ReportWire

Tag: Interior

  • 4 killed, 6 injured: Florida attorney general investigating deadly incident in Cuba

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    Cuba’s government has accused a group of armed Cubans living in the U.S. of attempting to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism, following a deadly shootout near Cayos Falcones.The Cuban Embassy in the United States announced that its personnel engaged a speedboat registered in Florida when the boat entered Cuban territorial waters located a little more than 100 miles southeast of Marathon and east of Havana.Speedboat registered in FloridaThe Cuban Ministry of the Interior announced on social media Wednesday afternoon that on Wednesday morning, a speedboat with a Florida registration number of FL7726SH entered Cuban territorial waters.The speedboat approached one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayos Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.According to Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, when border guard troops approached the boat, the crew opened fire, prompting the soldiers to return fire, resulting in four deaths and six injuries.The Cuban government claims to have seized assault rifles, handguns, explosive devices, and Molotov cocktails from the boat.Public records indicate that the boat’s owner resides in Miami Lakes.Men identifying themselves as FBI agents were seen approaching the home and speaking with residents through a Ring camera, as reported by a sister station in Miami. “In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region,” the Cuban Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. “Investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events.”Florida leaders and representatives respondRick Scott took to X and said a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation was needed. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated on X that he’s directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with the federal, state and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation. “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” Uthmeier said.

    Cuba’s government has accused a group of armed Cubans living in the U.S. of attempting to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism, following a deadly shootout near Cayos Falcones.

    The Cuban Embassy in the United States announced that its personnel engaged a speedboat registered in Florida when the boat entered Cuban territorial waters located a little more than 100 miles southeast of Marathon and east of Havana.

    Speedboat registered in Florida

    The Cuban Ministry of the Interior announced on social media Wednesday afternoon that on Wednesday morning, a speedboat with a Florida registration number of FL7726SH entered Cuban territorial waters.

    The speedboat approached one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayos Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.

    According to Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, when border guard troops approached the boat, the crew opened fire, prompting the soldiers to return fire, resulting in four deaths and six injuries.

    The Cuban government claims to have seized assault rifles, handguns, explosive devices, and Molotov cocktails from the boat.

    Public records indicate that the boat’s owner resides in Miami Lakes.

    Men identifying themselves as FBI agents were seen approaching the home and speaking with residents through a Ring camera, as reported by a sister station in Miami.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    “In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region,” the Cuban Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. “Investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events.”

    Florida leaders and representatives respond

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Rick Scott took to X and said a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation was needed.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated on X that he’s directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with the federal, state and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation.

    “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” Uthmeier said.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

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  • National park staff are asking about citizenship status. Here’s why

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    If you’re planning to visit one of the 11 most popular national parks in the U.S. — two of which are in California — staff might ask a question that could be disquieting: Are you an American citizen?

    A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said that the question is being posed only to confirm whether the visitor will have to pay a nonresident fee — which is hefty.

    The updates to visitor verification and fees was announced in November by the Trump administration, which said that beginning Jan. 1 it would implement “America-first” entry fee policies.

    “U.S. residents will continue to enjoy affordable pricing, while nonresidents will pay a higher rate to help support the care and maintenance of America’s parks,” according to the announcement.

    When you present your pass, or if you purchase one at a park entrance, staff must ask for your identification and determine your citizenship status.

    According to an internal National Park Service directive obtained by the Washington Post, staffers are instructed to ask visiting groups, “How many people visiting are not U.S. citizens or residents?” The document also stated that “the fee collector does not need to check the identification of every visitor.”

    The Times reached out to staff at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks for comment; both parks referred questions to the National Park Service.

    When is Park Service staff checking a visitor’s citizenship status?

    You will only be asked your citizenship status, by way of ID verification, when buying or using an annual pass, officials say.

    “National Park Service staff are not checking immigration status, citizenship, or residency beyond what is necessary to confirm eligibility for a specific entrance fee or pass,” said Elizabeth Peace, spokesperson for the office of the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

    Peace told The Times in an email that the Park Service had “long required staff to confirm that the name on the interagency pass or fee-based credential matches a valid photo ID.”

    The agency’s updated policy is that all digital-pass holders must show a photo identification matching the name on the pass. Acceptable forms of ID include:

    • U.S. passport
    • U.S. state or territory-issued driver’s license
    • state ID
    • permanent residency card

    You can only use a U.S. birth certificate to validate your identity for an Access Pass, which is for residents who have a permanent disability.

    Visitors who do not have a U.S. government-issued ID will be asked to purchase a nonresident annual pass, Peace said. Those passes are much more costly.

    How much do the passes cost?

    The cost of an annual pass, which covers entrance to thousands of recreation areas but not other amenities including camping and parking is:

    • $80 for U.S. residents
    • $250 for nonresidents

    If a non-U.S. resident is looking to purchase a day-of entrance, it will cost an additional $100 on top of the regular admittance fee, which is $20 to $35.

    The increased fees have sparked controversy. The National Parks Conservation Assn. said it backs efforts to increase funding that will support parks but doesn’t want fees to become a barrier “that keeps people from experiencing America’s most iconic places.”

    “Charging international visitors more is not uncommon globally,” said Theresa Pierno, president of the association, in a letter to the Department of the Interior, “but any such policy must be designed thoughtfully to ensure it doesn’t cause barriers or even longer lines at entrances.”

    In its report, the Post noted that the fees had resulted in longer lines at parks.

    Another concern Pierno voiced was how the verification process would affect an already understaffed workforce.

    The National Park Service staff has been reduced by 24% since January of last year, which means fewer fee collectors and IT specialists who she said are needed as the new fees are implemented.

    Which parks are affected?

    The 11 parks that are subject to additional fees for those who are non-U.S. citizens include:

    1. Acadia
    2. Bryce Canyon
    3. Everglades
    4. Glacier
    5. Grand Canyon
    6. Grand Teton
    7. Rocky Mountain
    8. Sequoia & Kings Canyon
    9. Yellowstone
    10. Yosemite
    11. Zion

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    Karen Garcia

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  • Trump’s plan to dismantle Education Department takes first major step

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    WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Education is starting to break apart its major offices and hand their duties to other agencies — an early sign of how U.S. President Donald Trump might follow through on his campaign promise to shut the department down completely.

    Several offices that support the nation’s schools and colleges will be moved to departments such as Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and even the State Department. Officials say federal funding for schools and colleges will continue as Congress intended, but they have not said whether current Education Department employees will keep their jobs.

    Since taking office, Trump has pushed to get rid of the Education Department, saying it is too influenced by liberal ideas. Department leaders have already been preparing to split up their work among other federal agencies. In July, the Supreme Court allowed major layoffs that cut the department’s staff in half.

    Education Secretary Linda McMahon has recently begun publicly arguing that her department should be closed, saying on social media that states and other federal agencies could handle its main tasks — such as giving out grants and answering questions from schools — more effectively.

    But questions remain about whether other agencies are prepared to take on these responsibilities. The Education Department manages billions of dollars in federal aid and helps states interpret complicated education laws. Closing it will test whether the administration can make the transition smoothly or whether students who depend heavily on federal support — including those in rural and low-income schools and students with disabilities — will be harmed.

    Money Will Still Flow

    Although most school funding in the U.S. comes from state and local governments, the Education Department plays a crucial role in sending federal money to schools and colleges. Officials say that money will continue to flow, but often through different agencies. For example:

    • The Department of Labor will now manage major funding programs, including Title I money for schools serving low-income students. Labor already took over adult education programs in June.
    • Health and Human Services will handle grants that help parents who are attending college.
    • The State Department will run foreign-language education programs.
    • The Interior Department will oversee programs for Native American students.

    One of the Education Department’s biggest jobs is managing the US$1.6 trillion federal student loan system. For now, this will not change, though both Trump and McMahon have said another agency might be better suited to run it. Pell Grants and federal student loans will still be issued, and borrowers must continue making payments.

    The FAFSA website, which students use to apply for financial aid, will stay open, and the department will continue to help families with the application. The department will also continue to oversee college accreditation, which allows schools to accept federal aid.

    For now, the department will continue to handle student disability funding, though McMahon has said it could eventually be transferred to Health and Human Services.

    The Education Department also oversees investigations into schools accused of discrimination — including cases involving disability rights, sex discrimination, racial discrimination, and shared ancestry bias. These responsibilities will stay within the department for now, though McMahon has suggested they could be moved to the Department of Justice.

    However, after the mass layoffs in March, the Office for Civil Rights has been operating with far fewer staff. The cuts have raised doubts about whether it can reduce its enormous backlog of student and family complaints. Department data shows it has been resolving fewer civil rights cases even as new complaints continue to rise.

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  • The ‘Brady Bunch’ house will finally open its doors to the public — for three days only

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    “The Brady Bunch” superfans better hold onto their bell bottoms: The TV family’s retro home in Studio City will finally be accessible to the public for the first time.

    The double doors to the midcentury Studio City home — made famous with its appearance in the beloved 1970s sitcom — will open to fans for three days in November thanks to a limited event by pop culture historian Alison Martino and her Vintage Los Angeles. Martino, an on-air host and producer for Spectrum news and the daughter of singer-actor Al Martino, unveiled the “Brady Experience” on Monday on Facebook.

    “It’s like stepping back into our childhood! IT IS ASTONISHING and you will see every single room,” she announced. “I will personally be taking each and every one of you throughout the house.”

    From Nov. 7 to 9, Martino will guide fans who have shelled out $275 each through the iconic Dilling Street property. The event is now sold out. Though the home’s facade appeared throughout the run of the family sitcom, its interior at the time bore no resemblance to the colorful rooms shown on screen. The interiors of the Brady residence were constructed on sets at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

    The famous abode, originally built in 1959 with late modernist architecture, was renovated decades after “The Brady Bunch” ended in 1974.

    HGTV purchased the home in 2018 for $3.5 million (more than twice the asking price) and renovated the interior to match what “Brady Bunch” audiences saw onscreen. The home renovation network documented that process in “A Very Brady Renovation,” which featured the stars who portrayed the Brady children.

    As part of the renovations, HGTV reproduced the groovy spaces from the set in the home, adding a second floor to accommodate the additional rooms. The network sold the home in 2023 for $3.2 million to Tina Trahan, a historic-home enthusiast and wife to former HBO executive Chris Albrecht.

    The home, in all its “Brady Bunch” glory, has become “even more groovy with more remarkable vintage decor added,” Martino added in her announcement. She said nothing in the home would be off limits, allowing fans to “see every detail up close.”

    Proceeds for the three-day event will benefit animal rescue Wags and Walks, a cause that Martino said Brady family dog “Tiger would definitely approve!”

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    Alexandra Del Rosario

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  • Predator drones shift from border patrol to protest surveillance

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    FT. HUACHUCA, Ariz. — When MQ-9 Predator drones flew over anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles this summer, it was the first time they had been dispatched to monitor demonstrations on U.S. soil since 2020, and their use reflects a change in how the government is choosing to deploy the aircraft once reserved for surveilling the border and war zones.

    Previous news reports said the drones sent by the Department of Homeland Security conducted surveillance on the weekend of June 7 over thousands of protesters demonstrating against raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Predators flew over Los Angeles for at least four more days, according to tracking experts who identified the flights through air traffic control tower communications and images of a Predator in flight.

    Those amateur sleuths, who monitor flight traffic and identified the first flight, which was confirmed by Customs and Border Protection, shared their findings on social media.

    Defenders of using drones to monitor protests say the aircraft, with their high-tech capabilities, can provide authorities useful and detailed information in real time. Human rights advocates fear the new policy will impinge on civil rights.

    The drones, which fly at around 20,000 feet to conduct surveillance, can beam a live video feed to various government agencies — ICE, the military and more . The MQ designation refers to the drone’s abilities and function. In military parlance, M means multi-use and Q indicates it’s an unmanned aerial vehicle.

    When asked about the additional days of flights over Los Angeles, Homeland Security did not directly address the questions but said the flights were meant to protect police and military.

    “CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) has provided both Manned and Unmanned aerial support to federal law enforcement partners conducting operations in the Greater Los Angeles area,” the department said in a statement.

    “Both platforms provide an unparalleled ability with Electro-optical/infrared sensors and video downlink capabilities that provide situational awareness and communications support that enhance officer safety,” the statement added.

    Protesters march against immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles on June 10, the same day the Department of Homeland Security on X posted video of protests taken by a drone.

    (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

    Homeland Security touted information obtained through drones in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on June 10. The post included footage of vehicles on fire and protesters squaring off with law enforcement personnel, apparently to show why it was necessary for the Trump administration to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles.

    “WATCH: DHS drone footage of LA rioters,” the post read. “This is not calm. This is not peaceful. California politicians must call off their rioting mob.”

    The post was dated June 10, but it was not clear if the video was from a Predator drone.

    Supporters of civil liberties are asking why this equipment, which has been used to drop laser-guided bombs on targets in countries like Afghanistan, is being used for domestic issues.

    The deployment of Predators over protesters is a significant departure from the U.S. government’s policy not to fly the drones over demonstrations, to avoid the perception they are spying on 1st Amendment rights activity, U.S. officials said.

    The last time Homeland Security sent a Predator to fly over protesters, according to U.S. government officials, was in Minneapolis during the 2020 protests against the killing of George Floyd by a police officer later convicted of his murder.

    Five Democrats on the House Oversight Committee called the deployment a “gross abuse of authority” and asked Homeland Security to explain what had occurred.

    At times the drones are requested by law enforcement or other authorities to fly over a region, say, to help monitor forest fires, or to provide surveillance for the Super Bowl, officials said.

    The Predators come equipped with cutting-edge infrared heat sensors and high-definition video cameras, and can track scores of individuals within a 15-nautical-mile radius.

    Two people in chairs look at screens and panels of buttons.

    In a file photo, an unmanned Predator drone is being guided from a flight operations center at Ft. Huachuca in Arizona in 2013.

    (John Moore / Getty Images)

    The drone uses an artificial intelligence program, called Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar, or VaDER, to detect small objects — a human being, a rabbit, even a bird in flight. The infrared sensors can identify heat signatures even inside some buildings.

    In response to the drone flights over Los Angeles, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) introduced a bill in July that would restrict Predator drones and other unmanned aircraft from being deployed by the U.S. government over demonstrators.

    “My bill to ban military surveillance drones over our cities puts Trump and his administration in check,” said Gomez. “This is not just about Los Angeles, this affects the entire country. I refuse to allow Trump to use these weapons of war, capable of carrying bombs, as tools for law enforcement against civilians.”

    On Sept. 16, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing Gomez’s Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act.

    “Los Angeles will not stand by while the federal government turns weapons of war against our residents,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who introduced the resolution. “Spying on people engaged in peaceful protest is unconstitutional, dangerous and a direct attack on democracy.”

    The drones were first brought to the U.S. southern border in 2005 and retrofitted for surveillance operations. Homeland Security deployed the drones to fly the length of the 2,000-mile, U.S.-Mexico border, searching for drug traffickers and groups of undocumented migrants.

    Just an hour south of Tucson lies Ft. Huachuca, one of four MQ-9 drone bases from which the drones deploy along the southern border and into the interior of the U.S.

    As with the MQ-9, military-grade technology often finds its way into the interior of the country, experts say.

    “It is tested in war zones, the border, tested in cities along the border and tested in the interior of the country,” said Dave Maass, director of investigations at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy rights organization. “That tends to be the trajectory we see.”

    With a drop in migrant crossings into the United States, experts anticipate drones will be deployed more often over demonstrations in the coming years.

    “If somebody in the Trump administration decides there’s a need to use drones in the interior over U.S. citizens, resources won’t be an issue,” said Adam Isaacson, who covers national security for the Washington Office of Latin America, a human rights research group. “Because there’s just not that much to monitor at the border.”

    Fisher is a special correspondent. This story was co-published with Puente News Collaborative, a bilingual nonprofit newsroom dedicated to high-quality news and information from the U.S.-Mexico border.

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    Steve Fisher

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  • Inside the Rise of Interior, NYC’s Next Big ‘IYKYK’ Brand

    Inside the Rise of Interior, NYC’s Next Big ‘IYKYK’ Brand

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    “Taking something really beautiful and then fucking it up”: That’s what excites Jack Miner about his work at Interior, the label he co-founded with longtime friend Lily Miesmer. Together, the two are set on redefining “specialness” — not by aspiring to prim perfection, but by taking luxurious classics and flipping them into something sharp-witted.

    Since launching in 2020, Interior has slowly evolved its take on elegance from a certain crafty intricacy (Miner previously worked at Bode) towards an altogether darker vision, ultimately building to a boiling point in its first runway show this past September. The duo burned, tugged and tore at lace and silk, taking surface perfection and dragging it lithely through the gutter.  

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    Aemilia Madden

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  • Phoenix-Based Lighting Brand Announces Mother-and-Son Duo as the Winners of Their Latest Design Challenge

    Phoenix-Based Lighting Brand Announces Mother-and-Son Duo as the Winners of Their Latest Design Challenge

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    Press Release
    –

    Nov 2, 2021


    KANSAS CITY, Mo., November 2, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Julie and James Arnold are the proud winners of Lucent Lightshop’s sconce design challenge with a collaborative product available now on their website.

    Lucent Lightshop is a custom lighting manufacturer that recently held a creative contest for interior designers and tradespeople. Entrants were asked to design a unique lighting fixture that could potentially be sold as part of their existing collection.

    Julie Arnold of Place Interiors was selected as a top three finalist by the Lucent Lightshop team. After revealing her design to their Instagram community, she was voted as the winner—with a little help from her son James.

    Although Julie has 20 years of experience as an interior designer with a formal degree from Boston Architectural College and a background in commercial and residential interiors, it was 14-year-old James that rendered Julie’s winning drawings for her. 

    Julie explains, “James has been learning modeling programs for some of his product design ideas, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to enhance his skills. He was on board right away!”

    Truth be told, James rendered all three of the sketches that Julie submitted as entries for the contest. These sketches “wowed” the Lucent Lightshop team so much that they struggled to choose just one as a finalist. James also curated his own Etsy shop where he sells his creations.

    Having used a variety of Lucent Lightshop lights in a cottage that she designed on Lake Superior, Julie was motivated to join the challenge by the opportunity to create a sconce for a brand she already admired. She was also inspired by the prospect of the proceeds being donated to a charitable organization of her choice.

    Julie says, “I currently work closely with HALO, a non-profit that provides housing and healing to at-risk and homeless youth. [James has] also been involved with HALO, most recently by designing a one-of-a-kind hammered brass necklace that he donated to their annual fundraising auction.”

    When her three children were in their younger years, Julie would stay at home but always keep her hand in design development by collaborating with non-profit organizations to help them create products of their own. She believes in building a deeper meaning and impact through design. 

    Julie chose to partner with HALO for this project because she is continually inspired by the important work that they do. She even started a program for HALO a few years ago called “HALOmakers.” This is where the youth that they work with are given a chance to learn valuable life skills through the entire process of making a product, such as a reclaimed wood serving tray.

    The winning sconce design for Lucent Lightshop was influenced by midcentury lighting and objects from Scandinavia, France, and Italy, as well as the current website collection. Julie claims that this Scandinavian aesthetic is woven into most of her projects. Julie named the sconce, Haven, tying into HALO’s mission of providing safe havens of healing and hope for homeless and at-risk youth.

    In terms of which types of areas or places this sconce could be installed, Julie enthuses that they would work well in multiple applications, from bedrooms and reading nooks, to kitchens and office spaces (both residential and commercial). “The bold, saturated color options would look great as accent lighting in a bathroom and also be fabulous statement pieces in hospitality settings.”

    This versatility is significant given that lighting is such an essential layer of design, says Julie. “It creates a mood for the atmosphere, not only with the warmth of the light but also the overall design of the light.”

    In fact, she invites others to think of lighting as she does—as sculpture or art with an added functional value.

    Visit LucentLightshop.com today to check out and purchase Place Interiors’ winning product with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to HALO. 

    About Lucent Lightshop

    Lucent Lightshop manufactures an inspired, hand-crafted collection of lighting fixtures for the design community, homeowners, and the stylish-minded. Their custom designs have been featured on HGTV, DIY Network, Martha Stewart’s Handmade, and Real Simple magazine, to name a few.

    Find them on social media @lucentlightshop, or visit www.lucentlightshop.com for more details. Press contact info@lucentlightshop.com

    About Place Interiors

    Julie of Place Interiors offers creative direction, design, and styling with a focus on crafting spaces and products that tell a story, while infusing sustainable and intentional selections. She also offers limited-edition art collections that benefit non-profits and has been featured in Domino, Houzz, and Midwest Home.

    Find her on social media @place_interiors or visit www.createplace.co for more details.

    About HALO

    HALO is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2005 and is a foundation of a family for children without one. They provide housing, healing through the arts, and education to at-risk and homeless children. 

    Visit www.haloworldwide.org for more details.

    Source: Lucent Lightshop, LLC

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