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Pete Hegseth traveled to San Diego this week to personally welcome home the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln , which returned to Naval Air Station North Island after more than 300 consecutive days at sea — one of the longest modern U.S. carrier deployments and one marked by severe strain on sailors. Hegseth departed Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 , arriving at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that night before flying out to the carrier the next morning as it approached its homeport in Coronado, California. The Nimitz‑class aircraft carrier, carrying roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines , had spent the year operating in the Pacific and South China Sea before shifting to Middle East missions during an extended deployment. During Wednesday’s visit, Hegseth: Spoke with the crew aboard the ship Participated in physical training (PT) Ate lunch with service members His arrival was intended to boost morale as the ship completed a grueling mission that had drawn national attention...

  WASHINGTON (AP) — In a sharp escalation of the Trump administration’s ongoing clashes with the press, the Pentagon has banned a major military news outlet from coverage and abruptly fired the editor‑in‑chief of Stars and Stripes , the congressionally funded newspaper that has served service members since the Civil War. Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, dismissed Stars and Stripes editor‑in‑chief on Friday, according to multiple defense officials familiar with the decision. The firing came hours after the publication was barred from attending briefings and accessing routine military information, a move press‑freedom advocates say is unprecedented in modern Pentagon history. The Pentagon has not publicly detailed the reason for the ban, but officials inside the department say senior leaders were angered by recent reporting that scrutinized military spending, internal morale issues, and political influence on defense policy. The decision effectively cuts off one of the few i...

Andre DeShields, Brandon J. Dirden, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Cheryl Wills Headline the 5 th Annual Luncheon   (New York, NY) -- The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) returns to New York City for the fifth edition of AAFCA Goes to Broadway Luncheon, celebrating the artists, creatives and cultural leaders across the theater landscape. The event is set for Monday, October 12, 2026 at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in the heart of New York’s Theater District.   The annual ceremony has earned a strong reputation for creating an elegant afternoon that has honored a distinguished list of Broadway luminaries like James Monroe Inglehart, LaTanya Jackson Richardson, Wendell Pierce and Kara Young; producers Debra Martin Chase and Kenny Leon and writer Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, among others.   “AAFCA Goes to Broadway has created an important space where the artistry, history, and cultural impact of theater are celebrated with the attention they deserve,” said Ca...

Two  years after Bishop T.D. Jakes’ overcame a near death experience, his global impact of over 50 years in ministry was celebrated by distinguished guest from various sectors and parts of the wold. Held at The Potter’s House in Dallas with The Sound of 50 a special service honoring his faith journey, creative legacy . The program consisted of archived sermons, speeches and performances as Jakes and his family looked on from the front row. The Sound of 50   traced Jakes’ career from his first sermon in West Virginia at age 19 to his current role as a global faith leader, author, entrepreneur, and cultural influencer. Stories from older siblings and longtime friends recalled his early calling, perseverance after failure, and love for Scripture as well as practicing piano. The program highlighted Jakes’ ministry’s expansion to countries including Australia, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Israel, Nigeria, and the U.K., and its presence in books, film, and music. Leadersh...

The COCOCOZY 3-Piece Bouclé Comforter Set Returns for Fall 2026, Bringing Designer Colette Shelton’s Signature Approach to Stylish, Livable Design to Costco Shoppers LOS ANGELES — October 6, 2026 — After a sold-out 2024 debut that generated viral attention online, COCOCOZY is reuniting with global home textiles manufacturer Welspun for a new fall offering at Costco stores nationwide and online at Costco.com . The COCOCOZY 3-Piece Bouclé Comforter Set , available in Queen and King sizes in Ivory and Charcoal Grey, pairs COCOCOZY’s warm, sophisticated design sensibility with the tactile, cozy feel of bouclé. "I'm thrilled to return to Costco to give even more people the opportunity to bring COCOCOZY style into their homes. The response to our first Costco bedding collection was incredible so we had to bring it back," said designer and tech entrepreneur Colette Shelton , founder of COCOCOZY. "With this bouclé set, we wanted to create the ultimate cozy bedding that f...

  Rep. LaMonica McIver Is Pregnant and Facing 17 Years on Federal Fighting Federal Charges Rep. LaMonica McIver, a Democrat representing New Jersey’s 10th District, is eight months pregnant and facing up to 17 years in federal prison over charges stemming from a confrontation with ICE officers at Newark’s Delaney Hall detention facility in May 2025. McIver had joined several New Jersey lawmakers for an authorized congressional oversight visit after reports of poor conditions inside the facility. During a chaotic clash outside the secured area — involving ICE agents, demonstrators, congressional staff, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka — prosecutors allege McIver forcibly impeded federal officers, including striking two agents with her forearms. McIver insists she was performing her constitutional duty and has pleaded not guilty. McIver says the prosecution is politically motivated, arguing she is being selectively targeted by the Trump administration for standing up to aggressive immigr...

 Parents in Chesterfield County are angry over an image circulating online that ties a Virginia high school football player to the death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells, WTVR reports. Wells, an 18-year-old football player, died July 4 while out on a boat with friends off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His death drew national attention. The image started making the rounds after Friday night's game between Huguenot and Midlothian high schools. It appears to put a Huguenot player's face on top of a photo of Wells, according to WTVR. Huguenot parent Jasmine Robinson told the station the post was "distasteful" and "the lowest you can do." Chesterfield County Public Schools said it knows about the post. Midlothian Principal Shawn Abel called it "unacceptable." According to WTVR, an investigation found a student who does not play football for Midlothian made the image off campus. Abel said the incident should lead to conversations with kids about the dam...