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New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, the first black woman to serve as speaker of the state Assembly, died Tuesday after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. Oliver, 71, was serving as acting governor this week while Gov. Phil Murphy was vacationing in Italy. She was admitted to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston on Monday, Murphy’s office announced. Oliver, a Democrat from Essex County, rose to the post of Assembly speaker in 2010 before losing the seat to Vincent Pietro in 2013, Fox16 reported.

The sergeant major of the Army commended the second lieutenant whose December traffic stop prompted a lawsuit and the firing of a Virginia police officer for remaining cool as a pair of cops pointed their weapons at him. "Like many of you," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston tweeted Monday, "I was concerned by the video of [2nd Lt. Caron] Nazario's traffic stop in December. He represented himself and our Army well through his calm, professional response to the situation -- I'm very proud of him."

First Lt. Marina Hierl has reportedly made history by becoming the first woman in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry platoon. The 24-year-old is one of four platoon commanders in Echo Company, a group of 175 Marines and Navy sailors who were recently sent to northern Australia, The New York Times reported Thursday. Hierl is one of two women to the 13-week Marines Corps Infantry Officer Course, according to the Times. “I wanted to do something important with my life,” she told the newspaper. “I wanted to be part of a group of people that would be willing to...

Excerpt: "Where is that advice written? I remember reading it once or twice - and it was something I never did; just not my style. My instincts were spot on with this - as a nice Fleet LT we had a new guy coming to our command - a guy with a "reputation." You know the type. "

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska, April 26, 2010 – The commander of the 3rd Comptroller Squadron Financial Management Flight here has provided a $750 scholarship to the University of Alaska Anchorage's ROTC program. Air Force 1st Lt. Christina Geller presented her first check for the scholarship April 23 at the ROTC's leadership lab. The lieutenant said she wanted to give back to the school that had helped to kick off her career. An Anchorage native, Geller started UAA's ROTC program in May 2004. She graduated in 2006, and then was assigned here. She said she plans to continue the scholarship...

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq, March 4, 2009 – A flood of memories and emotion rushed through the mind of the executive officer for the 1st Cavalry Division’s Headquarters Service Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, as she reflected on the sacrifices it took to achieve her dream of becoming an American citizen. A smiling Army 2nd Lt. Memorina Edwin Barnes, center, chats with a fellow soldier just before a naturalization ceremony at al-Faw Palace on Victory Base Complex, Iraq, March 3, 2009. Along with 250 other servicemembers, Barnes became a U.S. citizen at the ceremony. U.S. Army photo by Staff...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq, June 24, 2008 – “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be,” said Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter. Army 1st Lt. Carolyn Frazier, left, speaks to her soldiers before leaving on a combat logistical patrol on Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, June 13, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amanda McBride  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. For Army 1st Lt. Carolyn Frazier, a 3rd Infantry Division platoon leader in Company A, 703rd Brigade...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2007 – Six members from three generations of Tabitha White’s family have served in the military, so her service in the Marine Corps is a point of pride she takes seriously. Marine 1st Lt. Tabitha White is one of 10 servicemembers selected to tell the military’s story to the American public at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public outreach program. Defense Department photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “I consider it a privilege to be an American, and I realize we have...

BAGHDAD, Oct. 22, 2007 – The high point of 1st Lt. William Bass’ deployment to Iraq so far wasn’t a raid or some other combat operation; it was the sight of two little girls playing on a brand new swing set. Washington, D.C., native Army 1st Lt. William Bass (right), a fire support officer with Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, out of Fort Stewart, Ga., points out improvements made to the Al Zuhor girl’s orphanage in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district during a visit by Multinational Corps Iraq commanding general, Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, on Oct. 16, 2007....

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Rick Posselt Lieutenant Risks Life to Save Another in Iraq By Sgt. Roe F. SeigleRegimental Combat Team 7 HADITHA, Iraq, June 27, 2006 — Marines here say a lieutenant who was leading Marines and Iraqi soldiers through the volatile streets of Haditha, Iraq, June 14, showed uncommon valor when he ran into a barrage of enemy gunfire to pull a wounded Marine to safety. 1st Lt. Rick Posselt, a 25-year-old from Crystal River, Fla., said he is not the Marine who deserves the recognition. Cpl. Michael Estrella, who was killed by sniper fire during...

June 7, 2006 Dear Friend, From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for all that you have done on behalf of my candidacy for the office of Lt. Governor. Last night’s election was a resounding victory for our campaign, making it the top vote-getter on the Republican ticket, and placing us in a commanding position against John Garamendi. Garamendi narrowly won the Democratic nomination after a bitter and expensive primary election. He enters the general election behind in the polls and flat broke. By contrast I enjoy an 11-point advantage in net voter approval according to...

Two of the three Republican candidates for lieutenant governor differed Monday over whether the job should be part-time or full-time and over a possible proposal for Arkansas voters to prohibit most state services from being provided to illegal aliens. Chuck Banks of Little Rock said the public wants a part-time lieutenant governor. Jim Holt of Springdale said he wants it to be full-time as a “bully pulpit” to push for possible ballot measures, such as one to deny state services that aren’t mandated by the federal government to illegal aliens and require stricter identification for voter registration. Banks suggested that...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 14, 2006) -- “The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to 1st Lt. Brian M. Stann, United States Marine Corps,” were the words starting the Silver Star presentation ceremony here March 10. All of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment gathered together as the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division presented Stann, Weapons Company commander, with his Silver Star Medal, honoring him for his actions and bravery during Operation Matador last year in Iraq. “This award represents my guys,” the Scranton, Pa. native explained. “It’s an insight...

McClintock by the Numbers - A strong showing « Back to All Posts   by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)  2-2-2006 2:48 pm FlashReport friend John Feliz, a senior strategist with the Liuetenant Gubernatorial campaign of State Senator Tom McClintock put together some very interesting numbers that are worth sharing.At the risk of telling you how this book ends before you read it -- Tom McClintock is clearly demonstrating an ability to raise funds, and that his base of support is wide and grass-roots driven.  That said, please read this briefing, then applaud Tom for his accomplishments thus far,...

As governor from 1959 to 1967, Pat Brown presided over the most breathtaking period of public works construction in California’s history. During those years, California built the finest highway system in the world, one of the largest water projects in history, and the foremost university system in the country. At a time when the population grew twice as fast as today, the state kept pace with the demand for schools, ports, prisons, libraries, parks and power plants. Today, Californians are locked in perpetual gridlock, schools are bursting at the seams and potential shortages of everything from electricity to water are...

An interesting Newsweek story this week – that references CT Blog among its sources – claims scoring a point against what it paints as a “questionable” Bush administration portrayal of Abu Azzam. In short, the authors of the article, Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball claim the Administration’s leaders aggrandized the real importance of the killed al Qaida commander basing their conclusion on a number of non-identified U.S. counter-terrorism officials and a report posted by our colleague Evan Kohlman on the blog. The “charge” by Newsweek is about the hierarchy of the man. Was he or was he not the “number...

With all the finger pointing going on over the "disastrous" disaster relief efforts on the part of the federal government, I thought it would be informative to share an exchange between a well-intentioned sideliner who is critical of the response time of the military to relief efforts in New Orleans, and a U.S. Naval officer.

Hecht running against Reed By William John Hagan Houston Home Journal 08/27/2005 A potential Democratic nominee in the upcoming Lieutenant Governor’s race, Greg Hecht, visited Warner Robins as part of his campaign to challenge the likely Republican nominee Ralph Reed, the former executive director of the Christian Coalition. Hecht, a former State Senator, Representative, and Assistant District Attorney was in Warner Robins to speak with the members of the Houston County Democratic Committee. Prior to his campaign stop at Ted Wright Park in Warner Robins, Hecht granted an exclusive interview to the Houston Home Journal regarding two issues which he...

McClintock Looks Into Bid for Lt. Gov. The Republican state senator from Thousand Oaks plans to form a panel to conduct polls on his chances in 2006. By Daryl Kelley Times Staff Writer August 25, 2004 SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Tom McClintock, who raised his public profile while splitting the Republican vote in last year's gubernatorial recall election, said Tuesday that he was considering a run for lieutenant governor in 2006 and expected to set up a committee next month to explore that option. McClintock, a conservative lawmaker from Thousand Oaks, prompted the ire of moderate Republicans when he refused...

THE BAGEL CANDIDACY By DICK MORRIS --------------------------------------------------------- July 30, 2004 -- I LOVED Bill Clinton's speech. I was inspired by John Edwards. Bar ack Obama thrilled me. Max Cleland made me grow as a person as I heard him . . . And then there was John Kerry. All around him was eloquence but, in the center of the bagel, there was a speech that was a letdown. And did he just tell 140,000 men and women fighting in Iraq that they are there because of a mistake?