While the Department of Justice has reversed the termination of students’ SEVIS records, the student visa revocations under Catch and Revoke remain ongoing and are instilling fear and uncertainty among international students at colleges and universities in California and across the country.
“These visa revocations and record terminations constitute unprecedented and unconstitutional attacks on freedom of thought and expression that impact international and U.S. citizen students alike at our nation’s colleges and universities,” wrote the Senators. “While we welcome the news that the Administration has taken steps to rectify the SEVIS record terminations, these actions taken all together still call into question our nation’s bedrock commitment to freedom of expression. We urge the State Department and DHS to suspend the ‘Catch and Revoke’ initiative, which continues to cause uncertainty, erode due process, and chill free speech and expression among students.”
“The actions taken as part of the ‘Catch and Revoke’ initiative suggest a troubling pattern of misusing immigration enforcement to suppress dissent, intimidate politically active students, and chill Constitutionally protected expression,” continued the Senators. “Without transparency or independent oversight, the risk of abuse continues to grow. In fact, USCIS is now openly targeting speech by noncitizens with other immigration statuses, not just students.”
The Senators detailed a series of other alarming incidents targeting international students, as ICE has detained students on university campuses, at ports of entry, and in their own homes, often without notice or time to contact an attorney. Many of these cruel arrests were based on limited information within these students’ visa applications and violate the right to due process.
“Reports indicate that ICE has arrested students based on vague or previously disclosed information in their visa applications — such as social media posts, protest participation, or lawful political associations — as justification for their detention,” added the Senators. “If true, these practices represent not just an overreach of immigration authority but a violation of students’ First Amendment rights. These processes do not appear to be conducted with consideration for students’ due process and require immediate remediation.”
Padilla and Schiff highlighted the immense contributions international students make to colleges and universities in California and nationwide. California’s more than 140,000 international students contribute roughly $6.4 billion to the U.S. economy and support about 55,114 jobs. These students also strengthen and help the United States secure its global leadership in science, technology, and research; protect U.S. national security interests; and promote innovation.
The Senators emphasized the critical role California’s higher education system plays in powering the U.S. economy and warned that the attacks on the state’s international students jeopardize the country’s economic future.
“California’s higher education system is the largest in the nation and considered one of the best in the world, driving global economic mobility—and fueling California’s growth into the fourth largest economy in the world,” wrote the Senators. “These institutions serve as beacons of opportunity and economic potential that transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of students in providing a better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. However, this Administration’s attacks on institutions of higher education and international students, who add immense value to our universities, puts our nation’s economic future at risk.”
Last month, Senators Padilla and Schiff joined 34 Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration to reconsider recent decisions to revoke student visas. In 2021, Padilla led a group of 23 Senators in calling on the State Department to address the backlog of visas for international students. Padilla also chaired a hearing entitled “Strengthening our Workforce and Economy through Higher Education and Immigration” in 2022, highlighting the challenges undocumented students and international students face in seeking higher education and obtaining jobs in the United States.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem:
We write to express our increasing concern about actions targeting international students by the State Department and by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Starting earlier this year, the State Department began revoking hundreds of student visas including on apparent ideological grounds, revoking roughly a hundred visas in California alone. These revocations have been conducted by the State Department through its AI-enabled “Catch and Revoke” initiative, instructing affected students to leave the country voluntarily or risk facing deportation proceedings. At the same time, ICE began terminating Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records for thousands of students—leaving them uncertain about their ability to continue their studies. This includes at least two hundred students in California.
These visa revocations and record terminations constitute unprecedented and unconstitutional attacks on freedom of thought and expression that impact international and U.S. citizen students alike at our nation’s colleges and universities. While we welcome the news that the Administration has taken steps to rectify the SEVIS record terminations, these actions taken all together still call into question our nation’s bedrock commitment to freedom of expression. We urge the State Department and DHS to suspend the “Catch and Revoke” initiative, which continues to cause uncertainty, erode due process, and chill free speech and expression among students.
Colleges and universities across the U.S. have long benefitted from the enrollment and participation of international students, who contribute immensely to academic, scientific, and cultural life at schools all around the country. This should not be a partisan issue—there are over 1.1 million international students all over the country, across many states, and the District of Columbia. California enrolls more than 140,850 international students who contribute approximately $6.4 billion to our economy, supporting around 55,114 jobs. Nationally, over 1.12 million international students contribute roughly $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and support over 370,000 jobs. They also strengthen our national security by fostering global partnerships, cross-cultural understanding, and long-term diplomatic ties with future world leaders educated in the U.S. By attracting top talent from around the globe, we bolster our workforce, drive innovation, and better position ourselves to maintain our competitive edge in science, technology, and research.
In addition to the State Department visa revocations, multiple alarming incidents have surfaced in recent months involving international students detained by immigration enforcement at university campuses, ports of entry, and even in their homes. In a significant departure from normal practice, these students were, in many cases, not provided prior notice and given no time to contact an attorney, leaving many with few options to defend their nonimmigrant status and their ability to continue studying in the United States. Reports indicate that ICE has arrested students based on vague or previously disclosed information in their visa applications—such as social media posts, protest participation, or lawful political associations—as justification for their detention. If true, these practices represent not just an overreach of immigration authority but a violation of students’ First Amendment rights. These processes do not appear to be conducted with consideration for students’ due process and require immediate remediation.
The actions taken as part of the “Catch and Revoke” initiative suggest a troubling pattern of misusing immigration enforcement to suppress dissent, intimidate politically active students, and chill Constitutionally protected expression. Without transparency or independent oversight, the risk of abuse continues to grow. In fact, USCIS is now openly targeting speech by noncitizens with other immigration statuses, not just students.
California’s higher education system is the largest in the nation and considered one of the best in the world, driving global economic mobility—and fueling California’s growth into the fourth largest economy in the world. These institutions serve as beacons of opportunity and economic potential that transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of students in providing a better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. However, this Administration’s attacks on institutions of higher education and international students, who add immense value to our universities, puts our nation’s economic future at risk.
We urge your agencies to take immediate corrective action by suspending the Catch and Revoke initiative, restoring revoked visas, and providing full transparency to ensure that our immigration system is not misused to police speech at our colleges and universities and maintain beneficial international exchange at universities. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
This weekend marked the national day of Norway, Syttende Mai. I have previously written about the celebrations connected to the national day, including the rules pertaining to the national (Bunad) dresses. Today, I describe the patent act that was in force when the Scandinavian Cheese Slicer (Ostehøvel) first got patented in 1925, 100 years ago this year.
In 1925, the 1910 Patent Act (Lov om patenter (LOV-1910-07-02-4) was in force. The law can be located either in the Norsk Lovtidende Avd. 1 for the year 1910 or in the Almindelig Norsk Lovsamling. The amendments made in 1920 can be found in Norsk Lovtidende Avd. 1 1920. (Lov om midlertidig tillegg til lovene om patenter av 16. juni 1885 og 2. juli 1910 (LOV-1920-07-16-9).)
Section 1 of the 1910 Patent Act provides that:
A patent protects, in accordance with this law, new inventions, which can be utilized in industry.
However, the following are excluded:
a) Inventions, the exercise of which would be contrary to law, morality or public order;
b) Inventions, the object of which is a nutritional, recreational or medicinal product or a chemical compound; however, a patent may be granted on the special manufacturing process.
In order to obtain a patent for an invention, a patent claim must be submitted to the Styret for det Industrielle Retsvern [literally Board of Industrial Legal Protection] in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (Chapter 1§1 Lov om Patenter. Translation by author.)
The law provided protection against the production and use of a patented product (§ 4) but also allowed for the use by the public, subject to compensation. (§ 8.) A patent holder that had not started production of a product within three years was required to allow others to produce the patented product. (§ 9.)
The Ostehøvel
Thor Bjørklund applied for a patent for his cheese slicer (ostehøvel) after being inspired by the plane (høvel) he used in his woodshop, as a better way to cut the cheese economically. The slicer was specialized to cut cheese thin and straight. The cheese slicer was introduced at a time in Norway when the population was poorer than today and cheese needed to last longer. A video on how to use it can be viewed here. A memorial book was published in 2000, Skjær pent av osten, (literally “carefully cut off the cheese”) inspired by a 1971 interview with Thor Bjørklund.
The patent was published in the Norsk tidende for det industrielle retsvern (1926) in no. 48, p. 234. The patent entered into force on February 27, 1925.
Patent application number 43377. Screenshot of Norsk Tidende for Det Industrielle Retsvern, p. 234, made available by the National Library of Norway (Nasjonalbiblioteket) at https://www.nb.no/items/bad74105002005ed8d2f8a1e8645c01a?page=7
The patent itself is also made available at Stiftelsen Lillehammer Museum with both the 1925 patent announcement and patent text. An additional patent for changes to the cheese slicer was awarded in 1928.
The 1925 patent text specifically describes the invention in relation to a planer as:
“This invention relates to a knife for cutting cheese etc. of the type that acts like a planer, where the cutting edge is formed by cutting out and bending down a platform-shaped part or is characterized mainly in that the portions of the plate-shaped part that are located at both ends are cut, are elastic and flexible so that the cheese, even if the angle of the blade in relation to the cheese surface changes during cutting.
A characteristic feature of the invention further consists in that the thickness of the cheese slice is regulated in a manner known during cutting by bending the plate-shaped part.” (Translation by author.)
The ostehøvel has become one of the most loved Norwegian inventions.
Norwegian Patent Law Today
Today, Norway regulates patent law in Lov om patenter (patentloven)(LOV-1967-12-15-9) (the Patent Act). An unofficial English translation of the Patent Act is published on the Norwegian Industrial Property Office website. Norway is a party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1885), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PTC)(1980), and the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure (1977). Norway has ratified the European Patent Convention (EPC) and is a member of the European Patent Office (EPO).
Today, a patent application can be made by presenting an application to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office and paying the applicable fee. Applications can be made as an EPC application or a Norwegian application. If the patent is awarded, there is an annual fee to maintain the patent.
Examples of Law Library holdings related to Norwegian Patent Law:
Additional Law Library of Congress Online Resources onNorwegianLaw:
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The comprehensive approach to the CAP Initiative also includes up to $150 million to transform cultural experiences in and around Albany’s Downtown, such as renovating the New York State Museum and upgrading the exhibits to be more inviting to Albany families and tourists alike. It also includes funding to invest in improvements at the Empire State Plaza to strengthen connections with the surrounding community and make the space a vibrant and inviting part of the fabric of downtown Albany.
Additionally, Governor Hochul has committed up to $40 million to advance plans to reimagine I-787 which would include reconnecting Albany and surrounding communities and enhancing access to the Hudson River waterfront. This summer, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will release a Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) study on potential ways to reimagine I-787, a travel corridor in the Capital Region that provides high speed access to the City of Albany and other communities along the river, including Green Island, Watervliet and Menands. Building upon the work completed under the PEL study, up to $40 million will be utilized by NYSDOT to begin an Environmental Impact Statement, which will lay the groundwork for a future project along the I-787 corridor. The environmental review will examine ways to enhance waterfront access along the Hudson River for all users of the road, connect neighborhoods and key destinations in communities along the corridor, and address the infrastructure of I-787, the South Mall Expressway, the Dunn Memorial Bridge, and additional infrastructure along the study area.
Governor Hochul previously announced $19.5 million in State investments to improve public safety in Albany, which included a $1 million commitment to the City of Albany Police Department and $500,000 for the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. These investments reflect a record level of State funding for public safety in the City of Albany and Capital Region. These resources are delivered through a series of nation-leading programs supported by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), including the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, the SNUG Street Outreach and Social Work Program and Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain and Empower). Working together, these efforts have helped reduce violence and improve community safety.
Albany is not only our great state’s capital city, it’s also a place I call home. This investment isn’t just about dollars and cents, it’s about jobs, innovation and a brighter future for our community.
Governor Kathy Hochul
Informed by input from local stakeholders and the community, the CAP Initiative will unfold through a comprehensive public engagement process to identify key opportunities to promote business development, bolster public safety, encourage housing, attract visitors and enhance affordability.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Since Governor Hochul first proposed the Championing Albany’s Potential initiative in her State of the State, ESD has been working to establish the foundation upon which this historic investment in our Capital City will build. Working together, we will utilize this generational funding to support transformational projects that reflect the needs of those who live, work and visit the city, and encourage even more people to experience and explore Downtown Albany.”
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “The historic investment Governor Hochul is making through the Championing Albany’s Potential initiative will help revitalize our capital city. It will also strengthen the ties between state government and our neighbors living and working in the communities surrounding the Capitol and Empire State Plaza. CAP is a sustainable plan for long-term growth that will spur public-private partnerships, build a thriving city center, and create a vibrant downtown for residents and visitors alike.”
New York State Homes & Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Albany deserves a downtown that is a place people want to visit, live, work, connect, and celebrate. It’s a place rich with history that has been wounded by planning decisions that negatively impacted entire neighborhoods. This $400 million investment will directly boost the city’s potential as an attractive destination by unwinding past mistakes and disinvestment. We’ve made strides recently in Governor Hochul’s administration, investing in upgrading affordable housing and reclaiming vacant land and buildings for development. Now, through CAP, there’s real momentum to rebuild, replan holistically with community involvement and revive our beautiful Capital City for those who live and work here now and for those who will enjoy its future.”
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The Hudson River is one of the Capital Region’s greatest natural assets, and over the past few years the Department of Transportation has made key investments to reconnect residents and visitors with the waterfront, including projects like the Albany Skyway – a linear park; building the Empire State Trail and today, the Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge, which is currently in construction. The I-787 corridor is a vital piece in reimagining the City of Albany and its waterfront, which is why the Governor’s investment in the next stage of this project is so important. For a number of years now, the project team at NYSDOT has engaged with communities all along the Hudson River to gather ideas and feedback and most importantly, listen to local residents – the people who work and live here, on the future of this corridor. The funding for the next stage of this project – an Environmental Impact Statement – was included in this year’s budget and brings us one step closer to advancing from the ideation stage to the preliminary design and eventual construction phase, as we work to study the real potential this corridor offers for travel, recreation and tourism as well as economic growth throughout the Capital Region.”
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Through Governor Hochul’s unparalleled leadership on public safety, cities across New York State are receiving record resources to ensure safer and stronger communities. These investments and initiatives – spanning evidence-based policing strategies, crime analysis center support, community violence interventions, and neighborhood empowerment programs – help keep New Yorkers safe, ensure a fair and effective justice system, and build opportunities for young people and families. Here in the Capital Region, DCJS is proud to support dozens of our law enforcement and community-based partners as they continue to drive down gun violence and crime.”
State Senator Patricia Fahy said. “I’m incredibly proud that the core of our Capital Region and the 46th District, downtown Albany, will receive $400 million in transformative, once-in-a-generation funding. For years, I’ve engaged with our community to chart a new path forward for Albany that includes Reimagining I-787, making the State Museum a 21st Century destination-location, expanding the core of our Capital Region: downtown Albany, and so much more. That’s why I’m so proud this year’s budget includes $200 million for downtown revitalization, $150 million for upgrading the New York State Museum, $40 million for the next phase of the reimagining I-787 study, and $1 million for addressing public safety in our neighborhoods. Now, the hard work begins in earnest. I look forward to engaging our community, stakeholders, and residents as we move forward with this funding. Make no mistake: together, these initiatives will usher in a new day for the Capital Region, the impacts of which will be felt for years, if not generations to come—if we get it right. I want to thank my legislative colleagues and the Governor for recognizing the value of investing in our Capital City’s success, and for helping deliver this funding in this year’s state budget.”
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said “This historic funding is incredible news for the City of Albany and the entire Capital Region. The revitalization of the New York State Museum, the reimagining of I-787, much-needed improvements to the Empire State Plaza and other investments are transformative projects that will enhance connectivity, celebrate our history, and create new opportunities for residents and visitors alike. These efforts reflect years of advocacy and collaboration, and I thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to supporting the City of Albany and strengthening the Capital Region as a whole.”
Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “These investments truly are an investment in Albany’s potential and in making it a city all New Yorkers can be proud to call our capital. Revitalizing downtown, strengthening small business, expanding affordable housing – these are all valuable steps to uplift Albany. I thank the Governor for her leadership in championing this historic investment and Championing Albany’s Potential.”
Embedded Flickr Album
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “Governor Hochul’s Championing Albany’s Potential (CAP) Initiative has the potential to be transformational. It’s a historic commitment to the heart of Albany County that will bring new housing, new business, and new life into downtown. A reimagined Albany is exactly what we need, and I’m proud to stand with the governor in this effort.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “This $400 million investment is a testament to the hard work of the City of Albany over the last 12 years to be ready to write the next great chapter in the history of New York’s Capital City. The pandemic taught us that we need to reimagine our downtowns to get more feet on the street by creating more housing, supporting our small businesses, enhancing public safety, and attracting world-class amenities, and this transformative investment will do just that and more. To steal a phrase from President Biden, this is truly a ‘big effing deal.’ My sincere thanks and appreciation to Governor Hochul for seeing what we all see in the City of Albany: a city that’s full of pride and potential and ready to soar to even greater heights. I also want to thank Senator Fahy, Assemblymember Romero, and Assemblymember McDonald, as well as the entire State Legislature for making this critical investment in their home away from home.”
Advance Albany County Alliance CEO Kevin O’Connor said, “The Advance Albany County Alliance thanks Governor Hochul for her thoughtful leadership and timely commitment to revitalizing New York’s Capital City. The City of Albany is not only the front door of state government, it is the heartbeat of Upstate New York’s fastest-growing county and the springboard for the local economy. The Governor’s disciplined approach through the CAP Initiative will ensure that state funding achieves the greatest possible positive impact. Through this partnership, we will supercharge our placemaking efforts, improve public spaces, secure a safe and welcoming downtown environment, and stimulate the central corridor of the Capital Region.”
Capitalize Albany Corporation President Ashley Mohl said, “With Governor Hochul’s focus and support fueled by this historic more than $400 million investment, New York’s capital city stands on the brink of transformative growth. Our board and staff look forward to working with ESD and MIG alongside our many local and other state economic development partners to maximize this funding and seize this incredible opportunity. To build on the Governor’s CAP Initiative, Capitalize Albany is looking forward to advancing its planned solicitation for qualified development teams interested in acquisition and redevelopment of the Liberty Park site. Our RFP will engage the market directly with the aim to attract strong interest and a range of RFP responses. If you’re a developer or team with a project for the Liberty Park site, we welcome your response.”
Downtown Albany BID Executive Director Georgette Steffens said, “In my 25 years of doing economic development in Downtown Albany, this is the largest investment we’ve ever seen. On behalf of nearly 200 property owners and over 120 restaurants and retail-related businesses, I want to express my profound gratitude to Governor Hochul and the Legislature for their commitment to Albany. We are already seeing the effects of the CAP initiative, with a renewed wave of investment interest in Downtown Albany beginning to percolate. The future of our city’s core is incredibly bright thanks to the Governor’s investment, and I look forward to working together to make Downtown a stronger and more vibrant place to live, work, and experience.”
SAN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRTC), a leading digital health care company focused on creating trusted solutions that detect, prevent, and predict disease, today announced that its management team is scheduled to present at the following investor conferences.
William Blair 45thAnnual Growth Stock Conference on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time (12:00 p.m. Pacific Time)
Goldman Sachs 46thAnnual Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 2:40 p.m. Eastern Time (11:40 a.m. Pacific Time)
Truist Securities MedTech Conference on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 1:40 p.m. Eastern Time (10:40 a.m. Pacific Time)
Interested parties may access live and archived webcasts of the presentations on the “Events & Presentations” section of the company’s investor website at investors.irhythmtech.com.
About iRhythm Technologies, Inc. iRhythm is a leading digital health care company that creates trusted solutions that detect, predict, and prevent disease. Combining wearable biosensors and cloud-based data analytics with powerful proprietary algorithms, iRhythm distills data from millions of heartbeats into clinically actionable information. Through a relentless focus on patient care, iRhythm’s vision is to deliver better data, better insights, and better health for all. For additional information about iRhythm, please visit its corporate website at irhythmtech.com.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne
Now, SUVs and light commercial vehicles comprise almost 80% of the market. Four in five new vehicles sold in Australia today are an SUV, ute, van or light truck.
As larger vehicles become the new norm, they bring more road wear, urban congestion and demands on infrastructure such as parking.
It’s time to ask: should drivers of larger vehicles pay for the damage and disruption they cause, through higher registration charges? Generally, yes. Bigger cars mean bigger costs for everyone else. It’s only fair those costs are reflected in how we price their use of public roads.
Reasons for going big
There are several reasons for the shift to larger passenger vehicles in Australia. They include perceptions that bigger cars are safer and more prestigious, as well as lifestyle preferences.
A loophole in the luxury car tax also encourages car buyers to go big. The tax was introduced on imports in 2000 and this financial year applies to vehicles worth more than A$80,576.
Many utes and SUVs are exempt because they’re classified as light commercial vehicles. The exemption applies regardless of whether the car is used privately or for business.
Counting the costs on our roads
Larger vehicles – no matter how they are powered – generally impose bigger costs on society than smaller cars.
Large SUVs and utes (if powered by fossil fuels) have a far greater climate impact. On average, a small car emits 2,040 kilograms less carbon dioxide (CO₂) a year than a pickup truck.
But even big electric vehicles can cause climate harm. The substantial resources required to manufacture a large EV creates emissions, which may undermine the climate benefits electrification promises.
Large passenger vehicles also create health system costs. In road crashes, for example, they may better protect their occupants, but pose greater risks to others – especially pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles.
Bigger vehicles also need more space. Standards Australia has proposed making car-parking spaces larger to accommodate the trend to larger cars. Cities such as Paris have introduced higher parking fees for SUVs on these grounds.
In real-world terms, these differences add up. In the United States in 2011, the annual cost of light-duty trucks on congestion and lost productivity was estimated at more than US$2 billion.
Then there’s the cost of road wear. You might think heavier vehicles just wear roads a bit faster than smaller ones. But in reality, the relationship is far more dramatic.
Let’s compare a vehicle with an axle weight of 500 kg and a vehicle with an axle weight of 1,000 kg. The second vehicle doesn’t produce double the road damage – it produces 16 times the damage. This phenomenon is known as the “fourth power rule”.
Vehicle registration offers a way to recoup the societal costs caused by large vehicles.
Part of car registration fees go toward administration, but they also help governments pay for the broader cost of vehicles on public infrastructure and shared spaces.
In Australia, car registration systems vary widely between states. Not all reflect the impact of the vehicles on the road.
In Victoria, fees are based mostly on location – whether the car is registered in a metropolitan, outer-metro or rural area. In the Australian Capital Territory, fees are calculated on a vehicle’s emissions.
Queensland and Tasmania use the number of engine cylinders to set fees – a rough proxy for vehicle size, but not a precise one.
South Australia and the Northern Territory apply different models again, using a combination of settings not directly based on weight.
A fairer system
Larger vehicles take up more road space, contribute more to congestion, and cause exponentially more damage to road surfaces. These are exactly the kinds of impacts a vehicle registration system should help account for.
So, what would a truly equitable registration fee model look like? Based on the evidence, it would not only account for vehicle size and weight, but also how often the vehicle is driven. After all, a heavy car parked in a garage all year causes less impact than one on the road every day.
Several countries, including New Zealand, have adopted distance-based or road-use charging schemes for certain types of vehicles, which uses a combination of vehicle weight and distance travelled.
Milad Haghani 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.
The question now is, can e-biking be accepted and embraced by people and communities where it is currently not happening? Three pilot programmes from around the country have now given us cause for optimism.
Understanding more about the barriers to e-bike access – especially in communities with low cycling levels or where income levels mean bikes are prohibitively expensive – has been one of the main gaps in our knowledge.
But over the past few years, we have been involved in projects designed to examine how e-bikes might work in such places. The three pilots were based in Mangere (South Auckland), Wainuiomata (Lower Hutt) and Sydenham (Christchurch).
These are all areas or communities with lower relative incomes and lower levels of cycling. The majority of individuals involved did not routinely cycle, and some hadn’t been on a bike for decades.
In all three pilots, the results were positive. In some cases, participants reported long-term, life-changing benefits.
What the pilot schemes showed
Each pilot was different. The Mangere programme loaned e-bikes to people for two to three months between 2022 and 2023 through a community bikehub. The Wainuiomata programme involved a longer loan period of one year over 2023, and was run through a health provider at a local marae.
The Christchurch programme, which ran between 2021 and 2024, was a free e-bike share scheme for tenants in a specific social housing complex, organised through a partnership with a shared e-bike provider.
Where needed, participants in all pilots were supported as they gained riding confidence and knowledge of safe cycling routes.
Participants in all the pilot programmes found e-biking acceptable, and they used and enjoyed the bikes. While these pilots were not set up to measure distance travelled, we know from other research that participants in e-bike access schemes ride on average 5km per day, half of which replaces car trips.
Individuals reported practical benefits such as being able to travel to their jobs, mental and physical health improvements, and not having to pay for petrol each week.
In the Wainuiomata pilot there were wider ripple effects, with participants reporting whānau members also started cycling as a result of the loan scheme. In one case, ten members of the wider whānau got involved.
Good cycling infrastructure will encourage e-bike uptake. Getty Images
Combining international evidence and experience with the information from the three local pilot programmes, we see three main policy areas that will increase e-bike uptake and use in New Zealand.
1. Physical infrastructure: this is needed to support cycling in all our cities and larger towns, and would involve a combination of cycle lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods, alongside expanded bike parking and storage.
2. Targeted access schemes: these help people who can’t afford e-bikes. Without targeting, such schemes tend to be mainly used by the well-off. It’s likely we will need a range of options, such as short-term and long-term low-cost (or free) loans, rent-to-buy schemes or subsidies.
People should be able to access these schemes through a variety of organisations so as to target different motivations: saving money, improving health, commuting for work, ferrying children, environmental concern.
3. Local organisation networks: these support individuals and communities to access bikes, maintain them, provide rider training, run bike libraries, route finding and community events to support and encourage people to ride.
This wider support was a key factor to the success of the all pilots. Local organisations, champions and leaders are essential to help overcome some of the practical and cultural barriers that exist because we have such low levels of cycling.
Change is achievable
What we have outlined constitutes a different way of doing business for the transport sector. But there are already organisations doing a lot of this work, including bike hubs and cycling community organisations.
Others have infrastructure in place that could expand to encompass e-bike programmes, such as marae and community health centres. What is needed is a commitment to support these activities as part of core transport business policy.
We don’t need to wait for more research. The three things required – building infrastructure, increasing access and providing support programmes – are all understood and achievable.
E-bikes can and should play an important role in expanding New Zealand’s transport options and improving the wellbeing of its people.
Caroline Shaw receives funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, University of Otago and Waka Kotahi/New Zealand Transport Agency.
Karen Witten receives funding from the Health Research Council of NZ, Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment,
Waka Kotahi/NZTA and Auckland Council.
Simon Kingham receives funding from Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment.
You might have heard of people using tape to literally keep their mouths shut while they sleep. Mouth taping has become a popular trend on social media, with many fans claiming it helps improve sleep and overall health.
The purported benefits of mouth taping during sleep are largely anecdotal, and include claims of better airflow, less snoring, improved asthma symptoms, less of a dry mouth, being less likely to have bad breath, and better sleep quality.
The rationale for mouth taping during sleep is to encourage breathing through the nose rather than through the mouth. When a person’s nasal passages are blocked, breathing switches from the nose to the mouth. Mouth breathing has been linked to conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea.
But is mouth taping an effective way to address these issues, and is it safe? A new review suggests taping your mouth shut while you sleep offers limited benefits – and could pose risks.
What did the review find?
In a new paper, Canadian researchers reviewed the scientific literature on mouth taping, searching for studies that mentioned terms such as “mouth breathing”, “mouth taping” and “sleep”.
They searched specifically for studies looking at people with known mouth breathing and breathing-related sleeping problems such as obstructive sleep apnoea to understand the potential benefits and harms of mouth taping for this group.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition where your airway is partly or completely blocked at times while you’re asleep. This can cause you to stop breathing for short periods, called “apnoeas”. Apnoeas can happen many times a night, resulting in lowered oxygen levels in the blood as well as sleep disruption.
The researchers found ten eligible studies published between 1999 and 2024, with a total of 213 participants. Eight studies looked at mouth taping, and two studies involved using a chin strap to keep the mouth shut.
Only two studies identified any benefits of mouth taping for mild obstructive sleep apnoea. The observed improvements – to measures such as oxygen levels in the blood and number of apnoeas per hour – were modest.
And although they were statistically significant, they were probably not clinically significant. This means these changes likely wouldn’t make much difference to symptoms or treatment decisions.
The remainder of studies found no evidence mouth taping helps to treat mouth breathing or related conditions.
What’s more, four studies warned about potential serious harms. In particular, covering the mouth could pose a risk of asphyxiation (lack of oxygen that can lead to unconsciousness or death) for people whose mouth breathing is caused by significant blockage of the nasal airways. This kind of nasal obstruction could be a result of conditions such as hay fever, deviated septum, or enlarged tonsils.
In other words, mouth taping is definitely not a good idea if you have a blocked nose, as it’s unsafe to have both the nose and the mouth obstructed at the same time during sleep.
What’s the take-home message?
The authors concluded there are very few benefits and some potential serious risks associated with mouth taping in people who are mouth breathers or have obstructive sleep apnoea.
They did however note we need further high-quality evidence to better understand if mouth taping is safe and works.
This review didn’t focus on any research relating to mouth taping for proposed improvements to mood, skin, digestion, sharper jaw lines and other things, so the researchers could not draw conclusions about the efficacy and safety of mouth taping for those purposes.
If you have concerns about your sleep, the best thing to do is to consult trusted scientific sources or a health-care professional who will be able to guide you to address the underlying causes of your sleep challenges.
Trying social media trends such as mouth taping before you seek expert advice could lead to delays in diagnosing serious conditions for which there are evidence-based treatments available.
It’s possible that in some healthy adults, without respiratory conditions, without significant sleep disorders, and who don’t have tape allergies, that mouth taping could pose little harm and produce some modest benefits. But we don’t have enough evidence yet to know one way or the other.
Moira Junge is CEO of The Sleep Health Foundation. She is also affiliated with the Healthylife Health Advisory Board and is a psychologist and clinic director at Yarraville Health Group.
As Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said on election night:
We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not need to seek our inspiration overseas. We find it right here in our values – and in our people.
Those values should guide a principled and evidence-based response to the global refugee crisis. This response should be grounded in fairness, humanity and respect for Australia’s international human rights obligations.
A principled reset
Australia is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines a refugee as a person who has a well-founded fear of persecution based on:
race
religion
nationality
membership of a particular social group
political opinion.
However, aspects of Australia’s current approach to refugees have drawn criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
The new Labor government could use its strength in parliament to initiate a principled and evidence-based reset. This could include:
creating a new emergency visa for humanitarian crises to assist people fleeing conflict
making immigration detention an option that could be used at the discretion of the Department of Home Affairs, instead of being mandatory
giving people access to independent review of their detention
improving systems for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers (many of whom face heightened risks, are not always believed about their sexuality, and lack culturally sensitive support).
There are four key areas in particular need of reform.
1. Ending the legal limbo
A crucial priority is resolving the status of some 7,000 people who are part of what’s known as the “legacy caseload”.
These people were refused refugee status under a problematic and now-defunct process known as the “fast track assessment”. They are now on bridging visas and in legal limbo.
A solution is also needed for the roughly 1,000 people who were detained in offshore processing centres in Manus Island and Nauru but are now living in Australia. They are also on bridging visas, also in a state of legal uncertainty.
One option is to allow people in both groups who were previously refused protection to apply for a permanent visa without requiring yet another drawn-out assessment of their protection claims.
Community organisations, legal experts and mental health professionals could help the government develop clear, trauma-informed and evidence-based processes for reviewing their cases.
2. Expanding the numbers
Australia’s main way of accepting refugees is via what’s known as the humanitarian program. But the number of refugees accepted under this program doesn’t currently reflect the scale of global displacement.
Labor has proposed expanding the number of refugees Australia takes.
It has suggested Australia take 27,000 through the core Refugee and Humanitarian Program and an additional 10,000 through two pathways:
It’s also worth noting current policy prohibits asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia after June 2014 from being resettled to Australia.
The new government could also consider lifting this arbitrary restriction to give these vulnerable refugees access to durable solutions.
3. Strengthening the rights of children and young people
Immigration systems are largely designed around adults. Children and young people are too often overlooked.
Children (including those born in Australia) can’t sponsor their parents via family sponsorship processes. They’re denied a say in decisions that deeply affect their lives.
The Migration Act should be amended to require that all decisions affecting children give primary consideration to the best interests and views of the child. This would be in line with Australia’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Similar principles are already embedded in Australian family law and child protection policy, providing a clear model for reform.
4. Reviewing Australia’s boat turnback policy
Since 2013, Australia has intercepted boats under Operation Sovereign Borders, using turnbacks and takebacks with little independent oversight.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has raised concerns about this policy.
Sometimes during these interactions Australian officials detain and interview people on boats about their reason for trying to enter Australia, but details about what happens during such encounters are kept largely secret. Most of these encounters end with the boat and people on it being returned to the country from which they came.
A recent document published by the Commonwealth Ombudsman reported on conditions aboard vessels used for maritime detention.
It found serious problems, including no private spaces for sensitive interviews and no interpreters on board.
The Department of Home Affairs responded by saying formal interviews use accredited interpreters. However, the report highlights many crucial interactions do not.
There is also no time limit on detention at sea, and no independent monitoring of how protection claims are assessed.
Mary Anne Kenny is a member of the Migration Institute of Australia and the Law Council of Australia and an affiliate of the UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law. She was on the Ministerial Council on Asylum Seekers and Detention (an independent advisory body) between 2012 and 2018.