The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has dropped its fight against a court-imposed ban on its policy of limiting what professors can publicly say and write. Tim Bakken, the school’s longest-serving law professor, brought the original suit, claiming the academy’s policy violates his constitutional right to freedom of speech. He challenged West Point’s policy implemented in early 2025 that barred faculty members from publishing papers, speaking at conferences, or even appearing on a podcast without first seeking approval from higher-ups in their department. The faculty speech rule appeared to be in response to President Donald Trump issuing an executive…
Is summer over yet? Doesn’t look like it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start gearing up for fall. After all, many kids and young adults are already heading back to school, and many of the daypacks featured this week are tailor-made to transition seamlessly from the classroom or workplace to the trail or bike path. So there’s plenty of fun stuff to peruse, especially the new offerings from beloved backpack brands like Gregory and Cotopaxi. But there are also some interesting alpine-specific packs from Berghaus and the “dry out your wet phone” options from a brand named (you guessed…
CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks this week, escalating the conflict between them and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and raising fears of a wider regional conflagration. The attacks have killed dozens of civilians and troops and also targeted Saudi tankers in transit from Red Sea ports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait out to the Gulf of Aden and the rest of the world. Though less significant than the Strait of Hormuz, around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, once passed through Bab el-Mandeb, moving between Europe…
The Air National Guard is offering members a $7,500 bonus if they reenlist for three years. The “Summer Surge Incentive” comes as part of the Air Guard’s recruitment drive to hire 8,842 Airmen by the end of Fiscal Year 2026, which puts the heat on the service considering that the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30—providing potential candidates with roughly 50 days to make decisions. Payments will be made immediately, and there is no cap on the total number of available bonuses. Those interested must sign the three-year enlistment contract by that Sept. 30 deadline. “It is all part of…
Just hours after a 14-year-old boy shot and killed his grandparents before attacking teachers and classmates at his high school, Thailand’s prime minister is vowing to crack down on legal gun owners by prohibiting their ability to lawfully carry a firearm for self-defense. Politicians the world over often rush to “do something” in the wake of a tragedy, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is no different. Three years ago Anutin, who was then the country’s Interior Minister, cracked down on legal gun owners by imposing a freeze on new licenses and prohibiting individuals younger than…
Enlisted Air Force ranks are categorized into three levels: airmen (pay grades E-1 through E-4), noncommissioned officers (E-5 and E-6), and senior noncommissioned officers (E-7 through E-9). Some personnel can enlist at an advanced rank if they have college credits or have participated in Junior ROTC. The highest advanced rank one can enlist with under these programs is airman first class (E-3). The Air Force offers accelerated promotion for service members who agree to enlist for six years. Under this program, enlistees who enter service as an airman basic (E-1) are promoted to airman (E-2) after basic training is finished,…
Iranian lawmakers are debating the wording of a proposed deal with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. President Donald Trump insisting an agreement is getting closer. Trump said the talks are “moving along” and gave no additional comment when asked about progress by White House reporters late Thursday. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said earlier this week that an understanding with Oman had been reached “in principle,” and state TV cited one lawmaker on Friday as saying the final text and details of an agreement with Muscat will be announced “soon.” Some Iranian politicians are pushing for…
Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton will have to take his fight over the “gun-free” state fair to the Texas Supreme Court after an appellate court upheld the ban on Thursday. Paxton, along with several individual plaintiffs, filed suit after the State Fair of Texas announced in 2024 that the lawful carrying of firearms would no longer be allowed. The move came after a shooting during the fair in 2023, one that was committed by someone who couldn’t legally carry a gun. The lawsuit contended that the State Fair of Texas and the…
The newly created Military Spouse Commission has opened an online form to allow those with vested interests in the commission to submit comments. President Donald Trump created the commission on Monday via an executive order to support the lives and experiences of spouses of those enlisted in service. The commission will provide recommendations to address themes including housing, employment, health care and childcare. There are more than 1 million military spouses in the U.S. They are affected by numerous issues including disproportionate levels of unemployment, according to Stars & Stripes. The publication reported that 20% of military spouses are unemployed,…
Take a look at data fromiSeeCars, and you’ll see a handful of SUVs that are anywhere from 2.9 to 9.1 times as likely to cross a quarter million miles as the average vehicle, led by Toyota models like the Toyota Sequoia. These SUVs are all made by automakers with a reputation for dependability, like Honda and Lexus, but that’s not all they have in common. It’s not just that these SUVs are remarkably well-built, but that they buck certain trends. Namely, small, overstressed turbocharged engines and one-speed CVTs. All of these SUVs are available with multi-speed automatic transmissions, and engines…
Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have grown to 1,561 while deaths have surged to 506. The virus is still spreading as new treatment trials begin. DR Congo Begins Ebola Treatment Trial This is the largest ever Ebola outbreak, and it has yet to reach its peak. Researchers began the study of two possible treatments on Thursday at the Ebola treatment center inside Bunia’s Evangelical Medical Center, in eastern Congo’s Ituri province. Vaccine candidates are also in the works, as health care officials struggle to contain the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. This particular strain of the virus is…
A new option has hit the market for heavy e-bikes and versatile riders. Introducing the Thule Vero hitch bike rack, which joined our testing ring this season. The Thule Vero hitch bike rack is engineered to bridge the gap between heavy-duty e-bikes — and virtually any other bike. Gravel bikes. Road bikes. Fat bikes. Kids’ bikes. “The primary goal was to create the ultimate bike rack, capable of carrying virtually any bike type while remaining easy to use,” Oliver Berg, Thule’s international product manager for bike racks, told GearJunkie. That it is. In short: The Thule Vero ($1,300) is an adaptable and…
What should have been a summer getaway at a hunting camp ended in heartbreak. Two University of Alabama students were killed after a fire tore through a hunting camp in Conecuh County early Wednesday morning, and investigators now believe fireworks may have played a role in the tragedy. According to reporting by WKRG, 19-year-old Walter Hensley and 21-year-old McNeil Mostellar, both from the Mobile area, died after flames engulfed the camp near Highway 84 west of Evergreen. Two other young men escaped the fire and were hospitalized with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Investigators with the Alabama…
After separating from the military, receiving your first civilian paycheck is a milestone. But when you’re used to the military’s unique pay structure, you might be confused about what to do when that initial direct deposit hits your bank account. Here’s what you should know. What Changes Financially After Separation Military compensation is more than your base pay. When you’re on active duty, you likely receive non-taxable allowances, such as the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), which can add up to thousands of dollars each month without affecting your taxable income. In the civilian…
The ATF is changing rules aplenty, and they’re a massive departure from years gone by, when everyone in leadership there was as anti-gun as they came. It’s almost universally good news for us, to say the least. Yes, I’m happy overall with where things are headed.However, things aren’t perfect, and Gun Owners of America is a little less than pleased by what we’re seeing.In particular, they have one problem, but it’s kind of a big one.The pro-gun rights group Gun Owners of America is calling out the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives over…
A proposal that could effectively ban hunting, fishing, slaughterhouses, and many forms of animal testing in Oregon just took a big step toward the November ballot. According to KATU, supporters of Initiative Petition 28, also known as the PEACE Act, say they submitted roughly 140,000 signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. That does not automatically put the measure on the ballot. The state still has to verify the signatures, and officials have until Aug. 2 to decide whether the petition qualifies for the November general election. Still, for hunters, anglers, ranchers, seafood restaurants, and anyone who enjoys eating…
When a military retiree dies, the individual’s retirement pay stops. If you are a retiree or approaching retirement eligibility, you need to give serious thought to how you can protect your spouse from the potential hardships caused by the loss of your retirement pay. One option available to you is the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). The SBP is an insurance plan that will pay your surviving spouse a monthly payment (annuity) to help make up for the loss of your retirement income. The plan is designed to protect your survivors against the risks of: Your early death Your survivor outliving…
A Pocatello man who prosecutors say made more than $55,000 running an illegal hunting operation has been sentenced to prison and permanently stripped of his hunting privileges. According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Joelseph Jenkins was sentenced June 2 in Teton County after pleading guilty to multiple wildlife-related offenses uncovered during a lengthy, multi-county investigation. The biggest penalties weren’t small. Jenkins received concurrent prison sentences of two years determinate plus two years indeterminate for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and felony possession of unlawfully taken wildlife. He also received concurrent six-month county jail…
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Hamas militant group said Monday it had dissolved its government in Gaza and is preparing to transfer power to a technical committee backed by the United Nations as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Hamas did not say whether it planned to take the crucial step of disarming or handing over security to an international force, but described its decision as evidence of its commitment to Gaza’s reconstruction after years of war. It was unclear if the move, announced by a lower-level official, would lead to any meaningful change on the ground. The…
According to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Administrator Jared Isaacman, the United States is “very much in a space race” with China. Both countries are hoping to land humans on the moon soon and establish permanent military bases there. During an interview with ‘Face the Nation’ on CBS on Sunday, Isaacman stressed that the Chinese “will land their taikonauts on the Moon – there’s no question.” Beijing’s lunar program is “moving at incredible speeds,” he added. VP Pence Unveils Trump’s Space Force; Will Cost $8 Billion Over 5 Years “The question is – will the US return before them and will we do…
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday demanded that the allies put forward “clear, concrete and credible plans” to reach the organization’s spending targets at its annual summit in Ankara. Rutte made the remarks in the Turkish capital come ahead of a two-day summit starting on Tuesday that comes at a crucial time for the alliance with the United States scaling down its security role in Europe. Washington has been pressing allies to shoulder more of the spending burden. The 32 nations agreed last year to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense — 3.5%…
