Santa Barbara County News and Events

UCSB works extra innings to beat LMU

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Noah Karliner homered in 9th inning to tie the game

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KEYT) - Five UCSB pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts as the Gauchos outlasted Loyola Marymount 5-3 in 11 innings for their fourth straight win.

Despite the solid work on the mound, the Gauchos trailed 2-1 heading into the 9th inning but Noah Karliner took care of that with one swing of the bat. He led off with a home run to right and this game would go to extra innings tied at 2.

Each team plated a run in the tenth inning and UCSB took the lead in the 11th inning on a wild throw to first base on a bunt by Corey Nunez. The error allowed Nick Husovsky to score and the Gauchos added another run on a sacrifice fly by Cole Kosciusko.

UCSB pitching did not allow a hit to the Lions until the eighth inning and LMU only totaled 3 hits all game.

Gauchos starter Josh Jannicelli pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing a run without the aid of hit and he struck out seven.

Reliever Donovann Jackson pitched three innings of shutout ball without allowing a hit and he struck out 5.

Raymond Olivas, Chase Hoover and AJ Krodel followed on the mound and held the Lions in check.

Krodel pitched the final two innings to get the win, giving up just one hit and striking out two.

UCSB is now 5-2 on the year and play their next 8 games at home starting Friday against Utah with first pitch at 4:05 p.m.

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Enrique Márquez se reúne con su sobrina en discurso del Estado de la Unión de Trump

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Por Alejandra Jaramillo, Lex Harvey y Rocio Munoz

Un líder de la oposición venezolana recientemente liberado de prisión se reunió con su sobrina el martes durante el discurso del Estado de la Unión, mientras el presidente Donald Trump promocionaba la operación militar estadounidense que derrocó al presidente Nicolás Maduro.

En su discurso, Trump llamó la atención sobre Alejandra González, quien estaba entre el público, diciendo que compartía un vínculo especial con su tío Enrique Márquez.

“Alejandra, me complace informarle que su tío no solo ha sido liberado, sino que está aquí esta noche”, anunció Trump, antes de que Enrique Márquez entrara en la Cámara de Representantes, donde la abrazó mientras los legisladores aplaudían.

La conmovedora y sorpresiva reunión se produjo en el contexto de importantes cambios políticos en Venezuela tras el derrocamiento de Maduro el 3 de enero. Desde entonces, Estados Unidos ha presionado a la presidenta interina de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, exvicepresidenta de Maduro, para que libere a cientos de presos políticos encarcelados durante casi tres décadas de régimen autoritario.

Márquez, candidato presidencial para 2024 por un partido centrista, fue uno de los primeros en salir en libertad el mes pasado. Había permanecido recluido en la infame prisión El Helicode desde su arresto en enero de 2025. Fue acusado de participar en un intento de golpe de Estado tras cuestionar la victoria electoral de Maduro.

“Alejandra temía no volver a ver a su tío”, dijo Trump.

“Desde la redada hemos trabajado con los nuevos líderes y ellos han ordenado el cierre de esa vil prisión y ya han liberado a cientos de presos políticos, y habrá más”.

Trump, que se centró principalmente en cuestiones internas durante su discurso, llamó a Venezuela un “nuevo amigo” y un “socio”.

Venezuela ha liberado a más de 400 presos políticos desde que Estados Unidos derrocó a Maduro, según la principal organización de derechos humanos del país, Foro Penal.

Cientos de presos políticos siguen encarcelados, según grupos de derechos humanos, y muchos de los liberados hasta ahora han enfrentado restricciones y condiciones como prohibiciones de viajar, comparecencias periódicas ante los tribunales y órdenes de silencio.

La semana pasada, los legisladores venezolanos aprobaron un nuevo proyecto de ley que otorga amnistía a las personas que fueron procesadas o condenadas por razones políticas, allanando el camino para cientos de liberaciones más.

Tras firmar la ley, Rodríguez la calificó como “una puerta extraordinaria para que Venezuela se reencuentre, para que Venezuela aprenda a convivir democráticamente y en paz, para que Venezuela se deshaga del odio, de la intolerancia, se abra a los derechos humanos”.

El presidente de la Asamblea Nacional, Jorge Rodríguez, dijo que las autoridades venezolanas habían recibido más de 1.500 solicitudes de amnistía hasta el sábado.

Durante su discurso en Washington el martes, Trump le otorgó al piloto de helicóptero estadounidense, suboficial jefe 5 Eric Slover, una Medalla de Honor por su participación en la operación para capturar a Maduro.

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Freed Venezuelan political prisoner reunites with niece at Trump’s State of the Union address

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By Alejandra Jaramillo, Lex Harvey, and Rocio Munoz, CNN

(CNN) — A Venezuelan opposition leader recently freed from prison reunited with his niece Tuesday during the State of the Union address, as President Donald Trump touted the US military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro.

In his speech, Trump drew attention to Alejandra Gonzalez, who was in the audience, saying she shared a special bond with her uncle Enrique Márquez.

“Alejandra, I’m pleased to inform you that not only has your uncle been released, but he is here tonight,” Trump announced, before Enrique Márquez walked into the House chamber where he embraced her as lawmakers applauded.

The heartwarming and surprise reunion came against the backdrop of major political changes in Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster on January 3. Since then, the US has put pressure on acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, to release hundreds of political prisoners jailed during almost three decades of authoritarian rule.

Márquez, a 2024 presidential candidate for a centrist party, was among the first to walk free last month. He had been held in the notorious El Helicode prison since his arrest in January 2025. He was accused of being involved in an attempted coup after he questioned Maduro’s victory in the election.

“Alejandra feared she would never see her uncle again,” Trump said.

“Since the raid we have worked with the new leadership and they have ordered the closure of that vile prison and released hundreds of political prisoners already, with more to come.”

Trump, who largely focused on domestic issues during his speech, called Venezuela a “new friend,” and a “partner.”

Venezuela has released more than 400 political prisoners since the US dramatically removed Maduro, according to the country’s leading human rights organization Foro Penal.

Hundreds of political prisoners are still locked up, according to human rights groups, and many of those released so far have faced restrictions and conditions such as travel bans, periodic court appearances and gag orders.

Last week, Venezuelan lawmakers passed a new bill granting amnesty to people who were prosecuted or convicted for political reasons, paving the way for hundreds more releases.

After signing the law, Rodríguez described it as “an extraordinary door for Venezuela to reunite, for Venezuela to learn to coexist democratically and peacefully, for Venezuela to rid itself of hatred, of intolerance, let it open up to human rights.”

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Venezuelan authorities had received more than 1,500 requests for amnesty by Saturday.

During his Washington address on Tuesday, Trump awarded US helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover a Medal of Honor for his involvement in the operation to capture Maduro.

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CNN Verifica: Trump emite afirmaciones falsas durante el discurso sobre el Estado de la Unión

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Por Daniel Dale

El presidente Donald Trump realizó una serie de afirmaciones falsas en su discurso sobre el Estado de la Unión durnate la noche de este martes.

Aquí hemos compilado una verificación de datos de algunas de las declaraciones que el presidente Trump realizó:

Trump repitió su habitual discurso con la afirmación falsa de que ha asegurado US$ 18 billones en inversiones en EE.UU. desde que regresó al cargo: “En 12 meses, aseguré compromisos por más de US$ 18 billones que llegan de todas partes del mundo.”

La cifra de US$ 18 billones es ficticia. Hasta la noche del discurso de Trump, el propio sitio web de la Casa Blanca decía que la cifra de “anuncios de inversiones importantes” durante este período de Trump era de “US$ 9.7 billones” y eso incluso es una gran exageración.

Una revisión detallada realizada por CNN en octubre encontró que la Casa Blanca estaba contando billones de dólares en promesas de inversión vagas, propuestas que trataban de “comercio bilateral” o “intercambio económico” más que de inversión en EE.UU., y declaraciones sin concretar que ni siquiera llegaban al nivel de compromiso.

Trump afirmó que los precios de la gasolina “ahora están por debajo de US$ 2,30 el galón en la mayoría de los estados, y en algunos lugares, US$ 1,99 el galón.” Pero ningún estado tenía el martes un precio promedio de gasolina por debajo de US$ 2,37 por galón, según la AAA.

Solo dos estados tenían un promedio por debajo de US$ 2,50 por galón.

Y aunque hay algunas estaciones de servicio individuales que venden gasolina por debajo de US$ 2 por galón, son escasas.

Patrick De Haan, director de análisis de petróleo de la firma GasBuddy, declaró durante el discurso que la firma encontró solo cuatro estaciones en todo el país con precios inferiores a US$ 2 (aparte de descuentos especiales) de unas 150.000 que la firma rastrea, es decir, aproximadamente el 0,00003 % del total.

Trump podría decir con justicia que los precios de la gasolina han caído durante esta presidencia. Han disminuido de un promedio nacional de US$ 3,12 por galón en su día de inauguración en enero de 2025, según la AAA, a un promedio nacional de US$ 2,95 por galón este martes.

Además, Trump afirmó: “Y cuando visité el gran estado de Iowa hace solo unas semanas, incluso vi gasolina a US$ 1,85 el galón.” No sabemos qué vio Trump, pero el precio promedio de un galón de gasolina regular en Iowa el día del discurso del 27 de enero era de US$ 2,57, según los datos publicados ese día por la AAA.

Patrick De Haan, director de análisis de petróleo de GasBuddy, manifestó a CNN en ese momento que GasBuddy encontró solo cuatro estaciones en el estado vendiendo a US$ 1,97 el galón (aparte de descuentos especiales) de un total de 2.036 que la firma rastrea, es decir, el 0,19 % del total.

Trump fue corregido sobre este tema por un asistente al discurso en Iowa al que se refería. Cuando habló de la gasolina en Iowa a US$ 1,95 o US$ 1,85 por galón, alguien en la multitud gritó: “No, US$ 2,63”, según el reportero de CNN Steve Contorno, que estaba en el lugar.

Contorno vio que la estación de servicio justo fuera del lugar donde habló Trump vendía a US$ 2,69 por galón.

Trump afirmó falsamente que cuando dio su discurso anterior al Congreso a principios del año pasado, él

Scale of Xi’s military purges could hinder China’s ability to fight, says think tank

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By Brad Lendon, Simone McCarthy, CNN

(CNN) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping has taken his purge of the country’s military to the very top, targeting his highest-ranked general in a stunning move last month. But Xi’s shake-up cuts across a much wider swath of his armed forces –– with more than 100 officers potentially ousted since 2022.

A new report from a prominent Washington-based think tank reveals just how deeply the anti-corruption drive has reached into the ranks –– and why operationally, that could result in serious unintended consequences for Xi.

Thirty-six generals and lieutenant generals have been officially purged since 2022, while another 65 officers are listed as missing or potentially purged, the report published Tuesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found.

The sweeping clear out is part of Xi’s longstanding drive to clean up China’s military as he continues to tighten his grip on power and drives forward a major military modernization.

But the scope of this “unprecedented purge of China’s military,” raises questions about its readiness to carry out complex operations, the report’s authors say.

When accounting for positions that have been purged more than once, 52% of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) 176 top leadership positions have been affected, said the report.

“This figure is striking and extraordinary, demonstrating the depth of Xi’s campaign and the unprecedented churn in the PLA leadership,” wrote M. Taylor Fravel, director of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and one of the report’s nine authors.

Not just top brass

Cleaning up rampant graft in China’s military has been a cornerstone of Xi’s rule since he took power more than a decade ago. But a new wave of this purge in recent years has seen those close to, or appointed by, the leader himself taken down.

Official notices typically accuse these officers of corruption or violations of “discipline and law,” but discerning the forces behind these moves is challenging within the notoriously opaque PLA.

While the targeting of top leaders –– like top-ranking general Zhang Youxia and joint operations chief Liu Zhenli, who were placed under investigation in January –– has drawn headlines, the report says the extension of the purge to lower-level officers means Xi would have to turn to officers with much less command experience, and zero experience in actual combat, to lead military operations.

That could limit the scope of military campaigns the PLA could take on, the report says.

The gaps left in PLA top ranks can be seen in the pool of officers in line to take over one of the military’s five theater commands. With the purge of 56 deputy theater commanders, the pool of those who can take over one of those five commands has been culled by more than 33%, the report said.

Bonny Lin, another of the report’s authors, says the purges might have already been reflected in PLA readiness.

She notes that PLA exercises around Taiwan in response to “problematic” behavior by the self-governing island took substantially longer to implement in 2025 – 19 and 12 days – compared with just four days in 2024.

The Taiwan question

The loss of top leadership brings into question whether the PLA leadership could conduct an “incredibly complicated and risky” invasion of Taiwan in the next few years, especially noting moves by t

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