In this provided photo, Michelle Stewart and her husband, Bryan Stewart, pose for a photo during her retirement ceremony as Chief of Staff at the Arlington National Cemetery on July 25, 2014. Both Michelle and Bryan Stewart retired with the rank of colonel after a combined nearly 60 years of service in the U.S. Army. They currently live in Battle Ground, Wash.
Courtesy Col. Keith Joseph
In just a few weeks, millions of Americans will celebrate the Fourth of July with their families and friends at barbecues, parades and outdoor concerts under fireworks. This year’s celebrations will take on added significance as our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of its independence.
As we approach this historic milestone, “Think Out Loud” hears from guests whose life experiences and personal histories illuminate different aspects of what it means to be an American.
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We start by hearing from Bryan and Michelle Stewart, a married couple in Battle Ground, Wash. Bryan and Michelle retired as colonels in the U.S. Army after nearly 60 years of combined service at military bases in the U.S and abroad. They both served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bryan was also deployed to the NATO headquarters in Belgium. Michelle worked in Bosnia, where she helped identify mass grave sites and assisted with the U.S.-led effort to end the war. She also served as the Chief of Staff at Arlington National Cemetery.
Michelle and Bryan Stewart join us to talk about how their military service has shaped their views on patriotism, sacrifice and our country’s founding ideals.
“Think Out Loud®” broadcasts live at noon every day and rebroadcasts at 8 p.m.
If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook, send an email to thinkoutloud@opb.org, or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983.
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WASHINGTON (7News) — With thousands of spectators expected to attend the UFC fights at The White House, fans had to fight the weather while awaiting the much-anticipated event.
Fight night on Sunday was preceded by excitement in the hours leading up to the first bout.
ALSO SEE | FIRST LOOK: UFC drops renderings for White House fight, Freedom 250 Fan Fest
“Everywhere you walk, people have American flags; they’re excited about the fights,” said David Klimek.
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The heat and humidity blanketed the nation’s capital throughout the day.
Event staff handed out free water bottles along the path leading to the security screening area.
“We’re probably just going to find a bar or a watch party, maybe get out of the heat a little bit. They were giving out free waters. That was cool. I wasn’t expecting that,” said Nathan Willingham.
Klimek echoed this sentiment, telling 7News, “It’s just too hot out here. We try to have water, but you’re standing in the sun, so we did the best we can.”
It wasn’t just the heat that played a role on Sunday.
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The possibility of storms also had fans making plans in case they had to find cover.
“We planned to just wait it out right in the rain. But for the lightning, we were just going to follow the crowd, see where people go. I heard they were going to come back when it’s over, so we just trusted the organizers to keep us safe,” Klimek said.
Ethan Ragland told 7News, “I think we’re just going to go to a bar, just watch the fight there if that happens. That’s the ‘plan B,’ I guess.”
In the days leading up to the fights, public safety officials ramped up security measures.
That included road closures all around the National Mall.
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“I think they did a really good job of setting up all of the infrastructure. They got a lot of police. It seems like it’s pretty safe,” Willingham said. “I was worried about the possibility of some dangerous stuff, but it seems like it’s very, very secure.”
Many roads will remain closed through Monday evening.
The Mariners will try to wipe the slate clean today behind Emerson Hancock. He could use a great outing as much as the Mariners could use one from him. Since his first start in May, Hancock has looked less like a breakout star and more like a somewhat improved version of his old self. Over that time, his K%-BB% is down to just 12%, and he’s outrunning his peripherals on the back of a .200 BABIP. That’s all fine, and even that version of Hancock has more of a career in front of him than the guy who finished last season. But one hopes he can adjust back now that the league has clearly adjusted to him.
The Nats will counter with PJ Poulin, who will work as an opener in front of Miles Mikolas.
With Randy Arozarena still down with the hamstring issue and Julio Rodríguez getting a DH day, we’ll see an outfield of Luke Raley, Víctor Robles, and Dominic Canzone. It’s giving 2024. I wouldn’t read too much into Raley, Canzone, and Miles Mastrobouni getting starts against a lefty since Mikolas is expected to get the bulk today for Washington. Honestly, I’m surprised more teams aren’t trying a lefty opener against the Mariners.
Pretty standard lineup for the Nats except that Curtis Mead has the day off, and James Wood gets DH duty. On the seventh day, they rested.
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First pitch: We got ourselves brunch baseball, baby. 10:35 PDT first pitch. TV: Mariners TV Radio: Old reliable
A fighter jet crashed into a mountain Saturday afternoon in Yakima County, Washington, sparking a wildfire, local officials said.
The crash occurred at about noon near Rimrock Lake in Washington state. The pilot sustained minor injuries after ejecting from the plane and was transported to the hospital, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office said.
Smoke rises from the scene of a fighter jet crash in Yakima County, Washington. June 13, 2026.
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Naches Fire Department
The crash sparked a fire in the area, prompting the evacuation of campers as firefighters worked to suppress it, officials said.
The U.S. Marine Corps told CBS affiliate KIRO-TV in a statement that the crashed jet was an F/A-18 Hornet “assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.”
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The jet “experienced a non-fatal aviation mishap while conducting routine training approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington,” the statement read.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is based in Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California.
The Naches Fire Department said the fire was being suppressed by helicopters and at least one engine from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest crew.
Helicopters and at least one engine from the U.S. Forest Service’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest also responded. The size of the blaze was unclear.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, officials said.
