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The United States has begun its countdown to its 250th anniversary, which will take place on July 4, This year’s Independence Day will be bigger than usual due to the semiquincentennial, as it is called. The celebration is overseen by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. It is, according to a 2024 report to Congress, “engaging communities from sea to shining sea, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, and laying the groundwork for the largest and most inspiring commemoration in our nation’s history.” America 250 has a red, white and blue logo akin to the logo for the 1976 Bicentennial, which captivated the nation for nearly two years. An America 250 cowbell at Bevin Bells in East Hampton on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant) It also has merch, available online and at places such as Virginia’s Gift Shop outside of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. Items include star-spangled golf shoes for $130, foam cowboy party hats for $35.99, Betsy Ross candles for $44.99 and challenge coins for $32.99. Although the Pacific Ocean is separated by something like 3,000 miles from the shining sea where the nation was born, many objects that connect the past to the present and future will be on display here. They include documents by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, flags and paintings. The National Archives and Records Administration is lending several items to presidential libraries throughout the nation. It administers two of them in Southern California, for Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Several museums in Southern California have or will have exhibitions related to America 250 or already have a focus on history that’s compatible with the anniversary. Here are a few exhibitions and event to look for. A visitor stands at a statue of Gene Autry at the entrance to the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles in 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) Autry Museum of the American West 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles; theautry.org An exhibition called “Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles” will open May 30. According to the museum’s website, it wiill share the stories of diverse Angelenos and how their attitudes affected the city’s growth as well as reflecting “the opportunities and contradictions expressed in the nation’s founding principles.” Before that, “Desert Dreams and Coastal Currents,” opening Feb. 14, will explore artistic innovation in the Southwest. The Autry was founded in 1988 by the late Gene Autry, cowboy movie star and former owner of KTLA and the Angels. It is near the LA Zoo in Griffith Park. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A container ship unloads its cargo beside the Battleship USS Iowa at the main port terminal in Long Beach, May 10, 2019.(Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP) Battleship USS Iowa, Pacific Battleship Center 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro; pacificbattleship.com, lafleetweek.com, surfacenavymuseum.org The U.S. Navy marked its 250th anniversary in 2025, but its retired battleships always have plenty of history on display. The Battleship Iowa will kick off its America 250 celebration with Los Angeles Fleet Week 2026, which will include a festival and tours of active-duty ships, May 22-25. People who want to tour active-duty ships must enter a digital queue that will become available each morning May 22-25. The USS Iowa will be offering a premium “IOWA Express Experience” that will be announced before Fleet Week, according to representatives. In 2025, the experience included being able to select days and times for navy ship tours. The USS Iowa was commissioned in 1943 and used to transport President Franklin Roosevelt to a conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Casablanca. It has been designated the National Museum of the Surface Navy. Two- to 4½-hour tours of the vessel can be purchased online for $29.95-$79.95. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. ALSO SEE: Port of LA advances plans for Wilmington waterfront,…

LOS ANGELES — UCLA is facing as close to a total revamp among its skill positions as possible. And new faces could go a long way for the Bruins and new coach Bob Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy should transfer portal recruitment work out how they’ve planned in Westwood. Out of the door are longtime Bruins wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer (transferred to Nebraska) and tight end Hudson Habermehl (out of eligibility). And entering the equation is an All-American such as James Madison running back Wayne Knight and wide receivers such as Florida wideout Aidan Mizell, who is searching for a fresh start after middling seasons in Gainesville. Chesney retained running backs coach AJ Steward – who ran the four-headed unit of Jaivian Thomas, Jalen Berger, Anthony Woods and Anthony Frias I – but brought in new coaches to steward tight ends (James Madison special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Drew Canan) and wide receivers coach (New Mexico wide receivers coach Colin Lockett). UCLA is going to have to embrace its new identity – a primarily prototypical West Coast offense under Kennedy. But since the Bruins are more than six months away from breaking out the offensive operation on the road in Week 1 in Berkeley against Cal, UCLA could shift many routes with its playbook and new personnel. Kennedy’s 2025 offense ranked at the top of the Sun Belt, landing at 11th in scoring with 37.1 points per game and 17th nationally in total yardage with 452.6 yards per game. As the first transfer-portal window has wrapped – although exceptions are always possible – here’s a full breakdown of the movement within UCLA’s skill positions entering spring, the second in a six-part series examining the post-portal scholarship outlook for every part of the roster. Running back Returning: Karson Cox R-Fr; Jaivian Thomas Sr; Anthony Woods R-Sr; Isaiah Carlson R-Jr. Arriving: Wayne Knight R-Sr (transfer, James Madison); Dylan Lee R-So (transfer, Iowa State); Jayden Fox Fr (Cherry Creek High, Englewood, CO). Departing: Anthony Frias II (exhausted eligibility); Jalen Berger (exhausted eligibility). Wide receiver Returning: Jace Brown R-So; Karson Gordon R-So; Mikey Matthews Sr; Shane Rosenthal R-Fr; Jonah Smith R-Fr. Arriving: Leland Smith Sr (transfer, San Jose State); Aidan Mizell R-Jr (transfer, Florida); Semaj Morgan Sr (transfer, Michigan); Brian Rowe Jr. (transfer, South Carolina); Landon Ellis Sr (transfer, James Madison). Departing: Jadyn Marshall (transfer, undecided); Rico Flores Jr. (transfer, Virginia); Kwazi Gilmer (transfer, Nebraska); Jaedon Wilson R-Sr (transfer, undecided); Carter Shaw (transfer, undecided); Kyle Miller (exhausted eligibility); Ezavier Staples (transfer, undecided); Titus Mokiao Atimalala (exhausted eligibility). Tight end Returning: Noah Fox-Flores So; Grant Buckey R-Jr; Dylan Sims R-Fr; Peter Bario R-Jr. Arriving: Josh Phifer R-Jr (transfer, James Madison); Stevie Amar R-Fr (transfer, Boston College); Brayden Loftin (transfer, Kansas State); Camden Jensen Fr (Heritage High, Littleton, CO). Departing: Jack Pedersen (transfer, Washington State); Jake Renda (transfer, undecided); Hudson Habermehl (exhausted eligibility). Can Wayne Knight kick on in the Big Ten? Knight will be entering a running backs room with two tailbacks who have served as starters at previous stops in their careers: Thomas and Woods. But neither of his new Bruin teammates can claim All-American status. A year ago, for James Madison, Knight tallied 1,373 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, capping off his journey with the Dukes on a 110-yard performance against Oregon in the College Football Playoff. Standing at 5-foot-7, Knight may lack the traditional size for a power-four running back, but entering his final season of college football, the James Madison transfer has shown the ability to impact the game in multiple facets. Who is Nico Iamaleava’s target No. 1? Exit Gilmer; enter a host of new targets downfield. On the periphery, Ellis and Smith…

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — An immigrant from Nicaragua was found dead at a Texas immigration detention facility last week, federal officials said. Victor Manuel Diaz appears to have killed himself Wednesday at the sprawling tent complex at the U.S. Army’s Fort Bill base in El Paso, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement. The federal investigation into his death continues. It’s the same facility where ICE said another detainee died earlier this month as staff members tried to keep him from killing himself. But a fellow detainee said at least five officers were restraining the handcuffed inmate and at least one had an arm around his neck. EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. Diaz was swept up on Jan. 6 in the federal crackdown on immigration in Minnesota and sent to Texas, ICE said. Diaz entered the United States in March 2024 and Border Patrol officers took him into custody, He was released on parole pending a court date and a judge ordered him to leave the U.S. in an August hearing that Diaz did not attend, ICE said. Diaz was given a final order for removal on Jan. 12, two days before he was found unconscious in his room, authorities said. ICE did not release any other details on Diaz’s death. The agency notifies Congress and releases a statement on its website of all in-custody deaths. Related Articles What’s open and closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day The current US political climate is spurring a ‘reclaim’ and rallying on the MLK holiday Oregon baby is still battling infant botulism after ByHeart formula exposure US futures sink after Trump warns of higher tariffs for 8 countries over Greenland issue DOJ vows to press charges after activists disrupt church where Minnesota ICE official is a pastor Diaz, 36, was being held at Camp Montana East where ICE said another detainee, Geraldo Lunas Campos, died as staff members tried to prevent him from killing himself. But a preliminary investigation by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office found Lunas Campos, 55, died from asphyxia from chest and neck compression and said the death would likely be classified a homicide. A fellow detainee told the AP that Lunas Campos was handcuffed and refused to go back into his cell when at least five guards pinned him to the floor. The detainee said at least one of the guards squeezed an arm around Lunas Campos’ neck. ICE said it is still investigating that death.

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