Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Team Wins 2024 Collier Trophy

    Source: NASA

    The innovative team of engineers and scientists from NASA, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, and more than 40 other partner organizations across the country that created the Parker Solar Probe mission has been awarded the 2024 Robert J. Collier Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). This annual award recognizes the most exceptional achievement in aeronautics and astronautics in America with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles in the previous year.   
    “Congratulations to the entire Parker Solar Probe team for this well-earned recognition,” said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro. “This mission’s trailblazing research is rewriting the textbooks on solar science by going to a place no human-made object has ever been and advancing NASA’s efforts to better understand our solar system and the Sun’s influence, with lasting benefits for us all. As the first to touch the Sun and fastest human-made object ever built, Parker Solar Probe is a testament to human ingenuity and discovery.”

    On Dec. 24, 2024, Parker Solar Probe made its closest approach to the Sun, passing deep within the Sun’s corona, just 3.8 million miles above the Sun’s surface and at a top speed of close to 430,000 mph, ushering in a new era of scientific discovery and space exploration.
    “This award is a recognition of the unrelenting dedication and hard work of the Parker Solar Probe team. I am so proud of this team and honored to have been a part of it,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “By studying the Sun closer than ever before, we continue to advance our understanding of not only our closest star, but also stars across our universe. Parker Solar Probe’s historic close approaches to the Sun are a testament to the incredible engineering that made this record-breaking journey possible.”
    Three novel aerospace technology advancements were critical to enabling this record performance: The first is the Thermal Protection System, or heat shield, that protects the spacecraft and is built to withstand brutal temperatures as high as 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The Thermal Protection System allows Parker’s electronics and instruments to operate close to room temperature.
    Additional Parker innovations included first-of-their-kind actively cooled solar arrays that protect themselves from overexposure to intense solar energy while powering the spacecraft, and a fully autonomous spacecraft system that can manage its own flight behavior, orientation, and configuration for months at a time. Parker has relied upon all of these vital technologies every day since its launch almost seven years ago, in August 2018.
    “I am thrilled for the Parker Solar Probe team on receiving this well-deserved award,” said Joe Westlake, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. “The new information about the Sun made available through this mission will improve our ability to prepare for space weather events across the solar system, as well as better understand the very star that makes life possible for us on Earth.”
    Parker’s close-up observations of solar events, such as coronal mass ejections and solar particle events, are critical to advancing our understanding of the science of our Sun and the phenomena that drive high-energy space weather events that pose risks to satellites, air travel, astronauts, and even power grids on Earth. Understanding the fundamental physics behind events which drive space weather will enable more reliable predictions and lower astronaut exposure to hazardous radiation during future deep space missions to the Moon and Mars.
    “This amazing team brought to life an incredibly difficult space science mission that had been studied, and determined to be impossible, for more than 60 years. They did so by solving numerous long-standing technology challenges and dramatically advancing our nation’s spaceflight capabilities,” said APL Director Ralph Semmel. “The Collier Trophy is well-earned recognition for this phenomenal group of innovators from NASA, APL, and our industry and research partners from across the nation.”
    First awarded in 1911, the Robert J. Collier Trophy winner is selected by a group of aviation leaders chosen by the NAA. The Collier Trophy is housed in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
    “Traveling three times closer to the Sun and seven times faster than any spacecraft before, Parker’s technology innovations enabled humanity to reach inside the Sun’s atmosphere for the first time,” said Bobby Braun, head of APL’s Space Exploration Sector. “We are all immensely proud that the Parker Solar Probe team will join a long legacy of prestigious aerospace endeavors that redefined technology and changed history.”
    “The Parker Solar Probe team’s achievement in earning the 2024 Collier is a shining example of determination, genius, and teamwork,” said NAA President and CEO Amy Spowart. “It’s a distinct honor for the NAA to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable team that turned the impossible into reality.”
    Parker Solar Probe was developed as part of NASA’s Living With a Star program to explore aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. The Living With a Star program is managed by the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The Applied Physics Laboratory designed, built, and operates the spacecraft and manages the mission for NASA.
    By Geoff BrownJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: West Virginian Renters may be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: West Virginian Renters may be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance

    West Virginian Renters may be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance

    CHARLESTON, W

    Va

    – West Virginia renters in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming counties who experienced losses due to the winter floods from February 15 – 18, 2025 may be eligible for disaster recovery assistance from FEMA and the U

    S Small Business Administration (SBA)

    Renters may be eligible for Individual Assistance grants from FEMA to help with such disaster-related expenses as:Renting a new place to live when the renter’s previous home was significantly damaged or lost due to the disaster

    Disaster-related medical and dental expenses

    Replacement or repair of necessary personal property lost or damaged in the disaster, such as appliances and furniture; textbooks and computers used by students; and work equipment or tools used by the self-employed

    Repair or replacement of vehicles damaged by the disaster

    Accepting FEMA funds will not affect eligibility for Social Security – including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or other federal benefit programs

    Renters who sustained losses can apply for assistance in several ways:Visiting DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Downloading the FEMA App

    Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Phone lines are open every day and help is available in most languages

    If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, please provide FEMA your number for that service

    Speaking with someone in person

    Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams will be on the ground in impacted communities, walking door-to-door to share information and help residents apply for FEMA assistance

    In coordination with the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) and officials in impacted counties, FEMA has opened a Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Logan, Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming Counties

    At a Disaster Recovery Center, you can get help applying for federal assistance, update your application, and learn about other resources available

    Logan County Disaster Recovery CenterMercer County Disaster Recovery CenterSouthern WV Community & Technical College100 College DriveLogan, WV 25601 Hours of operation:Monday to Friday: 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    – 3 p

    m

    Closed Sundays  Lifeline Princeton Church of God250 Oakvale Road Princeton, WV 24740 Hours of operation:Monday to Friday: 9 a

    m

    – 5 p

    m

    Saturdays: 10 a

    m

    – 2 p

    m

    Closed Sundays Closed April 26McDowell County (Welch) Disaster Recovery Center McDowell County Disaster (Bradshaw) Recovery Center  Board of Education Office900 Mount View High School RoadWelch, WV 24801 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturday March 29: 9 a

    m

    to 1 p

    m

    , weather dependentClosed on SundaysBradshaw Town Hall10002 Marshall HwyBradshaw, WV 24817 Hours of operation:Monday to Saturday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

    Closed SundaysMingo County Disaster Recovery CenterWyoming County Disaster Recovery CenterWilliamson Campus1601 Armory DriveWilliamson, WV 25661 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    to 3 p

    m

    Closed on SundaysWyoming Court House24 Main AvePineville, WV 24874 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    to 3 p

    m

    Closed on SundaysDRCs are open to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

    In addition to applying for FEMA assistance, renters can also apply for a U

    S

    Small Business Administration disaster loan

    Residents can apply online at sba

    gov/disaster, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability should dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay service

    For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd

    wv

    gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4861 and www

    facebook

    com/FEMA

    ###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters

    Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account

    Also, follow on X FEMA_Cam

    For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready

    gov, on Instagram @Ready

    gov or on the Ready Facebook page

    kelly

    magarity
    Tue, 03/25/2025 – 13:33

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: West Virginian Renters may be eligible for FEMA assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: West Virginian Renters may be eligible for FEMA assistance

    West Virginian Renters may be eligible for FEMA assistance

    West Virginian Renters may be eligible for FEMA assistanceCHARLESTON, W

    Va

    – West Virginia renters in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming counties who experienced losses due to the winter floods from February 15 – 18, 2025 may be eligible for disaster recovery assistance from FEMA and the U

    S Small Business Administration (SBA)

    Renters may be eligible for Individual Assistance grants from FEMA to help with such disaster-related expenses as:Renting a new place to live when the renter’s previous home was significantly damaged or lost due to the disaster

    Disaster-related medical and dental expenses

    Replacement or repair of necessary personal property lost or damaged in the disaster, such as appliances and furniture; textbooks and computers used by students; and work equipment or tools used by the self-employed

    Repair or replacement of vehicles damaged by the disaster

    Accepting FEMA funds will not affect eligibility for Social Security – including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or other federal benefit programs

    Renters who sustained losses can apply for assistance in several ways:Visiting DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Downloading the FEMA App

    Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Phone lines are open every day and help is available in most languages

    If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, please provide FEMA your number for that service

    Speaking with someone in person

    Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams will be on the ground in impacted communities, walking door-to-door to share information and help residents apply for FEMA assistance

    In coordination with the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) and officials in impacted counties, FEMA has opened a Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Logan, Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming Counties

    At a Disaster Recovery Center, you can get help applying for federal assistance, update your application, and learn about other resources available

    Logan County Disaster Recovery CenterMercer County Disaster Recovery CenterSouthern WV Community & Technical College100 College DriveLogan, WV 25601Hours of operation:Monday to Friday: 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    – 3 p

    m

    Closed Sundays  Lifeline Princeton Church of God250 Oakvale Road Princeton, WV 24740Hours of operation:Monday to Friday: 9 a

    m

    – 5 p

    m

    Saturdays: 10 a

    m

    – 2 p

    m

    Closed Sundays Closed April 26 McDowell County (Welch) Disaster Recovery Center McDowell County Disaster (Bradshaw) Recovery Center   Board of Education Office900 Mount View High School RoadWelch, WV 24801Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturday March 29: 9 a

    m

    to 1 p

    m

    , weather dependentClosed on Sundays Bradshaw Town Hall10002 Marshall HwyBradshaw, WV 24817Hours of operation:Monday to Saturday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

    Closed SundaysMingo County Disaster Recovery CenterWyoming County Disaster Recovery CenterWilliamson Campus1601 Armory DriveWilliamson, WV 25661 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    to 3 p

    m

    Closed on SundaysWyoming Court House24 Main AvePineville, WV 24874 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    to 3 p

    m

    Closed on Sundays DRCs are open to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

    In addition to applying for FEMA assistance, renters can also apply for a U

    S

    Small Business Administration disaster loan

    Residents can apply online at sba

    gov/disaster, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability should dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay service

    For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd

    wv

    gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4861 and www

    facebook

    com/FEMA

    ###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters

    Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account

    Also, follow on X FEMA_Cam

    For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready

    gov, on Instagram @Ready

    gov or on the Ready Facebook page

    kimberly

    fuller
    Mon, 03/24/2025 – 21:30

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Damaged Vehicle Assistance Available for Kentuckians Impacted by February Storms and Flooding

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Damaged Vehicle Assistance Available for Kentuckians Impacted by February Storms and Flooding

    Damaged Vehicle Assistance Available for Kentuckians Impacted by February Storms and Flooding

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    –FEMA may be able to provide financial assistance to help those whose vehicles were damaged due to the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred February 14 – March 7

    The first step is for survivors to file a claim with their insurance company if they have a comprehensive policy

    This type of policy usually covers storm-related damage to a vehicle

    Federal disaster assistance may help fill the gaps for those whose coverage does not pay for any or all storm-related damage costs

    Apply with FEMA even if you have insurance

    FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled

    To be eligible for FEMA assistance, applicants must meet the following conditions:The vehicle was damaged during the February 14 – March 7 storms within the disaster-designated area

    The applicant can provide proof of ownership of the vehicle with valid registration and title

    The vehicle was in compliance with the commonwealth of Kentucky’s registration and insurance requirements at the time of the disaster

    The applicant has no other usable vehicle

    Applicants with more than one storm-damaged vehicle, must write a statement explaining why the household needs more than one working vehicle

    The statement should include the number of vehicles and an insurance settlement or statement for each vehicle

    How to Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance Visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center

    To find your nearest Disaster Recovery Center, visit fema

    gov/drc

    Call FEMA at 800-621-3362

    Multilingual operators are available

    If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service

    Apply at DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Download and use the FEMA app

    Homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit organizations can apply for long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and other sources

    Apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at sba

    gov/disaster

    For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

    martyce

    allenjr
    Mon, 03/24/2025 – 20:53

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Five months after launch, San Bernardino public safety efforts yield 858 arrests, 66 stolen vehicles recovered

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 25, 2025

    What you need to know: Since Governor Newsom launched the joint San Bernardino operation in October 2024, the efforts have led to 858 arrests and 66 recovered stolen vehicles.

    Los Angeles, CaliforniaGovernor Gavin Newsom today announced the ongoing joint law enforcement operation in San Bernardino has resulted in 858 arrests, including 140 felony arrests, 66 stolen vehicles recovered, and 28 illicit firearms seized since the operation’s launch in October.

    As we continue prioritizing the safety and security of our communities statewide, the efforts done regionally in the San Bernardino area between state and local law enforcement are helping keep bad actors off the streets and holding them accountable for their actions.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The enhanced operation in the region places additional CHP personnel in San Bernardino to help clamp down on property theft and violent crime, including gun violence. The CHP’s operation adds special law enforcement units on the ground and in the air — targeting sideshow activities and stolen vehicles.

    On March 16, due to an enhanced public safety presence in the area and augmented resources dedicated through the state budget, officers were able to arrest a road rage incident suspect using high-tech camera technology. The suspect had fired at a neighboring vehicle on Interstate 10 using a black semiautomatic handgun. CHP officers were able to arrest the suspect the same day in a neighboring city.

    In an effort to continue combatting criminal activity and freeway violence, this camera network allows law enforcement agencies to identify vehicle attributes beyond license plate numbers, enabling the CHP, local law enforcement, and allied agencies to search for vehicles suspected to be linked to crimes and receive real-time alerts about their movement. Similar efforts have been used to fight crime in the Bay Area.

    Stronger enforcement. Serious penalties. Real consequences.

    Through a state, county, and city partnership, the CHP saturates high-crime areas, aiming to reduce roadway violence and criminal activity in the area, specifically vehicle theft and organized retail crime. The Newsom administration has provided similar CHP support to regional crime hot spots throughout California, including Bakersfield and the Bay Area. 

    In August, Governor Newsom signed into law the most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history. Building on the state’s robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills establish tough new penalties for repeat offenders, provide additional tools for felony prosecutions, and crack down on serial shoplifters, retail thieves, and auto burglars.

    California has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California’s Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.

    Recent news

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    News What you need to know: 125 new California Highway Patrol officers sworn in to protect the state. WEST SACRAMENTO – Marking the successful completion of an intense 26-week training program, today Governor Newsom congratulated 125 cadets who graduated into their…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Klobuchar, Colleagues Press USDA to Not Take Food Away from Food Banks and Hungry Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and 24 of their colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more information about the cancellation of previously-approved funding through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for food banks and other emergency food providers. This would take food away from hungry Americans already facing high grocery prices and hurt American farmers who are being squeezed by tariffs and other cuts to domestic markets.
    “We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previously approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP),” wrote the Senators. “A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy.” 
    “If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance,” the Senators continued. “In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges.”
    In addition to Senators Luján and Klobuchar, the letter was signed by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Oreg.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Oreg.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Angus King (I-Maine), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).
    This letter comes following a roundtable discussion Senator Luján convened last week at Roadrunner Food Bank in Albuquerque where he discussed the specific needs of New Mexico food banks with stakeholders.
    The full letter is available here and below. 
    Dear Secretary Rollins: 
    We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previously approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy. If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance. 
    In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges. 
    According to recent statistics, nearly one in every seven Americans have faced food insecurity. Many of these households turn to community and emergency relief organizations such as food banks and food pantries to help them obtain sufficient nutrition. In 2023 alone, 50 million Americans turned to emergency food providers, according to a report from Feeding America, America’s largest network of food banks. While food banks rely on a variety of sources (including private) to obtain food for distribution through their networks, federally purchased commodities are a key part of how they provide nutritious meals to Americans.  
    Due to this reported change, a number of us have heard that trucks delivering American-grown foods may not arrive. These trucks represent hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals containing poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. If confirmed, the cancellation of this previously announced funding also comes on top of the cancellation of Local Food for School Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding, which also helps farmers deliver nutritious foods to schools and food banks. These cuts will deprive Americans of food assistance, emergency food providers of necessary support to carry out their work, and American farmers of vital domestic markets. 
    To help us understand USDA’s actions and their impact on communities around the country, we ask that you answer the following questions. 
    Has USDA cancelled previously approved purchases of food provided through TEFAP? If so, what level of funding has been cancelled thus far and when will state agencies be notified of any cancelled TEFAP purchases? 
    Does USDA plan to cancel additional purchases of food provided through TEFAP? 
    Has USDA paused any TEFAP food orders or purchases? If so, what is the current status of those orders or purchases? Does USDA intend to un-pause these funds?  
    Please provide information on what types of funding, by commodity, have been cancelled and the financial impact of those cancellations on producers such as pork, chicken, turkey and dairy farmers. 
    Is the funding announced on October 1, 2024 and detailed in the implementation memo that the Food and Nutrition Service sent to state agencies on December 2 rescinded? 
    Does USDA intend to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds in Fiscal Year 2025 for future purchases that will be distributed through TEFAP?  
    We ask for a prompt response to these questions by the end of the week. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Truck Yard Murderers Sentenced to Life in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Three defendants were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, multiple counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping.

    James Edward Daniels, 59, and Frederick Eugene Rudolph, 69, both of Miami, Fla., were sentenced to life in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Herbert Barr, 56, of Miami, the third defendant, was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentences come after Daniels and Rudolph were found guilty of all charges at trial on Dec. 17, 2024, and Barr pleaded guilty to kidnapping on Nov. 26, 2024.

    On Dec. 5, 2020, Daniels, Rudolph, Barr and other co-conspirators kidnapped three victims from a truck yard in Opa-locka, Fla. They bound and tortured the victims, duct-taped their eyes and threw them in the back of a rented van after stealing the victims’ drugs. They drove around the city for hours before taking the victims to an abandoned house in Opa-locka and attempting to execute them by shooting the three victims. Two of the victims died, while one miraculously survived.

    Daniels stole jewelry from one of the murdered victims, and all defendants benefitted by receiving drugs, money, or both, in exchange for their participation in the conspiracy.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division announced the sentences.

    The FBI Miami Division Homestead Resident Agency, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Homicide Bureau and DEA Homestead Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yara Dodin and Katie Guthrie prosecuted the case.

    This investigation was carried out by members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The South Florida HIDTA, established in 1990, is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who, cooperatively, target the region’s drug-trafficking and money laundering organizations. The South Florida HIDTA is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which sponsors a variety of initiatives focused the nation’s illicit drug trafficking threats. For more information regarding HIDTA visit https://www.dea.gov/operations/hidta.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20431.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Historic Halifax State Historic Site Hosts  ‘Halifax Resolves Days: Prelude to Revolution’ on April 11-12, 2025

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Historic Halifax State Historic Site Hosts  ‘Halifax Resolves Days: Prelude to Revolution’ on April 11-12, 2025

    Historic Halifax State Historic Site Hosts  ‘Halifax Resolves Days: Prelude to Revolution’ on April 11-12, 2025
    jejohnson6

     On April 12, 1776, the 4th Provincial Congress in session at Halifax, N.C., passed a resolution that became known as “The Halifax Resolves.” In this document, North Carolinians declared their grievances against British rule and encouraged their delegates in the Continental Congress to vote for independence. It was the first official action of any of the 13 colonies calling for independence.

    Historic Halifax State Historic Site will commemorate the 249th anniversary of the Halifax Resolves with an exciting two-day event. Immerse yourself in the past as skilled historians bring to life the Revolutionary-era citizens of Halifax. Discover the pivotal role North Carolina and its people played in shaping the destiny of America. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with history firsthand.

    Festivities begin on Friday, April 11. Steven Green will present a lecture about American Indian Patriots at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Room at the Historic Court House. Later that day, at 11 a.m., Tom King will lecture on the life of the Rev. Edward Drumgoole at the First Baptist Church of Halifax. Both lectures on Friday are sponsored by the Halifax County’s A250 Churches, Genealogy, and Cemeteries Committee. At 10 a.m. members of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe will hold a ceremony at Magazine Springs. Guided tours of historic buildings and living history demonstrations are available from noon-5 p.m.

    On Saturday, April 12, the Sons of the American Revolution will host a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the Colonial Courthouse at 10 a.m., followed by the Historical Halifax Restoration Association’s annual commemoration ceremony at 2 p.m. Guided tours of historic buildings, living history, historic vignettes, and artillery demonstrations will be ongoing from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., the historic Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church will offer a community church service — all welcome to attend. To finish the night, a free concert on the steps of the Historic Courthouse on King Street will begin at 7 p.m. The concert is sponsored by the Town of Halifax and made possible through funding by America 250 NC.

    Special programming by supporting community partners will occur in Halifax on both days. The Bradford-Denton House will offer ongoing hearth cooking, blacksmithing, and other living history demonstrations. The Royal White Hart Lodge #2 will be open for tours. A variety of food trucks will be available throughout the weekend. All activities are free.

    A full schedule of events and a site map will be available online at https://www.america250.nc.gov. For more information, please call Historic Halifax State Historic Site at (252) 583-7191.

    About Historic Halifax State Historic Site
    Located on the Roanoke River, the town of Halifax developed into a commercial and political center at the time of the American Revolution. North Carolina’s Fourth Provincial Congress met in Halifax in the spring of 1776 where it unanimously adopted a document on April 12 that became knowns as the “Halifax Resolves,” the first official action by an entire colony recommending independence from England. A temporary visitor center operates  Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., from the Tap Room tavern (101 N. King St.). The site is  
    closed Sunday, Monday, and most major holidays

    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.
    Mar 25, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Corran Ferry fares increase and Maid of Glencoul annual refit

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Corran Ferry fares will increase from Tuesday 1 April 2025 following approval of the Medium-Term Financial Plan 2025/26 to 2027/28, at the Council’s Budget meeting held on Thursday 06 March 2025. 

    The operating costs of the Corran Ferry are subject to inflationary pressures and increased re-fit costs relating to the age of the vessels.

    Members agreed increases as follows:

    • Private and light goods vehicles, drive-up fare for cars will rise by £1.00 from £11.00 to £12.00.
    • Minibuses up to 16 seats and caravanettes will rise by £1.50 from £15.00 to £16.50. 
    • Motorbikes will rise by 50p from £5.00 to £5.50.
    • The new cost of a multi-journey book of 30 tickets will rise by £8.20 to £88.50 (was £80.30, equating to a rise of 27p per journey from £2.68 to £2.95).
    • Commercial fares including artic vehicles by £5.00 to £57.00 from £52.00 and bus/coach (36 seats & over) a rise of £2.80, £32.00 from £29.20.

    The full list of fares will be displayed on the Corran Ferry webpage.

    Arrangements are in place for the relief vessel the Maid of Glencoul’s annual spring refit. 

    Refits comprise of planned maintenance and repairs, including any necessary upgrades (to meet new legislation for example), and any emergent works that may arise after survey in dock.

    Recently The Maid of Glencoul has had significant works and upgrades including steering system, wiring, safety systems, aft main engine overhaul, and steel replacement work.  This year, the significant main item is the overhaul of her forward main engine.

    The Corran Ferry traffic webcams are in operation to allow people ‘real time’ viewing of the marshalling areas at Ardgour and Corran. The live traffic webcams are provided to assist the travelling public in journey planning, showing the extent of the ferry queues, including busy periods, special events or service disruption. This equipment was requested by the community to better manage wait times for crossings, particularly during the summer months.  The camera views are low resolution and show the extent of the ferry queue only. The live traffic webcams can be viewed here.

    The MV Corran will operate to the usual timetable, running seven days a week. For updates, please visit the Corran Ferry Webpage 

    Please follow the new Corran Ferry Facebook (external link) page and the @CorranFerry (external link) X page for service updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fraud Conspiracy Leader Sentenced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A Johnston man, identified in court documents as the leader of a conspiracy that used stolen personal identifications of unsuspecting individuals to gain financing for the purchase of Land Rovers from dealerships in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, has been sentenced to two-and-one-half years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Dennis Odoom, 27, previously admitted to a federal judge that he enlisted others to join the conspiracy. Odoom admitted that he provided a co-conspirator with a fraudulent ID and that he drove that person to a dealership in New Hampshire to pick up a Land Rover valued at $96,256 purchased with fraudulently obtained credit. The person accompanying him was expecting to be paid $2,000 by Odoom.

    Additionally, court documents allege that fraudulently obtained financing was used by co-conspirators to purchase a Land Rover from a Rhode Island dealership. The final sales price for the vehicle and financing was $111,183.

    Odoom was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. Dubose to a term of 30 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000. Restitution will be determined by the court at a later date. Odoom pleaded guilty on December 12, 2024, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    A co-defendant in this matter, Roy Sweets, 27, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2025, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2025.

    A third defendant, Adalberto Mauricio Romero, 28, of Providence, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

    The matter was investigated by Warwick, RI, and Bedford, NH, Police Departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sioux City Felon Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burton used a loaded handgun to intimidate and frighten a female bartender for over an hour.

    Jamiah Burton, age 30, from Sioux City, was sentenced March 21, 2025, to five years in federal prison, after an August 8, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.

    Evidence in the case revealed on January 19, 2024, Burton entered a Sioux City, Iowa bar with a female companion.  The couple argued, the female left, and Burton turned his attention to the sole remaining person in the bar: the female bartender.  For the next hour and half or so, Burton who had been drinking, refused to leave, repeatedly came behind the bar, simulated a sex act on his victim, manhandled her, at various points become emotional, brandished a loaded handgun — claiming he had a bullet for his victim and one for himself — and stole a bottle of alcohol all before being tricked out of the bar by his victim’s promise to leave with him.  A video of the event shows the victim’s attempts to navigate an impossible situation: she laughs and drinks and plays along with Burton all while secretly texting for help and trying to escape.  The moment she tricks him out of the bar, she locked the doors, hid in the bathroom, and called 911. 

    Approximately 16 minutes after Burton left the bar, law enforcement in South Sioux City, Nebraska located the vehicle he was using which was high centered and stranded in the snow.  Law enforcement located several open containers and a bottle of tequila (consistent with the one he stole from the bar) in the vehicle. 

    Burton has a serious criminal history.  Among numerous convictions, Burton  has twice committed violent home invasions, and driven drunk while attempting to elude police.

    Burton was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 60 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

    Burton is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was investigated by the South Sioux City, Nebraska and the Sioux City, Iowa Police Departments and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-4015.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: Modern spacesuits have a compatability problem. Astronauts’ lives depend on fixing it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Berna Akcali Gur, Lecturer in Outer Space Law, Queen Mary University of London

    Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the Nasa astronauts who were stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months, have finally returned to Earth.

    Spacesuits were an important consideration that Nasa had to factor into its plans to bring the astronauts back home. Wilmore and Williams had travelled to the ISS in Boeing’s experimental Starliner spacecraft, so they arrived wearing Boeing “Blue” spacesuits.

    Following helium leaks and thruster (engine) issues with Starliner, Nasa decided it was safer not to send them back to Earth on that vehicle. The astronauts had to wait to return on one of the other spacecraft that ferry crew members to the ISS, the SpaceX Crew Dragon.

    This meant they needed a different type of spacesuit, made by SpaceX for use in its vehicle only. Boeing’s suits cannot be used in Crew Dragon in part because the umbilicals (the flexible “pipes” that supply air and cooling to the suit) have connections and standards that don’t work with the ports inside a Crew Dragon.

    This highlights a general problem for the growing number of space agencies and companies sending people into orbit, and for planned missions to the Moon and beyond. Ensuring that different spacesuits are compatible, or “interoperable”, with spacecraft they weren’t designed to be used in is vital if we are to protect astronauts’ lives during an emergency in space, especially in joint missions.

    The spacesuits worn during a return from space are called “launch, entry and abort” (LEA) suits. These are airtight and provide life support to the astronauts in case there is a decompression, when air is lost from the cabin.

    Unfortunately, a decompression has already caused loss of life in space. During the Soyuz 11 mission in 1971, three Soviet cosmonauts visited the world’s first space station, Salyut 1. But during preparations for re-entry, the crew cabin lost its air, killing cosmonauts Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev, who were not wearing LEA suits. All cosmonauts wore them after this incident.

    As well as the connections for life support, the Boeing and SpaceX suits also have restraints and connections for communications that are specific to each vehicle. For their return home from the ISS in a SpaceX capsule, Williams was able into use a spare SpaceX suit that was already aboard the space station and the company sent up an additional suit on a cargo delivery for Wilmore to wear.

    Two spacecraft are usually docked at the ISS as “lifeboats” to evacuate the astronauts in the event of an emergency. These are generally a SpaceX Crew Dragon and a Russian Soyuz capsule.

    If an emergency evacuation were to occur and there weren’t enough of the right spacesuits available – for either the Crew Dragon or Soyuz – it could endanger astronauts during the fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere. Interoperability between spacesuits has therefore become a matter of survival.

    The Outer Space Treaty, which provides the basic framework for international space law, recognises astronauts as “envoys of humankind” and grants them specific legal protections. These were expanded on in subsequent UN treaties – notably the Rescue Agreement, which imposes a range of duties on states to render assistance to each others’ astronauts in cases of emergency, accident or distress.

    For the ISS, a collaborative space programme with international flight crews, protocols include terms that set forth how this obligation is to be met. However, these protocols do not contain terms relating to spacesuit interoperability.

    Risks to astronauts in space

    A major potential cause of an emergency evacuation is space debris. The ISS has regularly had to manoeuvre to avoid collisions with debris – including entire defunct satellites.

    In his memoir, Endurance, Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly describes being commanded to enter the Soyuz vehicle with two other crew members and prepare to detach from the ISS because of a close approach by a large defunct satellite. Luckily, the spacecraft passed by harmlessly.

    As orbits become increasingly congested, with an exponential increase in the number of space objects being launched, the risk of collisions will also increase.

    Ever more companies and governments are entering the human spaceflight arena. The Tiangong space station, China’s orbiting laboratory, has been fully operational since 2022, and there are plans to open it to space tourism, just like the ISS.

    India is planning to join the community of nations with the capability to launch humans into space, under a programme called Gaganyaan. And while most space travellers remain government-funded astronauts, the number of private space-farers is increasing.

    Billionaire Jared Isaacman (who is President Trump’s nominee to run Nasa) has commanded two private missions into orbit using Crew Dragon. On the second of these, he participated in the first spacewalk by privately funded astronauts. The ISS is set to be retired in 2030 – but one company, Houston-based Axiom Space, is already building a private space station.

    Against this complex and part-unregulated backdrop, ensuring the interoperability of different spacecraft systems, including spacesuits, will increase levels of safety in this inherently risky activity.

    While the safety and practicality of spacesuits has always been the top priority, compatibility between different suits and vehicles should also be high on the list. This requires space agencies and private spaceflight companies to engage with each other in a process to agree on standard interfaces and connections for life support and communications, across all their suits and space vehicles.

    Amid this period of increased commercialisation and competition between the organisations and companies involved in orbital spaceflight, a move toward greater collaboration can only be a good thing.

    Berna Akcali Gur 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. Modern spacesuits have a compatability problem. Astronauts’ lives depend on fixing it – https://theconversation.com/modern-spacesuits-have-a-compatability-problem-astronauts-lives-depend-on-fixing-it-252935

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the Tesla backlash could help electric cars finally go mainstream

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hannah Budnitz, Research Associate in Urban Mobility, Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford

    Elon Musk’s controversial political views and actions have sparked an exodus from X (formerly Twitter), his social media platform, and mass protests against his car company, Tesla. Dealerships in the US and beyond have experienced peaceful protests and occasional vandalism, while sales are down almost everywhere and the company has lost almost half its value in two months.

    Ironically, these political controversies may broaden the mass market appeal of electric vehicles. This is an industry that needs to go beyond the early-adopter tech bros – and now might be the moment.

    In 2010, when Tesla became the first American carmaker to go public since Ford in 1956, fully electric cars were still a niche technology. The Nissan Leaf was launched that same year, but it was still limited to shorter trips in cities. Other big carmakers weren’t yet taking electric seriously, and the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) industry was just starting to gear up.

    In 2013, when the International Energy Agency (IEA) produced its first Global EV Outlook report, there were less than 60,000 on the road worldwide. A decade later, almost the same number of EVs are sold every day.

    Tesla’s competition was initially just little urban runarounds like this 2010 Nissan Leaf.
    Dong liu / Shutterstock

    So, there is plenty of evidence that Tesla had a leading role in making EVs a “winning technology” – something the traditional major carmakers felt compelled to compete with. Governments around the world also got on board.

    Not made for the mainstream

    In fact, Tesla’s approach to making electric cars mainstream was to not make them for the mainstream. Its marketing strategy was to sell direct to customers who not only bought into the environmental credentials but the hi-tech glamour – and didn’t mind the price tag.

    In other words, Tesla targeted “early adopters” which, in the case of electric cars, meant wealthy men. Study after study shows these early adopters in North America and Europe were skewed towards men and those with higher incomes.

    Although these studies often measured income and gender separately, research I published with colleagues indicated it was having both characteristics – being both a man and wealthy – that made someone more likely to be an EV owner, or more likely to say their next car would probably be electric.

    Out of our representative sample of nearly 2,000 UK drivers, wealthy men were also more likely to agree that their social circle expected them to switch.

    We did not find the same results among women, no matter their income level, nor low-income men. This despite the fact that women were significantly more likely to value protecting the environment and to feel an obligation to drive an electric car (if they were first convinced it would reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality).

    This points to another key implication of our research. To support mass adoption, drivers need to be confident that EVs can deliver the environmental benefits they promise, as well as being more comfortable and cheaper to run than conventional cars.

    To gain this confidence, drivers – no matter who they are – want to hear consistent messaging from a trusted source that highlights the benefits, not just the costs.

    However, as we found in our project Inclusive Transition to Electric Mobility, drivers and policymakers alike perceive EVs as unaffordable. Some research participants even mentioned Tesla by name when giving an example of how making the switch is beyond the means of people like them.

    Cheaper EVs need new messaging

    Although Tesla sells mass-produced models and slashed its prices around the world last year, its cars are still expensive (in the UK, they start at about £40,000). The company’s reputation and brand is linked not only to the tech-bro image of Silicon Valley, but with elitism and inequity.

    However, the reputation of EVs in general need not be. Unlike ten years ago, this is a technology with momentum among many manufacturers, and consumers have plenty of new, cheaper models to choose from, as well as a growing second-hand market. The IEA’s latest report suggests EVs are finally becoming a mass-market product.

    Tesla is facing stiff competition from cheaper rivals such as Chinese firm BYD.
    i viewfinder / Shutterstock

    As electric cars become more affordable in real terms, the messaging needs to be about environmental benefit rather than futuristic technology. It needs to emphasise long-term affordability of use as well as purchase. EVs need to be seen as practical and safe – and drivers need to hear these messages from trusted sources.

    My research highlighted how family, friends, colleagues and neighbours could be this source of trusted information. Early adopters I interviewed described the many personal, social interactions involved in the practicalities of parking and charging their cars – such as coordinating workplace charging so no one is caught short, and sharing tips on the best tariff for home charging. Some have effectively become local ambassadors for EVs.

    I’m also investigating how communities coming together around EVs might lead to more car sharing. This could maximise the environmental benefits of the transition, since reducing the number of cars on the road is as important as ensuring cars switch from petrol to electric.

    There is little doubt about the damage Musk’s political approach has done to Tesla’s image, although it is not the sole cause of the company’s current troubles.

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

    Hannah Budnitz 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. Why the Tesla backlash could help electric cars finally go mainstream – https://theconversation.com/why-the-tesla-backlash-could-help-electric-cars-finally-go-mainstream-252963

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa pays heartfelt tribute to nurses for their role during COVID

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed gratitude for the vital role nurses played during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    The President addressed the 9th National Congress of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) today. This was the first time the President addressed DENOSA since the outbreak, highlighting the lasting impact of healthcare workers in the fight against the virus.

    President Ramaphosa reflected on the significant changes caused by the pandemic, including the loss of lives and the challenges encountered by healthcare workers.

    “We lost a number of nurses and healthcare workers, brave men and women who were at the frontline of the pandemic. Brave is not an adequate word to describe them. Many of you faced the danger of being infected and death, but you still went on to care for those who were affected.”

    He encouraged attendees to observe a moment of silence in honor of the brave nurses and healthcare professionals, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving on the front lines.

    “For you who are in the profession, nursing is a calling. It requires a strength of character and commitment to service that is rare.” 

    The President highlighted the long history of struggle for equity in the nursing profession, particularly among black nurses during apartheid, who fought tirelessly for their rights amid systemic inequalities.

    “Black nurses were expected to only care for black patients in black-only hospitals. The hospitals and clinics assigned to serve the country’s majority were under resourced and chronically underfunded. 

    “Black nurses had unfavourable working conditions, were paid less than their white counterparts, and had fewer opportunities for advancement.” 

    He reiterated his statements made during this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), that government will allocate resources to the health sector, build hospitals and clinics, and strengthen the healthcare system.

    “This is the commitment that we’re going to achieve, and this is what we’re going to do.” 

    The President also took the time to commend DENOSA for its nearly three decades of advocacy and service, and emphasised the organisation’s pivotal role in shaping nursing policy in South Africa. 

    “We all appreciate the difficult balance that must be struck between advocacy and activism, on the one hand, and fulfilling the rights of patients to treatment and care, on the other hand,” he said.

    President Ramaphosa outlined key strategic priorities for the next five years, including driving inclusive growth, reducing poverty, and building a capable, ethical developmental State. 

    He underscored the integral role of nurses in achieving these goals, particularly in contributing to a capable State.

    Meanwhile, despite a recent uptick in nursing registrations, he raised concerns about declining training numbers due in part to accreditation delays. 

    President Ramaphosa urged DENOSA to engage proactively in policy development to ensure that the nursing profession evolves alongside the changing landscape of healthcare.

    “In an environment where South Africa has a shortage of nurses, we are encouraged that the issue of South African nurses being recruited in large numbers by other countries is also on the agenda.”

    NHI

    Meanwhile, he said the support of DENOSA will be pivotal as the country prepares for the National Health Insurance (NHI).  

    He is of the view that the NHI will bring the country closer to its aspiration of being a society where the human dignity of all is upheld at all times. 

    “The right to dignity matters most when people are sick and need help, and when they are most vulnerable. Our nurses will be the backbone of the NHI.”

    He urged the union to be at the forefront of discussions around skilling and training, health systems strengthening, and other crucial matters. 

    The President called on the union to continue its leadership in advocating for nursing, while addressing the broader health needs of communities. 

    “I’d like to thank you all once again for being frontline soldiers of our people’s health… you… are the ones who take your heart and full dedication to serving the people of South Africa, and we’re eternally grateful for that,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Rodgers announces strategic initiatives to drive KZN economic growth, job creation

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers, has announced a number of strategic initiatives aimed at boosting the province’s economic growth, creating jobs, and stabilising the cost of living.

    Rodgers highlighted some of the initiatives, when he was tabling the province’s R158.478 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, on Tuesday.

    In his address, Rodgers highlighted the positive signs of economic recovery, pointing to key indicators, including an increase in the province’s equitable share and additional allocations in conditional grants.

    He also noted the progress being made through the Provincial Financial Recovery Plan.

    “What is required now is discipline with a sharp focus on the end objective, growth in our economy, job creation, and stabilising and reducing the cost of living,” Rodgers said.

    Initiatives to strengthen financial discipline

    The MEC said the provincial Treasury is committed to perform financial oversight and monitor provincial expenditure, with a view to prevent non-essential government activities.

    He added that efforts are underway to identify new streams of revenue for the provincial fiscus.

    Another key initiative is the adoption of a cost-containment instruction by the Executive Council, which aims to sustain KZN’s ability to meet its needs, “while protecting its future.”

    “Cutting the nice to haves to protect the must haves. One such example is [council] agreement to do away with rental vehicles, with procurement for vehicles, in line with National Treasury guidelines.

    “When the GPU (Government of Provincial Unity) took office, the province was projecting to over-spend in the region of R10 billion, [but] with strict control measures and compliance, we have now reduced this to R4.9 billion,” Rodgers highlighted.

    E-procurement tool

    To further improve financial efficiency, Rodgers announced that Treasury is awaiting approval for the acquisition and implementation of an e-procurement tool, a system designed to eliminate overcharging of goods and services during the Supply Chain Management (SCM) and tender processes.

    “This system will yield enormous savings for the province and reduce irregularities in the procurement process,” Rodgers said.

    The MEC said the provincial government is making great strides in achieving a balanced budget, noting that “it’s a painful process, but a process that needs to be sustained and supported.”

    Rodgers further announced that starting in April 2025, the provincial government will introduce departmental financial dashboards, which will reflect departments financial metrics, such as creditors, debtors, cash balances, and projected expenditure.

    He said these dashboards will assist members of the Executive Council and oversight committees with a clearer picture of the province’s financial health.

    Additionally, the provincial Treasury is exploring the establishment of an information centre, which will focus on “Operation Pay on Time” and assist with tender processes and supplying information on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

    “Going forward, I will continue, in my capacity as MEC, to regularly engage the Premier and the provincial executive on good financial practices. We will be consistent in our advocacy for efficient expenditure and the prioritisation of programmes aimed at alleviating poverty, inequality, unemployment, effective service delivery and building a sustainable economy,” the MEC said.

    Provincial budget highlights

    A large portion of the 2025/2026 provincial budged (79.9%), has been allocated to the three key social services departments, including Education, Health, and Social Development.

    The Education Department received the largest share of the budget, with R66 690 206 allocated, followed by Health with R56 211 801.

    Other allocations include:
    •    Transport allocated R13 827 066.
    •    Office of the Premier R817 875. 
    •    Provincial Legislature R850 796. 
    •    Agriculture and Rural Development R2 757 443. 
    •    Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs R3 606 998.
    •    Provincial Treasury R710 190. 
    •    Human Settlements R3 549 877.
    •    Community Safety and Liaison R275 716.
    •    Sport, Arts and Culture R1 598 141.
    •    Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs R1 931 153.
    •    Social Development R3 613 297. 
    •    Public Works and Infrastructure R2 037 490. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Upholds Idahoans’ Second Amendment Rights

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–In keeping with his longstanding support of the Second Amendment, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) announced his efforts so far in the 119th Congress to protect Idahoans’ access to the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
    “Those seeking to strip away Second Amendment rights have sought every creative way possible to advance their agenda through legislation, regulation and litigation,” said Crapo.  “The majority of Americans are law-abiding citizens who own, possess, carry and use firearms in a lawful and peaceful fashion.  Their right to do so is enshrined in our Constitution. That right must not be abridged while we seek to prevent violence perpetrated by criminals.”
    Senator Crapo’s efforts to protect the Second Amendment in the 119th Congress so far include:
    Leading reintroduction of the Hearing Protection Act, which would reclassify suppressors to regulate them like a regular firearm;
    Co-sponsoring the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow any person legally authorized to carry a concealed firearm in their home state to exercise that right in any other state that allows the practice;
    Co-sponsoring Senator Jim Risch’s (R-Idaho) Sporting Firearms Access Act, which would limit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives’ (ATF) ability to restrict firearm models from importation into the United States;
    Backing the Fair Access to Banking Act, which would prevent discrimination by banks and financial services providers against constitutionally-protected industries and law-abiding businesses, such as firearms manufacturers;
    Co-sponsoring the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act, which would remove “reputational risk” as a component of federal supervision, which has become a way to weaponize power against politically disfavored groups;
    Joining legislation to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science;
    Co-sponsoring Senator Risch’s No REGISTRY Act, which would require the ATF to delete all existing records of firearms transactions and allow federal firearms licensees to destroy firearm transaction records when they go out of business.
    Backing the ATF Transparency Act, which would require a transparent and speedy National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) process and create an appeals process for erroneous NICS denials;
    Co-sponsoring the FIND Act, which would prohibit companies with policies that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industries from receiving federal contracts;
    Supporting the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act to allow military spouses and those without a fixed address (such as those who live full time in a recreational vehicle) to purchase handguns in the state where they are permanently stationed for duty or consistent with the P.O. Box listed on their driver’s license;
    Sending a letter to the ATF demanding it comply with President Trump’s Executive Order, Protecting Second Amendment Rights, in order to align the ATF’s rules and polities with the President’s strong support for the Second Amendment; and
    Signing a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce highlighting concerns with the Department’s Interim Final Rule finalized under the previous Administration that restricted firearms exports to certain countries.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Keeping seniors moving in rural Alberta

    Whether for connecting with neighbours and the community, going grocery shopping or a visit to the doctor, seniors living in rural Alberta often rely on accessible transportation services to maintain their independence. According to Statistics Canada, transportation challenges are a key barrier to participation in social activities for seniors. Rural communities are vital to the province’s identity and success, and Alberta’s government is supporting their growth and prosperity by helping seniors age with dignity and respect in their own homes and communities.

    “This investment will provide a lifeline for seniors and those with mobility issues by empowering them with the freedom to access essential services and social outings. Our government is making sure seniors can remain active and independent by investing in this program, helping seniors age in the rural communities they call home.”

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

    As part of a three-year partnership, Alberta’s government is investing $3.5 million so Healthy Aging Alberta can provide accessible and affordable transportation services for seniors and Albertans with mobility issues across 19 rural communities. This project helps more seniors and Albertans with mobility issues access services that are vital to their health and well-being.

    It is important to ensure all Albertans have access to safe and affordable transportation especially in rural areas where accessing transportation can be challenging. This program will help make it easier to run errands, connect with friends and family, and carry out appointments in our rural communities.”

    Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

    The Healthy Aging Alberta provincial transportation project started with five communities in 2023. From October 2023 to November 2024, nearly 7,200 rides were provided to seniors and persons with mobility challenges in rural communities through this program. The project is now being expanded to a total of 19 communities, with Phase 2 adding 14 additional communities throughout the province. Communities with a high percentage of low-income seniors were prioritized and successful communities were chosen based on need and their readiness to implement or expand assisted transportation services.

    “Transportation is a lifeline for older adults, enabling older Albertans not only to access essential services, but also to remain actively engaged as volunteers and caregivers — roles that form the foundation of vibrant, interconnected communities. Healthy Aging Alberta and the United Way of Calgary celebrate the Government of Alberta’s continued leadership and investment in this critical social infrastructure.”

    Karen McDonald, provincial director and chair, Community Leadership Council, Healthy Aging Alberta

    Seniors and individuals with mobility issues in these communities will now be able to rely on increased access to affordable transportation and mobility services delivered by local community organizations and partnerships. This includes more frequent trips being available, new routes for out-of-town services, additional accessible vehicle options, and more. With this investment, Alberta’s government is improving seniors’ quality of life by helping them age in place and remain independent, addressing mobility challenges in rural communities and supporting caregivers across the province.

    “The expansion of Healthy Aging Alberta’s provincial transportation project is a positive step in supporting seniors in rural Alberta. This investment will provide many seniors across the province with greater access to essential supports and services, which is an essential aspect of prosperous rural communities.”

    Kara Westerlund, president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta

    Quick facts

    • Project funding:

    Phase 1 (2023):

    • Edson – $275,660
    • Fox Creek – $185,045
    • Oyen and Area (Special Area #3, Acadian No. 34, Empress) – $242,000
    • M.D of Smoky River (Falher, McLennan, Donnelly, Girouxville) – $286,933
    • Sundre – $147,504

    Phase 2 (2024-25):

    • Barrhead/Barrhead County – $275,487
    • Crowsnest Pass – $216,653
    • M.D. Greenview – $60,000
    • Northern Sunrise County – $20,241
    • M.D. Spirit River – $89,260
    • Driftpile Cree Nation – $175,000
    • Milk River – $53,645
    • Claresholm – $175,000
    • Siksika First Nation – $175,000
    • Foothills Region – $146,337
    • Provost – $149,000
    • Hanna – $145,000
    • Three Hills – $175,000
    • Legal – $30,844

    Related information

    • Healthy Aging Alberta
    • Seniors financial assistance programs
    • Resources to help older adults and seniors age in their community

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Traffic safety tips: Safety near large commercial vehicles

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NREL Researcher Steven R. Spurgeon Wins Burton Medal From Microscopy Society of America

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Spurgeon Integrates Artificial Intelligence and Materials Science To Accelerate Discovery and Advance Next-Generation Technologies


    Materials science researcher Steven Spurgeon (left) and his lab associates Grace Guinan and Michelle Smeaton work on autonomous electron microscopy at NREL. Photo by Brooke Buchan, NREL

    National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) materials data scientist Steven R. Spurgeon has been honored with the Microscopy Society of America’s (MSA’s) Burton Medal award. The award, which is given annually to a single physical sciences researcher under the age of 40, is the highest honor the MSA bestows upon early-career scientists in the field of microscopy and microanalysis.

    “I’ve been involved with the MSA for 15 years and have been fortunate to work with amazing leaders in the field of microscopy,” Spurgeon said. “To be recognized with this award and join their ranks is a true honor.”

    Throughout his career, Spurgeon has pioneered the integration of machine learning (ML) with electron microscopy, using artificial intelligence (AI), to help make sense of the detailed images generated by electron microscopes. This approach not only dramatically enhances the efficiency of microscopy techniques; it also provides new insights into the behavior of functional materials—like silicon microprocessors used in computers and cell phones—at the atomic level. These insights enable researchers to fine-tune material properties and enhance efficiency to drive advancements in energy solutions.

    “Dr. Spurgeon’s pioneering work at the intersection of AI and microscopy continues to transform materials science,” said Katherine Jungjohann, who manages NREL’s Analytical Microscopy and Imaging Science group. “His visionary leadership and groundbreaking research make him a truly deserving recipient of the Burton Medal.”

    Spurgeon’s journey to the AI/microscopy frontier began with a deep curiosity about the fundamental building blocks of matter. As a graduate student at Drexel University, he studied materials science and engineering, focusing on developing new functional materials. After Spurgeon completed his Ph.D., he joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), first as a postdoctoral research associate, and later as a staff scientist in the laboratory’s longstanding thin-film Basic Energy Sciences program. At PNNL, he developed new functional materials that could be used for energy storage and computing, which was recognized by the PNNL Laboratory Director’s Award for Early Career Achievement. He also had a realization that would shape the trajectory of his career.

    AI-powered tools like transformers—which is what the “T” in ChatGPT stands for—began to emerge in the scientific community about 10 years ago and were used in areas like processing internet data and building autonomous vehicles. Watching the rise of these ML tools, Spurgeon began to wonder if they could benefit his own field of work.

    “I realized we were collecting and analyzing all our data by hand,” Spurgeon recalled. “That made me ask, ‘Can we use AI to accelerate our experiments so that humans don’t have to make every single decision?’ I saw that machine learning could help us analyze larger datasets, uncover patterns that would be difficult to detect manually, and ultimately shorten the time to discovery.”

    Inspired by these possibilities, Spurgeon helped launch an AI initiative at PNNL and established a groundbreaking partnership with industry to design a completely new AI-infused microscope. His efforts led to the development of the Autonomous Electron Microscope (AutoEM), a platform that leverages AI to improve the way researchers study and understand functional materials. The platform, which enables researchers to conduct analyses up to 1,000 times faster than traditional methods, earned Spurgeon and his team an R&D 100 Award in 2024.

    “During his time at PNNL, Dr. Spurgeon rapidly ascended to international prominence in AI-guided materials science and electron microscopy,” said Sergei Kalinin, chief scientist of Physics-Informed Machine Learning at PNNL. “He established himself as a brilliant researcher, a staunch advocate for our field, and an exceptional mentor, and he continues this reputation today.”

    After nearly 10 years at PNNL, Spurgeon joined NREL’s Material Science team in May 2024 with a mission to lead research on autonomous materials science and characterization in the development of new energy technologies.

    “I joined NREL to help establish a forward-thinking vision for autonomous science,” Spurgeon said. “NREL’s leadership in emerging energy technologies, coupled with its proactive approach to integrating AI, creates an environment like no other, where researchers can strategically innovate and push the boundaries of energy solutions.”

    Since joining NREL, Spurgeon has integrated autonomous capabilities into lab workflows, established new industry partnerships, and created effective teams. In May 2025, he is organizing a workshop to convene leading experts to explore practical, real-world applications of autonomous research.

    His work has sped up experiments and led to faster discoveries in energy materials and microelectronics, which translates to tangible benefits for NREL’s partners and the wider community. Moving forward, he is focused on using AI to develop important materials—like advanced semiconductors and catalysts—that could lead to major breakthroughs in technology.

    As Spurgeon explained, “AI-driven autonomy in materials science is the key to breaking through current research bottlenecks. It allows us to move beyond incremental improvements and achieve truly transformative discoveries in the energy materials we use every day, saving money and improving resilience.”

    Reflecting on his career, Spurgeon identified the thrill of discovery, bolstered by persistence in the face of failure, as a driving factor in all that he has achieved.

    “Breakthroughs don’t come easily. They often follow many, many failures,” Spurgeon said. “But every once in a while, you get a new process to work or you uncover a phenomenon no one has seen before. Those moments of seeing something for the first time—something no one else has seen—are what make me come to work every day.”

    Beyond the personal satisfaction of pushing the boundaries of knowledge, Spurgeon finds inspiration in the support of the scientific community and in the impact of his work on real-world technologies.

    “When you’re all pushing in the same direction, you can help each other, share in the struggles, and celebrate the wins,” Spurgeon said. “It has been especially rewarding to work with so many talented early-career staff and students over the years.”

    Spurgeon also recognizes that the focus of his work—AI integration—has been the subject of a fair amount of debate in recent years.

    “We’re at the start of a significant transformation in science, but the essence of the scientific process—generating and testing a hypothesis—still belongs to humans,” Spurgeon said. “AI can help us analyze more data and refine our decision-making, but it’s still on us as scientists to take responsibility for our conclusions.”

    With this in mind, Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of building practical, trustworthy AI implementations whose conclusions can be clearly explained and that provide real value for users.

    Looking ahead, Spurgeon is optimistic: “The future of materials science lies in the collaborative power of AI and human ingenuity. Together, we’ll push the boundaries of innovation and improve the lives of everyone around the world.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Driver of second human smuggling vehicle involved in 2021 Southwest Texas incident sentenced to 10 years in federal prison following ICE Del Rio and federal partner investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    DEL RIO, Texas – A illegal Salvadoran alien, identified as Juan Alonso Barrientos-Quintanilla, 23, was sentenced March 25 by a federal judge to serve 120 months in prison for his role in a deadly 2021 human smuggling operation. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

    “The tragic loss of life in human smuggling operations is a harsh reminder of the dangerous nature of these criminal activities. ICE HSI will continue to work relentlessly to dismantle these networks and prevent further violence, ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee.

    According to court documents, Barrientos-Quintanilla was apprehended and identified as one of 12 illegal aliens who fled from one of two vehicles involved in a failed human smuggling operation on Highway 277 on March 15, 2021. The other vehicle, driven by Sebastian Tovar, crashed, killing eight of its nine illegal alien passengers. Following the crash, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the second smuggling vehicle, leading to an attempted traffic stop and, subsequently, Barrientos-Quintanilla and the other illegal aliens were fleeing on foot. All 12 illegal aliens were apprehended. Barrientos-Quintanilla initially claimed to be one of the aliens being smuggled; however, he later admitted to being the load driver of the vehicle. He pleaded guilty on July 23, 2023, to one count of aiding and abetting illegal alien transportation resulting in death.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister from the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal alien cartel member sent to prison for possessing nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, Texas – A 20-year-old Mexican national affiliated with Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) unlawfully residing in Laredo has been sentenced for illegally possessing ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Charbel Garza Macias pleaded guilty Oct. 8, 2024.

    U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Macias to serve 63 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Macias as member of the CDN. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Macias was providing tools of war to a brutal criminal organization.

    “This defendant’s goal was to get this ammunition to Mexico and, if he had succeeded, would have contributed to the cartels’ ongoing campaign of brutality,” said Ganjei.  “Those who work to arm, supply, fund, or otherwise aid these organizations take notice; you are going to be found and prosecuted.”

    “The conviction and sentence of this individual highlights the serious consequences of smuggling ammunition across international borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI). ICE-HSI remains committed to disrupting cross-border criminal operations and ensuring that individuals who engage in these illegal activities face the full weight of the law.”

    Macias had made several bulk purchases of ammunition in Laredo with the intention of transporting them to Mexico for profit.

    On July 16, 2024, authorities were conducting surveillance when they observed a vehicle previously suspected of transporting large amounts of high caliber ammunition. Macias was driving and had loaded ammunition into the trunk of the vehicle.

    Macias attempted to elude law enforcement as they followed him after departing the parking lot.

    Following a traffic stop, a search resulted in the discovery of approximately 4,800 rounds of .223/5.56 caliber ammunition in the vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Macias admitted he was hired to purchase approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition to be smuggled into Mexico. He claimed the ammunition was for the CDN operating in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

    Macias did not have a license to export ammunition or firearms and knew it was illegal to smuggle ammunition into Mexico.

    He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    ICE-HSI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan L. Oliver prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Mulholland Grocery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: March 25, 2025
    Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Mulholland Grocery of Mills County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “For nearly 150 years, Mulholland Grocery has been a cornerstone of the Malvern community, offering fresh grocery products and beloved local favorites like ham salad and smoked meats,” said Chair Ernst. “After a devasting fire destroyed the business in 2021, Tom Mulholland worked to rebuild and expand his family’s legacy, demonstrating the importance of small businesses and their community network.”
    In 1875, Fred E. Mulholland opened Mulholland Grocery as a dry goods store in the heart of Malvern, Iowa. Fred expanded the store in 1903 to include a small cash-and-carry grocery section, which eventually grew to be the family business. In 1945, Fred passed away, leaving the business to his son, Fred A. Mulholland, who managed it for almost 30 years until 1972. The business changed hands several times before returning to the Mulholland family ownership in 2008 when Tom Mulholland purchased it. 
    Mulholland Grocery is well known for its iconic ham salad, breakfast bratwurst, smoked meats, and warm customer service. In December 2021, tragedy struck when a massive fire devastated the Main Street location. Tom and his team transformed and modernized it, reopening the store in December 2024. This April, Mulholland Grocery plans to officially commemorate its grand reopening and its 150th anniversary in Iowa.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: VERB Publishes Management’s Prepared Remarks During Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), Transforming the Landscape of Social Commerce, Social Telehealth and Social Crowdfunding with MARKET.live; VANITYPrescribed; GoodGirlRx; and the GO FUND YOURSELF TV Show, today filed its Form 10-K reporting financial and operating results for the full year and the quarter ending December 31, 2024 and held an earnings conference call at 1 p.m. ET to discuss these results. Prepared remarks during the conference call of Rory J. Cutaia, the Company’s Chairman & CEO, are provided below.

    Company Participant
    Rory J. Cutaia, CEO

    Operator:
    Good afternoon and welcome to the full-year and fourth quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call for Verb Technology Company, Inc. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Please be advised, the call is being recorded at the Company’s request.

    On our call today is Rory J. Cutaia, Verb’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

    Before we begin, I’d like to remind everyone that statements made during this conference call will include forward-looking statements under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, except as required by law, as the underlying facts and circumstances may change. Verb Technology Company disclaims any obligations to update these forward-looking statements, as well as those contained in the Company’s current and subsequent filings with the SEC.

    I would now like to turn the call over to Rory J. Cutaia, CEO. Rory?

    Rory:
    Thank you moderator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today for our fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results and business update conference call.

    Well it sure feels good being back before you, speaking directly to you about our company, our business, our performance, and sharing our direct, transparent, honest thoughts and strategies for how we intend to drive shareholder value in this business now and into the future.

    I’d like to begin with a brief discussion about our history and the challenging market conditions that influenced the formulation of the strategies we undertook to insulate ourselves from those conditions. I’m referring to insulating ourselves from those market conditions that became impediments to value creation in our former direct sales Software as a Service line of business, as well as those market conditions, particularly capital markets conditions, that affected, and are affecting many, many small and micro-cap exchange-listed companies even today.

    Then I’d like to discuss the strategies that we employed and the changes we’ve made that underlie the impressive results we’re now seeing in the business. I’ll also touch on the strategies we employed that resulted in what I’m proud to state is a well cash-infused, extremely healthy debt-free balance sheet and a super clean cap table, the combination of which provide the all-important foundation for the impressive revenue growth we’re now enjoying.

    Ok – let’s jump in. Historically, we were an R&D driven technology business, built around a SaaS platform, with a customer base that was comprised of, for the most part, direct sales companies, or as they are sometimes referred to: multi-level marketing companies. When we entered the market with our interactive video-based sales software, we set out to become the dominant player in this sector. What we saw at that time was the opportunity to address a market that included the large-scale sales teams, including tens of thousands of independent sales reps that these companies managed, all of whom needed a simple and effective, mobile-based sales tool.

    Over time we learned valuable lessons. First, while we onboarded large numbers of new sales reps every month, the attrition rate among sales reps at these companies was extraordinarily high, making it difficult and costly to generate meaningful revenue growth. In addition, while we developed what we believe were extremely effective tools to help sales reps, even inexperienced sales reps generate and convert sales leads, outdated internal communications policies at these companies prohibited us from communicating these tools and how to use them directly to the fields of sales reps which may have curtailed much of the sales rep attrition, as the companies that managed these reps were often ineffective at doing so themselves. Finally, the ever-changing nature of the customer base we served, as well as the give-it-away below cost pricing models adopted by competitors who found themselves marginalized by our superior product offering, required continued, costly R&D expenditures, and continued returns to the capital markets.

    These factors, coupled with what we perceived to be declining market multiples for SaaS businesses generally, drove our decision to sell that business unit and focus instead on our new, though not yet revenue-generating – Market.live, livestream shopping business. A bold move indeed, but one that has certainly proven now to have been in the best interests of our shareholders. This was the first prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to insulate ourselves from the predatory financing terms imposed universally on companies like ours who relied on access to the capital markets to fund continued R&D and other growth capital requirements. Almost every financing initiative we undertook was fraught with last minute re-trading of material deal terms, ridiculous warrant coverage terms and conditions, post-deal financing exclusivity arrangements, tying the Company to bad financings into the future when additional capital was needed – all of which made us – and so many other companies in the same situation – perfect targets for short-selling – and for companies with any kind of trading volume, greed-driven illegal naked short-selling.

    It wasn’t hard to target companies that announced an upcoming financing as short-sellers could be confident that deal terms and corresponding share prices would be below whatever the then current trading price was. This capital markets environment eroded share prices across the board resulting in reverse splits required to maintain exchange listing requirements, and destroyed cap tables and balance sheets causing an unprecedented level of exchange de-listings. Ultimately, it was the individual retail investors, left without sufficiently aggressive regulatory intervention, who bore the brunt of this market activity and still do.

    To avoid this awful outcome, we developed a unique strategy to utilize Reg A to structure our capitalize raise initiatives and avoid the predatory hedge-fund investors, allowing us to issue straight common shares, priced at-the-market, with no warrant coverage, and no investment banking fees. This financing vehicle, unique for publicly-traded companies, among other financing strategies, allowed us to pay-off all of our debt, redeem all of the previously issued preferred shares, completely restructure our balance sheet, padding it with cash, taking shareholder equity from almost $2 million negative in June 2023 to more than $16 million positive in December 2024, and giving us a cash runway, conservatively assuming zero revenue growth, well into 2028 and beyond.

    The shareholder approved reverse split we did last year resulted in an extremely tight – less than 1 million share float – and essentially eliminated all of the warrant overhang from years-ago predatory financings. We’re very proud of how well that series of initiatives was executed, completing that important second prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

    The next prong of our strategy was to diversify our revenue streams to insulate ourselves from changes in the market, including economic and regulatory changes, as well as changes within our own customer base and demand for our products and services. The challenge was to identify and develop independent, yet complementary revenue producing business units that could leverage the cost savings produced by a unified internal finance, sales, marketing, and technology department structure utilized by and across all business units.

    Recognizing that the core of our business was our interactive social video commerce technology and know-how, our strategy was to exploit those capabilities by entering the exploding telehealth industry, leading to the development and launch of VANITY Prescribed, followed by GoodGirlRX in partnership with TV and social media celebrity Savannah Chrisley, and then the development and launch of GO FUND YOURSELF, our very exciting, fast-growing crowd funding marketing platform. To give a sense of the revenue potential for Go Fund Yourself, we launched it in Q3 with little to no marketing and recognized $25 thousand in revenue – and then in Q4 we recognized $233 thousand in revenue. And if any of the more recent developments come to fruition for the Show – 2025 may be an extraordinary year for Go Fund Yourself and VERB stockholders.

    VANITY Prescribed was in development during Q3 and Q4, identifying suppliers, onboarding suppliers, then replacing suppliers, developing our online patient screening and prescription approval process, and shoring up our supply chain in anticipation of participating in the extraordinary growth of the telehealth space following the introduction and rapid adoption of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Revenue, though now growing, was modest through that period and we’re excited for a broad-based launch and marketing campaign that is about to get under way.

    As to MARKET.live, at the end of Q3, we changed our focus and product offering by providing what we believe is an industry-leading end-to-end solution for brands seeking to adopt a social commerce strategy that they cannot manage in-house on a cost effective basis. That strategy has proven to be enormously successful producing exponential revenue growth. As reflected in our 2024 Form 10-K filed today, in Q1 we generated revenue of $7 thousand, in Q2 we generated revenue of $37 thousand, in Q3 we generated revenue of $103 thousand, and in Q4 we generated revenue of $490 thousand. An impressive and most welcomed trend by anyone’s standards.

    Combined 2024 revenue was $895 thousand, an increase of $832 thousand over 2023, representing revenue growth of 1,321% over that period. This performance is the greatest amount of revenue generated since the strategic sale of the Company’s direct sales SaaS business unit in June 2023.

    Looking at Q4 alone, we generated $723 thousand, an increase of $694 thousand over the same period last year, representing revenue growth of almost 2,400% over that period. And as compared to Q3 2024, revenue in Q4 increased by $595 thousand, representing growth of almost 465% quarter-over-quarter.

    While we historically do not provide going-forward guidance, we are comfortable sharing our expectation that Q1 2025 will surpass Q4 2024.

    Finally, as to the last prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB, we recognized that any business that fails to identify and develop an artificial intelligence strategy will be marginalized. With that in mind, we explored a number of different strategies, including developing our own A.I. capabilities in-house, which we smartly rejected. Instead, we scoured the market for a company with a developed, tested, proprietary A.I. solution uniquely tailored to video-based social commerce. Upon testing the A.I. and social commerce capabilities of LyveCom, a bleeding-edge, video-based social commerce start-up, we entered into a licensing agreement to incorporate their technology into our MARKET.live platform.

    To our great surprise, we found that the integration of LyveCom’s tech resulted in a massive operational cost reduction. In fact, we anticipate a direct operational cost reduction of approximately $1 million per year. However, perhaps more importantly, we also recognized that the addition of LyveCom’s technology created an entirely new, updated platform, feature rich with capabilities far beyond our current platform and certainly beyond that of many other social commerce platforms. So rather than simply license the technology and risk LyveCom being acquired by a competitor, limiting our access to the technology and future iterations of it, we decided to acquire it ourselves. It is our expectation that the acquisition will be highly accretive and produce meaningful value for VERB stockholders.

    With the closing of the LyveCom acquisition, which remains on track and is expected to occur in the coming weeks, we will have effectively completed the transition of VERB from an unprofitable, cash-hungry business in a challenging market, to an extremely well-capitalized, well diversified business, with proven, strong, fast-growing revenue generation capabilities, A.I.-ready, with a tight float, clean cap table and debt-free balance sheet, poised for meaningful continued growth.

    In closing, I refer you to our Form 10-K filed today for greater details concerning our 2024 financial results as well as the press release distributed today summarizing those results for additional information I’ve not covered in my conference call today. I’ve chosen instead to use this time to provide context for those results and share our strategies and ongoing initiatives for continued growth and value-creation for VERB stockholders.

    Finally, and as anyone who can read a balance can see, with under 1 million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and debt-free with more than $13 million in cash and highly liquid securities – and assuming ZERO value given for our three revenue generating business units – I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our net cash value per common share is at least $13.50, which we believe represents a very compelling opportunity, very compelling indeed.

    I thank you for allowing me to address you all today and share with you our excitement and optimism for VERB shareholders now and into the future.

    Operator: This concludes the conference call. You may now disconnect.

    About VERB
    Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), is the innovative force behind interactive video-based social commerce. The Company operates three business units, each of which leverages its social commerce technology and video marketing expertise. The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, livestream social shopping destination at the forefront of the convergence of e-commerce and entertainment, where brands, retailers, creators, and influencers engage their customers, clients, fans, and followers across multiple social media channels simultaneously. GO FUND YOURSELF is a revolutionary interactive social crowd funding platform and TV show for public and private companies seeking broad-based exposure across social media channels for their crowd-funded Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. The platform combines a ground-breaking interactive TV show with MARKET.live’s back-end capabilities allowing viewers to tap, scan or click on their screen to facilitate an investment, in real time, as they watch companies presenting before the show’s panel of “Titans”. Presenting companies that sell consumer products are able to offer their products directly to viewers during the show in real time through shoppable onscreen icons. VANITYPrescribed.com and GoodGirlRx.com are telehealth portals, intended to redefine telehealth by offering a seamless, digital-first experience that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare needs. They were designed and developed to disrupt the traditional healthcare model by providing tailored healthcare solutions at affordable, fixed prices – without hidden fees, membership costs, or inflated pharmaceutical markups. GoodGirlRx.com, a partnership with Savannah Chrisley, a well-known lifestyle personality and advocate for health and wellness, offers customers access to convenient, no-hassle telehealth services and pharmaceuticals, including the new weight-loss drugs, with fixed pricing regardless of dosage, breaking away from the industry’s traditional model of excessive pricing and pharmaceutical gatekeeping.

    The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV and operates full-service production and creator studios in Los Alamitos, California.

    For more information, please visit: www.verb.tech

    Follow VERB and MARKET.live here:
    VERB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo
    VERB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerbTech_Co
    VERB on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verb-tech
    VERB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eCb_fwQlwEG3ywHDJ4_KQ

    Sign up for E-mail Alerts here: https://ir.verb.tech/news-events/email-alerts

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and the risk factors included in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC today. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact: investors@verb.tech

    Media Contact: info@verb.tech

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Data Digest: Cooking Up Campus Dining Innovations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sue Wohlford-Bork, Campus Technology Advisor at occupancy analytics software company Lambent, and Arla Jackson, Director of VolCard, Campus Vending, and Records Management at the University of Tennessee, will be featured speakers at NACAS South 2025. This event takes place March 30 – April 2 at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Wohlford-Bork and Jackson will co-present a session titled Data Digest: Cooking Up Dining Innovations, which delves into the value of occupancy data in improving dining operations and experiences.

    The NACAS South CX conference provides the premier exchange of campus-centric ideas, solutions, and connections. Designed and delivered by professional peers, the event gives attendees the best opportunity to find solutions to their needs and nurture relationships. Attendees can easily seek out other campus service leaders that have similar interests, requirements, and visions for how to empower campus communities.

    Session Details:

    Data Digest: Cooking Up Dining Innovations

    Date/Time: Sunday, March 30: 1:20 – 2:10 pm  
    Speakers: Sue Wohlford-Bork
    Campus Technology Advisor, Lambent
    Arla Jackson
    Director of VolCard, Campus Vending & Records Management, The University of Tennessee
         

    The session will explore how leveraging occupancy analytics can transform campus dining operations, boost revenue, and enhance the student experience. The presenters will dive into three groundbreaking case studies that demonstrate the power of data-driven decision-making in auxiliary services:

    1. Strategic Vending Machine Placement: Learn how our campus generated additional revenue by using occupancy data to optimize vending machine locations.
    2. Smart Dining App Integration: Discover how integrating occupancy data with the Vol Dining App helped students avoid long lines and make informed dining choices, seamlessly fitting meals into their busy schedules.
    3. Food Truck Profitability Enhancement: Explore how occupancy analytics improved the profitability and efficiency of campus food trucks, creating a win-win situation for both students and operators.

    The presentation will challenge conventional thinking about campus dining operations, introducing innovative ideas that have the potential to become mainstream. By showcasing these cutting-edge applications of occupancy analytics, we aim to inspire attendees to think creatively about leveraging data to enhance their own campus services.

    About Lambent
    Lambent is an occupancy analytics software company helping corporate and higher ed campuses optimize space utilization, facilities operations and real estate investments. Its SaaS platform, Lambent Spaces, leverages existing data sources such as Wi-Fi and sensors to provide anonymous and predictive analytics to inform decisions related to utilization, workplace experiences, planning, scheduling, and maintenance. The software delivers actionable intelligence so facilities professionals and space planners can make better use of the spaces they have. For more information, visit https://lambentspaces.com/.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Kevin Rooney announced as new Senior Traffic Commissioner

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Kevin Rooney announced as new Senior Traffic Commissioner

    Secretary of State for Transport appoints Kevin Rooney as the new Senior Traffic Commissioner.

    • Kevin Rooney will start his new role on 1 June 2025
    • he has been appointed following 13 years’ service as Traffic Commissioner for the West of England, a role he will maintain while in his new position
    • Transport Secretary thanks outgoing Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt for his great work, including seeing the arm’s length body through the pandemic

    The Secretary of State for Transport is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Rooney as the new Senior Traffic Commissioner, effective from 1 June 2025.

    In his role as Senior Traffic Commissioner, Kevin will oversee the work of the Traffic Commissioners, who are responsible for regulating the road transport industry across the UK, with specific oversight of public service vehicles (such as buses and coaches), freight operators, and drivers.

    Kevin takes on the Senior Traffic Commissioner from his current position as Traffic Commissioner for the West of England and brings extensive knowledge from his experience at the Vehicle Inspectorate and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). In these roles, he managed the introduction of the first MOT emission tests, diesel smoke tests and led the programme to upgrade VOSA’s enforcement processes, alongside working as a road safety consultant to new EU member states.

    As the role of Senior Traffic Commissioner must be held by a serving Traffic Commissioner, Kevin will retain his role as West of England Traffic Commissioner alongside his new position. Kevin is hoping to continue the excellent work done by his predecessor, Richard Turfitt, to improve and develop the Traffic Commissioner service.

    Richard leaves the role following the natural conclusion of his second 4-year term as Senior Traffic Commissioner. During his time in office, Richard has responded to a period of unprecedented and unparalleled change, first working through the issues emerging from the UK’s departure from the EU including drafting statutory guidance on the contingency of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) Permits and then working to provide support during COVID-19 and the recovery period. 

    Under his stewardship, the Traffic Commissioners were guided through the pandemic, maintaining critical services, which led to a complete overhaul of operations, including the move to virtual hearings and the use of digital technologies, alongside strengthened ties with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

    Richard’s liaison with the sector via key note addresses and industry engagements has also been widely appreciated by industry leads, and served to bring visibility to the Traffic Commissioner’s important role in regulation and road user safety. As Kevin steps into the role, Richard will be continuing in his role as Traffic Commissioner for the East of England.

    Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said:

    I’m delighted to confirm Kevin Rooney as the new Senior Traffic Commissioner.

    He arrives with a wealth of experience from his time as Traffic Commissioner for the West of England and we’re all excited to see him build on the fantastic work of his predecessor, Richard Turfitt.

    I’d like to extend my thanks to Richard for his 2 full terms of service in the role, during which he has seen the team through the difficult pandemic period, and wish him the very best for the future, as he returns to his vital role as Traffic Commissioner for the East of England.

    Kevin Rooney, incoming Senior Traffic Commissioner, said:

    It is a great privilege to be appointed as Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain.

    I want to pay tribute to Richard Turfitt and the work he has done as Senior Traffic Commissioner for the past 8 years. Arguably, he led the commissioners through some of the toughest times we have seen during the pandemic, making quick decisions to keep the haulage and passenger industries working compliantly and to facilitate service recovery thereafter.

    Following in his footsteps will not be easy, but I look forward to that challenge, working equally closely with those who support commissioners and those we serve.

    Richard Turfitt, outgoing Senior Traffic Commissioner, said:

    I am pleased that the work of traffic commissioners is being recognised. It has been humbling to hold this judicial leadership role at times of crisis and to then be able to help the many responsible operators, transport managers and drivers who make up the regulated industries.

    It is undoubtedly a challenging and often isolating role, which requires support from officials, colleagues, tribunal and licensing staff and stakeholders to be effective. The working relationship with professional bodies and trade representatives has proved invaluable to serving Great Britain and in securing the safety of road transport.

    I look forward to continuing and supporting Kevin in that work, as he takes up the mantle.

    Roads media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Defendants Arrested For Sledgehammer Smash-And-Grab Robbery Of Jewelry Store

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging KEVIN WILLIAMS and BYRON WILSON with the robbery of a jewelry store in Hartsdale, New York, on December 16, 2024, in which the defendants stole approximately $1.7 million of jewelry. WILLIAMS and WILSON were arrested this morning in New Jersey, and are expected to be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Kevin Williams and Byron Wilson, along with their co-conspirators, carried out the violent robbery of a jewelry store in broad daylight. Armed with sledgehammers, the defendants smashed their way in and then plundered the store of about $1.7 million in jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches, all while innocent customers and employees hid for their safety. Today’s arrests should make clear that if you commit such brazen and dangerous crimes in this District, we will find you and hold you responsible.”

    As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

    On December 16, 2024, WILLIAMS, WILSON, and their co-conspirators drove a stolen vehicle with a stolen license plate from New Jersey to New York. At around 11:07 a.m., they arrived at a jewelry store in the Westchester Square shopping plaza in Hartsdale, New York, got out of the vehicle, and sledgehammered their way into the store. Once inside, and while innocent customers cowered in fear for their safety, the robbers smashed jewelry display cases and stole around $1.7 million in jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches. Soon after, they returned to their vehicle with bags of stolen goods and drove back to New Jersey. Surveillance images of the robbery are below. 

    Once they arrived in New Jersey, WILLIAMS drove to the Diamond District in New York City, while WILSON returned to their shared residence. A few hours later, WILLIAMS, WILSON, and their co-conspirators took photographs of themselves holding large stacks of cash.

    *                *                *

    KEVIN WILLIAMS, 26, and BYRON WILSON, 24, both of Irvington, New Jersey, are charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

    The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and Newark Field Office, as well as the Nassau County Police Major Case Squad, the Town of Greenburgh Police Department, and the Newark Police Department.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Reyhan Watson is in charge of the prosecution.

    The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


    [1]As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduras Man Charged with Multiple Firearms Charges Following Burglary of a Federal Firearms Licensee in Dickson, Tennessee

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NASHVILLE – Manuel De Jesus Guirola-Amaya, 20, a citizen of Honduras without legal status in the United States, has been indicted by a federal grand jury with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, possession of a stolen firearm, and stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.

    According to court documents, on December 5, 2024, a burglary occurred at Golden Eagle Pawn, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Dickson, Tennessee. Surveillance video showed two stolen cars arrive at the shop, one of which rammed the front door. Four people got out of the cars and went into the store, targeting several firearms displays. About two minutes after crashing into the store, the four subjects left in one of the stolen cars. More than 40 firearms were stolen during the burglary.

    Later that day, a La Vergne Police Department officer stopped a car with an expired registration. The sole occupant of the car was Guirola-Amaya. Inside the trunk of the car, officers discovered a backpack containing five pistols that had been stolen in the Golden Eagle Pawn burglary and still had the price tags attached. Officers also found another backpack in the backseat with two pistols which were also reported stolen from Golden Eagle Pawn, one of which still had a price tag attached. The backpack also held suspected marijuana, and a set of digital scales.

    Agents later executed a federal search warrant at a residence tied to Guirola-Amaya. They discovered, among other things, a high-capacity magazine, ammunition, and price tags consistent with the Golden Eagle Pawn price tags. Agents also executed several search warrants on cell phones found on Guirola-Amaya or in the car the day of his arrest. The data extraction results from the phones provided further ties to the burglary including photographs and videos of firearms, location data, and search queries.

    Guirola-Amaya entered the United States illegally in March 2022, and has no lawful status.

    If convicted, Guirola-Amaya faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison on Count One, which charges possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and 10 years each on the other two counts. Guirola-Amaya also faces a $250,000 fine on each count.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the La Vergne Police Department and the Dickson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Hinkle is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    # # # # #

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Major cocaine seizure by the CBSA at the CN Taschereau Yard

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Montreal, Quebec, March 25, 2025 – Canada Border Services Agency

    On March 19, 2025, following the identification of an infraction on a railcar at CN’s Taschereau Yard, Border Services Officers from the Montreal Long Room were called by CN police to inspect a bonded rail container that had originated in Mexico and transited through the United States.

    During examination of the container and other rail cars that contained new vehicles, the Border Services Officers detected the contraband concealed under vehicle carpets. Chemists from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) lab were able to formally identify the substance, confirming the presence of cocaine. A total of 119 bricks containing 142 kg of cocaine, valued at $3.5M, were detected and seized.

    Border Services Officers from Montreal’s Rail and Marine Services and dog handlers from the Léo-Blanchette Mail Processing Centre postal team were mobilized, under the coordination of the CBSA’s Intelligence Section. Teams from the SPVM were also called in to secure the search perimeter and escort the bricks during transport. The drugs were handed over to the Sûreté du Québec for investigation.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Investment Scheme

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Tennessee man was convicted for running a Ponzi scheme that victimized individuals across the country.

    According to court documents, Alcides Roman, 66, of Lebanon, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. 

    While operating Remain in Control LLC, Roman defrauded a victim in Overland Park, Kansas, after offering investment opportunities and attractive returns.

    From June 2020 to October 2020, the victim made multiple wire transfers into Roman’s company bank account and subsequently received “returns” that were in reality partial amounts from the victim’s own investment funds. When the victim stopped receiving payments and inquired, Roman made excuses and sought to lull the victim into a false sense of security. 

    Other victims of Roman’s investment fraud scheme included individuals in New York, New York, Houston, Texas, and Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. 

    The total known loss, based on victims identified to date, is $1,977,857.88. 

    Roman used funds from his schemes to pay for his personal living expenses, buy vehicles and land, send money to numerous foreign and domestic companies, and to make purported “returns” to other victim investors. 

    Roman is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka is prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you have been victimized by this defendant, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation by calling 816-512-8200 or visiting https://tips.fbi.gov/home.

    ###
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

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

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, agreeing to forfeit multiple weapons, vehicles, and over $64,000 in cash seized during a raid on his residence.

    According to court records, on March 23, 2023, the FBI SWAT team executed a search warrant at Jerry Bezie‘s residence in the South Valley. During the operation, agents seized more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 11,400 grams of fentanyl pills, multiple firearms, ammunition, and other items indicative of drug trafficking activities. In his plea agreement, Bezie admitted to possessing these substances with the intent to distribute and admitted that, as a convicted felon, he was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

    As part of his plea agreement, Bezie has agreed to forfeit numerous items, including:

    • Firearms: A Glock 19 9mm pistol, a Glock 29 10mm pistol, an FN Five-seven 5.7×28 caliber pistol, a Sig Sauer P229 .357 sig caliber pistol, and a Steyr-Daimler Puch Aug/SA .223 caliber rifle.
    • Ammunition and Accessories: Three .223 caliber magazines, approximately 308 rounds of .223 caliber cartridges, two 5.7×28 magazines, approximately 46 rounds of 5.7×28 cartridges, approximately 106 rounds of 9mm cartridges, two 9mm magazines, two 9mm casings, three 10mm magazines, and approximately ten rounds of 10mm cartridges.
    • Vehicles and Trailers: A 2006 Hummer 4T vehicle, a 2018 Polaris Slingshot motorcycle, a 2018 Canam ATV, an Interstate Kingman Enclosed Trailer, and a 1984 Dump trailer.
    • Cash and Jewelry: Approximately $64,333.93 in U.S. currency and certain jewelry seized on or about March 23, 2023, excluding specific items belonging to others.

    2006 Hummer 4T vehicle

    2018 Polaris Slingshot motorcycle

    2018 Canam ATV

    Firearms, ammunition and jewelry

    The FBI’s investigation linked Bezie to Julian Leyba, with both men allegedly supplying fentanyl sold along Central Avenue in Albuquerque. On March 23, 2023, the FBI raided Leyba’s residence in Northeast Albuquerque as well. While no drugs were seized from Leyba’s home, investigators found six firearms, including a machine gun, which he was prohibited from possessing due to prior felony convictions.

    Leyba pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession a machine gun on May 2, 2024, and was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervise release.

    At sentencing, Bezie faces a mandatory 60 months for drug trafficking and an additional 60 months for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, for a total of 120 months, and up to life in prison. This sentence will be followed by not less than four years of supervised release. Additionally, Bezie faces a fine not to exceed $5 million or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrinand Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The FBI’s Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI