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Washington man arrested on arson charge tied to devastating Spokane wildfire

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 03:11:58 -0400

A Washington state man was arrested Monday on a first-degree arson charge in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of several wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of structures and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate the Spokane area, authorities said.

Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody after Spokane County Sheriff’s Office detectives and Washington Department of Natural Resources investigators developed probable cause to arrest him, according to the sheriff’s office.

Citizen tips and information from Airway Heights police officers and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies who responded to the initial call and conducted evacuations helped lead investigators to Farinacci, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities described Farinacci as a convicted felon from Arizona but said they had found no documented criminal history involving fires.

Investigators have not connected Farinacci to the two other major blazes burning in the area, the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, officials said.

PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY DRIVEN BY 'SOCIETAL REVENGE,' BEHAVIORAL ANALYST TESTIFIES IN COURT

"We will be looking into any other crimes Mr. Farinacci may have committed in the past," Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said during a news briefing.

Nowels said first-degree arson was the charge supported by probable cause at that stage of the investigation and cautioned that the case could change as authorities gathered additional evidence.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Farinacci and a search warrant for his residence in the 2800 block of West Elliott Drive, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies served the warrant Monday and arrested Farinacci without incident. Authorities said detectives found a butane lighter and waterproof matches while detaining and searching him.

SPENCER PRATT REACTS TO SPOKANE DEVASTATION WITH BLUNT WILDFIRE WARNING AND MESSAGE OF FAITH

Farinacci was booked into the Spokane County Jail and was being held on $1 million bond.

The Old Trails Fire was first reported Saturday near North Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road. It became the largest of three destructive fires burning around Spokane and remained uncontained Monday, according to authorities and wire reports.

The three fires had collectively destroyed at least 700 structures and prompted evacuation orders affecting approximately 67,000 people as of Monday, according to The Associated Press. More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the blazes.

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Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency Saturday amid drought, unusually high temperatures and strong winds. The declaration also imposed a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through Sept. 30.

Pennsylvania school bus aide accused of sexually assaulting special needs teen

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 01:18:05 -0400

A Pennsylvania school bus aide was arrested after he allegedly inappropriately touched a 14-year-old girl with special needs and appeared to take photographs and videos of her with his cellphone, according to police.

Ali Khan, 62, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors, indecent assault and related offenses, the Bensalem Township Police Department said.

Khan was being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility after failing to post 10% of his $500,000 bail.

The girl’s parents contacted police on Thursday, July 30, to report that their daughter had allegedly been inappropriately touched by a bus aide earlier that day, according to investigators.

HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES INVOLVING TEEN SHE WAS MEANT TO HELP

Police said their investigation determined that Khan allegedly touched the Bensalem High School student multiple times on Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, while she was riding a bus to the school’s extended school year program.

Investigators said surveillance footage from inside the bus showed Khan directing the girl to a specific seat before allegedly touching her inappropriately while securing her seatbelt and after she was seated.

Police said the footage also appeared to show Khan engaging in sexual conduct and using a cellphone to photograph or record the girl.

"Bensalem Police would like to commend the victim of this assault for having the courage to come forward and report the assault," police said. "Additionally, Bensalem Police would like to thank the Bensalem School District for their assistance with this investigation. The safety and well-being of our students continues to be the top priority of both the Bensalem Township Police Department and the Bensalem School District."

The Bensalem Township School District said the employee was immediately removed from service and from the district pending the outcome of criminal and administrative investigations.

"The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority," the district said in a statement. "Whenever concerns involving student safety are brought to our attention, we act immediately to protect students, support families, and cooperate fully with law enforcement. We are committed to conducting a thorough administrative review while respecting the integrity of the criminal investigation."

CALIFORNIA MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL NABBED IN CHILD SEX STING

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"The district is fully cooperating with the Bensalem Township Police Department and will continue to assist law enforcement as requested. The district will also continue its own administrative investigation in accordance with Board policy, district procedures, and applicable law," the statement added.

Khan’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11, 2026.

The incident remains under investigation.

Lindsay Clancy defense scores ‘extremely helpful’ psychosis concession as expert flags next hurdle

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:23 -0400

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Lindsay Clancy’s attorney sought to blunt prosecutors’ portrayal of the Massachusetts mother as organized and calculating, pressing a hospital psychiatrist to acknowledge that a person can communicate, make plans and carry them out while experiencing psychosis.

"People can communicate and plan and act on plans even if they’re in the middle of a psychosis, right?" defense attorney Kevin Reddington asked Dr. Sejal Shah Monday.

HEATED LINDSAY CLANCY COURTROOM EXCHANGE OVER 911 CALL, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS SETS STAGE FOR MOM’S MURDER TRIAL

"Yes," Shah replied.

Reddington then asked whether someone must be "drooling and stumbling and unable to walk and talk" to be psychotic. Shah said no and agreed that a person in psychosis can still communicate with others.

Clancy is charged in the deaths of Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, inside the family’s Duxbury home. Her defense maintains she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors argue she acted deliberately and understood what she was doing.

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS ‘BIG SPIRAL’ AS EXPERT SAYS ONE PART ‘SCARED ME’ IN MOM’S MURDER TRIAL

Seth J. Zuckerman, a celebrity criminal defense attorney, former New York City prosecutor and founder of Zuckerman Legal Group, said the case will turn on Clancy’s mental state at the precise time the children were killed.

"What was in her mind at the exact time that she killed her children?" Zuckerman told Fox News Digital.

He said prosecutors have focused on Patrick Clancy’s trips to CVS and a local restaurant, along with his communications with his wife, to portray her as lucid during the critical time frame.

WATCH: Psychiatrist calls Lindsay Clancy an 'honest' patient

LINDSAY CLANCY’S EX-HUSBAND DETAILS PILL USE AS EXPERT SAYS EVIDENCE COULD SHAPE MURDER TRIAL

Shah, an associate chief of psychiatry and medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, first evaluated Clancy five days after the killings.

She testified that Clancy was confused, made mistakes during a cognitive assessment and had experienced visual hallucinations after spinal surgery.

Shah diagnosed delirium and said possible causes included anesthesia, oxygen problems and an elevated heart rate. The symptoms resolved by the following day, Shah said.

During later evaluations, Clancy appeared calm and cooperative, displayed organized and goal-directed thinking and denied hallucinations and suicidal or homicidal intent.

Reddington used cross-examination to argue those observations did not establish Clancy was free of psychosis at the time of the killings.

"Was she, in your opinion and your experience, an honest patient telling you what her symptoms were, if any?" Reddington asked.

"Yes," Shah said.

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"She didn’t go off and try to exaggerate to you and say, ‘I’m seeing visions and I’m hearing voices,’ and suicidal ideation and homicidal ideas," Reddington said. "She didn’t say any of those things to you, did she?"

"Correct," Shah said.

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"So this is not, in your opinion, someone who was trying to exaggerate her conditions for some legal reason, correct?" Reddington asked.

"No," Shah replied.

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Zuckerman called that concession "extremely helpful to the defense," although not decisive.

"They want to portray her as someone who wasn’t manipulative, who didn’t have some grand plan," he said.

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On redirect, prosecutors challenged the defense’s portrayal by focusing on Clancy’s medication history.

Shah agreed Clancy was not taking every psychiatric medication discussed at the same time and said she had not known some prescriptions were barely used or untouched.

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Shah also confirmed that Clancy requested do-not-resuscitate status after surviving her fall from a second-story window. The hospital did not immediately change her status because of the reported suicide attempt.

Shah said Clancy later agreed her mental health should be stabilized before reconsidering the request.

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Zuckerman said Monday’s cross-examination helped the defense by supplying testimony that Clancy could appear lucid at some moments while experiencing severe psychiatric symptoms at others.

Still, he said its value will depend on whether the defense can connect those symptoms to the moment the children were killed.

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"The burden is on the prosecutors to show that she was criminally responsible at the time of the deaths," Zuckerman said. "That is unique to Massachusetts, and I think it’s beneficial to the defense here."

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Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, has pleaded not guilty to three counts each of murder and strangulation. Judge William Sullivan told jurors that the Commonwealth must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Clancy was criminally responsible when the children were killed.

Bears $40M free agent signing gets emotional after knee injury, but diagnosis brings sigh of relief

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:50:04 -0400

Coby Bryant’s Chicago Bears tenure is not off to the start he wished, as he was emotional after being carted off the training camp field during Monday’s practice.

There is a bright side to Bryant’s situation, though, despite needing to miss time.

Bryant was very upset as he got himself onto the cart after suffering a knee injury, expecting the worst just days into his Bears career one season after winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.

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Bryant was facing tight end Cole Kmet during a 1-on-1 drill where he went down and immediately clutched at his leg. But Bryant’s injury got a better diagnosis than he initially believed.

It won’t be season-ending for Bryant, as ESPN reported the safety will miss eight-to-10 weeks after suffering a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture.

PANTHERS DEFENSE TAKES MAJOR HIT AS STAR PASS RUSHER SUFFERS MAJOR INJURY ON FIRST DAY OF CAMP: REPORTS

Bryant signed a three-year, $40 million deal to join the Bears this offseason, bolstering a secondary that was overhauled following multiple departures.

He figured to be a mainstay after proving his worth with the Seahawks during his rookie deal, where he tallied seven interceptions and helped his team win the Super Bowl.

Bryant may not be available during Week 1, but since that’s five weeks away, he shouldn’t be gone for long when the regular season finally kicks off.

"It always sucks to see," second-year tight end Colston Loveland said about Bryant’s injury, per the New York Post. "That’s part of it. You know, he’s tough, he’s a dog. He’s going to be fine."

As Bryant will attack rehab, the Bears’ depth chart will be tested. They spent their first-round draft selection on Oregon standout safety Dillon Thieneman, who was always considered the team’s starting free safety next to Bryant. But Cam Lewis, who was at slot cornerback after Kyler Gordon suffered a previous injury, will likely move to safety to fill the gap there.

Lewis is another free agent signee for the Bears, who lost Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jonathan Owens this offseason. Lewis spent the past six seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

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This is the time of year when teams are hoping for health, but the NFL knows all too well that depth determines just how far a team goes come February.

The Bears are feeling that early on, but they won’t have to go the entire season without a main free agent addition during the 2026 NFL season.

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Tarik Skubal dismisses outrage over joining Los Angeles Dodgers with blunt message to fans

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:40:42 -0400

When the Los Angeles Dodgers landed Tarik Skubal at the 2026 trade deadline, baseball's usual chorus fired up on cue: the Dodgers are ruining the sport.

The newest ace in Dodger blue, however, isn't buying it.

Speaking to the media Monday while the Dodgers were on the road, Skubal had a message for everyone: Don't blame Los Angeles for trying to win.

DODGERS REPORTEDLY ACQUIRE ACE TARIK SKUBAL FROM TIGERS IN TRADE THAT STIRS UP MLB WORLD

"Every team could trade for me," Skubal said.

"I don't sympathize with people that blame the Dodgers for anything they've done. It's a winning org... I really don't sympathize with people that are complaining because the Dodgers do all the right things."

Fresh off back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025, the elite left-hander arrives in Los Angeles with a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts through 16 starts this season.

After watching Sunday's game from the Dodger Stadium dugout in his new threads, Skubal is slated to make his Dodgers debut Tuesday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. He knows what winning looks like, and he sees nothing wrong with the Dodgers' approach.

Skubal's comments get to the heart of one of baseball's most predictable debates. Every time the Dodgers land another star, the calls for a hard salary cap start all over again. But that's treating a salary cap like a cure for problems it can't actually solve.

Cheering for a salary cap is an odd hill to die on.

MLB'S SALARY CAP PROPOSAL WON'T FIX THE LEAGUE'S NON-EXISTENT COMPETITIVE BALANCE PROBLEMS

Outside of sports, consumers don't root for companies to spend less or workers to earn less. Nobody begs Hollywood studios to cut blockbuster movie budgets so smaller productions have a better shot at the box office. Yet in baseball, fans routinely side with billionaire owners and argue for limits on player salaries in the name of "fairness."

It doesn't hold up.

A salary cap doesn't magically turn struggling franchises into smart ones. It doesn't help them draft better, develop talent, or build winning cultures. What it does is give tight-fisted ownership groups another excuse to cash revenue-sharing checks while avoiding the hard work of building a legitimate contender.

As Skubal pointed out, the Dodgers didn't exploit some secret loophole to land him.

Every other team had the same opportunity. Los Angeles drafted well, developed valuable trade chips and made winning the priority. Baseball should not punish the Dodgers; the rest of the league should try to emulate them, frankly.

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Instead of begging MLB to handicap organizational excellence, rival fans should demand more from their own front offices.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka supports WTA transgender rules, says males shouldn't face women

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:20:49 -0400

Tennis World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka didn't mince words during her Canadian Open press conference in Montreal when asked about the WTA's new transgender eligibility policy.

The Belarusian star threw her support behind the guidelines, which have been criticized by pro-trans activists.

When asked for her thoughts, Sabalenka responded, "I think it's really important to keep the fairness in our tour."

WOMEN'S TENNIS LEGEND SPEAKS OUT ON CALIFORNIA TRANS ATHLETE CONTROVERSY AS NEWSOM FACES CRITICISM

"Biologically, men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not really be fair for women to compete against biological men," she added.

She called the measure a fair and necessary step to protect the women's tour, saying the WTA "took them a little while to make this decision" but that she supports the policy.

Addressing the requirement for players to undergo a one-time genetic screening for the SRY gene on the Y chromosome, Sabalenka made her position clear.

"If they want to test us all, I'm happy to do that. It's pretty fair, and let's keep it that way."

After years of agenda-driven sports media, athletes themselves are fed up with administrators dancing around biological reality. Without clear, sex-based boundaries, the entire rationale for a protected women's category completely collapses.

For years, governing bodies dragged their feet, attempting to appease bad-faith critics while female athletes paid the price.

The WTA finally drew a firm line in the sand, anchoring the sport back to a fundamental premise: women’s sports exist specifically because biological sex matters at all levels of competition.

Sabalenka is far from alone in making this stand. Her comments mirror those of 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, who routinely dismantles online outrage over the WTA's protocol. Navratilova silenced the critics with logic: the WTA was created for biological females, and the men's division remains open to any male athlete who wants to play.

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA SAYS BILLIE JEAN KING’S TRANS-ATHLETE STANCE ‘DOESN’T SQUARE’ WITH HER OWN WORDS

From bone density and muscle mass to heart size and lung capacity, male puberty confers undeniable physical advantages that training alone can never bridge.

Protecting the female category isn't about exclusion, it exists for the exact same reason weight classes do: to ensure fair competition.

Step back from the tennis court, and a clear shift is happening across the entire athletic landscape. Fans are starving for athletes who refuse to hide behind PR scripts.

The same dynamic played out earlier this summer when Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham offered a straightforward defense of women's basketball, drawing widespread public support.

When female athletes defend their hard-earned categories without apology, fans respond in droves.

Sabalenka didn't step to the microphone looking to make a political statement. She simply defended the integrity of her sport.

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By backing the WTA's policy without hesitation, the world's top player drew a line that should never have been blurred: keeping women's sports female isn't a political debate; it's basic common sense.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Federal judge blocks New York law banning ICE agents from wearing masks

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:07:31 -0400

A federal judge on Monday blocked key portions of a New York law that would have prohibited federal immigration agents from wearing masks and required them to display visible identification while carrying out their duties.

U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino of the Northern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from enforcing the two provisions while a legal challenge to the law continues to move forward.

In her ruling, D'Agostino found the challenged provisions were likely unconstitutional because they interfere with federal law enforcement operations, including those carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

FIRST ON FOX: DOJ SUES SPANBERGER’S VIRGINIA OVER LAWS KNEECAPPING FEDERAL AGENTS AS MASK WAR ESCALATES

The judge said only the federal government has the authority to establish policies governing federal law enforcement operations. Therefore, New York cannot dictate how federal agents perform their official duties.

"New York cannot impose its own uniform requirements on federal agents simply because it disagrees with how the Federal Government is exercising its authority," the ruling stated.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the court's decision to block the mask ban, saying they are currently reviewing more legal options.

DEM GOVERNOR IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TESTING LIMITS OF AUTHORITY WITH MAJOR MOVE AGAINST ICE

"While the court enjoined enforcement of New York’s mask ban, we stand firm in our belief that masked agents do not make New York safer and our offices are reviewing all legal options at this time," the pair said in a joint statement.

However, D'Agostino declined to block a separate provision barring New York local law enforcement agencies from performing certain federal immigration enforcement functions under 287(g) agreements.

The judge said participation by state and local agencies in federal civil immigration enforcement is voluntary under federal law.

"The State's refusal to cooperate in the immigration context—a possibility contemplated by the relevant federal statutes—does not constitute discrimination against the federal government," the ruling stated.

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Hochul and James welcomed that portion of the ruling, saying New York taxpayers should not have to fund local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

"As we have said from the start, New York’s ban on 287(g) agreements is legal and will keep our communities safe. Local law enforcement should be focused on local matters, and New York taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for any collaboration with ICE," their statement read.

California mom begged for help before ex gunned her down in front of their 4-year-old son: DA

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:03:50 -0400

More than two years after a California mother's desperate 911 call ended with her 4-year-old son witnessing her killing, the father prosecutors said carried out the execution will spend decades behind bars.

Jeffery Kendall, 39, was sentenced Monday to 50 years to life in prison for murdering 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis just 10 days after she ended their relationship, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

A jury found Kendall guilty in May of first-degree murder and child endangerment for placing the couple’s young son in a situation that threatened his safety.

DISPATCHER HEARD 'LOUD BANG' BEFORE TIKTOK INFLUENCER WHO OUTED ALLEGED PEDOPHILE HUSBAND FOUND DEAD: AUDIO

Prosecutors said Ligdis called 911 on the morning of Feb. 16, 2024, after Kendall broke into her Pinole home while she hid in a laundry room with their 4-year-old son.

About 90 seconds into the call, Kendall entered the room.

"Let go of me," Ligdis pleaded, according to the district attorney’s office. "You're scaring him."

DECADES-OLD COLD CASE BREAKTHROUGH LEADS TO ARREST IN EXECUTION-STYLE KILLINGS OF MARRIED COUPLE BEFORE CHILD

Moments later, she screamed, "Stop it," before Kendall shot her in the head, prosecutors said.

The couple’s son cried out, "Momma," and fled the room while Kendall ran from the home. Responding officers found Ligdis dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells described the killing as "an execution in front of a 4-year-old child" and argued it was not the result of "a mental break," according to the district attorney’s office.

ALABAMA MOTHER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR HIRING HITMAN TO KILL HER CHILD'S FATHER OVER CUSTODY DISPUTE

Instead, Wells said the murder reflected a pattern often seen in domestic violence cases, where the danger escalates after a victim decides to leave.

Wells asked the court to impose a sentencing enhancement that increased Kendall’s punishment to 50 years to life.

Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Glenn Kim called the case "one of the most difficult" he had experienced before imposing two consecutive terms of 25 years to life.

Kim also barred Kendall from contacting his son, with limited exceptions subject to court approval, until November 2035, when the boy turns 16.

Separately, Judge Kim convicted Kendall of illegally possessing a 3D-printed semi-automatic pistol and determined that multiple factors supported a harsher sentence.

One year after Brittany Ligdis' death, her mother shared an emotional video urging family and friends to remember her daughter's life rather than the violence that ended it.

"I want this to be a day to remember Brittany, to memorialize her, the amazing person she was," she said. "Think of her — all the things we miss about her, her kiss, her hug. I'll miss everything myself. I will love her forever."

Kendall remains in county jail awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

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The Pinole Police Department told Fox News Digital it had no comment on Kendall's sentencing.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional comment.

ICE detainee who illegally re-entered US after deportation dies at Delaney Hall

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:02:00 -0400

A 41-year-old Salvadoran national who re-entered the United States illegally has died in federal custody after being arrested in New Jersey following a previous deportation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials announced Monday.

Edwin Lopez-Cornejo died Aug. 1 at University Hospital in Newark after suffering a medical emergency while detained at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility, according to an ICE statement.

Staff with the GEO Group, the private detention company that manages the facility, along with medical personnel, responded to the emergency and called 911.

The official cause of death remains pending a formal medical examination, according to ICE.

SOROS-BACKED NONPROFIT ACCUSES NJ GOV SHERRILL OF SPREADING 'MAGA PROPAGANDA' ON ICE DETAINEES

Lopez-Cornejo was first apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol for entering the U.S. without inspection on or about Aug. 13, 2006.

A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered him removed on Aug. 25, 2006, and he was deported to El Salvador on Oct. 19, 2006.

He later re-entered the U.S. illegally on an unknown date before ICE officers arrested him in Plainfield, New Jersey, on June 18.

He was held at Delaney Hall pending removal pursuant to the reinstatement of his prior removal order.

ICE officials said that Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care during his detention.

MORE THAN 100 HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS WITH VIOLENT OFFENSE AND SEX CRIME CONVICTIONS DEPORTED: DHS

The agency notified the Department of Homeland Security oversight offices, the Consulate of El Salvador in Elizabeth, and Lopez-Cornejo's next of kin, the statement said.

Lopez-Cornejo's death drew swift condemnation from New Jersey officials, who reiterated demands to shut down Delaney Hall.

"I am deeply disturbed to hear of a detainee death inside Delaney Hall this weekend," New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement. "My heart is with the individual's loved ones, who deserve answers about what happened. My administration is working with our congressional delegation to gather all the facts surrounding this death."

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SPEND MEMORIAL DAY PROTESTING ICE FACILITY

"This tragedy is another painful reminder of why Delaney Hall should be closed," Sherrill added.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka also issued a statement condemning the incident.

"In less than a year, yet another family is forced to endure the unimaginable loss of a loved one while in custody at Delaney Hall," Baraka said. "The death of Edwin Jovanny Lopez-Cornejo is a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of a facility that has operated for far too long without adequate oversight, accountability or transparency."

Another detainee, Jean Wilson Brutus, 41, died Dec. 12, 2025, after suffering a medical emergency less than 24 hours after entering the facility.

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The New Jersey facility has repeatedly been accused by state and local inspectors of obstructing health and safety inspections and has been the site of ongoing protests and detainee hunger strikes over food quality, overcrowding and medical care.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.

MLB trade deadline sees flurry of deals involving Adley Rutschman, Freddy Peralta and Kevin Gausman

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:55:02 -0400

The Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone, with a number of notable names changing places as teams look to position themselves for a postseason run.

The biggest move, of course, happened on Saturday evening when the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired superstar starter and two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers' trade set off a firestorm of criticism and anger from opposing fans, though LA gave up two very good prospects for just nine to 10 starts from Skubal the rest of the regular season.

Well, there were several other big-name prospects who moved teams, including in one of the most surprising trades of the day involving former first overall draft pick, Adley Rutschman.

DODGERS REPORTEDLY ACQUIRE ACE TARIK SKUBAL FROM TIGERS IN TRADE THAT STIRS UP MLB WORLD

Rutschman was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball himself, and mostly lived up to the hype over his first few years in the big leagues. In 2022 and 2023, Rutschman put up a combined 11.1 wins above replacement. He hit 33 home runs and a .268/.369/.439 batting line with a 13.6% walk rate against just a 16.2% strikeout rate. Along with Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday, he was widely seen as a big part of the Orioles' impressive young core.

But his 2024 was a bit underwhelming, and he's battled injuries the last two seasons, playing in just 157 combined games thus far. Still, his 2026 has been much closer to his old self, with positive defensive contributions and offensive stats more in line with his career averages. And Baltimore, 11.5 games back in the American League East and apparently willing to concede in the race for a Wild Card spot, took advantage.

Rutschman was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon, Carlos Narvaez, Enddy Azocar and a player to be named later. That's a substantial return for Baltimore. Eyanson was ranked as the 27th best prospect in baseball by Fangraphs, and Witherspoon was the Red Sox' first round pick just a year ago. Rutschman, though, solves Boston's catching position for the remainder of this season and all of 2027 before he hits free agency. And gives the Red Sox a significant boost as they push for a surprising playoff spot.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS TRADE FOR TARIK SKUBAL HIGHLIGHTS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S MASSIVE PROBLEM

Speaking of disappointing players and the Boston Red Sox, in a stunning trade with the Giants, they sent former top prospect Marcelo Mayer to San Francisco in return for reliever Erik Miller. Mayer was once viewed as a key part of the Red Sox future, but he's been unimpressive the last two years in limited big league opportunities.

One of the biggest deals of the pre-deadline period was the New York Mets sending Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays for Aidan Smith, Gary Gill Hill and Emilien Pitre. An uninspiring return after the Mets gave up several top prospects to get him in the offseason. Peralta came to New York from Milwaukee as one of the best starters in baseball, including a career-best 2.70 ERA in 2025. But his 2026 has gone from career-best to career-worst. Peralta's strikeout rate with the Mets dropped from 10.39/9 to 8.95/9, while his ERA jumped to 4.99. For Tampa, one of the best organizations at improving their players, he provided a proven postseason resume and strong track record. If they're able to get him back to his career norms, Peralta would be a huge addition for the team already leading the AL East.

Other big deals included Kevin Gausman, one of the best starters during Toronto's run to the World Series, heading to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs, who desperately needed help in the rotation after a season-ending injury to Cade Horton, also brought in Clay Holmes from the Mets, sending Jefferson Rojas, their No. 2 prospect, to New York.

The Yankees, after acquiring Luis Garcia Jr. from the Nationals, also added Heliot Ramos from the Giants to upgrade their offense in the absence of Aaron Judge.

Then there's the always aggressive San Diego Padres. Padres GM AJ Preller, known for pushing his chips in, did so again at this year's deadline. Needing pitching, Preller acquired Robbie Ray from the Giants, then turned around and added Casey Mize, a former number one overall pick, from the Tigers. Both pitchers immediately upgrade the team's rotation over pitchers like Randy Vasquez, Kyle Hart, JP Sears, or Walker Buehler. And sure enough, the team's number two prospect is on his way to Detroit. Preller is nothing if not consistent.

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Speaking of aggressive, the Los Angeles Angels traded former top overall prospect Jo Adell to the Guardians, as well as starter Jose Soriano to the Blue Jays. Adell, though he never quite developed the plate discipline to maximize his offensive statistics, has at least delivered hit for power. Soriano brought back top Toronto prospect Arjun Nimmala, thanks to being under team control through 2028. More importantly, though, it signaled a different mindset in Anaheim. Instead of hoarding their players on a losing team, the Angels are maximizing value as they rebuild for the future. About time.

Luis Arraez also went to the Philadelphia Phillies, an offensive upgrade for a team that's surprisingly struggled to score runs, despite stars like Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.

All in all, Skubal was the biggest name to move, as expected, but there were a number of very interesting trades that improved teams around the margins. Some top and former top prospects were dealt, and teams like the Padres and Cubs made big upgrades over their existing options as they push for the postseason. It might have been light on superstars, but it was big on volume. And the Dodgers, as they often do, still won the deadline.

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And in a sign of how few teams care about maximizing their chances of winning, a number of them sold despite being just a few games back in the Wild Card. The Orioles are 2.5 games out of the third spot, and traded Taylor Ward and Adley Rutschman. The Marlins, at 58-55 and 1.5 games back in the Wild Card, traded catcher Liam Hicks and starter Braxton Garrett. Though they did bring in reliever Victor Vodnik from the Rockies. The Mariners traded Luis Castillo, just three games back in the division and two in the Wild Card. And the Tigers sold despite being just a few games out.

Unearthed video exposes El-Sayed's opinion on driver's licenses for illegal immigrants

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:00:46 -0400

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, once proposed allowing undocumented immigrants to secure driver's licenses, making the case that not doing so would be discriminatory.

"We’ve got to make sure that in this state we are not discriminating against documentation status. Right now, if you’re undocumented, you don’t get access to a driver’s license. You’re stuck," El-Sayed said in a 2018 campaign interview.

At the time, El-Sayed was running for governor.

Eight years later, as he looks to join the U.S. Senate, the resurfaced clip sheds light on El-Sayed’s past thinking about how local governments should interact with illegal aliens and raises questions about whether granting them state identification would in some ways legitimize their presence in the U.S.

SOCIALIST-BACKED MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL CALLS AMERICAN POLITICS A 'DISEASE' AFTER PROFESSING LOVE FOR US

Hans von Spakovsky, an elections expert for Advancing American Freedom, explained that a license can act as a doorway to a range of government benefits.

"Because America does not have a national ID card like the Europeans and other nations, state driver's licenses are a stand-in for that ID card. Issuing driver's licenses to aliens will help them in all the instances where a license is needed, from opening bank accounts to all types of other transactions," Spakovsky said.

Spakovsky noted that I-9 forms, paperwork for employment eligibility, regularly require little else than a license.

"The key to getting aliens to self-deport would be to ensure that they cannot rent apartments, open bank accounts and take all of the other steps necessary to live and work in the U.S.," Spakovsky said.

"Providing them driver's licenses is a huge step in allowing them to easily live and work in the United States," he added.

NEW MAINE LAW LIMITS POLICE COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS

In the 2018 clip, El-Sayed seemed concerned that illegal aliens would be ineligible for some of those advantages.

"You don’t get access to a lot of the basic things that the state offers everybody else, and I think that’s ridiculous and so we’ve got to stop discriminating that way," El-Sayed said.

Although El-Sayed has rejected labels like "progressive" or "far-left," he has advocated for a more government-first approach in many key areas like affordability, infrastructure and public services.

He’s advocated for Medicare for all, opposes corporate tax carve-outs, and he supports tuition-free access to higher education. When asked about promises to increase government provisions by candidates like Zohran Mamdani, El-Sayed said he believes that Democrats will trend in that direction.

"You’re seeing that kind of resonance here in Michigan for sure. And I’m not surprised that you’re seeing that in New York, too. Government ought to be available to set an equal playing field for everybody and to offer those basic things that everybody needs and deserves," El-Sayed told Fox News Digital in an interview.

SHOCKING PERCENTAGE OF DEMOCRATS IDENTIFY AS 'DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS' ACCORDING TO NEW POLL: 'TOXIC POLICIES'

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El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how far government should go in providing some of those same services to non-residents. His campaign also did not address whether providing licenses for undocumented immigrants would be a tacit approval of their presence in the country.

El-Sayed faces off against Rep. Haley Stevens on Tuesday evening in the state’s primaries. Whoever secures the party’s nomination will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

After years of debate, former COVID response coordinator acknowledges pandemic source 'probably a lab leak'

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:25:34 -0400

Former Biden White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha revealed in a Sunday interview on CNN that he believes COVID-19 was likely caused by a lab leak.

During the interview with CNN's Dana Bash, she highlighted how Jha had retweeted commentator Jamie Metzl’s lengthy social media post saying he believed COVID-19 originated from a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

While the lab leak theory was widely disputed early in the pandemic and some social media platforms restricted certain related claims under their COVID-19 misinformation policies, Jha responded by declaring in 2026, "I pretty much agree with everything here."

After Bash highlighted the tweet, he confirmed he agreed with it — marking a change from the initial beliefs he held upon when first entering the Biden administration.

BILL MAHER BREAKS WITH THE LEFT TO HAMMER ANTHONY FAUCI AFTER EXPLOSIVE SENATE HEARING

"This is going to surprise some people. You know, when I went into the White House, my view was, ‘This was almost surely a natural outbreak, maybe a lab leak,’" he said. "Based on information I learned and based on information I‘ve seen, I have come to conclude that it is more likely to have been a lab leak."

"Here‘s the bottom line. No one in the United States knows for sure. The only people who know for sure are people — officials in China — and we still need transparency and accountability on that. So that is my best assessment. I‘m not suggesting I know for sure, but I‘m saying my best assessment is that it probably was a lab leak," he said.

"That is definitely news to hear that from you for sure," Bash replied. "And shows that we‘re just, we‘re still learning, which is really important."

Jha later posted a clip of his conversation with Bash to his X account, with the following message:

"My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," he wrote. "Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think lab leak is much more likely. Not engineered. Not deliberate. Accidental Reasonable people can look at the same evidence and disagree."

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a crisis of credibility across institutions regarding how they spoke to the public and how much they in turn allowed the public or even fellow members of the media to speak. While the lab leak theory is more commonly accepted today as a plausible theory, many initially theorized that the pandemic occurred through natural transmission, such as from a Chinese wet market.

Many news organizations, like CNN, MS NOW, The New York Times and The Washington Post, dismissed the lab leak theory as a "debunked" conspiracy theory before uncovering the facts, and watchdogs in the years since have suggested this hurt the media’s already struggling credibility.

A prominent example of this was taxpayer-funded NPR. In April of 2020, NPR ran pieces on back-to-back days dismissing the lab leak notion, painting it as a debunked conspiracy theory embraced by the right for political purposes. One such story was headlined, "Scientists Debunk Lab Accident Theory of Pandemic Emergence," and misled readers into thinking the lab leak theory was truly discredited.

SLACK MESSAGES RELEASED BY RAND PAUL APPEAR TO SHOW AUTHORS OF KEY COVID-19 ORIGIN PAPER HELD PRIVATE DOUBTS

CNN was criticized for incidents such as publishing a report that boasted of the country's coronavirus vaccination rates, according to data provided by China. Another salient example, however, was a piece released by the network actually touting China’s authoritarian government as ideal for cracking down on a pandemic.

"For those still reluctant, China has a powerful tool in its arsenal: a top-down, one-party system that is all-encompassing in reach and forceful in action, and a sprawling bureaucracy that can be swiftly mobilized," two CNN journalists based in Hong Kong wrote. "The top-down approach has been touted by officials as a strength of the Chinese system that helped curb the virus – and has again been deployed to accelerate inoculations."

Another aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented levels of mass censorship across social media. The Biden administration was sued in a high profile First Amendment case after it worked around the First Amendment by pressuring social media companies to censor Americans questioning the narratives about the COVID-19 pandemic on its behalf.

Under the settlement, the Office of the Surgeon General, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are barred for the next decade from threatening or coercing social media companies to remove or suppress protected speech. The agreement also blocks officials from giving directions on or vetoing platforms' content moderation decisions.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

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One memorable moment that showed a rift within the media itself was when Jon Stewart locked horns with his old friend Stephen Colbert, who had formerly been part of "The Daily Show" before hosting his own. While Colbert was cautious about questioning experts, Stewart mocked the idea that people were hesitant to consider the theory.

"Oh my God, there’s a novel respiratory coronavirus overtaking Wuhan, China. What do we do? Oh, you know who we could ask, the Wuhan novel respiratory coronavirus lab. The disease is the same name as the lab! That’s just a little too weird, don’t you think?"

He added further, "Then they ask the scientists, ‘Wait a minute, you work at the Wuhan respiratory coronavirus lab, how did this happen?’ And they’re like, 'A penguin kissed a turtle?’"

"‘Oh my God, there’s been an outbreak of chocolaty goodness near Hershey, Penn. What do you think happened?’ I don’t know, maybe a steam shovel mated with a cocoa bean," he said. "Or it’s the f---ing chocolate factory! Maybe that’s it!" he joked further.

Fox News Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn, Brian Flood, and Tyler McCarthy contributed to this report.

Emily Ratajkowski turns heads in bikini-filled July photo dump

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:18:18 -0400

Emily Ratajkowski is looking back on a month filled with sunshine, swimsuits and seaside views.

The 35-year-old model shared a carousel of photos from her summer travels on Instagram, captioning the post, "julio/Ιούλιος/july," writing the month in Spanish, Greek and English.

Among the snapshots was a close-up selfie of Ratajkowski wearing a navy blue bikini covered in white polka dots inside a coastal home.

The halter-style swimsuit featured thin straps that crossed around her waist, while her long brunette hair fell loosely over her shoulders. She looked directly into the camera with open shelves, glassware and blue cabinetry visible behind her.

The model's beach attire included an orange-and-black patterned bikini worn during a day by the water.

Sitting on a lounge chair covered with a yellow-and-white striped towel, Ratajkowski held a pink beverage in a glass beneath an oversized black-and-white umbrella. She accessorized the wraparound bikini with layered necklaces and several gold bangles.

A second image from the same setting showed the model turning the camera on herself.

Ratajkowski held her phone at arm’s length while seated sideways on the lounge chair, with rows of beach chairs and a glimpse of the water surrounding her. The late-day sunlight illuminated the scene as she appeared to check her reflection on the screen.

The carousel also included a quieter moment from an oceanfront dinner.

Wearing a dark brown halter top, Ratajkowski posed at a table overlooking the water as the sun set behind a row of trees. A cocktail, green drinking glass and place settings rested on the white tablecloth.

The model reached across the table to hold the bandaged hand of an unidentified companion. She did not identify the person or explain the apparent injury.

Her summer photo album comes weeks after Ratajkowski reflected on the collapse of her marriage to film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard and the complicated period that followed.

The former couple married in 2018 and welcomed their son, Sylvester "Sly" Apollo, in March 2021. Ratajkowski filed for divorce in September 2022 and has since spoken openly about raising the 5-year-old primarily as a single mother in New York City.

In a June essay for The Cut titled "Mother F---er," Ratajkowski wrote that becoming a mother marked an abrupt shift in her identity before her marriage began to unravel.

"And then, in a time period that felt both instant and excruciatingly slow, my marriage collapsed," she wrote.

Ratajkowski admitted that she had feared becoming a single mother long before she had a child of her own.

"Even as a kid, I reasoned that of all the things I could grow up to be, it was crucial to avoid becoming a single mom," she wrote. "The term itself could be lodged as an insult."

Following the separation, the model threw herself into dating while attempting to reconcile her new reality with the way she believed others viewed her.

Despite the late nights, Ratajkowski said she established firm boundaries to protect her time with Sylvester.

"I had rules: Never miss bedtime and basically no sleepovers," she wrote. "These were natural and easy to abide by."

The model explained that she would return home regardless of how late a date ended, so she could be there when her son woke up.

"There was nowhere I’d rather be than when I woke up with my toddler, so no matter the number of martinis, I’d be fully dressed and out the door to relieve the sitter and be ready for my son’s 6 a.m. ‘Maamaaaa!’"

Although much of the essay detailed her post-divorce dating experiences, Ratajkowski said her most important realization came during a visit to her attorney’s office.

She recalled the lawyer telling her about women who remained in harmful marriages despite preparing to leave.

"You should be proud of yourself," he told her. "Most women don’t leave."

Ratajkowski said the conversation gave her a new understanding of the choice she had made.

"Leaving my marriage wasn’t about seeking anyone’s attention or approval," she wrote. "It was the opposite."

The model acknowledged that becoming a single mother changed the way others perceived her but ultimately helped her recognize her own strength.

"I wasn’t left; I left," she wrote. "I knew then that being able to leave, to say ‘no,’ was the only real superpower I’d gained through divorce. I was brave. Really, actually brave."

The essay sparked mixed reactions online. While some social media users criticized Ratajkowski as being out of touch with the realities facing many single mothers, others praised her for candidly discussing divorce, dating and motherhood.

Away from her personal life, Ratajkowski has continued expanding her fashion career.

She was recently announced as one of the faces of Abercrombie & Fitch’s fall 2026 denim campaign alongside model Paloma Elsesser and New York Giants players Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers.

Speaking with Elle magazine about the campaign, Ratajkowski said she has become less concerned with following every fashion trend.

"I care less about trends and more about how clothes make me feel," she told the outlet. "I want pieces that fit into my life and make me feel like myself."

The New York-based model also explained why the city continues to shape her personal style.

"New York has always been my favorite city to get dressed in because everyone is aware they’re being perceived but also have the realities of their days to combat," she said. "There’s something incredibly stylish about practicality mixed with individuality."

Writer arrested for allegedly beating wife calls Sophie Cunningham 'anti-trans, anti-black' in wild op-ed

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:00:14 -0400

"She is every bit as political as Colin Kaepernick."

That's how sportswriter Howard Bryant described WNBA star Sophie Cunningham in a Guardian op-ed.

Bryant argued that Cunningham embraced right-wing politics by saying young girls should not have to compete against biological males in sports.

CAN THE WNBA EVER GET BACK TO BASKETBALL AND LEAVE CAITLIN CLARK ALONE?

"I think that I am here to extend love," Cunningham told ESPN last month. "But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."

Most of the country agrees with Cunningham. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 79% of Americans oppose allowing individuals who were male at birth to compete in female sports categories.

Still, the loud, radical minority pushing to erase sex-based competition makes up much of the sports media. That's why the usual suspects — Jemele Hill, Katie Nolan, Sarah Spain and now Bryant — have reacted so angrily to Cunningham's comments.

Later in the piece, Bryant also accused Cunningham of engaging in "anti-blackism."

"Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is now in the act, accepting the role as the right’s anti-Black, anti-transgender culture war ambassador, the role originally intended for Caitlin Clark."

At this point, you are likely wondering what wanting to protect girls' sports has to do with race. Unfortunately, Bryant never explained that to us. However, we suspect he realized, early in his op-ed, that arguing boys and girls should share locker rooms is a losing argument.

Either that or he reflexively labeled her "anti-Black" out of instinct. Hard to say.

Bryant then claims that Cunningham's stance on female sports is comparable to Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem or denouncing the Fourth of July as sadistic.

"Cunningham plays role of the blithe and bubbly iconoclast, oblivious to the world around as she unapologetically speaks her truths, but she is every bit as political as Colin Kaepernick, Megan Rapinoe ...," Bryant writes.

"Cunningham needed the culture war to get on the map, needing it as much as it needed her, and all it took was a silly finger-point and being in opposition to someone Black," he adds. "To the aggrieved whites, standing up to someone Black meant standing up for them. Add transphobia to her portfolio, and the result is a star, the latest participant in an old game no more complicated than checkers but far less interesting."

Transphobia, huh?

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In actuality, Cunningham gained mainstream attention last summer because she's one of the few WNBA players willing to defend Caitlin Clark, both on the court and in the media.

Fans appreciate Cunningham because she's willing to acknowledge the obvious: Clark is the WNBA's biggest draw and has often been treated unfairly by players, officials and members of the media out of spite.

Cunningham is also hot. The far left seems to have a real problem these days with attractive, happy, successful White women, whether it's Cunningham, Sydney Sweeney, or Margot Robbie.

So it's hardly surprising to see a career-long racial idolater like Howard Bryant try to diminish Cunningham while scoring political points. Bryant has spent years trying to elevate his standing with the cool kids in sports media, especially after his arrest.

In 2011, Bryant was arrested on charges of allegedly assaulting his wife in public in front of his 6-year-old son. He was also charged with assaulting a police officer who responded after witnesses allegedly saw Bryant choking his wife.

Later, Bryant blamed the arrest on — wait for it — racism. Bryant is Black. His wife, whom he allegedly choked, is White.

These are the people trying to convince us that women like Cunningham and Clark are the problem. Do not forget that.

Let's set the culture war aside for a moment and state a few facts:

Sophie Cunningham is not engaging in partisan politics by saying little girls shouldn't have to compete against biological males. That's not a political statement. Nearly 80% of Americans agree with her. That includes Democrats, Republicans and independents.

She also plays in the WNBA. Her career exists because men's and women's sports are separate. This issue is personal to her.

Finally, the fact that Cunningham's comments are considered controversial says more about sports media than it does about Cunningham.

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The sports media and the WNBA represent a small fraction of the country. They believe males competing against females is normal, White people have a moral obligation to atone and Black women are victims even when they are the aggressors.

Sophie Cunningham's resistance to subscribing to that distorted worldview doesn't make her "every bit as political as" Colin Kaepernick. To most Americans, it makes her relatable.

'The Brink of War' tells story of Reagan-Gorbachev nuclear discussions

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:53:16 -0400

President Ronald Reagan met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev five times in the late 1980s. The first such meeting was in Geneva, Switzerland in November 1985 when the two leaders began to form a relationship. It was the second meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, where Reagan and Gorbachev began to find trust.

"The reason I wanted to do it really, truly, was because I think these days we've gotten so good at yelling at one another that we are not talking anymore," said "The Brink of War" director Michael Gunn. "What blew me away about the story when Secretary Schultz told me about it was that these were two guys who had every reason to hate each other, had every reason to be enemies, and they sat down in a room together and tried to make a better world."

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Jeff Daniels stars as Reagan in "The Brink of War," which follows the Reykjavik summit with Gorbachev, played by Jared Harris. Reagan's Secretary of State George Schultz, played by J.K. Simmons, was instrumental in giving Gunn behind-the-scenes details for his film.

"We spent hours and hours together. I interviewed him. He gave me the declassified transcripts that informed the script. He's a hero of mine. The movie is dedicated to him, for him, for his public service," Gunn said.

NEW FOX NATION DOCUMENTARY CHRONICLES 20-YEAR JOURNEY BEHIND ‘REAGAN’ FILM

"The Brink of War" not only highlights the Reagan administration's ambitions for peace but also their disappointments. One scene shows Reagan’s doubt over trusting Gorbachev amid the negotiations as Schultz assures him it was not the end of talks to find common ground between the two global powers.

"This moment where they figured out just the two of them in a room that they could trust one another, I think led to all that. The first arms reduction agreement in human history," Gunn said.

While no final agreement was reached in Iceland, the summit paved the way for several more meetings between Reagan and Gorbachev. It also led to several peace treaties — like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which required both sides to liquidate a class of nuclear weapons.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NEGOTIATING TEAM PRAISED BY NUCLEAR EXPERTS FOR WALKING AWAY FROM PAKISTAN TALKS

"For the first time on the highest level, we and the Soviets came close to an agreement on real reductions of both strategic and intermediate-range weapons," President Reagan said after his meeting with Gorbachev in Iceland. "We were in sight of an historic agreement on completely eliminating the threat of offensive ballistic missiles by 1996. I can help remembering being told just a few years ago. Radical arms reduction was an impossible dream, but now it's on the agenda for both sides."

Gunn believes the Reagan and Gorbachev's discussions should be an inspiration for ending today's conflicts.

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"I think the lesson for today is that we have to continue dialog," Gunn said. "As tough as it gets, I want people to walk out of the theater with hope that if we engage, if we're strong, if we are seeking peace in a genuine way and we find a genuine partner that we can make a better safer world even today."

"The Brink of War" debuts in theaters Aug. 14.

Expert-recommended shoes to help with plantar fasciitis, starting at $75

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:22:37 -0400

Plantar fasciitis is a pain to deal with — quite literally. It develops when the band of tissue that supports your foot's arch becomes irritated or overstressed, often causing persistent heel pain, according to Dr. Timothy Oldani, DPM, FACFAS, a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. To help you stay comfortable, we've rounded up expert-recommended shoes at a range of price points from brands like HOKA, New Balance and Brooks, so you can find the right fit for your feet.

Orthofeet Kita Hands-Free: $119.99 (7% off)

Original price: $129

Slip into these Orthofeet shoe without bending down. "This shoe comes with an orthotic insole that has anatomical arch support which helps to evenly distribute weight and support proper foot alignment," Sharkey notes. Their versatile design makes them suitable for work, the gym or running errands.

ASICS Gel-Excite 11: $74.95

If you're on a budget, the ASICS Gel-Excite 11 sneakers come in at less than $100. With options for both men's and women's sizes, these expert-recommended shoes use mesh and a thick insole to keep you comfortable. "They're a great neutral shoe with cushioning…for shock absorption," Sharkey says.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24: $98.95 (29% off)

Original price: $139.95

Foot specialists frequently recommend the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 — currently at a 30-day low on Amazon. "This is a great choice for those who need a bit more stability. It offers good cushioning, and the GuideRails support system helps limit excess motion that can put stress on the plantar fascia, making it a solid option for walking, running or all-day wear," says Dr. Gregory Alvarez, DPM, FACFAS, at Ankle & Foot Centers of America.

HOKA Bondi 9: $175

Ideal for daily use, the HOKA Bondi 9 sneakers provide extra cushioning for long periods on your feet. "The HOKA Bondi is the perfect shoe for everyday wear and longer periods of standing, as they do offer increased cushioning compared to the running models, with the tradeoff of less heel drop," says Dr. Andrew Brown, a podiatrist with Foot and Ankle Specialists of West Michigan. The Bondi 9 comes in both men's and women's sizes.

Stoke slip-on sneakers: $79.96

If you need another affordable option, Stoke sneakers come in a huge range of colors and wide sizes, all for just $80. Dr. Graham Reid, DPM, AACFAS, and Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio fellow, specifically recommends these shoes for plantar fasciitis. "Stoke Shoes are designed around many of the features I recommend for patients with heel pain. Their supportive arch geometry, stable platform, cushioned midsole and overall focus on proper foot alignment help reduce the mechanical stress placed on the plantar fascia during walking."

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

New Balance 990v6: $199.95

New Balance makes its 990v6 sneakers right here in the U.S., with pigskin leather and synthetic materials that stand up to daily use. "This shoe is constructed with a lightweight foam and midsole cushioning which aids in shock absorption. [It] is supportive and has more of a traditional running shoe look than the ultra-cushioned Hoka," says Dr. Anne Sharkey, a board-certified podiatrist based in Austin, Texas, and owner of Solely Podiatry.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get some of these shoes sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Spencer Pratt slams Ben Affleck's resurfaced claim that 'the cure for addiction is suffering'

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:37:33 -0400

Spencer Pratt called out Ben Affleck over past comments that the actor made about addiction and recovery.

In a resurfaced clip from Affleck's 2021 appearance on "The Howard Stern Show," the 53-year-old Oscar winner, who has publicly battled alcoholism for years, reflected on his own sobriety journey and argued that the "cure for addiction is suffering."

"I hate to say it, but the cure for addiction, the only cure I've seen, and not like these f------ overpriced rehabs or a lot of these fraudulent fixes that are sold to people. And they're good people who will support you. Alcoholics Anonymous, I think by and large, is a good organization. It's not the only one. The cure for addiction is suffering," Affleck said.

"You suffer enough that something inside you goes, ‘I’m done,'" he continued. "And I'm lucky because I hit that point where I lost really the things that were the most important. It was not my career or money. It was my relationship with my kids."

"And what I felt as if it impacted them," Affleck said. "I recognized it. It was the worst day of my life. I made amends. And for a while I thought, ‘Maybe this is temporary, maybe this feeling is going to go away.’ But since that day, I swear to Christ, I have not ever wanted to drink once."

On Monday, Pratt, a former Los Angeles mayoral candidate who made the city's addiction crisis one of his signature campaign issues, reposted the clip along with a blistering criticism of Affleck's viewpoint.

WHY SPENCER PRATT’S LOS ANGELES CAMPAIGN HAS AMERICA PAYING ATTENTION

"I’d love for Ben to join me on Skid Row and explain his addiction theory to the methed out psychos skinning dogs alive and sleeping in their own feces," Pratt wrote. "Plenty of suffering out there, and yet…somehow the addiction persists. I wonder what the difference is…"

Fox News Digital has reached out to representatives for Affleck and Pratt for comment.

The 42-year-old "The HIlls" alum, who lost his home in the devastating Palisades Fire in January 2025, announced he was running for Mayor of LA on the one-year anniversary of the disaster. Throughout his campaign, Pratt advocated for active intervention to address the city's overwhelming homelessness crisis, which he described as primarily an addiction issue. He argued that fentanyl and methamphetamine were driving much of the city's visible homelessness.

SPENCER PRATT SEIZES ON HOMELESSNESS REMARKS BY KAREN BASS, BLASTS DEMOCRAT FOR FAILURES

"LA doesn't have a homeless problem. We have a drug problem," Pratt said in March.

Pratt repeatedly argued that people suffering from severe addiction should be placed into involuntary treatment under California's expanded conservatorship law (SB 43), saying many are incapable of seeking help on their own.

In May, he unveiled a five-step plan centered on addiction treatment rather than housing and proposed creating large rehabilitation campuses on federal land outside residential neighborhoods.

His plan also included ending taxpayer-funded distribution of drug paraphernalia, enforcing existing drug laws, partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to target fentanyl dealers, organized drug trafficking, and international cartels operating in LA and cracking down on what he described as NGOs and organizations that bus addicts into the city from other states to receive services.

As part of his campaign, Pratt highlighted reports of abused dogs on Skid Row, calling the issue another consequence of the city's drug crisis.

Pratt also repeatedly accused his mayoral opponents, Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman, of spending billions on homelessness without adequately addressing addiction.

Since conceding the mayoral race in June, Pratt has continued to use his social media platforms to weigh in on political issues, particularly Los Angeles' addiction, homelessness and public safety crises.

Affleck first sought treatment for alcohol addiction in 2001 and has since spoken candidly about his recovery journey, including subsequent rehab stays in 2017 and 2018.

The "Argo" star has described alcoholism as a lifelong struggle and acknowledged relapses along the way. Affleck has previously said that his three children, Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 14, whom he shares with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, have been a driving force in his commitment to sobriety.

During a 2020 appearance on "ABC News" with Diane Sawyer, Affleck said that his experience growing up with an alcoholic father motivated him to become sober.

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"My dad, he was drunk every day and that was just life," Affleck recalled. "Then as that got worse, that was really, really painful. But I always said, that would never be me. I am never going to do that."

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"I wish he had been sober during those formative years, but what he's taught me is, how important it is for me to be sober now during these formative years for my kids," he continued.

"I really don't want my children to pay for my sins," Affleck added "Or to be afraid for me, which is one of the hard parts of being the child of an alcoholic."

Clay Travis ups offer to $10 million for WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces to play high school boys basketball team

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:14:35 -0400

The WNBA, which continues to struggle to turn a profit, has received a very generous offer to live up to the league's stated political views and ideology.

When Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham publicly stated that she believed women's sports should be for women, and not for biological males, it set off a firestorm of hatred, anger, and public rebukes from much of the league. Several coaches spoke out against her, while her own head coach pretended as though she doesn't understand the biological differences between males and females.

Players wore shirts with obvious, pointed critiques of Cunningham's statement, which were then celebrated by their team's social media accounts. She's been booed as a visiting player, elbowed in the face then called for a foul herself, all while some fans have been allowed to bring in signs expressing hatred towards her. In the all "inclusive" WNBA.

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With virtually no other players or coaches issuing statements of support for Cunningham, and instead near universal criticism and reality denial, OutKick founder Clay Travis has a compelling offer for the league's best team: live up to what you believe in.

Travis, who's made such offers in the past, upped it on Monday afternoon.

"Important announcement: I am upping my offer, $10 million dollars for a head-to-head basketball game between the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces and a boy's high school state title team of my choice," he posted. "If the Aces beat my team, I will give them $10 million."

U OF WASHINGTON WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM PLAYED A HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SQUAD, AND YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO WON

Ten million dollars, by the way, represents nearly a third of the Aces estimated total annual revenue of $33 million. And all they have to do is play a high school boy's state title team and beat them. Shouldn't be hard, right? After all, there's no difference between males and females, right? Fever head coach Stephanie White said she grew up playing with the boys, right?

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"I don't know that I would say I'm educated enough from a scientific standpoint," White said when asked about males competing in women's sports. "I don't ever believe that exclusion is the answer. I just don't. I do think that when we think about various levels of sport, various governing bodies of sport, and things that go into that, like I said, I'm not educated enough at the different levels. I know growing up I played with the boys all the time."

Perfect! Let the boys play. Don't be exclusionary, be inclusive! Let teenage boys play against grown women, see how it goes, and then maybe White and her political partners will be educated about the realities of biology. And if it goes their way, the Aces get a 30% increase in their revenue this year. Where's the downside?

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Obviously, the Aces will not respond. Any WNBA team will not respond. The league will not respond. Because they know their answer, but their dedication to left-wing politics demands they pretend otherwise. They are so committed to the Democratic Party, the "party of science," they have to pretend science doesn't exist. That's what Travis is exposing, which is precisely why they hate him, and reality, so much.

UFC fighter Allan Nascimento dead at 34 after apparent heart attack

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:35:14 -0400

UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento has died at age 34, the UFC announced Monday.

Nascimento was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep, according to a statement released by the organization.

Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene, the UFC said.

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In a post shared on X, the UFC said: "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan's family, friends, teammates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."

The Brazilian compiled a 22-7 professional record and went 4-2 inside the Octagon, with 15 of his 22 career victories coming by submission.

After coming up short via split decision against Tagir Ulanbekov in his 2021 UFC debut, Nascimento rattled off four straight victories over Jake Hadley, Carlos Hernandez, Jafel Filho and Cody Durden.

Nascimento earned his first Performance of the Night bonus by submitting Hernandez with a first-round rear-naked choke in January 2023, then added a second in November 2025 with a second-round anaconda choke against Durden.

Nascimento last competed on June 20, 2026, falling to Mitch Raposo via split decision in what became the final fight of his career.

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Outside the Octagon, Nascimento built an accomplished career on Brazil's regional circuit while training out of the renowned Chute Boxe Diego Lima gym alongside former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

Nascimento spent more than a decade pursuing his UFC dream before emerging as one of the promotion's rising flyweight contenders.

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His sudden death, coming just weeks after his final walk to the Octagon, leaves the MMA world mourning a fighter who still had much more to give.

Illegal immigrant who helped torch CHP cruiser during LA anti-ICE riot learns his fate

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:59:32 -0400

An illegal immigrant who prosecutors say poured lighter fluid onto a burning California Highway Patrol cruiser while officers were trapped beneath a Los Angeles freeway overpass during last year's violent anti-ICE riots is headed to federal prison, becoming the latest person convicted in the brazen attack.

Yachua Mauricio Flores, a 23-year-old Mexican national living in Los Angeles' Lincoln Heights neighborhood, was sentenced Monday to 37 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $253,415 in restitution for his role in the June 8, 2025 riot, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Federal prosecutors said Flores stood on the Main Street overpass above U.S. Highway 101 as officers below were bombarded with rocks, chunks of concrete, fireworks, street signs, burning debris and other objects hurled by rioters.

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As a CHP cruiser burned beneath the overpass, Flores poured lighter fluid from two separate bottles onto the flames, causing the fire to intensify, according to court records.

Prosecutors said he then directed another rioter to pour a flaming liquid onto the vehicle before helping throw an electric scooter over the railing toward CHP officers and patrol vehicles below.

Flores admitted he knew officers were trapped beneath the overpass and acknowledged that hurling heavy objects and burning debris created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, according to his plea agreement. He pleaded guilty in April to one count of obstructing, impeding and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder.

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"Violent attacks on law enforcement will result in federal prison time," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. "Those who escalate chaos and endanger officers will be held accountable. Today's sentence reflects our commitment to protecting the men and women sworn to keep our communities safe."

The attack unfolded two days after violence erupted during federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, leading to days of anti-ICE riots across the city.

Federal prosecutors have charged seven people in connection with the Main Street overpass attack, alleging several worked together to target the CHP cruiser and the officers trapped beneath it.

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According to court records, Flores, Ismael Vega, 42, and Adam Charles Palermo, 40, all helped drop burning debris toward the cruiser while other rioters hurled rocks, chunks of concrete, fireworks and other objects at officers attempting to clear the overpass.

Flores is the latest person sentenced in the case. Vega received the same 37-month prison sentence last week after admitting he helped ignite burning debris that prosecutors said Flores later intensified with lighter fluid.

Palermo, who prosecutors have described as the lead participant in the attack, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 14 after pleading guilty to assaulting, resisting and impeding people assisting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Following Monday's sentencing, Essayli highlighted the case in a post on X.

"Another day, another illegal immigration rioter from last summer is sent to federal prison," Essayli wrote.

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"Actions have consequences. Those who attack law enforcement will face the full force of justice. This defendant can now reflect on his actions from a federal prison cell."

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Police Department.

Tate McRae addresses MAGA speculation after Morgan Wallen collaboration, Jack Hughes controversy

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:55:10 -0400

Tate McRae addressed MAGA affiliations after being branded a supporter following her country music collaboration.

McRae, 23, joined forces with Morgan Wallen last year to record "What I Want," the fifth single released from his "I'm the Problem" album. The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her first chart-topping hit.

In addition to the music, her reported relationship with NHL star Jack Hughes sparked political speculation after he joined team members and laughed at a joke made by President Trump during a congratulatory call for their Olympic hockey win.

When Variety asked why it was important for the "You Broke Me First" singer to navigate around those kinds of conversations, McRae noted that her actions speak louder than her words.

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"I like to say my piece through organizations I support and the environment that I have on tour," she said before the outlet noted that McRae posted a TikTok last year advertising a "Little Miss Possessive" sweatshirt with proceeds going to the Global Fund for Women and The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ youth.

"I think it’s pretty obvious what kind of person I am and the things I support. And I hope that my fans can see that through the things that I’m putting my energy towards."

Much like her political affiliations, McRae protects her personal life at all costs and tries not to feed into speculation.

While celebrating their Olympic gold win this summer, the U.S. men's hockey team received a phone call from the president via FBI Director Kash Patel, who was in the room at the time.

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In addition to an invitation to his State of the Union, Trump ignited a firestorm online after saying, "I must tell you we're going to have to bring the women too; you do know that. Believe me, I probably would be impeached, okay?"

Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal, was seen laughing with his teammates.

Multiple mainstream media outlets published op-eds condemning the men's team for laughing at the joke and also visiting the White House to celebrate and Trump's State of the Union address.

"I try to keep my relationships as sacred and private as possible," the singer said.

"I love the people in my life. They love me. You just try to keep that circle as positive and supportive as possible."

She added, "And the outside noise, I can’t do anything about that. Focusing my energy on something that I can’t control, it just puts me in a bad mood."

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Following the end of her 88-stop "Miss Possessive" tour, which grossed more than $100 million and cemented her newly-appointed star status, McRae reflected on the emotional toll of the experience.

"I remember reading Sylvia Plath being like, 'I am her,'" she said. "My thoughts felt so dark at the time, and I felt so lonely. I really needed to come back into my body and regulate my nervous system."

"I was so shot after the tour. I couldn’t really sleep at night. I’d seen so much of myself that I was like, 'I want to go into a black room and not look in a mirror for six months.'"

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She added, "And I think I really had to check myself and be like, 'You’re not the worst person in the world. You’re not the ugliest person in the world. You haven’t done everything wrong. And, you know, you’re just doing what you love.'"

Already working on her fourth studio album, McRae recently headlined Lollapalooza and will soon take the stage at Montreal's Osheaga Festival – her first time performing at a festival in her home country.

"There’s always thought about how you want your legacy to go down," she said. "For me, the way to do that is try to beat your last performance, try to beat your last song, try to grow, evolve, pick it apart, rip it apart, figure out what didn’t work, what I didn’t like about that performance, what I could have done better, why I was nervous, figure out how to not be nervous.

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"I think the more you can master yourself and your performances, the better you get."

Mexican cartel boss linked to influencer’s livestreamed murder arrested, officials say

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:52:04 -0400

The alleged leader of a violent Mexican criminal cell has been arrested in connection with the assassination of a mayor, while authorities say the case also produced new evidence linking his organization to the livestreamed killing of a 23-year-old influencer.

Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, also known as "El R-1," was taken into custody during a joint military and law enforcement operation, officials said.

Mexican authorities identified him as the leader of Los Rs, a criminal cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG.

Officials allege Álvarez Ayala ordered and financed the November 2025 assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. His criminal cell was also linked to the May 2025 killing of beauty influencer Valeria Márquez, whose former boyfriend is Álvarez Ayala’s son, according to authorities.

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Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced details of the investigation a day after the arrest.

"'El R-1' is identified as the main leader of Los Rs, one of the most violent criminal cells linked to the CJNG, with operations in Apatzingán, Uruapan and Morelia, Michoacán, as well as in Jalisco," García Harfuch said in a statement posted on X.

"This organization is involved in extortion, murders and drug trafficking, directly affecting producers, business owners and families in the region," he added.

As previously reported by Fox News Digital, Márquez, a popular TikTok creator with more than 100,000 followers, was shot and killed while livestreaming from her beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco.

SLAIN TIKTOK INFLUENCER'S EX BEGGED FOR YEARS TO LEAVE HUSBAND SHE OUTED AS ACCUSED PEDOPHILE

At the time, the killing was being investigated as a femicide, a gender-based crime under Mexican law.

Video appeared to show a man entering the salon, asking, "Are you Valeria?" before handing Márquez a gift.

The man then allegedly shot her in the chest and head. Márquez collapsed on camera before another person ended the livestream, the video appeared to show.

García Harfuch said the killing was linked to Francisco, who allegedly threatened Márquez several times after their relationship ended.

"This criminal cell allegedly participated under his orders in coordinating multiple violent acts in the region. Among them is the tragic feminicide of Valeria Márquez, which occurred in May 2025 in Zapopan, Jalisco, a crime linked to Francisco, the victim's former partner and Ramón Ángel's son," García Harfuch said.

DISPATCHER HEARD 'LOUD BANG' BEFORE TIKTOK INFLUENCER WHO OUTED ALLEGED PEDOPHILE HUSBAND FOUND DEAD: AUDIO

"With yesterday's arrest, we learned that R-1's son had a romantic relationship with Valeria. He had threatened her on several occasions and everything indicates, and this will be proven, that the son asked his father, R-1, to carry out the feminicide," he said, according to reports.

Álvarez Ayala is now in custody, while Francisco remains at large. Jalisco authorities have also arrested another man accused of participating in Márquez's killing.

In addition to Márquez's killing, Álvarez Ayala is accused of financing and orchestrating the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who was shot during Day of the Dead celebrations in November 2025.

Manzo had been an outspoken critic of organized crime and worked to root out corruption within the local police force.

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Authorities have arrested 31 people in connection with Manzo's killing, García Harfuch said.

Álvarez Ayala is being held at the Altiplano maximum-security prison while federal prosecutors pursue charges. Investigations into both killings are ongoing.

The Treasury Department said the CJNG was "one of the most powerful cartels in the world" and imposed sanctions on more than 50 individuals and entities in Mexico linked to the organization in July.

Hasan Piker's defense of Hamas having 'right to resist militarily' draws condemnation from human rights groups

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:51:16 -0400

Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker downplayed Hamas' anti-women and anti-LGBTQ stances while trying to explain his apparent support for the terrorist organization during a CNN interview on Sunday.

Piker, a rising figure within the Democratic Party, was featured prominently in "The Left Insurgency," an episode from the documentary series "The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper," where he spoke with reporter Donie O'Sullivan about some of his more controversial comments.

O'Sullivan pointed to a bipartisan House resolution passed in April condemning his rhetoric that some members of Congress claimed supported the terror organization.

"Well, I wouldn't say I express support for all of Hamas's actions or anything," Piker said in response to the resolution. "I do say that the Palestinian resistance largely does have an internationally recognized right to resist. Do they violate that sometimes with war crimes? Absolutely. And Hamas certainly has as well. But at the end of the day, Palestinians do have a right to resist militarily."

FAR-LEFT STREAMER HASAN PIKER DEFENDS HIMSELF FROM ANTISEMITISM ACCUSATIONS IN INTERVIEW WITH JEWISH OUTLET

The House resolution highlighted Piker's past comments calling Hamas "a thousand times better than the fascist settler colonial apartheid state" of Israel as well as his appearance on "Pod Save America," where he doubled down on the comparison.

"I've also said I'm a harm-reduction voter," he said. "I'm a lesser-evil voter and, therefore, I would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time because I'm looking at the situation as a paramilitary organization that has a political party as well, a political bureau as well that is entirely comprised not as an alien force but of orphaned children that have, you know, had their parents killed by an apartheid state that has been dominating the lives of Palestinians for 80 years at this point and have done a genocide at this point as well."

O'Sullivan pointed out that expressing support for Hamas could be seen as supporting the organization's human rights violations.

"If you say you’re voting for Hamas, you’re voting for limited rights for women, you’re voting for homophobia. Like, this is — right? When you say you’re voting for Hamas," O'Sullivan said.

"It’s not an endorsement of their domestic policies," Piker said. "But I don’t think anyone actually cares about their domestic policies. I certainly don’t. Every Palestinian, at the end of the day, regardless of their disagreements with Hamas, will always say that Israel is still — the Israeli occupation is the greatest problem that they’re facing, the most existential problem that they’re facing."

WHO IS HASAN PIKER? MEET THE FAR-LEFT STREAMER WHO IS STIRRING UP CONTROVERSY AND DIVIDING DEMOCRATS

"You understand when just the regular American... when they see all this..." O'Sullivan followed up.

"Well, that's the purpose of that document," Piker said. "The purpose of that document is not to be like, this guy has spent the last 13 years combating far-right antisemitism and far-right radicalization, and still continues to do so to this day. As someone who's an anti-fascist, I'm going to oppose Zionism, which is a fascist ideology. These guys can't defend that. So they have to attack its prominent critics."

Fox News Digital reached out to Piker for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

In a comment to Fox News Digital, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned Piker's comments along with Democratic officials who continue to ignore them.

"Hasan Piker repeated multiple times that ‘Hamas is a thousand times better than Israel,’ while also shrugging off ‘war crimes.’ That is a person with more than 11 million followers sincerely expressing support for a designated terrorist organization, on a mainstream platform, to thunderous silence from the Democratic officials who continue to campaign and appear alongside him," an ADL spokesperson said.

"That silence has a cost," the spokesperson continued. "Every candidate and elected official who platforms Piker or associates with him signals that this rhetoric is acceptable. It is not and never should be."

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The American Jewish Committee (AJC) also condemned Piker's comments, pointing Fox News Digital to its past statement on Piker's "Pod Save America" appearance.

"Support for a terrorist organization is not a political viewpoint to be debated; it is a line that must not be crossed. When such rhetoric is given a platform by elected officials and prominent media voices, it risks normalizing extremism, endangering the Jewish community, and eroding the values that underpin our democracy," AJC wrote on X.

"AJC calls on leaders across politics, media, and civil society to exercise judgment and responsibility in the voices they elevate, and to recognize that these decisions send powerful signals about what we are willing to tolerate — and whether the safety and concerns of Jewish Americans are negotiable," the post continued.

Piker, a self-described socialist streamer who campaigned with several Democratic politicians, has emerged as a leading voice on the left as democratic socialists gain ground in elections across the country. However, he drew widespread criticism for several controversial statements such as saying "America deserved 9/11" in 2019.

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Some Democrats have spoken out against Piker's influence. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville recently said that he would leave the party if it continued to embrace Piker.

"I can't sit here and tell you for certain how this is going to turn out, but the one thing I can tell you for certain, Hasan Piker and James Carville are not going to be in the same political party. One of us is going to leave. It might even be me," Carville told Fox News, adding that an "overwhelming majority" of Democrats agree with him.

Democrats blink as Schumer helps GOP clear key shutdown hurdle

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:44:44 -0400

Senate Republicans opted to strike on bipartisan momentum and take a key step to prevent a government shutdown almost two months before the deadline.

The upper chamber voted in a bipartisan wave to clear the first procedural hurdle for a short-term funding extension that would see the government open through the midterm elections and into early December.

It comes after Republicans have spent months hand wringing that Democrats would again shut the government down to score political points during the pivotal November elections.

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The actual deadline to fund the government is not until Sept. 30, when the current fiscal year expires, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., argued that it’s better to move now then to wait to create more "certainty" in the coming weeks.

"There's been enough uncertainty this last year, and, you know, unfortunately, I think through two government shutdowns that extended for a long period of time, it's better for everybody if there's predictability, certainty," Thune said.

Congress has been no stranger to shutdowns during President Donald Trump’s second term, with two of the longest in history taking place under Republican control of the legislative branch.

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The first happened last year, and entered the record books as the longest full government closure that stretched over 40 days. That battle was over now-expired Obamacare tax subsidies, an issue that was never fully reconciled in the months that followed.

Then came the shutdown earlier this year that stretched for over 70 days. Democrats rebelled against a bipartisan funding deal after Renee Nicole Good was slain in Minnesota by immigration enforcement agents. That prompted Republicans to skirt Democrats entirely and fund immigration enforcement on their own.

But, for now, there is a bipartisan current pushing through the Senate to at least make sure a shutdown doesn’t happen for the time being.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., endorsed the continuing resolution (CR) on Monday, arguing that the current bipartisan offering was the "responsible path forward that allows continued bipartisan negotiations on a budget that delivers for American families."

"For months, Democrats have been clear: we want to fund the government, avoid a shutdown and pass strong, bipartisan appropriations bills that improve people’s lives," Schumer said in a statement.

Republican leadership is hopeful that they can clear the decks and advance the CR to the House during the Senate’s last official week in town before jet-setting from Washington, D.C., back to lawmakers' respective home states.

While the CR is the current top priority, there are several other items waiting in the wings, too.

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There’s a package of over 70 nominees Republicans want to ram through, the long-awaited Russia sanctions package, a crypto market structure package that, for now, appears doomed, and the final confirmation vote for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"I think we have a bunch of stuff we have to finish and we’ll just stay until we finish it," Thune said.

Women's Tour de France hit with scandal as teams accuse riders of wearing padded bras to gain an advantage

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:40:22 -0400

There are accusations of padded bras being used for an aerodynamic advantage taking the cycling world by storm as the Tour de France Femmes takes place across Switzerland and France.

The controversy is heating up just as the third stage resulted in the longest solo breakaway victory in the race's history. Although it should be mentioned that there's currently no indication that a padded bra played any part in that.

Not since the Winter Olympics was put on edge by the ski jump penis injection rumors has a sport faced such a potential scandal.

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The Dutch outlet Wielerflits reported receiving several complaints from women's WorldTeams about female cyclists exploiting their breast size in time trials by faking a larger cup size using padding in their bras.

A rounder chest, an advantage in certain other ways, also helps reduce aerodynamic drag through something called chest fairing, according to Bert Blocken, a professor of aerodynamics at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and LUT in Finland.

The use of a padded bra is prohibited under the regulations of the International Cycling Union (UCI), which make it clear you can't place objects on the chest or use clothing to alter the body shape of a rider.

"We are talking about a Chest Fairing, which alters the airflow around the body, thereby reducing overpressure on the thighs. As a result, the rider experiences less air resistance," said Professor Blocken.

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"It is not that you gain a benefit of tens of seconds with this in a time trial, but in a ride of 20 to 30 kilometers, it can yield seconds that can be decisive."

He's proved it with extensive research into chest fairings, although it isn't known if he dove into the use of padded bras or not. The research showed, the Dutch outlet reports, that you can achieve a reduction in air resistance of up to 3.6%.

Who knew a padded bra could be used to reduce air resistance? It's fascinating that we have people out there on both ends of this.

One side is trying to gain an advantage and the other is trying to find where one might be gained. And here we are talking about padded bras. Their work hasn't been in vain.

The teams upset about the faking of the larger cup sizes want the UCI jury to take action. They have an idea about what can be done too. They could have padded bra inspectors for a lack of a better term.

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They'd like to "have a female juror check the riders in a closed tent immediately after the time trial to ensure they are not hiding anything in their bras or under their aero clothing."

That may solve the fake cup size and padded bra controversy, but what will they come up with next? Where will they inject or pad or attempt to gain a competitive advantage?

Has there been research into any aerodynamic advantages of a well-contoured Brazilian Butt Lift? I hope so.