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Kalistani News in Brief: Militia conducts Drills in Ananto
Sulari Lord Mayor inaugurates Metro Rail; New GanJam planned for next Summer
Dahriel, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 1, 5666


Ananto Red Legs, a Militia Artillery Unit, Conducts Drills in Davon Mountains

Militia Conducts Drills in Ananto
In a show of Militia Readiness, the Institutional Militia conducted life fire exercises in all five duchies this month. The focus of the exercises were combined arms exercises involving mobile infantry, artillery, and Demo teams. "We practiced deployment of the heavy artillery, who fired in support of mobile infantry who assaulted a number of different kind of targets," said Militia Captain Nadia Roberts at one of firebases set up by a Battalion of artillery in Ananto known as the Ananto Red Legs. "These tactics are known as leap frogging, where our recon element, including battalion survey, moves forward, sets up firing positions, then Arty moves in, lays the batteries, and fires as the Infantry moves up to the assault."

The Militia conducted both day and night operations this month, and practiced a number of tactics, including military operations in urban terrain, mobile defense, and hipfire tactics. "Trainers were fairly impressed by our readiness in all five duchies." The Captain said that this was the first major exercises for the Militia in a couple years, and the first large scale exercises for the militia since the Likatonian War. "We want this new generation of partisans to be as prepared to defend this nation as previous generations. A lot of the members of the Militia are former servicemen and women who for one reason or another wanted to continue to work to defend the nation, but did not wish to continue active duty enlistment. The Militia is not full time service: Part time civilian life is a draw for a lot of these men and women."

The Militia says they intend to do annual drills in the summer and Duchy specific drills each winter going forward.

Sulari Lord Mayor inaugurates Metro Rail
The Lord Mayor of Sulari, Lord Henry Ortega has announced that the Free City of Sulari has begun to study the feasibility of constructing a city wide Metropolitan Transit system. The Lord Mayor wants to construct a light rail system in the city that serves the population of the city. "We would like it to mirror the system used in Kaliburg," said Lord Mayor Ortega. "We are planning to take advantage of the new funding opportunities in the Localization Act to replace our city's aging bus system that no longer fully serves the population of the City."

According to initial summaries of options, the City is considering subways, elevated rail and street car service. "We want the entire fleet to be electrical," said the Mayor. "We are going to keep free of of diesel operations. The only way to service a city with a population of more than 4.5 million people without significantly impacting the pollution is to run railcars by electric." The Mayor also talked about replacing the bus fleet with new models that are not hybrid models like the old fleet. "It's time to move to all electric. This will also require us to begin constructing new electrical generation and supply infrastructure in the city. We will put that under the Localization Act funds too."

The different feasibility studies will be reviewed over the next couple years before a final plan is accepted and work begins on the new Metro. Money is already being requested for the project from the National Government.

New GanJam planned for next Summer
ODEN-K has announced that they have received commitments for funding for the next GanJam from KRTVN, KMI, LCR and ARC Records. With ODEN's contribution, the planning Committee has announced that GanJam is a go for August 5667. The Planning Committee says they are looking at sites right now, with the short list including Luxon, Kaliburg, Sulari, and High Bong.

"We want this festival to be one for the books," said Committee spokesperson Victor Rogers. "It's been a long time since we have done a multi day festival in Kalistan. So we will be a bit rusty, but I think the committee is comfortable with a three day event. We will be recruiting rock, Hip Hop, Reggae, Ska and RF bands for the show." Rogers said the committee also wish to bring back the visual Arts, food and performance pavilions which were not part of recent GanJams.

"The Visual Arts pavilions were fantastic additions to the music festival," said Rogers. "They provide people with something to do during the day when your lower card bands are playing, and nobody is really that alert because they are either still flying high, or are coming down from last night's parties. It also gives us to showcase our nation's artists along with musicians."

Rogers says he also wants to invite foreign musicians to GanJam. "As always," said the Director. "We maintain an open invitation to foreign bands to come play at GanJam. It's our hope that they take us up on the offer this year." The festival dates will be announced next spring, when tickets go on sale. It is expected that they will be sold as day passes and festival passes, for music fans who want to either just do a day or attend the entire show.

@TheRepublic