The Justice Department today announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2026 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for comprehensive funding to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes to develop comprehensive approaches to public safety and victimization issues.
The department anticipates awarding more than $107 million in grant funding. Administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), The NOFO includes guidance on how federally recognized Tribal governments and Tribal consortia can apply for funding to aid in the development of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety and victimization.
“The Department is dedicated to promoting public safety and supporting victims in Tribal Nations,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “Through these grant funding opportunities, tribes can receive support to develop comprehensive plans that identify gaps, strengthen coordination and address the underlying conditions that contribute to criminal and social disorder. This Department is proud to contribute resources to ensuring the overall success and improvement of tribal justice systems.”
This NOFO responds directly to Tribal leaders’ requests to improve and simplify the DOJ grant-making process by combining many of its Tribal government-specific funding opportunities into one NOFO and requiring only one application. CTAS funding can be used for a range of public safety and justice-related projects and services, including strengthening law enforcement through hiring, training, and purchasing equipment; improving Tribal justice systems to address and prevent crime; improving justice system physical infrastructure; increasing access to substance use treatment and recovery support services; and reducing juvenile delinquency and improving youth outcomes. In addition, the grants serve American Indian and Alaska Native victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and elder abuse.
In FY 2025, the department awarded 108 CTAS grants, amounting to more than $99 million in CTAS funding to Tribes and Tribal consortia across the United States.
The grants.gov application deadline for CTAS is Oct. 15, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET, and the JustGrants deadline is Oct. 22, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET.
The department will also facilitate a series of webinars to guide applicants through the application process. The full list of available webinars and registration links are available here.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; promote fair and impartial administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking or SMART Office – can be found at ojp.gov.
About the Office of Community Orienting Police
The COPS Office is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing and the Administration’s priority of Making America Safe Again by supporting the nation’s state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
Coalition sues over federal rule that reinstates provisions blocked by a federal court and adds new harmful changes
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to challenge a federal rule that once again illegally undermines the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and would make health insurance more expensive and harder to obtain for millions of Americans. The lawsuit seeks to block provisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters, a federal rule that sets standards for health plans offered in 2027 and was opposed by the coalition in a March 2026 comment letter. Among other harmful changes, the rule expands eligibility for catastrophic health insurance plans that are ineligible for premium tax credits, offer only limited coverage, and can leave consumers facing significantly higher out-of-pocket costs than standard ACA plans. The rule also allows catastrophic and bronze plans to exceed ACA limits on maximum annual out-of-pocket costs, increasing the financial burden on consumers, and attempts to reinstate several provisions that a federal court recently found to be unlawful. The coalition argues these and other provisions unlawfully undermine the ACA’s goal of expanding access to affordable healthcare by increasing costs, reducing enrollment, and shifting financial burdens onto consumers, states, and healthcare providers.
“The Affordable Care Act was designed to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. But once again, this Administration is moving in the wrong direction by adopting harmful provisions that push consumers into bare-bones plans and strip away critical protections,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We are returning to court to challenge these unlawful changes. At a time when families are already facing rising costs, they cannot afford to pay more for coverage that gives them less.”
Congress enacted the ACA to expand access to affordable health insurance, and more than 23 million Americans currently receive coverage through its marketplaces. California has approximately two million ACA plan enrollees, the third highest of any state. Today’s lawsuit follows the coalition’s challenge to the Trump Administration’s similar 2025 ACA Marketplace rule. Earlier this week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts held a hearing on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment in that case, with a final decision expected at a later date. In related litigation, a federal court last month vacated several provisions of the Administration’s 2025 rule — including provisions at issue in this case — after finding that they violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The Administration’s new rule setting standards for 2027 health plans, which is the subject of this lawsuit, brings back many of the same provisions and adds new changes that further undermine the ACA. HHS estimates the new rule will cause two million people to lose coverage in 2027 alone and a total of five million by 2030.
In today’s lawsuit, the coalition argues that the new rule:
Reimposes provisions that a federal court has already vacated — including additional income verification requirements and penalties for consumers who do not complete tax-credit paperwork — without addressing the court’s legal concerns.
Unlawfully expands eligibility for catastrophic health plans beyond the limits established by Congress in the ACA.
Unlawfully allows catastrophic and bronze plans to exceed ACA limits on maximum annual out-of-pocket costs.
Will increase costs, reduce enrollment, and shift financial burdens onto consumers, healthcare providers, and states.
Was adopted without adequate explanation or a meaningful response to the coalition’s comments, making it arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.
In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta co-led the coalition alongside New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. They were joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Project will resurface worn center and right lanes
SPOKANE – Work to repair worn concrete on the center and right lanes of eastbound Interstate 90 just west of Spokane will start Sunday, Aug. 2. This overnight work could create delays through Aug. 21 for people traveling between the US 2 and US 195 interchanges.
Travelers in the area will encounter lane reductions and ramp closures nightly from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sundays through Friday mornings. All lanes will be open during daytime hours.
During the three-week project, Washington State Department of Transportation crews will remove the old driving surface, then replace it to smooth out ruts.
Lane restriction and detour information
During the overnight working hours, crews will reduce eastbound I-90 to a single left lane on Sunset Hill.
Additionally, the US 2 ramp to eastbound I-90 will close to traffic during working hours. Drivers will need to use a signed detour via the westbound US 2 ramp to westbound I-90, exiting at the Geiger/Grove interchange 1 mile to the west and then reentering eastbound I-90.
What work will be done?
Crews will set up traffic control in the work zone nightly. Once set, maintenance crews will remove the existing road surface in spots that are rough using high pressure water, which also will clean the rebar underneath. Crews will then pour new concrete to create a smooth driving surface.
The last time crews resurfaced this section of I-90 was from 2011 to 2012.
. Unveiled by the President this week, the program helps streamline the requirements necessary for obtaining a commercial driver’s license.
“This program provides another career opportunity for our military veterans,” said Gov. Pillen. “It reduces red tape and speeds the process for those who may already have training in operating heavy vehicles. It also extends the window of time for them to take advantage of this program.”
Under the Governor’s direction, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will make the necessary changes to ensure that qualifying veterans receive necessary testing waivers in order to participate in the program and the associatedEven Exchange Program. Primarily, this will mean that a written test is not necessary as long at the veteran has experience operating certain vehicles during active duty. In Nebraska, the driving skills test is already waived.
“The parameters of the program are very specific in describing which branches of the military and the type of prior vehicle experience that qualify for a waiver,” explained Rhonda Lahm, director of the DMV. “This ensures that veteran drivers already have the skill set that would ensure the highest levels of safety while operating a commercial vehicle on our nation’s highways.”
Under the changes outlined through theFreedom Haulersinitiative and theEven Exchangeprogram, qualified veterans will now have 24 months to obtain a waiver. Previously, they were limited to a time frame of 12 months.
Additionally, as announced by the Trump Administration, veterans who have never operated a heavy commercial motor vehicle during their military service can take advantage of federal programs providing CDL training. Werner Enterprises, which is based in Nebraska and was present for the rollout of theFreedom Haulersinitiative, has pledged to hire 1,400 new veteran drivers this year.
“Our veterans have already earned valuable skills through their military service, and programs likeFreedom Haulersand theEven Exchange Programensure those skills translate directly into civilian careers instead of creating unnecessary barriers,” said Director John Hilgert, Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “By streamlining the path to a commercial driver’s license and connecting veterans with Nebraska employers like Werner Enterprises, these initiatives create meaningful job opportunities while strengthening our nation’s workforce and supply chain. This is a no-brainer with transportation so important to Nebraska and with all our efforts to attract veterans to Nebraska.”
Governor Pillen Concludes Successful Trade Mission to Japan and the Philippines
LINCOLN, NE – This week, Governor Jim Pillen concluded a highly productive trade mission to Japan and the Philippines. Priorities for the mission included (1) promoting Nebraska beef, pork, and wheat; (2) expanding markets for Nebraska ethanol; and (3) identifying opportunities for Nebraska to produce energy for Asian customers.
“Nebraska is investing in relationships with reliable U.S. allies in Asia, like Japan and the Philippines, while reducing dependence on Communist China,” said Gov. Pillen. “Japan routinely ranks among Nebraska’s top customers for beef, pork, and other agricultural products. Meanwhile, the Philippines has a fast-developing market economy and a growing appetite for U.S. food and fuel. The trade mission strengthened Nebraska’s position as a supplier of choice for key customers in both countries.”
The final day of the trade mission was packed with events. On Wednesday morning, Gov. Pillen and State Senator Rita Sanders met with San Miguel Corporation, a major conglomerate with approximately 60,000 direct employees. The company has more than 100 facilities in the Asia Pacific and imorts food products from Nebraska.
“It was an honor to represent Nebraska in the Philippines and to showcase all that our state has to offer,” said Sen. Sanders. “The trade mission was a great way to raise our state’s profile and to tout our global leadership in food and ethanol production. The Filipino people are delightful, and I am grateful for the warm hospitality we received everywhere we went.”
Gov. Pillen also had a high-level meeting on Wednesday with Sharon Garin, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Energy. Leaders of Nebraska ethanol companies joined Gov. Pillen to highlight Nebraska’s low-carbon advantage in biofuel production.
“There is immense potential for Nebraska’s ethanol plants to meet the fuel needs of the Philippine market,” said DJ Eihusen of Chief Ethanol. “Additionally, there are great opportunities for Nebraska ethanol to partner with global energy producers. The carbon we’re capturing can be used to make cleaner gases that meet the energy needs of customers in Asia.”
In the afternoon, Governor Pillen joined U.S. Ambassador Lee Lipton at the World Food Expo, which has been the most attended food and hospitality event in the Philippines for 20+ years. Together, they joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a brand-new booth to promote U.S. products. During the expo, Gov. Pillen and the Nebraska Beef Council took part in a live cooking demonstration to provide Filipino customers with a taste of high-quality Nebraska beef.
“Nebraska beef is tasty, nutritious, and known for being produced in keeping with the highest biosecurity protocols,” said Rosmary Anderson, a board member of the Nebraska Beef Council. “As the Philippines’ middle class grows, more families are buying beef—and in greater quantities. Nebraska is in a wonderful position to be a preferred provider to Philippine importers as they seek to meet rising demand for beef.”
An evening reception hosted by the USDA, followed by a dinner with the Philippines’ Meat Importers and Traders Association, capped off the Nebraska delegation’s mission to the Philippines.
“Nebraska grows things and makes things that are in demand worldwide,” said Gov. Pillen. “It’s amazing to see Nebraska-made products featured on shelves and in restauants halfway around the world. I’m very pleased by the connections we made, and the opportunities we opened, that will help Nebraskans do even more business with Japan and the Philippines.”
Nebraska delegation meets with San Miguel Corporation
Meeting with members of Philippines Department of Energy
Governor Mike Kehoe announced today that he will lead a Missouri delegation to the Republic of Panama, August 5-8, to celebrate 30 years of the Missouri National Guard’s partnership with Panama, as well as promote the state as a prime destination for global business investment and expansion.
“We are proud to celebrate 30 years of military partnership with Panama and the dedicated service of the brave men and women of the Missouri National Guard,” said Governor Kehoe. “During this trade mission, we will strengthen relationships with key international partners and showcase Missouri’s strengths, competitiveness, and capacity for partnership and trade directly with government officials, diplomats, and business leaders.”
Governor Kehoe will meet with government officials and diplomats in addition to visiting Missouri National Guard service members who are participating in a multinational exercise, PANAMAX, focused on the security of the Panama Canal and region through joint, combined, and interagency operations. The Governor will also participate in a tour of the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.
Delegation meetings will include visits with the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera, Panama Minister of Commerce and Industry Julio A. Moltó A., Panama Minister of Agricultural Development Roberto José Linares Tribaldos, and Panama Minister of Canal Jose Ramon Icaza.
Governor Kehoe will be joined on the trade mission by Major General Charles D. Hausman – Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard (MONG), Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Michelle Hataway, Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Chris Chinn, as well as additional members of the Missouri National Guard and economic development partners.
“For more than three decades, the Missouri National Guard has worked side by side with our partners in Panama through the State Partnership Program,” said MONG Adjutant General Hausman. “This long standing relationship helps both our nations grow stronger by building skills, sharing expertise, and preparing together for the challenges we face. It’s a partnership that not only strengthens readiness but also deepens the trust and cooperation that are essential in today’s world.”
Since 1996, the Missouri National Guard has participated in a State Partnership Program (SPP) with Panama. The SPP supports the United States’ security cooperation objectives by developing relationships with partner countries and carrying out activities to build capacity. The program also improves interoperability while increasing the readiness of U.S. and partner forces to meet emerging challenges.
Consistent with Governor Kehoe’s economic development priorities, the delegation will work to attract future investment from prospective companies and promote Missouri’s strong capacity for trade.
“This trade mission to Panama reflects our commitment to expanding Missouri’s global reach, strengthening international partnerships, and opening new markets for Missouri-made products,” said DED Director Hataway. “By connecting our businesses with international buyers and investors, we are creating opportunities that support growth, encourage investment, and ultimately help more Missourians prosper.”
Panama is a key trade partner for Missouri, with $17.7 million in exports in 2025, and the top exports including food products, machinery, chemicals, and transportation equipment.
“Increasing trade opportunities for agriculture products is critical for Missouri farmers and ranchers,” said MDA Director Chinn. “The nation of Panama is an emerging market and offers tremendous potential for Missouri producers of both raw and value-added products.”
During Governor Kehoe’s absence, Lieutenant Governor Wasinger will serve as Acting Governor, allowing him to exercise certain gubernatorial powers with written consent of the Governor.
The Governor’s participation in trade missions is funded by the Hawthorn Foundation, a Missouri nonprofit organization that supports the work of the Missouri Partnership and its mission to attract new businesses to the state.
Bryce Cleveland, the President and CEO of Scalpa, Inc., pleaded guilty today to three charges related to Scalpa’s selling of skincare products that had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cleveland, 42, of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, introduction of an adulterated device into interstate commerce, and introduction of an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce. Cleveland was apprehended late last year in Colombia and removed back to the United States where he was arrested on an outstanding federal warrant by the U.S. Marshals Service after an indictment against him was returned in July 2024.
In 2015, Scalpa was a for-profit corporation incorporated in Arizona that marketed and sold medical devices and drug products intended to affect the structure and function of the human body. Between March 2018 and December 2020, Cleveland devised a fraudulent scheme to unlawfully enrich himself by marketing and delivering, and causing others to market and deliver, unapproved devices to consumers, including the ScalpaJECT Hyaluronic Acid, and Hyaluron Pen, while making false representations that the devices were not subject to FDA regulation. Similarly, Cleveland introduced and delivered, and caused others to introduce and deliver, the unapproved new drug “Scalpatox” into commerce.
The ScalpaJECT Hyaluronic Pen, Hylaron Pen, and similar unapproved and misbranded devices and drugs are especially concerning from a public health perspective because injectable drug products can pose risks of serious harm to users. Injectable products are delivered directly into the body, sometimes directly into the bloodstream, and therefore, bypass some of the body’s key defenses against toxins and microorganisms that can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions.
Scalpatox was an unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin product. On Nov. 5, 2025, the FDA issued a warning to owners of websites illegally marketing unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin products, commonly called Botox. The agency is aware of adverse events associated with unapproved and misbranded botulinum toxin products, including botulism symptoms.
Cleveland has agreed to be sentenced to a prison term of between four and eight years. He has also agreed to pay restitution for the entire scope of his criminal conduct, and to forfeit $800,000.
The FDA Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá. The U.S. Marshals Service provided exceptional assistance in locating the defendant in Colombia and facilitating his return to the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Hall and Randy Ramseyer for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Taylor Broadbent of the Criminal Division’s Health and Safety Unit are prosecuting the case.
The Health and Safety Unit within the Department’s Criminal Division works with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute violations of federal laws designed to protect public health and safety. The unit focuses on corporations and individuals who make and sell dangerous drugs, food, and other consumer products that could cause significant harm to Americans. For more information, see https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-safety-unit.
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty before a magistrate judge to conspiring to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking, and the district court accepted the guilty plea. On June 1, the district court also accepted the guilty pleas of five co-defendants.
I want to start by thanking each one of you for making UConn Health such a special place to train, teach, provide care, receive care and perform research. This week, I had the privilege of speaking at our Health Sciences and Medical Development fundraising team’s retreat in the Outpatient Pavilion. This group of fundraising professionals is a key part of the UConn Foundation team. As the team continues to grow, this was a valuable opportunity to provide greater insight into UConn Health, our strategic vision, and fundraising priorities.
I enjoyed speaking with this group, as they play an essential role in sharing our story with current and prospective donors. Each time I reflect on and communicate the story of UConn Health’s past, present and future, I am reminded of how far we have come and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Our progress is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of each of you. Your efforts continue to drive our success and advance our mission every day.
At the retreat, I started by explaining what we are as an organization. You’ll notice from the graphic below that we’ve evolved from when we used to only be a public entity.
I also presented a snapshot of the makeup of our public entity which might serve as a refresher for some readers:
As you can see from the graphic above, our total revenues are $2.1 billion, which represents amazing growth over the last decade. What you may not be aware of is that the state portion of our revenues is 8% or $144 million. The rest of the $2.1 billion represents internally generated revenues, with the majority being from patient care. As you can see from the graphic below we internally allocate most of that state revenue to our schools and research with only $10 million of the $144 million going to our clinical enterprise.
You may recall that we have a strategy to eliminate the reliance of the clinical enterprise on state operational support, and we are making headway, as you can see from the chart below, in which the $10 million to the clinical enterprise will become $5 million next year. One important caveat is that we are requesting funding to cover wage increases negotiated at the state level.
Before I leave the topic of the accomplishments each of you has driven over the years, I want to emphasize that no matter your role, you are critical to the mission of UConn Health. For example Dr. Scott Allen, our chief medical officer, sent this email to our facilities leadership this week:
Gentlemen: Each year, the residents who are leaving UConn (almost all are graduating) fill out a survey of their experience at the various hospitals in the Consortium. This year, JDH received the highest score (4.30/5.00) for “Cleanliness and upkeep of facility.” So, please extend a note of appreciation to your staff that maintain JDH in the great condition it is in. This is not just inside the walls of the hospital, but our grounds outside as well.
Of note: we received the highest score last year as well.😊
Scott
Please join me in thanking J.J. Odom, our building and grounds director, and the whole Environmental Services Department.
Along the lines of supporting our employees, we are entering the final week of our 2026 Employee Engagement Survey. So far, 2,454 employees, 46% of our workforce, have participated. Thank you to everyone who has responded. This is meaningful progress, but we are not yet where we need to be to reach our 65% goal.
This week, Jonathan, our Husky mascot, walked an impressive 9.5 miles across UConn Health, visiting employees and departments during our survey engagement tour. Thank you to everyone who welcomed him and helped build energy around the survey. Now, we need to turn that energy into participation.
The number matters because representation matters. Participation remains uneven across UConn Health, particularly among some of our hospital, clinical and frontline teams. We need stronger participation from every part of our workforce if the results are to give us a complete understanding of the employee experience and help us make the right decisions about where improvement is needed.
If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes today, if possible, to complete the survey. I’ve completed it and it takes less than 15 minutes, and responses are confidential.
Press Ganey sent a reminder Thursday morning containing your unique link. You may also use the Employee Engagement Survey shortcut on your computer desktop or the QR code on our Take the Survey page.
I would also ask our leaders to make this a priority during the upcoming week: Speak directly with your teams, reach employees across every shift, and provide time and access to complete the survey when operationally possible.
The survey is scheduled to close on Friday, Aug 7. If you have already participated, thank you. If you have not, please take the time now; do not wait. Progress happens together, and we need everyone’s participation to shape what comes next.
This week we announced the arrival of Antoinette Schoenthaler as our new AVP for inclusion and health equity.
Antoinette is coming to us from NYU Langone Health and its Institute for Excellence in Health Equity and brings an impressive record of leadership in advancing health equity and inclusivity across health systems, academic medicine, and national partnerships. She will report to Dr. Jeffery Hines, VP of our Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights, and me, with the charge of working with key stakeholders to advance diversity, inclusion, belonging, and health equity initiatives throughout our organization. Please read more about her on The Hub.
Antoinette is joining us in September. Let’s be sure to give her a warm UConn Health welcome!
I’d like to take a moment to recognize Dr. Peter Schulman, who is retiring after 44 years of service in our medical school and Calhoun Cardiology Center.
Hundreds of students, residents, and fellows have gained from Peter’s wise mentorship, while thousands of patients have benefited from his outstanding patient care. In all ways he is a model to generations of cardiologists. Our institution, our state, and the field of medicine are better off because of him. I invite you to take a moment to read more about Peter and his reflections on his time here on UConn Today.
Please join me in thanking Peter for his legacy of excellence and wishing him the very best in retirement. We certainly will miss him!
I have a wonderful patient letter to share with you to close the week. This was sent to our radiology leadership (edited for privacy):
[Recently] I visited the MSI 1st floor for an imaging appointment and was greeted at the front desk by Tafaria Jackson. She was warm, welcoming, and incredibly efficient, checking me in quickly and making the process seamless.
While I waited for my appointment, I heard her greet each patient who arrived. Even without hearing every conversation, I could “hear” the smile in her voice. She found a genuine way to connect with each person and make them feel welcome. I also noticed her patiently explaining the parking process to several elderly patients and offering a gentleman a wet towel after something had spilled. These small acts of kindness spoke volumes about her attentiveness and kindness.
I wanted to let you know that you have an excellent first point of contact in your department. Tafaria made a great impression, and her professionalism, kindness, and genuine care set a wonderful tone for the entire patient experience. She is truly an asset to your team.
What a fantastic acknowledgement of Tafaria representing UConn Health in such a positive — and noticeable — manner! Thank you, Tafaria, for making such an impact.
And thank you, to everyone reading this, for all you do.
Andrew C. Agwunobi, MD, MBA Chief Executive Officer EVP for Health Affairs UConn Health
Dear Dr. Andy
Why can’t the shuttle pick employees up at the end of lot MR1 (Munson Road)? It takes half the time of walking to main campus as it does to walk from the lot to the front of the Munson Road building to meet the shuttle. The lack of parking is already an inconvenience.
Good question. As Janel Simpson, our chief administrative officer, explains, the shuttles have designated drop-off and pick-up locations to prioritize pedestrian safety and maintain predictable schedules. These specific stops are selected to minimize potential hazards for pedestrians and assist shuttle drivers in adhering to a reliable timetable, ensuring efficient service.
We appreciate your understanding as we continually assess measures that enhance both safety and timeliness.
There are very large wasps that are flying around the ivy beds surrounding the main hospital. Several of them are harassing people walking out of the buildings. Which department handles insects?
Our building and grounds team oversees pest control and, I’m happy to report, already has taken care of this.
Thank you for bringing it to our attention, and thank you to J.J. Odom, our building and grounds director, for working with our vendor to handle in a timely manner.
Plus, we announce the coming arrival of Antoinette Schoenthaler as our new AVP for inclusion and health equity — Go to The Hub now for these and other announcements and features and stay up to date with the latest UConn Health news!
A three-count complaint charging was unsealed today charging Mohammad Yousef Hasna, also known as “Orhan Korkmaz” and “Abu al-Baraa,” 45, of Istanbul, Turkey, with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), and related terrorism financing charges. As alleged, Hasna used his senior role at a purported global humanitarian organization to coordinate directly with Hamas’s senior leadership regarding the delivery of funds and supplies to Gaza, and the distribution of those funds and supplies at Hamas leadership’s instructions. Hasna was arrested in the United Kingdom today.
“The money that flows from sham charities like the one described in the complaint fuels Hamas’s terrorist activities, including the atrocities the group committed on October 7,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Hamas cannot function without injections of money through its illicit financial networks. The National Security Division will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt Hamas’s operations, including through the prosecutions such as this.”
“Mohammad Hasna is alleged to have abused his position as the global director of a purported humanitarian organization to raise money and provide funds and supplies to Hamas, a brutal terrorist organization responsible for the murders of dozens of Americans and over a thousand other innocent victims, including as part of the heinous atrocities of October 7,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald for the Southern District of New York. “Hasna worked closely with Hamas’s senior leadership to deliver supplies, food, funding, and other materials to terrorists under the guise of humanitarian aid. Our arrest of Mohammad Hasna demonstrates our commitment to dismantling Hamas’s illicit global financing networks and the sham charities that support terrorist organizations and their violent aims using the lie of philanthropy.”
“The accused allegedly used a purported humanitarian aid organization to raise funds and provide financing and supplies to Hamas, a ruthless international terrorist organization,” said Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “According to the criminal complaint, the defendant coordinated his actions closely with a senior leader of Hamas and knew the resources were going to that group rather than to needy non-combatants. The FBI is committed to cutting off funding and other assistance to terrorist organizations and will continue to work closely with our U.S. government and international partners to present a united front against global terrorism.”
According to the allegations contained in the complaint, Hasna is the global director of a purported international charity registered in the United Kingdom (the “Sham Charity”). In that role, Hasna allegedly provided financing and commodities to Hamas, including by coordinating extensively with individuals at the highest levels of Hamas. As alleged, Hasna worked closely with senior Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad (Hamad), a member of Hamas’s governing body known as the Politburo and the Minster for the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza (MoSD), a putative governmental agency that is controlled by Hamas.
Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya, commonly known as Hamas, is a terrorist organization that was founded in 1987, and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States since 1997. From its inception, Hamas’s stated purpose has been to create an Islamic Palestinian state throughout Israel by eliminating the State of Israel through violent holy war, or jihad. Hamas also promotes attacks against the United States and its citizens, and over more than two decades, Hamas has murdered and injured dozens of Americans as part of its campaign of violence and terror. On October 7, 2023, Hamas committed its most violent, large-scale terrorist attack to date (the “October 7 Hamas Massacres”) when Hamas sent more than 2,000-armed fighters into farms and towns in southern Israel, where they carried out the massacres of over a thousand people and the kidnappings of 251 hostages.
Following the October 7 Hamas Massacres, in its disclosures to UK authorities, the Sham Charity reported that its total gross income nearly doubled from approximately $41.8 million USD in fiscal year 2023, to approximately $81.56 million USD in fiscal year 2024. The Sham Charity represented that it spent approximately $91 million on charitable activities in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025.
Since at least 2023, Hasna and Hamad coordinated the delivery of purported humanitarian aid organized by or allocated to the Sham Charity into Gaza for Hamas’s benefit, repeatedly coordinating the delivery of supplies, food, and other items by Hasna (under the guise of humanitarian aid from the Sham Charity) directly into Hamad’s and Hamas’s hands. In coordination with Hamad and at Hamad’s direction, Hasna allegedly arranged (1) deliveries of cash to Hamad; (2) the procurement of supplies for import to Gaza; (3) transportation of supplies into Gaza by truck from Egypt and elsewhere; (4) deliveries to warehouses controlled by the Sham Charity or by MoSD, according to Hamad’s instructions; and (5) distribution of those supplies to lists of recipients identified by Hamad. As part of this scheme, Hasna and Hamad concealed where the supplies were being delivered or stored, including by misrepresenting that supplies were being delivered to MoSD when in fact they were being delivered to warehouses controlled by Hasna; having supplies delivered initially to MoSD but then redistributed to the actual receiving parties; and taking pictures and videos of the supplies that omitted any signage inside the warehouses that would reveal their location or control.
Hasna is charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to finance terrorism, and financing terrorism, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
A federal district judge will determine their sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division thanks the U.K. authorities and the Israeli Security Agency for their assistance with this investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the United Kingdom’s law enforcement authorities provided significant assistance.
This case is being handled by the Southern District of New York’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Michael D. Lockard, and Juliana N. Murray are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Alicia Cook of the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.