The post Broadway Brunch Takes the Stage at SOhO appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.

WASHINGTON D.C. (KEYT) – On Tuesday, members of California's Congressional delegation announced a federal investment of $11.25 million for infrastructure updates at the Port of Hueneme.

The Port Infrastructure Development Program for the Port of Hueneme was awarded a $11,250,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration.

"This $11.25 million federal investment in the Port of Hueneme prospers the local and regional economy and strengthens the national supply chain," said Port of Hueneme Director and CEO Kristin Decas. "Funds will rehabilitate an essential wharf and deepen the berth to support larger vessels requisite to growing import/export volumes. This funding doesn't just improve our docks; it creates good paying jobs in logistics."

The Maritime Administration manages a discretionary grant program that uses a competitive basis to determine recipient projects on an annual basis.

Previous project awardees can be found here.

The Port of Hueneme's trade volume has increased by 80 percent over the last decade, moving over $15.8 billion in goods and generating over $2.8 billion for the local economy shared the Port of Hueneme.

State and federal funds have been used to support shoreside power and emissions reduction systems that facilitate zero emission port traffic including roll-on/roll-off ships, crane electrification, and zero emission cargo handling equipment.

Additionally, the adjacent Naval Base Ventura County is on track to construct an expansive permanent testing and maintenance network of facilities for testing unmanned undersea and surface platforms.

"A vital engine for clean jobs and workforce development, the Port of Hueneme drives economic growth and promotes climate resiliency across our region," detailed Congresswoman Brownley. "These federal investments will help the Port of Hueneme carry out its critical functions while prioritizing safety, maximizing efficiency, and guaranteeing responsible stewardship. Ensuring the Port's sustainability and resilience is essential for our environmental and economic prosperity, and I will continue to support investments like these that serve our community and help safeguard our future."

An additional federal grant of $11,224,449 was awarded for infrastructure improvements at the Port of Richmond.

"By upgrading key infrastructure at the Ports of Hueneme and Richmond, we're strengthening our supply chains, supporting good-paying jobs, and moving goods more reliably across California and the nation," explained Senator Padilla. "As the fourth-largest economy in the world, California depends on ports like these as critical gateways for trade and growth. I'll continue fighting for investments that deliver lasting benefits for the workers, businesses, and communities that rely on them."

The post Port of Hueneme receives $11.25 million in federal funding for infrastructure improvements appeared first on Read more

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN

(CNN) — The US will soon begin issuing passports featuring an image of President Donald Trump inside, a State Department official said Tuesday.

The presence of Trump’s likeness in the US passports is the latest – and most significant – instance of his image being used for an item said to be commemorating the 250th anniversary of US independence. Unlike a commemorative coin or national park pass, a US passport is an internationally recognized form of identification that is typically valid for 10 years.

According to a mockup of the passport, Trump’s face and his signature will appear on the inside cover.

“As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed U.S. Passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Tuesday.

“These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the U.S. Passport the most secure documents in the world,” he said.

The news was first reported by The Bulwark, and Fox News first published a mockup of the new passport.

The State Department will begin to issue the passports this summer. It is unclear how many will be issued or whether a recipient will have to request the “specially designed” passport.

The Department of the Interior, which oversees national parks, announced last year it was unveiling “commemorative new designs” for park passes, one of which features Trump’s face alongside George Washington.

“It is the department’s honor to showcase the America the Beautiful pass honoring America’s 250th anniversary and the generations who have protected our lands,” Secretary Doug Burgum said in a video posted on the department’s website.

And last month, Trump’s handpicked Commission of Fine Arts voted to approve a commemorative coin for the United States’ 250th birthday featuring the president’s likeness.

Last year, Trump’s name was also affixed to both the Kennedy Center and the US Institute of Peace.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The post US to issue passports featuring Trump’s picture to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por Kara Scannell, CNN

El militar de fuerzas especiales involucrado en la captura del presidente depuesto de Venezuela Nicolás Maduro se declaró inocente este martes de usar información clasificada sobre el operativo para obtener más de US$ 400.000 en ganancias ilegales.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, un militar activo de 38 años destinado en Fort Bragg, compareció vestido de civil ante la jueza Margaret Garnett en Nueva York.

El caso es la primera vez que fiscales federales presentan cargos relacionados con apuestas realizadas en un mercado de predicción, el popular espacio donde las personas apuestan “sí” o “no” sobre resultados que van desde partidos deportivos y la boda de Taylor Swift hasta eventos geopolíticos.

Los fiscales alegan que Van Dyke participó en la planificación y ejecución de la inédita acción militar en las primeras horas del 3 de enero de 2026, cuando militares de EE.UU. sacaron a Maduro y a su esposa del palacio presidencial en Caracas, Venezuela, bajo intenso fuego cruzado.

Las autoridades aseguran que Van Dyke utilizó su conocimiento sobre la operación clasificada para hacer apuestas en Polymarket en los días y horas previas al operativo. Presuntamente apostó US$ 32.000 sobre la participación de EE.UU. en Venezuela, incluida una apuesta a que Maduro estaría “fuera” de Venezuela antes de finales de enero. Tras el exitoso operativo, Van Dyke obtuvo más de US$ 400.000 en ganancias.

Según la acusación, Van Dyke transfirió las ganancias a una bóveda extranjera de criptomonedas antes de moverlas a una cuenta de corretaje en línea recién creada. Tras reportes periodísticos que señalaron la exitosa apuesta, el documento judicial sostiene que Van Dyke pidió a Polymarket eliminar su cuenta.

Según la acusación, fue fotografiado poco después del operativo en “lo que parece ser la cubierta de un barco en el mar, al amanecer, usando uniforme militar de EE.UU. y portando un rifle, junto a otras tres personas con uniforme militar estadounidense”.

Van Dyke fue arrestado el jueves por la noche y acusado de uso indebido de información gubernamental confidencial para beneficio personal, robo de información gubernamental no pública, fraude de materias primas, fraude electrónico y realización de una transacción monetaria ilegal. El viernes compareció por primera vez ante un tribunal federal en Carolina del Norte y fue liberado tras pagar una fianza de US$ 250.000.

La apuesta relacionada con Maduro es una de varias operaciones sospechosas que han llamado la atención recientemente. Legisladores y reportes de prensa han señalado grandes movimientos en el mercado de futuros del petróleo antes de anuncios clave relacionados con el conflicto entre EE.UU. e Irán.

Tras el arresto de Van Dyke, el presidente Donald Trump dijo en respuesta a preguntas que le preocupa la creciente tendencia global de apostar sobre eventos geopolíticos y afirmó que el mundo se ha convertido en “un casino”. “No estoy contento con eso”, añadió.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The post Soldado que apostó en Polymarket sobre captura de Maduro y ganó US$ 400.000 se declaró inocente appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

The post Opening Doors appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.