By Kevin Liptak, CNN

(CNN) — As gala-goers in gowns and tuxedos were dancing the night away inside Mar-a-Lago’s ballroom Friday evening, a very different scene was unfolding on the other side of the rambling estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Out the gilded doors, past layers of security and behind a set of black curtains, the country’s top national security officials were convening in anticipation of a long night.

The CIA director, the secretary of state and the secretary of defense had all slipped in earlier, unseen by the crowd sipping cocktails by the pool. So had the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose map of the Middle East showing the locations of American assets — along with Iranian targets — was set up on an easel.

By the time President Donald Trump touched down, the space was running as a makeshift Situation Room from which he would oversee the start of a sustained attack on Iran.

First, though, the ballroom summoned.

“Have a good time, everybody,” Trump called out to the black-tie crowd gathered for a charity gala after briefly jerking his arms around to his anthem, “God Bless the USA.”

“I gotta go to work.”

Behind the black curtains, photos released by the White House showed Trump, tieless and wearing a white hat emblazoned with “USA,” watching the unfolding action, which would include the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Through most of Sunday, those images and two taped videos — the first announcing the extraordinary operation, in which Trump’s face was half obscured by the hat, and the second addressing Khamenei’s demise and the deaths of three American service members — were all the public saw of the president. He did not deliver a live formal address or convene a televised news conference.

That left the White House-provided photos of Trump as the primary images of his role in the operation, which he ordered after making little attempt to explain his strategic objectives or gain public buy-in.

In one photo, he leans into his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, as she gestures with her right hand. A black smart watch on Wiles’ wrist set off internet speculation she may have compromised the room’s security, an idea quickly shot down by the device’s maker.

“It’s called a whoop,” wrote Will Ahmed, the founder of the company that makes the watch. “It does not include a microphone, GPS, or cellular capability of any kind and has long been on the NSA approved (Personal Electronic Device) list.”

Wiles’ watch aside, Trump’s use of Mar-a-Lago to oversee the most sensitive military operations has always generated a degree of anxiety among national security professionals. The potential intersection of paying club members with the country’s most sensitive national security secrets gives some intelligence officials agita. The Secret Service screens guests before they enter but doesn’t determine who can access the club.

That has occasionally made for some jarring scenes. Early in his first term, Trump huddled over iceberg wedge salads on the patio with then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after a North Korean missile launch. Guests watched on, listening as the men discussed how to respond and posting photos of the episode on social media.

Trump and his aides have since enacted tighte

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria Police officers arrested three teens just after 10:00 p.m. Saturday on weapons charges after their car failed to stop at a stop sign.

SMPD's Gang Suppression Team conducted a patrol in the Miller Street and Chapel Street area before starting a traffic stop in the area when the teens' car failed to stop.

SMPD officers then arrested three males: the 19-year-old driver, another 19-year-old passenger and a 17-year-old also in the car.

SMPD officers then also found two loaded guns where the passengers were seated and arrested all three in the car for weapons violations.

The post Santa Maria Police arrest three teens on weapons charges appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por CNN en Español

El gendarme argentino Nahuel Gallo fue excarcelado este domingo tras más de un año de detención en Venezuela, según confirmaron su esposa María Alexandra Gómez y el canciller de Argentina.

“La República Argentina confirma que el ciudadano argentino Nahuel Agustín Gallo, Cabo Primero de la Gendarmería Nacional, quien se encontraba en situación de desaparición forzada desde el 8 de diciembre de 2024, ha sido liberado y ya se encuentra fuera de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela”, escribió en su cuenta de X el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Argentina, Pablo Quirno.

Quirno celebró la excarcelación de Gallo, quien había sido detenido en diciembre de 2024, y destacó el trabajo diplomático para su retorno, agradeciendo particularmente a los gobiernos de Italia y Estados Unidos, así como a la organización no gubernamental Foro Penal.

“La República Argentina expresa su reconocimiento por las múltiples gestiones realizadas por países aliados que contribuyeron a ejercer la presión internacional necesaria para lograr su liberación”, agregó el canciller.

La esposa de Gallo, María Alexandra Gómez, también confirmó en su cuenta de X que había hablado con el gendarme y que él ya se encontraba volando hacia Argentina.

“Estamos profundamente emocionados. Víctor podrá abrazar a su papá en pocas horas”, escribió Gómez en un mensaje en su cuenta de X.

La Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) publicó una foto de Gallo a punto de abordar un avión, antes de que fuera trasladado de regreso a Argentina en un vuelo gestionado por la institución.

La AFA expresó en un comunicado su agradecimiento a la presidenta encargada de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, y a la Federación Venezolana de Fútbol (FVF) por “facilitar el contacto que permitió este acercamiento”.

“Expresamos nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a la Señora Presidenta de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, por su sensibilidad y disposición para atender esta situación, demostrando que el deporte también puede ser un puente efectivo para el entendimiento y la cooperación para una acción humanitaria de esta envergadura”, escribió la AFA en un comunicado.

Esta semana, Gallo había podido conversar telefónicamente con su esposa por primera vez, mientras crecía la expectativa por el proceso de excarcelaciones anunciado por el chavismo a inicios de enero.

El gendarme fue detenido en diciembre de 2024 cuando ingresaba en un paso terrestre a Venezuela para reencontrarse con su pareja y su hijo, que estaban desde hace siete meses en el país, según la denuncia que difundió la Cancillería de Argentina.

El canciller de Venezuela, Yván Gil, afirmó tras la detención que el suboficial argentino “se quiso infiltrar” en el país. Gallo está acusado de presunta vinculación a acciones terroristas. Por su parte, la entonces ministra de Seguridad de Argentina, Patricia Bullrich, declaró que Gallo “no viajó en calidad de gendarme, sino como papá”.

En enero, la esposa de Gallo dijo a CNN que considera el caso de su marido como una desaparición forzada y lo comparó con el proceso que enfrenta el capturado presidente Nicolás Maduro en Nueva York: “A mi marido nunca le permitieron la asistencia consular que ahora reclama Maduro”.

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The post Excarcelan al gendarme argentino Nahuel Gallo tras más de un año detenido en Venezuela

LOMPOC, Calif (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County Animal Services is seeking public aid in an animal cruelty case from Feb. 17 in Lompoc.

The suspect wore a red beanie, a blue T-Shirt and jeans and is approximately 20 to 50 years of age, last seen heading north on the 200 block of North E Street in Lompoc around 3:20 p.m., according to the SBCAS.

The man had a tan, pug-type dog in his possession that has not been located and its welfare is a priority, according to the SBCAS.

The man is sought as a person of interest, though no formal charges have been filed. Investigators are trying to speak with the individual as part of the ongoing investigation, according to the SBCAS.

Those who recognize the man in the SBCAS released photo, or those who have information on the dog's location are asked to contact the SBCAS or Animal Control Officer Hart.

Anonymous tips are also available at the SBCAS website.

The post SB County Animal services seek public aid in animal cruelty investigation appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

* WHAT…North winds 30 to 50 mph expected.

* WHERE…Interstate 5 Corridor, Northern Ventura County Mountains,
Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains, Santa Ynez Mountains
Eastern Range, Southern Ventura County Mountains, and Western
Antelope Valley Foothills.

* WHEN…From 3 PM Monday to 3 AM PST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

The post Wind Advisory issued March 1 at 12:18PM PST until March 3 at 3:00AM PST by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA appeared first on News Channel 3-12.