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USAREUR-AF, NATO Allies Conclude Exercise Avenger Triad 26
HEIDELBERG, Germany, Oct. 17 -- U.S. Army Europe and Africa issued the following news release:
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USAREUR-AF, NATO Allies conclude Exercise Avenger Triad 26
Oct. 16, 2026
WIESBADEN, Germany -- U.S. Army Europe and Africa and NATO Allies successfully concluded Avenger Triad 26 on Oct. 15, marking the end of a 10-day, distributed command post exercise that tested simulated large-scale, multi-domain combat operations across Europe.
Conducted from Oct. 6 to 15, the exercise brought together approximately 2,000 U.S. service members and 2,000 multinational personnel operating from command posts
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HEIDELBERG, Germany, Oct. 17 -- U.S. Army Europe and Africa issued the following news release:
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USAREUR-AF, NATO Allies conclude Exercise Avenger Triad 26
Oct. 16, 2026
WIESBADEN, Germany -- U.S. Army Europe and Africa and NATO Allies successfully concluded Avenger Triad 26 on Oct. 15, marking the end of a 10-day, distributed command post exercise that tested simulated large-scale, multi-domain combat operations across Europe.
Conducted from Oct. 6 to 15, the exercise brought together approximately 2,000 U.S. service members and 2,000 multinational personnel operating from command postsacross France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Avenger Triad 26 was synchronized with NATO's premier command post exercise, Steadfast Duel 26, which linked strategic and operational decision-makers across all 32 Allied nations.
Operating primarily from the Combined Operations and Intelligence Center at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, USAREUR-AF and NATO's Allied Land Command functioned as a converged, integrated warfighting headquarters, turning NATO's regional defense plans into synchronized operational action.
"Steadfast Duel and Avenger Triad demonstrated that our collective defense is not just an idea on paper; it is an active, trained reality," said Lt. Gen. Jez Bennett, acting LANDCOM commander. "By deploying our LANDCOM staff to Wiesbaden to fight alongside our U.S. partners as a single, connected headquarters, we tested our people, validated our processes and refined our ability to deliver decisive action under pressure. Our strength lies in interoperability, and this exercise proved our readiness to defend every inch of Allied territory."
Avenger Triad 26 placed headquarters staffs under continuous operational strain, simulating combat conditions against a simulated opposing force in a complex, multi-domain environment. Participating Allied corps included the U.S. Army's V Corps, the 2nd Polish Corps, the 1st French Corps and the 1st German-Netherlands Corps, supported by specialized theater commands including the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Multi-Domain Command - Europe.
A central objective of the exercise was putting concepts from NATO's Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative into operational practice. Rather than relying solely on static lines of defense, EFDI integrates advanced sensors, unmanned aerial systems, cloud computing and shared data environments to shorten the time between threat detection and target engagement.
Command posts utilized next-generation command-and-control software, including the Maven Smart System, to establish a unified common operating picture across dispersed national headquarters. This common data backbone enabled military planners to process vast amounts of operational data, accelerate commander decision cycles and coordinate deep fires across the land, air, sea, cyber and space domains.
"What we accomplished in Wiesbaden was a real test of how we will fight if called upon," said Brig. Gen. Thomas Lowin, LANDCOM deputy chief of staff for operations. "Operating as one team, we proved that we can connect distributed sensors to effectors through a resilient digital backbone. While artificial intelligence and modern data tools help us cut through noise and deliver information rapidly, warfare remains fundamentally human. Our staff analyzed those options and gave our commander the clarity required to act decisively."
Lowin noted that the progress made during this year's exercise built directly on lessons identified in previous iterations, moving NATO's operational transformation from concept to frontline execution.
"Last year we finished at a high level, and this year we started at that level," Lowin said. "The credibility of our deterrence rests on our capability. When an adversary sees that 32 nations can share data seamlessly, command corps-level formations across thousands of kilometers and coordinate joint fires in minutes, it sends an unmistakable signal: attacking NATO will not succeed."
Avenger Triad 26 and Steadfast Duel 26 also underscored European Allies taking on greater operational responsibility for theater defense, ensuring that national and multinational corps can seamlessly integrate into NATO's overarching command structure during an Article 5 collective defense scenario.
The operational insights and digital workflows refined during Avenger Triad 26 will inform planning for upcoming theater maneuvers, including NATO's large-scale field exercise Steadfast Defender 2027, where these command post concepts will be tested with live formations in the field.
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Original text here: https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/ArticleViewPressRelease/Article/4627047/news-usareur-af-nato-allies-conclude-exercise-avenger-triad-26/
Treasury International Capital Data for August 2026
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following news release:
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Treasury International Capital Data for August 2026
October 16, 2026
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for August 2026. The next release, which will report on data for September 2026, is scheduled for November 18, 2026.
The sum total in August of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a net TIC inflow of $199.8 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following news release:
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Treasury International Capital Data for August 2026
October 16, 2026
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for August 2026. The next release, which will report on data for September 2026, is scheduled for November 18, 2026.
The sum total in August of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a net TIC inflow of $199.8 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflowswere $178.5 billion, and net foreign official inflows were $21.3 billion.
Foreign residents increased their holdings of long-term U.S. securities in August; their net purchases were $300.7 billion. Net purchases by private foreign investors were $257.8 billion, and net purchases by foreign official institutions were $42.9 billion.
U.S. residents increased their holdings of long-term foreign securities, with net purchases of $21.6 billion.
After including adjustments, such as estimated foreign portfolio acquisitions of U.S. stocks through stock swaps, overall net foreign purchases of long-term securities are estimated to have been $279.2 billion in August.
Foreign residents decreased their holdings of U.S. Treasury bills by $47.8 billion. Foreign resident holdings of all dollar-denominated short-term U.S. securities and other custody liabilities decreased by $37.8 billion.
Banks' own net dollar-denominated liabilities to foreign residents decreased by $41.6 billion.
Complete data are available on the Treasury website here (https://home.treasury.gov/data/treasury-international-capital-tic-system).
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About TIC Data
The monthly data on holdings of long-term securities, as well as the monthly table on Major Foreign Holders of Treasury Securities, reflect foreign holdings of U.S. securities collected primarily on the basis of custodial data. These data help provide a window into foreign ownership of U.S. securities, but they cannot attribute holdings of U.S. securities with complete accuracy. For example, if a U.S. Treasury security purchased by a foreign resident is held in a custodial account in a third country, the true ownership of the security will not be reflected in the data. The custodial data will also not properly attribute U.S. Treasury securities managed by foreign private portfolio managers who invest on behalf of residents of other countries. In addition, foreign countries may hold dollars and other U.S. assets that are not captured in the TIC data. For these reasons, it is difficult to draw precise conclusions from TIC data about changes in the foreign holdings of U.S. financial assets by individual countries.
TIC Release for August
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TABLE: TIC Monthly Reports on Cross-Border Financial Flows
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Original text here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0662/
Three Esteemed Jefferson Lab Physicists Become 2026 Fellows of the American Physical Society
NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia, Oct. 17 -- The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility Jefferson Lab issued the following news release:
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Three Esteemed Jefferson Lab Physicists Become 2026 Fellows of the American Physical Society
Gianluigi Ciovati, Dave Gaskell and Douglas Higinbotham have all been recognized as newly elected fellows for 2026
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NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Three physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility have been elected by their peers to fellowships in the American Physical Society (APS). According to APS, its fellowship program
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NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia, Oct. 17 -- The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility Jefferson Lab issued the following news release:
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Three Esteemed Jefferson Lab Physicists Become 2026 Fellows of the American Physical Society
Gianluigi Ciovati, Dave Gaskell and Douglas Higinbotham have all been recognized as newly elected fellows for 2026
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NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Three physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility have been elected by their peers to fellowships in the American Physical Society (APS). According to APS, its fellowship programrecognizes members who have made exceptional contributions in physics research, important applications of physics, significant contributions to physics education, or leadership in or service to APS.
The three honorees were each elected by different membership divisions within APS.
* Gianluigi Ciovati received the Division of the Physics of Beams Fellowship "For outstanding contributions to the science and technology of superconducting RF and for leadership in conduction-cooled superconducting RF cryomodule technology with societal applications."
* Dave Gaskell received the Topical Group on Hadronic Physics Fellowship "For outstanding scientific leadership in using electron scattering to probe the structure of pions, nucleons and nuclei, which provided new insights into the modification of the nucleon's properties in nuclei, and the development of electron beam polarimeters which achieved world-record precision."
* Douglas Weadon Higinbotham received the Division of Nuclear Physics Fellowship "For high-impact experimental studies of nucleon-nucleon short-range correlations in nuclei, unique contributions to resolving the proton radius puzzle, and mentorship and leadership at Jefferson Lab."
Jefferson Lab Director Jens Dilling congratulated the lab's newly named fellows.
"We are proud to see Jefferson Lab staff members receive this outstanding recognition from their peers for their leadership and as a testament to their significant contributions to research, technology and education in nuclear and accelerator physics," said Dilling. He also noted new fellows who had conducted their research with Jefferson Lab's Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility that supports the research of more than 1,700 nuclear physicists worldwide. "We would also like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to the members of the Jefferson Lab Users Organization who are being recognized for their contributions to nuclear physics this year."
A full list of 2026 APS Fellows can be found here (https://www.aps.org/funding-recognition/aps-fellowship?af=true).
According to APS, no more than one-half of 1% of the society membership, excluding student members, is recognized by their peers for election as fellows each year.
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SURATech, LLC, manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, or Jefferson Lab, for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
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DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science
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Original text here: https://www.jlab.org/news/releases/three-esteemed-jefferson-lab-physicists-become-2026-fellows-american-physical-society
Navy Region Hawaii Empowers Sailors for the 2026 Midterm Elections
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Oct. 17 -- Navy Region Hawaii issued the following news:
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Navy Region Hawaii empowers Sailors for the 2026 Midterm Elections
16 October 2026
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Demonstrating that operational readiness extends to civic responsibility, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH) conducted a command-wide military voting stand down at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam's Memorial Chapel, Oct. 9, 2026.
Capt. Gregory deWindt, chief of staff for CNRH, led the briefing to help service members and first-time voters navigate registration deadlines, absentee ballot
... Show Full Article
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Oct. 17 -- Navy Region Hawaii issued the following news:
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Navy Region Hawaii empowers Sailors for the 2026 Midterm Elections
16 October 2026
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Demonstrating that operational readiness extends to civic responsibility, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH) conducted a command-wide military voting stand down at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam's Memorial Chapel, Oct. 9, 2026.
Capt. Gregory deWindt, chief of staff for CNRH, led the briefing to help service members and first-time voters navigate registration deadlines, absentee ballotrequests, and polling options.
Capt. deWindt emphasized that serving far from home should never separate a warfighter from their fundamental constitutional right to vote. Whether stationed aboard a surface combatant, supporting submarine maintenance at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, or operating Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Barking Sands on Kauai, every Sailor has clear pathways to ensure their vote counts.
"Our primary mission in Hawaii is to project combat-ready forces across the Pacific, but that readiness is hollow if we do not also safeguard our civic duties at home," said deWindt. "Deployments, sea duties, and geographical distance cannot become excuses for disenfranchisement. We conducted this stand down to ensure our Sailors understand their deadlines, know their resources, and have a clear plan to execute their vote."
To ensure all hands have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, the Department of War (DoW) designated an official DoW Voting Day, authorizing commanders to grant administrative leave and operational flexibility for civilian personnel and service members to cast their ballots. The U.S. Navy announced in ALNAV 064/26 that Oct. 30 would serve as this day, which allows military personnel to conduct their voting tasks. It also allows commands to authorize administrative leave for civilian personnel, if their work schedules do not provide a reasonable opportunity to vote.
"With Navy Region Hawaii's prerequisite voting training completed, Oct. 9, this dedicated day provides military personnel protected time to reflect on that training, review election material, submit absentee ballots, and support family members in their voting preparations," said deWindt.
For military service members, dependents, and civil servants registered to vote in Hawaii, the state operates primarily via a mail-in system. However, for those who prefer to vote in person, who need to register on the same day, or wish to drop off their completed mail-in ballots securely, several designated Voter Service Centers and drop boxes are accessible.
Service members attached to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam or Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands who want to vote in the Hawaii election can cast their ballot in person at the following locations:
Oahu Voter Service Centers & Ballot Locations
Oahu Voter Service Centers & Ballot Locations
Facility Name ... Facility Address ... Services Provided
Honolulu Hale (Courtyard) ... 530 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 ... In-person voting, same-day registration, and ballot drop box.
Kapolei Hale (Conference Rooms) ... 1000 Uluohia Street, Kapolei, HI 96707 ... In-person voting, same-day registration, and ballot drop box.
Wahiawa District Park ... 1129 Kilani Avenue, Wahiawa, HI 96786 ... Pop-up voter service center and ballot deposit box.
Kaneohe District Park ... 45-660 Keaahala Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744 ... Pop-up voter service center and ballot deposit box.
Kauai Voter Service Centers & Ballot Locations
Facility Name ... Facility Address ... Services Provided
Historic County Annex Building (Basement) ... 4386 Rice Street, Lihue, HI 96766 ... Complete voter service center, in-person polling, and ballot drop-off.
PMRF / West Kauai Drop Boxes ... Hanapepe & Kalaheo Fire Stations ... Secure ballot drop boxes for West Kauai military and civilian personnel.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam or Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands personnel, who are registered in states or territories other than Hawaii, should mail in their ballots. This comprehensive reference list provides the deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot for the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five major United States territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) in alphabetical order. It also includes the deadlines for ballot returns.
State / Territory / Jurisdiction ... Ballot Request Deadline ... Ballot Return / Receipt Deadline & Specific Rules
Alabama ... Oct. 29, 2026 ... Received (five days before Election Day)
Alaska ... Oct. 24, 2026 ... Received (10 days before Election Day)
American Samoa ... Oct. 19, 2026 ... Received by American Samoa Election Office by close of polls on Election Day.
Arizona ... Oct. 23, 2026 ... Received by 5:00 PM (11 days before Election Day)
Arkansas ... Oct. 27, 2026 ... Received (seven days before Election Day if requested by mail/email)
California ... "All-Mail" State ... Ballots automatically mailed; update address by Oct. 19, 2026.
Colorado ... "All-Mail" State ... Ballots automatically mailed; update address by Oct. 26, 2026.
Connecticut ... Nov. 2, 2026 ... Received (Day before Election Day)
Delaware ... Oct. 30, 2026 ... Received (Friday before Election Day)
District of Columbia ... "All-Mail" District ... Ballots automatically mailed; update address by Oct. 16, 2026.
Florida ... Oct. 22, 2026 ... Received by 5:00 PM (12 days before Election Day)
Georgia ... Oct. 23, 2026 ... Received (11 days before Election Day)
Guam ... Oct. 31, 2026 ... Must be postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 3, 2026) and received by Nov. 13, 2026.
Hawaii ... "All-Mail" State ... Ballots automatically mailed; update temporary military address by Oct. 27, 2026.
Idaho ... Oct. 23, 2026 ... Received by 5:00 PM (11 days before Election Day)
Illinois ... Oct. 29, 2026 ... Received (five days before Election Day)
Indiana ... Oct. 22, 2026 ... Received by 11:59 PM (11 days before Election Day)
Iowa ... Oct. 19, 2026 ... Received by 5:00 PM (15 days before Election Day)
Kansas ... Oct. 27, 2026 ... Received (seven days before Election Day)
Kentucky ... Oct. 20, 2026 ... Received online portal request by 11:59 PM (14 days before Election Day)
Louisiana ... Oct. 30, 2026 ... Received by 4:30 PM (four days before Election Day)
Maine ... Oct. 29, 2026 ... Received (Thursday before Election Day)
Maryland ... Oct. 27, 2026 ... Received by mail/fax (Oct. 30, 2026, if electronic/print-at-home)
Massachusetts ... Oct. 27, 2026 ... Received by 5:00 PM (seven days before Election Day)
Michigan ... Oct. 30, 2026 ... Received by 5:00 PM (Friday before Election Day)
Minnesota ... Oct. 20, 2026 ... Recommended application date to ensure mail transit time.
Mississippi ... Oct. 24, 2026 ... Received (In-person request deadline for absentee voting)
Missouri ... Oct. 21, 2026 ... Received by 5:00 PM (Second Wednesday before Election Day)
Montana ... Nov. 2, 2026 ... Received by noon (Day before Election Day)
Nebraska ... Oct. 23, 2026 ... Received by 6:00 PM (Second Friday before Election Day)
Nevada ... "All-Mail" State ... Ballots automatically mailed; opt-out or update address by Oct. 20, 2026.
It's important to note, while territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands allow postmarking on or before Election Day, jurisdictions such as American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands require the physical ballot to be received by the close of polls on Nov. 3, 2026.
For "All-Mail" jurisdictions, ballots are automatically mailed to registered voters. The deadlines listed for these locations typically indicate the final day to update registration, request a ballot sent to a temporary military/overseas address, or request a replacement ballot.
Please keep in mind that voters who request a ballot near the state-mandated deadline may not be able to have their vote counted. A state might technically accept ballot requests up until Oct. 29, but it is physically impossible for a ballot to be printed, mailed to Hawaii, filled out, mailed back, and received by Nov. 3 in that timeframe.
If a prospective voter's physical ballot has not arrived in the mail, they can request a backup Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) online at FVAP.gov or by contacting the command's designated Voting Assistance Officer (VAO).
"Voting is more than a right; it is a profound privilege, especially for those of us who wear the uniform and actively defend those democratic processes," said Jesse Duarte, voting assistance officer for CNRH. "Navigating different state deadlines, territory rules, or mail-in logistics can feel daunting, but you do not have to do it alone. Your voting assistance officer is there to help guide you, provide the paperwork, and ensure your ballot is securely submitted. Our job is to make sure that your service to our country never gets in the way of your voice being heard."
Navy Region Hawaii serves as the regional coordinator for all shore-based Navy installations, personnel, and activities on Oahu and Kauai, supporting the readiness of the fleet and warfighters throughout the Pacific theater of operations.
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Original text here: https://cnrh.cnic.navy.mil/News/News-Detail/Article/4628002/navy-region-hawaii-empowers-sailors-for-the-2026-midterm-elections/
National Park Service Selects Jenn O'Neill as Site Manager of Amache National Historic Site
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release:
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National Park Service selects Jenn O'Neill as site manager of Amache National Historic Site
October 16, 2026
GRANADA, Colo. -- The National Park Service is pleased to announce the selection of Jenn O'Neill as the new site manager of Amache National Historic Site.
O'Neill has worked for the National Park Service for more than a decade, most recently serving for five years as the Partnerships Program Manager at Grand Canyon National Park.
"I am extremely excited to start
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release:
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National Park Service selects Jenn O'Neill as site manager of Amache National Historic Site
October 16, 2026
GRANADA, Colo. -- The National Park Service is pleased to announce the selection of Jenn O'Neill as the new site manager of Amache National Historic Site.
O'Neill has worked for the National Park Service for more than a decade, most recently serving for five years as the Partnerships Program Manager at Grand Canyon National Park.
"I am extremely excited to startmy next career chapter working with the dedicated NPS team and deeply committed partner community at Amache," said O'Neill. "My experience combining partnerships and planning is something I feel I can put to good use in this new position. The local community of Granada, Amache's descendant community, university partners and the Amache Alliance worked tirelessly to help establish Amache as a national historic site, and I am eager to arrive on the High Plains and begin supporting a very talented team as we carry that good work forward."
O'Neill began her NPS career at Grand Canyon National Park as a volunteer in 2011. In 2012, she accepted her first permanent position as an environmental protection specialist, where her work focused on National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act compliance for partner- and donor-funded projects.
When Grand Canyon consolidated its partnership programs into a single division in 2020, O'Neill became the park's Partnerships Program Manager. In that role, she supported the park's philanthropic partners, including Grand Canyon Conservancy and the National Park Foundation, as well as community-based, resource advocacy and intergovernmental partner organizations.
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, O'Neill comes from three generations of family service with the Memphis Fire Department. After attending high school in Colorado, she pursued a career in public land management. She holds bachelor's degrees in environmental science and parks and recreation management from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.
O'Neill said she is also looking forward to returning to Colorado and living closer to her two adult sons, who attend universities in the state.
Amache National Historic Site, established as a unit of the National Park System in 2024, preserves and interprets the history of the more than 10,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at the Granada Relocation Center, commonly known as Amache, during World War II. The site is one of four national park units managed by the High Plains Group, headquartered at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in La Junta, Colorado.
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Original text here: https://www.nps.gov/amch/learn/news/national-park-service-selects-jenn-o-neill-as-site-manager-of-amache-national-historic-site.htm
ICYMI | HUD Convenes Faith, Business, and Government Leaders in Grand Rapids to Promote Opportunity Zones Collaboration
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued the following news release:
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ICYMI | HUD Convenes Faith, Business, and Government Leaders in Grand Rapids to Promote Opportunity Zones Collaboration
October 16, 2026
Grand Rapids, Mich. - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Center for Faith, in conjunction with the HUD Great Lakes Regional team, hosted a conference with leaders from the faith community, business sector, and federal, state, and local government to encourage them to participate in economic and community development within
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued the following news release:
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ICYMI | HUD Convenes Faith, Business, and Government Leaders in Grand Rapids to Promote Opportunity Zones Collaboration
October 16, 2026
Grand Rapids, Mich. - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Center for Faith, in conjunction with the HUD Great Lakes Regional team, hosted a conference with leaders from the faith community, business sector, and federal, state, and local government to encourage them to participate in economic and community development withinOpportunity Zones (OZs). The speakers emphasized the important role faith-based organizations play in family formation and community revitalization, especially in underserved communities in OZs.
The "Opportunity Zones: Economic Development and Community Revitalization by the Power of Faith" conference featured panels on topics such as business opportunities in OZs, OZ project funding, attainable housing options, federal government resources, and the involvement of faith organizations in their communities.
"Opportunity Zones are one of the most effective tools we have to bring private investment into communities that need it most," said HUD Great Lakes Regional Administrator Duey Stroebel. "When investors, developers, and faith leaders come together around a shared vision, we can make real gains for families and neighborhoods across Michigan. The engagement we saw today reflects what is possible when the power of faith is paired with sound economic policy."
This landmark initiative, established in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, has poured more than $100 billion of private investment into OZs, making it one of the largest economic development programs in history. OZs have lifted more than one million Americans out of poverty, spurred the creation of more than half a million jobs, and led to the construction of more than 400,000 housing units in distressed communities.
Under President Trump's transformational Working Families Tax Cuts Act, OZs have been made permanent. Enhanced incentives, such as a rolling designation cycle, expanded investment incentives for underserved rural communities, and a 10-year investment timeline will build on the program's immense success.
"OZs are not a top-down government effort to revitalize communities, nor are they handouts. They are long-term investments created through public-private partnerships that give a hand-up to vulnerable Americans to help them achieve self-sufficiency," said HUD Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development Ronnie Kurtz. "As communities prepare for new OZ designations, we must understand that OZs are not just about bringing jobs or lifting wages, they are about breathing new life into communities that have often been ignored or left behind."
"We want to thank HUD for this incredible event, especially being able to network with faith-based organizations," said Executive Vice President of UMH Properties Daniel Landy. "UMH really wants to build affordable housing communities in Opportunity Zones, and the important word there is 'community.' Faith-based organizations know how to build communities. This was a great event to help revitalize communities in OZs and build partnerships with faith-based organizations."
"It's great to see faith-based organizations, businesses, and non-profits come together around the same table discussing ways we can use each other's strengths to advance the community," said CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries Chris Palusky. "And that could be through affordable housing, jobs, or investment in communities. It was very heartening to see that there was this commitment."
"I am very thankful to HUD for coming across the country to Michigan. I love the fact that DC is paying attention to the local and state level," said Chairman of the Board of the Michigan Christian Chamber of Commerce Rodney Sanderson-Smith. "Every speaker had great wisdom, great insight, and had real, practical, hands-on information to share. My takeaway is that there is great opportunity here for us to come together to make a significance difference that is going to change a legacy. It was inspiring to see that some of the speakers had come from homelessness to building homes. I really hope HUD does more of these conferences so we can continue to keep the momentum going."
This was the fifth conference in a series of national conferences hosted by HUD's Center for Faith. Learn more about Opportunity Zones, the conferences, and how the faith community can be involved HERE.
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Original text here: https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-26-086
DOL OIG Great Lakes Region Announces Charges and Arrests in Multiple Unemployment Insurance Fraud Schemes Tied to Gang Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
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DOL OIG Great Lakes Region Announces Charges and Arrests in Multiple Unemployment Insurance Fraud Schemes Tied to Gang Activity
October 16, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG) announced significant enforcement actions in its ongoing efforts to combat fraud and protect the American people. The DOL OIG Great Lakes Region secured multiple arrests and charges against individuals allegedly involved in gang activity and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
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DOL OIG Great Lakes Region Announces Charges and Arrests in Multiple Unemployment Insurance Fraud Schemes Tied to Gang Activity
October 16, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG) announced significant enforcement actions in its ongoing efforts to combat fraud and protect the American people. The DOL OIG Great Lakes Region secured multiple arrests and charges against individuals allegedly involved in gang activity andschemes to defraud the Unemployment Insurance program. "I want to commend our Great Lakes Region team and our esteemed partners at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF - Detroit Office), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI - Chicago Office), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS - Chicago Office), U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois for their outstanding work in advancing our mission to combat fraud and protect American workers. Their commitment to putting American workers first drives our results and helps ensure justice for the American people," said Anthony P. D'Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. "My office is grateful for the dedication and support of our partner agencies as we work together to hold those responsible for fraud accountable."
DETROIT -- On October 6, 2026, Derrick Thompson, a multi-convicted felon with previous charges of fraud, assault and felony firearms violations, was arrested by DOL-OIG and ATF agents for his role in an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme. Thompson was previously charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He is alleged to have filed dozens of UI claims in his own name and in the names of others not associated with him, defrauding various state workforce agencies (SWA) of approximately $400,000 in UI benefits.
On October 7, 2026, Charles Marshall was arrested by DOL-OIG and ATF agents for his role in a UI fraud scheme, Marshall was previously charged with one count of bank fraud. Marshall allegedly filed dozens of fraudulent UI claims in his own name and the names of others using stolen personally identifiable information. It is alleged that Marshall is associated with approximately $548,594 in suspected UI fraud involving multiple states. Marshall is a known gang associate who has been linked to gang activity, violence, felony firearms violations, and related criminal conduct in the Detroit metro area.
Both investigations are being worked jointly with the ATF and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
CHICAGO -- On October 7, 2026, Andrea Wellington, a former employee of an Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) sub-contractor, and her alleged co-conspirator, Randall Easley, a known Chicago gang associate, were charged by a federal grand jury indictment with multiple counts of wire fraud related to an alleged UI fraud scheme. The indictment alleges Wellington used her access to the IDES Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) system to modify approximately 471 claims, including claims associated with herself and Easley. These modifications caused IDES to disburse approximately $4.6 million in PUA payments to the individuals involved in the scheme for which they were not entitled. Wellington and Easley allegedly recruited individuals to participate in this UI fraud scheme. Both defendants were arrested without incident on October 8, 2026, during separate arrest operations conducted by DOL OIG, FBI, and USPIS agents.
This investigation is being worked jointly with the FBI and USPIS and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
"These arrests send a clear message: if you steal from American workers through unemployment fraud, whether as a multi-convicted felon or as part of a gang activity scheme, we will find you, charge you, and hold you accountable. Our government programs are not an ATM for criminals," said Inspector General D'Esposito.
For additional information on DOL OIG, please visit oig.dol.gov. If you suspect wrongdoing involving DOL programs or operations, contact the DOL-OIG Hotline at (800) 347-3756 or oig.dol.gov/hotlinecontact.htm.
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Original text here: https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/Press%20Releases/OIG-Press-Release-101626.htm
