[Lauren]

A COLOMBIAN CUSTOMS WORKER ENTERED A SURPRISE GUILTY PLEA THIS WEEK … ADMITTING HE TOOK BRIBES AND FUNNELED MORE THAN 1 MILLION DOLLARS IN DRUG MONEY.

THE PLEA CAME ON DAY TWO OF THE TRIAL … BEFORE ANTICIPATED INFORMATION ON CORRUPT ACTIVITY BETWEEN U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AGENTS AND THEIR INFORMANTS COULD BE UNCOVERED. 

AUTHORITIES WERE TIPPED OFF TO THE DEFENDANT, OMAR AMBUILA AFTER HIS DAUGHTER FLAUNTED LUXURY ITEMS ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

JENNY AMBUILA POSTED PHOTOS OF HERSELF CARRYING DESIGNER HANDBAGS, TAKING LUXURY VACATIONS AND DRIVING A 330-THOUSAND DOLLAR LAMBORGHINI.

SHE WROTE IN A 20-17 FACEBOOK POST “PEOPLE ASSUME THAT BECAUSE THEY CAN’T MAKE IT YOU CAN MAKE IT EITHER. PROVE THEM WRONG” … ALONG WITH A PHOTO OF THE LAMBORGHINI.

BUT THAT LIFESTYLE DIDN’T MATCH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI’S GRADUATE’S ACTUAL FINANCIAL SITUATION OR HER FATHER’S … WHO WAS EARNING ABOUT 2-THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH AS MID-LEVEL CUSTOMS SUPERVISOR IN COLOMBIA.

PROSECUTORS SAY A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS USED TO BUY THE LAMBORGHINI CAME FROM THE FLORIDA-BASED NEPHEW OF A “KNOWN CONTRABAND SMUGGLER IN COLOMBIA.”

THE COURT PROCEEDINGS WERE SUPPOSED TO SHED LIGHT ON A SCANDAL THAT RESULTED IN MORE THAN A DOZEN FEDERAL AGENTS BEING DISCIPLINED OR OUSTED FROM THEIR JOBS FOR A RANGE OF MISCONDUCT DURING D-E-A MONEY LAUNDERING INVESTIGATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

IN TAMPA FEDERAL COURT TUESDAY, AMBUILA REPORTEDLY SHOWED NO EMOTION AS THE U-S DISTRICT COURT JUDGE MENTIONED THE LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPENT PREPARING FOR A TRIAL TO END AFTER ONLY TWO DAYS. 

AMBUILA WAS EXTRADITED TO THE U-S FROM COLOMBIA IN 2023. 

HE FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON AT AN APRIL SENTENCING.

FOR SAN I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.

[Jack Aylmer]

AN ICE DETENTION CENTER CAPABLE OF HOLDING CLOSE TO 2,000 PEOPLE HAS SAT NEARLY VACANT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

NOW, A FEDERAL JUDGE IS LIFTING A COURT ORDER, ALLOWING THE CALIFORNIA FACILITY TO RESUME INTAKE, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.

THE ADELANTO ICE PROCESSING CENTER—ABOUT 80 MILES FROM LOS ANGELES—WAS ON THE VERGE OF CLOSURE WHILE THE AGENCY AWAITED A COURT RULING. 

THE GEO GROUP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, RUNS THE FACILITY, COSTING MILLIONS IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHETHER IT’S OPEN OR NOT.

WHEN COVID-19 HIT IN 2020, THE FACILITY SAW AN OUTBREAK OF ITS OWN, REDUCING ITS POPULATION TO JUST TWO AFTER A JUDGE ORDERED THE RELEASE OF DETAINEES FOLLOWING A LAWSUIT.

FOR YEARS, THE CENTER WAS PROHIBITED FROM ADDING DETAINEES THROUGH INTAKE OR TRANSFERS. BUT A NEW COURT RULING NOW ALLOWS THE FACILITY TO INCREASE ITS CAPACITY TO UP TO NEARLY 500 PEOPLE.

AN ATTORNEY WITH THE ACLU OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SAYS THE PANDEMIC-ERA BAN WAS ONLY EVER MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY, BUT SHE ADDED THE HISTORY OF ABUSE AGAINST DETAINEES AT ADELANTO SHOULD KEEP THE FACILITY CLOSED FOR GOOD.

LAST YEAR, DOZENS OF CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES CALLED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR A PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THE CENTER CITING LACK OF MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD WHILE ABUSE REPORTS ARE IGNORED BY STAFF. 

ON THE OTHER SIDE, OTHER STATE REPRESENTATIVES BELIEVED THE OPENING OF ADELANTO WAS LONG OVERDUE TO START DETAINING IMMIGRANTS WAITING FOR COURT HEARINGS. 

WITH ICE RAIDS CONTINUING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF IMMIGRANTS HELD AT ADELANTO ARE RE-EMERGING, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE FACILITY CAN INCREASE ITS CAPACITY. 

THE COURTS DECISION, HOWEVER, IS INDEPENDENT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS TO REMOVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND THOSE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS.

ICE HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS CONTRACT TO KEEP THE FACILITY OPEN IN AN EFFORT TO ‘OPTIMIZE ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES’ 

ADVOCATES AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WORKED TOWARD A SETTLEMENT IN THE LAWSUIT. 

A FINAL DECISION IS EXPECTED IN THE SPRING, WHEN A JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHETHER THE BAN CAN BE FULLY LIFTED FROM THE DETENTION CENTER AND OPERATIONS CAN RESUME.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.

[Jack Aylmer]

AN OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PROJECT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAID HE WANTED GONE-

HAS NOW RESULTED IN A NEARLY BILLION DOLLAR LOSS FOR ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST OIL COMPANIES.

IN ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS REPORT ON THURSDAY, SHELL DISCLOSED A 996 MILLION DOLLAR WRITE OFF-

INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE COMPANY’S WITHDRAWL FROM THE ATLANTIC SHORES OFFSHORE PROJECT-

SAYING IT NO LONGER ALIGNED WITH DESIRED FINANCIAL RETURNS.

THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT APPEARED TO BE THE TARGET OF A RECENT TRUMP POST ON TRUTH SOCIAL-

WHERE THE PRESIDENT SAID HE HOPED A WIND FARM OFF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF NEW JERSEY, WHERE ATLANTIC SHORES IS LOCATED, WOULD BE DEAD AND GONE.

SHELL’S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROJECT COMES AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S PUSH FOR OFFSHORE WIND-

IS NOW REPLACED WITH TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING THE INDUSTRY AND HALTING NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

SHELL PREVIOUSLY SAID IN DECEMBER IT WAS HALTING ALL NEW INVESTMENTS IN OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY-

AS THE COMPANY INCREASES SPENDING ON OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS.

A MOVE WHICH MIRRORS THE SHIFTING U.S. ENERGY POLICY NOW BEING SEEN AMID THE CHANGE IN PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS.

FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT THE U.S. ENERGY SECTOR, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.

[Jack]

A GROUP OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS IS REPORTEDLY PUSHING SENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER TO TAKE A STRONGER STANCE AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS SIX GOVERNORS LED BY J-B PRITZKER OF ILLINOIS AND MAURA HEALY OF MASSACHUSETTS HELD A CALL WITH SCHUMER WEDNESDAY NIGHT … ASKING HIM TO SLOW DOWN THE CONFIRMATION OF TRUMP’S CABINET NOMINEES. 

ACCORDING TO THE TIMES, THE GOVERNORS ALSO SAID THE PARTY NEEDED TO GENERATE MORE PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO TRUMP’S PICKS AND AGENDA THAN SENATORS HAVE IN THE CHAMBER SO FAR.

SCHUMER REPORTEDLY TOLD THE GOVERNORS HE COULD NOT FORCE ALL SENATE DEMOCRATS TO OPPOSE EVERY TRUMP NOMINEE BUT HE COULD UNITE THE CAUCUS TO OPPOSE CERTAIN HIGH-PROFILE APPOINTEES.

THE SENATE THIS WEEK HELD CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR THREE OF TRUMP’S MOST CONTENTIOUS CABINET PICKS — ROBERT F KENNEDY JUNIOR TO BE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY, TULSI GABBARD FOR DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND KASH PATEL TO HEAD THE FBI. 

THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS REPORTEDLY ALSO TOLD SCHUMER THAT THEIR STATES ARE WHERE THE BRUNT OF TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS WILL BE FELT, INCLUDING ORDERS TO  PAUSE FEDERAL FUNDS.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR AND LAST YEAR’S DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT, TIM WALZ WAS ALSO ON WEDNESDAY’S CALL … AND SAID DEMOCRATS NEEDED TO BE MORE VISIBLE IN THE MEDIA TO CONVEY THEIR PARTY’S MESSAGE – INSTEAD OF JUST COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT TRUMP IS DOING. 

ALSO ON THE CALL WERE NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR, AND KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY.

REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE GOVERNORS HAVE NOT COMMENTED ON THE ARTICLE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.

FOR SAN I’M JACK AYLMER. 

FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

GOOD NEWS FOR TRAVELING ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

THE WORLD’S LARGEST WIND-POWERED CARGO SHIPS ARE NOW TAKING PASSENGERS.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM C-N-N, THE ARTEMIS, WHICH IS ONE OF LARGEST CARGO SHIPS WITH SAILS, JUST DOCKED IN NEW YORK AFTER A 32-DAY TEST SAIL FROM NORTHERN FRANCE WITH FOUR PASSENGERS IN ITS NEWLY AVAILABLE CABINS.

THE SHIPS ARE RUN BY FRENCH STARTUP TRANSOCEANIC WIND TRANSPORT, WHICH NOW SAYS IT HAS CABINS IN A PAIR OF CARGO SHIPS FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A MORE CARBON-CONSCIENCE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY, THE SHIPS REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY MORE THAN 90 PERCENT COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL CARGO VESSELS.

EACH SHIP WILL FEATURE UP TO SIX DOUBLE CABINS FOR PASSENGERS, WHO WILL SHARE THE VESSEL WITH A HANDFUL OF CREW MEMBERS AND HUNDREDS OF PALLETS OF GOODS FROM WINE TO OLIVE OIL AND MORE.

TRAVELERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH MEALS INCLUDING FRESH FISH, INTERNET SERVICE AND NO LUGGAGE LIMIT, BUT ACCOMMODATIONS AREN’T CHEAP… AND WHILE YOU’RE PACKING, PACK YOUR PATIENCE AS WELL.

A TRIP FROM FRANCE TO NEW YORK WILL COST YOU NEARLY 27-HUNDRED DOLLARS AND TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 20 DAYS.

SO FAR, THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVES SAY THEY’VE RECEIVED INQUIRES FROM AROUND 15-HUNDRED POTENTIAL TRAVELERS.

THE COMPANY ALSO WARNS, DON’T EXPECT IT TO BE LIKE A CRUISE, THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE SHIP IS TO TRANSPORT CARGO FROM POINT A TO POINT B WITH ONLY AROUND FOUR PERCENT OF ITS REVENUE EXPECTED TO COME FROM CLIMATE-FRIENDLY TRAVELERS.

THE FRENCH COMPANY SAYS RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ONLY A PAIR OF SHIPS AVAILABLE FOR PASSENGERS, THE ARTEMIS AND ANEMOS, BUT PLANS TO EXPAND THE FLEET BY SIX ADDITIONAL VESSELS BY 2027.

THE FOUNDERS OF T-O-W-T SAY THE ULTIMATE GOAL SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2011 IS TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE TRADE INDUSTRY BY DECARBONIZING IT BUT THE COST IS HIGHER THAN TRADITIONAL VESSELS.

THE COMPANY SAYS SHIPPING AROUND A TON OF GOODS FROM EUROPE TO THE U-S WILL COST YOU MORE THAN TWICE AS MUCH AS AN ENGINE-POWERED VESSEL WOULD CHARGE. 

CURRENTLY, INTERNATIONAL TRADE THROUGH CARGO SHIPS ACCOUNTS FOR THREE PERCENT OF FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS. 

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

[Jack Aylmer]

TESLA IS EYEING THE FUTURE—READY TO SHAKE UP THE STREETS OF AUSTIN WITH THEIR NEW LINE OF SELF-DRIVING CARS, TAKING AIM AT WAYMO’S DOMINANCE IN THE ROBOTAXI INDUSTRY.

BY THE MIDDLE OF JUNE–CEO ELON MUSK SAYS THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL SEE A NEW FLEET OF FULL SELF DRIVING CARS. 

SIMILAR TO ORDERING AN UBER–PEOPLE CAN INSTEAD OPT FOR A ROBOTAXI THROUGH TESLA. 

EVEN THOUGH Q4 PROFITS DIDN’T HIT EXPECTATIONS, MUSK BELIEVES THESE SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE THE KEY TO TESLA’S FUTURE. ANALYSTS AGREE—THE SOFTWARE AND FUTURE PROSPECT IS KEEPING COMPANY PROFITS HEALTHY. 

WHILE TEXAS IS THE FIRST STOP ON THE MAP, CALIFORNIA AND OTHER U-S CITIES COULD SOON SEE TESLA’S ROBOTAXI’S BY THE END OF THE YEAR. 

THE NEW FLEET WILL CROSS PATHS WITH THE COMPETITOR–WAYMO. 

THIS WEEK, THE ALPHABET-OWNED COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT WILL EXPAND ITS AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES TO TEN MORE CITIES IN 2025, ONLY DISCLOSING TWO: LAS VEGAS AND SAN DIEGO.

SO LET’S BREAK IT DOWN:

WAYMO IS ALREADY OPERATING IN CALIFORNIA—WHERE TESLA IS HEADING—WITH ROBOTAXIS IN LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO.

THEN THERE’S AUSTIN, WHERE TESLA WILL ROLL OUT ITS FIRST ROBOTAXIS.

AND LET’S NOT FORGET WAYMO’S PRESENCE IN PHOENIX, WITH ATLANTA AND MIAMI COMING SOON.

DATA FROM RESEARCH AND MARKETS SHOW THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE INDUSTRY IS GAINING TRACTION, WITH AN EXPECTED MARKET GROWTH OF 29% ANNUALLY—WITH BOTH WAYMO AND TESLA EMERGING AS KEY PLAYERS.

AS AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES GAIN POPULARITY, LAWMAKERS IN STATES LIKE VIRGINIA, CALIFORNIA, AND MARYLAND ARE MOVING TO REGULATE THEM—FOCUSING ON LIABILITY IN ACCIDENTS, WEIGHT LIMITS AND MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITIES.

TESLA IS ALSO PLANNING TO LAUNCH ITS CYBERCAB–ANOTHER ROBOTAXI MODEL–THIS ONE BUILT WITHOUT A STEERING WHEEL. 

PRODUCTION IS EXPECTED TO START NEXT YEAR. 

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER 

NEWLY CONFIRMED U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY SIGNED AN ORDER DIRECTING A REVIEW OF FEDERAL FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS SET DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

 A MOVE HE SAYS WILL HELP LOWER THE PRICES OF NEW VEHICLES.

THIS WEEK, DUFFY SENT A MEMO TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION-

INSTRUCTING THE AGENCY TO RE-EVALUATE FUEL ECONOMY RULES FOR NEW CARS AND TRUCKS THROUGH THE END OF THE DECADE.

UNDER THE CURRENT STANDARDS, PASSENGER CARS ARE REQUIRED TO REACH AN AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY OF 65 MILES PER GALLON BY 2031, AN INCREASE FROM 48.7 MILES PER GALLON IN 2024. 

LIGHT TRUCKS, INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUP TRUCKS, MUST REACH 45 MILES PER GALLON, UP FROM 35.1 MILES PER GALLON.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SAID THESE RULES WOULD HELP CUT EMISSIONS BY 710 MILLION METRIC TONS-

ABOUT EQUIVALENT TO THE CARBON OUTPUT OF OVER 1,800 GAS FIRED POWER PLANTS.

AND CLAIMED THEY WOULD HELP SAVE CONSUMERS AN ESTIMATED 23 BILLION DOLLARS ON FUEL COSTS.

HOWEVER, FEDERAL OFFICIALS DID ADMIT THE REGULATIONS WOULD ALSO MAKE SOME VEHICLES MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUY.

AUTOMAKERS SAID THOSE COST IMPLICATIONS WERE A CONCERN FOR THEM-

ADDING THEY COULD FACE $14 BILLION IN NON-COMPLIANCE FINES AS A RESULT OF THE RULES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THE BIDEN-ERA FUEL ECONOMY POLICY DIMINISHED THE STRENGTH OF THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY-

AND DENIED AMERICANS THE FULL RANGE OF AFFORDABLE VEHICLES THEY NEED.

CITING DATA FROM COX AUTOMOTIVE THAT SHOW’S DURING BIDEN’S TIME IN OFFICE AVERAGE VEHICLE PRICES INCREASED FROM 40,881 DOLLARS IN 2021 TO 47,218 DOLLARS IN 2024-

A 15 AND A HALF PERCENT JUMP.

DUFFY STATED “ARTIFICIALLY HIGH FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS” COULD INCREASE VEHICLE COSTS AND MAKE CERTAIN MODELS UNAFFORDABLE FOR CONSUMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS NOW GOING TO LOOK INTO ALL FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS FOR VEHICLES FROM THE 2022 MODEL YEAR ONWARD.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.

Steven Wallace:

We haven’t had a mid-air collision with a U.S. airliner since 1978

Simone Del Rosario:

The American Airlines collision with a military helicopter at Reagan National Airport is unprecedented in the modern era of flying.

It’s been nearly 50 years since a mid-air collision with a U.S. airliner. It’s been almost 16 years since a U.S. airliner crashed, killing everyone on board.

Sean Duffy:

What I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.

Simone Del Rosario:

On Wednesday night, a regional American Airlines flight landing in DC from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter. Sixty passengers were on that plane, along with four crew members. Three military members were on the helicopter.

John Donnelly:

At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident.

Simone Del Rosario:

I want to bring in Stephen Wallace. He is the former director of the FAA office of accident investigation. Sir. I know that things are unfolding pretty quickly about this, but do you have any initial theories based off what you’ve seen so far as to what caused this breakdown in safety?

Steven Wallace:

Well, as someone who’s spent a lot of his life in accident investigation, I am very loath to speculate, so I can assure you that we will all the evidence you could want is probably there. In other words, this, this airliner is going to have a state of the art cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder that records hundreds of parameters, and there’s radar data, and there’s audio data, and there are eyewitnesses, and there’s all the wreckage. So so everything is there, and then, now the NTSB is in charge. They will make the determination of probable cause. The one thing the NTSB never does is rush to conclusions. They’re extremely thorough, extremely methodical. You typically don’t see an accident cause for often more than a year after it happens. So, you know, so I won’t speculate as as to the cause. I mean, I will observe here that the airliner is on an instrument flight plan. It’s very close to landing. You know, a typical, a typical airliner approach path is about a three degree descent, which means, I mean, in the final phase that it’s, it’s about 300 feet per mile. And so there, down there, I could just see from where the river is. And of course, I lived right. I live right on that river and and that it would they were probably less than a half a mile from their touchdown point. So they’re they’re very, very close to the ground, and so the controller issued a visual separation, and they have to get a confirmation from the pilot, which they they got. I didn’t hear it very clearly, but I think it’s in there that the pilot acknowledged the instruction that they acknowledge that they could see the airliner and helicopter pilot correct yes and and that they acknowledged, well, they were instructed to fall in behind it. I’m not clear if the if the helicopter was going to also then land at Reagan airport.

Simone Del Rosario:
Have you had concerns about activity at Reagan National Airport? I know that. You know, lawmakers in the past have expressed concern as airlines are looking for more slots in the area. I myself used to live a couple of minutes away from the airport. We know how small that area really is, and there is a lot of activity.

Steven Wallace:

Well, that’s a discussion that’s been going on as I was at the FAA for 32 years, and left the end of 2008 and that discussion has been going on a long time, and I but I used to kind of have a sort of a joking this is obviously not a joking situation. But the two things pilots like doing with approaches to Reagan airport is complaining about them and flying them. I mean, it’s beautiful, and on a nice day, it’s, you’re just sort of flying down the river, and it’s, it’s, it’s visual flying. I mean, there are instrument landing systems, but they can only be used in, you know, certain directions and and so for maximum capacity, they do visual approaches from both of the north and the south and and today they were operating toward the north from the south. I mean, last night, when the accident happened. So, yeah, it’s, it’s not ideal. I mean, you build an airport out in the middle of the desert. Let’s take, for example, the new Denver airport, or the airport at Dallas, Fort Worth I mean, you where you go out there, and a huge amount of land, and you, and you build an airport. And guess what? You don’t have. Runways don’t cross each other. And you know, that’s what we call building an airport off a clean sheet of paper. And Reagan airport is the exact opposite, cramped space all those three runways, they all cross each other. So yeah, there are challenges there, and pilots operate safely in and out of there all day, every day, as you know, as a

Simone Del Rosario:
long time expert in this field, especially an accident investigation for you, what are the first questions that you want answered?

Steven Wallace:
Well, again, let me just say that the NTSB, the questions they want answered is not what’s first or what’s last, but they want every single question answered this extremely, extremely thorough. And, you know, I have heard clips, but not really, not I’m not I’m not sure I heard all of them are. They were entirely clear. And I think that there’s a one frequency for the fixed wing aircraft and another for the helicopter. So certainly want to, would, would look at the air traffic control communications and you know, it’s probably extremely unlikely that anything was wrong mechanically with either of these aircraft, but that still, then that’s not going to be eliminated. It’s going to be it’s going to be looked at.

Simone Del Rosario:
This is creating such a shock to the industry, to Americans, it’s pretty unprecedented in recent history to have a plane crash like this. And you know, we’ve heard from the responding agencies from DC fire saying they do not believe that there are survivors. How unprecedented is this crash?

Steven Wallace:
Well, the the United States airlines, the airliners, all have sophisticated collision avoidance systems. Now, the last time that a United States airliner was involved in a mid air collision, if I’m not wrong, was september of 1978 San Diego, California. This is a system that operates, depending on how you count them, 28,000 flights a day. Maybe the number goes up and down. If you add in the corporate jets and private jets, maybe private planes might go to 45,000 flights a day operated by the system. So now not, not everybody, has the sophisticated T cast terminal collision avoidance system, but this airliner certainly had it. And so we haven’t had an a mid air collision with a US airliner since 1978 let’s say the end. You know, around 30,000 flights a day. So it’s just to say it is unprecedented. Is is an understatement, but no experts in the field will say it can’t happen tomorrow. And guess what? It happened last night. And so I will say that one thing worth noting is that the collision avoidance system, when you get close to the ground and close to the airport, you would start to get so many warnings as there’s so many airplanes close together that the system is inhibited. So below, below about it may vary a bit, but below about 500 feet, this collision certainly occurred. Below 500 feet, the system does not give resolution advisories. So if two airliners are up at cruise altitude, and they’re about to collide, the system will coordinate until one airplane to fly up and one to fly down, and it’ll say, it’ll it’ll give what’s called a resolution advisory

But modern airplanes, even the helicopter, perhaps, could, could, could see the other airplane on on a display. I mean, I had a private airplane of my own, until a year or so ago, that I could, I could see other traffic on it. I mean, so this, the technology is now getting to be, you know, quite commonplace. Well,

Simone Del Rosario:

we’re going to be learning a lot through this investigation, we appreciate your expertise. Steven Wallace, thank you so much.

[Jack Aylmer]

A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN NEW YORK CITY’S CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CITY OFFICIALS. 

A FORMER FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF PLEADED GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY – ADMITTING THAT HE AND OTHERS AGREED TO ACCEPT NEARLY 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BRIBES TO SPEED UP SAFETY INSPECTIONS. 

ANTHONY SACCAVINO (sack-uh-vee-no) – WHO WAS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT’S BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION – ENTERED THE PLEA IN MANHATTAN FEDERAL COURT WEDNESDAY.

SACCAVINO AND BRIAN CORDASCO … ANOTHER HIGH RANKING FIRE PREVENTION CHIEF … ARE ACCUSED OF CREATING A “V-I-P LANE” FOR FASTER SERVICE BY THE FIRE INSPECTION BUREAU THAT COULD ONLY BE ACCESSED WITH BRIBES. 

FEDERAL OFFICIALS RAIDED THEIR HOMES IN FEBRUARY 20-24 AND THE TWO WERE INDICTED IN SEPTEMBER. 

THE INDICTMENT ACCUSES THE CHIEFS OF JOINING FORMER FIREFIGHTER TURNED BUSINESSMAN HENRY SANTIAGO JUNIOR’S FIRE SAFETY COMPANY AS SECRET PARTNERS IN 20-21.

PROSECUTORS SAY SANTIAGO PROMISED HIS CLIENTS HIGH END RESTAURANT VISITS AND HOTEL STAYS … OFFERING HIS CONSPIRATORS A CUT OF THE MONEY FOR FAST TRACKING THE PERMIT PROCESS TOTALLING 190-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BRIBES OVER TWO YEARS. 

ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, HE DELIVERED THE BRIBE PAYMENTS OVER STEAKHOUSE DINNERS AND AT THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU’S BROOKLYN OFFICE. 

SANTIAGO PLEADED GUILTY TO A CONSPIRACY CHARGE IN SEPTEMBER.

CORDASCO ALSO PLEADED GUILTY JUST THREE WEEKS AFTER HIS ARREST.

BOTH CORDASCO AND SACCAVINO’S CHARGES CARRY A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.

SACCAVINO ENTERED HIS GUILTY PLEA AS PART OF A PLEA AGREEMENT OF 57-THOUSAND DOLLARS – THE TOTAL OF PAYMENTS HE PERSONALLY RECEIVED DURING THE TWO YEARS. 

SACCAVINO SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY, WHILE CORDASCO’S SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH. 

THE INDICTMENT OF THE FIRE CHIEFS HAPPENED AS THE CITY FACED MULTIPLE FEDERAL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS OF MAYOR ERIC ADAMS’ ADMINISTRATION, LEADING TO SEVERAL RESIGNATIONS. 

ADAMS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES ALLEGING THAT HE ACCEPTED ABOUT 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS OF FREE OR DISCOUNTED INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, HOTEL STAYS AND MEALS IN RETURN FOR ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A TURKISH OFFICIAL AND MEMBERS OF THE TURKISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

NOW THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS SENIOR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DROPPING THEIR CORRUPTION CHARGES AGAINST ADAMS. 

TRUMP HAS THE POWER TO PARDON ADAMS AND SAID IN DECEMBER HE WAS CONSIDERING IT. 

FOR SAN I’M JACK AYLMER.

FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.

[Ray Bogan]

The chairman of the FCC ordered an investigation into sponsorship practices at PBS and NPR stations. In a letter obtained by the New York Times, Chairman Brendan Carr told the outlets he is concerned they are breaking federal law by airing commercials. 

Carr explained that federal law prohibits noncommercial educational broadcast stations from running commercial advertisements. The stations can run on-air acknowledgments about donations from for-profit entities, but those can be done for identification purposes only. 

“These announcements should not promote the contributor’s products, services, or businesses, and they may not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, or inducements to buy, sell, rent, or lease,” Carr wrote in a letter to PBS and NPR executives. 

The CEO of NPR told the Times that NPR’s sponsorships comply with federal regulations. 

“We are confident any review of our programming and underwriting practices will confirm NPR’s adherence to these rules,” NPR CEO Katherine Maher stated. 

PBS told the NYT it was proud of its noncommercial educational programming and worked diligently to comply with the FCC’s regulations. 

Carr said he planned to inform Congress about his investigation. 

“To the extent that these taxpayer dollars are being used to support a for profit endeavor or an entity that is airing commercial advertisements, then that would further undermine any case for continuing to fund NPR and PBS with taxpayer dollars,” he wrote in the letter. 

Carr is the senior Republican on the commission. He has been nominated by both Presidents Biden and Trump and confirmed unanimously by the Senate three times.