MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, April 1 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - At 9 a.m. (Sanaa time) April 1, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed an Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist unmanned surface vessel (USV) in self-defense. It was determined this USV presented a threat to U.S. and coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, an  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, April 2 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. Central Command conducted an airdrop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on April 2, 2024, at 1:23 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict. The joint operation included four C-130 U.S. Air Force aircraft and U.S. Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of U.S humanitarian assistance supplies. U.S. C-130s d  more

EGLIN AFB, Florida, April 3 -- The U.S. Air Force's Eglin Air Force Base issued the following news: By Kevin Gaddie, Tam Eglin Public Affairs This year's Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicked off with a 5k run, March 29. The AFAF fundraiser provides monetary assistance to eligible Airmen, Guardians and their families to help with emergency needs, education assistance, family support and more. AFAF partners with four foundations: the General and Mrs. Curtis E. Lemay Foundation; the Air Fo  more

EGLIN AFB, Florida, April 3 -- The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued the following news: By Capt. Lindsey Brewer & Samuel King Jr. The 96th Test Wing and 53rd Wing welcomed the first three F-16 Fighting Falcons ready to take part in the Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model - Autonomy Flying Testbed program. VENOM-AFT is designed and funded to accelerate testing of autonomy software on crewed and uncrewed aircraft. VENOM-AFT complements the Autonomy Data and AI   more

TAMPA, Florida, April 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario (29, Cleveland, OH) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for conspiring to traffic firearms, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and money laundering. A co-conspirator, Saleh Yusuf Saleh (24, Cleveland, OH), was sentenced on November 30, 2023, before U.S. District Jud  more

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, April 3 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news release: Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) was a key contributor to surpassing the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) F414 Engine Readiness Goal (ERG) of 1,451 ready-for-issue (RFI) engines for the first time since 2018 - eight months ahead of the planned recovery schedule. The achievement was a joint effort between FRCSE, the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265), Naval Supply Systems Command, Defense Logistics   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- President Biden issued the following statement on Florida Supreme Court decision on reproductive care: * * * Yesterday's extreme decision puts desperately needed medical care even further out of reach for millions of women in Florida and across the South. The Court not only upheld Florida's current ban on women being able to make their own reproductive choices, it will likely trigger Governor DeSantis' even more extreme law that would prevent women from accessing care be  more

TYNDALL AFB, Florida, April 3 -- The U.S. Air Force Tyndall Air Force Base (325th Fighter Wing) issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Victoria Moehlman, 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The 325th Medical Group conducted Ready Eagle, comprehensive training exercise aimed at improving response readiness and team integration, March 25-27, 2024. After several days of training, the exercise reached its peak with a capstone event. Medical personnel were tested in a simulated explosion inv  more

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, April 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Neal Brij Sidhwaney (43, Fernandina Beach) to 14 months in federal prison for transmitting an interstate threat to kill. Sidhwaney entered a guilty plea on December 15, 2023. According to court documents, on July 31, 2023, Sidhwaney placed a telephone call from Florida to the Supreme Court of the  more