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Parents accuse Oregon hospital of making them drive dead baby home to Seattle: lawsuit

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 02:43:19 -0400

A Seattle couple is suing after hospital staff in Oregon told them to drive the body of their nearly 9-month-old son four hours home in their private car following his sudden death in an emergency room.

Aleksandr and Nataliya Yeremeyev filed a $10 million lawsuit against Salem Health and Dr. Stefani Sorensen. The parents had allegedly sought respectful and dignified care and transportation of the remains of their son, Michael, but the lawsuit alleges staff insisted they bring the body back home with them.

Michael was born with Down syndrome and spent the first six months of his life at Seattle Children's Hospital.

"His parents had made sure that he had received really excellent care. So, I think it was a really, really sad and just very tragic way for his life to end and for it to be so undignified right there at the end," Anna Bruckenhoefer, the family's attorney, said in a statement, according to Fox 13.

TWO FAMILIES SUE NORTH DAKOTA HOSPITAL ON ALLEGATIONS BABIES WERE SWITCHED AT BIRTH

On September 22, 2024, the family was visiting Salem, Oregon, for a religious retreat when Michael developed rapid, shallow breathing late at night and was rushed to the emergency room at Salem Health Hospital, where he died, according to the complaint.

When the parents asked how to arrange respectful transport to send Michael’s body back home to Seattle, hospital staff allegedly pushed back on the suggestion to contact a local funeral home because it would be "too expensive" and instead pressured the family to bring their son’s body corpse with them in their own personal car, which they ended up doing due to feeling like they had no other option.

"They have repeatedly asked the hospital for assistance in helping them with what are the next steps," Bruckenhoefer said. "This was all occurring overnight. They felt rushed that they had to make quick decisions and the hospital left them with no choice other than to take Michael's body with them and head back to Seattle."

Aleksandr drove about four hours from Salem to Seattle with his son’s body laid across the backseat, while his wife and other children followed in a separate car.

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He suffered severe emotional distress as he feared police stops, car crashes and the visible deterioration of his child's body, according to the lawsuit. When he arrived at a Seattle funeral home, the father had to clean bodily fluids that leaked onto the seat during the trip.

"It is legal in the state of Oregon and in the state of Washington to transport a deceased with the proper permits. But that is not what our clients wanted to do here. They were looking for help. They were looking for guidance. They were looking for the hospital to tell them, "These are the next steps,'" Bruckenhoefer said. "This is a hospital. It's an emergency department. Unfortunately, death is something that they are accustomed to and that they deal with. They should have had procedures and protocols in place to assist the Yeremeyev’s while they were dealing with literally the worst moment of their lives. Instead, what they did is they just compounded their grief by essentially telling them that they were on their own in this."

"No parents, no loved ones should ever be placed in the position that the Yeremeyev’s were placed in," Bruckenhoefer added. "Just completely surprised that something like this would happen in 2026."

The lawsuit names Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, Salem Health, Salem Emergency Physicians Service and Sorensen as defendants, alleging direct negligence, vicarious liability, and a breach of the heightened duty of care owed to bereaved parents for the respectful treatment and custody of a child's body.

The family is seeking $10 million in non-economic damages for severe emotional distress and psychological trauma, although they plan to amend the complaint to include punitive damages.

Salem Health Hospital said out of respect for privacy and because the matter is in litigation, it is unable to discuss the details of the child's care.

"Salem Hospital responded in accordance with the family’s wishes and followed both hospital policy and Oregon state law in consultation with the appropriate local authorities, including the medical examiner," Salem Health told Fox 13 in a statement.

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"Care with respect is a guiding principle of clinical practice at Salem Hospital and remains central to how we support patients and families during some of life's most difficult moments. We recognize the profound grief families experience following the loss of a loved one and treat every patient and family with empathy, dignity, and respect," the statement continued.

Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 02:02:23 -0400

President Donald Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico suffered a setback Thursday after a federal judge ordered the administration to restore White House access to the outlets.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order Thursday blocking the ban and ordering White House officials to "immediately return, reinstate, and restore" the outlets' hard-pass press credentials while their legal battle continues. The order will be in effect for 14 days.

Kelly wrote that the outlets had shown they were likely to succeed on their claim that their White House "hard passes were revoked without constitutionally adequate due process."

"This is a high bar, but Plaintiffs have met it," Kelly wrote of the standard for obtaining a temporary restraining order.

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Kelly also rejected, at least for now, the administration's national security justification, writing that "the record lacks factual support" for the contention that revoking the passes protected national security or that restoring them would endanger it.

Trump announced the ban last week, writing on social media that the three outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES."

Reporters from all three organizations were subsequently denied entry to the White House, with their press credentials deactivated or confiscated.

The outlets and three individual reporters sued the administration, alleging the revocation of their White House press credentials violated their First Amendment free speech rights and Fifth Amendment due process rights.

WHITE HOUSE TV POOL TO SUSPEND COVERAGE OF TRUMP EVENTS

Lawyers for the Justice Department argued that White House press access is a privilege, not a right, and defended the president's authority to determine who receives access.

Following Trump's ban, White House television pool members FOX News Media, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News announced Monday that they had agreed to suspend their pooled coverage of the president.

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This is a developing story; check back for updates.

Tennessee cops raided man's home after he criticized officer for speeding: lawsuit

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:48:45 -0400

A Tennessee man who was arrested in a pre-dawn raid after he filmed and criticized a police officer sued the police department alleging it violated his First Amendment right to free expression.

The civil lawsuit against the city of Kingsport, its police chief and its officers was filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) in 2023 on behalf of Joshua Gibbons, but he is only now making the complaint public after he was successful in having his conviction overturned and the remaining charge dismissed by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

"They tried to intimidate me, but I’m not backing down," Gibbons said in a statement. "I can’t let this injustice stand, because my family doesn’t feel safe anymore. There’s no coming back from that raid on our home. They sent eight heavily armed officers to arrest me because I embarrassed them."

In October 2022, Gibbons filmed a Kingsport Police Department SUV speeding at night without lights or sirens, which the lawsuit alleges violated department policy and state law. He followed the vehicle and approached the officer at a fast food drive-thru, where he filmed his brief criticism of the officer’s conduct.

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"When he caught up with the officer, the officer did the right thing. He ignored Joshua Gibbons, didn't arrest him, didn't view it as a crime, and went and got his hamburger," FIRE Senior Attorney Adam Steinbaugh told Fox News Digital.

Gibbons, who uploads videos of police on duty as a way to hold them accountable, later published a second video of an officer giving him the middle finger.

A fellow citizen later complained to the department about the officer’s conduct, and the department responded by searching Gibbons’ YouTube channel for something to use against him, according to FIRE.

The department found the video of their own officer speeding. But instead of disciplining the officer, officers were sent to arrest Gibbons.

"The First Amendment protects the right not only to criticize and film police, but also to post it online. The police department didn't treat this as a crime until Joshua posted this online and embarrassed the department," Steinbaugh said.

Steinbaugh also said the case was "as lawless as it was hypocritical" and that the department’s actions "were all to make an example out of a critic."

According to the lawsuit, within two hours of being "made aware" of Gibbons’ video of the speeding officer, an arrest warrant for Gibbons was obtained for speeding, using a cell phone while driving and disorderly conduct. The warrant was obtained from a court clerk rather than a judge, according to FIRE.

Just before dawn the following morning, eight armed officers were captured on security and cell phone footage raiding Gibbons’ house and arresting him in front of his elderly mother and his daughter, just nine days after he filmed and criticized the speeding officer.

Gibbons then faced two trials over nearly four years before a Tennessee appellate court recently dismissed the charges.

"That's a long process that can take a mental toll on someone. I think that Joshua wants to send a message to this department. I think he wants to see some reforms to this department, and we're happy to support him," Steinbaugh said.

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In the first trial, a judge acquitted him of the speeding and cell phone charges but found Gibbons guilty of disorderly conduct, saying he was "offended by the way" Gibbons was "talking to that officer." Gibbons appealed to the county circuit court, and a jury found him guilty of disorderly conduct.

But in June, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee unanimously overturned the verdict and dismissed the disorderly conduct charge, finding there was "no evidence" that Gibbons’ criticism of the officer "prevented any person from doing any lawful activity."

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The court said Gibbons "did not threaten anyone, did not engage in any violent behavior, and did not create a physically offensive or hazardous condition." The court noted that even "'profane and insulting' words alone will not rise to the level of a crime, particularly when uttered against the police, who 'are trained to exercise a higher degree of restraint than the average citizen.'"

"If you are a law enforcement officer, you are required by your uniform and by the First Amendment to tolerate criticism. Some of that's going to be fair criticism, some of it's going to be unfair criticism. But you don't get to go and arrest people for it. That's the message we want to send to this department and to departments around the country," Steinbaugh said.

Kingsport Police did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment in time for publication.

Aaron Judge says he intends to be ready for Yankees' Wild Card series despite calf injury

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:48:04 -0400

With fans wondering whether New York Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge will be playing in the AL Wild Card series next week as his calf injury looms over the franchise, the man himself isn’t so worried.

"That’s what the plan is," Judge told ESPN. "Try to get my body ready so I’m ready to go."

Judge intends to be ready for Game 1 of the Wild Card series, which begins at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday against a to-be-determined opponent from the American League.

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Judge was placed on the injured list this past Saturday after suffering a right calf strain, though he added more concern that he could be out awhile at the worst possible time given the postseason was right around the corner.

He specified that he has a soleus muscle strain, which is what he said is essential for running and hitting – the things the Yankees desperately need him to do if they wish to reach the World Series again.

Judge confirmed reports that he received a Platelet-Poor Plasma (PPP) injection on Monday in his calf, and he and the Yankees are now waiting for clearance to resume baseball activities involving his leg.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

However, while Judge is intending on playing, manager Aaron Boone had a different thought process on Tuesday.

"We’re planning on him not being a part of that," he told reporters regarding the AL Wild Card series, though he hasn’t ruled him out officially. The Yankees still have time to figure out their roster.

But, if Judge isn’t on the Wild Card roster, he won’t be allowed to play until the Yankees make it to the ALDS, which only occurs if they win the best-of-three series.

Judge added that he’s had talks with those within the organization that make decisions, though he wasn’t going to divulge.

"I can’t control what people say," he said. "So, you’ll have to talk to them about that."

Judge’s injury came after he had just returned from a three-month stint on the injured list with a fractured rib . This ailment may not be as serious, but after getting an MRI this past Thursday to reveal the grade of the strain, it’s serious enough at a time when the Yankees would love for him to be 100%.

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Since his return to the team, however, Judge hasn’t struggled to get back to his usual slugging self. He went 4-of-23 with one homer and 13 strikeouts over 24 plate appearances. And they came right after he was deemed healthy enough to play instead of going to the minor leagues for a rehab assignment.

"We’ve got games to win," Judge said. "I’m getting paid to play games for the New York Yankees, so I’ll get back as soon as I can."

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There are multiple opponents the Yankees could play in the Wild Card series, but it is most likely to be a rematch from 2025 in the Bronx against the Boston Red Sox.

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Illegal alien allegedly grabs school police officer's gun, shoots him in femoral artery: DOJ

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:07:42 -0400

A Mexican national accused of grabbing a Dallas school police officer’s gun and shooting him after the officer stopped to help him has been indicted on a federal firearms charge, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales, 27, allegedly shot the uniformed Dallas Independent School District (DISD) police officer during an Aug. 6 struggle after the officer encountered him near the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, according to a federal complaint.

Pantoja-Morales, who prosecutors say was in the U.S. illegally, had allegedly jumped out of a co-worker’s car and into the freeway’s center median.

The co-worker flagged down the DISD officer, who was on routine patrol and offered Pantoja-Morales a ride to a nearby safe location.

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During the ride, prosecutors say Pantoja-Morales began rummaging through the officer’s bag in the back seat.

The officer pulled over and tried to remove him from the car, but Pantoja-Morales allegedly resisted, leading to a physical struggle.

During the fight, Pantoja-Morales allegedly grabbed the officer’s gun and fired once, striking the officer in the femoral artery of his right leg, according to the complaint.

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Despite being wounded, the officer regained control of his gun. Pantoja-Morales ran from the scene and was quickly apprehended by law enforcement, prosecutors said.

Another DISD officer provided medical treatment at the scene before the wounded officer was taken to Parkland Hospital for further treatment.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment Sept. 16, charging Pantoja-Morales with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

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"The illegal alien’s alleged actions in this case represent an attack on the rule of law and a direct threat to public safety," U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a news release. "Every day, we ask the men and women who wear the badge to stand between good and evil. It is my duty — and the duty of this office — to do all we can to protect those who protect us.

"Violence against an officer will not be tolerated, and we will pursue this prosecution with the utmost rigor to ensure full accountability."

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Pantoja-Morales is awaiting transfer to federal custody under a writ of habeas corpus filed Wednesday. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

The ATF Dallas Field Office and Dallas Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadin-Sarah Salkic is prosecuting it.

Michigan student confronts El-Sayed over Iran stance in tense exchange: ‘Do you stand with us?’

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:55:00 -0400

A Michigan student confronted Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed about his position on Iran during a town hall Wednesday, invoking his family's stated persecution by the Iranian regime before repeatedly pressing the candidate on whether he stood with Iranians opposing the government.

Iman Dashti, who identified himself as Persian, told El-Sayed during a town hall at the University of Michigan that members of his family had suffered under Iran's government.

"My cousin was hunted in the streets of Iran by the IRGC because her hijab wasn't on right," Dashti said. He also alleged that her uncle was sentenced to death and received 50 lashes under the Iranian government.

ABDUL EL-SAYED PROTESTED AGAINST 'EX-TERRORISTS' WHO CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY, UNEARTHED REPORT REVEALS

Dashti then confronted El-Sayed over leaked audio from earlier this year in which he said he did not want to comment on the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because "there are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad today."

"That silence had a gaping hole in our community," Dashti told El-Sayed Wednesday.

Dashti asked El-Sayed whether he regretted that silence, whether he would renounce people who held vigils supporting Khamenei and whether he stood "unequivocally against the IRGC" and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

El-Sayed responded by arguing that the United States has too often acted as "the world's policeman" while saying he supported movements for democracy and freedom abroad.

AFTER 6 MONTHS OF WAR, US MUST PREPARE FOR A FUTURE AFTER IRAN’S GOVERNMENT FALLS

"One can disagree with the governance of a foreign country. One can stand in solidarity with freedom and democracy movements," El-Sayed said.

He went on to reject U.S.-led regime change in Iran.

"I will always stand for and with democratic movements always," El-Sayed said. "But I also don't believe that we were in the right to go to war to topple the government of Iran. It was not our responsibility to do. It is the responsibility of the people of Iran to decide what their leadership should look like."

Dashti pressed him again.

"You stand with us?" he asked.

"I will always stand with movements for freedom and democracy," El-Sayed responded, before again warning against U.S. involvement in regime change.

"We should not be in the business of regime change," he said.

El-Sayed added moments later, "I want freedom and democracy for the people of Iran, no question. But I want that to be done by the people of Iran, coming together as a community to decide how to create democratic change in their society."

Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed's campaign for additional comment on the exchange and attempted to reach Dashti through Instagram.

El-Sayed, who won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary in August, is running against Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. The contest has drawn substantial national attention and spending.

The Iran confrontation was one of several notable exchanges during Wednesday's "Students vs. Billionaires" town hall at El-Sayed's alma mater.

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While discussing public health infrastructure, El-Sayed appeared to make a prediction about the party and the gender that will win the White House in 2028.

"I'm looking forward to working with the next Democratic president when she takes office in 2029," El-Sayed said, adding that he hoped to work with that administration to modernize the nation's public health infrastructure.

El-Sayed did not identify whom he had in mind.

His remarks came as former Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democrat presidential nominee, returned to Michigan to campaign with El-Sayed. Harris has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign.

El-Sayed also criticized President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance during the event.

"Donald Trump and JD Vance can't seem to keep my name out their mouth," El-Sayed said. "They don't really know how to say it, though, which is fine, because I believe in teaching opportunities."

Trump and other national Republicans have repeatedly targeted El-Sayed during the midterm campaign, while El-Sayed has responded by criticizing the president.

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"As he noted in his response, Abdul will always stand with movements for freedom and democracy, and he condemns government anti-free speech violence," Roxie Richner, El-Sayed's campaign spokesperson, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Abdul has also been clear that the United States should not be in the business of spending our tax dollars abroad on regime change wars that take our service members’ lives, waste our tax dollars and raise our prices. He believes American taxpayer dollars are best spent here at home to invest in infrastructure, education and healthcare."

NYC kitten rescue defends ‘NO F---ING MAGA’ adoption policy as PETA calls for it to be abolished

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:33:44 -0400

After posting an explicit warning that MAGA supporters, conservatives and apolitical applicants need not apply, a New York City kitten rescue is defending its screening process against mounting criticism, including from PETA, which called on the group to scrap the ideological ban.

"Homeless animals don’t care which side of abortion you are on or whether you believe in global warming or support Palestine or Israel or if you don’t vote at all, ever. They care if you love them and will give them a good home," PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk told Fox News Digital.

"We hope this policy, which is humancentric, is reconsidered and abolished."

The dispute centers on Itty Bitty City Kitties, a Rockaway Beach-based rescue that describes itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit specializing in orphaned and neonatal kittens, feral cat welfare and adoptions. The organization is also listed among New York state’s registered pet rescues.

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In a social media post reviewed by Fox News Digital, the rescue laid out a series of political positions it said could disqualify prospective adopters.

"MAGA? Nope."

"Conservative? Nope."

"‘I’m not political’? Nice loophole. Still nope."

An accompanying image of a kitten bore the message, "NO. F---ING. MAGA."

The post drew wider attention after Libs of TikTok posted it on X, prompting questions about whether the language represented the rescue’s actual adoption practices.

Fox News Digital contacted Itty Bitty City Kitties and asked whether an applicant could be rejected for identifying as MAGA, conservative or apolitical.

Samantha Knox, who has publicly identified herself as the director of Itty Bitty City Kitties, defended the organization’s screening approach by saying its overriding responsibility is the welfare of the animals in its care.

"As an animal welfare rescue, our primary responsibility is ensuring the animals in our care go to safe, compassionate homes," Knox told Fox News Digital.

She said the organization considers "public conduct and demonstrated values" and argued that a record of "celebrat[ing] cruelty" can raise concerns about an applicant’s suitability to care for an animal.

"A history of celebrating harm or abuse, be it toward people or animals, is one of the biggest red flags in animal rescue," Knox said. "We stand by our mission and will never place a vulnerable animal with anyone, ever, who we feel is a danger to the welfare of the animal."

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Fox News Digital followed up with a narrower question, asking whether a person who identifies as MAGA or conservative, but has no documented history of animal cruelty, threats, neglect or violence, would be eligible to adopt.

"Itty Bitty City Kitties does not screen or reject applicants based on registered political party affiliation," Knox responded. "MAGA is a political movement and ideology, not a recognized political party."

Knox said adoption evaluations instead concern "conduct, ethical alignment and animal safety."

"We reserve the right to reject any application where an applicant’s expressed values, public statements or actions demonstrate a failure to meet our safety and welfare standards," she said.

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Asked again whether a MAGA or conservative applicant without a history of cruelty, threats, neglect or violence could adopt from the organization, Knox did not provide a yes-or-no answer.

"Media-driven requests to force complex animal welfare evaluations into a binary ‘yes or no’ premise fundamentally misrepresent how responsible adoption screenings operate," she said.

Knox added that "active support for or alignment with social movements" the rescue believes normalizes or promotes cruelty can be treated as "actionable conduct" and said adoption decisions are made "holistically under these welfare and safety standards."

Knox also provided Fox News Digital with screenshots she said showed explicit, hostile messages directed at the rescue after its political posts.

Knox said messages of that nature illustrated the kind of conduct the rescue considers relevant when evaluating prospective homes. PETA, however, drew a different line.

"Political affiliation is not a reliable measure of whether someone will be a good guardian," the organization told Fox News Digital, adding that a person's actions and statements, along with demonstrated treatment of people and animals, can be relevant to an adoption decision.

PETA said rescues should focus on "objective animal welfare factors," including an applicant’s history of animal care, ability to meet an animal’s needs and evidence of cruelty, neglect or violence.

"Shelters and rescues exist to protect animals, not to serve as political gatekeepers," PETA said.

Itty Bitty City Kitties’ public adoption page describes what the organization calls a "Fully Supported Adoption Model," under which prospective owners submit an application, references, employment and living information, participate in a phone interview and complete a FaceTime or Zoom interview in lieu of a home visit.

The rescue’s published "MUST LIST" says adopters must keep animals up to date on veterinary care; keep them indoors or leashed outside; never declaw them; maintain a plan for travel, illness or death; not simply give away an animal they can no longer care for; and be financially able to provide for its welfare.

The public-facing requirements reviewed by Fox News Digital do not mention MAGA, conservatism, political affiliation or political ideology.

The organization has also used its social media account for other political messaging.

On Sept. 10, Itty Bitty City Kitties posted an image of a kitten carrying the words, "Kittens. Don’t. Mourn. Nazis."

"For absolutely no reason at all on this day one year later..." text on the image stated.

"Just a little kitten making sure we all know where we stand," the accompanying caption read, followed by hashtags including "#kitten," "#cat," "#politics" and "#iykyk."

While the post did not name late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, it was published exactly one year after his assassination at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

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Knox also invoked the rescue’s nonprofit status in defending its ability to take positions on political and social issues, saying 501(c)(3) organizations are permitted to maintain issue-based standards aligned with their missions as long as they do not engage in partisan political campaigning.

PETA, while objecting to the use of political affiliation as a measure of adoption suitability, said an applicant’s actual behavior toward animals can, and should, matter regardless of ideology.

"More broadly, anyone who condones, celebrates or participates in harming animals demonstrates a troubling lack of empathy," PETA said.

English soccer star Harry Kane wants to play in the MLS and kick in the NFL at the same time

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:22:16 -0400

We don't see enough two-sport athletes these days. It's such a cool phenomenon that we haven't really seen in a while.

However, English soccer star Harry Kane wouldn't mind taking a crack at it.

Because if he winds up in the MLS, he wouldn't mind spending his free time on an NFL roster.

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According to The Athletic, Kane was recently quoted as saying that he was close to re-upping with the Bundesliga's Bayern Munich. That led to a question about his plans beyond this next deal.

One of those plans was something he has reportedly talked about multiple times over the years, and that was switching sports.

He's talked about golfing professionally, but this time he was focused on trading football for American football.

"That is something I will try and look at a bit more seriously," he said. "It all depends on what happens in my career over the next five or six years, the motivation and what I want to do. The NFL is a lot more realistic than the golf one, let’s put it that way."

But what had never come up before was the idea of Kane winding down his career stateside in the MLS while also moonlighting as a placekicker.

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"Maybe if I am in the MLS in the future or somewhere like that it might be a thing where you could connect the two, with the seasons," he said. "But it is in the back of my mind because right now, I am feeling that I want to play as long as I can here."

Nice save at the end. The team about to re-sign you probably doesn't want to hear about your plans to play in the MLS and kick extra points on the side.

But do you know who does want to hear that? The rest of us.

That would just be a fun thing to watch, and Kane obviously has the leg to boot a pigskin quite a long way if he can nail down those pesky mechanics.

Which it looks like he may have already done.

At least a few teams are probably setting reminders to see what Kane is up to when his Bayern Munich deal is up.

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Maybe it's a pipe dream, but someone has to bring back two-sport professional athletes.

Trump likely ‘smirked’ as 'crass' Iranian president lashed out at US in UN speech: expert

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:10:52 -0400

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s sharp rebuke of Washington at the United Nations would have drawn little more than a "smirk" from President Donald Trump, who knows he "holds the cards," a foreign policy expert told Fox News Digital Wednesday.

The assessment came after Pezeshkian and Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York from the same podium within 24 hours of one another, trading sharp rhetoric as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to mount.

"Trump understands he holds the cards, and he may not even have paid much attention to what the Iranian president was saying," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital.

Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran while portraying his country as the victim of aggression.

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"We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists," Pezeshkian claimed.

"Our innocent people have been the targets of cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country. America and Israel attacked us."

"I’m sure that would have drawn a smirk or a smile or a chuckle from the president’s face, seeing that crassness," Taleblu said, pointing to what he described as a sharp contrast between Pezeshkian’s rhetoric and the Iranian government’s track record.

Pezeshkian’s address came after Trump used the same U.N. stage to defend the U.S. conflict with Iran and warn that Tehran faces a stark choice between reaching a deal and facing further destruction.

"Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" Trump said on Tuesday.

While the rhetoric from both leaders was pointed, Taleblu said their broader diplomatic positions remain largely predictable.

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"To a certain degree, both President Trump and President Pezeshkian’s speeches before the U.N. General Assembly’s 81st session were predictable," Taleblu said.

"Predictable because the status of both countries and their foreign policy toward the other are in a fairly predictable pattern right now."

Despite the threats and recriminations, the two adversaries also appear to be still testing a diplomatic path behind the scenes.

Trump said Tuesday that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke with Iranian officials for roughly three hours on the sidelines of the General Assembly and characterized the discussions as productive.

Witkoff later said the talks were conducted through mediators who shuttled between the U.S. and Iranian delegations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also represented Tehran in the discussions, according to reports.

KUSHNER TOUTS UNPRECEDENTED IRAN CONTACTS AS TEHRAN DENIES TRUMP BACKCHANNEL

Both sides, Taleblu said, are attempting "to make time a weapon on their side" and "to put the burden of choosing between escalation and engagement on the other."

But Taleblu went on to characterize Pezeshkian’s broader message as an attempt to cast Iran as a victim through an anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-imperialist framework.

"It seemed to be more of a global South, anti-American, anti-Israeli, kind of anti-colonial, anti-imperialist message that he was looking to kind of paint the Islamic Republic as the victim," Taleblu said.

"In reality, the long-serving victim in this entire crisis is the Iranian people because of the policies of the Islamic Republic."

The competing messages — confrontation from the U.N. podium and diplomacy behind the scenes — highlighted the unresolved tensions between Washington and Tehran as officials explore whether negotiations can produce an off-ramp from the conflict.

TRUMP KEEPS FORECASTING AN IRAN DEAL — WHY THE WHITE HOUSE STILL THINKS IT CAN HAPPEN

"Despite the tough talk at the podium, both sides still feel like they need to signal an interest in talks, even though they’re both trying to use talks to shape an outcome that is more conducive to their interests," Taleblu said.

Pezeshkian also told the General Assembly that Tehran would not surrender to military pressure while signaling that Iran remained open to diplomacy.

"I think the Iranians are trying to signal an interest in talks, but they may run into a brick wall quite soon if they foot-drag or delay or don’t meaningfully provide any kind of substantive change in their policy," Taleblu said, citing Iran’s positions on the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program.

"Ultimately, if the positions remain the same, the fact that they’re oscillating between shooting and talking doesn’t mean much because the red lines haven’t actually moved.

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"Of course, the Trump administration is looking for a political win here."

Tylenol murders mystery deepens after sheriff’s office solves decades-old ‘Unknown Wanderer’ cold case

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:08:37 -0400

A mysterious man who died of cyanide poisoning inside an Idaho church more than four decades ago has finally been identified, and investigators say his past raises questions about a possible connection to the still-unsolved 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders.

The man known for decades as the "Unknown Wanderer" was Dr. Mathew Francis Betkouski, an organic chemist with a history of discussing cyanide and poison, the Ada County Sheriff's Office in Boise announced Wednesday.

Investigators said they couldn't place Betkouski in Chicago during the final week of September 1982, when seven people died after taking Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide, and they are not naming him as a suspect.

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Dr. Park Dietz, a forensic psychiatrist who was consulted during the original Tylenol investigation and reviewed the evidence gathered on Betkouski, offered a stronger assessment.

"It's an extraordinary thing to have been around at the beginning in 1982, and now today in 2026, to see very likely closure," Dietz said.

Dietz said groups of forensic psychiatrists, psychologists and criminal profilers who were anonymously presented with information about Betkouski overwhelmingly considered him a viable suspect.

Betkouski died on Dec. 4, 1982, after walking into Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Boise. Authorities determined he died from cyanide poisoning, but he carried no identification, and his fingerprints produced no match.

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The mystery endured for decades until investigators traced one of nearly 30 keys found on him to Jacksonville, Florida, where Betkouski had lived. DNA recovered from his wallet and later compared with a sample from his brother helped establish his identity.

Investigators subsequently uncovered several details that drew their attention to the Tylenol case.

A former colleague recalled Betkouski discussing the "perfect crime" and cyanide, while another scientist recalled him saying poison could be introduced into over-the-counter capsules, according to investigators.

Authorities also found a map of Chicago and a bottle of sodium cyanide among belongings kept at his family's Los Angeles home. Investigators stressed that the poison was not the potassium cyanide used in the Tylenol murders.

THE TYLENOL MURDERS: A LOOK BACK AT THE RASH OF 1982 DRUG STORE POISONINGS

Photos showed Betkouski had visited Chicago, but investigators determined they were likely taken in December 1981 and said they cannot establish that he returned when the Tylenol poisonings occurred.

Betkouski disappeared from his New Mexico home on Oct. 15, 1982, and turned up dead in Boise seven weeks later after apparently changing his appearance.

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Authorities have turned their findings over to investigators in the Chicago area and are seeking information about Betkouski's movements and communications in 1982.

"This isn't over," Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford said.

Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says his $500M contract was for past performance – not future results

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:05:57 -0400

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has four games left before he can put his 2026 Toronto Blue Jays season behind him.

Guerrero, the six-time All-Star who signed the third highest-paid extension in MLB history in April 2025 at $500 million, has hit just nine home runs and slugged .359 to date for a career-low .695 OPS to date.

The Blue Jays, winners of the American League pennant this past season, where Guerrero was a major factor in reaching the World Series, were mathematically eliminated from this year’s postseason race as they hold a 77-81 record entering Wednesday.

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For a player that is worth so much, especially financially, to an organization’s success, Guerrero’s down year has led to some vitriol from the Blue Jays’ fan base. And that’s likely to continue after hearing recent comments from the star infielder.

Guerrero, 27, sat down with Telemicro News recently, where he discussed his struggles at the plate this season, and how it reflects on his contract extension.

His comments were, well, interesting.

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"The contract I got was based on what I did, not necessarily for what I’m going to do," Guerrero said, as translated by MLB reporter Héctor Gómez. "I understand why the fans believe it’s the other way around. Sometimes, I think that way, too, like, ‘Oh, they give me this money, and I’m not doing enough,’ but you know I try my best, and I’m working hard.

"The fans, I know how they are, when you are doing great they are 100% behind you. But when you are not at your best, not everybody is behind you, almost nobody supports you. Those are my real fans, the ones that are supporting me all the time."

After catching heat from Blue Jays fans, Guerrero was approached about the viral quotes, which he responded to.

"That was a quote from the interview when she asked me how I felt about this year," Guerrero said, via MLB.com. "I said that, obviously, I feel really bad about the year that I had, that I couldn’t help my team get to the postseason. I said I felt – that it’s my personal opinion – that every player gets paid for what they have done. With that said, you guys have got to remember that I signed my contract at the beginning of last year, then I did put up a good year. Then, the kind of playoffs that I had to help the team get into the World Series.

"To the fans, I’ve never stopped working very hard. I am going to go into the offseason again to prepare myself the best I can. Physically, mentally, everything that I have like I always do for my team and my teammates."

In Guerrero’s defense, that is technically what the Blue Jays did when they dished out his 14-year, $500 million extension, which is only behind Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets. The franchise paid Guerrero for what he did from his debut in 2019 up to a fantastic 2025 campaign, where he belted eight homers and hit .397 across 18 postseason games.

But these comments show that Guerrero mustn’t be aware of what putting pen to money-filled paper meant in April 2025. No longer is it time in any sport, let alone Major League Baseball, where contracts are dished out based solely on past performance. It’s looking ahead to the future, where those past performances are expected to continue through a much-more lucrative deal.

MLB franchises sign players to contracts based on the market, and that market is justified by how the player will perform for them later on, while obviously looking at the track record in the past.

With any investment, those dishing out the big bucks want a return.

So, in a season where the home run total for a slugger is less than double digits – he still has time to at least get to 10 – and a career-low WAR (albeit the 2020 COVID-shortened campaign) has been accumulated, the Blue Jays and its fan base have every right to be disappointed. Yes, Guerrero was a major reason why Toronto reached the World Series in 2025, but the team and its fans are also allowed to voice displeasure with not just a down year – a career-worst performance in various metrics.

Would the Mets have dished out the highest-paying contract in league history if they didn’t expect Soto to continue performing at his superstar pace? No.

Would the Dodgers have agreed to give Ohtani $700 million, with heavy deferrals, might we add, to pay him for years without helping them reach their World Series goals? No.

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From Mike Trout, to Mookie Betts, to Aaron Judge and the list goes on, every franchise wants to see a player they sign, especially for nine figures, to pay dividends. That’s the reality of the situation, whether Guerrero wants to view his deal as what he’s done in the past.

This is just one season, but Guerrero’s outlook needs to change just as much as his production moving forward on the remaining 13 years of his deal.

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Just one small serving of ultra-processed food a day linked to higher disease risk, major study finds

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:55:27 -0400

Just an extra 3½ ounces of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) a day was linked to a higher risk of chronic disease, according to a new large-scale analysis.

The study, published Sept. 22 in the journal Family Medicine and Community Health, looked at nearly 8.8 million adults who participated in studies across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, with follow-up periods ranging from two to 32 years.

For every additional 100 grams of UPFs consumed daily, researchers found an association with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events, a 4% higher risk of cancer, a 3% higher risk of death from any cause and a 2% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes, according to a news release.

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UPFs are typically packaged and convenient, made through extensive industrial processing and often packed with additives. They can include sugary drinks, processed meats, packaged snacks and candy.

One hundred grams is about the size of a 3½-ounce bag of corn chips, a small box of candy or a single-serve cup of mini cookies.

People with the highest intake of UPFs also had higher risks of digestive diseases, depression or anxiety, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular events than those with the lowest intake of the foods.

5 ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS THAT MAY BE WORSE FOR YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, EXPERT SAYS

"Given that UPF-related chronic diseases often cluster as multimorbidity, reducing consumption of UPFs and replacing them with minimally processed alternatives may be relevant for chronic disease prevention and primary care management," wrote the researchers, led by Xiao Liu, a cardiologist at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital in China and a research fellow at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.

These types of foods tend to crowd out healthier, nutrient-dense options, according to Kelly Springer, a New York-based registered dietitian and founder of Kelly's Choice.

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"It's not that you can never eat them again," Springer, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. "It's the fact that we are not getting real foods — real foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains."

Rather than focusing on taking foods away, Springer recommended adding protein and fiber to meals and snacks. She suggested options such as an apple with peanut butter, nuts with cucumbers or meals built around beans, chicken or tuna alongside fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

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"A diet built around whole, minimally processed foods is one of the best investments we can make in our long-term health," she added.

Springer noted that the study was observational, so it cannot establish that UPFs directly caused the poor health outcomes.

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It also relied on participants' self-reported diets and may not be able to account for other lifestyle factors.

Nonetheless, the study can teach people about the link between ultra-processed foods and chronic disease, Springer said.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

'Home Improvement' star Jonathan Taylor Thomas arrested for alleged public intoxication, resisting deputy

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:49:45 -0400

"Home Improvement" star Jonathan Taylor Thomas was detained after reportedly resisting an officer in Westlake Village, California, Monday.

According to court records obtained by Fox News Digital, Thomas was detained at the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff's station. After being booked, Thomas was released.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ the child actor was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by police. The outlet reported that deputies told Thomas to stay inside the vehicle, but he allegedly exited anyway. Thomas was also reportedly drunk at the time of the incident.

‘HOME IMPROVEMENT’ STAR JONATHAN TAYLOR THOMAS MAKES RARE APPEARANCE IN REUNION PHOTO WITH CO-STARS

Law enforcement told People magazine, "The driver was being detained for DUI investigation. Sometime during the investigation, Mr. Taylor decided he would exit the vehicle. Deputies told him to sit back down in the vehicle.

"He was uncooperative with them, failed to follow orders, and obstructed the investigation, so he was arrested for obstruction, and he was arrested for drunk in public."

When authorities attempted to detain Thomas for public intoxication and obstruction, he allegedly "kicked a deputy in the stomach," according to People magazine.

Thomas' legal run-in came shortly after he reunited with his "Home Improvement" co-stars Patricia Richardson and Taran Noah Smith.

In July, Richardson sparked a wave of nostalgia when she shared a rare reunion photo with her former "Home Improvement" sons, Thomas and Smith, more than 25 years after the beloved sitcom ended.

"My other boys," Richardson captioned the snapshot with a heart emoji.

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For eight seasons of the hit comedy series, Richardson played Jill Taylor, the wife of Tim Allen's character, Tim "The Toolman" Taylor. Thomas and Smith became household names, playing sons Randy and Mark Taylor, respectively, while Zachery Ty Bryan portrayed oldest son Brad.

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The reunion offered fans a rare glimpse of Thomas, who largely stepped away from Hollywood after becoming one of the biggest child stars of the 1990s.

Thomas rose to fame as Randy Taylor on "Home Improvement" and became a major teen heartthrob, appearing in films, including "Tom and Huck" and "Man of the House." He also voiced young Simba in Disney’s 1994 blockbuster "The Lion King."

But at the height of his fame, Thomas made a surprising decision to walk away.

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"I'd been going nonstop since I was 8 years old," Thomas told People in 2013. "I wanted to go to school, to travel and have a bit of a break."

Thomas left "Home Improvement" during its eighth and final season, with his character moving to Costa Rica.

Although he largely stayed out of the spotlight, Thomas briefly returned to acting, reuniting with TV dad Tim Allen on "Last Man Standing" from 2013 to 2015. He appeared in four episodes and directed three.

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Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur backs Marvin Harrison Jr as viral videos fuel questions about receiver's effort

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:45:30 -0400

The Arizona Cardinals’ season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Chargers was quickly overshadowed in Week 2, when they fell 31-7 to the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.

Much of the postgame conversation centered on wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who finished without a catch as Arizona’s offense struggled to find a rhythm. Last Sunday’s performance was the latest sign of a relatively quiet start to the 2026 season for the third-year receiver and No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Harrison entered the league widely regarded as one of the top receiving prospects in recent memory, but he has managed just one reception for 33 yards through two games. He has yet to establish himself as a consistent part of the Cardinals’ passing game.

The concerns about Harrison’s development are not new. Injury setbacks limited him to 12 games last season, when he finished with 604 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The former Ohio State standout is still searching for his first 1,000-yard NFL season, and his slow start this year has only amplified the criticism surrounding him.

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The scrutiny surrounding Harrison has recently extended beyond his production. Clips highlighting his route running and blocking have prompted some observers to question what they perceive as a lack of effort during games.

LaFleur pushed back on the criticism, arguing that Harrison’s running style should not be interpreted as a lack of effort.

"I don’t see it that way," LaFleur said. "I think his running style is different than some other people’s, I would say that. If that’s people’s narrative on him, that’s fine. I know his teammates don’t feel that way."

Harrison’s tape has shown flashes of the precise route running and polished technique that helped establish him as largely a "can’t-miss" prospect. At other times, however, he has appeared frustrated while dealing with drops or falling short of his own standards.

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Even as Harrison has struggled to find his footing, other players in Arizona’s offense have flourished. Tight end Trey McBride earned first-team All-Pro honors last season and emerged as one of the top players at his position. Wide receiver Michael Wilson surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 2025 and was rewarded with a contract extension this offseason.

About halfway through last season, Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. criticized the Cardinals’ offense, saying it was difficult to watch his son’s team play. Arizona has since made changes to its offensive coaching staff and scheme, but those adjustments have yet to translate into improved production for Harrison.

LaFleur acknowledged Harrison’s slow start but stressed that the Cardinals must balance his involvement with the needs of the offense.

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"I know it’s just ‘get some easy completions and get going,’" the first-year Cardinals coach noted. "You also have Trey McBride, who’s one of the best underneath guys in the world and there’s only about 60 to 65 plays a game. And you’ve got to run the ball. You’ve got Kendrick [Bourne], who works underneath pretty well, too. Everyone’s kind of got their role right there."

Bessent reveals extension to Busan agreement with China until January

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:28:10 -0400

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that United States and Chinese officials agreed to extend their bilateral trade truce known as the "Busan agreement" Wednesday on Fox News.

The Busan agreement was set down by President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2025 and is a trade-war truce intended to ease economic tension between the two nations.

"We have agreed today that we will extend what we call the Busan agreement, the economic détente between the two countries that was scheduled to end on Nov. 10 that is going to be extended until Jan. 10 to give us more time to see what we can do on the economic front," Bessent told "Special Report."

As the United States’ war with Iran nears the seventh-month mark, Bessent is outlining three possible ways the conflict could end while warning that the regime is a "cornered animal."

Bessent said the conflict could end in three ways: members of the regime turn on one another, the Iranian people revolt or Tehran finally comes to the negotiating table and reaches an agreement.

"One, the regime turns on each other — not impossible," he told Fox News. "Two, we get some kind of uprising for the Iranian people. They've probably killed 50,000 of their own population, so very difficult. And then three, to get the Iranians to, if they want to make a deal, to stick to the deal."

AFTER 6 MONTHS OF WAR, US MUST PREPARE FOR A FUTURE AFTER IRAN’S GOVERNMENT FALLS

The Treasury Department is continuing its sweeping economic pressure campaign against Iran, targeting Iranian assets and financial networks while pressuring foreign governments and businesses to sever economic ties with Tehran — an effort Bessent said the "world has never seen."

"We have an effort never seen before in terms of constricting and cutting off the financial oxygen to them," the Treasury chief said. "And I don't know whether it's gonna be a week, a month or two months, but they're going to yell uncle."

BESSENT WARNS IRAN'S OUTSIDE BACKERS TO 'STAY AWAY' AS TRUMP SEEKS TO 'ASPHYXIATE' TEHRAN'S ECONOMY

The Treasury launched Operation Economic Outcast in August. It is an extension of the economic strangulation campaign aimed at further severing Iran’s financial lifelines sustaining the regime and further isolating Tehran from the global financial system.

"We have made it very clear around the world, whether it's the financiers, the people who are doing business, the people who are supplying the Iranians, we know who you are, you know who you are, and we are going to prosecute and execute your companies and your bank accounts every day and every week," Bessent warned.

The Treasury chief said he is "not sure" how Iranian officials attending the United Nations General Assembly will return home after imposing hefty restrictions on Iranian airlines.

"External flights from Iran, probably more than 80 or 90% of them, got shut down. I'm not sure how the Iranian representatives at the UN are gonna get home," he told Fox News.

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Bessent, who dismissed reports suggesting he is Trump’s top pick for AI czar, addressed his multi-day talks with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng this week.

The secretary proposed an AI "notification mechanism" between the United States and China that would allow the two countries to alert each other about AI-related safety incidents that could pose national security risks.

"They're very eager to engage with us on AI because… the U.S. is substantially in the lead, China's behind us," Bessent said.

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"It's very important for us to engage on this," he continued. "I think we are working to define with them what we think the most important or the most perilous risk factors are, whether it's uncontrolled AI agents, whether it is non-state actors using AI, either for cyber ops or for biologics."

Local Virginia GOP chair says Arlington County officials prioritize illegal immigrants over public safety

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:10:08 -0400

A recently released House Judiciary Committee report on one Virginia county's effort to resist the Trump administration's immigration enforcement agenda clashes with the region's deep blue politics, according to local Republicans.

The 23-page interim staff report from the committee's Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement heavily criticized Arlington County's sanctuary policies, accusing the county and local Democratic-run jurisdictions of ignoring public safety while advocating policies that make it harder for federal immigration authorities to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

"Chairman [Jim] Jordan's Judiciary Committee report about Arlington is spot on," Matthew Hurtt, chairman of the Arlington County Republican Committee, told Fox News Digital.

"Arlington elected officials prioritize illegal aliens over the safety of Arlington residents. And as an Arlington resident, I've seen this play out over the last several months."

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The report noted the limited cooperation between local law enforcement and immigration authorities. It cited Arlington County's official board Trust Policy rules governing local law enforcement.

The updated May 2025 Trust Policy prohibits the Arlington County Police Department "from initiating contact with federal immigration authorities" even when identifying an undocumented immigrant as a "violent felon, gang member, human trafficker, or terrorist."

VIRGINIA COUNTY TO PAY UP TO $2K TO FAMILIES WITH PRIMARY WAGE EARNER DETAINED BY ICE

In addition, the committee report referred to a July 16, 2026 closed-door deposition in which Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, acknowledged that her office considers immigration status when determining case outcomes and admitted that written guidelines do not forbid considering immigration status for any crime.

She also defended a memo asking prosecutors to consider other charges when a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient is accused of drunk driving.

SOROS-BACKED DA ACCUSED OF GOING EASY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS GETS SQUEEZED BY HOUSE GOP

Since U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services classifies a DUI conviction as a "significant misdemeanor," which bars DACA renewal and triggers deportation, the memo instructs prosecutors to consider DACA status to avoid "disproportionate and devastating collateral consequences."

"It's not the job of a prosecutor to decide lenience against illegal aliens who are oftentimes committing violent crimes against individuals or property crimes, but that is exactly what Arlington Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti has been doing," Hurtt said.

JIM JORDAN SUBPOENAS BLUE STATE DAS ACCUSED OF 'PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT' FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINALS

"[Dehghani-]Tafti sees herself as a left-wing criminal justice activist," Hurtt added, criticizing Steve Descano, the Commonwealth's Attorney for nearby Democratic-run Fairfax County, which has made national headlines amid a string of crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants.

In a statement obtained by ARLNow, Dehghani-Tafti described the committee report as a "political sham."

"The committee refused to hear my testimony in public because open testimony doesn’t let you distort a record," she said. "This report is the predictable product of that process— a piece of political propaganda timed for the midterms, built on the deliberate misrepresentations of my policies and my testimony.

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"Now it’s clear why they wouldn’t hold a public hearing and why they stonewalled my requests for the full deposition transcript," she added. "They didn’t want the public to see it. I demand the committee release the full, unedited transcript of my deposition immediately."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Dehghani-Tafti's office, as well as the Sheriff's Office and the County Board.

Sharp weapon discovered by TSA tucked inside unusual item in passenger's carry-on bag

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:02:52 -0400

A routine carry-on screening at a Texas airport took an unusual turn after TSA officers made a suspicious discovery and later heard an unexpected explanation from the travelers.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) found a pocketknife concealed inside a tube of toothpaste, according to an employee story published on the agency's website.

TSA Officer Jazmine Kramer was screening the carry-on bag with an X-ray machine when she noticed what appeared to be a metal object near the toiletries and flagged the bag for a closer look.

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"Usually when people have prohibited items in their bags, it's by accident," Kramer said in the write-up on the site. "It's not normally because they intentionally put something there thinking it will make it through."

Wade Brown, Jr., a security training instructor, searched the toiletry bag but initially could not find the object seen on the X-ray.

Brown sent the belongings through the X-ray machine again to narrow down its location.

He then picked up the toothpaste tube, noticed it did not feel right and spotted tape near one end, according to TSA.

A closer inspection revealed the pocketknife hidden inside.

Fox News Digital reached out to TSA for comment and further details.

The married couple who owned the bag told officers their son had suggested concealing the knife inside the toothpaste tube in an attempt to get it through airport security, TSA said.

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"I was super surprised when they both said that," Brown said. "This was the first time at DAL I had ever seen someone intentionally hide an item inside something else in an attempt to get it through security."

The couple voluntarily surrendered the pocketknife.

They were then allowed to continue on to their flight, according to TSA.

Brown said the incident highlighted the importance of communication between officers when something detected on an X-ray cannot immediately be found during a hands-on bag search.

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"If one officer sees something and another officer cannot locate it during the search, work together and communicate until you find it," he said.

TSA Dallas Love Field Federal Security Director Amy Williams said officers must be prepared for unexpected discoveries during screenings.

"A knife concealed inside a toothpaste tube is not something travelers typically encounter, but it is exactly the type of threat our officers are trained to identify and resolve," Williams said.

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Fox News Digital previously reported on another unusual knife discovery at an airport checkpoint, this time involving a passenger at Tampa International Airport.

TSA officers recently found a 4-inch, double-edged knife concealed inside a baseball bat-shaped flashlight that had been placed beneath the lining of the passenger's carry-on bag.

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The passenger initially said he did not know the item was in his luggage but later told authorities he had placed it beneath the suitcase lining to save space.

He was arrested and was not allowed to travel, TSA said.

Justin Verlander on the Kate Upton 'f—' tweet heard round the world after he lost close Cy Young race

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:51:24 -0400

We're coming up on the 10-year anniversary of Kate Upton's tweet heard round the world. The one she fired off at Major League Baseball after Justin Verlander lost a close race for the American League Cy Young Award in 2016.

The model wife of the professional baseball player didn’t think twice about going after the league and calling for the writers who didn't vote for her husband to be exposed. She wanted answers and went to work.

How much of Upton's social media attack did the future Hall of Fame pitcher know about ahead of time? None. He didn’t know about it until after it was already underway. She was several tweets in when he found out about it.

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"I was doing MLB Network, they had the three finalists on the air, and as soon as it came out, she was firing," Verlander revealed on the podcast On Base with Mookie Betts.

"And so we finished the interview and I go down, and she’s like, 'You're not going to like it.' And sure enough, she had fired off a bunch of stuff, and she had another one preloaded, ready to go."

FORMER COLLEGE SOFTBALL STAR IS NOW AN AMERICA-LOVING GIANTS WAG, NORWAY FAN WON'T ROW & SPURS ANNOUNCER FIRED

There's a good chance we'll never know what that preloaded tweet had to say, because Verlander told her to lower her weapons by that time. Upton's disapproval of her husband losing to Rick Porcello by five points was obvious.

She had said all she needed to say in the now infamous tweet. She wrote for all to see, "Hey @MLB I thought I was the only person allowed to f— @JustinVerlander ?! What 2 writers didn't have him on their ballot?"

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By that time, Kate Upton's work in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and elsewhere had cemented her legacy as a model. She already had two of her four SI Swimsuit issue covers under her belt.

This tweet helped cement her legacy as an MLB WAG. She could have stayed quiet the day Justin Verlander lost the AL Cy Young Award back on Nov. 16, 2016. She chose instead to go right after Major League Baseball.

Newsom denies pressuring California AG into Paramount settlement after liberal backlash

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:50:22 -0400

Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., denied Wednesday that he pressured California Attorney General Rob Bonta to settle his antitrust lawsuit with Paramount Skydance Corp. ahead of its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.

Bonta originally led a group of state attorneys general who filed a lawsuit challenging the massive $111 billion deal that was initially expected to close during the third quarter of this year. By Monday, however, Paramount announced that a settlement had been reached, paving the way for the merger to continue.

Critics of the merger have accused Bonta and Newsom of caving to Paramount amid the settlement after reports suggested CEO David Ellison was considering moving the company's headquarters out of California if a deal was not made, an accusation Newsom denied.

DAVID ELLISON BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT-WBD MERGER FIGHT, CNN INSIDERS DON’T BUY ‘LIP SERVICE’ ABOUT NETWORK

"I didn’t pressure anybody," Newsom told Axios' Alex Thompson. "I made the point. I’ve made it very publicly and consistently and been reported maybe two or three hundred different ways that we, me, many folks, including the mayor, soon-to-be governor-elect [Xavier] Becerra and others, preferred, in the words of Rob Bonta himself, that he focus on getting this done at the boardroom, not the courtroom."

"And the minute that Rob said that on CNBC, we amplified that, said this was a better approach. That was the framework, and he worked hard to deliver for California, and I think he did," Newsom continued.

Bonta confirmed the settlement during a press conference on Monday, although he insisted that it was not done in support of the merger itself.

"This settlement is not a vote of support for this merger; it is not a blessing of the broader merger," Bonta said.

CNN STAFFERS ACCEPT NEW REALITY AS PARAMOUNT'S TAKEOVER OF WARNER BROS DISCOVERY GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD

"I am always willing to come to the table for honest, good-faith negotiations, and when we can find a strong solution that protects competition and consumers, I’d rather resolve the case, the issue, in the boardroom instead of the courtroom," Bonta added. "That’s what happened here."

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom and Bonta's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

"It’s all left-wing virtue-signaling until economic reality slaps you in the face," Media Research Center Business associate editor Joseph Vazquez told Fox News Digital. "Governor Gavin Newsom knows that he’s essentially turned his state into a pariah for business, and Attorney General Bonta’s Marxist legal vendetta against the bourgeoisie involved in the Paramount/Warner deal was a perfect example of that. It was good antitrust fodder for the radical left for a time, until push came to shove."

"The last thing the Democrats — or Newsom, for that matter — need at this point in a midterm election season is for a punitive tax hell like California to be pinned as the reason a multibillion-dollar media giant like Paramount eventually flees Los Angeles for a more business-friendly, Republican state like Tennessee or Texas, regardless of whether the merger risks another hole in an already-thinning left-wing media firewall or not," he continued.

"In the end, Democrats and their media allies know that the economy is a big issue for voters, and giving the Republicans another anecdote to skewer their disdain for business — even for the lucrative Hollywood market — isn’t politically expedient in the slightest," Vazquez added.

CALIFORNIA AG ROB BONTA FACES ‘POLITICAL FAVOR’ CLAIMS OVER NETFLIX-LINKED $1M TRAIL IN PARAMOUNT SUIT

Ahead of the settlement, several progressive and Democratic figures urged Bonta not to settle with Paramount, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Warren later released a statement condemning the settlement on Monday.

"Allowing one Trump-aligned, foreign-owned conglomerate to dominate American news and entertainment is a disastrous outcome," Warren said. "After the Trump administration ran an apparently corrupt antitrust review process to wave through a blatantly illegal merger, this settlement greenlights an anti-monopoly disaster that will result in higher prices and fewer jobs, and enables a handful of billionaires to call the shots in the American media."

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"Corporate executives for aspiring monopolies are always quick to offer unenforceable promises to close a deal, but it is workers and consumers who ultimately pay the price," Warren continued. "The new Paramount behemoth is a clear candidate for antitrust scrutiny in a future pro-competition Administration."

Mets look to play spoiler as Nolan McLean takes the mound against struggling Texas Rangers

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:43:31 -0400

Sometimes it is good to have a bit of luck on your side.

I tend to think most things just kind of even out overall in sports betting. Yesterday was one of those days. I bet over 6.5 runs in the Yankees-Rays game with very good pitchers on the mound. It snuck over the total with seven runs scored. I also bet on the Angels, and they were dominating the game ... until the bullpen took over and they gave up the lead.

Hopefully, I can dodge the bad luck and keep rolling with the good as we play the Mets vs. Rangers.

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The New York Mets' season has been a disaster, which is a sentence that is becoming far too common if you're a Mets fan. They are 13 games under .500 for the season, but they've been surprisingly decent on the road this year. Their only role remaining this season is to play spoiler. You have to wonder what the team is going to do this offseason to try to adjust. The lineup doesn't have a ton of options to upgrade. The pitching staff is likely where they start with their focus.

Tonight, they have one of their best arms on the hill as the Mets send out Nolan McLean to the hill in hopes of ending his year with a strong final start. McLean is 11-10 for the season with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. For the season, McLean is 24th or better in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP in the majors.

He has been great on the road this season with a 2.89 ERA and holding opposing hitters to batting just .197. The Rangers haven't faced McLean much in his career, hitting just 2-for-10 against him.

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The Texas Rangers are still trying to fight for the American League West. They are fighting for the top spot with the Astros, and they are currently tied for the division lead. Whoever loses is also not assured of a playoff spot, as they are chasing the White Sox in that race as well.

The Rangers have picked a bad time to lose some games as they've dropped the past two games, including the opener against the Mets. Now they need to figure out the way to win and stay alive.

The Rangers have one simple mission: win to get in. In hopes of getting there, they trade Cody Bradford. For the season, Bradford is 0-5 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has been better at home this year than on the road, sporting a 3.50 ERA over just four games played. He has only appeared in eight games, but the Rangers are 1-7 in the games he has played. He has not faced the Mets this season and has only faced Mets hitters seven times over his career, and they are 2-for-7 against him.

I'm not sure how you can back Texas in this spot. The Rangers are not playing great baseball, even if they need to play it right now. Bradford has been fine overall, but the Rangers haven't given him much support. I'm going to take the Mets and McLean today, as I think he positions himself better for the win.

Give me the Mets moneyline.

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Sonny Gray and the Boston Red Sox host Cleveland Guardians in a potential MLB playoffs preview

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:41:26 -0400

The end of the MLB Season is almost here, with roughly five games remaining, including today, for most teams. There are still some exciting matchups today and this weekend. We went just 1-1 yesterday, with a loss on the Angels and a win in the Rays-Yankees game. I suppose I should know better than to back a 100-loss team.

Tonight, I'm going for a game that we could potentially see in the playoffs as the Guardians take on the Red Sox.

The Guardians are currently the owners of the top spot in the American League Central. As seems to be the case for Cleveland every season, they saved their best baseball for the end of the season. They've won six straight games, but they are only one game ahead of the White Sox, who have also won three straight games. The good news for both of them is that, as long as they both are winning games, they can both make the postseason. The magic number for the Guardians to make the playoffs is down to one.

Giving them a great chance today is the arm they acquired at the trade deadline, Foster Griffin. For the season, Griffin is 15-5 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Griffin, overall, has been a nice addition to the team. He has two starts that were a little bit of a disaster, going four innings against the Mets and allowing five earned in his debut with the Guardians.

The Baltimore Orioles also knocked him around for eight runs in 2.1 innings. His other six starts saw him going for 22 innings and allow just 11 runs. He has never faced the Red Sox, so he could have them off balance the first time through the lineup.

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The Boston Red Sox are one of those teams that are likely brimming with confidence. After a disaster of a start to their season, they pivoted and became one of the hottest teams in baseball right before the All-Star Break. They continue to be a streaky team, but the majority of their streaks have seen them winning games instead of losing them. They are still just an average team at Fenway with a 38-38 record for the season. It is almost hard to believe given how good they've been, but getting to .500 is impressive because of how bad they were early in the year.

The Red Sox are sending the one guy who was dominant at home all year, Sonny Gray. For the season, Sonny Gray is 17-5 with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He should be in the running for the Cy Young Award, even though he won't win over Cam Schlittler. He's been solid in September, going 19.1 innings and allowing a total of six earned runs. He faced the Guardians earlier this season and allowed just one earned run over six innings in a 9-1 win for the Red Sox.

It wasn't just that one game against the Guardians that Gray has excelled in. He has been great against them for years, holding hitters to a .208 batting average over 130 at-bats. Although the Red Sox don't really "need" this game to solidify their Wild Card spot, they still should look to win. Gray has been dominant for them, and they've been very successful in his outings this year. I'm backing the Red Sox here and I also think they probably cover the -1.5 run line. I also would be surprised to see this game go under 6.5 runs. I'll play all three bets.

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California college wrestling star Ryan George dies after 400-foot fall hiking in Yosemite

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:38:56 -0400

A 19-year-old California college wrestling star died Sunday after falling nearly 400 feet while hiking in Yosemite National Park, authorities and school officials confirmed.

Ryan George, a sophomore at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC), was hiking with friends near Illilouette Falls on Sept. 20 when he slipped off the trail.

National Park Service law enforcement rangers located his remains in the canyon below Glacier Point Trail. Park officials maintain a standard policy of not commenting on active fatality investigations.

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George was a standout wrestler for SRJC’s Bear Cubs in the 197-pound weight division.

During a breakout freshman season, he compiled an impressive 23-4 record, finishing third overall at the 3C2A state championship tournament to earn All-American honors. The tragic fall occurred just two days after George competed at the Dave Pacheco Invitational in Sacramento, where he placed second individually and helped lead his team to a second-place overall finish.

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"If you knew Ryan, you know he was one of the most genuine, positive people you could ever meet," SRJC Head Coach Fred Duerr shared in a statement. "He had this way of lighting up a room, making you feel welcome, and bringing out the best in everyone around him."

Before enrolling at SRJC, George attended Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, where he won the 2025 North Bay League title at 215 pounds and placed second at the North Coast Section championship. Off the mat, George was preparing to either transfer to a four-year university program or enter a fire academy to become a professional firefighter.

BODY OF MISSING HIKER FOUND IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK THANKS TO CRUCIAL CLUE

Park search-and-rescue teams responded to roughly 250 incidents within Yosemite National Park in 2025, a significant jump from 191 the prior year. George is survived by his older sister, Jaida.

Teammates and community members have launched an online GoFundMe campaign to support with funeral and living expenses.

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Darren Rovell remembers where he was during Knicks' Game 4 miracle against the Spurs -- at home

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:34:43 -0400

You may think you’re the biggest sports fan on the planet, but the odds say that Darren Rovell has got you beat.

The sports business expert is the founder of Cllct and Kickstand Cocktails, is an investor in Athletic Brewing, Pop Up Bagels and a handful of other companies and has a sweet memorabilia collection.

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But if there was one reason to question his sports fandom bona fides, it would be because he admittedly left Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

You know the one.

New York was down 29 points to San Antonio in what could have been a major momentum swing for the Spurs. But Jalen Brunson led a furious comeback and OG Anunoby tipped in the star guard’s missed free throw to win the game. It was only the most exciting basketball game since Ray Allen’s 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals saved the Miami Heat and likely LeBron James’ legacy.

Yes, that one.

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So, what gives?

Rovell explained it during his appearance on OutKick’s "The Craig Carton Show."

"I left Game 4 at the half. I said, ‘This is the worst game I have ever been to," Rovell said, adding that he was sitting in the press seats. "I came home and saw the ending and then I said, ‘All right, just for my psyche, I’m gonna have to get to Game 5.’"

Rovell made the trip to San Antonio for Game 5 and saw his Knicks top the Spurs 94-90 to win their first championship since 1973.

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Every Knicks fan will be celebrating the championship into the 2026-27 season and will remember where they were for that Game 4 miracle. Unfortunately, for Rovell and probably many others, it was back at home instead of Madison Square Garden.

Democrat Senators flee or no-show Judiciary Committee hearing on protecting women's sports

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:32:55 -0400

For most of Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on protecting women's sports, not a single Democratic senator was in attendance.

The only two Democrats to show up at all were ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. Both of them left within the first hour of the hearing and Klobuchar never spoke. The Democrats also did not host a single witness for the hearing.

Durbin's devoted much of his opening testimony to dismissing the issue of trans athletes in women's sports, bringing up issues like affordability, getting cell phones out of the hands of children, AI and trust in government.

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Prior to leaving, Durbin would "refuse to treat this hearing like a responsible exercise of this committee. I will not ask questions, and I already did not call any witnesses." He left shortly thereafter.

OutKick reached out to all 10 Democratic members about their absence for either the majority of or the entire hearing. Only Durbin's office responded, saying, "Sen. Durbin explained his position during his opening statement this morning."

VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS FLIP ON WOMEN'S SPORTS VOTE AFTER OPPOSING SIMILAR BILLS AS MIDTERMS LOOM

The only times Durbin addressed the issue of the hearing was when he raised concerns for the LGBTQ community, citing a study by the Trevor Project that found young LGBTQ+ people are at a "higher risk of suicide," and potential sex verification checks for female athletes as a result of protective measures for women's sports, while calling measures a "vendetta."

"We can all agree that we want to be fair and safe in women's athletics, but this vendetta against a small number of people in the trans community affects everyone, including cisgender girls, who can be subject to inappropriate gender verification checks," Durbin said.

When asked for clarification about the substance of those concerns, Durbin's office pointed to a press release from March 2025 that stated measures to protect women's sports would "subject women and girls to physical inspection by an adult if someone from an opposing team accused them of being transgender."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told OutKick in person that he didn't go to the hearing because he had a classified briefing on the Iran war.

When asked his overall stance on the issue of protecting women's sports, Blumenthal said, "I'm not going to talk about it in the hallway here."

The concerns were peddled by Democrats last year ahead of voting for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, but were never substantiated in any language within the bill or even any examples of such examinations being used elsewhere. The only verification that advocated and GOP lawmakers have publicly advocated for is cheek swab DNA testing.

The Democrats' original messaging about concerns over potential invasive gender tests ahead of voting on last year's bill prompted strong backlash, including within their own base.

The party's overall stance on the issue of trans athletes in women's sports has been unpopular. Polls by the New York Times, Quinnipiac and Pew Research Center have all shown that more than 70% of Americans believe women's sports should not permit biological males to compete.

Ahead of the 2026 midterms, many Democrats have distanced themselves from past support of trans athletes without explicitly backpedaling or changing their stance on the issue.

The absence of most Democratic Senate Judiciary Committee members at Wednesday's hearing is in line with that recent pattern, as the witnesses and Republican members in attendance criticized the Democrat absence.

Sen. Darline Graham, R-N.C., said, "I’m also disappointed our Democratic colleagues left the room, because I think the risk of physical harm is real and has already happened."

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. criticized the Democrats, saying, "I’m a little disappointed that my Democratic colleagues left. It’s their right, but I’m disappointed."

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Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla. was the most critical of the Democrats who left.

"The reason why it is going now from one Republican senator to another Republican senator is because there’s not one Democratic senator here to ask those that are actually involved as females in female sports about the dangers and missed opportunities and challenges for what’s been happening across our nation for our young women and girls," Moody said.

"Shockingly, not one female Democratic senator has engaged in this hearing or asked you any questions about your experiences, your concerns, your fears based on your backgrounds, [or] what you predict may happen in the future if we don’t, as you said, lead.

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"I assume that was because he’s trying to justify why not one woman on the other side of the aisle showed up to ask these questions and engage."

Currently, there are 23 states in the U.S. that do not have rules prohibiting biological males from competing in women's sports. California, Maine and Minnesota have engaged in legal battles with President Donald Trump's administration over the issue after Trump signed an executive order to protect women's sports last February.

Colorado voters to decide whether hunting and fishing deserve constitutional protection

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:23:35 -0400

Hunting and fishing are already legal in Colorado. So why are voters being asked to make them constitutional rights?

Luke Hilgemann, CEO of the International Order of T. Roosevelt (IOTR) and chairman of the campaign supporting Colorado's Amendment 83, says it's about making sure future lawmakers can't easily take those rights away.

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"Well, it's legal, but that doesn't mean that it's forever protected, right?" Hilgemann told OutKick OutDoors in an exclusive interview. "I mean, the biggest thing that the Constitution does is it gives it a higher power than just a statute."

In other words, a law can be changed by lawmakers. But changing a constitutional right is a much bigger undertaking.

Colorado voters will decide on Amendment 83 on Nov. 3, 2026. If it passes, hunting and fishing would become constitutionally protected rights in the state. The amendment would also establish hunting and fishing as the preferred ways to responsibly manage wildlife populations.

The measure needs at least 55% of the vote to pass. If approved, Colorado would join 24 other states that have already established constitutional protections for hunting and fishing.

Watch Luke Hilgemann's full interview with OutKick OutDoors here:

Hilgemann said the Colorado campaign is part of IOTR's larger effort to protect hunting and fishing traditions across the country.

"We worked together on a strategy to say how can we push back against the hunting and fishing and the conservation attacks that we've seen across the country, and came upon the constitutional right to hunt and fish as a way to slam the door against some of these radical policies that we're seeing take hold in states across the country," he said.

What would Amendment 83 actually change?

For starters, passing the amendment would NOT mean hunters and anglers could suddenly do whatever they wanted.

Hunting seasons, bag limits, licensing requirements and other existing regulations would remain in place. Colorado Parks and Wildlife would still oversee wildlife management and enforce rules designed to protect wildlife, public safety and future hunting and fishing opportunities.

"Seasons stay, regulations stay. We want responsible management through science," Hilgemann said.

The amendment also wouldn't allow people to hunt endangered species or other wildlife that is currently off-limits under its provisions. It also wouldn't give hunters permission to trespass on private property.

In short, Amendment 83 would protect the right to hunt and fish, not eliminate the rules governing how people do it.

Hilgemann also addressed concerns that the amendment could bring back hunting practices that Colorado has previously banned, including certain forms of bear hunting and trapping.

"That's not going to happen as a result of our amendment," Hilgemann said. "It doesn't go backwards. It doesn't bring those things back."

EVA SHOCKEY SAYS SHE RECEIVED 'THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS' OF DEATH THREATS FROM ANTI-HUNTING ACTIVISTS

Colorado's official ballot analysis says the amendment would not immediately change existing hunting and fishing regulations. However, it could affect future laws and regulations, depending on how courts interpret the new constitutional right.

Opponents argue that hunting and fishing are already legal in Colorado, making a constitutional amendment unnecessary. They also worry that some of the amendment's language could lead to lawsuits or make it more difficult to change wildlife regulations in the future.

But Hilgemann says that's exactly why his organization wants stronger protections in place.

He pointed to a proposal during one of Colorado's recent legislative sessions that would have changed the wording of an existing state law regarding hunting and fishing as wildlife-management tools.

"There was a proposal that would have changed that word 'shall' to 'may,' which would have made it an option, right?" he said.

His concern is that, without constitutional protection, future lawmakers could change existing laws in ways that limit hunting and fishing opportunities.

Why Colorado, and why now?

Colorado is no stranger to heated debates over wildlife management.

In 2020, voters approved a measure requiring the state to reintroduce gray wolves. Then, in 2024, voters rejected a proposal that would have banned hunting mountain lions, bobcats and lynx.

Those votes illustrate how wildlife policy can be shaped directly by voters, rather than solely through decisions made by state wildlife officials.

Hilgemann said IOTR was already working to establish constitutional hunting and fishing protections in 15 other states when a private citizen began the process of getting Amendment 83 on Colorado's ballot.

The organization was then brought in to help develop the amendment's language.

"We thought, you know, Colorado maybe in two or four years," Hilgemann said.

But with the state's population and attitudes toward outdoor recreation changing, he believes now is the time to address the issue.

"If we don't do this now, unfortunately, I don't think it's ever going to happen in a state like Colorado," he said.

And there's more at stake than just the ability to spend a weekend in the woods or on the water.

Hilgemann pointed to a recent study from the Common Sense Institute that found hunting and fishing generate $6.1 billion in annual economic impact and support 25,000 jobs in Colorado.

He also noted that money from hunting and fishing helps fund wildlife conservation, habitat restoration and other outdoor resources that benefit everyone, including people who never pick up a fishing rod or hunting rifle.

"If we don't have hunting and fishing in a state like Colorado, someone needs to step up and pay for the conservation that happens," Hilgemann said.

The push to protect hunting and fishing nationwide

Colorado isn't the only state where IOTR is working to establish constitutional protections for hunting and fishing.

Hilgemann pointed to Oregon's failed Initiative Petition 28, which would have removed certain exceptions from the state's animal-abuse laws. Had it passed, activities including hunting, fishing, pest control and raising livestock for food would have become criminal offenses.

The proposal failed to gather enough valid signatures to qualify for Oregon's November ballot, but Hilgemann said he expects its supporters to try again.

"They are playing the long game," he said.

For IOTR, the goal is to establish protections that will remain in place even as lawmakers and political priorities change.

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"That's why the constitutional right is so important," Hilgemann said. "It gives it that extra layer of protection to make sure that when the political winds change, because they always do, that hunting and fishing in our outdoor heritage and tradition will be carried on, regardless if it's a Republican, Democrat, or Independent sitting in those offices that make these decisions."

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