Latest news with #KenCalvert
Business Insider
5 days ago
- General
- Business Insider
I toured the only nuclear-missile submarine in the US open to the public. Take a look inside.
The USS Growler is the only nuclear-missile submarine in the US that's open to the public. Commissioned in 1958, the USS Growler patrolled seas off the coast of Russia during the Cold War. The submarine is now an attraction at the Intrepid Museum in New York City. The USS Growler was once a top-secret US Navy submarine that patrolled the ocean's depths during the Cold War. Armed with nuclear missiles and operated by a crew of 90 men, Growler's firepower acted as a deterrent to keep other nations from using their nuclear weapons in a strategy known as mutually assured destruction. Today, the USS Growler is on display at the Intrepid Museum in New York City housed on the USS Intrepid, a 900-foot-long World War II-era aircraft carrier. The USS Growler floats alongside it in the Hudson River. Visitors don't just get to look at the USS Growler; they can actually climb inside and walk through its narrow confines on a self-guided tour. Submarines remain a crucial component of the US Navy's deterrent strategy. In September, the USS Georgia, a guided-missile submarine, was sent to the Middle East in a show of support for Israel and a show of force to Iran. Submarines are a costly endeavor. The US Navy's Virginia-class submarine program is projected to run $17 billion over budget through 2030 amid delays, House Rep. Ken Calvert, chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, said in September. The Navy has said delays are due to supply-chain issues and "lingering COVID-19 impacts." While a nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is open to the public in Groton, Connecticut, the Intrepid Museum is the only place in the US where members of the public can go inside a submarine that carried nuclear missiles. I visited the Intrepid Museum to tour the USS Growler in May 2024. Take a look inside the only nuclear-missle submarine open to the public. The Intrepid Museum in New York City displays historic vessels used in sea, air, and space exploration as well as military operations. Tickets cost $38 per adult and $28 per child over 4 years old and can be purchased on the Intrepid Museum's website. Veterans and military service members receive free admission. One of the museum's top attractions is a self-guided tour of the USS Growler submarine. Every time I've visited the Intrepid Museum, there has been a line to enter the submarine due to the attraction's popularity and small, enclosed spaces. The line moved quickly when I visited in May 2024 — I only waited for about 15 minutes. The USS Growler patrolled the seas on top-secret missions off the coast of Russia during the Cold War. Commissioned in 1958, the USS Growler carried Regulus II sea-to-surface missiles armed with nuclear warheads. The looming threat of the submarine's firepower acted as a deterrent to prevent other countries from using their nuclear arsenals. The submarine now floats in the Hudson River with its top deck visible from the dock of the museum. Growler was decommissioned in 1964 and awarded to the Intrepid Museum in 1988. The Intrepid Museum spent over $1 million repairing the submarine in 2008 when holes were discovered in its hull during a museum-wide renovation, The New York Times reported. Exhibits provided a brief history of the USS Growler and the nuclear missiles it carried before entering the submarine. The first Regulus missiles had a range of 500 miles. Regulus II missiles could travel twice that distance. There was also a sample doorway to make sure guests could walk through the submarine. The first stop inside the submarine was one of the USS Growler's two missile hangars. Each hangar could hold two Regulus I missiles, which each measured 33 feet long, according to the National Air and Space Museum. In the navigation compartment, crew members plotted courses and tracked Growler's position. Growler used a binnacle — a stand that holds a ship's compass — and SINS — the Ship's Inertial Navigation System — to navigate through the seas. The missile checkout and guidance center was once a top-secret area. Crew members assigned to the missile checkout and guidance center were in charge of maintaining, firing, and guiding the trajectory of the Regulus missiles. Launching a Regulus missile took about 15 minutes. Officers on the USS Growler lived in staterooms that held two to three people. Officers acted as leaders and commanders of the crew, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the submarine. Their staterooms featured folding sinks and desks with chairs that included storage drawers to maximize the tight quarters. Officers had access to their own shower. Crew members shared a separate washroom. Officers used the wardroom to eat, socialize, and hold meetings. The wardroom was furnished with laminate walls and vinyl seating booths, popular interior design trends post-World War II. Officers' meals were cooked in the galley and served from the wardroom pantry. The USS Growler carried all of the food and supplies it would need to sustain itself during patrols that lasted over two months. A storekeeper kept track of non-food supplies such as light bulbs, pens, and toilet paper. The USS Growler's commanding officer enjoyed the only private room on the entire submarine as its highest-ranked leader. The chief petty officers' quarters were nicknamed the "goat locker." Chief petty officers helped train new submariners and acted as leaders and liaisons between officers and crew members. The nickname "goat locker" dates back to 1893, when the rank of chief petty officer was established. Chief petty officers were put in charge of the goats that were kept on ships to produce milk, and the animals' pens were located in their quarters, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command. Yeomen handled clerical and administrative work aboard the USS Growler's tiny office. A ladder in the bridge trunk led to the bridge of the submarine. When the USS Growler traveled on the surface of the water, the bridge provided a vantage point for crew members to surveil the surrounding ocean. Seeing how far down I was in the submarine was striking. I couldn't imagine what it must have been like to serve on a two-month-long patrol with no fresh air or sunlight. The control room and attack center contained a dizzying number of buttons, dials, and other instruments. Here, the commanding officer would give orders to the crew. The crew members who sat in the chairs directed the USS Growler's movements with three steering wheels that controlled different angles and movements. The room also featured two periscopes: one for observation and one for attacks. A call signal station could signal different areas of the submarine such as the wardroom, the office, and the control room. The sonar room also aided Growler's navigation. Sonar stands for sound navigation and ranging. The USS Growler used passive sonar, a system of underwater microphones that listen to the ocean and detect sound waves, to track other vessels and navigate its own positions. Passive sonar is a more discreet alternative to active sonar, which sends a pulse of energy through the water to detect objects. Crew members communicated with other ships in the radio room. The USS Growler could only send messages at periscope depth. Lower down in the ocean, it could receive low-frequency signals, but couldn't send any outgoing messages. Meals were prepared in the galley. A meal schedule from 1962 listed dishes such as fried chicken, clam chowder, hamburgers, and meatloaf with gravy. In the scullery, Growler crew members washed dishes and compacted trash. Trash was disposed of in weighted tubes that wouldn't float to the surface and give away the submarine's location. The crew's mess was the only common space on the USS Growler. It functioned as the dining room as well as a place for crew members to play games and watch movies. Growler's largest sleeping area contained 46 bunks. The green straps on the beds kept crew members from rolling out of the bunks during rough seas. The crew's washroom featured two showers. Showers were a rare luxury for crew members on the USS Growler. A plaque displayed in the room read that some sailors said they never showered once during their two-month patrols. A distillation system boiled seawater, filtering out the salt to supply fresh water. The distilled water was used for cooling the submarine's diesel engines, cooking food, washing dishes, and bathing. Growler's three diesel engines were located in the engine room. The engines were soundproofed. Sailors controlled Growler's speed in the maneuvering room, with officers communicating orders from the control room. The USS Growler's maximum speed was 12 knots, or 14 mph, while submerged and 14 knots, or 16 mph, while surfaced. In addition to carrying nuclear missiles, the USS Growler was also armed with torpedoes. Nine crew members slept in the aft torpedo room, where weapons like the Mark 37 torpedo were kept. I was relieved to see the sky again as I exited the USS Growler, and in awe of service members who spent months at a time on the vessel. As the only nuclear-missile submarine in the US that's open to the public, visiting the USS Growler is absolutely worth a trip to the Intrepid Museum. I was fascinated by how self-sufficient the submarine was as it carried out top-secret patrols. It was hard to believe that 90 crew members operated in such small spaces for extended periods of time. With its supply of nuclear missiles kept at the ready during the Cold War, the stakes couldn't have been higher to keep the USS Growler running smoothly and efficiently. The stakes remain high today as US Navy submarines continue to patrol waters connected to regional conflicts.
Vancouver Sun
08-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
New U.S. bill would benefit Canadian snowbirds, allowing them to stay there longer
Amid heightened tensions and stricter travel policies between the U.S. and Canada, a new bill would extend the amount of time Canadians can spend in the United States. The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act , which was introduced on April 29, would allow Canadian citizens who own or lease a residence in the U.S. to stay for 240 days annually. That is nearly two months longer than the current policy, which permits Canadians to be in the U.S. for 182 days a year. 'The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) has been working closely with members of the United States Congress in an effort to have the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act enacted into law. We are pleased to see it re-introduced in the current session of Congress,' the association said in an emailed statement to National Post on Thursday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Canada is the largest international tourism market in the United States, with annual spending in excess of US$20 billion. This policy is a step in right direction as it recognizes the pivotal impact Canadian snowbirds have on the U.S. sunbelt. If this bill becomes law, it will allow Canadian snowbirds, who frequent the United States, greater flexibility in their travel plans.' CSA is a nonprofit organization with 100,000 members that advocates on behalf of Canadian travellers and works to improve their rights and privileges. Congressman Ken Calvert, who represents part of the Coachella Valley in California, cosponsored the act. He said it will 'provide an important boost to the economic engine of the Coachella Valley, which is fuelled by visitors from Canada and all over the world,' in a news release on May 1. He said it would ultimately lead to more jobs being created and would expand economic growth in the region. 'Canadians own an estimated seven per cent of all homes in the Coachella Valley. Even more lease a residence during the winter. The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act would allow them to spend more time here and make an even bigger contribution to our local economy,' he said on a post on X on Wednesday. In April, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a campaign to attract Canadian travellers. Last year, 1.8 million Canadians visited the state and spent US$3.72 billion. The governor wanted to make it clear that 'California is a grateful partner.' Another state where Canadians spend much of their time, especially in winter months, is Florida. Congresswoman Laurel Lee is a Florida representative who also cosponsored the bill. 'Canadian residents contribute billions of dollars each year to our small businesses, real estate markets, and local economies — especially here in Florida,' she said in a statement to Desert Sun . 'By extending the time Canadian visitors who own or lease homes can spend here, we're supporting job growth, strengthening our bond with our closest neighbours, and helping local communities thrive.' In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis boasted that 3.3 million Canadians visited the state in 2024 . However, reports from local news outlets in Florida revealed that its communities could feel the effect of Canadians leaving after it was announced in February that all foreign nationals would have to register to stay longer than 30 days. 'It's not only having a negative impact on the tourism market, but business as a whole,' Cole Peacock, the owner of Seed and Bean market in Fort Myers, told Gulf Coast News . One Canadian with a home in the Fort Myers area told the publication she'd be leaving on April 2. The registration policy came into effect on April 11. Another family told Gulf Coast News they would not return to the area next year. New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said in a news release that Canada provides 'more visits to the United States than any other country,' adding that Canadians 'are critically important to North Country tourism and industry.' According to tourism organization New York City Tourism + Conventions, roughly one million Canadians visited New York last year. 'Providing Canadians who own homes and property in the United States with extra time to visit and boost our economy will help revive Canadian tourism to the United States,' she said. Per the news release, the bill still has safeguards in place. It prohibits Canadian snowbirds from working for U.S. employers or accessing public assistance programs, and clarifies that they will retain their nonresident tax status. 'This bipartisan bill reflects a shared commitment to supporting local economies, rebuilding cross-border tourism, and strengthening the U.S.-Canada relationship through smart, targeted immigration policy,' the news release said. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
National Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
New U.S. bill would benefit Canadian snowbirds, allowing them to stay there longer
Amid heightened tensions and stricter travel policies between the U.S. and Canada, a new bill would extend the amount of time Canadians can spend in the United States. Article content Article content The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act, which was introduced on April 29, would allow Canadian citizens who own or lease a residence in the U.S. to stay for 240 days annually. That is nearly two months longer than the current policy, which permits Canadians to be in the U.S. for 182 days a year. Article content 'The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) has been working closely with members of the United States Congress in an effort to have the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act enacted into law. We are pleased to see it re-introduced in the current session of Congress,' the association said in an emailed statement to National Post on Thursday. Article content Article content 'Canada is the largest international tourism market in the United States, with annual spending in excess of US$20 billion. This policy is a step in right direction as it recognizes the pivotal impact Canadian snowbirds have on the U.S. sunbelt. If this bill becomes law, it will allow Canadian snowbirds, who frequent the United States, greater flexibility in their travel plans.' Article content CSA is a nonprofit organization with 100,000 members that advocates on behalf of Canadian travellers and works to improve their rights and privileges. Article content Congressman Ken Calvert, who represents part of the Coachella Valley in California, cosponsored the act. He said it will 'provide an important boost to the economic engine of the Coachella Valley, which is fuelled by visitors from Canada and all over the world,' in a news release on May 1. Article content Article content He said it would ultimately lead to more jobs being created and would expand economic growth in the region. Article content Article content 'Canadians own an estimated seven per cent of all homes in the Coachella Valley. Even more lease a residence during the winter. The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act would allow them to spend more time here and make an even bigger contribution to our local economy,' he said on a post on X on Wednesday. Article content In April, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a campaign to attract Canadian travellers. Last year, 1.8 million Canadians visited the state and spent US$3.72 billion. The governor wanted to make it clear that 'California is a grateful partner.' Article content Another state where Canadians spend much of their time, especially in winter months, is Florida. Congresswoman Laurel Lee is a Florida representative who also cosponsored the bill. Article content 'Canadian residents contribute billions of dollars each year to our small businesses, real estate markets, and local economies — especially here in Florida,' she said in a statement to Desert Sun. 'By extending the time Canadian visitors who own or lease homes can spend here, we're supporting job growth, strengthening our bond with our closest neighbours, and helping local communities thrive.'
Bloomberg
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Key Defense Lawmaker Wants More Details on Trump's ‘Golden Dome'
The top Republican in the House overseeing billions in defense spending said the White House and Pentagon must soon disclose details of President Donald Trump's still nebulous 'Golden Dome' air defense umbrella as lawmakers move to approve an initial $25 billion for the program. 'No one has really defined what the Golden Dome is,' Representative Ken Calvert, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said in an interview Tuesday. 'What is it?'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-OneRepublic Bassist Tim Myers Announces Run for California House Seat Held By Longtime GOP Rep.: ‘Status Quo Isn't Working'
Former OneRepublic bassist and prolific writer/producer Tim Myers is throwing his hat in the political ring in an attempt to oust a longtime GOP member of the California House of Representatives delegation. Grammy-nominated Democrat Myers announced his intention to run in an Instagram video posted on Thursday morning (April 17) in which he told the story of growing up a pastor's son in Corona, CA, 'who learned how to stretch a dollar' and then 'made it big' in his music career. The bassist who spent five years in OneRepublic in addition to releasing a number of solo projects, starting the record label Palladium records and writing/producing songs for acts including Aloe Blacc, Kesha, Hailee Steinfeld and Five For Fighting described his triumphs and struggles in the music industry. 'I saw how the music industry took advantage of people,' he said in the clip that appeared to be filmed in a recording studio. 'So I built a business that puts artists first. It reminds me a lot of what we're seeing now.' More from Billboard 'Captain America: Brave New World': How to Watch the Latest Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie Online Walmart Has This Top-Rated Smart Home Theater Projector Available For Just $88 Rihanna Stars in Steamy Savage X Fenty Bridal Campaign & Video Over video of Fox Business headlines and images of Pres. Trump, DOGE boss Elon Musk and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he added, 'the people in charge are screwing us over just to make a buck. Trump, Musk and these clowns in Washington are cutting cancer research, veterans health care and getting into trade wars, making everything we buy more expensive. All while giving billionaires another tax cut they don't need.' Myers is planning to take on the long-serving Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, who has represented the 41st District in Riverside County, CA for three decades. The district runs from the L.A. suburbs to Palm Springs and in the video the musician said, 'Ken Calvert has been in Washington for 30 years and all he's done is make himself millions,' said over footage including a headline reading 'Ethics Complaints Filed Against California GOP Rep. Ken Calvert Over Real Estate Holdings.' 'The status quo isn't working,' Myers said. 'It's how we ended up here to begin with. We need leaders who are going to stand up and say 'enough.'' According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the campaign arm of the House Republicans, Christian Martinez, said in a statement that Myers is 'everything wrong with today's radical left: a Hollywood liberal trying to fake his way into Riverside County.' The story noted that Myers, 40, grew up in Corona, which is mostly in the district now, but that he lives in nearby Los Angeles County. Though most House races around the country are increasingly not competitive these days, Democrats believe that Calvert's closely-held seat might be their best chance to pick up a win in the chamber where the GOP currently holds a thin 220-213 majority. The AP noted that with Democrats facing serious headwinds in an effort to take back the Senate in the 2026 election at a time when Republicans hold the presidency and both houses of Congress — as well as a conservative majority on the Supreme Court — the California race is extra important in their bid to slow down the Trump administration's disruptive efforts on climate, immigration and the economy. At present, Republicans hold a less than 2% advantage over Democrats in the district Myers is targeting, which Calvert won by three points in 2024, a year that Trump carried the district by six points over Kamala Harris. Though considered a liberal bastion — where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2-1 margin and hold every statewide office while dominating the state Legislature and congressional delegation — there are small areas in Southern California and the rural Central Valley farm belt where the GOP still holds sway. Watch Myers' announcement video below. Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021
