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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pentagon orders review of base moves, and more military news
TGIF! If you are a service member or a military family member, you are painfully aware of just how often troops are required to move. Now, the Pentagon is giving the military branches until Sept. 25 to come up with plans to limit the number of permanent change of station, or PCS moves, that are not absolutely essential. The military spends about $5 billion per year on PCS moves, but now wants to drastically cut that by 50% starting in fiscal year 2030. The toll taken on troops and families by constant moves has been an issue over the years. Project 2025, the policy blueprint produced by the Heritage Foundation think tank, recommended that the Defense Department evaluate 'the military family holistically when considering change-of-station moves.' More recently, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said that Marines should be able to stay at their current duty stations if they want to, instead of being forced to move every few years. 'If you want to stay at Camp Pendleton, your spouse has good employment, you're happy in your home there, and you know the terrain and you know the training, why can't you stay there for nine, or 10 or 12 years?' Smith said on May 1 during the annual Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C. 'I'm not saying you should stay there for your entire 30-year career, but we don't have to move you every three years.' Of course, there's more news. Here's your weekly rundown. Huge Somalia airstrikes. Planes from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman dropped 124,000 pounds of ordnance within two minutes during Feb. 1 airstrikes against the Islamic State group, or ISIS, in Somalia, a defense official told Task & Purpose. Within the past two years, ISIS-Somalia has grown from about 500 to roughly 1,500 members, of which an estimated 60% are foreign fighters, said Kelly Cahalan, a spokeswoman for U.S. Africa Command, which has conducted 33 airstrikes so far this year in Somalia against both ISIS and al-Shabab, a terrorist group that has pledged allegiance to al-Qaida. National Guard unit goes analog. The Missouri Air National Guard's 139th Operations Group conducted flight operations without computers or cell phones as part of an exercise that simulated a cyber attack. Airmen relied on other forms of communication, including sticky notes, dry erase boards, and smoke signals. Better late than never. After more than a decade of delays, the first Littoral Combat Ship equipped to neutralize sea mines has arrived in Bahrain, USNI News has reported. The Navy plans to eventually replace its Avenger-class minesweepers, which date back to the 1980s and have wooden hulls coated in fiberglass. Air Force sends message to China. The B-52H, B-1B, B-2, F-22. F-15C, F-16C, and A-10 flew together for the first time during a recent airshow in Miami. 'Did it send a signal to our nation's enemies, including China? Absolutely,' said retired Air Force Col. Mark Gunzinger, who previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for forces transformation and resources. Ukraine denies attacking Putin's helicopter. Ukrainian officials have denied a claim by a Russian commander that Ukrainian drones attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter when he visited a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region on May 20. The commander, Maj. Gen. Yuri Dashkin, told Russian media, 'We simultaneously waged an anti-aircraft battle and ensured the safety of the president's helicopter in the air.' 'Loss of confidence' — North Korea-style. North Korea has arrested four officials after one of the country's newest warships capsized during its May 21 launch. North Korean state-run media claims the 5,000-ton vessel was not seriously damaged and attempts to right the ship are underway. Thank you all for reading! Jeff Schogol
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Project leaders share 'remarkable' results after banning devastating ocean practice: 'It's exciting to see nature begin to flourish'
A rewilding project in England has been deemed a success thanks to its "remarkable" results, according to a wildlife trust. The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project is celebrating its four-year anniversary. Since its launch, researchers have recorded many positive signs of kelp recovery. Increased populations of lobsters, brown crabs, angel sharks, and short-snouted seahorses are one result. Kelp forests used to cascade throughout the English coastline. According to the BBC, 96% of kelp forests had been wiped out by 2019 because of the great storm of 1987 and harmful fishing practices, including bottom trawling. Bottom trawling is a method in which large nets are dragged across the ocean floor, with floats on the top and heavy gear on the bottom to keep the net open. This practice is harmful for marine life because it unintentionally captures wildlife and causes drowning, injury, and stress. As it relates to kelp, this practice uproots the plant and causes mass habitat and food loss. The forests also have high carbon levels, resulting in improved water quality and reduced erosion along the coast. When kelp gets destroyed by trawlers, water quality decreases. "We still have a way to go, but it's exciting to see nature begin to flourish once more," Chris Yesson, leader of SKRP, said. This project has received an overwhelming show of support from the locals on the English coast. A reported 400 people have registered as kelp recorders with the Sussex Wildlife Trust's Citizen Science program to collect observations. Local freediver Eric Smith is among the many who have shown support for SKRP. "I was apprehensive about what I'd find this year after such a stormy winter, but to my absolute delight, I witnessed a dramatic increase in marine biodiversity," Smith said. Do you think the government should ban gas-powered lawn tools? No way Definitely Only certain tools I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marines sticking with JLTV after Army cancels future vehicle buys
The Marines are sticking with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, even as costs may rise following the Army's decision to halt the program. The joint program office for the Army and Marine Corps first picked Oshkosh Defense to build the JLTV in August 2015, and in 2023 awarded a follow-on contract to AM General, according to a Congressional Research Services report released Monday. 'The Marine Corps is fully committed to the JLTV program. It is our workhorse on the ground tactical vehicle fleet,' Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said in a House Appropriations subcommittee on defense hearing May 14. 'It's a little bit too early to assess the impact of the Army stopping their version of the program, but per-unit costs are clearly going to go up … when the orders go down.' The JLTV was originally intended to replace the Marine Corps' and Army's light tactical vehicle fleets, which consist mostly of Humvees. The initial low-rate production contract awarded to Oshkosh Defense was valued at $6.7 billion for the first 16,901 vehicles, according to the CRS report. A follow-on contract valued at another $8 billion awarded to AM General would have built another 30,000 JLTVs and 10,000 trailers for the vehicles. Smith anticipates the unit cost to rise because of the Army decision, and the Corps is 'still assessing the full impact of the Army's abrupt exit from the joint program.' 'That's going to negatively impact the Marine Corps' ability to fulfill its ground tactical vehicle mobility strategy, which has me concerned,' Smith said. The Marine Corps relies on the JLTV for its ROGUE-Fires and Marine Air Defense Integration System, or MADIS. The ROGUE-Fires system uses a remotely operated JLTV without a cab to fire the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. The MADIS is a counter-drone weapon also mounted on the JLTV. 'At this time, AM General has [a] backlog for deliveries of vehicles through 2027 and AM General remains committed to meeting our contractual delivery requirements,' AM General said in a statement May 2 in response to the Army's decision to divest. 'As we work to understand the significance of the DoD's recent communications, we will continue to operate our HUMVEE and JLTV A2 assembly lines and our Aftermarket Fulfillment facility as normal to meet our contractual requirements and serve the Warfighter.' The vehicle, available in two- and four-seat versions, can be transported by various aircraft, including rotary wing, according to the CRS report. Instead of acquiring more JLTVs, the Army plans to fulfill some of its mobility requirements with the Infantry Squad Vehicle, a much smaller, scaled-down all-terrain vehicle. An Army Transformation Initiative memo published May 1 noted the service would divest the vehicle over time. So far, the service has acquired 20,000 vehicles. The Army began fielding the JLTV in 2019, the same year the Marine Corps began receiving its first vehicles. House Appropriations subcommittee member Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., said she was 'dismayed' to learn the Army did not communicate its intentions to the Marine Corps before making the divestiture decision. 'That is beyond disappointing. Joint means joint. That's what the 'J' stands for. Joint decisions should be informed together as part of joint programs if they need to change,' McCollum said. Speaking to reporters in Tennessee on May 14, Army Vice Chief Gen. James Mingus said the Army purchased its last tranche of JLTVs in January, according to Breaking Defense. 'We will do no future procurement buys for the JLTV, for the Army, but the Marine Corps, [Foreign Military Sales] partners [can],' Mingus said. 'We think that we have enough, they [USMC and foreign customers] can continue to do that. But for us, inside of our armor and heavy and Stryker formations, we have enough JLTVs. We've bought enough already.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Orlando officials weigh ending late-night alcohol sales amid spike in downtown violence
The Brief City leaders debate cutting alcohol sales after midnight to curb violence. Police report over $6 million spent annually on downtown patrols. Bar owners say they're being unfairly blamed without proper input. ORLANDO, Fla. - As downtown Orlando continues to experience a wave of late-night violence, city leaders are considering a controversial proposal to halt alcohol sales after midnight — a move that has sparked intense debate among business owners, residents, and public officials. What we know City leaders in Orlando are considering a proposal to ban alcohol sales after midnight in an effort to address rising late-night violence in the downtown area. According to Orlando police data, the majority of violent incidents over the past four years have occurred in a concentrated area along North Orange Avenue, particularly between Washington Street and Central Boulevard. Heat maps show this corridor as a persistent hotspot for crime, including a mass shooting in July 2022, an attempted murder of a police officer in September 2021, a fatal shooting on Halloween last year, and the killing of an innocent bystander in May 2021. From May 2024 to May 2025, police responded to thousands of calls downtown, including over 6,000 suspicious person stops and multiple seizures. Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said maintaining safety downtown requires more officers than the rest of the city combined and costs more than $6 million a year. What we don't know It remains unclear whether halting alcohol sales would have a measurable impact on reducing violent crime. City officials have not released details on how the policy would be enforced or whether it would apply to all alcohol-serving establishments uniformly. Additionally, no clear timeline has been established for when a decision could be finalized. The backstory Downtown Orlando has been grappling with violence and safety concerns for several years, particularly during late-night hours. The area around North Orange Avenue has consistently emerged as a hotspot, with frequent police calls and major criminal incidents drawing public scrutiny. Despite past efforts such as increased patrols and surveillance, officials say violence has persisted. What they're saying Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said some nights require more officers in the downtown entertainment district than in the rest of the city combined — at a cost exceeding $6 million annually. "We have tried everything to curb violence," Smith said. "This time we really don't see any other viable options." "We have to ask whether that's what our vision is for our downtown and our community," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. City leaders are now debating whether restricting alcohol sales past midnight could reduce crime. But the proposal has divided the community. Commissioner Shane Rose questioned whether cutting off alcohol sales would have the intended effect, pointing to other cities that have similar restrictions but still face gun violence. "I think what we do have to look at is how do we create safe environments," Rose said. Commissioner Patty Sheehan placed the onus on business owners to help manage late-night crowds. "It's up to the business owners to control themselves, and they will not do that," Sheehan said. "We keep having conversations and none of the behavior changes." Bar owners like Maddie Bullet say they're being unfairly blamed and left out of key discussions. "We're not here to police the streets," Bullet said. "We do the best we can when it comes to safety prevention measures." What's next No final decision has been made yet. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the City of Orlando, the Orlando Police Department.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Orlando police chief to brief city leaders on Downtown safety strategies
Orlando commissioners on Monday will revisit their discussion on safety in Downtown Orlando. It comes as businesses continue to complain about restrictions they say forced some owners to close up shop. At least a half dozen bars have shut down since a shooting that happened on Halloween night in 2024. That mass shooting by a teenager, as people were out celebrating, made national news and further stained the Downtown's already-damaged reputation. Downtown recently gained more unwanted attention after an officer-involved shooting in April. Police said the incident, which was captured on video, started when a man fired a gun into the air on a crowded sidewalk. Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith is expected to give a presentation Monday morning alongside one of the city's senior leaders who has been overseeing the response to the violence, which has included the reopening of Orange Avenue to traffic in an effort to lessen the street party atmosphere. Channel 9 will be there to hear their presentations and what city commissioners have to say afterward. City leaders have been trying to thin out the number of nightclubs, add more parks, and try to make Downtown Orlando more appealing to daytime and early evening businesses. Monday's meeting begins at 10 a.m. at Orlando City Hall. Be sure to tune into Eyewitness News at Noon for an update on this story. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
