Latest news with #AirForceBase
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Sig Sauer pushes back on criticisms over safety of M17 and M18 pistols
Sig Sauer, which makes the M17 and M18 pistols used by the U.S. military, issued a response after facing criticism over concerns about their sidearms after an airman was killed when his M18 discharged. Following the airman's death, units within two Air Force commands ordered a pause on the use of the sidearm.. Both the M17 and M18 are military versions of Sig Sauer's P-320 series pistols. For years, users have claimed that the pistol can fire without the trigger being pulled — a problem that came up when the weapons were being tested for military use, according to a 2020 Defense Department report. On Tuesday, Sig Sauer issued a statement disputing claims that P320 pistols are prone to firing accidentally without the user pulling the trigger, known as 'uncommanded' discharges. 'The P320 CANNOT, under any circumstances, discharge without the trigger first being moved to the rear,' the company's statement says. 'This has been verified through exhaustive testing by SIG SAUER engineers, the U.S. Military, several major federal and state law enforcement agencies, and independent laboratories.' The company's statement comes after the head of Air Force Global Strike Command suspended the use of the M18 until further notice earlier this month pending the outcomes of investigations into the July death of Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, who was assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, Additionally, some Air Combat Command units have also stopped using the M18, although the command as a whole has not suspended the pistol's use. Still, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps continue to use the M18 and the larger M17 variant as the primary sidearms for service members. Top Stories This Week Culture Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up By Jeff Schogol Tech & Tactics 'Brutality over precision' — What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine 'Brutality over precision' — What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine By Kyle Gunn News South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves By Patty Nieberg In its statement, Sig Sauer described Lovan's death as a 'tragic incident,' adding that Air Force Global Strike Command's pause on using the M18 for training and operations is 'standard procedure.' The company also claimed that the P320 design has been 'thoroughly tested and validated' by the U.S. military along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Nevertheless, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission has permanently banned using the P320 at training facilities following an incident in October, in which a recruit's pistol apparently fired without the trigger being pulled. In February, the commission issued a report on the incident that found six examples of uncommanded discharges involving M17 and M18 pistols at military bases since 2021. In one such incident, a service member was cleared of negligence due in part to 'clear and convincing video capturing the event,' the report found. In June, Sig Sauer filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to overturn the commission's ban on P320 pistols. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Netflix's ‘Trainwreck' Documentary On ‘Storm Area 51': Here's What Really Happened
The final installment of Netflix's hit documentary anthology 'Trainwreck' will revisit the 'Storm Area 51' fiasco of 2019, when a Facebook event encouraging millions to converge on a highly classified U.S. Air Force base drew a federal response that included threats from the military and temporary flight restrictions. "Trainwreck: Storm Area 51." Courtesy of Netflix Netflix will release "Trainwreck: Storm Area 51" on Tuesday as the eighth and final installment in a series of films about bizarre real-life events that once dominated mainstream media. The series has been a boon for the streamer in the dog days of summer—when TV use traditionally declines—and at least one 'Trainwreck' documentary has been among Netflix's 10 most-watched movies every week since the first debuted on June 10. Streaming data for six of the releases shows that each spent at least one week on the Netflix most-watched list with two documentaries on the Astroworld tragedy and the so-called 'poop cruise,' making the list for two weeks each. "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise," about a 2013 cruise where passengers were stranded for days without working toilets, was by far the most popular episode so far with 28.2 million views in its first two weeks. 'Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy,' was viewed 13.5 million times in its two weeks on the Top 10 list. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here : 'Trainwreck: Storm Area 51," the description for which claims to be 'the story of the greatest sh*tpost ever made,' will be released Tuesday. What Did The Original Facebook Post Say? Organizer Matty Roberts, who was 20 at the time, created a Facebook event inviting people to storm the heavily secured Air Force facility called Area 51 in the Nevada desert. The name of the event was: "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us" and the idea was to gather enough people to charge at the base so some attendees would be able to bypass security. Once inside the facility, Roberts said the potential alien technology and government research lurking inside would be exposed to the public. "Let's see them aliens,' the event's description said. More than 3.5 million people registered as either 'going' or 'interested' in the event. How Did The Military Respond To 'storm Area 51?' An Air Force spokesperson said the military branch strongly discouraged anyone from attempting to infiltrate Area 51, telling potential attendees the U.S. Air Force 'always stands ready to protect America and its assets.' The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily closed the airspace near Area 51, including to news helicopters and emergency medical flights, and an outdoor music festival planned for near the site was moved to Las Vegas. How Many People Actually Stormed Area 51? In the end, about 40 people showed up at the gates before they were confronted and sent away by law enforcement. Why Is There So Much Controversy Around Area 51? Area 51 is a relatively small Air Force base located on 38,000 restricted acres—part of a larger, 2.9-million acre complex—near Groom Lake in southern Nevada. Details of operations at Area 51 aren't public, other than its description as an open training range. Its only confirmed use is as a flight testing facility and, during World War II, as an aerial gunnery range for the U.S. Army Air Corps. The mystery surrounding the base has sparked dozens of conspiracy theories about the extent of its use, most of which focus on tales of UFOs, government cover-ups and extraterrestrial technology. In 1989, a man named Robert Lazar claimed he worked on alien technology inside Area 51, and that he saw autopsy photographs of aliens inside the facility. Until recently, satellite imagery of Area 51 was censored. 'If the government won't tell us anything about it, what if every fool on the internet converged on Area 51? What would they do, shoot everyone?' Roberts says in 'Trainwreck: Storm Area 51. 'It just seemed like a hilarious idea to me. Jokes are funnier when they're edgy.' Further Reading Forbes Netflix Renews Jenna Ortega's Hit Series 'Wednesday' For Third Season By Veronica Villafañe Forbes Meghan And Harry Lose Their Netflix Deal, Reports Say—Here's What Happens To Meghan's Show By Mary Whitfill Roeloffs Forbes SB19 Are Ready For Their Next Chapter With Netflix Documentary By Laura Sirikul
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Oklo Stock Is Soaring Today
Oklo was conditionally awarded a contract to provide power to an Air Force base. President Trump has signed several executive orders aimed at boosting the U.S. nuclear industry. 10 stocks we like better than Oklo › Shares of Oklo (NYSE: OKLO) are soaring today, up 5.7% as of 1:33 p.m. ET. The jump comes as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both moved higher. While there isn't a specific catalyst today, the company's stock is continuing to rise after an important announcement last week and broader momentum in the nuclear industry. The company, which develops advanced small nuclear reactors (SMRs), announced last week that it has been "conditionally" selected to provide power to an Air Force base in Alaska. The contract, which still needs to be finalized, has been in the works for years. Past attempts to close a deal had been delayed, but it now appears the necessary hurdles have been cleared. The company's Aurora Powerhouse, an SMR, will provide all the power the remote base needs locally, allowing the base's independence from the grid. Late last month, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders to speed up the permitting of new reactors and boost domestic uranium production. The administration believes that nuclear energy can provide a key part of the country's energy needs, especially in light of the growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers. The clear endorsement of the administration has fueled nuclear stocks across the industry, including Oklo, for weeks. SMRs offer unique advantages over traditional nuclear reactors, namely, the fact that they can be tailor-fit to a specific site, like the Air Force base or the many artificial intelligence data centers that are being built across the country. It's clear there is demand. If Oklo can produce a working, safe model, it will be massively successful. Of course, with any company developing new technologies, there is no guarantee it will be successful. I think there is plenty of reason to believe it will be, however. I think Oklo is a good pick. Before you buy stock in Oklo, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Oklo wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,702!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $870,207!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 988% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Oklo Stock Is Soaring Today was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Wall Street Journal
11-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Podcast: Stock Indexes Slip After Muted Inflation Report
President Trump responded to the report on consumer prices by repeating calls for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by a full percentage point. Plus: Shares of nuclear-technology company Oklo surged after it was selected to power an Alaskan Air Force base. And stock in General Motors rose after the company announced a $4 billion plan to produce more vehicles in the U.S. 🎧Listen: The WSJ's Danny Lewis hosts the Minute Briefing podcast.
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says willingness to take a 'few punches' makes an effective leader
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) — Democrat Gretchen Whitmer touted her accomplishments as Michigan's governor in a speech Thursday as she passes the midpoint of her second term and is continuously floated as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Whitmer, who has been criticized by some Democrats for taking a friendlier tone with President Donald Trump than in his last term, suggested her willingness to work with others to get things done is what has made her an effective leader for the battleground state, which Trump won last fall and in 2016. In the past month, Whitmer notched a successful deal with the Trump administration to secure new fighter jets and jobs at an air force base, and Trump assured Midwest leaders that he will fund a project to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp. There also were some awkward moments alongside Trump, scorn from those who would like Whitmer to more vehemently oppose the Republican president and disagreement among top Democrats about how best to approach him. Whitmer appeared with Trump, sharing a surprising embrace. The president praised her as doing an 'excellent job' — a departure from his criticism of her during his first term. Whitmer also had an awkward encounter with Trump in the Oval Office earlier this year, something Whitmer made light of during her address by jokingly holding a binder in front of her face, emulating a photo taken that day in April. 'And that's why I don't care much about headlines. What I care about making headway,' she said in an address given to Michigan's political elites and business leaders at a policy conference. 'Over the past six and a half years, I have found that leadership is about fighting hard, often quietly, for your big goals,' she said. 'Your tolerance for taking a few punches to win the fight.' Whitmer is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. A broad array of candidates have lined up since January to replace her. In interviews with The Associated Press, each Democrat in the race lauded Whitmer's leadership in the course of the second Trump administration: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Mike Duggan, the longtime Democratic mayor of Detroit who is running for governor as an independent, had praise for Whitmer's bipartisanship this year in a speech at the policy conference that denounced partisan politics. 'I think the governor has shown us how to do it,' he told The Associated Press after his speech Wednesday night. 'She's disagreeing on the Canadian tariffs. And she's right. The Canadian tariffs certainly hurt Michigan, but she's disagreeing on a policy standpoint. She's not doing personal attacks.' About half of Michigan voters in the 2024 election had a 'somewhat' or 'very' favorable opinion of Gretchen Whitmer, according to AP VoteCast, while just under half viewed her unfavorably. Her speech comes a day after Trump said he is looking into pardoning two men who were convicted of leading a plot to kidnap and kill Whitmer in 2020 and are currently serving prison sentences. Whitmer wrote extensively about the experience in her political memoir that came out last year and blamed Trump for stoking the political hatred that motivated the scheme. During a moderated session Thursday, Whitmer said she was disappointed in the news and hinted toward greater anger over it. She decried political violence, and she said she plans to talk to Trump about the matter. 'We have an ongoing dialogue now ... very different from the first term,' she said about Trump, turning to smile at the audience. Whitmer said in her final 19 months as governor, she is looking to close a deal on road funding and improve Michigan's dismal literacy scores. Race to succeed Whitmer has started The race to succeed Whitmer is closely tied to the same topics. Duggan laid out a plan to improve education Wednesday. Republican Senate minority leader Aaric Nesbitt, who is running for governor in 2026, criticized Whitmer for not making further improvements on either front during the six years she has been governor and said she has driven businesses out of the state by making Michigan less competitive. 'It's missed opportunities,' he said about her legacy in an interview. Other Republicans jockeying to replace Whitmer are U.S. Rep. John James and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Whitmer is one of several Democratic governors who are looked to as potential candidates for the presidency in 2028. Alongside California's Gavin Newsom, Illinois' JB Pritzker and Kentucky's Andy Beshear, each interaction with Trump has been scrutinized as the Democratic Party looks for a new leader.
