News of America

[Markus Wilding]

GRUMMAN EXEC: "WE NEVER PROMISED THAT"

ATLANTA, GA - Notes from the third month of Congressional investigations into the debacle behind the Belleau Wood-class aircraft carrier and A-8 Cicada development have taken an interesting turn as Grumman executives claimed that the Navy arguments of broken promises were never made by Grumman. Said one executive to Congress, "We never promised that [...] the A-8 Cicada would be fully operational by 1973." He went on to explain that Grumman actively argued with the Navy to halt deployment of the A-8 until the "kinks" could be worked out with the plane. However, the Navy has released communication records that show that Grumman officials promised the plane was ready for active service. According to a recent anonymous poll, at least half of Congressmembers are in favor of limiting the Navy's budget in the future to prevent this sort of "absurd mass absentmindedness."

[Markus Wilding]

NAVY'S NEW CRUISERS IN SERVICE, BUT NOT EVERYONE'S HAPPY

ATLANTA, GA - The California-class of cruisers has received some of its new weaponry according to a declassified Department of Defense report but these weapons do not offer all the protection and attack capabilities it needs, so claims a source close to the development project and rollout. Likewise, the new Bellau Wood-class is now armed to the teeth with the latest and greatest weapons available to the Socialist Republic Navy, but debate rages in Congress regarding the A-8 Cicada fighter jet, which still lacks provisions for armament and, according to anonymous pilot reports, is unwieldy and difficult to fly. Congress has begun debating a provision to withdraw the Navy's funding for future carrier projects in response to this debacle as the Spruance-class still remains largely unfit for service - a fundamental issue as the Pacific Fleet is centered around it and the California-class. New contractors are rapidly filing for recognition within the American bureaucracy to slip in and overtake Grumman and Newport News in their hegemony over American shipbuilding.

[Markus Wilding]

KAUR WINS 1974 ELECTION!

ATLANTA, GA - With the final electoral votes casted in New York and Montana, Congresswoman Melissa Kaur has won both the popular and electoral vote to become the next President of the Socialist Republics of America. She is expected to be inaugurated in a few week's time as President Connally's administration handles the transition and conducts their last official pieces of business.

[Markus Wilding]

THREE MILE ISLAND UNIT 1 GOES ON-LINE, GENERATES 800 MEGAWATTS OF POWER

LONDONDERRY, PA - Rejoice at American science and progress! Three Mile Island, the nexus of American nuclear power production on the East Coast, has gone online today following a final series of stress tests and handover from Exelon Nuclear Power Corporation to American nuclear engineers and power plant operators destined to work in the new plant. Government and Exelon experts and analysts state that Three Mile Island Unit 1 is expected to operate for 40 years and should be prepared for full shutdown by mid-2014. By then, all energy production should be weaned off of noxious and poisonous coal, gas and oil and to purely clean energy sources like nuclear, hydrogen and solar!

[Markus Wilding]

PRESIDENT KAUR ANNOUNCES PLANS TO DRAW DOWN FRENCH DEPLOYMENT

ATLANTA, GA - After a five-year long deployment to France, the 101st Airborne is coming home. President Melissa Kaur has promised to reduce the SRA's deployment to France, returning the entirety of the 1st Airborne Corps and two other corps dispatched to France to defend the French Commune when rising tension between the Commune and a nascent French Republic risked sparking a war. "Now that the threat of serious violence is over," President Kaur is quoted as saying, "it is time for our soldiers and pilots to come home." All is not well, though - the 4th Corps has been ordered to remain in place alongside a wing of SRAAF fighter jets and bombers to assist the French Commune in its defense, though the Pentagon believes the likeliness of war in the region is "extremely low." The SRN task force which has also been sent to France is reported to be sailing back home as well.

[Markus Wilding]

PRESIDENT KAUR ANNOUNCES MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN WEST

ATLANTA, GA - Following the official declaration of war against Dakota, Press Secretary Blake Kennedy informed the American people of President Kaur's plans to begin a new series of infrastructure projects in the former Cascadia and Rocky Mountains territories intended to combat "years of neglect" by former President Connally. According to Press Secretary Kennedy, the project primarily aims at providing new and improved housing, but other projects such as upgrading infrastructure and expanding the American rail network to isolated communities is not out of the question.

[Markus Wilding]

PRESIDENT KAUR TO OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH CASCADIAN NATIONALISTS

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - An initiative has been launched in the California, Oregon and Washington Socialist Republics to address the specific grievances that plague these states in dealing with Cascadian insurrectionists, which even after nearly seven years since the fall of Cascadia refuse to accept the reality of their situation. Militias still lurk in the mountains and forests of these beautiful states, forcing the Socialist Republic Army and Army Air Force to constantly engage and destroy small cells that offer no guarantee of lasting victory. President Kaur believes that the American state can negotiate with these terrorists to bring peace by addressing elements of their demands that are at least obtainable, such as improving the general lot of life of Americans within the former Cascadian states. Only time will tell if these negotiations will bear fruit or if the entire effort is a pipe dream which may doom President Kaur's chances at potential re-election.

[Markus Wilding]

GERMAN TOURIST GOES MISSING NEAR NOTORIOUS CHICAGO HOTEL

CHICAGO, IL - Reports from Chicago PD confirm that a tourist, a German national by the name of Louis Schuster, has been reported missing while staying at the Luxurious Inn and Suites in downtown Chicago. The area is infamous for unusually high crime rates for Chicago, and CPD has not ruled out the possibility of foul play though it does emphasize it is "early in the investigation" and it's far too soon to tell what may have lead to Mr. Schuster's disappearance. It has been confirmed that Mr. Schuster was traveling alone and that his family in Germany has been contacted and is cooperating fully with the investigation.

[Markus Wilding]

MARTIAL LAW DECLARED IN CALIFORNIA, OREGON AS CASCADIAN INSURGENTS OCCUPY LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO

CALIFORNIA SOCIALIST REPUBLIC - A state of martial law and national mobilization has been declared as Cascadian insurgents, utilizing military equipment of unknown origin, attacked National Guard units at their posts in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego early yesterday morning. As it stands, Cascadian insurgents are in active combat with National Guardsmen and may have already begun terrorizing American citizens in their daily lives. Their goals are clear - they seek the destruction of the American state and will hold nothing back in their attempts to see this done. The military has confirmed that it has called up all reserve forces and ordered a general mobilization of the Socialist Republic Army and Army Air Forces to ensure the threat to American security is dealt with quickly and harshly. Our source in the Navy has informed us that a blockade has been enacted around ports on the West Coast to prevent the enemy's obvious foreign supplies with an easy means of reinforcing their efforts.



NEGOTIATIONS BREAK DOWN, CASCADIAN NATIONALISTS ARRESTED

SEATTLE, WA - Following the illegal insurrection of the Cascadian "nationalists," the leaders of the militias and forces that now rise against the legitimate American state have been arrested by American servicemen and are being held indefinitely in a "secure location" our source reports. Comrades, do not be blinded by these false ideologies, these men that order you around like cattle! The Cascadians know their cause is lost, and will surely be destroyed by the might of the Socialist Republic Army in mere minutes! They cannot hope to stand against the glorious Army and Air Forces! Do your patriotic duty and help defend the nation against these dangerous radicals that are surely waiting to take your home and turn it into a luxury resort for the obscenely rich!

[Markus Wilding]

VICTORY OVER CASCADIAN NATIONALISTS!

SAN DIEGO, CA - With the convincing and inevitable defeat of the illegal Cascadian seditionists in California, the American people can breathe easy and look forward to peace in the American heartland once more. The scars of the insurrection will surely take some time to heal, but do not despair comrades! The illegal seditionists cannot possibly break the spirit of the American people and cannot destroy the bonds that we have forged for a new America!