Art exhibit on display
Rembrandt returns
Funk Zone gallery to debut ‘Accession’ tonight - A3
Elverhoj Museum reopens with exhibit of artist’s etchings - B1
Our 165th Year
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S AT U R DAY, M AY 15, 2 021
New name, same mission
‘Holding the line’ Police Department commemorates fallen law enforcement
Vandenberg renamed to Space Force Base, highlighting nation’s access to space
By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The American flag billowed high in the sky over Santa Barbara’s Police Station on Friday morning. Emergency Medical Service providers from agencies all across the region, including law enforcement officers, dispatchers,
fire first responders, ambulance providers and others gathered outside the Police Station on Friday to pay respects to first responders who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, in honor of National Peace Officer Memorial Day and National Police Week. Santa Barbara Police Chief Please see MEMORIAL on A4
GRAYCE MCCORMICK / NEWS-PRESS
Dozens of law enforcement officers, first responders and community members gathered outside the Police Station on Friday to pay respects to first responders who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, in honor of National Peace Officer Memorial Day and National Police Week.
Gov. Newsom proposes $286B spending plan By MADISON HIRNEISEN
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Vandenberg bid its Air Force Base and 30th Space Wing titles a historical farewell and welcomed the new Space Force Base name and Space Launch Delta 30 designation on Friday.
By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
On a brisk, sunny Friday afternoon, Vandenberg bid its Air Force Base and 30th Space Wing titles a historical farewell and welcomed the new Space Force Base name and Space Launch Delta 30 designation, “blue threads and brown threads alike.” Hundreds gathered at Vandenberg for the ceremony, including representatives from the Governor’s Military Council, the offices of Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Salud Carbajal, the mayors of Lompoc and Buellton, the Space and Missile Systems Center, and numerous generals, commanders and colonels for the U.S. Space Command, 30th Space Wing, 30th Operations Group and 30th Mission Support Group. The event began with the presentation of colors, musical honors, the National Anthem and some history of the installation of Vandenberg, followed by remarks from each colonel leading the groups being inactivated. Former 30th Space Wing Commander Col. Anthony J. Mastalir became the new commander of Vandenberg Space Force Base, and while addressing the crowd and his base, referenced the prior dedication of the Vandenberg Air Force Base that occurred more than six decades ago. “In 1958, not far from where I’m standing right now, Maj. Gen. David Wade spoke at the dedication ceremony of Vandenberg Air Force Base, and he predicted, ‘The air here will resound with the thunder of rocket engines.’ Well, of course, he was right,” Col. Mastalir said at the ceremony. “In a few months, we’ll launch number 2,000 here on the Western Range — an exclamation point underscoring more than six decades of dedication, persistence and commitment to assure American access to space.” In addition to giving his remarks, the new Space Force commander bestowed a symbolic honor upon one of the distinguished guests in attendance — Capt. Jim Kunkle, a P-38 fighter pilot who fought the Germans over Nazi-occupied Europe. Capt. Kunkle was shot down during a dogfight but downed an enemy in the process, earning him a Distinguished
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Colonel Anthony J. Mastalir, Commander of the 30th Space Wing, speaks during the Vandenberg Air Force Base renaming and 30th Space Wing redesignation ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc on Friday.
Service Cross. The veteran received an honorary membership in the U.S. Space Force on Friday, as well as the first ever Space Launch Delta 30 Commander’s Coin. “It’s inspiring when a member of the greatest generation takes the time to pay it forward with the latest generation,” Col. Mastalir told Capt. Kunkle and his wife, Ruth Kunkle, who was also in attendance. “You are the first recipient in the history of the world. I do this in deep appreciation to you for a lifetime of dedication to the U.S. armed services.” Capt. Kunkle told the News-Press after the event, “I think back many, many years ago when I wished I had rockets! It truly is thrilling to be here. This is the beginning, the start.” Col. Mastalir told reporters after the
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Gov. Gavin Newsom pitched his revised spending plan for the state Friday, offering details on how he plans to allocate the whopping $286 billion state budget in the coming year. The budget, which is one-third higher than the state’s current spending plan, is fueled by a $100 billion surplus of state tax and federal stimulus dollars. Through the American Rescue Plan, California is set to receive $27 billion from the federal government. Gov. Newsom said this surplus will help the state come “roaring back” after a tough pandemic year. “This historic, unprecedented, generational and transformational budget is 100% the direct responsibility of 40 million people strong that not only met the moment over the course of the last year, but met many different moments and challenges,” Gov. Newsom said during the budget presentation. “Their remarkable resiliency, their capacity for renewal and recovery is demonstrable and is going to I think set this state up for not just a comeback year, but for an extraordinary decade, arguably century, ahead.” Within the spending plan, Gov. Newsom plans to allocate $12 billion to address the homelessness crisis, and said he is hopeful the money can trigger a housing increase that could bring 65,000 people off of the street. According to a news release, the package will help to unlock 46,000 new housing units across the state. The governor also plans to inaugurate a tax rebate for twothirds of Californians who could receive direct payments of up to $1,100. In addition, Gov. Newsom proposed $5.2 billion be set aside to pay 100% of the back-rent owed
by low-income renters, $2 billion to be set aside to pay back late utility bills and $35 million be set aside for local legislatures to institute a basic universal income pilot program. Next year’s spending plan also includes updates to technological and transportation infrastructure across the state. Within the proposed budget, Gov. Newsom plans to allocate $7 billion to expand broadband infrastructure to underserved regions, as well as $11 billion to modernize the state’s roads, bridges, highspeed railways, ports and public transportation. To address wildfires throughout the state, Gov. Newsom proposed allocating $2 billion to beef up emergency preparedness. This includes purchasing new firefighting equipment, like airplanes and helicopters, and investments in land and forest management. Within the spending plan, the governor is eyeing opportunities to help Californians who lost jobs during the pandemic get back on their feet. He’s proposing $1 billion be set aside for new grants for workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic to use to go back to school or start their own businesses. Other items on the budget include $300 million to forgive traffic fines for low-income residents, $5 billion to create after-school programs in districts with high rates of underserved students and a $1 billion increase for public universities. “We are trying to do things this state has talked about but never been able to accomplish because we’ve never had the resources to do it,” Gov. Newsom said Friday. “This is not a budget that plays small ball. This is not a budget that plays in the margins.” email: mhirneisen@newspress.com
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ceremony that day-to-day, the name change and new designation “doesn’t change anything,” as the base already provides range services, preserves the safety of the public and ensures launch providers have an area to safely test missiles or put their satellites in orbit, and they’ll continue to do so. “A little bit of the reorganization is actually going to make us better at what we do today and optimizes some of our processes by bringing disparate organizations closer together,” he said. “...I would say it’s not a direct impact in terms of just switching from the 30th Space Wing to Space Launch Delta 30, but when you step back, what we’re doing is part of a larger issue we see on the horizon.” He said that the nation is already seeing an Please see VANDENBERG on A6
NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Sudoku................. B3 Sports ................... A5 Weather................ A6
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-17-21-30-43 Mega: 9
Friday’s DAILY 4: 1-8-3-9
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 3-18-41-44-68 Mega: 3
Friday’s FANTASY 5: 6-10-20-36-39
Friday’s DAILY DERBY: 01-09-02 Time: 1:40.10
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 1-19-20-38-54 Meganumber: 17
Friday’s DAILY 3: 0-9-9 / Midday 1-4-5