STM Blog
Irvine Post Office Renamed to Honor Robert Friend, Celebrated Tuskegee Airman
Last Updated on September 27, 2025 by Daily News Staff
IRVINE, CA – A local post office in the city of Irvine was recently renamed in honor of Lt. Col. Robert Friend, a distinguished military officer and pilot who served with the Tuskegee Airmen in Europe during World War II.
Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 99, now officially has a government facility named after him. Friend was awarded the Air Medal and the Congressional Gold Medal for his heroic service during the war.
His family, along with Congresswoman Katie Porter and local leaders, unveiled a plaque with the post office’s new moniker in his honor.
“He fought for his country simply because, and I quote, he was an American, and it was the right thing to do,” Porter said.
In 1972, Friend made Irvine, a city in Orange County, his home after nearly three decades of military service. Friend is survived by his children, who were in attendance at the ceremony. They expressed their honor and gratitude for how the community had embraced their father.
In a video published by the city of Irvine in 2012, Friend reminisced about the days when he was a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen.
Now, his name will be remembered forever. KABC Los Angeles
Source: KABC Los Angeles
Check out the article “HERE”
Remembering Robert Friend
Robert Jones Friend (February 29, 1920 – June 21, 2019) was an American military officer and pilot. He served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and led the USAF’s Project Blue Book from 1958 to 1963. He also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War, having a 28-year military career.
Friend was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on February 29, 1920. He loved airplanes from a young age and wanted to fly for the army, but was not allowed because he was black. He went to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and studied aviation.
Friend said he believed in the possibility of extraterrestrial life in the universe. This belief was rooted in the vastness of the cosmos, with its billions of galaxies and innumerable stars, suggesting that Earth’s unique conditions might not be entirely unique. Friend’s curiosity and open-mindedness led him to become deeply involved in investigating unexplained phenomena.
Friend led Project Blue Book, a classified U.S. Air Force study on UFOs. The project was started in 1952 and was tasked with scientifically analyzing UFO-related incidents to determine if they were of concern to national security. Over the years, Project Blue Book collected and analyzed thousands of UFO reports. Despite being shut down in 1969, the project left behind a legacy of investigation and a substantial body of data.
Interestingly, even though Project Blue Book was terminated, it left 701 documented incidents as unresolved mysteries. These cases included detailed sightings by credible witnesses, such as pilots and radar operators, featuring objects that showcased flight characteristics beyond current human technology. The enduring mystery of these cases continues to fuel speculation and interest in UFOs and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, remaining a topic of intrigue and debate among both scientists and the general public.
What was Project Blue Book?
Project Blue Book was the code name for the United States Air Force study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) from March 1952 to December 17, 1969. The project was based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and initially led by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt. It followed earlier projects like Project Sign started in 1947, and Project Grudge in 1949. Project Blue Book had two main goals: to see if UFOs were a threat to national security and to scientifically analyze UFO information.
Thousands of UFO reports were collected, examined, and documented. After the Condon Report concluded that studying UFOs was unlikely to lead to important scientific findings, and the National Academy of Sciences reviewed the report, Project Blue Book ended in 1969. The Air Force provided this summary of its investigations:
- No UFO reported, investigated, and evaluated by the Air Force was ever an indication of threat to our national security;
- There was no evidence submitted to or discovered by the Air Force that sightings categorized as “unidentified” represented technological developments or principles beyond the range of modern scientific knowledge; and
- There was no evidence indicating that sightings categorized as “unidentified” were extraterrestrial vehicles.
By the time Project Blue Book ended, it had collected 12,618 UFO reports. Most of these reports were found to be mistakes, like confusing natural things (clouds, stars, etc.) or regular aircraft with UFOs. The National Reconnaissance Office explained that some reports were actually sightings of secret planes like the U-2 and A-12. However, 701 reports remained unexplained, even after careful study. These UFO reports are now available under the Freedom of Information Act, though names and personal details have been hidden. (Wikipedia)
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Urbanism
LA Metro’s D Line Extension Phase 1 Officially Opens, Bringing Subway Service to Mid-Wilshire and Beverly Hills
LA Metro’s D Line Extension: LA Metro officially opens Phase 1 of the D Line Subway Extension, connecting Downtown Los Angeles, Mid-Wilshire, and Beverly Hills with three new underground stations.
The future of transportation in Los Angeles has officially arrived.
LA Metro’s D Line Extension Phase 1 Officially Opens
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) officially opened Section 1 of the long-awaited D Line Subway Extension on May 8, 2026, expanding underground rail service westward through the historic Mid-Wilshire corridor and into Beverly Hills.
The 3.92-mile extension is one of Metro’s most ambitious transit infrastructure projects and marks a major milestone in Los Angeles public transportation. The new section extends subway service beyond the current Wilshire/Western station in Koreatown and introduces three new underground stations:
- Wilshire/La Brea
- Wilshire/Fairfax
- Wilshire/La Cienega
The expansion is part of Metro’s larger “Twenty-Eight by ’28” initiative designed to improve mobility across the region ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills in About 20 Minutes
With the extension now open, riders can travel from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills in approximately 20 minutes with no transfers required.
The D Line extension is expected to significantly improve travel along the heavily congested Wilshire Boulevard corridor, offering commuters, visitors and residents a faster and more reliable alternative to driving.
“Traveling through Mid-Wilshire to experience the culture, cuisine and commerce across diverse neighborhoods will be easier, faster and more accessible,” said Fernando Dutra, Metro Board Chair and City of Whittier Council Member.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins also highlighted the importance of the project in connecting Angelenos to some of the city’s most iconic destinations.
“Angelenos and visitors alike will love the extended service from Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills, delivering greater access to the iconic and culturally diverse communities, institutions and destinations that define the deep history along Wilshire Boulevard,” Wiggins said.
New Stations Connect Riders to Cultural Landmarks
Wilshire/La Brea Station
Located near Hancock Park and the western edge of Koreatown, the station provides access to cultural and entertainment destinations including:
- Korean Cultural Center
- Marciano Art Foundation
- Ebell Theater
- Popular restaurants including Republique and Sycamore Kitchen
Wilshire/Fairfax Station
Known as the heart of Museum Row, this station serves some of Los Angeles’ most recognizable cultural institutions and attractions, including:
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- La Brea Tar Pits
- The Grove
- Original Farmers Market
The station also connects neighborhoods including Little Ethiopia, Park La Brea and the historic Fairfax District.
Wilshire/La Cienega Station
Serving as the eastern gateway to Beverly Hills, the station provides convenient access to Restaurant Row and destinations including the Beverly Center.
A Major Milestone for Los Angeles Transit
The D Line extension has been decades in the making and is widely considered one of the most important transit projects in Los Angeles history.
The project was funded primarily through Measure R, the voter-approved transportation sales tax passed in 2008, along with substantial federal funding support that included:
- $1.25 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA)
- $66.4 million supplemental New Starts funding
- $749.3 million TIFIA loan
All three stations feature modern amenities including public artwork, enhanced lighting, cell phone service, bicycle hubs and improved pedestrian access.
Metro officials hope the extension will encourage more residents and visitors to use public transportation while helping reduce roadway congestion ahead of major international events scheduled for Los Angeles later this decade.
What’s Next for the D Line?
Construction is already underway on future phases of the D Line extension.
Phase 2 will continue west into Beverly Hills and Century City, while Phase 3 will eventually extend subway service to UCLA and the West Los Angeles VA campus.
Once completed, the D Line will provide a direct subway connection between Downtown Los Angeles and the Westside, dramatically reshaping mobility across one of Southern California’s busiest corridors.
Learn More
For official project details and station information, visit:
Metro D Line Opening Information
Stay connected with STM Daily News for the latest updates on Los Angeles transportation, Metro expansion projects, infrastructure developments, local news, technology, culture, and more. Visit STM Daily News for breaking stories, in-depth coverage, and exclusive content from across Southern California and beyond.
Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, the holiday has become a celebration of Mexican-American culture and heritage, often involving parades, parties, and traditional foods such as tacos and margaritas.
How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
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The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
A fifth-grade assignment took a strange turn when a substitute teacher asked students to draw schematics of their homes. What followed — a wildly fictional floor plan and a priceless reaction from my mom — turned into one of my funniest childhood memories.
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
Elementary school memories tend to blend together — cafeteria pizza, playground arguments, the eternal struggle of times tables — but every once in a while, something happens that sticks with you for life. For me, that moment came in the fifth grade during a week when our regular teacher was out, and we cycled through substitute teachers like we were testing models for durability.
By midweek, in walked a substitute with a mysterious, slightly intense energy — the kind of vibe that suggested he either meditated at dawn or worked a graveyard shift doing something he couldn’t talk about. We settled into our seats, expecting worksheets or quiet reading time.
But nope.
He had other plans.
“Today,” he announced, “we’re going to draw schematics of our houses.”
Schematics. Not drawings. Not little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney. Actual blueprint-style schematics. He wanted the layout of our bedrooms, our parents’ rooms, and where the pets slept. Every detail.
Now, to be fair, Highlights Magazine did have a feature that month teaching kids how to draw floor plans. So maybe he was just a bit overenthusiastic about cross-curricular learning. Or maybe — and this is my completely rhetorical adult theory — he worked the graveyard shift as a cat burglar gathering intel between heists. Just moonlighting between blueprints.
While the rest of the class tried their best to recreate their actual homes, my imagination sprinted in a totally different direction. The house I drew had:
- A massive master bedroom with an oversized bathroom for my parents
- Separate bedrooms for us kids on the opposite side of the house
- A kitchen placed right in the center like a command center
- And the dog — the true VIP — had a luxurious two-story doghouse
I had basically created a dream home designed by a 10-year-old watching too much Fantasy Homes by the Yard.
Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?”
“We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually.
The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated.
But then I showed her my diagram.
She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief.
“This isn’t our house,” she said.
“Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly.
Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely.
Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds.
Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know.
But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.
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