Air Force unleashes Ghostrider on Arkansas highway
The U.S. military is getting pretty good at landing big planes in what supposedly “non-traditional locations.” In early August, Special Tactics Airmen from the 1st Special Operations Wing landed an AC-130J Ghostrider on a remote stretch of Highway-63 near Bono, Arkansas.
So why is the AC-130J landing in Arkansas so exciting? For one, it’s the first time it’s happened. According to the Air Force Special Operations Command, or AFSOC, the operation was part of the broader Emerald Warrior Field Training Exercise II, which is all about showcasing AFSOC’s capabilities when it comes to Agile Combat Employment, or ACE.
ACE is basically the mentality the Air Force is applying to its combat operations now as it prepares for a potential conflict with China in the Pacific. The idea is more or less: Don’t put everything in just a handful of locations, spread stuff out, and develop a hub/spoke pattern of supply lines.
If a kinetic war kicks-off in the Pacific — meaning one with bullets and bombs — bases and traditional runways will be prime targets. So, the Air Force is looking for every available stretch of road, highway, or hardened track long enough and straight enough to land an aircraft. Be it a drone, jet fighter, tank buster, air tanker or fifth-generation Air Force gunship.
The AC-130J Ghostrider is the latest variant of the Air Force’s close air support gunship. It’s armed with a 30mm auto-cannon and an improved 105mm Howitzer. Both of which were featured during the recent RIMPAC 2024 SINKEX. It was a demonstration of what AC-130s were able to do in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is quickly putting shots on target with precision without breaking the bank. Helpful for disabling a ship without destroying it.
But even in Iraq and Afghanistan, AC-130s usually only flew at night so they could limit exposure to enemy attack. In the wide-open battlespace of the Indo-Pacific, Ghostriders need to adapt to stay relevant. China knows where America’s runways in the region are, and China’s air defenses will be orders of magnitude better than the Taliban’s.
During an “Emerald Warrior” exercise, AFSOC simulated what crews would see in the Pacific. An advanced team landed support aircraft on a rural five-lane highway, secured the area, and set up a Forward Arming and Refueling Point. Once that FARP was operational, the Ghostrider could safely land, refuel, rearm and re-engage in the battle. All in a relatively short period of time.
The commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing said the exercise proved AFSOC is ready to meet the enemy anytime, any place, and without traditional runways. It’s also proof the Ghostrider could see some new, or at least expanded, roles in the Pacific.
Now that Ghostriders don’t need to return to a traditional base to re-up on fuel and ammo, they can spend more time on target and throw some of the other, longer-range munitions the Ghostrider can now carry downrange. Things like laser-guided bombs and smaller cruise missiles.
Giving the Ghostrider more places from which to operate makes the large plane that much more nimble, which is necessary in near-peer competition.
Georgia reverses decision on state funding for AP Black studies course
Georgia state Superintendent Richard Woods said on Wednesday, July 24, the state will pay for districts to teach a new Advanced Placement course in African American studies. A day prior, Woods said state money would not be used for the course but didn’t say why.
His statement sparked backlash, with critics saying the decision would suppress teaching Black history. They also compared the decision to similar ones in other states, like Florida and Arkansas.
Georgia’s Board of Education – which is appointed by the governor – must approve a class for it to be eligible for state funding, which helps pay for teachers’ salaries and class materials.
The state superintendent originally said funding for the course would be left up to local governments if they wanted it taught in their district. In response, some districts said they would have to cancel the class for high schools.
Public criticism was swift and within 24 hours, the superintendent announced Georgia would fund the course after all, as long as districts use a certain code linked to an existing African American studies course approved by the state.
— Georgia House of Representatives (@GaHouseHub) July 25, 2024
Despite the reversal, supporters of the course are still voicing concerns, saying Georgia’s original refusal to recognize the course was discriminatory.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also sent a letter to Woods, questioning the original decision not to back funding for the course. Several Georgia state representatives are also calling for the Department of Education to get rid of defunding policies in Georgia.
In Arkansas, students enrolled in the AP course for the upcoming school year will receive credit, a change from the previous year. Last year, students did not receive credit due to uncertainty among state officials about whether the course violated a state law restricting the teaching of race
Women’s risk of death higher depending on their state: Study
According to a new study, where in the U.S. women live could be a matter of life or death. In its first ever state-by-state analysis of women’s health, the Commonwealth Fund found women are facing a growing number of threats to their overall health and well-being.
The Commonwealth Fund is a private nonprofit that supports independent research and grants with the goal of improving health care.
The researchers used data from multiple sources — including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — to evaluate states on 32 specific metrics across three main areas:
Health outcomes.
Health care quality and prevention.
Coverage, access and affordability.
Researchers that found across the board, women are more likely to die from preventable causes, specifically those linked to reproductive health – like pregnancy-related issues or certain types of cancer. However, they also looked at other preventable causes, including substance use, COVID-19 and treatable chronic health conditions.
The study said life expectancy for U.S. women is the lowest it has been since 2006. Researchers contend that the biggest issues seem to be in states where abortion and contraception laws are stricter.
Straight Arrow News
States in the Northeast scored the highest for women’s health, with Massachusetts coming in on top. Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire rounded out the top five.
The lowest-ranked states are Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The report shows the lowest ranked states tend more toward the southern U.S.
The study also found a link between states with expanded Medicaid coverage and lower mortality rates for women. The rolling back of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage has left millions of women either uninsured or facing significant gaps in their coverage – interfering with their access to care and leaving providers that serve low-income women at risk of closure.
According to the researchers, where a woman lives is becoming a key determinant in how dangerous it is to give birth, or if she’ll die from cancers that considered treatable with proper screening and routine care.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s expert visits
President Joe Biden’s physician releases a letter as questions surround a Parkinson’s expert’s repeated visits to the White House. And former President Donald Trump’s deadline to pick a vice president nears with the Republican National Convention just days away. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s disease expert visits
Ever since President Joe Biden’s self-described “bad night” at the presidential debate, he and his team have had to field questions about his health. That was no different on Monday, July 8, when the concerns centered on a Parkinson’s disease expert who had recently visited the White House on several occasions.
According to public visitor logs, Dr. Kevin Cannard — a neurologist and “movement disorders specialist” from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center — visited the White House eight times in the eight-month span between July 2023 and March 2024, including a visit with the president’s personal physician.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked repeatedly about the visits during Monday’s press briefing. Jean-Pierre said Biden has seen a neurologist three times as part of annual physicals but would not confirm much else, saying the White House medical unit serves multiple personnel along with the president.
“I can tell you this — just going back to Parkinson’s for a little bit, so, to give you some answers here: Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not,” Jean-Pierre told reporters. “Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No. So those are the things that I can give you full-blown answers on but I’m not going to confirm a specialist, any specialist that comes to come comes to the White House, out of privacy.”
Hours later, White House physician Kevin O’Connor released a letter addressing the issue, saying Dr. Cannard was “the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals,” including one in February that showed no signs of any neurological disorders. O’Connor also confirmed the president has not seen a neurologist outside of those physicals.
The president himself wrote a letter earlier in the day to Democrats in Congress amid growing calls for him to step aside, saying he is “firmly committed to staying in the race.” He added he “wouldn’t be running again if” he did not “absolutely believe” he was the “best person to beat Donald Trump.”
A defiant Biden joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe shortly after sending the letter, saying it’s the voters who chose him as the Democratic nominee, and he is not concerned about those calling for him to drop out of the race.
“I’m getting so frustrated by the elites — not you guys — the elites in the party, oh, they know so much more,” the president said. “Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention.”
Biden to host NATO summit, will take questions from media
President Biden will look to answer critics’ calls for him to step aside as he welcomes world leaders to Washington, D.C. for the NATO summit that begins Tuesday, July, 9. Leaders from more than 30 NATO countries, as well as partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the European Union and Ukraine, will join the president to mark 75 years of the global alliance.
The summit will focus on supplying additional military and financial aid to Ukraine, including new steps to strengthen its air defenses. During the week, Biden will host an event with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and two dozen other leaders. He’ll also take part in his first bilateral meeting with new U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
On Thursday, July 11, the president will hold a press conference where he will take questions from the media.
Trump’s vice president search enters final days
Former President Trump is getting back on the campaign trail with a rally in Florida as the deadline to announce his pick for vice president looms. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday, July 8 night, Trump did confirm Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, R, are under consideration.
But as to when we’ll find out who the official pick is, it seems even the former president isn’t quite sure.
“I think probably within the next week, week and a half, probably sometime — I’d love to do it during the convention,” he told Hannity. “My people say that’s a little complicated. You know, in the old days, they would announce the vice president during the convention. Today, with modern day technology you can’t do things that you could’ve done 50 years ago very easily. But probably a little before the convention but not much. It could even be during the convention that we’ll do it. I’d love to do it during the convention. I think it would be a very interesting build up and important for the convention and would make it even more exciting.”
The Republican National Convention kicks off Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee.
At least 6 dead in Texas after Beryl, millions without power
At least six people have been confirmed dead and millions are without power after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm on Monday, July 8. Dozens of people across the state also had to be rescued from flood waters after Beryl dropped up to ten inches of rain in some areas and tornadoes could be spotted across the state.
Officials in Texas said it’ll take “several days” to restore power, but they should be getting a clearer timeline at some point Tuesday.
Since making landfall, Beryl has weakened to a tropical depression. It’s now moving toward Arkansas, but rain from the storm is expected to hit as far north as Detroit by Tuesday night then dump heavy rain in Vermont by Wednesday, July 10.
Jury selection begins in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial
On Monday, a judge ruled jurors will not hear evidence related to his status as a producer on the film, only his role as an actor in the movie.
Baldwin admitted he was holding a prop gun when a live bullet discharged. He’d previously stated that he did not intentionally pull the trigger and that the gun “went off.”
If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
Price of Forever stamps to increase starting next week
The price of stamps is going up again. Starting on Sunday, July 14, one Forever stamp will cost 73 cents — up five cents from its current price.
New York lawmakers working to regulate kids’ social media feeds
New York lawmakers said Tuesday, June 4, they’re working to finalize legislation that would allow parents to block their children from getting certain social media posts. New York’s Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act would prohibit algorithm-fed content without “verifiable parental consent.”
The legislation aims to protectt kids’ mental health and development by shielding them from features designed to keep them endlessly scrolling. Instead of having automated algorithms suggest content based on what a user has clicked on in the past, kids would see a chronological feed of content from users they already follow.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have been advocating for the regulations since October.
The latest version removes provisions that would have limited the hours a child could spend on a site. With the legislative session ending the week of June 2, Albany lawmakers are making a final push pass the bill.
Critics of the bill say it could make things worse for children, leading to internet companies collecting more information about users.
Privacy advocacy group the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project released a statement saying, “Lawmakers are legislating a fairy tale. There simply is no technology that can prove New Yorkers’ age without undermining their privacy.”
In March, Utah revised its policies to require social media companies verify the ages of their users. However, it also removed the requirement that parents consent to their child creating an account. A state law in Arkansas that also would have required parental consent was put on hold last year by a federal judge.
In Texas, seven people, including two young children, were killed and more than 100 were injured as the storms swept across the state.
“The storm has caused significant damage to numerous homes and businesses, including the Gateway AP Travel Center, which received major damage,” the Texas Cooke County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Emergency services are actively searching the debris for missing persons, and there have been numerous injuries of varying degrees reported.”
The governor of Kentucky confirmed that five people were killed in the storms. Teams from the National Weather Service (NWS) are being sent to survey tornado damage.
Possible tornadoes are blamed for at least two deaths each in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
On Sunday, May 26, there were at least 622 severe weather reports from Wyoming to New Hampshire, according to the NWS’ Storm Prediction Center. That makes it the most active severe storm day of 2024. This breaks the previous record of 565 reports earlier this month.
President Joe Biden offered condolences to the families of the victims. He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is on the ground assessing damage and that he has contacted governors to determine what federal support is needed.
White House unveils $7B in solar grants as some states deal with a solar surplus
In a bid to bolster renewable energy infrastructure across the nation, the Biden administration recently announced $7 billion in federal solar power grants. This move, unveiled on Earth Day, came as parts of the nation experience a surplus of solar energy. That surplus raised power bills for solar panel owners.
The White House said its solar initiative can power nearly a million homes and substantially reduce emissions. The reduction would be equivalent to the impact of burning over 3 billion fewer gallons of gasoline. Federal officials touted the plan as a means to collectively save its recipients $350 million annually. The program is directed at low- and middle-income communities.
However, amidst this federal push for solar energy expansion, some states find themselves with an oversupply of solar power. California, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Hawaii and North Carolina rolled back their financial incentives for solar power projects as a result.
California, in particular, faces the prospect of a potential 40% decline in solar installations this year. The state’s surplus of solar panels led to the wastage of millions of megawatts of energy every year. That ultimately resulted in higher electricity prices.
This occurs when residential solar panels feed excess energy back into the grid, only for it to be discarded. Consequently, homeowners miss out on potential reductions in their power bills from incentives they would normally receive for delivering solar power to the grid.
One solution to mitigate this issue involves the adoption of solar battery storage systems, which enable homeowners to store excess energy for later use. However, the cost of installing such systems ranges from $12,000-$20,000. That range poses a significant financial barrier for many.
While solar panels undoubtedly offer environmental benefits and are often cheaper than carbon-intensive energy sources, policymakers are beginning to see some downsides to their increased proliferation.
NYC sues social media owners, alleges Big Tech made platforms addictive
In January, New York City became the first major U.S. city to declare social media an “environmental toxin.” On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City has filed a lawsuit against five social media companies, alleging Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube and Snapchat knowingly made their platforms addictive for teens.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages from the companies and aims to hold Big Tech more accountable.
Adams claims New York City spends $100 million each year on mental health services and programs for adolescents. According to ABC News, the city is seeking to have some of that repaid in the lawsuit.
“NYC Plaintiffs have incurred and will continue to incur costs related to addressing the youth mental health crisis that Defendants created, caused, contributed to, and/or maintained,” the lawsuit said. “NYC Plaintiffs request relief relating to the damage or injury they have suffered, including actual and compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.”
“Over the past decade, we have seen how addictive and overwhelming the online world can be, exposing children to content they are not ready for, disrupting the educational process, and seriously damaging their self-esteem,” Adams said during a press conference Wednesday.
In addition to the lawsuit, New York City officials are also calling for increased mental health care, pointing to data that shows rates of “suicidal ideation” have increased among adolescents. City officials are also requesting more research on the impact social media is having on the mental health of teens.
Recently, social media companies have faced increased scrutiny from state and national politicians. Several social media CEOs were questioned and scolded by some U.S. lawmakers during public testimony. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was pushed to apologize by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., during the hearing.
“Would you like to apologize to the victims who have been harmed by your product?” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize for what you’ve done to these good people?”
“I’m sorry for everything you have been through,” Zuckerberg said as he faced the families in the audience. “No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.”
Zuckerberg did, however, contend that a decline in mental health among teens is not directly related to his product.
In response to the New York City lawsuit, a Meta spokesperson told Reuters the company wanted teens to have “safe, age-appropriate experiences online.” A TikTok spokesperson also responded to ABC News’ report on the lawsuit, saying the company will “continue to work to keep the community safe by addressing industry-wide challenges.”
Google also issued a statement defending the company against the lawsuit.
“We’ve built services and products to give young people age-appropriate activities, experiences, and parents robust controls,” Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, told Reuters. “The allegations in this complaint are simply not true.”
Snapchat also released a statement to ABC News.
“While we will always have more work to do, we feel good about the role Snapchat plays in helping close friends feel connected, happy, and prepared as they face the many challenges of adolescence,” said Ashley Adams, a Snapchat spokesperson.
While New York City looks to take legal action against social media companies, a federal judge in Ohio granted tech industry group NetChoice, which represents Facebook and TikTok among others, a legal win.
U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley ruled that an Ohio law requiring people under the age of 16 to get parental permission to use social media is unconstitutional, according to Reason Magazine.
“Foreclosing minors under the age of 16 from accessing all content on websites that the act purports to cover, absent affirmative parental consent, is a breathtakingly blunt instrument for reducing social media’s harm to children,” Marbley wrote.
Marbley’s temporary injunction is another blow to an increasing trend nationwide of requiring age verification to use social media apps. A federal judge ruled in September that an age restriction in Arkansas violated the First Amendment, blocking the law.
NY officials propose restricting social media algorithms for kids
Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., is throwing her support behind legislation that limits the power of social media algorithms for its youngest users. The proposed legislation would also require age verification for anyone under 18.
On Oct. 11, 2023, Hochul announced the state would pursue legislation that would limit the power of Big Tech algorithms and how they connect kids to content they’ve liked in the past. Lawmakers believe the law would protect kids from potentially harmful content.
“They’ll give more parents more tools to keep their kids safe, limit social media’s outreach, and also loosen the grip that these algorithms have on the way our kids think and act,” Hochul said.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the legislation is part of a “broader spending plan” by Hochul. The Journal also said that the proposal is likely to pass with state lawmakers required to take action by March 31.
The proposed law in New York is another critical juncture in the fight to rein in the powers of Big Tech. Forty-one attorneys general nationwide have filed lawsuits against Meta, and more cities and states are enacting laws to combat what critics contend are the harmful impacts of social media on the health of kids and teens.
The Wall Street Journal interviewed New York Attorney General Letitia James, D, who said that she believes the legislation, if passed, will survive a legal challenge. James said it will not falter under legal scrutiny like laws in Ohio and Arkansas, which ban social media for kids.
The laws banning social media for kids in Ohio and Arkansas are unable to be enforced because of legal challenges from NetChoice, a trade group that represents technology companies including Meta and TikTok. A district judge granted NetChoice a temporary injunction after it filed a lawsuit against all three states. Utah’s law doesn’t go into place until March 1, 2024.
The reason James believes the New York’s proposed law will be successful is because it differs in scope from the states that previously enacted age restrictions. Instead of targeting all of the content, New York’s law would target a “delivery mechanism.” The law would not regulate content broadly.
The state senator who sponsors the bill, Andrew Gounardes, D-N.Y., spoke with the Journal.
“If you want to follow the Taylor Swift fan page, that’s great,” said New York Sen. Andrew Gounardes, the bill’s sponsor.“What we don’t want is where you click on one thing and in 15 minutes be shown self-harm videos.”
New York is not the only state attempting to change laws regarding social media usage. The Wall Street Journal reported 140 bills in at least 30 states are on the books regarding media literacy, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In June, Politico reported that Connecticut required online platforms to perform children’s safety assessments. The assessments are designed to limit kids interactions with potentially dangerous people on social media.
Social media protections for kids have also been prominently featured in national politics recently. Congress members accused companies like Meta of hurting American youth through algorithms that target teens by enticing them with content.
“I know you don’t mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. said. “You have a product that’s killing people.”
However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg argues that algorithms are taken out of context, telling The New York Times that his company uses them to identify and remove dangerous content.
Zuckerberg has also questioned the link between mental health issues in teens and social media usage. The Meta CEO said during testimony in front of U.S. senators that he did not see a “causal” link.
However, many lawmakers and activists contend that there is a link between social media and a rise in suicides, depression and mental health disorders among teens. In May, The New York Times reported that the U.S. surgeon general warned of the negative effects social media usage can have on anxiety and depression among kids.
Hochul is not the first public official in her state to take action on the reportedly harmful effects of social media use. In January, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, declared a public health emergency regarding social media usage among teens and kids. In response, New York City became the first major city in the U.S. to label social media an “environmental toxin.” Adams said he would reveal more details about his plan of action at a later date.
Ohio approves ban on gender-affirming care for minors despite governor’s veto
Despite a veto from Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s Republican-dominated Senate voted to ban gender-affirming care for minors and bar transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams. In a 24-8 Senate vote, the law passed banning gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies and restricting mental health care for transgender patients under 18.
The law also bars transgender girls and women from joining girl’s and women’s sports teams from K-12 and collegiate levels. Falling in line with at least 20 other states preventing transgender people from participating in sports, though many are facing legal challenges.
The law is expected to go into effect in 90 day. One Republican, Sen. Nathan Manning, voted against the measure. Meanwhile, while on the Senate floor Republican Sen. Kristina Roegner falsely claimed that there was no such thing as gender-affirming care, calling it a “fools errand.”
Gov. DeWine vetoed the measure, citing government overreach.
“Ohio would be saying that the government knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most: the parents,” DeWine said.
The first law of its kind banning gender-affirming care in Arkansas has been struck down by a federal judge who ruled that such a ban would violate the due process rights of transgender youth and their families.
