Hines, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management will host a walk-up adoption event June 25–27 at the Oregon Wild Horse Corral Facility, offering the unique opportunity to give a wild horse a new home.

This event features 10 yearlings from the South Steens Herd Management Area and 15 geldings, all five years old or younger, from the Murderer’s Creek Wild Horse Territory. It marks the first in-person chance to adopt these horses since they were gathered in the summer and fall of 2024.

Adopter registration and animal viewing will take place Wednesday, June 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adoption begins at 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday, June 26 and 27, and will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis for registered, approved adopters. To streamline the process, potential adopters are encouraged to apply in advance at wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/HowToGuide or by emailing their application to cpresley@blm.gov before June 25.

“We encourage anyone who loves horses to come out and consider adoption,” said Kayce Faulkner, Facility Manager. “These mustangs are looking for safe, caring homes. They’re tough, smart, full of heart. And they make great partners whether you’re working, riding, or just spending time with them.”

South Steens horses are often recognized for their distinctive coloring and above-average conformation, while Murderer’s Creek horses tend to be bay, black, or brown with a smaller saddle-horse build. The adoption fee is $125. The Oregon Wild Horse Corral Facility is located at 26755 US-20 in Hines.

The Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program protects and manages wild horses and burros on public lands across the western United States. Through gathers, adoption, and partnerships, the program works to maintain healthy herds and healthy rangelands, ensuring these iconic animals continue to thrive for generations to come.

For more information, visit www.blm.gov/or/resources/whb/index.php.

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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.

Spokane, Washington – Omnicell, a company based in Delaware, has agreed to pay $4,366,660 to resolve claims that it fraudulently overbilled the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for medical device hardware and software, announced Richard R. Barker, the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Between January 2017 and February 2023, Omnicell held a federal contact with the VA to sell and lease products at a set price or negotiated discounted price.

According to the settlement agreement, a False Claims Act (FCA) claim arose from allegations that Omnicell did not always charge the correct prices for products purchased and leased by federal agencies.

When Omnicell became aware of certain pricing issues related to specific individual orders, including when federal government customers raised concerns and questions, Omnicell at times issued credits or otherwise corrected prices charged to federal government customers. However, Omnicell did not always timely correct the known issues in its sales and pricing system in a systemic way, nor did Omnicell undertake an analysis to determine whether other federal government customers that may have been previously overcharged due to the pricing issues in order to provide those customers with refunds of overcharges.

In August 2023, a former Omnicell employee came forward with allegations of fraudulent product overcharging. This individual, known as a “Relator,” filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court (EDWA). When a relator files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. As part of the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $785,998.80 of the settlement amount.  $2,183,330 of the settlement amount has been designated as restitution, meaning that it will be returned to the VA.

“Veterans who served our country deserve the best health care possible. It is important that companies who do business with the VA and the federal government are accurate in how they charge for goods and services,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker. “I am grateful that Omnicell quickly accepted responsibility and has taken steps to comply with its billing obligations going forward.”

“This settlement sends a clear message that the VA OIG will actively investigate allegations involving contractors overbilling for products provided to VA,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with the US Attorney’s Office to ensure the integrity of VA programs and services.”

The settlement was the result of an investigation jointly conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the VA Office of Inspector General. The USAO’s investigation and prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob E. Brooks.