Source: United States Spaceforce
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s strength and conditioning program was recently recognized as the 2025 Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports Program of the Year for Region 2. The program enhances the operational readiness, lethality, and long-term health of Airmen and Soldiers through tailored fitness coaching and injury prevention.
Source: United States Marines
The U.S. Marine Corps announced in MARADMIN 281/26 that it will fully transition its operational reporting to the Operational Data Integration Nexus (ODIN) on July 7, 2026. The move, authorized by Lt. Gen. Jay M. Bargeron, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations, formally designates ODIN as the official and authoritative platform for operational reporting, marking a pivotal achievement in the Corps’ Force Design modernization efforts.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
WASHINGTON—Yesterday, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of New York, Governor of New York Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Assistant Attorney General in Charge, Buffalo Regional Office, challenging their unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal law enforcement officers by criminally prohibiting federal officers from wearing masks, requiring individual identifiers, and banning cooperative 287(g) agreements with numerous local law enforcement agencies dedicated to helping enforce this nation’s laws.
Not only is the law an illegal attempt to regulate the federal government, but, as alleged in the complaint, the law threatens the safety of federal officers who have faced an unprecedented wave of harassment, doxing, and even violence. Threatening officers with prosecution for simply protecting their identities and their families also chills the enforcement of federal law and compromises sensitive law enforcement operations.
“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “New York’s anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand.”
“Governor Hochul cannot tell Federal officers how to do their job,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “And she certainly cannot prohibit them from ensuring their own safety in conducting Federal law enforcement operations. Our suit today stops New York’s unconstitutional efforts.”
“The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect the privacy and safety of law enforcement from unconstitutional state laws like New York’s,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Acting Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. Today’s lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country, including in Virginia, New Jersey, and California.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
ROANOKE, Va. – A personal care attendant, contracted with the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide personal care services to veterans, pled guilty to stealing from a Vietnam War Veteran she was tasked with caring for. Melissa Diana Simmons, 50, of Boones Mill, Virginia, pled guilty to forgery of government checks. Simmons and co-defendant James Patrick Brown were indicted in 2025.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
HARRISONBURG, Va. – An immigrant from Mexico, who lied about her identity for more than 30 years to obtain immigration documents and other benefits, pled guilty to a pair of federal charges. Candy Lazo, a.k.a. “Candida Jimenez Lazo” a.k.a. “Natalia Perez de Cruz” a.k.a. “Natalia Perez,” 53, pled guilty to one count of passport fraud and one count of theft of government funds.
Source: United States Navy
WASHINGTON — U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force leaders held the U.S. Navy-JMSDF Strategic Dialogue at the Pentagon, June 17, reaffirming both navies’ shared commitment to maritime cooperation, interoperability, and readiness in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Source: United States Army
BAUMHOLDER, Germany – A student with U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz’ Baumholder Youth Services recently earned the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) 2026 Northeast Military Youth of the Year. The award, which comes with a $20,000 college scholarship, recognizes outstanding academic achievements, academic potential and commitment to community service.
Three years ago, Patrick Akar-Donkor, military teen and student at Baumholder Middle High School, moved from Ghana to Germany. He embraced the challenges of a new country and a unique military lifestyle instead of letting them overwhelm him.
The garrison’s Public Affairs Office recently spoke to Patrick to chat about his journey, the people who supported him along the way and what it means to be the 2026 Youth of the Year.
First off, congratulations on being named the 2026 Northeast Military Youth of the Year! Do you remember exactly where you were or what you were doing when you found out you won?
Thank you! The event was held at Major League Baseball headquarters in New York City, and I had the chance to meet the CEO of BGCA, Mr. Jim Clark. All four finalists gave their speeches, and afterward I sat with the Chief Baseball Development Officer Tony Reagins, when he announced that I had been selected as the 2026 Northeast Military Youth of the Year. I was very honored to be chosen, and it was an exciting moment for me. Afterward, we celebrated, took photos and headed back to the hotel for a pizza party.
Moving from Ghana to Germany in 2023 must have been a massive transition. How did the Baumholder Youth Services program help you find your footing and build a community in a brand-new country?
The Baumholder Teen Center was where I was able to make friends and connect with people, which was very important in dealing all the change. There were staff members like Mr. Ryan and Mrs. Jacque that I could talk to about anything, and they helped me adapt to my new school and military community. At the teen center, I was able to learn and make connections, which shaped me into the youth leader that I am today.
You helped bring back the European Keystone Summit for the first time in over a decade. What was it like bringing military youth together from all over the region?
Yes, that is one of my favorite accomplishments in Keystone! It’s very important for teens to be able to connect with one another, especially in military communities. Most Keystone clubs in Europe are unable to attend the National Keystone Conference in the United States, so it was important for us to bring that experience here.
We offered activities through the Red Cross, cooking clubs, sports programs, gift wrapping with the Baumholder Spouses Club Angel Tree program and many other opportunities, all completely free. Our “little” event even inspired BGCA to come to Europe and organize an official Europe Keystone Conference in Germany this November in Garmisch. It will be open to Keystone clubs across the region, and I’m honored to have been part of the team that helped make it possible.
It’s impressive reading about your accomplishments! You’ve logged more than 200 volunteer hours, maintained a 3.8 grade point average, played sports, served in student government and acted as the vice president of the robotics club. How do you balance all these moving parts, and what drives you to stay so heavily involved?
When people ask how I maintain my GPA while staying involved in sports, school and the Teen Center, I think it really comes down to having a community that supports you. I have that support not just at the Teen Center, but also at school, at home and throughout the entire Baumholder community.
I’m very fortunate to be part of such a close-knit community because it provides so many opportunities for teens. When you’re surrounded by opportunities and by youth leaders who inspire you, you’re motivated to stay involved and keep trying to be better. The BMC and BGCA have given me so much, and that’s why I believe it’s important to give back through volunteering.
Looking back at your time here so far, what has been your favorite memory of living in the Baumholder Military Community?
Over the past three years here at Baumholder, I have had many amazing experiences, from going to New York City for the youth of the year event, to meeting the amazing staff at the teen center, scoring a touchdown in a football game for the first time ever, placing sixth in our robotics completion and many other memorable experiences. But I believe the most important and my favorite memories are the little and simple ones, like playing Tekken in the teen room with my friends Keandre and Jason and the fun conversations at the Waffle House during school trips.
You’re planning to study sports business or sports management in college. If you could pick your dream job in sports leadership, what would it be?
I am very passionate about sports, and my dream job would be to become the sports director of Manchester United Football Club. Right now, I haven’t committed to a college yet and am still exploring my options. The University of New Mexico and the University of North Texas are among my top choices.
The $20,000 scholarship from BGCA will help me take the next step toward earning a degree in sports business or sports management and, hopefully, achieving my dream of one day becoming a director at a prestigious sports organization.
Baumholder Youth Centers serve students in grades six to 12 with free middle school teen programs offered daily after school and throughout the summer. Affordable morning camps also support families during out-of-school hours, providing a full day of activities for youth.
U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz sets, serves, and secures the total force community, enabling power projection for the European Theater.
Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/usag_rp
Source: United States Department of Justice
Ibrahim De La Cruz, 26, of the District, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service maintenance worker from whom he took postal master keys that he used to steal high volumes of mail from luxury apartment buildings across the District, Northern Virginia, and Maryland, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
WASHINGTON—The Department of Justice issued an opinion today finding that certain U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) preferences for “socially disadvantaged” groups unconstitutionally discriminated based on race and sex.
The Office of Legal Counsel determined that conservation‑planning programs that authorized USDA to waive user fees for “socially disadvantaged” farmers as defined by race‑ and sex‑based criteria failed to satisfy the Constitution’s equal-protection guarantee. The statutory and regulatory definitions of “socially disadvantaged” farmers preferred certain racial groups and women over other farmers without a compelling or important governmental interest to justify such classifications. The opinion upheld five other USDA programs as constitutional because they could be administered in a race- and sex-neutral manner.
“Racial discrimination is illegal, and the government cannot show preference to certain groups when awarding special benefits without a compelling reason to justify the classification,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This Department of Justice is committed to ending illegal DEI initiatives across the federal government that violate our Constitution and laws.”
“Our colorblind Constitution generally prohibits the federal government from distributing benefits based on race or sex,” said Joshua Craddock, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel. “Where Congress has not made the required findings and where classifications sweep far beyond any legitimate purpose, the Department must conclude that such preferences are unlawful.”
“Today’s opinion affirms discrimination based on race and sex is unconstitutional and no program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including those in the Farm Production and Conservation mission area, will act otherwise,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “All persons served by this Department will, without question, be treated equally.”
USDA may continue to provide technical assistance, financial support, and outreach to farmers and ranchers through constitutionally permissible means. Building on the Office of Legal Counsel’s December 2025 opinion concerning the Department of Education’s race-based education programs and the Solicitor General’s February 2026 letter to Congress about USDA’s race- and sex-based preferences, today’s opinion ensures that programs for American farmers operate consistent with the longstanding principle that all persons are entitled to equal treatment under the law.
The full opinion is available on OLC’s website.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David J. Johnston, 57, of Olean, NY, who was convicted of distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.