US NATIONAL NEWS
2022 Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prize Winners
Published
3 years agoon
Grand Rapids, MI –– The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation announced the winners of the 36th annual Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prizes for Distinguished Reporting in 2022 at its annual meeting on June 5. Winners are Tyler Pager, White House reporter for The Washington Post, and Dan Lamothe, national security writer for The Washington Post. Pager received honors for “Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency,” while Lamothe was awarded for “Distinguished Reporting on National Defense.” Each year the two prizes are presented to the winners and include a $5,000 award, one for each prize. The announcement was made by Michael Ford, son of President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford and former chairman of the Foundation.
Pager received the prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency for his standout coverage, valuable perspective, and important contributions to the historical record of a presidency. After the election that returned the Republican Party to a majority in the House of
Representatives, Pager was the first to report that the White House would likely engage with some oversight investigations but would likely refuse to cooperate with any probe involving foreign business dealings of the president’s family. The Foundation committee recognized Pager for his deep reporting, perceptiveness, and adherence to a consistent standard of excellence.
Since 2021, Pager has covered the White House for The Washington Post. Previously he worked at Politico and Bloomberg News. Pager has a master’s degree from the University of Oxford, and was the valedictorian from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Lamothe, who focuses on military affairs for The Washington Post, was awarded for his coverage of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. His reporting seamlessly moved the reader back and forth from Washington crisis response rooms to the evacuation mission
unfolding in real-time at Kabul International Airport. Lamothe’s determination to ensure participants at all levels were represented in this series, combined with in-depth analysis and reporting, is exactly the kind of reportorial excellence that the Gerald R. Ford Foundation seeks to recognize, promote, and reward.
Before joining The Washington Post in 2014, Lamothe worked for Foreign Policy magazine and Military Times where he was embedded in combat alongside U.S. Marines in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Lamothe has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of
Maryland-College Park, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of
Massachusetts-Amherst.
The reporting team of Patricia Kime and Rebecca Kheel of Military.com received an honorable mention for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense. Their outstanding work highlighted the long-term costs of war for those who serve on the front lines and those who support them at home. The reporting team focused readers’ attention on the impact of bureaucratic paralysis on individuals as government officials debated next steps, delays that adversely affected soldiers and veterans seeking help.
Kime has covered military personnel issues and veterans’ health care for decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Virginia. Kheel is a congressional reporter for Military.com and previously worked as a defense reporter for The Hill.
She has a bachelor’s degree in newspaper journalism and history from Syracuse University.
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Politics
FORMER PRESIDENTS, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS GATHER FOR OPENING OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
Published
6 days agoon
June 18, 2026
CHICAGO (FNN NEWS) — The long-awaited Barack Obama Presidential Center officially opened Thursday with a star-studded dedication ceremony on Chicago’s South Side, drawing former presidents, national leaders, celebrities, and thousands of invited guests.
The ceremony began at 11 a.m. CDT with Chicago native and Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson performing the national anthem.
Obama Center Opens
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered remarks celebrating the opening of the center, which is designed to serve as a cultural, educational, and civic engagement hub.
The opening marks the formal debut of one of the most anticipated presidential centers in modern history. The campus opens to the public on Juneteenth and is expected to attract visitors from across the United States and around the world.
Former Presidents in Attendance
Among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were:
- Former President Joe Biden
- Former President George W. Bush
- Former President Bill Clinton
- Former First Lady Jill Biden
- Former First Lady Laura Bush
- Former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton
National Leaders and Celebrities Attend
The event also attracted prominent political leaders, civil rights advocates, entertainers, and business leaders, including:
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
- Civil rights leaders Andrew Young and Al Sharpton
- Media icon Oprah Winfrey
- Comedians David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and Stephen Colbert
- Actor Tom Hanks
- Tennis legend Billie Jean King
- Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts
Several attendees, including Newsom and Shapiro, are widely viewed as potential contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
A Landmark for Chicago’s South Side
The opening of the Obama Presidential Center represents a significant milestone for Chicago’s South Side, bringing national attention, tourism, and economic development opportunities to the community.
Thousands of invited guests attended the ceremony, while residents and supporters gathered at a free public watch party to celebrate the historic occasion.
The center is expected to serve as a lasting tribute to the legacy of the nation’s 44th president while inspiring future generations of leaders through civic engagement, education, and public service.
About the Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center is a world-class campus dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The center includes museum exhibits, public gathering spaces, educational programming, and community resources aimed at fostering leadership and civic participation.
Politics
State Department Offers Up to $15 Million in Rewards for MS-13 Leaders Wanted on Terrorism, Drug Trafficking Charges
Published
6 days agoon
June 18, 2026
WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — The U.S. Department of State announced Thursday that it is increasing reward offers totaling up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of two senior leaders of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a transnational criminal organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Reward Offers Increased
The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Yulan Adonay Archaga Carías, also known as “Porky,” and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Víctor Eduardo Morales Zelaya, also known as “Cuervo.”
The reward offers were announced by Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.
MS-13 Leadership in Honduras
According to federal court documents, Archaga Carías and Morales Zelaya are the highest-ranking members of MS-13 operating in Honduras. Authorities allege they direct the gang’s criminal operations, including:
- Drug trafficking
- Money laundering
- Murder
- Kidnappings
- Other violent criminal activities
Federal authorities also allege the two men are responsible for coordinating the importation of significant quantities of cocaine into the United States. Both remain fugitives.
Among America’s Most Wanted
Archaga Carías is listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is also among the most wanted fugitives sought by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159. The task force is a permanent, whole-of-government initiative focused on dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad.
How to Provide Information
The reward offers were authorized by the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), which supports global law enforcement efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI through WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram at +1-832-267-1688.
Individuals located outside the United States may also contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Those within the United States may contact their local FBI field office.
Confidentiality Guaranteed
U.S. officials emphasized that all identities of individuals providing information will be kept strictly confidential. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards based on information obtained through their official duties.
US NATIONAL NEWS
Rubio, Jaishankar Discuss Strait of Hormuz Security During Diplomatic Call
Published
2 weeks agoon
June 13, 2026
WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a State Department readout released Friday.
According to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the conversation focused on maritime security and commercial shipping in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
Focus on Maritime Security
During the call, Rubio stressed that commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz should immediately comply with instructions issued by U.S. forces as they work to maintain regional peace and security.
The secretary also emphasized U.S. concerns regarding the transportation of Iranian oil and warned that violations of U.S. enforcement measures would not be tolerated.
Critical Global Waterway
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf to international markets and is one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors. Any disruption to commercial traffic through the region can have significant implications for global energy supplies and international trade.
The call highlights continued diplomatic coordination between the United States and India on regional security issues and freedom of navigation in key international waterways.
