According to OhMyGov Analytics, the Air National Guard netted early social media gains in May. The slow but steady growth comes amid an unexpected bounty of good news for the Air National Guard.

Both Facebook and Twittter spiked amid news that the House Armed Services Committee voted to restore funding for C-130s and ANG personnel--including pilots at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in New York, located just a few miles away from the tourist attraction of the same name.

"Today's amendment is a positive step towards ensuring the strong viability of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station," Rep. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said in a press conference with local media. "while this is an ongoing process, the bill passed tonight is a significant victory in our effort to protect both the planes and personnel of the 107th Airlift Wing."

Hochul's amendment counters a separate proposal from the Pentagon, which wanted to eliminate 3 aging C-130s and cut nearly 800 positions at NFARS. The amendment restores funding to the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act.

That wasn't the only surprise for the Air National Guard. Down South residents were celebrating the return of Kentucky's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron to Louisville, KY following a six month deployment to Afghanistan supporting special operations forces in the region.

The Air National Guard wasted no time celebrating the good news.  There was a modest increase in outgoing tweets exploded for the week.

"Welcome home!" @AirNationalGuard tweeted. "Mbrs of Kentucky's 123rd Special Tactics Sqdn returned from mission to Afghanistan".

Yet if Kentuckians were overjoyed, the media didn't seem to notice.  Stories about the Air National Guard plummeted May 10 following a steady increase in coverage starting May 5, indicating waning interest.