By Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN

(CNN) — US Coast Guard divers have arrived in the Bahamas and will soon begin their renewed search for missing American woman Lynette Hooker, whose disappearance has prompted a federal criminal investigation, a US official familiar with the investigation tells CNN.

Lynnette Hooker, a 55-year-old mother and sailor, has been missing since early April. Her husband, Brian Hooker, told authorities at the time that she fell from an 8‑foot dinghy while the couple was navigating rough waters near the Bahamas’ Abaco Islands, according to police.

The Coast Guard announced it had opened a criminal investigation into Lynette Hooker’s disappearance on April 8, three days after she vanished. No suspect has been publicly identified in the federal investigation and her body has not been recovered.

The renewed search effort was set in motion last week after investigators found inconsistencies between the husband’s location data and his statements to investigators about where to search for his wife and where they had traveled that evening, the official told CNN.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force granted permission to the Coast Guard to search an area of the Sea of Abaco, which envelops the island Brian Hooker said they were sailing to, Elbow Cay, the official said.

As the Coast Guard has worked to collect more evidence, it has requested DNA samples from Lynette Hooker’s relatives, Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told CNN. The daughter and Lynette Hooker’s parents provided mouth swab samples Thursday.

Brian Hooker reported his wife missing April 5, telling investigators she fell overboard the evening prior as they were navigating through choppy water back to their yacht, “Soulmate.”

Authorities say Brian Hooker told them the dinghy lost power because she had the engine safety key when she fell. Lynette Hooker’s daughter says he later left her a voicemail saying he threw a flotation device after his wife.

Bahamian police arrested Brian Hooker as a suspect in his wife’s disappearance and questioned him repeatedly. He was released without being charged and has returned to the United States.

Brian Hooker has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his missing wife. His attorney, Terrel Butler, declined to comment last week on the new search request, also citing the ongoing investigation.

The Michigan couple, both US nationals, had been sailing together for more than a decade, documenting their life at sea on social media. They were navigating the Bahamas on their yacht when the incident happened.

After her mother’s disappearance, Aylesworth cast skepticism on her stepfather’s account of what happened. She was confident her mother is an experienced sailor and capable swimmer who was not likely to be swept away by strong waters.

But Brian Hooker’s attorney has denied Aylesworth’s accusations, saying in April he was cooperating with investigators. Butler told CNN that authorities have not presented her with evidence her client may have committed wrongdoing.

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CNN’s Dianne Gallagher contributed to this report.

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By Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, Jeremy Herb, CNN

(CNN) — The behind-the-scenes jockeying began almost immediately after Tulsi Gabbard announced last month that she would resign as director of national intelligence.

Some allies told President Donald Trump he should replace Gabbard with someone who had more intelligence experience. Others said he should go with someone who held the same views on Iran. But for Trump, the most compelling argument that ultimately won out was picking someone who had shown a willingness to take on the establishment and the so-called “deep state” of the intelligence community, three sources familiar with the discussions described to CNN.

In Bill Pulte, Trump selected as his intelligence chief a loyalist with no demonstrated national security or intelligence experience. What he did have: a record of going after many of Trump’s biggest perceived political enemies through criminal referrals sent over the past year from his perch as Trump’s housing finance director.

One source said the decision was rooted in what Trump cares about most: Getting what he wants done — and quickly.

“Trump likes Tulsi, but she’s very methodical. She’s a thinker. Bill is a move-fast-and-break-things kind of guy,” the source said.

Pulte had made it clear to Trump that he wanted a bigger role and more responsibility within the administration, including the possibility of a Cabinet position should one become available, three sources told CNN. A separate source said he directly lobbied the president to lead DNI after Gabbard announced she was leaving.

Now Pulte, 38, a wealthy businessman-turned-director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will have an even bigger platform to take on Trump’s biggest perceived grievances — from former intelligence chiefs like John Brennan and the assessment of Russia’s 2016 election interference to Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Multiple sources familiar with the decision told CNN that the rationale for the pick was simple: Trump liked what he saw from Pulte and believed he could potentially replicate it at DNI. Trump made his decision to put Pulte in the role Monday night, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

“This isn’t something to overthink — President Trump wanted someone in that position who is a true loyalist, who will do what he wants him to do. He has that in Bill,” one source close to Pulte told CNN. “Pulte speaks to the president more than anyone I know.”

Another source familiar with the matter said Trump floated the idea of Pulte as DNI with Gabbard in recent days, though he did not tell her when the announcement would be coming. Trump previously announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would become the acting director when Gabbard leaves her office on June 30.

Because Pulte has previously been confirmed by the Senate for another position, he’s eligible to perform in an acting role without further congressional approval.

“The President chooses the best and most talented people to serve in his Cabinet. That is why this Administration has achieved record successes for the American people. Bill Pulte is a great selection and he will do a great job on behalf of the American people,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement to CNN.

An election-focused loyalist

What’s per

Abigahil Padilla

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – Los recortes a diversos programas de asistencia alimentaria en Arizona continúan generando preocupación entre organizaciones comunitarias, líderes religiosos y familias de escasos recursos que dependen de este apoyo para cubrir necesidades básicas.

Una de las comunidades que ha resentido estos cambios es San Luis, Arizona, donde el acceso a alimentos se ha vuelto más complicado para numerosas familias vulnerables.

Residentes de la zona señalan que la reducción en los apoyos ha provocado una mayor presión económica, obligando a muchas personas a buscar ayuda adicional para poder llevar alimentos a sus hogares.

El pastor Manuel Castro, líder de la Iglesia Getsemaní de San Luis, ha sido testigo directo de las dificultades que enfrentan las familias de la comunidad.

Según explicó, la disminución de los programas de asistencia alimentaria ha incrementado la necesidad de apoyo entre adultos mayores, trabajadores con bajos ingresos y familias con niños.

Ante esta situación, la Iglesia Getsemaní ha mantenido sus esfuerzos para apoyar a quienes más lo necesitan mediante la distribución constante de despensas y alimentos a familias de San Luis.

El programa comunitario de la congregación se ha convertido en una alternativa importante para decenas de hogares afectados por los recortes.

El pastor destacó que, a pesar de los desafíos, continuarán trabajando para brindar apoyo a la comunidad y atender a las familias que enfrentan inseguridad alimentaria.

La preocupación por el impacto de estos recortes ha trascendido el ámbito local.

Debido a su trabajo comunitario y experiencia directa con las familias afectadas, Manuel Castro ha sido invitado a participar en un panel en Washington, donde compartirá su perspectiva sobre las consecuencias que estas reducciones han tenido en comunidades vulnerables de Arizona.

Durante el encuentro, líderes comunitarios, representantes de organizaciones y especialistas analizarán los efectos de las políticas relacionadas con la asistencia alimentaria y buscarán generar conciencia sobre las necesidades de miles de familias que dependen de estos programas.

Mientras tanto, en San Luis, organizaciones religiosas y comunitarias continúan redoblando esfuerzos para ayudar a quienes enfrentan dificultades para acceder a alimentos, una problemática que, según sus líderes, requiere atención y soluciones a largo plazo.

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Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A casi un mes de que cerrará el cine de la ciudad, se confirmó el cierre de la única sucursal de esta cadena de restaurantes en la ciudad fronteriza, la cual tenía más de 20 años operando y representaba un punto de encuentro para familias y compañeros de trabajo.

Trabajadores señalaron que se les notificó como el 16 de junio como su último día de trabajo, son cerca de 30 personas las que dependen directamente se este establecimiento al ser su principal fuente de empleo.

Esto ocurre tras el cierre del cine y tras el incendio del restaurante Dennys, que de acuerdo al alcalde de Calexico, Víctor Legaspi, quedará finalizada la obra del nuevo restaurante en cerca de un año.

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