Latest news with #AirNationalGuardBase
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. commits $13M for small arms range at 181st in Terre Haute
The 181st Intelligence Wing at the Air National Guard Base in Terre Haute will benefit from a $13 million federal investment to build a small arms qualification range. U.S. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, shared that in a news release Wednesday. 'I'm pleased that the Air Force is following through on its commitment to build the small arms range in Terre Haute," the senator wrote. "This project will ensure commanders can quickly get their troops weapons-qualified before being deployed overseas.' As a member of the U.S. House, then-Rep. Banks pushed for construction of the small arms range. Currently, the base in Terre Haute does not have a certified small arms training range, and Guardsmen must travel to state and local partners to meet their annual weapons qualification. Nearly 900 service members are stationed in Terre Haute. The project has an estimated completion date of April 20, 2027. On his Facebook page, Vigo County Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard wrote, "This is great news for the 181st ... and for the Terre Haute community. "Thanks to all involved in helping to secure this investment. This is a great example of why advocacy at the State and Federal levels is so important, he said. Clinkenbeard and Commissioner Chris Switzer specifically thanked the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and RJL Solutions, a lobbying and PR firm based in Terre Haute. Added Clinkenbeard, "There are other communities in the United States that are vying for these same types of investments into their bases. When the US government commits to this kind of investment, it's a good sign that they like what they see and and want to continue the operations. "Sometimes current employers are taken for granted, with the thought that they will always be here. We don't want to take any employers for granted, and business retention is equally as important to us as business attraction. We will continue to work on both."
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gretchen Whitmer's unexpected Oval Office invite highlights balancing act with Trump
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited the White House on Wednesday with a bipartisan delegation to discuss a laundry list of issues affecting her state, including a recent ice storm, funding for an Air National Guard Base and tariffs. She left with a new problem: Donald Trump's praise. The president caught Whitmer off-guard during remarks in the Oval Office, as she stood in the back of the room while he briefly lauded her. 'We're honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, great state of Michigan, and she's been, she's really done an excellent job, very good person,' Trump said. Whitmer was 'surprised' she was brought into the Oval Office 'without any notice of the subject matter' while Trump signed executive orders in front of the press, according to a spokesperson for the governor. The White House encounter, four years after Trump lashed out and called her 'the woman in Michigan,' comes as Whitmer attempts to walk a fine line between the demands of being a swing state leader and a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Democrats are facing increasing pressure, and anger, from base voters demanding stronger leadership and a more aggressive stance against the Trump administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced calls last month to step down after he helped pass a Republican funding bill, while a handful of young progressives have launched primary challenges against Democrats they say aren't meeting the political moment. Whitmer herself faced strong online criticism from Democrats for standing in the Oval Office while Trump signed executive orders. The spokesperson for Whitmer said her presence in the Oval Office was not an endorsement of anything Trump did or said during the event. At the same time, Whitmer's avoidance of the 'resistance' label reflects the political realities of her state, which Trump won in 2016 and 2024. Michigan Democrats, who enjoyed a trifecta for two years, must now work across the aisle with Republicans, who won the state House in November. Whitmer was accompanied to the White House by her state's Republican House Speaker Matt Hall. Whitmer's spokesperson added that the governor viewed the Trump administration's decision Wednesday to issue a 90-day pause on most of the recently announced tariffs as 'a step in the right direction,' though her office is still 'concerned about tariffs that will hurt American auto companies.' Whitmer has been vocal about the political tightrope she's had to walk since last year's election, stressing that she doesn't see herself as a resistance leader. 'I have shared with some of my colleagues from some of the very blue states that my situation here in Michigan is very different than theirs. I've got a Republican House of Representatives — majority-Republican House — now to work with,' she told the Associated Press in January. 'I've got to make sure that I can deliver and work with folks of the federal government, and so I don't view myself as the leader of the opposition like some might.' That balancing act has been trickiest when it comes to tariffs, particularly those impacting automobiles and parts. While automakers in her state are against the tariffs, many union members are not against tariffs in general. Democrats widely blasted the tariffs Trump announced this week, ahead of his surprise decision to pause most of them for 90 days, but Whitmer was among a handful of members of her party who offered more measured criticism. 'I understand the motivation behind the tariffs, and I can tell you here's where President Trump and I do agree: We do need to make more stuff in America, more cars and ships, more steel and ships,' Whitmer said in Washington, DC, Wednesday morning. 'We do need fair trade.' During a speech and a fireside chat with journalist Gretchen Carlson, Whitmer said that she's not against tariffs outright, but that they should be used as a tool. She also called for a bipartisan approach to 'usher in, as President Trump says, the Golden Age of American manufacturing.' In her remarks, Whitmer also acknowledged the challenging political environment in which she and other Democrats find themselves. Asked how she would respond to Democrats who haven't bought into her appeals to bipartisanship, Whitmer said she felt she had a 'duty, and a hope, to try and get things done.' 'In this moment, it feels like no action comes without loud criticism from one realm or another,' Whitmer said Wednesday morning. 'I could demonstrate on the front lawn of the Capitol for four weeks on end and some people would say I hadn't gone far enough. Just accept the fact that there's always going to be the critic.' CNN's Kit Maher contributed to this report.
CNN
10-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Gretchen Whitmer's unexpected Oval Office invite highlights balancing act with Trump
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited the White House on Wednesday with a bipartisan delegation to discuss a laundry list of issues affecting her state, including a recent ice storm, funding for an Air National Guard Base and tariffs. She left with a new problem: Donald Trump's praise. The president caught Whitmer off-guard during remarks in the Oval Office, as she stood in the back of the room while he briefly lauded her. 'We're honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, great state of Michigan, and she's been, she's really done an excellent job, very good person,' Trump said. Whitmer was 'surprised' she was brought into the Oval Office 'without any notice of the subject matter' while Trump signed executive orders in front of the press, according to a spokesperson for the governor. The White House encounter, four years after Trump lashed out and called her 'the woman in Michigan,' comes as Whitmer attempts to walk a fine line between the demands of being a swing state leader and a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Democrats are facing increasing pressure, and anger, from base voters demanding stronger leadership and a more aggressive stance against the Trump administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced calls last month to step down after he helped pass a Republican funding bill, while a handful of young progressives have launched primary challenges against Democrats they say aren't meeting the political moment. Whitmer herself faced strong online criticism from Democrats for standing in the Oval Office while Trump signed executive orders. The spokesperson for Whitmer said her presence in the Oval Office was not an endorsement of anything Trump did or said during the event. At the same time, Whitmer's avoidance of the 'resistance' label reflects the political realities of her state, which Trump won in 2016 and 2024. Michigan Democrats, who enjoyed a trifecta for two years, must now work across the aisle with Republicans, who won the state House in November. Whitmer was accompanied to the White House by her state's Republican House Speaker Matt Hall. Whitmer's spokesperson added that the governor viewed the Trump administration's decision Wednesday to issue a 90-day pause on most of the recently announced tariffs as 'a step in the right direction,' though her office is still 'concerned about tariffs that will hurt American auto companies.' Whitmer has been vocal about the political tightrope she's had to walk since last year's election, stressing that she doesn't see herself as a resistance leader. 'I have shared with some of my colleagues from some of the very blue states that my situation here in Michigan is very different than theirs. I've got a Republican House of Representatives — majority-Republican House — now to work with,' she told the Associated Press in January. 'I've got to make sure that I can deliver and work with folks of the federal government, and so I don't view myself as the leader of the opposition like some might.' That balancing act has been trickiest when it comes to tariffs, particularly those impacting automobiles and parts. While automakers in her state are against the tariffs, many union members are not against tariffs in general. Democrats widely blasted the tariffs Trump announced this week, ahead of his surprise decision to pause most of them for 90 days, but Whitmer was among a handful of members of her party who offered more measured criticism. 'I understand the motivation behind the tariffs, and I can tell you here's where President Trump and I do agree: We do need to make more stuff in America, more cars and ships, more steel and ships,' Whitmer said in Washington, DC, Wednesday morning. 'We do need fair trade.' During a speech and a fireside chat with journalist Gretchen Carlson, Whitmer said that she's not against tariffs outright, but that they should be used as a tool. She also called for a bipartisan approach to 'usher in, as President Trump says, the Golden Age of American manufacturing.' In her remarks, Whitmer also acknowledged the challenging political environment in which she and other Democrats find themselves. Asked how she would respond to Democrats who haven't bought into her appeals to bipartisanship, Whitmer said she felt she had a 'duty, and a hope, to try and get things done.' 'In this moment, it feels like no action comes without loud criticism from one realm or another,' Whitmer said Wednesday morning. 'I could demonstrate on the front lawn of the Capitol for four weeks on end and some people would say I hadn't gone far enough. Just accept the fact that there's always going to be the critic.' CNN's Kit Maher contributed to this report.
CNN
10-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Gretchen Whitmer's unexpected Oval Office invite highlights balancing act with Trump
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited the White House on Wednesday with a bipartisan delegation to discuss a laundry list of issues affecting her state, including a recent ice storm, funding for an Air National Guard Base and tariffs. She left with a new problem: Donald Trump's praise. The president caught Whitmer off-guard during remarks in the Oval Office, as she stood in the back of the room while he briefly lauded her. 'We're honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, great state of Michigan, and she's been, she's really done an excellent job, very good person,' Trump said. Whitmer was 'surprised' she was brought into the Oval Office 'without any notice of the subject matter' while Trump signed executive orders in front of the press, according to a spokesperson for the governor. The White House encounter, four years after Trump lashed out and called her 'the woman in Michigan,' comes as Whitmer attempts to walk a fine line between the demands of being a swing state leader and a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Democrats are facing increasing pressure, and anger, from base voters demanding stronger leadership and a more aggressive stance against the Trump administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced calls last month to step down after he helped pass a Republican funding bill, while a handful of young progressives have launched primary challenges against Democrats they say aren't meeting the political moment. Whitmer herself faced strong online criticism from Democrats for standing in the Oval Office while Trump signed executive orders. The spokesperson for Whitmer said her presence in the Oval Office was not an endorsement of anything Trump did or said during the event. At the same time, Whitmer's avoidance of the 'resistance' label reflects the political realities of her state, which Trump won in 2016 and 2024. Michigan Democrats, who enjoyed a trifecta for two years, must now work across the aisle with Republicans, who won the state House in November. Whitmer was accompanied to the White House by her state's Republican House Speaker Matt Hall. Whitmer's spokesperson added that the governor viewed the Trump administration's decision Wednesday to issue a 90-day pause on most of the recently announced tariffs as 'a step in the right direction,' though her office is still 'concerned about tariffs that will hurt American auto companies.' Whitmer has been vocal about the political tightrope she's had to walk since last year's election, stressing that she doesn't see herself as a resistance leader. 'I have shared with some of my colleagues from some of the very blue states that my situation here in Michigan is very different than theirs. I've got a Republican House of Representatives — majority-Republican House — now to work with,' she told the Associated Press in January. 'I've got to make sure that I can deliver and work with folks of the federal government, and so I don't view myself as the leader of the opposition like some might.' That balancing act has been trickiest when it comes to tariffs, particularly those impacting automobiles and parts. While automakers in her state are against the tariffs, many union members are not against tariffs in general. Democrats widely blasted the tariffs Trump announced this week, ahead of his surprise decision to pause most of them for 90 days, but Whitmer was among a handful of members of her party who offered more measured criticism. 'I understand the motivation behind the tariffs, and I can tell you here's where President Trump and I do agree: We do need to make more stuff in America, more cars and ships, more steel and ships,' Whitmer said in Washington, DC, Wednesday morning. 'We do need fair trade.' During a speech and a fireside chat with journalist Gretchen Carlson, Whitmer said that she's not against tariffs outright, but that they should be used as a tool. She also called for a bipartisan approach to 'usher in, as President Trump says, the Golden Age of American manufacturing.' In her remarks, Whitmer also acknowledged the challenging political environment in which she and other Democrats find themselves. Asked how she would respond to Democrats who haven't bought into her appeals to bipartisanship, Whitmer said she felt she had a 'duty, and a hope, to try and get things done.' 'In this moment, it feels like no action comes without loud criticism from one realm or another,' Whitmer said Wednesday morning. 'I could demonstrate on the front lawn of the Capitol for four weeks on end and some people would say I hadn't gone far enough. Just accept the fact that there's always going to be the critic.' CNN's Kit Maher contributed to this report.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Brush fires rips through parts of Long Island; 1 firefighter injured
The Brief A brush fire ripped through parts of the Pine Barrens on Long Island Saturday afternoon. A burn ban and a State of Emergency have been enacted due to the elevated fire risk on Long Island. Officials stated that due to the wind conditions, the fire could persist for several hours, or even days, as the winds continue to ignite the blaze. LONG ISLAND - A brush fire is currently ripping through parts of the Pine Barrens on Long Island as of Saturday afternoon. Fire officials say that the fire, which was moving southeast at a rapid pace was fueled by high winds in the area. Westhampton Beach County Executive Ed Romaine cautioned that officials were committed to doing everything possible to prevent a recurrence of the 1995 Sunrise Fire, which was the largest fire the state had encountered in nearly 90 years and took four days to contain. The fire was a learning experience for officials, as the flames, fueled by strong winds, leaped into the sky and even hopped over highways, creating unpredictable and dangerous conditions. SKIP TO: What was the Sunrise Fire of 1995? As of 5:45 p.m. Saturday, the fire was 50 percent contained in the WestHampton area, with all other fires in the region now extinguished. One firefighter sustained burns to the face and has been transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. County 31 and Sunrise Highway remain closed to facilitate the passage of first responders. "With this kind of wind, even a spark could ignite it." County Executive, Ed Romaine Officials stated that due to the wind conditions, the fire could persist for several hours, or even days, as the winds continue to ignite the blaze. A total of 90 departments, including both EMS and fire officials, are currently working on the scene. In response to the situation, a burn ban and a State of Emergency have been enacted as Long Island is in an elevated fire risk. Authorities emphasize that the priority is to contain the fire and prevent its spread. The cause of the fire remains unclear. What we know New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that state agencies were actively responding to the situation. "We are in close communication with local partners on Long Island to coordinate assistance and ensure they have the resources needed to protect their communities," she stated in a post on X. The FDNY said they responded to the brush fire near Gerritsen Beach using their bambi bucket to make water drops from the air to help extinguish the flames. The National Weather Service reports that local radar is indicating several smoke plumes from small-scale fire as of 2:55 p.m. Apparently, northwest winds are causing the plumes to blow offshore and further downstream. According to police, Sunrise Highway east of exit 62 is closed down due to these brush fires. Authorities are urging the public to stay clear of the affected areas as conditions continue to change. The Air National Guard Base has been evacuated, and reports indicate that Suffolk Community College is also in the process of evacuation. The Sunrise Fire of 1995 was a series of fires that ravaged nearly 12 square miles of pine barrens along the South Shore of Long Island, affecting the communities of Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, and Speonk. According to The New York Times, the fire charred thousands of acres of the Pine Barrens, prompting mass evacuations and mobilizing firefighting teams from across New York State and beyond. In one of the most notable successes of the operation, firefighters made a stand at Montauk Highway and Old Country Road, which served as the dividing line between Westhampton and Westhampton Beach. This effort was critical in preventing the fire from reaching the more affluent and heavily populated beach community. The response and eventual containment of the fire took four days, and it had a lasting impact on firefighting strategies and preparedness in the region.
