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NSW Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Two of the state’s most senior ministers have vowed to sharpen focus on consequences for bullies in schools in an emotionally charged meeting with parents whose children were bullied to death. The promise was made at a roundtable on bullying, convened by The Sunday Telegraph, where government ministers sat down with grieving families, mental health experts and school principals to explore the problems and begin to chart a way forward. Education Minister and Deputy Premier Prue Car and Minister for Youth and Mental Health Rose Jackson met with the parents of Charlotte O’Brien and the mother of Tilly Rosewarne – two young girls who committed suicide after relentless bullying. Emma Mason (left) and Kelly O’Brien have both lost young daughters to suicide. Pictures: Rohan Kelly The meeting heard how: ● There needs to be tougher consequences for bullies and greater use of suspensions. ● Quicker action must be taken when parents or students report bullying. ● Teachers are not equipped to deal with toxic behaviours. ● Resourcing means teachers do not have support to deal with the problem particularly in regional areas. ● Independent investigations and record keeping must be improved. Charlotte O’Brien with her adored younger brother Will. Picture: Supplied by her family Tilly Rosewarne was 15 when she took her life after years of bullying. Picture: Supplied Parents, experts and policy makers agreed there needed to be an audit across the sector of what works and what doesn’t – similar to the types of record keeping and investigation standards across the health system. The roundtable, held at The Sunday Telegraph offices on Thursday, was the first meeting between Kelly O’Brien and Emma Mason – mums to Charlotte and Tilly. The pair, who had been in constant touch over the phone in the months since Charlotte’s death, embraced for a long time, sharing an understanding few can imagine. “I reach out to lots of mums who lose their children,” Ms Mason said. “So few of us actually know what that’s like and sometimes that text and that phone call in the middle of the night or in the early hours in the morning are things that can just keep them okay. Just able to hold on for another day.” The event came just days ahead of a major meeting this week to begin work on the statewide approach to bullying in NSW schools, to be convened by Ms Car. It was the suicide note of 12-year-old Charlotte, who asked her parents to raise awareness about bullying, which has sparked the drive for change. Youth and Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson became emotional during the meeting. Picture: Rohan Kelly Both ministers became emotional when talking about their own children and their concerns, not just as policy makers but as parents of kids in the vulnerable age bracket. “I myself have three little people at home ranging from nearly 14 to 10, so they’re right in that age of concern,” Ms Car said. “I do think there is not a single issue that concerns parents in Australia more than this right now.” She said it took “some really special people to be able to use your voice for a period of pain to be able to make a change”. WATCH CHARLOTTE’S WISH DOCUMENTARY HERE “Things will come from this, and that’s evidenced by the fact that it’s pretty rare to get a group of people like this around a table: leading media voices, actual decision makers,” she said. “A lot of schools are doing amazing things, some aren’t. So we have to make sure that there is a framework that everyone is working under because children being safe has got to be the No. 1 priority.” The minister said the standard should include empowering leaders in schools to be able to use suspensions and expulsions as a tool “because actions have consequences”. “I think that needs to be part of the standard that we use because we need to support kids with their mental health, but we also need to set an example to other children that there are consequences,” she said. Minister Jackson revealed she had a little girl the same age with the same name as Charlotte. “So there’s nothing that is more important to me than her safety,” an emotional Ms Jackson said. Education Minister Prue Car said the roundtable would lead to change. Picture: Rohan Kelly She said mental health support was vital for parents and for young people, “but it’s not intended as an effort to excuse perpetrator behaviour and holding people to account”. She said the person causing another child to have “a tough time” must have the behaviour addressed and “there must be consequences for actions”. “They need to learn at that adolescent age that actions have consequences,” she said. Ian Hickie, co-director of health and policy at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, said frameworks needed to be put in place, procedures implemented and their success and failure monitored. “When things go wrong in the health system, we don’t just leave it up to any hospital or any group to say, ‘Did you do enough?’ We have an investigative process, we have transparency about what happens. We have standards,” he said. Prof Hickie warned the time for talking was over. “The legislative framework is important, but it needs to get specific, not just guidelines ... specific on what schools need to be doing in the 21st century since we’ve got a 21st century set of issues,” he said. “And on the investigative side, we need to have standards about how that is done and then how it’s reported and then how the data is collated. “Without those things in place, the danger is we get a repetition of things and after a certain period of time, we’re back where we were.” More Coverage Caring mental mechanic swears by results Josh Hanrahan Australia praised for world-leading social media ban Julie Cross and Angira Bharadwaj Originally published as Charlotte’s Wish: Grieving parents meet with authorities at bullying roundtable Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories NSW Cyclist in critical condition after being hit by car A man is fighting for life after he was hit by a car in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday morning. Read more NSW Meet the swearing, caring ‘mental mechanic’ saving lives Tommy Herschell spends his days saving kids’ lives — going back into schools across the country to help put a stop to bullying. Read more
This Friday, University of Montana students who are wrapping up their college career at the end of this semester will walk across the stage at winter commencement, a large UM celebration. On Monday night in the University Center, UM’s LGBTQ+ student group, Lambda Alliance, gathered for a smaller, more intimate celebration of commencement. Lavender Graduation is a long-standing UM tradition. It celebrates queer student graduates in a separate ceremony, acknowledging their unique challenges and celebrating community. This semester, only one student graduated at the event: River Watson, the Lambda secretary. They received a laminated certificate, a sachet of dried lavender, and a rainbow braided cord slung around their neck. “When I moved to Montana, I was really scared because I didn’t know what the politics would be like. I didn’t know what kind of acceptance I would find here,” Lambda President Parker Mickel said. But then Mickel found Watson in a terrible English class, and felt safe and seen with someone like them. Watson would go on to help even more queer UM students feel safe and seen by teaming up with Mickel and Nicole Service to take over as the executive team of Lambda at a time when it didn’t have one and had basically no presence on campus. According to Devin Carpenter, Lambda’s adviser, Watson was a major reason that Lavender Graduation happened at all last spring. “They have been able to continue to make spaces of community and belonging despite some really long odds,” Carpenter said. Watson is a psychology major from Missoula who hopes to be a school psychologist, and is heading to grad school next. They said they found a lot of support and community at the University of Montana, and also got to know more about their own identity. “A lot of it was meeting people who also had this experience but were further along in the journey,” Watson said. Watson will be going to the larger winter commencement this weekend. But Lavender Graduation is a chance to celebrate with their peers who share their experiences. “There’s a lot of family obligations with commencement,” Watson pointed out. This means that graduates who aren’t fully out to their families can’t be their authentic selves at commencement. Mickel also found a broader community at UM. “I’ve found a lot of wonderfully supportive staff members, faculty members,” they said. “But it hasn’t been everyone.” According to those present, Lavender Graduation also acknowledges the unique challenges that queer students face on the path to graduation. For instance, deadnames (a person's name before transition) are still used in the university records systems, many buildings don’t have gender-neutral bathrooms, and Mickel said they were often misgendered during class. That’s on top of larger systems of discrimination still faced by queer people at large. “Community, I think, is one of the most important things for queer survival,” Mickel said. By the time Mickel graduates this spring, a new executive team will be elected. Though Watson will remain at UM for grad school, they plan on letting the undergrads take the lead at Lambda. But both say that they hope to help make sure Lavender Graduation takes place next semester, to give UM’s queer students a way to celebrate their community as they take their next steps.
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GUJRANWALA: Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar categorically stated on Saturday that the events of May 9 are unpardonable and will not be compromised or forgiven due to ongoing negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). During a media interaction in Rahwali, Gujranwala, the minister stressed that overlooking PTI’s anti-state activities would be tantamount to opening the gates of jails (and releasing the culprits). Letting PTI’s anti-state activities go unpunished would render the country’s jails meaningless. While acknowledging the seriousness of the crimes, the government is negotiating with PTI to prioritize national stability. Criticizing PTI, he said the party was promoting an incomprehensible false narrative about military court convictions, often changing its stance with remarks like “Are we slaves?” He stressed the importance of adhering to the correct narrative and avoiding politicization of state affairs, particularly in matters of international relations. PTI often makes statements and then reverses its position. Tarar stated that 85 PTI activities responsible for the violence on May 9 were convicted by military courts following a thorough legal process. The evidence proving their involvement in the attacks on army installations was considered irrefutable. While the cases of the remaining individuals involved in sabotage activities were being processed in various anti-terrorism courts. Negotiations among political parties were crucial for addressing the country’s pressing issues. Referring to the ISPR DG’s recent press conference as comprehensive, Tarar stated that the DG addressed topics including the May 9 violence, the war on terrorism, and the military trials of miscreants. He noted that trying individuals who attack military installations in military courts is a common global practice. He stated that those convicted for the May 9 violence were given a fair trial, the right to appeal within military and high courts, access to case records, contact with their families, and were not tried in absentia. The Federal Information Minister explained that, just as drug cases are handled by Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) courts, terrorism cases by Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs), mega corruption cases by NAB and attacks on railway facilities by the Railway Police, attacks on military installations are prosecuted in military courts. He said the convictions were not rushed, taking two years to reach verdicts against the culprits. All were prosecuted in accordance with relevant laws, and stressed the need to prosecute the planners and masterminds behind the May 9 violence. He said that even the harshest opponents of government were acknowledging the economy was on the right track, exports were rising, foreign currency reserves were increasing, and the rupee was stable against the dollar. Tararacknowledged PTI’s role in the passage of the 26th Amendment, working together with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to have various clauses removed from the draft amendment package.Bangladesh is on track to meet all 12 conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to qualify for the fourth tranche of a $4.7 billion loan programme, only missing the revenue collection target. This comes as an IMF mission, led by mission chief Chris Papadakis, is set to visit Bangladesh from December 3 to 17 to review the country's performance and compliance with structural reform conditions. The team will meet with Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on December 3, finance ministry officials told The Daily Star. During their stay, the IMF team will also hold meetings with officials from the Bangladesh Bank, the finance ministry, the power and energy ministry, the National Board of Revenue, and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. There are seven performance criteria for which the IMF has set specific floor or ceiling figures to be achieved by June 2024. These conditions include net international reserves, budget deficit, accumulation of external payment arrears, reserve money, tax revenue, priority social spending, and capital investment undertaken by the government. According to a finance division official, the government has met six of these conditions but failed to achieve the revenue collection target. As per the IMF target, the government was supposed to collect Tk 394,530 crore in taxes by June. Data from the Finance Division showed that the government collected Tk 369,209 crore by June, meaning it fell Tk 25,321 crore short of the IMF target. Another major condition set by the IMF was to increase the country's net international reserves, which was fulfilled after the IMF lowered the required threshold in May this year upon request by the then government. The initial target was $20.11 billion by June 30. However, the IMF lowered it to $14.79 billion later in May. As of June 30, Bangladesh had $16.7 billion net international reserves. Bangladesh failed to fulfil this target for each previous instalment of the loan package. The IMF's loan programme contains two types of conditions: seven linked to performance criteria and the remaining related to structural benchmarks. Officials said Bangladesh was scheduled to meet five structural reform conditions out of 27 by June. The IMF team will assess whether Bangladesh met these five conditions and will also review other structural reform conditions to be met at different times from September this year to December next year. One of the structural reform conditions was the publication of an updated medium-term debt management strategy, covering FY25 to FY27. The finance ministry has already published it. According to the publication, it is crucial for Bangladesh to move towards a unified debt management framework gradually to enhance the country's public debt management. "Under this framework, all aspects of public debt management, from the issuance of treasury securities to the oversight of national savings certificates and external borrowing, among others, should be conducted under the Finance Division through an autonomous unit," it said. Capacity development of the debt management unit in this regard will help to ensure better implementation of the debt strategy and maintain public debt on a sustainable trajectory, it added. An official from the finance ministry said the report was formulated at the end of the previous government's tenure. The interim government or the next elected government may introduce changes. Finance ministry officials said that other macroeconomic challenges, including inflation, subsidy reductions and reforms in revenue collection, would be discussed during the IMF team's visit. The interim government will also share updates on steps taken to generate authentic statistics. The total arrears of the government subsidy in the power, fertiliser, and energy sectors amounted to approximately Tk 60,000 crore at the end of June. Discussions with the IMF mission will prioritise how subsidies in these sectors can be reduced, according to the officials. On top of the ongoing $4.7 billion programme, the government has already sought an additional $3 billion loan from the IMF. An official from the Bangladesh Bank said this will be discussed in detail with the visiting IMF mission. To avail of that loan, the government, however, will be required to meet additional conditions set by the IMF. Zahid Hussain, a former lead economist at the World Bank's Dhaka office, said the IMF's upper management is positive about providing additional loans. "But specific conditions must be fulfilled by the government," he said. These conditions could relate to the banking sector, tax policy, subsidy reductions, exchange rate management and more, he added. Hussain said it is still unclear whether the new loan will be incorporated into the existing loan package or offered in a different form. In the face of mounting pressure on its foreign reserves, Bangladesh sought IMF assistance at the end of 2022. The multilateral lender approved $4.7 billion in January 2023. Of that, the government has already received $2.3 billion in three tranches.pamirc/iStock via Getty Images Matthews International Corporation ( NASDAQ: MATW ) just reported Q4 earnings that the markets really liked. We saw some issues, with limits on marketing the battery technology product, but with at least the current backlog still on hand If you thought our angle on this company was interesting, you may want to check out our idea room, The Value Lab . We focus on long-only value ideas of interest to us, where we try to find international mispriced equities and target a portfolio yield of about 4% . We've done really well for ourselves over the last 5 years, but it took getting our hands dirty in international markets. If you are a value-investor, serious about protecting your wealth, our gang could help broaden your horizons and give some inspiration. The Valkyrie Trading Society is a team of analysts sharing high conviction and obscure developed market ideas that are downside limited and likely to generate non-correlated and outsized returns in the context of the current economic environment and forces. They are long-only investors. They lead the investing group The Value Lab where they offer members a portfolio with real time updates, chat to answer questions 24/7, regular global market news reports, feedback on member stock ideas, new trades monthly, quarterly earnings write-ups, and daily macro opinions. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MATW either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. 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China responded swiftly on Tuesday to new U.S. restrictions on semiconductor technology exports by imposing tighter controls on critical minerals used in chip manufacturing . The move targets gallium, germanium, and antimony — essential materials for advanced electronics and defense applications, The Wall Street Journal reports . What Happened : A day after the U.S. blacklisted 140 Chinese entities and restricted exports of memory chips vital to artificial intelligence, Beijing retaliated with export bans and reviews for U.S.-bound shipments of these minerals. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce justified the measures as necessary for national security. China also cautioned its businesses against purchasing American chips due to reliability and safety concerns. The restricted minerals are critical to the U.S. economy and defense supply chains, with Beijing accounting for a significant portion of imports between 2019 and 2022. For instance, the U.S. relied on China for 80% of its antimony needs during this period, WSJ reports. Also Read: Fed’s Kugler Sees Inflation Progress But Warns: ‘Policy Is Not On A Preset Course’ The new U.S. export controls, which took effect Monday , primarily target Chinese firms such as Naura Technology Group , Huawei -linked companies and equipment manufacturers. These measures also extend restrictions to non-U.S. chip suppliers reliant on American technologies, sparking concern among global players like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. TSM . Why It Matters: The clash underscores the fragility of global supply chains and the geopolitical stakes tied to semiconductor dominance. With China tightening its grip on critical materials, the U.S. faces mounting pressure to diversify its supply sources. Experts warn these developments could reshape the global semiconductor landscape as companies and governments navigate new trade barriers. U.S. firms such as Nvidia Corp. NVDA , Lam Research Corp. LRCX , and KLA Corp. KLAC may feel the ripple effects alongside international players exempt from these restrictions, including Dutch firm ASM International ASML . ETFs such as the Invesco Semiconductors ETF PSI and the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF XSD could also feel the effects of these trade restrictions, given their exposure to impacted companies. Read Next: South Korea ETFs, Won Pare Losses As Yoon Makes U-Turn On Martial Law Declaration Photo by Fahroni via Shutterstock This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.BWISE Solutions Exclusive Webinar: How BWISE Positively Transforms Businesses for the HolidaysReport: 2025 QB1 Bryce Underwood Commits to Michigan from LSU amid NIL Contract Rumor
Korea lifts martial law, relieving some market uncertaintySINGAPORE: It is well-known that Singapore’s 15-year-olds regularly perform among the best in the world in literacy and numeracy tests. What may not be as familiar to most is how Singapore adults perform in similar tests. The Survey of Adult Skills, an international study under the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), offers some insight. Singapore took part in both the PIAAC Cycle 1 surveys (conducted between 2011 and 2018) and the recent Cycle 2 survey (2022 to 2023) whose results have just been released. The results of the PIAAC study show that Singapore is closing the gap with the OECD average in literacy, and moving into the top third of participating countries in numeracy. This largely reflects Singapore’s improving education profile as younger cohorts with higher skills enter the workforce and older cohorts with relatively lower proficiency retire. Given that many older Singaporeans did not have the educational opportunities that our young today enjoy, it’s not surprising that our adults do not perform as well relative to their international peers. ADULT LITERACY A CONCERN What is somewhat surprising is the decline in literacy proficiency as people get older, a trend seen in most participating countries including Singapore. While Singapore bucked the trend of declining overall literacy scores experienced by most countries between the first and second rounds of the PIAAC study, its literacy scores fell between the two cycles for both lower-educated and more highly educated adults. In addition, the gap between the different educational groups in Singapore was larger than in most other countries. This has implications for the competitiveness of Singapore’s workforce and economy, particularly given the importance of human capital to our economy. Adult literacy, along with numeracy, is an essential foundation for the acquisition of further knowledge and skills, and hence key to workers staying employable, especially as technology rapidly changes. Adults with higher literacy proficiency generally have better job opportunities, even after accounting for educational attainment. These findings highlight the importance of investing in adult education and training. In Singapore, the drop in literacy proficiency seems to start early at 27 to 34 years old. The decline among respondents in this age bracket and the next is concerning, as these span the prime working ages where workers are expected to make significant contributions to the economy and society. It suggests that people of all ages, even those in the early stages of their careers, need to continue learning and using their skills to maintain proficiency. Fortunately, the decline in literacy with age does not appear to be inevitable, given that two participating countries, Denmark and Sweden, did not experience significant loss in proficiency among adults up to age 65. IMPLICATIONS FOR LEARNING AT SCHOOL, WORK AND HOME The PIAAC findings on literacy and numeracy can help inform Singapore’s approach to education and training. It’s important to recognise that learning is a lifelong process, starting from childhood through to adulthood. Building a strong foundation during the schooling years is key, with an emphasis on cultivating a love for learning and growth mindsets that will enable continual learning through life. SkillsFuture programmes should continue to reinforce these foundational skills, in addition to providing job-ready, industry relevant training. While the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy and the new SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme are targeted at mature workers aged 40 and above, the PIAAC findings on early age decline in literacy suggest that younger workers may need attention too. A study by Kyrolainen and Kuperman (2021) found that while formal education was the strongest predictor of PIAAC literacy scores in all countries, another significant factor was the amount of reading people engaged in at work and at home. Employers should think about how to strengthen their workers’ foundational skills by curating purposeful learning opportunities such as projects, workshops or innovation challenges. Beyond formal training, employers could also come up with creative ways to make learning fun, such as through games or quizzes. Some organisations have a monthly book club gathering where staff members can discuss thought-provoking books. Besides fostering social interaction, such events also help encourage and sustain literacy among employees. Initiatives such as the National Reading Movement spearheaded by the National Library Board, along with events like the annual Singapore Writers Festival, could also help build a culture of reading and literary engagement in Singapore. A significant predictor of PIAAC literacy scores identified by Kyrolainen and Kuperman was family influence – proxied by the number of books in one’s childhood household - suggesting that a love for literature can be passed from one generation to the next. As an advanced economy with an excellent education system, Singapore should set its sights on becoming one of the world’s most literate societies in the near future. This can be realised through a concerted effort by all stakeholders, recognising what is at stake. Terence Ho is Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He is the author of Future-Ready Governance: Perspectives on Singapore and the World (2024).
Fox News contributor Brett Velicovich discusses House Subcommittee on Aerial Systems' role in investigating multiple sightings in the Garden State on 'America Reports.' A top FBI leader revealed the agency knows concerningly little about the mysterious drones that have been seen hovering over New Jersey. Asked if Americans are "at risk," FBI Assistant Director of the Critical Incident Response Group Robert Wheeler told Congress: "There is nothing that is known that would lead me to say that, but we just don't know. And that's the concerning part." Dozens of drones have been spotted flying near sensitive sites like a military research facility in recent weeks. The FBI has been investigating the incidents and has called on the public for additional information. According to Gov. Phil Murphy , there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday alone, mostly in Hunterdon County. New Jersey drone sighting map (Fox & Friends/Screengrab) The FBI assistant director’s comments came during a joint hearing of two Homeland Security subcommittees on unmanned aerial systems. NEW JERSEY DRONE SIGHTINGS: MILITARY ANALYSTS BREAK DOWN NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS, DOUBT HOBBYISTS AT PLAY "We do not attribute that to an individual or a group yet. we're investigating, but I don't have an answer of who's responsible for that of, one or more people that are responsible for those, drone flights," said Wheeler. "That’s crazy, that’s madness that we don’t know what these drones are," said Rep. Anthony Gonzales, R-Texas. "There are a lot of Americans that are very frustrated right now that are essentially questioning where my taxpayer dollars going," he added,asking Wheeler how much of the FBI budget goes toward counter-drone efforts. About $500,000, Wheeler replied, goes to counter-drone technology and its deployment within the FBI. "No wonder we don't know what the hell's going on!" the congressman replied. The drone was seen over North Jersey on Tuesday. (Nicholas Lordi) MYSTERIOUS DRONE SIGHTINGS CONTINUE TO BE REPORTED IN NEW JERSEY WITHOUT ANSWERS A top border official also revealed in the hearing that during a recent six-week period, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) sensors recorded 6,900 drone flights within close proximity to U.S. borders, potentially threatening the lives of CBP officers and some of which had been carrying drugs. CBP could not engage with some 95 percent of those drones because they did not breach U.S. airspace but hovered just near the border. Keith Jones, CBP head of Air and Marine Operations, revealed that no money had been allocated to CBP for counter-drone procedures. Some drones as large as SUVS have been spotted hovering in the Garden State skies, as well as smaller, more rapidly maneuverable drones, resembling what’s referred to as "drone motherships" that have been deployed in Ukraine, Russia and China, Fox News contributor Brett Velicovich said. The motherships launch smaller drones, which do not have the necessary range-antennas to carry them over long distances. That suggests, according to Velicovich, that a foreign adversary could be at play in New Jersey. New Jersey authorities could not jam the drones due to Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) regulations. Experts had first warned the U.S. lacks a clear counter-drone procedure after 17 unmanned vehicles traipsed into restricted airspace over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia last December. The mystery drones swarmed for more than two weeks. Lack of a standard protocol for such incursions left Langley officials unsure of what to do – other than allow the 20-foot-long drones to hover near their classified facilities. Brad Wiegmann, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security, implored Congress to grant law enforcement agencies greater legal authority to shoot down drones that could be considered threats. "We need legal authority is that without it, use of the most effective types of drone detection and counter drone technologies could violate criminal laws, including those that prohibit destroying or disabling aircraft in flight and intercepting signals and communication," he said. The DOJ's current counter-drone authorities will lapse in just 10 days, and Wiegmann urged Congress to not only renew them but expand them. "The two most important issues for us are, number one, broadening the types of sites that law enforcement can protect from nefarious and suspicious drone users. So, for example, to cover as was mentioned in the opening statements, airports, critical infrastructure like power plants and chemical facilities," he went on. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Number two is my colleague from the FBI just mentioned. It's about empowering state and local law enforcement and operators of critical infrastructure to engage in counter-drone efforts nationwide. This is not a job the federal government can do alone."
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Commission unanimously approved the 2025 budget on Thursday afternoon. Early drafts of the budget expected it to be $163 million, with nearly $54 million coming from the county’s general fund. Five key priorities shaped the budget, including: Improved workforce retention and reduced workforce turnover and vacancy; addressing priority staffing and space needs; providing new and replacing equipment, vehicles, technology, and capital infrastructure; public safety improvements and increased financial stability and transparency of how the county is using operating funds. According to county documents, Boone County has been experiencing “unprecedented employee turnover and lengthy vacancies” since 2020. These vacancies were having an impact law enforcement, detention 911 dispatching. Market analysis data done by the county found that Boone's average pay was below market value. Because of this, the county says salary increases were the top priority in the 2025 budget. Drafts of the budget included salary increases that will be handed out at “ the discretion of the Administrative Authorities, as well as, a retention incentive with the intent to combat workforce turnover. “ As a result, the budget includes a $1.9 million increase to fund these pay raises. Part of its public safety improvements includes the creation of a law enforcement training center, which would include a 24/7 daycare for workers' children. "Childcare is in high demand in Columbia/Boone County. We truly believe the addition of a childcare center for first responders will be a huge asset to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. We believe it will greatly assist us with recruiting and retention of quality employees at the Boone County Sheriff’s Office," Sheriff's Office spokesman Brian Leer said in the statement. The State of Missouri has granted Boone County $4 million for the Regional Law Enforcement Training Center. In addition, the County received $2.5M in assistance from the State to construct the Public Safety Child Care Center. The county broke ground on the new center in Apri l. The county announced the addition of the training center last year . Northern District Commissioner Janet Thompson said that the addition of a childcare center for public safety personnel is important for recruitment and retainment. "One of the things that we've seen over time is it's really difficult to hire and then retain folks in public safety," Thompson said. "We are always are looking for top quality people, and it's just hard. Those are 24/7 kinds of offices and we really are looking for the best, and we're trying to keep them." Both the Regional Law Enforcement Training Center and Public Safety Child Care Center are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The 2025 budget includes funding to address staffing and space needs in several offices across the county. This includes money to hire 10 full-time positions, three part-time position and removing three positions. About $13.7 million was allocated million to invest in new technology and equipment, which marks an 18% decrease from the 2024 fiscal year. An estimated $2.1 million will be spent from the general fund to cover the cost of computer hard drive replacement, implementing services for the county’s EMP management, and upgrading the Sheriff’s Record Management and Jail Management Systems. The budget also sets aside $445,000 for vehicle replacements and repairs. The Emergency Management Fund was allocated the most money in the proposed budget, at $9.25 million, which will be spent on various radio and software equipment, as well as two sandbag auto-filling machines. The capital repair and replacement fund includes $2.6 million, which will help cover the cost of a $700,000 new HVAC system for the courthouse and $1.5 million for a new fuel station for Road and Bridge. Check back for updates.(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has promised to reduce government waste and employed wealthy businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the charge. So far, spending on federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies are prime targets for Musk and Ramaswamy, and a recent report shows just how widespread federal DEI spending has become. The report from Do No Harm shows 500 ways the Biden-Harris administration “infused DEI into the federal government.” Those examples include federal agencies starting dozens of equity training programs, doling out federal contracts and jobs based on race and gender, and teaching Americans more about their country’s racism, both past and present. The DEI explosion took off after Biden issued executive orders on his first day in office as well as another in June of 2021. The first executive order “established that affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.” The second order established “that it is the policy of my Administration to cultivate a workforce that draws from the full diversity of the Nation.” Biden also issued other executive orders, including around gender and sexuality, to the same effect his first year in office. Those orders gave federal bureaucrats not only permission but actually direct orders to embrace DEI policies across the board. And Do No Harm’s report shows they did, full-throttle, citing 80 “Equity Action Plans” submitted by agencies that promised over 500 taxpayer-funded actions. Some of the actions are seemingly mild, such as the U.S. Social Security Administration tracking more racial data. Other examples of DEI policies, though, made the federal government the nation’s teacher. For example, a blog for the U.S. Treasury Department lectures Americans on racial inequality. More directly, the federal government began implementing training programs for many federal employees that fully embrace racial ideology labeled “woke” by its opponents. For instance, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission invested in training for employees to consider equity more in its regulatory decisions. “Training will address how equity and environmental justice involves removing barriers underserved communities may face in the context of the Commission’s practices, processes, and policies,” FERC said in its Equity Action Plan. “Training also will address how, consistent with FERC’s mission and statutory duties, the Commission considers the impact of its actions on such communities. More specific trainings geared toward the responsibilities of different program offices and issue areas also may be identified or developed and offered.” Other actions seem to favor some groups over others. Changing the “percentage” of benefits received necessarily requires giving contracts, grants, or other federal resources to certain groups, almost always at the expense of white Americans, even more often white men. For example, the American Battle Monuments Commissions in its Equity Action Plan called for “expanding the percentage of U.S.-based contracted goods and services awarded to minority-owned, women-owned, and service disabled veteran-owned enterprises.” In fact, the ABMC pledged to pay a worker for this sole purpose. In another instance, the Smithsonian Institute pledged to recruit more Black and indigenous interns. “One of the simplest ways to ensure equity and accessibility in internships is to provide a livable stipend and advertise it clearly in promotion materials,” the federal group said in its Equity Action Plan. “Many units include a statement directly in their internship description about their commitment to equity. They also are intentional about making the application process simple and transparent, offering access services for interviews and allowing for multiple formats in place of a required essay.” The Smithsonian Institution , the federal steward of America’s past, also promised to begin promoting a historical framework that emphasizes American racism in the past and today. The federal group pledged to “Address the historical roots and contemporary impacts of race and racism in the United States and globally through interdisciplinary scholarship, creative partnerships, dialogue, education, and engagement.” The Center Square has reported on other examples of DEI policies and grants becoming the norm in recent years as well, though much of this kind of spending began before the Biden-Harris administration took power. Those include:
Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certainWASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is ramping up efforts to address a crisis of suicides and systemic failures in federal prisons and jails, announcing sweeping reforms aimed at overhauling how mental health care is provided behind bars. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco outlined the measures in a memo and report Tuesday, directing the Bureau of Prisons to update suicide prevention protocols, improve mental health assessments for inmates, and adopt data-driven strategies to reduce deaths in custody. The reforms will also apply to facilities overseen by the U.S. Marshals Service, a broader effort to address chronic shortcomings across the federal detention system. The 14-page report said the measures “will strengthen the Department’s capacity to reduce the risk of suicide by adults in federal custody and advance a culture of safety in its institutions.” The announcement comes after increasing scrutiny on the federal prison system and a scathing report from the Justice Department’s inspector general earlier this year, which found that systemic lapses—like those that allowed financier Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 death—have contributed to the deaths of hundreds of federal inmates over the years. An ongoing Associated Press investigation has exposed serious issues in the Bureau of Prisons, including rampant misconduct, sexual abuse by staff, dozens of escapes, chronic violence, and staffing shortages that have left its employees ill-equipped to respond to emergencies. Monaco, who has prioritized prison reform during her tenure, has been pressing agency officials to tackle these issues, holding regular meetings to drive change in one of the federal government’s most troubled institutions. In the memo, obtained by The Associated Press, Monaco said the Justice Department must “strive to avert every preventable death of an individual in its custody.” “In pursuit of that goal, individuals who are detained or incarcerated in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) or Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) should receive timely mental health assessments and ready access to potentially life-saving mental health services,” the memo said. The Justice Department would embrace a “multifaceted approach to reducing the risk of suicide and self-directed violence” for both inmates and staff, according to the memo. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the health and safety of every individual in our custody,” Monaco said in a statement. “Today’s reforms—recommended by experts from across the Department’s litigation, law enforcement, and policy operations—will reduce the risk of suicide among adults in federal facilities. Simply put, these measures can help us save lives." Michael Balsamo And Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
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