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  • MIL-OSI Video: Revitalizing America’s Economy

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    This week, President Trump has announced landmark agreements worth hundreds of billions of dollars. These deals will expand American manufacturing, strengthen critical supply chains, and fuel innovation.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
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    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPPUrgffdyI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Simpson Supports Pro-Law Enforcement Legislation During National Police Week

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Rep. Simpson Supports Pro-Law Enforcement Legislation During National Police Week

    Washington, May 15, 2025

    WASHINGTON— This National Police Week, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted in favor of several critical pieces of pro-law enforcement legislation that highlight support for America’s brave men and women in blue.
    “National Police Week is a time to recognize, remember, and honor the brave men and women who serve our communities every day,” said Rep. Simpson. “Police officers in Idaho and throughout our country play a vital role in protecting public safety and responding in times of crisis. Their work is irreplaceable, and they will always have my full support. I was proud to reaffirm that commitment by supporting legislation on the House floor to ensure the men and women serving in communities across the country are supported.”
    The National Police Week of 2025 legislation includes:

    H.R. 2240 – Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act. This bill requires the Department of Justice to report to Congress about violent attacks on law enforcement officers, the efficacy of current data collection related to violent attacks, and the efficacy of programs intended to provide protective equipment and wellness resources to law enforcement officers.
    H.R. 2243 – LEOSA Reform Act. This bill allows qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms and ammunition in school zones, national parks, and certain federal facilities, as well as on state, local, and private property that is otherwise open to the public.
    H.R. 2255 – Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025. This bill allows current and retired federal law enforcement officers in good standing to purchase their retired service weapons.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Action Taken by Governor Phil Scott on Legislation

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly.

    On May 15, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:

    • S.27, An act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports
    • S.36, An act relating to the delivery and payment of certain services provided through the Agency of Human Services, services for persons who are incapacitated, and Human Services Board proceedings

    When signing S.27, Governor Scott sent the following letter to the General Assembly:

    Dear Legislators:

    I appreciate the good work of the Treasurer and legislators to provide relief for those saddled with medical debt they cannot afford to repay.  However, I would be remiss if I did not point out a few of my concerns. First, we should recognize much of this debt has already been written off by healthcare providers as uncollectable and built into higher rates for ratepayers.

    Second, with a looming healthcare crisis and our growing crisis of affordability in Vermont, we should anticipate this debt financing program to grow which raises significant concerns about future appropriations and where the funding will come from.

    Finally, now that we have created this million-dollar program, we may be disincentivizing repayment because of a misperception that “the State” will eventually pay for it.

    Again, I very much appreciate the intent and immediate benefits of S.27 to Vermonters, but we will need to manage this program effectively and pair it with real reforms.

    Sincerely,

    /s/

    Philip B. Scott

    Governor

    On May 15, Governor Scott returned without signature and vetoed H.219, An act relating to establishing the Department of Corrections’ Family Support Program and sent the following letter to the General Assembly:

    Dear Ms. Wrask:

    Pursuant to Chapter II, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution, I’m returning H.219, An act relating to establishing the Department of Corrections’ Family Support Program, without my signature because of my objections described herein:

    I have no objection to providing family support programs for incarcerated parents and guardians, however, this bill violates the constitutionally mandated, separation of powers by attempting to obligate the Governor to include funding in the annual budget submission to the Legislature.

    The Vermont Constitution Chapter II, Section 20 is clear. The Legislature has no authority to direct the Governor on how to establish funding and policy priorities in the Governor’s budget submission. For this reason, I cannot allow this bill to go into law.

    I met with several lawmakers to notify them of my intent to veto the bill and provided assurances that, because this program was also included in the budget (H.493, Sec E.338.1), it will move forward in FY26 as planned. I would also welcome the Legislature to send me the bill again with the change, if preferred, or address it next session.

    Sincerely,

    /s/

    Philip B. Scott

    Governor

    On May 15, Governor Scott returned without signature and vetoed H.219, An act relating to establishing the Department of Corrections’ Family Support Program and sent the following letter to the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions:

    Dear Chair Emmons,

    I want to explain my veto of H.219, An act relating to establishing the Department of Corrections’ Family Support Program and provide a path forward.

    As I noted in my letter to the House Clerk, my objection to this bill relates solely to Section 2 of H.219 which imposes upon the Governor an obligation to include funding annually for this program in the Governor’s recommended budget to the General Assembly. Constitutional objections aside, which obviously prompted the veto, this funding would be required regardless of other budget constraints or competing policy priorities.

    As a policy matter, I support the Legislature’s intent to provide parents and guardians who are incarcerated, with access to services and programs that strengthen family connections. H.219 codifies an existing family support program operating since 2003 at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility known as the Lund Kids-A-Part Parenting Program (KAPP). The goal is to expand this model to other Department of Corrections facilities in order to reduce recidivism and break intergenerational cycles of incarceration.  

    I have confirmed $390,000 in Justice Reinvestment Funds have been included in the “Big Bill” to fund both KAPP and a pilot program to benefit incarcerated fathers at the Northern State Correctional facility, which I support.

    Sincerely,

    /s/

    Philip B. Scott

    Governor

    To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2025 legislative session, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thomas Day State Historic Site Debuts New Tour Schedule

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Thomas Day State Historic Site Debuts New Tour Schedule

    Thomas Day State Historic Site Debuts New Tour Schedule
    jejohnson6

    Thomas Day State Historic Site is pleased to announce that starting May 13, the site will offer regularly scheduled walk-in tours to visitors for the first time. Previously, tours were available by advance reservation only. Acquired by the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites in 2024, the site is still under development and will continue to expand opportunities for the public to learn about the life and times of Thomas Day.

    Thomas Day State Historic Site is at 148 NC-57 in Milton, N.C.

    Guided tours will be available Tuesday-Saturday, at 10 and 11 a.m., noon, and 2 and 3 p.m. All tours will begin at the Thomas Day House. The tour fee is $2 for adults and $1 for children, seniors, and military. Groups of 10 or more who would like a tour should call or email the site in advance to schedule a visit.

    “Our staff has been working diligently behind the scenes for months to ready the site for this next stage,” said site manager DeAsia Noble. “We are thrilled that visitors to Milton can now drop in, take a tour, and learn about the remarkable life of Thomas Day.”

    About Thomas Day State Historic Site
    Thomas Day State Historic Site interprets the life and work of Thomas Day, a free Black master craftsman who was renowned for his skill and artistry in creating furniture in antebellum North Carolina. The site consists of Day’s house and workshop, as well as the Historic Milton State Bank building. The site is located at 148 NC-57 in Milton, N.C. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/thomas-day-state-historic-site or call (336) 592-8120.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    May 12, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Future Waters Gallery Opens May 23 at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Future Waters Gallery Opens May 23 at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Future Waters Gallery Opens May 23 at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    jejohnson6

    PINE KNOLL SHORES

    The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores announces the grand opening of its newly reimagined Future Waters gallery, opening to the public on May 23. After three years of meticulous planning, design, and construction, the gallery promises an immersive, hands-on experience that connects guests directly with the Aquarium’s conservation and sustainability efforts. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The highly anticipated, brightly colored, comic-themed gallery is a transformative addition to the Aquarium’s visitor experience. The gallery features interactive exhibits, a 1,500-gallon saltwater coral reef habitat called Conservation Cove, and working labs that highlight the Aquarium’s sustainable aquaculture efforts and the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (FRTRP).

    “Before this gallery, much of our conservation work took place behind the scenes. This updated gallery now highlights these efforts and provides guests with interactive opportunities to experience these amazing ongoing conservation projects,” said Clint Taylor, NCAPKS director.

    The Future Waters gallery was made possible by a $240,808 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the largest ever awarded to the North Carolina Aquariums by the IMLS.

    Interactive Learning
    At the heart of the gallery is a focus on education and future-focused conservation themes.

    The design features large-scale, sculptural coral reefs, a projection mapping interactive where visitors can touch icons that trigger comic-style animations explaining each step in the aquaculture process, videos that interpret coral restoration and aquaculture, interactive microscope, a 360-degree interactive video kiosk that puts guests underwater during coral restoration, and many other tactile components.

    The ACT Lab:
    A major highlight of the gallery is the Aquarium Conservation and Technology (ACT) Lab. The ACT Lab invites visitors to observe aquarists as they raise marine species from eggs laid within the Aquarium’s habitats.

    “Since initiating the aquaculture program across the NC Aquariums Division, the team has propagated over 23 different species collectively. Many of them have been shared with numerous facilities throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) community through larval rearing programs and species survival plans,” Trent Boyette, NCAPKS husbandry curator.

    The Coral Lab:
    In the adjacent lab, guests can view live corals growing as part of the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (FRTRP). The FRTRP Lab in Future Waters will serve as a grow-out facility for endangered corals.

    Currently, there are approximately eight approved spawning facilities and over 20 grow-out facilities with increasing numbers of participants every year. The ultimate goal of the FRTRP is to spawn these corals, grow them up, and then return them to the Florida Keys in hopes of restoring the area’s coral reef.

    The new Future Waters gallery will open to the public on May 23. General admission and membership reservations can be made online in advance by visiting www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores.

    About the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. 28512. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Its mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments and animals. The Aquarium is under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please visit www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores or call 252-247-4003.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    May 15, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Terry Sanford to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Terry Sanford to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Terry Sanford to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker
    jejohnson6

    A man who served as governor, U.S. Senator and university president soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker. The N.C. Historical Marker Program is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The marker commemorating Terry Sanford will be unveiled Friday, May 23 at 11 a.m., during a roadside ceremony at the intersection of NC 751 and Science Drive in Durham.

    Sanford, who served as governor of North Carolina from 1961-65, also served his state and country in numerous roles throughout his public career.  

    Born Aug. 20, 1917, in Laurinburg, N.C., Sanford was the second of five children in a middle-class family. He attended Presbyterian Junior College (now St. Andrews Presbyterian College) and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating from the latter in 1939. While at the UNC, Sanford met fellow student Margaret Rose Knight, whom he would marry in 1942, and the couple would have two children.

    Following graduation, Sanford entered the University of North Carolina School of Law. While continuing to study law, Sanford joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in December 1941 and after training, he was assigned to duty in Ohio and Missouri. Following the entry of the United States into World War II, Sanford enlisted in the Army on the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned first to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment as a medic, and then to the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. In the latter regiment, he saw combat in Italy, southern France, and Belgium (the Battle of the Bulge).

    Following the war, Sanford reentered law school and graduated from the university in 1946. He was admitted to the state bar later in the year. Already entertaining ambitions to one day run for governor, he became assistant director of the University of North Carolina’s Institute of Government before becoming a full-time attorney in Fayetteville. He also served as a captain in the North Carolina Army National Guard.  

    A slow but steady rise in the Democratic Party of North Carolina and state government followed over the next few years, including a job in the North Carolina State Ports Authority, presidency of the North Carolina Young Democratic Clubs, state senator representing the 10th District, and campaign manager for former governor W. Kerr Scott’s successful 1954 run for the U.S. Senate, culminating with his successful run for governor in 1960.

    In December 1969, he was selected to be the new president of Duke University. Upon inauguration, he immediately ended a cap on the number of Jewish students who could be enrolled at the school. Facing a budget deficit and a small endowment, he worked to attract more students, increase enrollment, and increase annual donations. He also sought to improve relations between the student body and the administration, declaring opposition to the Vietnam War, supporting peaceful protest, and increasing student involvement in administration operations. He established the Institute of Policy Studies and Public Affairs, now the Sanford School of Public Policy.

    In 1986, Sanford was elected to the U.S. Senate. He supported efforts to bring about an end to the civil war in Nicaragua and created an International Commission for Central American Recovery and Development to promote regional development under the oversight of the Center for International Development Research at Duke University. As in the case of the North Carolina Fund, the commission would be funded by private philanthropy. The commission became informally known as the “Sanford Commission,” although he was not a member. He also participated in efforts to recruit Democratic candidates for the 1988 presidential election. He ran for reelection in 1992 but lost to Republican candidate Lauch Faircloth.

    Sanford devoted his remaining years to law and teaching at Duke. He died of cancer at home on April 18, 1998, and was interred at Duke Chapel.

    For more information about the historical marker, please visit  https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/07/10/terry-sanford-1917-1998-g-144, or call (919) 814-6625  

    The Highway Historical Marker Program is a collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    May 15, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Castor, Soto Urge Federal Investigation into Unlawful Diversion of Medicaid Funds to Hope Florida

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Darren Soto (FL-09) are urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to investigate the potentially unlawful diversion of $10 million in Medicaid funds by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, the Hope Florida Foundation and Centene in a letter released today.

    Reps. Castor and Soto’s call for a Medicaid fraud investigation comes on the heels of the debate in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee over the future of Medicaid and House Republicans’ cruel proposal to kick millions of Americans off Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Republicans repeatedly claimed during the marathon Energy and Commerce debate that they were concerned about waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid. Castor and Soto now point to a concrete example of potential fraud and abuse, while urging an immediate investigation into this inappropriate diversion of taxpayer funds to an unrelated political action committee. 

    “As members of the U.S. House Committee that provides oversight of Medicaid, I can assure you that Congress is very focused on waste, fraud and abuse of Medicaid dollars. Any unlawful diversion of Medicaid dollars in Florida means that the state is less able to provide services to our neighbors who rely on Medicaid and the providers who serve them,” the lawmakers wrote.

    The lawmakers continued, “The diversion of Medicaid dollars requires immediate investigation. These are proceeds that rightfully belong to state taxpayers to serve the citizens who rely on Medicaid, including children, pregnant women, neighbors with disabilities and those served by long-term care.”

    Castor and Soto serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, and advocated for families and providers during the 26-hour Energy and Commerce Committee markup of the House Republicans’ cruel proposal to slash Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, which concluded yesterday.

    Read the full letter here and below:

    RE: Urge Investigation into Unlawful Diversion of Medicaid Funds in Florida 

    Dear Acting Inspector General Hodgkins and Administrator Oz:

    A recent bipartisan investigation by the Florida Legislature and press reports have uncovered that proceeds from a legal settlement between the State of Florida and Florida’s largest Medicaid managed care operator, Centene, were inappropriately diverted to unrelated political committees. Federal law requires that Medicaid proceeds be used solely for health services authorized by law and for the benefit of those served by Medicaid. Therefore, we respectfully request that you investigate the potential unlawful diversion of Medicaid funds by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Hope Florida Foundation and Centene. Medicaid is a federal/state partnership, and the federal government may be entitled to recoup funds from the legal settlement and improperly diverted funds as well.

    Hope Florida was established in 2021 as a referral program, operated by state employees, to direct Floridians to businesses, faith-based organizations and nonprofits for housing and social services instead of to government agencies. The Hope Florida Foundation is Hope Florida’s nonprofit arm and is subject to spending limits on lobbying and campaigns. According to its website, Hope Florida “firmly believe(s) that more government is not always the best solution to the problem. Instead, government is utilized as a meaningful connection point and then gets out of the way.” Many Florida state agencies prominently display links on their homepage to Hope Florida, directing individuals to a Hope Navigator instead of contacting a state agency, including the websites of Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and Florida Department of Elder Affairs. AHCA administers Florida’s Medicaid program.

    On September 27, 2024, the State of Florida reached a settlement agreement with Centene relating to the overbilling of taxpayers by over $67 million. The agreement directed Centene to pay $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation through a wire transfer and pay the remaining $57 million to AHCA. The settlement also stated that “AHCA desires an expanded role for Hope Florida in the Florida Medicaid program.”  

    On October 16, two days after receiving the $10 million wire transfer, the Hope Florida Foundation wired $5 million to Secure Florida’s Future, a 501(c)4 nonprofit that proposed spending the ‘grant’ on a “long-term, targeted business partner recruitment strategy and public awareness campaign.” 

    On October 17, Secure Florida’s Future donated $2 million to Keep Florida Clean Inc., a Political Action Committee (PAC) controlled by Governor DeSantis’s then-chief of staff James Uthmeier that was created to campaign against Amendment 3, a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. Governor DeSantis strongly opposed Amendment 3. Days later, Secure Florida’s Future sent Keep Florida Clean Inc. an additional $1.75 million. 

    On October 22, the Hope Florida Foundation wired $5 million to the 501(c)4 nonprofit Save Our Society from Drugs that proposed spending the ‘grant’ on “developing and implementing strategies that directly address the substance use crisis facing our communities.” 

    On October 23, the next day, Save Our Society from Drugs donated $1.6 million to Keep Florida Clean Inc. Over the coming days, Save Our Society from Drugs donated an additional $3.15 million to Keep Florida Clean Inc. 

    While there are limited financial disclosure requirements associated with 501(c)4 organizations, records appear to show that a total of $8.5 million from the Centene settlement with AHCA went from the Hope Florida Foundation to the Amendment 3-focused Keep Florida Clean, Inc. PAC, the same PAC that also donated funding to the Republican Party of Florida and the Florida Freedom Fund. 

    The transfer of Medicaid dollars to a charitable committee and then political committees appears to run afoul of federal law, including 18 U.S.C. 1347 (to knowingly execute or attempt a scheme to defraud a health care benefit program or obtain money from it) and 18 U.S.C. 371 (for two or more people to agree to defraud the United States.), and may implicate other relevant statutes and regulations. As members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that provides oversight of Medicaid, we can assure you that Congress is very focused on waste, fraud and abuse of Medicaid dollars. Any unlawful diversion of Medicaid dollars in Florida means that the state is less able to provide services to our neighbors who rely on Medicaid and support the providers who serve them.

    Hope Florida had raised only about $2 million during its three years of existence, but in one fell swoop, received $10 million from a Medicaid settlement, which was immediately funneled through other nonprofits to a PAC directed by the Governor’s Chief of Staff. The Florida House of Representatives initiated an investigation into what State Representative Alex Andrade called a potential “conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud,” but ultimately determined that “the best avenue is probably a federal investigation because…these were Medicaid dollars.”  The diversion of Medicaid dollars requires immediate investigation. These are proceeds that rightfully belong to serve the citizens who rely on Medicaid, including children, pregnant women, neighbors with disabilities and those served by long-term care.

    Therefore, we respectfully urge you to investigate whether or not the $10 million settlement scheme violates federal law and complies with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) legal and regulatory framework and any other applicable federal laws and regulations.  

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six Illegal Aliens Charged For Brutal Murder Of South Carolina Mother in Random Attempted Robbery

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    LANCASTER, SC – Local authorities have charged six illegal aliens, between the ages of 13 and 21, with the random murder of a South Carolina mother of two, Larisha Sharell Thompson. They have also been charged with burglary and attempted armed robbery.

    The six illegal aliens allegedly pulled up alongside Thompson, fatally shot her and attempted to enter her vehicle. Not only did these individuals allegedly murder this innocent mother, but they are also accused of attempting to rob a convenience store. 

    Photo: Lancaster Sherriff’s Office

    On May 12, local authorities announced the arrests of six illegal aliens from Honduras including Asael Torres-Chirinos, Jarby Ramos-Ardon, Jeyson Salgado-Pineda, and three juveniles, ages 13, 14 and 15, for the murder of Thompson and the convenience store burglary.

    Torres-Chino was previously arrested in 2023 for domestic violence.  

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed detainers on all six criminal illegal aliens as they await criminal prosecution in South Carolina. 

    Statement Attributable to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: 

    “Larisha Sharell Thompson’s life was tragically taken by criminal illegal aliens. She was a mother who was driving to a friend’s house when her life was brutally taken by these criminal aliens who should have never been in our country. President Trump and Secretary Noem will always fight for the victims of illegal alien crime and their families. The safety of American citizens comes first.” 

    Secretary Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration. 

    If you or a loved one has been impacted by a crime committed by an illegal alien, you are not alone. Call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423). 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former West Virginia Supervisory Correctional Officer Sentenced to more than 17 Years in Prison on Conspiracy and Obstruction Charges

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, was sentenced today for his role in covering up an assault by correctional officers that resulted in the death of inmate Quantez Burks on March 1, 2022. Lester, 35, of Odd, WV, was sentenced to 210 months in prison.

    On January 27, a federal jury convicted defendant Lester on three felony obstruction of justice charges, including conspiracy to tamper with witnesses; witness tampering; and giving false statements. As part of these efforts to cover up the fatal assault other officers committed, the defendant threatened subordinate officers with violence and retaliation, added false statements to multiple officers’ reports, instructed officers to give a false cover story to investigators, and personally gave false statements to internal investigators. The evidence showed that the defendant also provided false information relating to the assault of Burks during a voluntary interview with FBI agents.

    Seven correctional officers pleaded guilty in connection with the assault of Burks; several of those former officers testified against Lester during the trial. In November 2024, Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks, resulting in his death. Sentencing hearings for Holdren, Snyder, and Walters are scheduled before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on June 16, 2025. On August 8, 2024, Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe each pleaded guilty to violating Burks’s civil rights by failing to intervene when other officers used unreasonable force. Sentencing hearings for Boothe and Toney are scheduled before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on June 9.

    Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks. Andrew Fleshman is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk on July 14.

    On May 8, U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Wimmer to serve 108 months in prison.

    “This defendant wrongfully decided to obstruct an investigation into a fatal assault of an inmate,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “I am proud of the Criminal Section within the Civil Rights Division and their counterparts in the Southern District of West Virginia for their work on this case.”

    “On the defendant’s watch, correctional officers killed an inmate, and the defendant conspired with them to cover up their crimes,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virgina. “The defendant violated the public’s trust in the law enforcement system he had sworn to uphold.”

    The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office, Charleston Resident Agency, investigated the case.

    Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 14th, 2025 Heinrich Votes Against Advancing Nominees for the Interior Solicitor and Energy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Electricity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted no against William Doffermyre’s nomination to be the Department of the Interior (DOI) Solicitor and Catherine Jereza’s nomination to be the Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Electricity.

    Last week, Heinrich pressed Doffermyre on the Interior Department’s failure to unfreeze federal funding that was passed into law and adhere to court rulings. Heinrich also questioned Doffermyre on his views on permitting reform and complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

    Referring to his no vote on Mr. Doffermyre, Heinrich said, “I have been particularly troubled by the Acting Solicitor’s decision to summarily revoke all of the legal opinions issued by the previous Solicitor, including one issued in response to a federal court decision.”

    “Similarly, I take strong exception to the Department’s decision to stop work on the Empire Wind Project, and its intention to shorten environmental reviews to an unrealistic 90 days,” continued Heinrich. “I did not get a sense from Mr. Doffermyre that he shared my concerns and would correct these matters if confirmed.”

    On his no vote on Ms. Jereza, Heinrich said, “I am also unable to vote for Ms. Jereza because of her role in withholding funds for life-sustaining solar and battery energy projects at community healthcare centers in Puerto Rico in her current job as senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Infrastructure.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash Two Wells

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash at Two Wells.

    Just before 5am, Friday 16 May, police and emergency services were called to Port Wakefield Highway, Two Wells (near the intersection with Port Gawler Road) after reports of a crash between a car and truck. On arrival, the driver of the car was trapped and fire crews quickly worked to remove them from their vehicle. The driver was subsequently airlifted to hospital with life threatening injuries.

    The driver of the truck, a 30-year-old-man from Mallala, was uninjured and was taken to hospital for mandatory blood tests.

    Major Crash investigators are making their way to the scene.

    Port Wakefield Road is closed to all northbound traffic from Port Gawler Road and diversions are in place via Old Port Wakefield Road. Road users are asked to avoid the area.

    Anyone who witnessed this crash or has dashcam is asked to contact police. You can anonymously provide information to Crime Stoppers online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au or free call 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (“WTMA”) and Evolution Metals LLC (“EM”) Announce Effectiveness of SEC Registration Statement Ahead of Strategic Business Combination

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO , May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (OTC: WTMA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, and Evolution Metals LLC, which is dedicated to developing a secure, reliable global supply chain for critical minerals and materials (CMM), today announced that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has declared effective their registration statement on Form S-4, paving the way for the consummation of this previously- announced business combination.

    In connection with the business combination WTMA and EM plan to acquire 100% interest of five operating companies: (1) KCM Industry Co., Ltd., (2) NS World Co., Ltd., (3) KMMI INC., (4) Handa Lab Co., Ltd., and (5) Critical Mineral Recovery, Inc. Upon closing, the combined company will be renamed Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. (“EM&T” or referred to in the Form S-4 as “New EM”), and expects to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol EMAT.

    EM&T’s business is to leverage advanced technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide integrated midstream and downstream CMM recycling and processing of oxides, metals, magnet alloys, battery materials, and rare earth magnets for key industries including, but not limited to, the automotive, aerospace, defense, healthcare, high tech, consumer electronics and appliances, and renewable energy industries, while driving a sustainable future.

    “This is an important step in our mission to build a Western critical materials champion,” said Daniel Mamadou, CEO of Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. “It perfectly aligns with our original vision to bring together proven technologies, experienced operators, and strategic capital to solve one of the most urgent supply chain vulnerabilities in the Western world. EM&T is not just another company – we believe it is the platform that will deliver on what others have only promised.”

    David Wilcox, Managing Member of Evolution Metals LLC, added, “Today marks a transformative step toward American resilience in critical materials. This merger represents a direct response to the policy imperatives outlined by the U.S. government from reshoring strategic industries to securing CMM supply chains. The future of EM&T is built to execute on those priorities with speed and scale. “The immediate need for critical minerals and materials is mid-stream processing. Without the combined expertise of separation, salts for batteries, metals, alloys, metallics, sintered and bonded magnet-making capabilities under one Western roof, Chinese companies will continue to monopolize key steps in this supply chain, leaving all other nations and industries vulnerable. By integrating CMM recycling, processing, and advanced materials production, EM&T expects to be positioned to reduce dependence on China-controlled supply chains and strengthen America’s industrial and national security. EM&T plans to deliver real impact – environmentally, strategically, and economically.”

    About Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp.

    Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (OTC: WTMA) is a blank check company focused on identifying high-impact technology metals businesses aligned with global sustainability and security trends. One of WTMA’s co-sponsors, Welsbach Holdings Pte Ltd, is an independent platform focused on the support and development of projects related to technology metals and materials.

    About Evolution Metals LLC

    Evolution Metals LLC is committed to establishing a secure, robust and reliable supply chain for critical minerals & materials (CMM) that is 100% independent of China for sourcing or supplying feedstocks. EM’s strategy is to acquire and develop manufacturing, recycling and processing facilities to produce essential products (including magnets, battery feedstocks and related materials) for industrial uses such as, but not limited to, electric vehicles, electronics, environmental technologies and aerospace and defense applications. EM aims to support the creation of jobs, industry and manufacturing to promote a greener future by providing bespoke solutions to support its clients globally.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements made in this press release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking . The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the management of WTMA and EM, as applicable, and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made with the SEC by WTMA and the following: WTMA’s ability to complete the proposed Business Combination or, if WTMA does not consummate such proposed Business Combination, any other initial business combination; the risk that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is significantly delayed; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts EM’s current plans; New EM’s ability to successfully integrate the business and operations of the target companies (the “Target Companies”) into its ongoing business operations and realize the intended benefits of New EM’s acquisition of the Target Companies; New EM’s ability to secure sufficient funding to successfully rebuild Critical Mineral Recovery Inc.’s recycling facility with significant expansion on management’s expected timeline and budget, or at all; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; expectations regarding New EM’s strategies and future financial performance, including future business plans, expansion and acquisition plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, product and service acceptance, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and New EM’s ability to invest in growth initiatives; satisfaction or waiver (if applicable) of the conditions to the proposed Business Combination, including, among other things: (i) approval of the proposed Business Combination and related agreements and transactions by the WTMA stockholders, the holder of the EM member units and the holders of the equity interests of the other Target Companies, (ii) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) the shares of WTMA common stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination, and (iii) the absence of any injunctions; that the amount of cash available in the trust account and from certain other investments is at least equal to the minimum available cash condition amount, after giving effect to redemptions by WTMA stockholders and certain transaction expenses; the occurrence of any other event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the implementation, market acceptance and success of New EM’s business model and growth strategy; the ability to obtain or maintain the listing of New EM’s common stock on Nasdaq following the proposed Business Combination; limited liquidity and trading of WTMA’s public securities; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of WTMA common stock being greater than expected; WTMA’s ability to raise financing in the future; WTMA’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, New EM’s officers, key employees or directors following the completion of the proposed Business Combination; WTMA officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with WTMA’s business or in approving the proposed Business Combination; the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to WTMA from interest income on the trust account balance; the impact of the regulatory environment and complexities with compliance related to such environment, including New EM’s ability to meet, and continue to meet, applicable regulatory requirements; New EM’s ability to execute its business plan, including with respect to its technical development and commercialization of products, and its growth and go-to-market strategies; New EM’s ability to achieve sustained, long-term profitability and commercial success; operational risks, including with respect to New EM’s use of agents or resellers in certain jurisdictions, New EM’s ability to scale up its manufacturing quantities of its products, New EM’s outsourcing of manufacturing and such manufacturers’ ability to satisfy New EM’s manufacturing needs on a timely basis, the availability of components or raw materials used to manufacture New EM’s products and New EM’s ability to process customer order backlog; New EM’s revenue deriving from a limited number of customers; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including with respect to New EM’s planned operations outside of the U.S. and Korea; New EM’s ability to attract and retain talented personnel; New EM’s ability to compete with companies that have significantly more resources; New EM’s ability to meet certain certification and compliance standards; New EM’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and ability to protect itself against potential intellectual property infringement claims; the outcome of any known and unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings, including any proceedings that may be instituted against WTMA or EM following announcement of the proposed Business Combination; the potential characterization of New EM as an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and other factors detailed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Registration Statement on Form S 4, initially filed with the SEC on November 12, 2024, as amended (the “Registration Statement”). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of WTMA, EM and the other Target Companies prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, WTMA, EM and the other Target Companies undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    WTMA has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC, which was declared effective by the SEC on May 14, 2025. The Registration Statement includes a document that serves as a proxy statement and prospectus of WTMA, referred to as a “proxy statement/prospectus,” containing information about the proposed Business Combination and the respective businesses of WTMA, EM and the Target Companies. WTMA will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to WTMA stockholders. WTMA stockholders are urged to read the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, when available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting to be held to approve the proposed Business Combination, because these documents will contain important information about WTMA, EM, the other Target Companies and the proposed Business Combination. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of WTMA as of a record date established for voting on the proposed Business Combination. Stockholders of WTMA will also be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about WTMA without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and WTMA’s other filings with the SEC can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to: chris@welsbach.sg. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, WTMA’s website is not incorporated by reference in, and is not part of, this press release.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release does not constitute (i) a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed Business Combination, or (ii) an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a definitive offering document.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    WTMA and EM and their respective directors and officers or managers and other members of management and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed Business Combination. WTMA stockholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding directors and officers of WTMA in WTMA’s proxy statement/prospectus. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from WTMA’s stockholders in connection with the proposed Business Combination will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus that WTMA intends to file with the SEC.

    Investor & Media Contacts

    Judith McGarry
    Evolution Metals LLC
    Tel: +1 (415) 971-2900
    Email: judith.mcgarry@evolution-metals.com

    Daniel Mamadou
    Chief Executive Officer
    Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp.
    Tel: +1 (251) 280-1980
    Email: daniel@welsbach.sg

    Private Investment in Public Equity (“PIPE”)
    Email: PIPE@Evolution-Metals.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Beam Global Announces First Quarter 2025 Operating Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), (the “Company”), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, today announced its first quarter results for the period ended March 31, 2025.

    Q1 2025 Financial Highlights

    • Revenue CAGR 60% for trailing 60 months
    • Commercial Revenues increased 41% over Q1 2024
    • Positive GAAP Gross Margin 8%
    • Adjusted non-GAAP Gross Margin, net of non-cash costs 21%
    • Net cash used in Operations for Q1 2025 $1.8 million vs. Q1 2024 $3.0 million
    • Backlog of $6.3 million
    • Debt free and $100 million line of credit available and unused

    Q1 2025 and Recent Operational Highlights

    • In Q1 2025 we shipped EV ARC™ units, ARC Mobility™ trailers, energy storage systems (ESS), lighting poles and smart city infrastructure solutions to locations across California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, and internationally to Croatia, Serbia, Spain and Romania
    • Achieved CE (Conformité Européenne) certification on EV ARC™
    • Granted U.S. Patent for High-Volume Battery Assembly and Safety Technology
    • Expanded our European sales network with three new distribution partners
      • Seltis Glass Design S.R.L. for the Romanian market
      • Evrosimovski Consulting Ltd. for the North Macedonian market
      • BBA International for the Albanian market
    • Entered Middle Eastern market through partnership with Solvana
    • Launched BeamPatrol™ partnership with Zero Motorcycles with two BeamPatrol™ units at MotoGP in Austin to charge electric motorcycle demonstrations
    • Expanded into Romania with First EV ARC™ Sales through our Romanian reselling agent, Seltis Glass Design SRL
    • Won the Award for Innovation in Sustainable Infrastructure at the 2025 Congress of Mayors and Local Administration of Romania
    • Won the 2024 Award for Business Success by Serbian Chamber of Commerce

    “Though we are navigating through a series of uncertainties in the U.S. market, our other expansion efforts lead us to believe that we have the pieces in place to return to growth in this and future quarters,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “Sales of our flagship product EV ARC™ increased in the first quarter. Our battery business is doing some of the most interesting and promising work it has ever done. Our international expansion strategy is gaining momentum and bearing fruit. We have sufficient cash and working capital to continue to operate the business into the future. We have no debt and no going concern. We’re generating gross profits which, net of non-cash items, are still north of 20%. We have proposals out and items in our pipeline, which would simply not have been possible this time last year before we introduced our fantastic new product lineup and expanded beyond the US market. Losing the immediate benefits of U.S. federal government sales has been tough on us, but we are managing through that and have created a foundation for growth which is resistant to those sorts of upheavals, and which I believe, will create opportunities for growth which far out strip anything that we’ve ever done before.”

    Revenues
    For the first quarter of 2025, Beam Global’s revenues were $6.3 million. The Company has a Revenue CAGR of 60% for the trailing 60 months, as of the three months ending March 31, 2025. Revenues were diverse across commercial entities and state and local governments with a significant rebalancing towards enterprise customers. For the first quarter of 2025, 53% of revenues were derived from commercial customers compared to 16% in the same period in 2024. International customers comprised 25% of all revenue as of March 31, 2025 compared to 11% for the three months ended March 31, 2024. We believe that the decrease in revenue is mainly a result of uncertainty in the U.S. government’s zero emission vehicle strategy related to the presidential election.

    Gross Profit

    Gross profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, was $0.5 million, or 8% gross margin, compared to gross profit of $1.5 million, or 10% gross margin in the first quarter of the prior year. The gross profit includes a non-cash negative impact of $1.0 million for depreciation and amortization of intangible assets resulting from the AllCell acquisition. Our gross margin, net of non-cash items, was 21% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to 12% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Our engineering team has continued to implement design changes which have reduced the bill of materials for the EV ARCTM, improving the product margins throughout 2024 and leading into 2025. Additionally, we have continued to recognize synergies and positive gross margin contributions from our acquisitions. We expect the Company’s revenue to grow in the future and our fixed overhead absorption to continue to improve resulting in improved gross margins.

    Operating Expenses and Impairment of Goodwill

    The first quarter 2025 total operating expenses of $16.0 million included $10.8 million of goodwill impairment, for the single reporting unit, because our market capitalization no longer exceeded our net assets at March 31, 2025 due to the decrease in our stock price since December 31, 2024. Our operating expenses, net of non-cash items for the three months ended March 31, 2025 are $4.1 million compared to 2024 of $3.8 million, a variance of $0.2 million or 6%. The Company believes the goodwill impairment reported during the three months ended March 31, 2025 is not a negative indicator of historic or current operating results and not a negative indicator of future performance as the Company has taken significant steps to diversify its geographical reach and product offerings while focusing on strategic growth. The Company believes that the resulting non-cash charge has no impact on the Company’s compliance with its cash flows or available liquidity and that its acquired entities are contributing positively to its operations and growth potential.

    Net Loss

    The first quarter net loss of $15.5 million included $12.5 million of non-cash expense items such as goodwill impairment, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation and provisions for credit losses in 2025, compared to a net loss of $3.0 million with non-cash expenses of $1.1 million in 2024. The first quarter 2025 net loss excluding non-cash items was $2.8 million compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2024.

    Cash

    On March 31, 2025, we had cash of $2.5 million, compared to cash of $4.6 million at December 31, 2024.

    Net cash used for operating activities was $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $3.0 million for the same period in 2024.

    We have historically met our cash needs through a combination of debt and equity financing and more recently through increasing gross profit contributions. Our cash requirements are generally for operating activities and acquisitions.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present Non-GAAP financial measures, in this press release. We use Non-GAAP in conjunction with GAAP measures as part of our overall assessment of our performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies and to communicate with our board of directors concerning our financial performance. We believe Non-GAAP is also helpful to investors, analysts and other interested parties because it can assist in providing a more consistent and comparable overview of our operations across our historical financial periods. Non-GAAP has limitations as an analytical tool. Therefore, you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because of these limitations, you should consider Non-GAAP measurements alongside other financial performance measures, including attributable to other GAAP measures. In evaluating Non-GAAP measures you should be aware that in the future, we may incur expenses that are the same as, or similar to, some of the adjustments reflected in this press release. Our presentation of Non-GAAP should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by the types of items excluded from the calculations of Non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP is not presented in accordance with GAAP and the use of these terms vary from others in our industry.

    Conference Call May 15, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. ET 

    Management will host a conference call on Thursday May 15, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. ET to review financial results and provide an update on corporate developments. Following management’s formal remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session.

    Participants can register for the conference through the following link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10200046/ff2f9aecc8

    Please note that registered participants will receive their call-in number upon registration.

    Those without internet access or unable to pre-register may call in by calling:

    PARTICIPANT CALL IN (TOLL FREE): 1-844-739-3880

    PARTICIPANT INTERNATIONAL CALL IN: 1-412-317-5716

    Please ask to join the Beam Global call.

    About Beam Global
    Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S. and Europe, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Beam Global is headquartered in San Diego, CA with facilities in Broadview, IL and Belgrade and Kraljevo, Serbia. Beam Global is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This Beam Global Press Release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements in this Press Release other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may,” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results. These statements relate to future events or future results of operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Beam Global’s actual results to be materially different from these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, Beam Global expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    Investor Relations
    Luke Higgins
    +1-858-799-4583
    IR@BeamForAll.com

    Media Contact
    Andy Lovsted
    +1-858-335-8465
    Press@BeamForAll.com

     
    Beam Global
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,   December 31,
      2025   2024
      (Unaudited)    
    Assets      
    Current assets      
    Cash $ 2,504   $ 4,572
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $498 and $259 7,145   8,027
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,150   2,243
    Inventory, net 11,845   12,284
    Total current assets 23,644   27,126
           
    Property and equipment, net 13,531   13,704
    Operating lease right of use assets 1,650   1,893
    Goodwill –   10,580
    Intangible assets, net 7,810   8,037
    Deposits 120   119
    Total assets $ 46,755   $ 61,459
           
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
    Current liabilities      
    Accounts payable $ 8,316   $ 8,959
    Accrued expenses 2,393   2,462
    Sales tax payable 435   195
    Deferred revenue, current 1,042   847
    Note payable, current 64   63
    Contingent consideration, current 93   93
    Operating lease liabilities, current 539   696
    Total current liabilities 12,882   13,315
           
    Deferred revenue, noncurrent 857   800
    Note payable, noncurrent 182   199
    Contingent consideration, noncurrent 216   216
    Other liabilities, noncurrent 3,432   3,380
    Deferred tax liabilities, noncurrent 1,609   1,290
    Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 905   971
    Total liabilities 20,083   20,171
           
    Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)      
           
    Stockholders’ equity      
    Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 authorized, none outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. –   –
    Common stock, $0.001 par value, 350,000,000 shares authorized, 15,043,045 and 14,835,630 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. 15   15
    Additional paid-in-capital 147,518   147,072
    Accumulated deficit (120,166)   (104,643)
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) (695)   (1,156)
           
    Total stockholders’ equity 26,672   41,288
           
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 46,755   $ 61,459
           
    Beam Global
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
    (Unaudited, In thousands except per share data)
           
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,
      2025   2024
           
    Revenues $ 6,324   $ 14,561
           
    Cost of revenues 5,823   13,082
           
    Gross profit 501   1,479
           
           
    Operating expenses 5,265   4,527
           
    Impairment of goodwill 10,780   –
           
    Loss from operations (15,544)   (3,048)
           
    Other income (expense)      
    Interest income 23   71
    Other income (expense) 4   (56)
    Interest expense (6)   (4)
    Other income 21   11
           
    Loss before income tax expense (15,523)   (3,037)
           
    Net Loss $ (15,523)   $ (3,037)
           
    Net foreign currency translation benefit (expense) 461   (329)
    Total Comprehensive Loss $ (15,062)   $ (3,366)
           
    Net Loss per share – basic/diluted $ (1.04)   $ (0.21)
           
    Weighted average shares outstanding – basic/diluted 14,990   14,422
           

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trust Stamp files its 2025 Q1 10-Q and provides forward-looking estimates

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Atlanta, GA, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trust Stamp announced that:

    1. It filed its Q1 10-Q report for the three months ended 31 March 2025 after the Nasdaq market closed on May 15th, 2025.
    2. Q1 2025 recognized revenue was $545 thousand, decreased from $574 thousand for Q1 of 2024, with an additional $197 thousand of revenue fully earned but subject to deferred recognition under ASC 606.
    3. Estimates of anticipated revenue from existing contracted customers for FY 2025 are believed to exceed $5.0m and do not include projected revenue from contracted customers that are not yet revenue-generating.
    1. Continuing expense reductions for the balance of 2025 are estimated to result in new savings of $0.18m per month compared to expenses in 2024.
    1. Cash burn for the remaining nine months of 2025 is estimated at an average of $0.24m per month based solely on projected revenue from contracted customers that are currently revenue-generating. The Company believes its projected burn is covered by cash on hand (supplemented by an unused $6.1m “At The Market” equity distribution agreement that was announced on February 25th, 2025) as well as anticipated revenues described above.

    In addition, Trust Stamp announced that as of the date of this release, institutional customers registered on the Orchestration Layer platform have increased to ninety-four from eighty at the end of Q4 2024, with the addition of twelve community banks and two credit unions. 

    Inquiries:
    Trust Stamp                                                   Email: Shareholders@truststamp.ai 

    About Trust Stamp

    Trust Stamp is a global provider of AI-powered services for use in multiple sectors including banking and finance, regulatory compliance, government, healthcare, real estate, communications, and humanitarian services. Its technology empowers organizations via advanced solutions that reduce fraud, tokenize and secure data, securely authenticate users while protecting personal privacy, reduce friction in digital transactions, and increase operational efficiency, enabling customers to accelerate secure financial inclusion and reach and serve a broader base of users worldwide.

    With team members from twenty-two nationalities in eight countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, Trust Stamp trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market (Nasdaq: IDAI).

    Safe Harbor Statement: Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Remarks 

    All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The information in this announcement may contain forward-looking statements and information related to, among other things, the company, its business plan and strategy, and its industry. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events based on information currently available and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The company does not undertake any obligation to revise or update these statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexia Maddox, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Education Futures, La Trobe University

    De Visu/Shutterstock

    Australia’s move to ban under-16s from social media is receiving widespread praise. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore and Japan, are also now reportedly considering similar moves.

    The ban was legislated in November 2024 and is due to take effect in December 2025. The law says social media platforms can’t use official IDs such as passports to check Australian users’ ages, and shouldn’t track Australians. But it doesn’t specify the alternative.

    To test alternative methods, the federal government commissioned a trial of currently available technologies designed to “assure” people’s age online. Run by the Age Check Certification Scheme, a UK-based company specialising in testing and certifying identity verification systems, the trial is in its final stages. Results are expected at the end of June.

    So what are the technologies being trialled? Are they likely to work? And how might they – and the social media ban itself – alter the relationship all of us have with our dominant forms of digital communication?

    Dead ends for age verification

    Age verification confirms a person’s exact age using verified sources such as government-issued IDs. Age assurance is a broader term. It can include estimation techniques such as analysing faces or metadata to determine if users meet age requirements.

    In 2023 the federal government rejected mandating verification technologies for age-gating pornography sites. It found them “immature” with significant limitations. For example, database checks were costly and credit card verification could be easily worked around by minors.

    Nonprofit organisation Digital Rights Watch also pointed out that such systems were easily bypassed using virtual private networks – or VPNs. These are simple tools that hide a user’s location to make it seem like they are from a different country.

    Age assurance technologies bring different problems.

    For example, the latest US National Academies of Sciences report shows that facial recognition systems frequently misidentify children because their facial features are still developing.

    Improving these systems would require massive collections of children’s facial images. But international human rights law protects children’s privacy, making such data collection both legally and ethically problematic.

    Flawed testing of innovative tech?

    The age assurance technology trial currently includes 53 vendors hoping to win a contract for new innovative solutions.

    A range of technology is being trialled. It includes facial recognition offering “selfie-based age checks” and hand movement recognition technologies that claim to calculate age ranges. It also includes bespoke block chains to store sensitive data on.

    There are internal tensions about the trial’s design choices. These tensions centre on a lack of focus on ways to circumvent the technology, privacy implications, and verification of vendors’ efficacy claims.

    While testing innovation is good, the majority of companies and startups such as IDVerse, AgeCheck, and Yoti in the trial, will likely not hold clout over the major tech platforms in focus (Meta, Google and Snap).

    This divide reveals a fundamental problem: the companies building the checking tools aren’t the ones who must use them in the platforms targeted by the law. When tech giants don’t actively participate in developing solutions, they’re more likely to resist implementing them later.

    Google recently proposed storing ID documents in Google Wallet for age verification.
    nitpicker/Shutterstock

    Unresponsive tech companies

    Some major tech companies have shown little interest in engaging with the trial. For example, minutes from the trial’s March advisory board meeting reveal Apple “has been unresponsive, despite multiple outreach attempts”.

    Apple has recently outlined a tool to transmit a declared age range to developers on request. Apple suggests iOS will default the age assurance on Apple devices to under 13 for kids’ accounts. This makes it the responsibility of parents to modify age, the responsibility of developers to recognise age, and the responsibility of governments to legislate when and what to do with an assured age per market.

    Google’s recent Google Wallet proposal for age assurance also misses the mark on privacy concerns and usefulness.

    The proposal would require people over 16 to upload government-issued IDs and link them to a Google account. It would also require people trust Google not track where they go across the internet, via a privacy-preserving technology that remains a promise.

    Crucially, Meta’s social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram also do not let you login with Google credentials. After all, they are competitors. This raises questions about the usefulness of Google’s proposal to assure age across social media platforms as part of the government’s under-16s ban.

    Meanwhile, Google is also suggesting AI chatbots should be directly targeted and available to children under 13, creating something akin to a “social network of one”, which are out of scope of the ban.

    Rather than engage with Australian age verification systems, companies such as Apple and Google are promoting their own solutions which seem to prioritise keeping or adding users to their services, or passing responsibility elsewhere.

    For the targeted platforms that enable online social interactions, delay in engagement fits a broader pattern. For example, in January 2025, Mark Zuckerberg indicated Meta would push back more aggressively against international regulations that threaten its business model.

    A shift in internet regulation

    Australia’s approach to banning under-16s from using social media marks a significant shift in internet regulation. Rather than age-gating specific content such as porn or gambling, Australia is now targeting basic communication infrastructure – which is what social media have become.

    It centres the problem on children being children, rather than on social media business models.

    The result is limiting childrens’ digital rights with experimental technologies while doing little to address the source of perceived harm for all of us. It prioritises protection without considering children’s rights to access information and express themselves. This risks leaving the most vulnerable children being cut off from digital spaces essential to their success.

    Australia’s approach puts paternal politics ahead of technical and social reality. As we get closer to the ban taking effect, we’ll see how this approach to regulate social communication platforms offers young people respite from the platforms their parents fear – yet continue to use everyday for their own basic communication needs.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed – https://theconversation.com/a-trial-is-testing-ways-to-enforce-australias-under-16s-social-media-ban-but-the-tech-is-flawed-256332

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Viral ‘Hongdae boy’ videos expose the fringe group of South Korean men trying to sleep with foreign women

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Elfving-Hwang, Associate Professor (Korean Society and Culture), Dean International (Korea), Curtin University

    Shutterstock

    If you’re on TikTok, you may have come across “Hongdae boys” or “Hongdae guys” recently. In a social media context, the term refers to a group of young South Korean men who prey on foreign women (particularly white women) visiting the Hongdae area in Seoul’s Mapo district.

    Largely made viral by popular South Korean TikToker Sean Solo (@itsseansolo) creating parodies of these men, Hongdae boys are depicted as men who make brazen (and slightly awkward) attempts at picking up unsuspecting tourists or foreign students.

    Some of these women, who are often viewed as sexually “available”, have sometimes been inspired by K-dramas or K-pop idols to visit Korea in search of the perfect South Korean boyfriend.

    So what’s behind the rise of Hongdae boy videos? And is Seoul turning into a place to avoid if you’re a young female traveller? Well, no. But Sean Solo’s parodies of this recognisable type of South Korean man shouldn’t be dismissed as purely comedy.

    A trend warranting further attention

    Much of the funny viral Hongdae boy content is aimed squarely at foreign audiences. In fact, your average South Korean is more likely to associate the phrase “Hongdae man” (Hongdae namja) with the “Hongdae look” that showcases carefully curated streetwear inspired by hip-hop, rap and vintage elements.

    Hongdae, a famous nightlife spot, is very popular with foreign visitors and South Korean students. In the 1990s it became the cradle of the underground and indie music scene, and remains a buzzing centre for arts and culture.

    Come nighttime, however, it has a reputation for becoming hookup central. There are even “hunting bars” (hunting pocha) where single men and women can go to try and find a match.

    While Hongdae guys are by no means representative of all Korean men (a point Sean Solo emphasises) the fact these men exist, and have become a recognisable part of Hongdae’s nightlife, speaks to serious broader issues of misogyny and gendered thinking.

    Ongoing issues for South Korean women

    South Korea has a reputation for being socially conservative, and K-dramas have emphasised this squeaky clean image. But in recent years, a growing number of South Korean women have spoken out about issues of sexual harassment and violence, including a crisis of digital sex crimes.



    Read more:
    AI is fuelling a deepfake porn crisis in South Korea. What’s behind it – and how can it be fixed?

    This has led to public demonstrations expanding on the global #MeToo movement.

    We’ve also seen the rise of the so-called 4B movement (also called the “Four Nos”). Described as more of an individual lifestyle choice rather than an organised movement, the aim of 4B is to push back against societal standards imposed on South Korean women regarding marriage, childbirth and relationships.

    As Asian studies expert Min Joo Lee notes, foreign women who are married to Korean men and living in Korea are often exoticised as dutiful housewives aspiring for “tradition”, while South Korean women are seen as troublesome and demanding.

    Gender equality issues have also been used as a political football by some politicians. For instance, recently impeached President Suk Yeol Yoon’s 2022 presidential campaign relied on a narrative of male disempowerment to mobilise the vote of young, disaffected men.

    Another setback came in late 2023, when the Supreme Court delivered a final verdict in a case deemed significant for the country’s #MeToo movement. It involved Seo Ji-hyun, a former prosecutor who, in 2018, filed a lawsuit seeking damages against a former male senior prosecutor who she accused of sexual harassment and abuse of power. The court dismissed her claims.

    Foreign fantasies and reality

    For foreign women unaware of South Korea’s gender inequality issues, and who expect the sugar-coated image of Korean men they’ve seen in K-pop or K-dramas, the reality of the hookup culture may come as a shock.

    The disjuncture between reality and the foreign fantasy of South Korea has increasingly been of interest to social commentators and researchers like myself. My own research on the topic has identified a kind of “global Koreanness” that has taken on a life of its own in the imaginations of non-Korean fans overseas.

    The Hongdae boy narrative is similar to the 4B movement in that it is fuelled by attention from outside South Korea. While the 4B movement was widely reported in Western media, it was driven by a relatively small group of courageous women who didn’t actually get mainstream attention in South Korea.

    Nonetheless, having a spotlight on these women still amplified their struggle to fight back against gendered ideas of what’s expected of them. These are ideologies that might treat them as objects to be looked at and “consumed” (such as with K-pop idols), or expect them to prioritise marriage and childbearing, over their own careers, to address a declining population.

    Hongdae boy videos, both comedic and otherwise, may have a similar effect. They’re drawing attention to the gendered expectations many South Korean women face, and the ways in which they are dismissed in their pursuit for equality.

    Joanna Elfving-Hwang receives funding from the Core University Program for Korean Studies through the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2022-OLU-2250005).

    – ref. Viral ‘Hongdae boy’ videos expose the fringe group of South Korean men trying to sleep with foreign women – https://theconversation.com/viral-hongdae-boy-videos-expose-the-fringe-group-of-south-korean-men-trying-to-sleep-with-foreign-women-256475

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How accurate are my medical records? You might be surprised how often errors creep in

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sheree Lloyd, Senior Lecturer in Health Services Management, University of Tasmania

    DC Studio/Shutterstock

    Medical records of hundreds of patients at a Sydney hospital’s cancer genetics service have been reviewed following irregularities related to care by a single specialist.

    According to St Vincent’s Hospital, in about 520 records, there were matters such as poor documentation, incomplete correspondence and a lack of genetic counselling.

    In about 20 records, there were errors that carried potential risk – even if, ultimately, there had been no harm to patients – such as providing incorrect information and advice.

    Every now and again, cases like these make the headlines. Some examples of flawed medical records relate to individual human error. Some relate to issues in how electronic patient record systems are designed.

    These and other reasons mean errors can arise when records are created, accessed and shared.

    A huge potential for errors

    Health-care records describe the symptoms, conditions or problems being treated. They contain details about a patient’s medication, diet, mobility, social history, family concerns, observations, test results and language spoken. Health-care workers also document the plan to restore health, and progress. So entries must be correct, complete and timely.

    However, the scale of health-related communication and documentation is vast.

    Each day on average in Australia there are more than 33,000 hospitalisations, more than 112,000 out-patient services provided and more than 24,000 visits to emergency departments.

    Each month there are millions of specialist letters and discharge summaries shared to My Health Record

    Every interaction with a health-care professional requires notes to be made in a medical record.

    For example, a patient in a metropolitan public hospital is likely to be seen by at least three teams of nurses in a day, two or more junior doctors or registrars, as well as a specialist. Physiotherapists, speech therapists and other allied health workers may also be involved in someone’s care. Health-care teams record notes on paper, in electronic health records or a combination.

    There are also the millions of medical records updated in general practice, or by allied health workers outside hospitals.

    In hospital, multiple staff work in a team, each needing to consult and update a patient’s medical record.
    Rido/Shutterstock

    What type of errors are common?

    Accurate and timely medical records are supposed to allow staff to make safe clinical decisions, and to provide high-quality and continuous care. However, errors have been discovered in several audits and studies, including those related to medications.

    One review looked at how adverse drug reactions were recorded in electronic health records at one large Australian hospital. It found half of the reactions recorded lacked the minimum information required to inform clinicians about future treatment. One-third of records misclassified the type of reaction.

    A study of medication charts in Australia and New Zealand found at least one simple error on the medication charts of about 94% of the records reviewed. These included illegible drug names, missing information and inadequate documentation of allergies.

    One study from the United States found written errors, such as unclear documentation or not using plain language, were among the most common communication errors in the records analysed.

    What happens when there are errors?

    Errors in health-care records can spread, affecting how health-care professionals communicate with each other about the patient, potentially affecting care.

    Missing or inaccurate records can affect evidence collected as part of criminal, coronial or medical negligence investigations.

    As some hospital funding relies on the number and types of patients and interventions recorded, inaccurate records can affect health budgets.

    With inaccurate records, national and international collection of correct health-care information can be compromised.

    What causes errors?

    Errors in health-care records are caused by missing or incomplete information, including when health-care workers do not document changes.

    Difficulty in quickly finding important information, or delays in reporting new information, can contribute to errors, misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This could be due to the ease of use of the electronic health record, the bulky or disorganised paper record or that health workers are busy.

    Health-care teams report using a mixed record systems (using both paper and electronic records) can cause problems.

    Then there’s “note bloat”, when staff copy and paste information from one place to another. This allows wrong information to perpetuate. This is a well-known hazard leading to errors, stress and wasted time.

    Abbreviations used in health-care records, particularly in medication charts, can be misunderstood or misinterpreted.

    An Australian study found one in three medication errors were technology-related and due to poor design or functionality.

    A Swedish study involved patients reviewing notes in their own medical records. It found almost 36% of patients found an error and more than 26% found an omission. About 18% of patients were offended by the content of the notes.

    Errors can arise when there are both paper and electronic records.
    val lawless/Shutterstock

    What can we do?

    Improving the accuracy of medical records is not just health workers’ responsibility, although clearly they have a major role to play. Their workplaces, the IT companies that design the electronic systems, even patients, can also play a role.

    Health workers can make sure medical records are complete, accessible, accurate, readable and long-lasting.

    Workplaces, such as hospitals, can highlight in training and education the importance of documentation and how poor practices can lead to errors, and contribute to safety and quality problems.

    IT companies can design electronic health records that support how health workers need to communicate with each other, and the way they work.

    Patients can ask their health provider to correct errors found in their records, including in My Health Record.

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

    – ref. How accurate are my medical records? You might be surprised how often errors creep in – https://theconversation.com/how-accurate-are-my-medical-records-you-might-be-surprised-how-often-errors-creep-in-256233

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Meet the Space Ops Team: Christine Braden

    Source: NASA

    Christine Braden values new experiences that broaden her perspective; a mindset that has guided her 26-year career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she currently serves as a senior systems engineer in the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program. In her role, Braden works with engineering teams to develop commercial space stations that will prioritize the safety of astronauts while maximizing cost-effectiveness and the scientific research capabilities onboard. 
    Managed by NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, the program supports the development of commercially owned and operated space stations in low Earth orbit from which the agency, along with other customers, can purchase services and stimulate the growth of commercial activities in space. Designing and developing these space stations is the first step of NASA’s two-phase approach, enabling the agency to certify stations and procure services as one of many customers.
    With a bachelor’s degree in Technical Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Braden brings a strong engineering foundation to her work. However, her role unique because it allows her to merge technical expertise with her creative instincts. 
    “My team must think outside the box to define new ways that ensure that the commercial providers’ technical integrations, requirements, development, and operations are designed to the highest degree possible,” said Braden.
    Recently, she proposed a certification and systems engineering architecture that redefines how companies will interface with NASA and each other in an evolving landscape. Braden’s hybrid approach strikes a balance, allowing companies to innovate while favoring shared assurance and accountability. It also gives NASA situational awareness of the companies’ design, tests, mission, and operational approaches. As a result of her efforts, Braden was recognized with an “On the Spot” award.

    Looking ahead, Braden envisions a world where commercial space stations are a hub for science and technology, spacecraft are more efficient, spaceflight is more accessible, humans are back on the Moon, and Mars is the next frontier. In reflecting on these agency-wide goals, Braden finds that working with passionate team members makes her day-to-day work truly special and enjoyable.
    “I am a part of a small, close-knit team that works together to make these advancements in space exploration happen for the world,” said Braden. “Working at NASA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not only defines my working life going forward but also provides me with an experience I can share with some truly amazing people.” 

    Christine Braden
    Senior Systems Engineer, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program

    Outside of work, Braden is inspired by her faith, which encourages her to see things from new perspectives and try to understand people from all walks of life. Additionally, Braden is a lifelong learner who loves listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, and reading web articles. She is eager to learn everything from music and dance to plants and animals. 
    “When I look through scientific websites where new planets and galaxies are discovered, it makes me think of ways humanity may expand itself to the stars, and ways that we can preserve the life we have here on Earth,” said Braden.
    On the topic of preservation, one of Braden’s many hobbies is antique restoration. “It reminds me of my dad and grandfather restoring homes together during my childhood and gives me hope that I can inspire my children as they watch me follow in our family’s footsteps,” said Braden. Her other hobbies include gardening and family activities such as puzzles, board games, watching television, playing video games, hunting, and traveling.
    As a driven individual known for her creativity and curiosity, Braden’s fresh ideas and spirit are key in guiding the agency’s progress into new frontiers. 
    NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate maintains a continuous human presence in space for the benefit of people on Earth. The programs within the directorate are the hub of NASA’s space exploration efforts, enabling Artemis, commercial space, science, and other agency missions through communication, launch services, research capabilities, and crew support.
    To learn more about NASA’s Space Operation Mission Directorate, visit: 
    https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/space-operations

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Governor Josh Stein on Proposed Cuts to SNAP

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Statement from Governor Josh Stein on Proposed Cuts to SNAP

    Statement from Governor Josh Stein on Proposed Cuts to SNAP
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein released the following statement on proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): 

    “SNAP helps 1.4 million North Carolinians put food on the table. Congress’s proposed cuts are unprecedented and would make North Carolina pay up to $700 million to continue current benefits, all so that the wealthiest Americans can receive even bigger tax cuts. If Congress goes forward with these plans, our state will be forced into perilous budget decisions – should North Carolinians lose access to food, or should we get rid of other essential services? I urge our members of Congress to reject this budget proposal so that North Carolina families don’t go hungry.” 

    Currently, the federal government covers 100% of food benefits for SNAP participants. Now, Congress has proposed shifting food benefit costs to states for the first time in the program’s history. North Carolina footing $700 million in SNAP benefits for the first time would be the equivalent of 8,900 K-12 public school teacher positions.

    Four in five families participating in SNAP in NC have either a child, a senior, or an adult with a disability in the household. Each dollar in support for paying for groceries through SNAP frees up household resources for other essential needs like rent, utilities, or child care.

    SNAP contributes nearly $2.8 billion to North Carolina’s economy, and has a multiplier effect, with every $1 invested in SNAP benefits generating between $1.50 and $1.80 for local economies. SNAP cuts would mean people have less to spend at NC’s more than 9,200 SNAP retailers, which would hurt farmers, the larger food distribution pipeline, and local economies overall, especially in rural areas and small towns.    

    SNAP is playing a vital role in supporting western North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene. The 25 western NC counties most impacted by Helene still have higher enrollment in SNAP in April 2025 than they did in September 2024 before the storm hit. Notably, immediately after the storm, SNAP received169,000 applications – the highest number of applications since Hurricane Florence in 2018.

    Last week, Governor Stein sent a letter to Congress laying out the implications for North Carolina if SNAP cuts move forward. Click here to read his letter. 

    Click here to learn more about the impact of proposed SNAP cuts on North Carolina.

    Click here to view county enrollment data for the SNAP program. 

    May 15, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kentuckians in 24 More Counties Now Eligible To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following April Severe Storms

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Kentuckians in 24 More Counties Now Eligible To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following April Severe Storms

    Kentuckians in 24 More Counties Now Eligible To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following April Severe Storms

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    –Twenty-four additional counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky have been added to the major disaster declaration for Kentucky’s severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides and flooding that began April 2 and continuing

    Homeowners and renters with disaster damage in Breckinridge, Bullitt, Calloway, Daviess, Garrard, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Lincoln, McLean, Meade, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Pendleton, Powell, Trimble, Warren, and Webster counties are eligible to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program

    These counties are added to Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford which were designated eligible April 24

    The first step to receive FEMA assistance is to apply

    The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is June 25

     How To Apply for FEMA AssistanceSurvivors in the designated counties who have disaster-caused damage or loss from the April 2 storm can apply for federal disaster assistance under the major disaster declaration DR-4864-KY in several ways:Online at DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Visit any Disaster Recovery Center

    To find a center close to you, visit fema

    gov/DRC, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”)

    Use the FEMA mobile app

    Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    It is open 7 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    Eastern Time

    Help is available in many languages

    If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service

     Assistance from FEMA may include grants for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as temporary housing assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs for both owners and renters, and grants for disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property and vehicles, funds for moving and storage, medical, dental, childcare and other miscellaneous items

    FEMA assistance may also be provided for repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately owned access routes, such as driveways, roads or bridges

     Applicants should keep their current contact information on file with FEMA as the agency may need to schedule a home inspection or get additional information

    Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster

    The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts

    For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860 and www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4864

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

    martyce

    allenjr
    Thu, 05/15/2025 – 12:21

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE makes significant arrest of previously removed MS-13 gang member

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BALTIMORE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 26-year-old illegal Salvadoran national Nelson Vladimir Amaya-Benitez May 12, in Gaithersburg. Amaya is a validated MS-13 gang member and has been convicted of second-degree malicious burning, rogue and vagabond, and possession of marijuana.

    “The arrest of this criminal alien MS-13 gang member is yet another stark reminder of the dangers posed when our immigration laws are not enforced. This individual, who had previously been removed from the United States, reentered illegally and repeatedly jeopardized the safety of our Maryland communities,” said ICE Baltimore acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker. “ICE Lodged five detainers — four of which were not honored — allowing him to return to the streets and reoffend time and time again. This pattern is unacceptable. We strongly encourage our local law enforcement partners to honor our detainers to ensure that dangerous individuals like this are held accountable and removed from our communities to protect the law-abiding residents we serve.”

    The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Amaya after he illegally entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas, Feb. 3, 2016, and served him a notice to appear.

    The Irving Police Department in Texas arrested and charged Amaya with possession of marijuana Sept. 1, 2016. The Criminal District Court 2 in Dallas convicted him of possession of marijuana Sept. 21, 2016, and sentenced him to 36 days of confinement.

    The Seagoville, Texas, Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with unauthorized use of a vehicle and evading arrest Oct. 8, 2016. The 291st District Court in Dallas convicted him of unauthorized use of vehicle and evading arrest Nov. 13, 2018, and sentenced him to 90 days of confinement. ICE arrested Amaya Nov. 14, 2018.

    The Montgomery County Police Department in Rockville arrested and charged him with armed robbery May 26, 2017. On May 27, 2017, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center. The Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville convicted him of robbery June 29, 2017, and sentenced him to 10 years of confinement with all but 18 months suspended.

    A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Amaya removed from this U.S. Aug. 13, 2019. ICE removed him to El Salvador Aug. 28, 2019.

    Amaya illegally reentered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, admitted or paroled by an immigration officer.

    ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center Aug. 18, 2022, following his arrest by Montgomery County police. The detention center declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody the same day.

    Montgomery County police arrested and charged him with theft Feb. 8, 2023. The District Court for Montgomery County in Silver Spring convicted him of theft July 7, 2023, and sentenced him to two months and 29 days of confinement but suspended his entire sentence.

    On May 13, 2023, the Montgomery County Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with motor vehicle theft and rogue and vagabond. The District Court for Montgomery County in Silver Spring convicted him of motor vehicle theft and rogue and vagabond Aug. 4, 2023. He received a sentenced of five years confinement with all but 18 months suspended. On the same date, the ICE lodged an immigration detainer against him with the Montgomery County Detention Center. On an unknown date, the detention center declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody.

    The Montgomery County Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with second-degree malicious burning May 22, 2023. The District Court for Montgomery County in Silver Spring convicted him of the charge Aug. 7, 2023, and sentenced him to 18 months of confinement. ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center Oct. 11, 2023. On an unknown date, that facility again declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody.

    The Montgomery County Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with attempted motor vehicle theft Sept. 29, 2024. On the same date, the ICE an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center. The Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville convicted Amaya of attempted motor vehicle theft April 4, and sentenced him to three years of confinement with two years, five months and 11 days suspended. On April 18, the Montgomery County Detention Center again declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody.

    Amaya is currently in ICE custody.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The rebrand that went full circle: HBO Max to New HBO Max

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Omar H. Fares, Lecturer of Marketing in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

    The HBO Max rebrand saga highlights how quickly brand equity can be undermined when recognition cues are disrupted. (Shutterstock)

    Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) recently announced the streaming app Max will revert to the name HBO Max this summer. The move comes only two years after HBO was dropped from the brand name.

    The announcement has sparked a wave of commentary of social media, including self-aware humour. HBO’s social media team posted memes from shows like Friends and Euphoria, joking that the company had finally “come home.”

    HBO Max launched in 2020, promising big-budget series alongside the Warner film catalogue. In May 2023, the service’s name was shortened to “Max” after the US$43 billion merger that created Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Many viewers and analysts questioned the loss of a label long associated with award-winning television. When WBD CEO David Zaslav announced the return to HBO Max on May 14, he argued the original three letters still carry unique weight with audiences worldwide.

    The major U-turn offers a clear lesson for marketers: when a rename threatens familiarity, consistency and clear messaging, customers will push back.

    Brand familiarity: A memory shortcut

    The HBO Max rebrand saga highlights how quickly brand equity can be undermined when recognition cues are disrupted. Although the 2023 name change aimed to reflect a broader content mix, it unintentionally distanced the platform from its most recognizable asset.

    HBO, as both a name and a legacy, had become shorthand for a specific kind of quality — one that audiences weren’t ready to see stripped away.

    Brand familiarity may be described as the ease with which consumers recognize, recall and understand a name based on prior experience. In marketing, brand familiarity is a key factor in driving consumer confidence and supporting stronger emotional ties.

    In other words, when the existing memory structures are already in place, it reduces the cognitive effort that typically results in a more favourable action. Dropping “HBO,” a label linked to award-winning dramas for decades, removed a trusted shortcut and left viewers asking whether the service had changed its focus.

    Consistency as a pillar of trust

    One of the key drivers of brand engagement is brand consistency, which is the uniform application of brand elements such as colours, logo and tone. This consistency is typically associated with trust and loyalty.

    The shift from HBO Max to Max disrupted this consistency, leading to confusion about the platform’s identity and offerings. Consumers who associated HBO with certain types of content were unsure what to expect from Max.

    To make matters even more challenging, Max not only changed its name but shifted from the purple-and-black palette of HBO Max to blue, then to silver-on-black before finally circling back. Each redesign forced viewers to get used to a new look and tone, eroding the sense of continuity that subscription services rely on.

    Keeping the audience informed

    Missteps in messaging can sink even well-researched rebrands. Communications firm Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer points out that silence during change amplifies speculation and negative assumptions.

    The quick collapse of Gap’s 2010 logo makeover offers a classic example. The retailer unveiled a new mark without preparation, then reverted within a week after a backlash.

    A direct parallel can be drawn between that episode and the confusion that followed the Max launch, where any reasoned arguments for the shorter name never reached much of the audience.

    By contrast, the 2025 reversal was accompanied by plain statements from Warner Bros. Discovery, intensive press outreach and humour that admitted the misstep which is a communication style more likely to rebuild trust.

    Lessons for marketers

    Customer research should always precede radical changes to familiar signals, because the goodwill embedded in a long-running name is not easily replicated.

    Any shift in title or visual identity must be matched by consistent deployment across every touch point, from app icons to ad copy, otherwise confusion undercuts the strategy.

    Finally, customer perceptions cannot be an afterthought. Clear, timely messages that are supported by a tone that suits the brand’s personality will help audiences understand what is changing and why it benefits them, turning potential backlash into renewed engagement.

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

    – ref. The rebrand that went full circle: HBO Max to New HBO Max – https://theconversation.com/the-rebrand-that-went-full-circle-hbo-max-to-new-hbo-max-256777

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Bera Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Establish Permanent U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

    U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a permanent Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs within the U.S. Department of State. 

    Following its initial creation by the State Department in 2022, this bill would formally codify the position of U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs to ensure the role becomes a permanent fixture of U.S. foreign policy and Arctic engagement.

    Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and Mark Amodei (R-NV-02) joined Bera in introducing the bill in the House. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

    “The Arctic is a critical region for U.S. national security, economic development and environmental preservation,” said Representative Bera. “From increased ship traffic to growing competition with Russia and China, the United States must ensure we have a strong, unified presence in the Arctic. This legislation will help us do just that by formally establishing a senior diplomat position charged with leading and coordinating America’s Arctic strategy.”

    Reporting directly to the Secretary of State, the Ambassador-at-Large would coordinate efforts across federal agencies and international partners to advance U.S. security and scientific interests, strengthen Arctic cooperation, promote sustainable development, protect the environment and empower Indigenous Arctic communities.

    “As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ve seen firsthand how Arctic issues—from melting ice caps to rising geopolitical tensions—impact both U.S. national security and global stability,” Bera added. “This Ambassador will ensure the United States leads with our values, partners with our allies and protects one of the most strategically significant regions of the world.”

    “Establishing a permanent ambassador-level position is an important step to coordinate U.S. interests in the Arctic,” said Rep. Larsen. “The position also demonstrates Congress’ bipartisan commitment to international cooperation with regional partners on Arctic policy.”

    “A strong U.S. presence in the Arctic is essential to securing our geopolitical interests and countering adversarial influence,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “As the region presents growing strategic opportunities in security, science, and development, U.S. representation ensures we remain a leading voice in shaping its future and advancing shared values with our allies.”

    You can read the full legislation here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casten, FSC Ranking Member Waters, and 39 Democratic Members Call out Top U.S. Financial Institutions for Abandoning Commitment to Address Growing Climate Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    May 15, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and 39 other Members sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officers of leading U.S. financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Northern Trust, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton Investments, State Street Global Advisors, PIMCO, and Invesco. The letter follows recent decisions by U.S. financial institutions and investment companies to abandon their previous commitments to combat climate change amidst growing political pressure from the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans.

    In the letter, the lawmakers criticize the companies for withdrawing from several global coalitions of leading companies committed to combating climate change, particularly in light of our nation’s worsening climate crisis. In fact, 2024 was the hottest year on record, with natural disasters increasing in frequency and severity, causing billions in damages. The letter also highlights the past findings of key financial regulators that have repeatedly flagged climate risk as a rising threat to the economy and U.S. financial stability. For example, the Financial Stability Oversight Council identified climate risk in its 2022, 2023, and 2024 reports, urging financial institutions to manage their exposure to climate-related risks. Similarly, in 2023, the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reaffirmed that climate change poses a significant risk to the stability of financial institutions and the broader economy. 

    “We write to express disappointment over your company’s decision to backtrack on its climate goals in response to political pressure and the influence of fossil fuel special interests. Your organization recently withdrew from a coalition of leading global companies committed to taking significant actions to address the serious financial threats posed by climate change. Ignoring climate change’s destabilizing effects on the economy is not an option,” wrote the lawmakers. “…It bears repeating that climate risk is financial risk, a fact acknowledged by investors, asset managers, businesses, and regulators, including many of your organizations.”

    The lawmakers also underscore the negative consequences of turning a blind eye to their climate commitments which will exacerbate financial risks and as a result, directly affect how investors allocate their funds. 

    “Financial institutions contribute to the emissions of nearly every business sector, making your organization a crucial player in limiting the average global temperature rise and seizing the economic opportunities presented by the transition to a low-carbon economy. Moreover, as top financiers of fossil fuels, a failure to address financed emissions could expose banks to long-term climate impacts, including the risk of stranded assets,” added the lawmakers.

    In closing, the lawmakers emphasize the importance of climate coalitions and commitments, and request the CEOs provide detailed answers by May 29, 2025 to a series of questions, including explanations for their reversal on climate commitments, what they are currently doing to achieve previously stated net-zero carbon emissions goals, and the nature of their correspondence with the Trump Administration.

    See the letter HERE.

    Full list of signers: Representatives: Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Jesús García (D-IL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Henry Johnson (D-GA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Doris Matsui (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nikema Williams (D-GA).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: State Highway 1, Putaruru crash

    Source: New Zealand Police

    One person has died following a crash on State Highway 1, Putaruru this morning.

    Police were notified just after 7am that a truck had collided with a parked car, near the intersection with Sholson Street.

    The truck driver was unresponsive when emergency services arrived at the crash scene.

    Medical attention was immediately provided but sadly he could not be revived. 

    The road remains partially closed and motorists should continue to take alternative routes where possible.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: “Siloing Innovation” Harms American Security, Entrepreneurialism

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke with Dr. William Greenwalt, the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, on the wide-ranging benefits of the United States’ collaboration with allies to bolster American defense modernization. During the exchange, Senator King noted that by retreating from our European, Japanese and Australian allies, we are “squandering that asset and siloing innovation.” Dr. Greenwalt agreed with Senator King, saying that cooperation with our allies is critical to the future of innovation and shared national security.
    “Dr. Greenwalt, I was struck by what you said in your opening statement. One of our asymmetric or I think our principal asymmetric advantage in terms of national security is our allies, and yet we put them through this long, arduous process. And there should be, I think you suggested a, I don’t know whether you call it an exemption or a bobtail process or something, so that we’re not, so that we can have greater cooperation with our allies. Is that? Is that a fair interpretation of what you said,” questioned Senator King.
    “Yes, I won’t even call it an easy pass lane,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I think that’s and the other piece of this, and as I travel and meet with security people in other countries, we’re missing an innovation multiplier by not working with our allies. Countries like Japan and Australia, Europe, Germany, UK, all have brilliant scientists who are working on a lot of innovative areas. And instead of having innovation be siloed by country, it’s always occurred to me that it would be much more, as I say, a multiplier, if we could work more closely and have better cooperation with the countries that are aligned with us? Is that a fair observation,” asked Senator King.
    “I think that’s a fair observation. We’re a country of 340 million, our allies together, the EU, NATO, Japan, Korea, kick us up over to over a trillion. We were close to the Chinese population,” responded Dr. Greenwalt.
    “And we’re squandering that asset by siloing innovation,” replied Senator King.
    “The number of scientists, engineers working together would be critical in the future, and unfortunately, right now, we’re all stove pipe working on these things separately,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I do want to, I have a visual aid in terms of the process. I’m not going to burden the committee, Mr. Chairman, by submitting it for the record, but this is the foreign military sales manual, 642 pages. I mean this to me this summarizes, in many ways, the problem of the of the process itself, which has impeded our ability to work with, again, with our allies,” finished Senator King.
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues who has also been named a “fiscal hero” by government watchdogs for responsible spending. Last year, Senator King urged the DoD to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies. In previous SASC hearings, he has encouraged the DoD to adopt smart spending practices when it comes to developing defense technologies, and has emphasized that “new technologies win wars.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Call on Trump Admin to Reverse Illegal Firings of Consumer Product Safety Commissioners

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    The administration fired three of the five commissioners who help protect consumers from harmful products
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with four of his Senate colleagues, called on the Trump administration to reverse the illegal firings of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) officials who help protect Americans from potentially harmful products.
    “This move compromises the ability of the federal government to apply data-driven product safety rules to protect Americans nationwide, away from political influence,” wrote the senators. “We urge you to immediately reverse this order and allow the three Democratic CPSC Commissioners to continue their work to protect consumers, especially children and families, from hazardous products.”
    Congress created the CPSC to help regulate the manufacture and sale of products, ranging from children’s toys to fireworks, to protect the public from dangerous products that could lead to injury or death. Last year, the CPSC helped recall 153 million consumer products to protect kids and families from defective and harmful products.
    On May 8th, the Trump administration announced its intention to fire the CPSC’s three Democratic Commissioners, Commissioner Hoehn-Saric, Commissioner Trumka, and Commissioner Boyle, without cause. The commission is made up of five commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
    Hickenlooper currently serves the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear President Trump:
    We write to express serious concern regarding your intention to fire the three Democratic Commissioners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This move compromises the ability of the federal government to apply data-driven product safety rules to protect Americans nationwide, away from political influence. We urge you to immediately reverse this order and allow the three Democratic CPSC Commissioners to continue their work to protect consumers, especially children and families, from hazardous products.
    Congress established the CPSC in the Consumer Product Safety Act as an independent regulatory commission composed of five bipartisan Commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Since 1972, the CPSC has regulated the manufacture and sale of products ranging from children’s toys to fireworks, working to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death. In fiscal year 2024 alone, the CPSC negotiated and implemented the recall of 153 million consumer product units and conducted more than 4,100 in-depth investigations to remove defective and potentially harmful products from shelves. For over 50 years, the CPSC’s bipartisan commissioners have carried out this critical work to ensure that Americans can feel confident about the safety and reliability of the products they use every day.
    As at other independent agencies, CPSC Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to staggered, seven-year terms. The Consumer Product Safety Act establishes that the President may remove Commissioners only “for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office but for no other cause.” Further, the Act is explicit about the legal requirement for bipartisanship on the CPSC, mandating that “not more than three of the Commissioners shall be affiliated with the same political party.” These provisions exist to limit the Commissioners’ exposure to political influence, allowing them to focus entirely on their job of protecting American consumers.
    Despite these clear, congressionally-mandated protections, late on Thursday May 8, you announced your intention to fire the CPSC’s three Democratic Commissioners, Commissioner Hoehn-Saric, Commissioner Trumka, and Commissioner Boyle, without cause. This action degrades the ability of CPSC to establish robust product safety protections and casts doubt on its capacity to pursue recalls and investigations without being influenced by the politics of the day.
    More than ninety years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress has the authority to create bipartisan, multi-member commissions to serve the public without undue political influence. More recently, in 2020, the Court refused to rule that the President has the power to remove members of bipartisan commissions at-will. As you know, the President can lawfully exercise influence over the Commission by nominating new members and appointing the Chair. This illegal order to terminate three CPSC Commissioners without cause stands in opposition to clear legislative guidelines and nearly a century of Supreme Court precedent. It must be reversed.
    Commissioners Hoehn-Saric, Trumka, and Boyle must be allowed to continue their work at the CPSC and carry out its vital mission to protect American consumers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thirty Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Racketeering, Murder, Drug Trafficking, Fraud, and Firearm Charges

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Thirty Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Racketeering, Murder, Drug Trafficking, Fraud, and Firearm Charges

    An eight-count indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of Georgia charging 30 defendants – all alleged Sex Money Murder (SMM) gang members and associates – with crimes including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and related firearm and drug trafficking crimes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Eric Branderiz Joins Symbotic’s Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Mass., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Symbotic Inc. (Nasdaq: SYM), a leader in A.I.-enabled robotics technology for the supply chain, today announced the election of Eric Branderiz to its Board of Directors, effective May 14, 2025.

    Mr. Branderiz joins Symbotic’s Board following a nearly 30-year career in public and private company finance and accounting, including in high-growth environments in industrial technology. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Enphase Energy. Prior to Enphase Energy, Mr. Branderiz was Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer at Tesla. He has held senior finance and accounting roles at SunPower Corporation, Knowledge Universe Corporation, Spansion and Advanced Micro Devices, after beginning his career at Ernst & Young.

    “On behalf of the Board, I am thrilled to welcome Eric to Symbotic,” said Rick Cohen, Chairman and CEO of Symbotic. “Eric brings deep financial expertise and a track record of success, guiding companies through critical stages of growth and playing a pivotal role in helping newly public organizations to achieve significantly greater scale. I look forward to working with him as we continue bringing our cutting-edge robotics and A.I.-powered automation technology to diverse customers and settings globally.”

    “I’m honored to join Symbotic’s Board at such an exciting point in the company’s trajectory,” said Mr. Branderiz. “Symbotic is a leader in its field with one-of-a-kind automation technology, and I look forward to leveraging my experience at growth-oriented technology companies to support Symbotic’s continued innovation and its rapid momentum.”

    Mr. Branderiz currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation and Fortive Corporation. He is a Certified Public Accountant in California, and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Commerce with an emphasis on Accounting from The University of Alberta.

    About Symbotic

    Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its end-to-end, A.I.-powered robotic and software platform. Symbotic reinvents the warehouse as a strategic asset for the world’s largest retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Applying next-generation technology, high-density storage and machine learning to solve today’s complex distribution challenges, Symbotic enables companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy and efficiency. As the backbone of commerce, Symbotic transforms the flow of goods and the economics of the supply chain for its customers. For more information, visit www.symbotic.com.

    Media Contact
    mediainquiry@symbotic.com

    Investor Contact
    Charlie Anderson
    Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
    ir@symbotic.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Intermap Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company reports first quarter 2025 revenue growth of 153% with 28% pro-forma adjusted EBITDA margin

    Confirms projected 2025 revenue of $30–35 million and 28% EBITDA margin

    Conference call today at 5:00 pm ET to discuss results

    DENVER, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) (“Intermap” or the “Company”), a global leader in 3D geospatial services and intelligence solutions, today announced first quarter 2025 results and affirmed 2025 guidance.

    For the first quarter ending March 31, 2025

    • Total revenue of $4.3 million, compared with $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2024
    • Acquisition Services revenue of $2.4 million versus $478 thousand in the year-ago quarter
    • Value-added Data revenue of $514 thousand versus $266 thousand in the year-ago quarter
    • Software and Solutions revenue of $1.3 million, compared with $942 thousand in the first quarter of 2024
    • 28% pro-forma adjusted EBITDA margin versus 25% in the first quarter of 2024
      • Intermap invested to support permitting and pursuit costs on behalf of its partners for follow-on awards
    • Pro-forma net income of $833 thousand, compared with a net loss of $839 thousand in the first quarter of 2024
    • Total assets of $19.2 million versus $11.9 million on December 31, 2024
    • Cash, unbilled and A/R totaled $13.9 million versus $6.5 million on December 31, 2024

    “We’re seeing strong momentum across our government and commercial segments,” said Patrick A. Blott, Intermap Chairman and CEO. “With multiyear partnerships, federal contracts and a strengthened balance sheet, we’re benefiting from growing customer confidence and positioning the Company for recurring revenue with long-term growth. We are pleased to affirm our 2025 guidance.”

    Q1 Government Milestones
    In the government sector, Intermap’s team, led by CACI, was selected as a vendor for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s $200 million Luno B IDIQ contract. When combined with the previously announced Luno A award, the addressable opportunity totals $500 million. The first task orders have begun to be issued and Intermap is well positioned with superior proprietary source data and analytics located over difficult areas of the world inaccessible by optical satellites. This positions Intermap to compete for federal work over the next five years and expand its role in delivering advanced geospatial intelligence to support national security.

    Intermap continued to execute Phase 1 of Indonesia’s national mapping initiative, delivering high-resolution 3D elevation and feature data exceeding specifications in a shorter timeframe than planned. The Company is pursuing follow-on awards under Phase 2 of the $653 million World Bank–funded ILASP project, which supports land administration and spatial planning. With the Indonesian government prioritizing large-scale base maps for national development, Intermap’s Phase 1 performance positions it strongly for continued participation. The Company’s advanced technology and proven execution align with the project’s goals, including expansion into Java, Kalimantan and other key regions.

    As part of the Indonesian mapping program during the quarter, Intermap incurred charges for permitting, currency adjustment and working capital investment to support large government milestone payments, which were subsequently collected in April 2025, after the quarter end. In addition, Intermap incurred pursuit costs related to upcoming contracts. When the partner-related charges and pursuit costs are added back, pro-forma Adjusted EBITDA and earnings for the first quarter were $1.2 million and $833 thousand, respectively. To further mitigate exchange risks, Intermap entered into foreign currency hedging and arrangements with its local prime partner to pay IDR subcontractors. Going forward, currency risk and hedging costs are mitigated by World Bank funding, which will be denominated and fixed in U.S. dollars.

    During the quarter, Intermap was down-selected after a competitive process for a new U.S. Defense Advanced Research Project (DARPA) program to support priority DARPA investments targeted to leverage Intermap’s unique commercial capabilities, commercialization expertise, proprietary internal research and development and growth capital support. This program extends Intermap’s own upgrade efforts and capital with sponsored access to additional government-funded, cutting-edge applied geospatial technologies, advanced research and development, next-generation geospatial products and emerging dual-use companies on contract with DARPA. The Company is currently working with multiple customers using Intermap data and technology for real-time terrain matching to power long-range autonomous systems. More information about this important award will follow as contracting is finalized.

    Q1 Commercial Achievements
    Intermap began 2025 with strong performance in its insurance business, securing over $1.1 million in new and renewed contracts. It signed two major multiyear partnerships with a leading European bank-insurance group and PREMIUM Insurance. Both adopted Intermap’s Aquarius RMA platform, reinforcing the Company’s position as a key provider of AI-driven geospatial solutions for multi-peril and flood risk assessment.

    During the first quarter, the Company significantly expanded its partnership with a major global space infrastructure operator, which has increased its investment in the Company’s high-precision 3D elevation data with Intermap’s NEXTMap® solution. This expansion supports the operator’s use of the data for radio frequency interference modeling and optimizing site selection across diverse geographies. In 2024, the operator acquired 10 times as many projects as the previous year, driving a 6.4x increase in revenue. Early 2025 projects are nearly three times larger than the average size in 2024, with points of presence growing rapidly, reflecting the growing scale of the initiative. This rapid expansion demonstrates the operator’s growing reliance on Intermap’s best-in-class data.

    The Company also renewed its subscription partnership with a leading provider of GPS-enabled golf technology. Now entering its fourth year, the collaboration utilizes Intermap’s high-resolution 3D elevation data to map more than 40,000 golf courses globally, delivering immersive, real-time virtual experiences for golfers. This data powers advanced features such as swing metrics, ball flight analytics and detailed course visualizations—accessible from homes, backyards and practice ranges. Driven by strong user growth, the partnership is expanding to include a new generation of golf products built on Intermap’s proprietary terrain models, where Intermap is compensated alongside the customer for growing user data consumption. With 78% of core golfers using at least one golf app, Intermap’s data remains a key enabler of the evolving digital golf experience.

    Q1 Financing
    To fund growth, Intermap raised C$12 million in February. The capital strengthens the Company’s ability to execute on its expanding pipeline and scale delivery of high-value contracts.

    Outlook
    Intermap confirms projected 2025 revenue of $30–35 million and 28% EBITDA margin.

    Intermap does not provide quarterly guidance. The Company has tremendous installed capacity, providing a competitive advantage for speed of execution. Intermap’s customers are large global institutions and governments with long procurement and decision-making cycles. Intermap has the proven ability and track record to increase operational efficiency and tempo once under contract to meet aggressive timelines consistent with customer requirements.

    Intermap will continue building recurring revenue by enabling customers to consume the world’s most precise GEOINT terrain data products at global scale, as-a-service, provisioned within seconds, consuming only the points they need, when and where they need them. While penetrating deeper into its targeted markets, Intermap is also enabling new users and new use-cases, and its financial results highlight the persistent recurring revenue and high growth embedded in this attractive business model.

    Quarterly Filing
    The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, along with management’s discussion and analysis for the corresponding period and related management certifications for the first quarter financial results, will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at SEC.gov on May 15, 2025.

    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. The term earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) consists of net loss and excludes interest (financing costs), taxes, and depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes share-based compensation, fair value adjustments and foreign currency translation. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” in Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at SEC.gov.

    Conference Call Details
    Intermap’s CEO Patrick A. Blott and CFO Jennifer Bakken will host a live webinar today, at 5:00 pm ET to review the results, provide Company updates and answer investor questions following the presentation.

    Intermap invites shareholders, analysts, investors, media representatives and other stakeholders to attend the earnings webinar to discuss the first quarter of 2025 results.

    DATE Thursday, May 15, 2025
    TIME 5:00 pm ET
    WEBCAST Register

    Learn more about Intermap here.

    Intermap Reader Advisory 
    Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to revenue growth, EBITDA margin, future contracting, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “will be”, “will consider”, “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap’s forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap’s Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

    About Intermap Technologies 

    Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermap’s 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the world’s largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Company’s collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermap’s products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation. 

    For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:
    Jennifer Bakken
    Executive Vice President and CFO
    CFO@intermap.com
    +1 (303) 708-0955

    Sean Peasgood
    Investor Relations
    Sean@SophicCapital.com
    +1 (647) 260-9266

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