Lockheed Martin gets $9.5 million for Naval helicopter repairs
Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced the contract on Thursday, June 5, for Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems to repair H-60 Naval Hawk helicopters through 2029. Langworthy said the best in the business is on the job.
'I am thrilled that Lockheed Martin in Owego has received this substantial contract,' Congressman Langworthy said. 'Our Southern Tier workforce is the best in the nation and the opportunity to strengthen our regional economy while supporting our incredible United States Navy is a win-win.'
The helicopters are manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft, which has produced over 5,000 HAWK helicopters for a variety of mission types.
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Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
New work rules could deny food stamps to thousands of veterans
Darryl Chavis, 62, served in the U.S. Army for two years as a watercraft operator. He stands outside the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence, a short-term housing facility in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, N.Y., where he lives. Chavis relies on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and is worried about new work requirements for the program, commonly known as food stamps (Shalina Chatlani/Stateline). NEW YORK — After a year in the U.S. Navy, Loceny Kamara said he was discharged in 2023, because while on base he had developed mental health issues, including severe anxiety and nightmares, and had fallen into alcoholism. Kamara, 23, went to rehab and managed to get sober for some time while living with family in the Bronx, he said. But after he lost his job as a security guard in December, Kamara was kicked out of his home. Now he lives at a veterans homeless shelter in Long Island City, a neighborhood in Queens, New York, and he relies on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — commonly known as food stamps — and odd jobs to make ends meet. Each month, nearly 42 million people receive SNAP benefits to help supplement their grocery budgets. Able-bodied SNAP recipients who are between 18 and 54 and don't have children have always been required to work. Veterans, however, have been exempt from those rules — but that's about to change. The giant domestic policy measure that President Donald Trump signed on July 4 eliminates that exemption. Beginning in 2026, veterans will have to prove they are working, volunteering, participating in job training, or looking for work for at least 80 hours a month to keep their food stamps beyond three months, unless they qualify for another exemption, such as having certain disabilities. Republicans in Congress and conservatives who helped formulate the law say these eligibility changes are necessary to stop people who could be working from abusing the system. But critics say the change fails to take into account the barriers many veterans face, and that the new work rules will cause thousands of veterans to go hungry. 'I'm pissed. I mean, I cannot get a job. Nowhere to live,' said Kamara. As he spoke, Kamara pointed to his collared shirt, noting that he had just dressed up to interview for a job as a security guard. He learned that morning he hadn't gotten the job. 'I've been out of work for eight months,' Kamara told Stateline. 'It's hard to get a job right now for everybody.' Nationally, around 1.2 million veterans with lower incomes, or about 8% of the total veteran population of 16.2 million, rely on food stamps for themselves and their families, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning research group. An analysis by the group found veterans tend to have lower rates of employment because they are more likely to have health conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, that make it difficult for them to work. They also tend to have less formal education, though many have specialized skills from their time in the military. There has been a work requirement for most SNAP recipients since 1996. But Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said the rules have 'never really been enforced.' Rector argued that able-bodied people who have been exempt from the work requirement, such as veterans and homeless people, create an unnecessary burden on the system if they are capable of working but don't. 'Most of the people that are in this category live in households with other people that have incomes, and so there really isn't a chronic food shortage here,' Rector said in an interview. 'We have tens of thousands of free food banks that people can go to. So it's just a requirement to nudge these people in the proper direction, and it should no longer go unenforced.' Darryl Chavis, 62, said that view ignores the difficulties that many veterans face. When Chavis left the U.S. Army at 21 after two years of service, he said, he was 'severely depressed.' 'Nobody even came to help me,' said Chavis, who served as a watercraft operator, responsible for operating and maintaining tugboats, barges and other landing craft. Chavis said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, which has made it difficult for him to keep a job. He just moved back to New York from Virginia after leaving a relationship. He's been at the housing shelter in Long Island City since January. 'What I'm trying to do is get settled in to, you know, stabilize into an apartment. I have the credentials to get a job. So it's not like I'm not gonna look for a job. I have to work. I'm in transition, and the obstacles don't make it easy,' Chavis said. The new SNAP work rules apply to all able-bodied adults between 55 and 64 who don't have dependents, and parents with children above the age of 14. Some groups, such as asylum-seekers and refugees, are no longer eligible for the program. Barbara Guinn, commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, estimates that around 300,000 New Yorkers could lose SNAP benefits due to work requirements. Of those, around 22,000 are veterans, homeless or aging out of foster care, she said. Almost 3 million New Yorkers relied on SNAP as of March 2025. Veterans in other states are in a similar situation. In California, an estimated 115,000 veterans receive SNAP benefits, according to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The number is nearly 100,000 in Florida and Texas, and 49,000 in Georgia. Between 2015 and 2019 about 11% of veterans between the ages of 18 and 64 lived in food insecure households, meaning they had limited or uncertain access to food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP. 'We know that SNAP is the best way to help address hunger. It gets benefits directly to individuals,' Guinn said. 'There are other ways that people can get assistance if they need it, through food banks or other charitable organizations, but we do not think that those organizations will have the capacity to pick up the needs.' In addition to the work rule changes, the new law reduces federal funding for SNAP by about $186 billion through 2034 — a cut of roughly 20%, according to the Congressional Budget Office, an independent research arm of Congress. The federal government expects the new work requirements to reduce SNAP spending by $69 billion as people who don't comply are dropped from the rolls. SNAP has historically been funded by the federal government, with states picking up part of the cost of administering the program. Under the new law, states will have to cover between 5% and 15% of SNAP costs starting in fiscal year 2028, depending on how accurately they distribute benefits to people who are eligible for the program. 'This has been a strategic agenda to dismantle SNAP and to blame states for doing so, because they knew they are making it so incredibly burdensome to run and operate and unaffordable,' said Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP deputy director at the Food Research & Action Center, a poverty and hunger advocacy group. 'States are going to have to cut something, because there's no surplus. There are no unlimited resources that states may have in order to be able to offset the harm.' Guinn said New York expects to see a new cost burden of at least $1.4 billion each year. In California, new state costs could total as much as $3.7 billion annually, according to the California Department of Social Services. Kaitlynne Yancy, director of membership programs at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said many veterans with disabilities will not be able to fulfill the work requirements or find resources elsewhere. And it's unclear whether states will be able to provide their own relief to people who are no longer exempted from work requirements or will be excluded from the program. 'It is a frustrating thing to see, especially for those that have been willing to put everything on the line and sacrifice everything for this country if their country called them to do so,' she said. Yancy, 35, served in the U.S. Navy from 2010 to 2014. She began to use food stamps and the Medicaid program, the public health insurance program for people with lower incomes, as she navigated life's challenges. They included going back to school to pursue her bachelor's degree, becoming a single mother, and a leukemia diagnosis for one of her children. Frequent trips to the hospital made it hard for her to work steadily or attend school for 20 hours each week, she said. Guinn said the new rules will create significant administrative challenges, too; even SNAP recipients who are working will struggle to prove it. 'Maybe they're working one month, they have a job, and then their employer cuts their hours the next month,' Guinn told Stateline. 'There are mechanisms for people to upload documentation as needed to demonstrate compliance with the program, but from an administrative standpoint, right now, we don't have any super-high-tech automated way of doing this.' Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@ Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Miami Herald
U.S. warships nearing Venezuela pack quite a punch. Here is what they can do
Three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are expected to take positions off the coast of Venezuela this week, forming the centerpiece of a new operation ordered by President Donald Trump to combat drug cartels across Latin America. The warships — the USS Sampson, USS Jason Dunham and USS Gravely — are Arleigh Burke class destroyers, the backbone of the Navy's surface fleet. Known for their versatility and advanced combat systems, the ships are designed to counter threats from air, land, sea and even undersea simultaneously. Their arrival adds a potent mix of firepower, surveillance and flexibility to a region increasingly viewed by the Trump administration as a corridor for narcotics smuggling and transnational crime. According to U.S. defense officials cited by Reuters, about 4,000 sailors and Marines will be committed to the mission, which will also include P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, additional warships, and at least one nuclear-powered attack submarine. Together, the deployment represents one of the most robust naval task forces positioned in the Caribbean in recent years. Here are the key facts about the warship's capabilities: At the heart of each destroyer is the Aegis combat system, a combination of radar, computing power and missile technology that allows for real-time detection and engagement of multiple threats. Developed during the Cold War and continuously upgraded, Aegis provides the ships with a level of situational awareness and automated command that few navies in the world can match. The system's phased-array radar can track hundreds of airborne and surface contacts simultaneously, feeding data to the ship's combat information center. That information enables commanders to launch defensive or offensive strikes in seconds, whether intercepting an incoming cruise missile, engaging hostile aircraft, or directing Tomahawk missiles at land targets hundreds of miles away. Commissioned in 2007, the Sampson is a Flight IIA variant of the Arleigh Burke class and one of the earlier destroyers to feature helicopter hangars, significantly extending its reach. Named for Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, who commanded U.S. naval forces during the Spanish-American War, the ship adds modern capabilities to its historical lineage. The ship's arsenal centers on a 96-cell vertical launch system, which can be loaded with a diverse mix of weapons. That includes Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range land attacks, standard missiles for air and missile defense, and ASROC, Anti-Submarine Rocket missiles for undersea warfare. Sampson also carries a 5-inch/62-caliber deck gun for surface use and naval gunfire support, as well as a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System — a rapid-firing Gatling gun — for last-ditch defense against missiles or aircraft. Sampson's embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopters are equipped with sonar, torpedoes and advanced sensors that extend the ship's anti-submarine capabilities far beyond the horizon. The Dunham, commissioned in 2010, honors Marine Corps Corp. Jason Dunham, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save fellow Marines in Iraq. The destroyer is one of the Navy's newest warships. Built at Bath Iron Works in Maine, Jason Dunham measures 510 feet in length and displaces more than 9,000 tons at full load. The ship is powered by four gas turbines that allow speeds exceeding 30 knots, enabling rapid maneuverability in dangerous waters.\ The Dunham's combat systems mirror those of her sister ships, with the Aegis system at the core, backed by the same 96-cell VLS. With a crew of about 380, the Dunham integrates advanced electronic warfare suites, towed sonar arrays, and layered missile defenses, allowing the destroyer to operate independently or as part of a larger strike group. Commissioned in 2010, the Gravely honors Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely Jr., the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship, a major fleet, and eventually a numbered fleet. Like the Dunham, the Gravely is equipped with the latest Aegis systems, a 96-cell launcher, and the ability to employ Tomahawk land-attack missiles or intercept incoming ballistic threats. The ship's Seahawk helicopters provide additional surveillance, anti-submarine and strike capabilities. The Gravely's combination of long-range sensors, missile defenses and multi-domain versatility makes the ship a crucial asset for high-threat environments. The three Arleigh Burke-class ships are part of a wider U.S. naval surge into the Caribbean. Supporting assets include P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, capable of tracking submarines and surface ships over vast distances with advanced radar, sensors and sonobuoys. An attack submarine, whose exact class and name has not been disclosed, is also expected to operate in the area, adding stealth and long-range strike options to the task force. Together, the forces represent a formidable deterrent to potential adversaries. In addition to combating drug trafficking, their presence sends a strong message in the Western Hemisphere. While the stated purpose of the deployment is counternarcotics, the operation highlights the Navy's ability to move powerful assets into a politically sensitive region on short notice. Venezuela, already at odds with Washington, is viewing the presence of three missile-armed destroyers just off its shores as a direct threat. Reacting to news of the increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro announced on Monday that his government will activate a special plan to mobilize over 4.5 million militia members across the country to 'defend national sovereignty.'
San Francisco Chronicle
14 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Mark Hamill says he almost left U.S. after Trump win. Then his wife pulled a Jedi mind trick
' Star Wars ' actor Mark Hamill says he was planning to move to Europe after Donald Trump was elected to a second term as president — until his wife made him reconsider. The Oakland native, who shot to fame as Luke Skywalker, has been an outspoken liberal for decades, and told the Times of London that after Trump defeated incumbent Joe Biden in November 2024, he gave his wife Marilou York the choice of moving with him to Ireland or London. 'She's very clever,' Hamill said in the interview posted Saturday, Aug. 16. 'She didn't respond right away but a week later she said, 'I'm surprised you would allow him to force you out of your own country.'' Hamill suddenly realized his wife of 47 years was right. ''That son of a bitch,' I thought,' Hamill said of Trump. ''I'm not leaving.'' Other celebrities, such as Rosie O'Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres, have left America after Trump's victory. But Hamill is staying despite his deep disdain for the president. 'The bullying, the incompetence, the people in place,' Hamill said of Trump. 'The only way I can deal with it without going crazy and wanting to open my veins in a warm tub is to look at it like a thick, sprawling political novel. It's entertaining in a way because this could actually be the end. 'Our status in the world has been crippled and that will reverberate for decades. Making Canada a 51st state? Do you know how offensive that is? And then taking over Greenland and renaming the Gulf of Mexico. The distractions are hilarious.' The Hamills would seem to have had an extra incentive to leave the U.S. after the Malibu neighborhood that contains their longtime home was ravaged by the Los Angeles County wildfires in January. Hamill told the Chronicle in June that while their home survived, it is uninhabitable because of the condition of the neighborhood. They are renting a house until they are able to return to their home. Hamill told the Chronicle he considers the Bay Area his spiritual home. His father was a U.S. Navy captain stationed in the Bay Area when he was born, and still has family here, including his older brother William, a psychiatrist. The Hamills' second son, Griffin, was born in San Francisco in 1983 when Mark Hamill was performing onstage in Peter Shaffer's 'Amadeus.'
