Joseph LaFave

About the author

Joseph LaFave writes about finance, maritime issues, healthcare, the National Guard, and conflicts around the world. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as an EMT in Florida and as an ESH engineer for Lockheed Martin supporting several DoD and NASA satellites. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Management from Southern New Hampshire University.

No pay? No problem. US Coast Guard still kicking ass despite shutdown

As a result of the partial government shutdown, members of the U.S. Coast Guard are now working without paychecks. According to a recent Facebook post from current Coast Guard commandant Admiral Karl Schultz, the Coasties “have not, and will not, be forgotten.” Still, no one can say for sure when the debate around government funding […]

The military’s southern border mission has been extended for another 9 months

U.S. service members currently deployed to the southern border can expect to stay there for another nine months. Although originally the deployment to the area was slated to conclude later this month, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Monday evening that the current operation would extend until September 30, 2019. The DoD did not […]

Take a guided tour through a Coast Guard command center

On the thirteenth floor of a nondescript federal building in downtown New Orleans sits the headquarters of Coast Guard District 8, which is responsible for 26 U.S. states. The district response operations are run by one man, Captain Dave Cooper, a 29-year veteran of the Coast Guard who spent the majority of his career as […]

What’s it like living in Russia and Ukraine as an American expat?

I recently spoke with Erinn Murray, a 28-year-old from Indian Harbour Beach, Florida who has spent several years abroad. Although she now lives in the US, I spoke with Erinn about her time living in Russia and Ukraine. NEWSREP: What brought you to Russia? Did you speak the language? Erinn: I decided that I absolutely […]

Recent battle between rival drug cartels in Mexico resulted in more than 20 dead on the border

Earlier this week, both President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders addressed the nation regarding the government shutdown, border security, and the proposed border wall. The president referred to the situation at the border as a crisis. However, his opposition stated the President Trump’s claims are false or exaggerated. Recently, CNN correspondent Jim Acosta tweeted himself […]

The walls around Venezuela’s socialist Maduro regime are crumbling

The White House slammed Venezuela with a new round of sanctions earlier this week, in a move that indicates the U.S. plans to continue its hardliner stance on corruption and human rights abuses committed by members the Maduro regime. These latest penalties are in retaliation for a “currency exchange network scheme,” in which several high […]

Planning on traveling to China? You may want to reconsider

The U.S. government may be considering placing additional restrictions on Americans traveling to China as relations between Washington and Beijing continue to sour. Last week the U.S. State Department issued new guidance for those intending to visit China, suggesting that U.S. citizens should “exercise increased caution” when making plans. According to a State Department press release, […]

Cruise lines add roller coasters to ships, but man overboard systems are still rare

Cruise lines continually reinvest profits into the fleet. Whether upgrading onboard amenities, booking the latest and greatest talent acts, or adding new destinations to their itineraries, the cruise industry is rarely stagnant. However; how often are companies spending money to upgrade safety measures? Surprisingly, not as often as you’d think. In the last two months […]

Two Americans fighting for ISIS have been captured by Syrian Democratic Forces

Two American citizens fighting for ISIS have been apprehended in Syria after Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) special operations units raided an Islamic State compound near the Syria-Iraq border on Sunday. Warren Christopher Clark, a 34-year-old originally from Texas who goes by the name Abu Muhammad al-Ameriki, was arrested along with another American expat—Zaid Abed al-Hamed, […]