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Man sentenced to 6 months in jail for ramming car into Jewish group's world headquarters in New York

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 03:20:20 -0400

A man was sentenced on Wednesday to six months and a week behind bars for ramming his car into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in January, damaging some of the a side-entrance door.

Dan Sohail, 36, of New Jersey, was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court, where he was also ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution. The sentence will allow Sohail, who has already spent six months in custody, to be released in about a week.

Sohail was charged with intentionally damaging religious property, and he pleaded guilty in May.

Prosecutors recommended a 14-month sentence, which would have kept Sohail behind bars for roughly another eight months, but the judge declined the request. Prosecutors sought the longer sentence as a deterrent to future attacks on Jewish institutions amid a rise in antisemitic hate crimes.

DRIVER RAMS CAR REPEATEDLY INTO DOORS OF NYC JEWISH SITE, SUSPECT DETAINED

On Jan. 28, Sohail repeatedly rammed his vehicle into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters. He moved protective barriers, gestured for congregants to get out of the way and drove his car into the building’s side entrance five times, knocking the door off its hinges and destroying his car's front bumper.

While the doors were damaged, no injuries were reported.

Judge Eric N. Vitaliano said he was "somewhat saddened" that the Justice Department wanted him to be influenced at sentencing by the public’s mistaken initial impression that the attack was a hate crime.

Prosecutors said ahead of sentencing that 80 of 146 hate crime incidents across New York City since the start of the year were based on crimes targeting Jewish people and institutions.

NY ASSEMBLYMAN CALLS FOR DOJ TO INVESTIGATE MAMDANI, PROTECT JEWISH NEW YORKERS AFTER STABBING ATTACKS

But Vitaliano said the government's push for a stricter sentence as a deterrent to future attacks was in part based on the incident initially being labeled as an "I-hate-the-Jews crime, or, worse, an act-of-terrorism crime."

The judge cited a psychiatric report and said Sohail's mental health challenges "played an important role" in his sentencing.

"This is a sad tale," Vitaliano said.

Sohail's lawyer, Mia Eisner-Grynberg, said he had been trying to win acceptance at the Jewish institution as he struggled with psychological issues.

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Eisner-Grynberg told the judge in court papers before sentencing that Sohail was battling depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic childhood when he carried out the attack, even as he "desperately sought belonging and understanding through his exploration of Judaism."

She said Sohail attended the Chabad he later attacked, finding rabbinical students there "warm and welcoming."

Sohail "danced with them" and followed their recommendation to visit Israel, but he became erratic and extremely anxious after returning to the U.S., "begging" members of Chabad to help him, Eisner-Grynberg said.

Ramming the car into the building was "an irrational cry for help," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

George and Amal Clooney evacuate France home as wildfires spread across Europe

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:05:55 -0400

A representative for George Clooney confirmed the evacuation to People and shared a letter the couple sent to Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond

The couple and their 9-year-old twins left their home in Brignoles, in France's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, as fires threatened large swaths of the Mediterranean, the outlet reported. A representative for George Clooney confirmed to People that the couple sent a letter to Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond before leaving.

"Dear Didier, At this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment," the letter began.

DEADLY FRENCH WILDFIRES THREATEN MISSILE PLANTS, NUCLEAR SITES AS FOURTH HEATWAVE LOOMS

"As we evacuate Brignoles we want to emphasise 2 things, first we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and i are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole," the letter continued. "We love Brignoles and our friends who live there."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Clooney's representatives for additional comment, including whether the family has safely evacuated and if there is any update on the condition of their home.

The evacuation comes as wildfires continue to scorch southern Europe.

EUROPE'S FIRES REVEAL DEADLY MIX OF RECORD HEAT, HUMAN ERROR, ARSON AND LAND MISMANAGEMENT

As of Wednesday, an uncontained wildfire roughly four times the size of Paris was burning across southwestern France. The blaze was separate from the fire threatening the Brignoles area, where about 3,000 people were evacuated. Fires also continued to threaten parts of southern Europe, and three firefighters died in Greece as crews battled extreme heat, drought and strong winds, according to The Associated Press.

More than 300,000 people have been forced to evacuate in France and Spain, including residents and tourists.

Temperatures climbed to nearly 104 degrees Wednesday in France's Gironde region, where the country's largest wildfire prompted the evacuation of roughly 220,000 residents and vacationers at its peak. While many have since returned, tens of thousands remain displaced.

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In an October 2025 interview with Esquire , Clooney said he and Amal chose to raise their family on a farm in France to give their children a quieter upbringing away from Hollywood.

"A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it," he said. "But now, for them, it’s like—they’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life."

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Clooney also said he was "worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood."

"I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life," he said. "France — they kind of don’t give a s--- about fame. I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids."

Storm co-owner suspended after incident with Sophie Cunningham fans as star breaks silence on controversy

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:08:21 -0400

Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been fined and suspended from attending the team's next five home games, the WNBA confirmed to Fox News Digital.

The suspension and fine come after Keaton allegedly called a pair of teenage Sophie Cunningham fans "f—ing insane" during a game on Tuesday, independent Seattle-based journalist Brandi Kruse told Fox News Digital. Kruse was in the arena and accompanied the girls, who were there to watch Cunningham and the Indianaa Fever take on the Storm.

Cunningham addressed the incident involving Keaton in an X repost of Fox News Digital's report late Wednesday night.

WHITE HOUSE DEFENDS WNBA STAR SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM AFTER SHE SPEAKS OUT IN SUPPORT OF PROTECTING WOMEN'S SPORTS

"I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon yay for gifts. Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is," Cunningham wrote.

Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder issued a statement Wednesday apologizing for the co-owner’s comments during the game.

"We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night's game. We apologize that this happened. Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect," the statement read.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM RALLY ROCKS WNBA GAME AS 'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' ACTIVISTS FACE COUNTERPROTEST

Two girls went to the game wearing XX-XY Athletics gear to celebrate Cunningham coming out in support of saving women's sports, and even got to sit court-side. But the night took a dark turn, and now they are viral martyrs. The Storm put out an apology after a team co-owner allegedly shouted insults at the girls during the game. Additional footage, distributed by Fox News Digital, of them in a confrontation with another fan at the game has ignited further outrage.

The incident drew so much attention that famed "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling even cast judgment on the night that is bound to live in WNBA infamy.

Rowling and other prominent social media users amplified the girls’ account of the incident.

The night began with a rally outside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle to celebrate Cunningham's recent public stance.

A small group of counterprotesters supporting transgender inclusion also gathered outside the arena.

Kruse, who helped organize the event and went into the game to accompany the girls during portions of the night, said she saw Storm players make mocking gestures toward them. Separately, the girls alleged that Keaton approached them and used profane language.

"They were giving them thumbs down — like, to their faces," Kruse said.

Kruse said the girls then told her that an older woman associated with the Storm had approached them, yelled at them and called them "f---ing insane."

The girls later pointed out the woman sitting directly across from them beside Storm legend and team co-owner Sue Bird, according to Kruse. When Kruse alerted an arena security guard, she said the guard identified the woman as "one of the owners of the team."

Kruse later identified the woman as Keaton, who has previously been publicly identified as a member of the Storm’s ownership group.

Kruse said she pressed security to confront the woman, arguing that the alleged conduct violated the arena’s code of conduct. Climate Pledge Arena prohibits abusive or obscene language and says violators may be ejected.

"Had this been any other fan under any other circumstances who swore at and called some teenage girls ‘f---ing insane’ until they cried, they would’ve been ejected," Kruse said.

Kruse said one of the girls broke down in tears during the game after the alleged exchange.

"I look over at halftime, and she’s sobbing," Kruse said. "They were so excited for those seats, like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of their favorite players. They stayed up the night before making signs."

Kruse also claimed that the girls were not forced to put down their signs in support of Cunningham, despite online rumors, but that they chose to put them down after the alleged harassment.

"The report that they told the girls to put those signs away is not true," Kruse said. "The girls put their signs away because of what happened with Celeste, and they just felt so scared and uncomfortable, they decided not to hold them anymore."

Before the game, the Storm said it was aware of the planned demonstration and was "tracking it closely." The team said it remained committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all guests.

Storm head coach Sonia Raman addressed the rally after the game but did not discuss the allegations involving the girls.

"We always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building," Raman said, adding that the organization coordinated with arena security. "From what I understand, that was successful."

The comments came before Kruse publicly detailed the allegations involving the teenagers.

The Fever, meanwhile, distanced the organization and Cunningham from the rally. A team public relations representative interrupted when head coach Stephanie White was asked about the gathering during her postgame press conference.

"Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers," the representative said.

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The representative added that the Fever remained united around winning games and building its fan base before directing reporters back to basketball questions.

Neither Cunningham nor Clark was made available to reporters after the game. Mitchell and Monique Billings appeared beside White instead. When White was asked about the rally, she also said the team and its players were not aware of it and had not been in touch with the organizers.

Trump admin invokes 30-year dormant terror court as it seeks to deport Afghan woman tied to Election Day plot

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:29:16 -0400

The Trump administration is seeking to use a specialized federal court for the first time since Congress created it three decades ago in an effort to deport an Afghan woman accused of aiding an Islamic State-inspired terror plot in the U.S., according to court records made public on Wednesday.

Nazira Haji Zada, of Fort Worth, Texas, is the first person facing deportation through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court after her arrest earlier this week.

The court is scheduled to hold an initial hearing on Thursday in Washington, D.C., in the government’s effort to deport Haji Zada.

"The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack on American voters on Election Day. The Department’s application in this court makes clear that terrorists have no place in the United States of America," acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

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According to an FBI memo dated July 15, authorities "developed information" that Haji Zada supports the Islamic State and had her children pledge their loyalty to the terrorist group.

Haji Zada "supported" a plot by family members to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack in the U.S., according to the memo.

She was identified in court filings as the mother and mother-in-law of two Afghan men who were convicted in Oklahoma in connection with a 2024 Election Day terror plot.

Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, was sentenced in November to 15 years behind bars. He previously agreed to be deported after his release from prison.

Haji Zada's son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who previously worked as a security guard for a U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, pleaded guilty to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. Prosecutors said he attempted to advance his attack plans by ordering AK-47 rifles, liquidating his family’s assets and purchasing one-way tickets for his wife and child to travel back to Afghanistan.

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was created in 1996 but never received a petition until this month, when the Justice Department filed an application attempting to deport Haji Zada.

The longtime-dormant court hears government applications seeking the removal of noncitizens alleged to qualify as "alien terrorists" under federal immigration law when the evidence supporting removal includes classified information.

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"Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court three decades ago to remove from the United States alien terrorists who never should have been here in the first place," Blanche said.

The court is made up of five federal judges from various districts across the country who are appointed by the Supreme Court's chief justice.

For the time being, the court says all proceedings will take place at the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lindsay Clancy prosecutors ‘squeeze’ timeline from ex-husband as jury weighs ‘murder versus madness’: expert

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:45 -0400

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Patrick Clancy’s painstaking account of the night his three children died may have given prosecutors their clearest framework yet for arguing that Lindsay Clancy was lucid, deliberate and criminally responsible at the time of the killings, a legal expert says.

Testifying Wednesday in Plymouth Superior Court, Patrick walked jurors minute by minute through the errands that took him away from the family’s Duxbury, Massachusetts, home on Jan. 24, 2023: a trip to CVS for a child’s stool softener, followed by a stop to pick up dinner.

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

He said Lindsay called him back while he was inside CVS, understood why he was there and calmly approved a generic substitute. When he returned home, he found an eerily quiet house, blood inside the couple’s locked bedroom and Lindsay injured beneath an open second-story window.

When Patrick found Lindsay Clancy lying on her back beneath their bedroom window, he said she had deep cuts on her wrists and a red line across her neck.

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

"What happened?" he recalled asking her.

"I tried to kill myself," she responded, according to Patrick.

He then asked, "Where are the kids?"

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

"They’re in the basement," Lindsay told him.

Patrick testified that she did not say the children were injured, in danger or needed help.

Attorney Shari Karney said those seemingly mundane details, the text messages, phone call, dinner order and timing of Patrick’s drive, may become critical as prosecutors try to prove Lindsay understood her actions when the children were strangled with exercise bands.

"I call this case murder versus madness," Karney told Fox News Digital.

Karney said Patrick’s testimony largely helped the prosecution because it portrayed Lindsay as responsive and organized shortly before the killings. The state, she said, is attempting to "squeeze that timeline" as tightly as possible around the precise moment the children were killed.

WATCH: Patrick Clancy recounts finding wife after she said she tried to kill herself

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"That’s fairly lucid," Karney said of Lindsay’s ability to discuss the CVS purchase and coordinate the takeout order.

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But the defense is expected to argue that competence during routine tasks does not establish criminal responsibility during the killings. Lindsay’s attorneys contend she suffered from severe mental illness, including postpartum psychosis, and was impaired by a shifting regimen of psychiatric medications.

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Patrick testified that Lindsay later told him she heard a man’s voice telling her that if she did not act then, she would "lose her chance." He also said she had never previously told him she was hearing voices or experiencing psychosis.

Karney said the case will likely turn on whether jurors view the killings as a calculated act or "a catastrophic collapse" caused by severe psychological illness.

WATCH: Lindsay Clancy breaks down as jury hears husband's frantic 911 call

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The emotional stakes were on display when prosecutors played Patrick’s 911 call for the jury. The recording was barred from broadcast or reproduction under a court order, and the pool camera remained trained on Lindsay.

She sobbed and buried her face in her hands as the call played.

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Karney said that reaction could help both sides.

For the defense, she said, it humanized Lindsay as a "shattered, broken" mother confronting the consequences of the worst night of her life. For prosecutors, the same reaction captured the horror of the killings.

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Before the recording was played, Judge William Sullivan warned jurors not to allow sympathy, anger, passion or pity to influence their verdict.

"You must not be influenced in any way by the unpleasant nature of some of the evidence," Sullivan said, reminding jurors that their verdict must not be based on "sympathy, anger, passion or prejudice or pity."

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Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, has pleaded not guilty to three counts each of murder and strangulation.

Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen headline 'Madden NFL 27' ratings as 99 Club members

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:15:39 -0400

NFL training camps are opening across the league, and the countdown to the latest edition of "Madden NFL" is officially underway.

"Madden NFL 27" is still a little more than two weeks from release, but the ratings debate will likely start now. EA Sports unveiled its latest player ratings Wednesday, releasing the top 10 players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

Reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford and Buffalo Bills signal caller Josh Allen led the quarterback group ratings and earned a spot in the coveted 99 Club.

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Stafford and Allen tied for the top quarterback rating, but the Los Angeles Rams signal caller was listed ahead of the Buffalo Bills star in the category.

Joe Burrow was third with a 97, followed by Baltimore Ravens standout Lamar Jackson. Patrick Mahomes received a 93 rating and was slotted fifth, while Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff rounded out the group's top 10 with an 88.

The other 99 Club members were wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, defensive end Myles Garrett and tight end Trey McBride.

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After winning the franchise’s second Super Bowl title in February, the Seattle Seahawks reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension with Smith-Njigba that made him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history. Chase has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in every season since entering the league in 2021.

After Chase and Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson rounded out the top five wide receivers. Mike Evans, who left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, came in at No. 10.

Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs led all running backs with a 98 overall rating. Christian McCaffrey followed at 97 after a bounce-back season, with Jonathan Taylor third and Bijan Robinson fourth at 95. Rams standout Kyren Williams rounded out the top 10.

Caleb Williams may be the face of "Madden NFL 27," but the Chicago Bears quarterback is still eyeing a higher rating. Earlier this week, he said his goal is to climb into the 99 Club before the end of the year.

"If I get my completion percentage up, I'll be a 99," Williams told "Up & Adams" on Monday. "That's how everybody feels about it. I don't throw picks, I'm not a pick guy, never been a pick guy. Throw a few more touchdowns, keep the picks down and then just get the completion up."

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"Madden NFL 27" is scheduled to launch worldwide Aug. 13, with MVP+ members receiving early access up to seven days ahead of release.

On the team side, the Rams earned the game’s top rating with a 93 overall.

Malik Nabers 'looked good' in surprising full practice as Giants kick off training camp in West Virginia

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:50:05 -0400

New York Giants fans were enthralled to see one player in particular participating in practice on Wednesday.

Malik Nabers, who suffered a serious knee injury in Week 4 of last season, "looked good," according to his new head coach John Harbaugh, as he went through a full practice much to the delight of everyone involved with the organization.

While there is no commitment on a timeline for the 2024 first-rounder, seeing Nabers out on the field was quite the surprise for many.

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Nabers’ injury wasn’t a simple knee tear, as he had to wait for swelling to go down before undergoing surgery. Then, in the spring, Nabers had to get scar tissue removed from the same knee, while eliminating stiffness he felt.

After undergoing two surgeries and remaining sidelined, Nabers' status for Week 1, or the first few weeks of the season, was up in the air.

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But general manager Joe Schoen also enjoyed seeing him running around at The Greenbrier in West Virginia to start off camp.

"We've got a really good plan for him," Schoen said. "The medical staff has a really good plan for him, and we're going to always say listen to the patients. So, we're going to see how he reacts. We got a good plan in place, so as long as everything goes as planned, we'll listen to Malik and his body. And, again, hopefully he'll be ready and we'll see how it plays out. But no predictions right now, just because we have a long way to go. Still a lot of camp."

Nabers tore his ACL and suffered a full meniscus tear after jumping for a pass in quarterback Jaxson Dart’s first career start. He immediately clutched his knee, silencing the MetLife Stadium crowd as fans feared the worst while he was carted off the field.

Nabers remained in New Jersey this summer, though, working alongside the Giants’ medical team on his recovery. The injury occurring early in the season gave the team hope he would be back healthy for Week 1, and after not being put on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp, Nabers was on the right track.

"It was great. You saw him. He looked good," Harbaugh said after watching Nabers. "He's got a process going. Thought he looked good."

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Dart, who said happy birthday to his top receiver on Instagram as Nabers turned 23, loved being able to throw to him on day one.

"He definitely has a presence about him," Dart said of Nabers. "There's an aura that he has on the field that is exhilarating. It makes me happy. It makes everybody happy just to see him out there. I think for him, he's had a lot of positives. We're just going to continue to get him in slowly. He's doing a great job with how he's attacking his recovery. I've got all the confidence in the world in him and his approach to the game, how much he's missed being out there with the guys. I think it's definitely, for him — I don't want to speak for him too much, but I just think it's a really good feeling for him to just be out there with the team and to be involved."

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WNBA yanks Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese betting post after fans blast league hypocrisy online

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:20:23 -0400

Leave it to the WNBA to turn a friendly $400 wager it promoted into a gambling controversy.

So when Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings and Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream sat together during All-Star Weekend and agreed to a friendly $400 wager on their upcoming matchup, nobody in the room batted an eye. It was harmless banter.

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To two young stars whose endorsement deals dwarf their league salaries, $400 is probably couch-cushion change.

Then came the WNBA's social media team.

Naturally, the league's social media team couldn't resist. It clipped the exchange, posted it across the WNBA's official channels and quoted Bueckers explaining the $400 bet ahead of Wednesday night's Wings-Dream matchup.

There was just one glaring problem.

The social media team appeared to overlook Section 5(c) of the league's own Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Under Section 5(c), any player found guilty of wagering money or anything of value on the outcome, score, or aspect of a WNBA competition is subject to fines, suspensions, or outright disqualification.

In its rush to chase clicks, the league publicly showcased a wager that appeared to raise obvious questions under its own CBA.

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The post disappeared quickly, but on the internet, deleting something rarely makes it disappear.

Within minutes, deleting the post only made more people want to see it.

The timing couldn't have been worse. The WNBA has spent years embracing legalized sports betting, integrating odds into broadcasts and signing lucrative sportsbook partnerships.

Now, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert faces an awkward predicament. Does she punish two of the league's brightest young stars over a clip her own staff promoted? Or does she look the other way and invite questions about whether the rulebook is optional?

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The real misstep belonged to the league, not the players.

Plus, it's also safe to say Caitlin Clark probably wouldn't have made this kind of mistake.

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Army conducts first overseas test of 'Hammer of the Gods' weapon-disrupting system

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:11:02 -0400

The U.S. Army on Sunday revealed it has tested a new warfare system overseas designed to covertly scramble the navigation signals used by enemy precision weapons, making it harder for adversaries to accurately strike targets from long distances while avoiding detection.

The electronic system, dubbed "Hammer of the Gods," was tested at sea off the U.S. West Coast for the first time in mid-July as part of the Project Convergence Capstone 6 (PC-C6) experiment.

While land-based versions have been demonstrated over the past two years, the exercise marked the official debut of the maritime variant, the Army said.

The portable signal disruptor can reportedly blind enemy to several precision-guided weapons such as long-range artillery, guided missiles and cruise missiles.

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The radio signals specifically jam positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) signals, including GPS data, that precision weapons rely on to navigate accurately.

Without reliable PNT data, weapon accuracy drops sharply, increasing the likelihood of delayed missions and missed targets.

The system also creates a resilient communications network that allows friendly forces to stay connected despite heavy electronic jamming.

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It links military devices together, so troops can continue to "shoot, move and communicate" even while operating in degraded environments.

Army officials said the experiment demonstrated the counter-PNT system could be successfully launched, operated and recovered in real-world maritime environments.

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The testing brought together the U.S. Army, Navy and Space Force, alongside U.S. Space Forces Pacific, Naval Base San Diego and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, to integrate space, cyber and conventional capabilities during the exercise.

Grandmother's missed pickup leads to grim discovery in church parking lot

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:02:50 -0400

A California grandmother vanished after failing to pick up her grandchild, sparking a desperate search that ended days later with the grim discovery of her body inside her car in a church parking lot and murder charges against her son.

Emmanuel Wesley, 23, of Santa Ana, is charged with murder in the death of his 61-year-old mother, Theresa Jones.

Prosecutors allege he shot her twice in the back while she sat behind the wheel of her vehicle outside the Fullerton Police Department on the Fourth of July before moving her body into the passenger seat and driving away.

Jones' disappearance first raised alarms on July 7 when she failed to pick up one of her grandchildren and stopped answering repeated calls from loved ones, according to prosecutors.

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Four days later, on July 11, officers found Jones' body inside her vehicle, which had been abandoned in the parking lot of a church in Fullerton. Prosecutors allege she had been shot twice in the back.

Investigators say surveillance cameras captured the moments surrounding the killing.

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Video allegedly shows Jones pulling up outside the Fullerton Police Department around 2:46 p.m. on July 4 with Wesley riding in the back seat.

Authorities say Jones suddenly slumped over in the driver's seat before Wesley climbed out of the back seat, pushed her body into the passenger seat, got behind the wheel and drove away.

"The death of any human being is a tragedy," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. "For someone to kill their own mother is another level of depravity. We will do everything we can to pursue justice for Ms. Jones and everyone who loved her."

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Jones' family remembered the 61-year-old as a devoted Christian whose faith shaped every part of her life.

"She loved her family fiercely, always putting the needs of her children and grandchildren above her own," the family wrote in a GoFundMe created to help cover funeral expenses. "To know Theresa was to love her."

Loved ones described Jones as smart, funny and full of life, saying her vibrant personality earned her the nickname "Cardi B."

The fundraiser recalls the family's agonizing search after Jones unexpectedly failed to pick up her beloved grandchild, ending with the heartbreaking discovery of her body a week later.

"We want to honor the beautiful life Theresa lived and the immense love she poured into the world," the family wrote. "The shock of her loss has left a profound, empty space in the hearts of everyone who loved her."

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Wesley has pleaded not guilty and remains held without bail in the Orange County Jail.

If convicted of murder and the firearm enhancement, prosecutors say he faces up to 50 years to life in prison.

Mauricio Pochettino nearing new deal to stay as United States manager through 2030 FIFA World Cup

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:55:09 -0400

The sting from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has not worn off for many fans of the US Men's National Team.

In one of the most inspired performances from a U.S. men's team, well, ever, the USMNT started their group stage run by destroying a very solid Paraguay team 4-1. They followed that up by handling a defensive, feisty Australia team 2-0, clinching the top spot in their group before the third game even took place.

Advancing out of the group stage was the bare minimum expectation, but the way the United States did it — with aggressive, attacking soccer and dominant scorelines — raised expectations for the rest of the tournament.

US SOCCER ISSUES STATEMENT ON MAURICIO POCHETTINO'S FUTURE WITH TEAM USA AFTER WORLD CUP

They beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 for their first win in a knockout stage game in decades, though the result was tainted by Folarin Balogun's very undeserved red card. Everyone knows what happened next. FIFA postponed his suspension, President Donald Trump said he spoke to FIFA about the improper protocol used to give the red card in the first place and Balgoun was allowed to play against Belgium.

Little good it did. The Red Devils were clearly the better team in Seattle, and took advantage of some frankly inexcusable and indefensible mistakes from U.S. players. Particularly goalkeeper Matt Freese and center-back Tim Ream. Not only was the 4-1 result frustrating, but disheartening too, for what it implied about how far the USMNT has to go.

The end of the World Cup also meant the end of Mauricio Pochettino's contract as the team's manager, leading to much debate and disagreement over whether he should continue. And this week, we seem to have gotten our answer on U.S. Soccer's thinking.

Multiple reports, including in The Athletic, have said that the two sides are "close" to an agreement on a new contract. One that would keep Pochettino in place through the 2030 World Cup. Telemundo announcer Andres Cantor also reported Tuesday evening that the two sides were nearing a new deal.

After the Belgium loss, Pochettino said he would take some time to rest and consider his decision.

"Right now, it’s about resting a little bit, to think, have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is. I’m so happy," Pochettino explained. "We’ve built a very good relationship."

LA GALAXY COACH GREG VANNEY SAYS TEAM USA WAS 'TOO NAIVE,' EXPLAINS CHRISTIAN PULISIC'S STRUGGLES

U.S. Soccer also issued a statement heavily implying they wanted to bring Pochettino back. Though the 54-year-old was widely expected to have a list of offers and opportunities in several international leagues.

"From a men’s national team coaching standpoint, we’re in active discussions with Mauricio and staff about the future," said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson recently. "We all share a belief that the best days of U.S. Soccer are ahead of us, and they’re excited about the opportunity to impact soccer at all levels in every community."

Seemingly, though, he's nearing a decision to return to the United States.

So what does this mean?

Some analysts believe that each World Cup cycle should have a different manager. Others believe continuity is key, and that having the same leadership in place allows for more consistent scouting and tactical development with limited practice time.

Pochettino's case in particular feels tough to evaluate. There's no doubt that the USMNT played a better brand of soccer at the World Cup than they'd show in the past. And had they beaten Belgium, the tournament would have been an unquestioned success. But they didn't beat Belgium. Not only did they not beat Belgium, in fact, but they lost in humiliating fashion.

That loss, though, didn't look to be Pochettino's fault. Having no better option at center-back than 38-year-old Tim Ream is not on him. Christian Pulisic's injury and tentativeness is not on him. Freese inexplicably kicking the grass instead of the ball is not on him. His tactical adjustments in the second half clearly paid immediate dividends, as the U.S. was more in control of play until the Freese debacle. He subbed Sergino Dest off after Dest's very poor first half, taking decisive action instead of hoping for the best.

He also might be able to convince talented dual nationals like Noahkai Banks to fully commit to the USMNT, given his track record at the elite club level. And at the end of the day, who would be a better option?

Jürgen Klopp is the new head coach of the German National Team. Maybe Pep Guardiola, though he seems committed to taking a year off after turning down the Italy job. Carlo Ancelotti is with Brazil, who were knocked out in disappointing fashion themselves. Luis de la Fuente, coach of now-defending champion Spain, isn't going anywhere. Didier Deschamps is a World Cup winner, though it's hard to see him wanting to jump ship to the U.S.

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Pochettino's personality and track record are a tough combo to beat. He was successful in turning around the mindset and tactics with the USMNT. Now he just needs to hope the team's players develop in the coming years. A lot.

Florida man accused of killing mom and burning body because she ‘wanted to be cremated’

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:51:04 -0400

A Florida man allegedly shot and killed his mother after years of built-up anger, then set her body on fire because she had said she wanted to be cremated, according to an arrest report.

George Beemer, 23, was arrested on Saturday and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree arson and abuse of a dead human body in connection with his mother's death, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.

Beemer called 911 from his Fort Myers home on Saturday to report that he was suffering from chest pain, and he was rushed to a hospital for medical evaluation.

But as he was being taken to the hospital, another 911 call came in about a fire at the same residence. Fire crews rushed to the scene and entered the home to extinguish the blaze, where they discovered the body of Beemer's mother, who was severely burned and deceased.

TIKTOK INFLUENCER WHO ACCUSED ESTRANGED HUSBAND OF PEDOPHILIA FOUND DEAD IN POSSIBLE MURDER-SUICIDE

Detectives then developed probable cause that Beemer shot the woman before intentionally setting the home on fire.

"Major Crimes detectives, Crime Scene investigators, and our partners with the fire service immediately recognized that something wasn’t right. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and relentless investigative work ensured a swift arrest was made," Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement.

Beemer later admitted to detectives that he murdered his mother after years of built-up anger and set the home on fire because "she wanted to be cremated," according to a police report, WINK News reported.

He confessed to shooting his mother one time before pouring gasoline around her body and igniting it, according to the report.

FIREFIGHTER ACCUSED OF KILLING CHEERLEADING COACH HE CALLED SECOND MOM, THEN RESPONDING TO SCENE HE SET: COPS

Detectives said Beemer claimed his mother had mistreated him for years, including molesting him. He told detectives that he had finally had enough.

But a friend of his mother said the allegations of abuse are false.

"There’s absolutely no way," the friend told WINK News. "No, no, absolutely never, never, no. I can’t buy it. I will never buy it. He’s using it as a defense mechanism to think that there’s any remote chance that this was justified."

Beemer's former classmate, Madison Edwards, told the outlet she was shocked when she heard the news of the arrest.

"We were just completely shocked," Edwards said. "I wasn't surprised that he ended up in jail. I was just very surprised as to the reason why."

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Beemer is being held at the Lee County Jail.

The incident remains under investigation.

"My prayers remain with the victim and loved ones as they begin to process this unimaginable tragedy. They deserve answers, and we will continue working tirelessly to provide them," the sheriff said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the sheriff's office for additional information.

Clinton, Obama-era Democratic heavyweights Penn and Emanuel rip NYC's Mamdani over taxes, Israel, blast DSA

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:47:29 -0400

Two prominent Democratic figures with deep ties to the Clinton and Obama administrations publicly criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani this week, with former Clinton adviser Mark Penn attacking the mayor's proposed property tax plan while former Obama White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel recounted what he described as a private conversation in which he challenged Mamdani's rhetoric on Israel.

The criticism is notable because it comes from longtime Democrat insiders rather than Republican opponents and focuses on two of the issues that have defined Mamdani's rise political rise: his far-left economic agenda and his positions on Israel.

Fox News Digital reached out to Penn, Emanuel and Mamdani's office for comment.

NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF RICH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES 'IMAGINED'

Penn, a longtime Democrat strategist and former pollster and adviser to President Bill Clinton, accused Mamdani of dramatically understating the scope of his proposed pied-à-terre tax after the mayor released a public database identifying property owners who could be subject to it.

In a lengthy post on X, Penn argued the city's valuation system had swept in nearly one million property owners rather than the roughly 30,000 luxury homeowners Penn said had previously been described as the intended targets.

"The $5 million figure was a fake," Penn wrote, arguing the city's valuation system had improperly classified properties and would force homeowners to prove they should not be taxed.

RAHM EMANUEL WARNS NEW GENERATION OF DEM SOCIALISTS DON'T LIKE AMERICA

Penn also argued the proposal could depress property values, discourage investment in New York City and potentially raise constitutional questions.

Meanwhile, Emanuel said during an appearance on the Unholy Podcast that he met privately with Mamdani for roughly 90 minutes and challenged the self-described democratic socialist mayor over his views on Israel.

Emanuel said he praised portions of Mamdani's domestic agenda, including childcare, but criticized Mamdani's past use of the phrase "from the river to the sea."

MAMDANI DODGES ON ‘POLITICAL THEATER’ OF EMPTY NETANYAHU ARREST THREAT, CALLS FOR US ACTION AND NYC PROTESTS

"I know where there's a line. You don't," Emanuel recalled telling Mamdani.

Emanuel said both calls for a "Greater Israel" and the slogan "from the river to the sea" would lead to "perpetual conflict."

After clips of Emanuel's remarks circulated online, Mamdani communications director Anna Bahr publicly disputed the account.

"can confirm this .... did not happen," Bahr wrote on X in response to a post summarizing Emanuel's remarks.

It was not immediately clear from Bahr's post whether she was disputing that the meeting occurred or Emanuel's characterization of the conversation.

Emanuel has also recently criticized the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) more broadly. In a post on X this week, he argued Democrats should focus on winning competitive elections rather than what he characterized as ideological distractions.

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"You can be focused on winning tough races, flipping red seats blue. Or you can be focused on abolishing prisons and... the Senate and Supreme Court? You can't do both," Emanuel wrote. "I'm for winning this November and ending Trump's corruption — and I'm also for putting an end to all the distractions from the DSA."

Penn, Emanuel and Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for additional comment before publication.

School employee accused of secretly filming 12 girls in changing room faces new charges

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:17:23 -0400

A Maryland high school employee accused of secretly recording female students in a school changing room is facing additional criminal charges after investigators identified eight more alleged victims during an expanded investigation, authorities said.

James Mulhern III, an employee at Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County, now faces 12 counts of abuse of a minor after investigators said newly recovered videos showed a total of 12 female students in various stages of undress.

According to Montgomery County police, the investigation began after two students discovered a video camera in the control booth of Walter Johnson High School's theater April 7.

One of the students reviewed the memory card and found videos recorded inside the girls changing room before alerting school administrators.

LOUDOUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACCUSED OF FILMING STUDENTS IN BATHROOM UNDER INVESTIGATION

Police said the footage showed an adult male placing the camera inside the room before leaving. The school's principal identified the man as Mulhern, a media services technician at the school.

Detectives executed search warrants at the high school and Mulhern's Clarksburg home, where they recovered items of evidentiary value and seized several electronic devices, according to police.

Authorities said evidence recovered during the investigation led detectives to identify eight additional alleged victims and videos dating back to 2015, expanding the case from the four victims identified when Mulhern was first charged in April.

CALIFORNIA TEACHER SAMANTHA WATSON ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH STUDENT AT CHARTER SCHOOL

Mulhern appeared in court Wednesday on the additional charges. A judge ordered his release on a $100,000 unsecured personal bond with conditions that he stay away from Walter Johnson High School, have no contact with minors and have only supervised contact with his 4-year-old son.

Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy said the newly uncovered evidence heightened prosecutors' concerns in the case.

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Each count of abuse of a minor carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison under Maryland law. If convicted on all 12 counts, Mulhern could face up to 300 years behind bars.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office for additional comment.

Russia launches ballistic missile attack on Kyiv hours after Zelenskyy warns of major strike

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:14:18 -0400

Russian air strikes killed at least 13 people across Ukraine early Thursday, including one in Kyiv, as ballistic missiles targeted the capital and multiple explosions rocked the city, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Russia launched more than 70 missile and over 280 drones at Ukraine overnight, adding that the country's air defenses intercepted a significant number of the incoming missiles.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to seek shelter as blasts rocked the city. Reuters, citing a witness, reported hearing multiple explosions.

The Ukrainian Air Force also said Russia was targeting the capital with ballistic missiles.

RUSSIA UNLEASHES NEARLY 600 MISSILES AND DRONES ON KYIV IN DEADLIEST STRIKE SINCE MAY

Ukrainian officials said one person was killed and two more injured in Kyiv, with six more, including two children, killed in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava.

Klitschko later said several non-residential sites caught fire following the strikes and that a missile struck the home of a large family, warning that the death toll could rise as rescue crews searched through the rubble.

"A dark night," he wrote on Telegram.

The armed forces of Poland, a member of the European Union and NATO, said it scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace following nearby Russian attacks.

The attack came just hours after Zelenskyy warned that Russia appeared to be preparing a major overnight assault.

"I received a report from Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko," Zelenskyy wrote on X Wednesday, saying Russia had prepared a "massive attack several days ago" and that there was a "high probability" it would be carried out overnight.

ZELENSKYY SAYS PUTIN 'LOST THE INITIATIVE' AS UKRAINE'S TECH INDUSTRY RESHAPES THE WAR

"It is important that our partners fully understand what is happening and that the protection of lives directly depends on their readiness, or lack thereof, to help us with air defense missiles," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president made the appeal after returning from the United States, where he met with President Donald Trump.

Trump recently announced at the NATO summit in Turkey that the United States would license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, according to The Associated Press.

"First and foremost, this concerns the United States and those partners that have Patriot missiles and can provide them to support our defense," Zelenskyy wrote.

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"Every partner knows what is needed and fully understands the consequences of marking time."

Fox News Digital's Emma Bussey and Reuters contributed to this report.

Border agents uncover $20M cocaine stash hidden beneath truck floorboards in massive bust

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 21:11:32 -0400

Federal authorities uncovered more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine hidden beneath the floorboards of a commercial truck entering the U.S. from Mexico, marking one of the largest drug busts in Southern California this year.

The Department of Justice said the half-ton of cocaine was discovered inside the floorboards of a commercial truck and flatbed trailer at the Calexico Port of Entry connecting California and Mexico. Authorities estimate the cocaine has a street value exceeding $20 million.

The seizure marks the second-largest cocaine bust in the Southern District of California this year, according to federal prosecutors.

FEDS SEIZE $6.4M WORTH OF COCAINE ABOARD OIL TANKER AT PORT OF LOS ANGELES, ARREST SUSPECTED CARTEL SMUGGLER

Jose Manuel Lopez, 44, a Mexican national and the truck's sole occupant, was arrested and charged with importing cocaine into the United States.

If convicted, Lopez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life.

In court filings seeking to keep Lopez in custody, prosecutors described the seizure as "a tremendous amount of drugs, even by the standards of this district."

SINALOA CARTEL BOSS 'EL MAYO' SENTENCED TO LIFE, ORDERED TO PAY $15B IN DRUG TRAFFICKING PROFITS

The only larger cocaine seizure in the Southern District of California this year came in May, when authorities uncovered more than a ton of cocaine worth an estimated $45 million linked to an alleged cross-border drug tunnel.

Officials said the trailer was carrying 269 bundles of rebar when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, working alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, detected anomalies during an X-ray inspection.

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After a narcotics detection dog alerted officers the trailer, they unloaded the rebar and removed the wooden floorboards, where they discovered 366 packages of cocaine weighing more than 1,000 pounds, or approximately 454 kilograms, prosecutors said.

Lopez pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday. A detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3.

Teen found in shallow California vineyard grave identified nearly 50 years later as family warns killer

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:59:32 -0400

A teenage girl whose body was found buried in a shallow grave beneath a California vineyard nearly half a century ago has finally been identified, reopening a murder mystery that had gone cold for 48 years.

Michelle Louise Collier was just 15 years old when she disappeared from Fresno in February 1978.

Four months later, a tractor operator cultivating a grape vineyard near Arvin uncovered her skeletal remains buried in a shallow grave, but investigators could not identify the teen, leaving her known only as "Arvin Jane Doe" for nearly five decades.

Her older sister, Cynthia Dunbar, said the family spent nearly 50 years wondering what happened before finally learning Michelle had been the unidentified homicide victim all along.

GIRL KNOWN AS 'CHELSEA JANE DOE' ID'D 26 YEARS AFTER MUTILATED BODY FOUND HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME STATE

"She disappeared 48 years ago, and it was only recently that we knew where she was," Dunbar said during an emotional news conference Wednesday. "At least with this information, my family has some closure."

Dunbar also delivered a searing message to the person responsible for her sister’s death.

MICHIGAN ATHLETE LURED BY SNAPCHAT MESSAGE BEFORE BEING SHOT, DUMPED IN LAKE WHILE STILL ALIVE

"The shock of finding out we lost our sister to a homicide is overwhelming to our entire family, especially our 85-year-old mother, Maria," she said.

"To the person who killed our sister, your cowardice act affected our entire family," Dunbar continued. "But make no mistake, law enforcement will find you and hold you accountable. Whether you are already incarcerated or dead, you will be found. May God bless your soul because you're going to hell if you're not there already."

Authorities said Collier’s remains were discovered June 21, 1978, near South Wheeler Ridge Road after the tractor operator unearthed the shallow grave.

DNA CRACKS 40-YEAR COLD CASE MYSTERY WITH ARREST IN LIBRARY WORKER’S SAVAGE SLAYING: POLICE

An autopsy at the time determined the manner of death was homicide, although the exact cause of death could not be determined. Investigators knew they were dealing with a homicide victim.

"Without an identity for the victim, the case went cold," Kern County homicide Det. Ashley Thompson said. "For 48 years, detectives knew her only as Jane Doe."

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said generations of investigators continued revisiting the mystery, including several people who were present at Wednesday’s announcement.

"Several detectives have looked and worked on this case since 1978," Youngblood said. "These cases are outstanding to us when we come to a resolution, especially for the family members."

The remains were buried at Arvin Cemetery in November 1978 after investigators were unable to identify them through fingerprints, dental X-rays or other forensic methods available at the time.

The case was reopened multiple times over the following decades as forensic science advanced.

TIPSTER CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER POLICE SAY ANONYMOUS CALL HELPED SOLVE 30-YEAR DISAPPEARANCE

Investigators got another chance in 2007 when the remains were removed from a cemetery so a DNA sample could finally be collected. The sample was submitted to the California Department of Justice, but without matching DNA from relatives, detectives were still unable to identify the teenage victim.

A forensic anthropologist examined the remains in 2008 and concluded the victim was likely between 15 and 24 years old, with evidence pointing toward the younger end of that range.

Detectives also partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which produced a facial reconstruction of the victim and circulated her image publicly. Investigators reviewed fingerprints, dental records and missing person cases from California and Oregon, but no new leads emerged.

The breakthrough finally came in 2025 when investigators turned to forensic investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that combines advanced DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research to identify unknown victims.

Working with Texas-based forensic laboratory Othram, investigators developed a comprehensive DNA profile from Collier’s remains and identified potential relatives through genetic genealogy.

Collier’s identification marks the 86th publicly announced California case in which investigators used Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy technology to identify previously unknown human remains.

Detectives then contacted members of Collier’s family and obtained a DNA swab to compare with her mother.

In October 2025, the comparison confirmed that the unidentified homicide victim was Maria Collier’s daughter, 15-year-old Michelle Louise Collier.

Dunbar said DNA previously submitted to a genealogy database by Collier’s half-brother, sister-in-law and cousin helped investigators identify her.

COVERT DNA SAMPLE FROM COLORADO MAN'S TRASH REVIVES 44-YEAR-OLD TEXAS MURDER CASE: REPORT

After investigators confirmed her identity, Collier's remains were removed from Arvin Cemetery in April 2026 and returned to her family, allowing them to finally bring the 15-year-old home and give her a proper burial.

"You didn’t deserve to die this way, Shelley," Dunbar said, using the family’s nickname for Michelle. "Barely 15 years old, still a child, with your whole life ahead of you.

"I’m sorry that we didn’t protect you, but you’re with Daddy now in heaven, just as you always wanted," she added. "We love you, Shelley."

While Collier’s identification marks the biggest break in the case since 1978, investigators stressed that the homicide investigation is entering a new chapter, not ending.

"Identifying Michelle is an important step, but the circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown," Thompson said.

Authorities said no suspect information was available for public release, but Thompson said identifying the victim fundamentally changes the investigation.

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"Now we get to investigate it knowing who the victim is," Thompson said.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who knew Collier or has information about her life, disappearance or death to contact Detective Thompson at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness line at 661-322-4040.

Joe Rogan warns liberals against trying to turn Texas blue, says it would wreck the state's 'delicate balance'

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:52:51 -0400

Podcaster Joe Rogan warned liberals Tuesday that moving to Texas and turning the state blue would ruin the delicate balance for everybody, including liberal Texans.

"The liberals that want to turn Texas blue, like, don't. You're going to ruin it," he said.

Rogan, a former Californian, has spoken out numerous times about his choice to leave California over its far-left policies, particularly those from the COVID-19 pandemic years.

COASTAL WORKERS FLEEING BLUE STRONGHOLDS COULD CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DETROIT

Rogan lamented that many "coastal elites" and "coastal snobs" often "have this idea of it being filled with rednecks and ignorant people and foolish people. It's not that way at all. Especially Austin. Austin is like one of the most, like, liberal, easygoing, progressive cities, but even the progressives here, they’re like, more reasonable."

He specified that liberal Texans, while they shifted somewhat leftward in recent years, are nowhere near the same far-left positions as those of Los Angeles or New York.

"There’s this saying about Austin: ‘Keep Austin Weird … and surrounded,’" Rogan said.

"And surrounded? What is the ‘and surrounded?’" guest Forrest Galante asked.

"Surrounded by red people. Like it’s all red states around you, and it’s this pocket of blue that’s in the center of this red state," Rogan said. "I think that's good for everybody. I think that's good. It's a balance."

Rogan warned against liberals fleeing blue states only to vote for the same left-wing policies. He compared the state’s delicate political balance to that of an ecosystem.

"You're going to ruin it," he warned. "You're going to ruin it for you too. You don't get it. Balance is important. … You can't kill all the predators because then the deer get overrun, and you're hitting them with cars. And you can't kill all the deer because then there's no food. That's what they did when they were market hunting. Balance. And you need balance with humans, too.

"The Austin balance is a great balance," Rogan continued. "It's a liberal city surrounded by, like, hardcore Republicans with guns and tigers."

JOE ROGAN MOCKS GAVIN NEWSOM FOR DISMISSING GROWING STATE PROBLEMS AS LA FILM PRODUCTION CRATERS

In 2023, Rogan noted that he got the idea to leave amid the riots in 2020 after the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd.

"I was like, ‘This ain’t going in a good direction, and I f---ing smell chaos," he said.

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More recently, in 2026, he blasted California Gov. Gavin Newsom for his defense of California, warning instead that Los Angeles may go the way of Detroit as the film industry implodes and companies flee the state.

The latest IRS migration data show Texas is seeing billions of dollars in taxpayer wealth flowing into the state, while Census figures show the state's largest metropolitan areas continue to outpace much of the country in population growth.

Dallas-Fort Worth added more residents than any metropolitan area in the country over the past year, while Houston, Austin and San Antonio also ranked among the nation's fastest-growing metros.

Fox News Digital's Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

Falcons quarterback competition takes early hit as Tua Tagovailoa suffers 'flare-up' in training camp

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:43:36 -0400

Not even one full week into NFL training camp, one team is already dealing with quarterback injury woes.

The Atlanta Falcons' Tua Tagovailoa, acquired this offseason to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting role, had a "flare-up" of an undisclosed injury, new head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters.

Stefanski didn’t divulge what exactly Tagovailoa is dealing with, but he had to be sidelined. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Tagovailoa is dealing with a tight back.

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Stefanski did note that he believes Tagovailoa will return to practice "sooner rather than later."

With Penix Jr. still recovering from a torn ACL he sustained last season — he may miss the first four weeks of training camp — the Falcons signed veteran backup Cooper Rush to bolster the quarterback depth chart.

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The Falcons released Trevor Siemian earlier Wednesday, and after Tagovailoa’s injury, undrafted rookie free agent Jack Strand was the only healthy quarterback on the depth chart.

Penix was spotted doing individual drills and as 7-on-7 work with teammates, but he hasn’t seen any time in full team activities just yet.

"I have a long injury history," Penix, who had four season-ending injuries during his time at Indiana before he transferred to Washington during his college days, said, via ESPN. "The last thing I want to do is rush back just to get back on the field.

"This is the third ACL. We’re not taking it lightly."

Stefanski knows that injuries can occur when you least expect them, even at the start of training camp before full pads are strapped on.

The Falcons will be an interesting team to watch this season, not just because of the quarterback dilemma. The team's new regime, which includes legendary quarterback Matt Ryan as team president of football, is looking to get the team back into the playoffs.

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The Falcons have not had a playoff berth since 2017, when Ryan was still the franchise signal-caller. They also have not had a record at or above .500 since that same year.

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Saints legend Taysom Hill announces departure from New Orleans after unforgettable nine-year run

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:42:21 -0400

Taysom Hill is officially moving on from the Big Easy, folks. And possibly football.

After nine years of breaking defensive coordinators' brains, the 35-year-old Swiss Army knife announced Wednesday that his run with the New Orleans Saints has come to an end.

Hill posted a heartfelt farewell to Saints fans, confirming that while he isn't officially hanging up the cleats just yet, a return to New Orleans is off the table.

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"I still don't have a clear answer about what the future holds, but I know that returning to New Orleans is not in the cards," Hill wrote, thanking the city and organization that embraced him in 2017.

And what a ride it was.

When Green Bay cut him nearly a decade ago, nobody saw this coming. Hill became football's ultimate Swiss Army knife, lining up at quarterback, tight end, fullback and receiver while starring on special teams.

One snap he'd bulldoze a linebacker. The next, he'd uncork a 40-yard dime.

The numbers back up the chaos, too. Hill leaves New Orleans as the only player in Super Bowl era history to rack up at least 1,000 career passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. That's ridiculous versatility.

Saints GM Mickey Loomis saluted Hill's selfless play, pointing to his "intelligence, unique athletic ability, versatility, and unselfishness," while promising the team will properly celebrate his achievements down the road.

As training camps fire up across the league, Hill enters free agency as an intriguing wild card. He could easily choose to ride off into the sunset after suffering a brutal late-season injury last year. But if a contender needs a hard-nosed, do-it-all weapon for a playoff push, don't be surprised if his phone rings.

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"Forever a Saint," Hill signed off. Hard to argue with that one.

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

ICE seeks nearly $500K fine against immigration lawyer accused of filing fake asylum claims

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:40:53 -0400

EXCLUSIVE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking more than $470,000 in civil fines against a New York immigration attorney accused of filing fraudulent documents in support of asylum claims on behalf of dozens of clients, alleging he submitted more than 100 documents containing nearly identical accounts of persecution.

Homeland Security Investigations announced it had issued a notice of intent to fine attorney Suraj Raj Singh, whose nationwide practice primarily represents Indian nationals seeking asylum before immigration courts, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ICE alleges Singh prepared and filed 118 fraudulent documents in 54 immigration cases.

The agency is seeking the maximum permissible fine — $470,584.

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According to DHS, asylum declarations submitted in support of Singh's clients' applications were "identical or nearly identical in language and substance," containing the same or substantially similar factual narratives and supporting details describing alleged persecution.

"Fraudulent asylum claims threaten the safety of the American people, undermine our immigration system and delay the removal of dangerous criminal illegal aliens," DHS General Counsel James Percival said.

"ICE is seeking a fine of more than $470,000 from attorney Suraj Raj Singh. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we will hold attorneys like this accountable and put an end to the practice of defrauding and abusing our immigration system."

A notice of intent to fine is a proposed civil enforcement action that allows the recipient an opportunity to respond before any penalty becomes final.

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The action is the latest step in the Trump administration's effort to crack down on alleged asylum fraud. In May, Percival directed DHS attorneys to pursue additional enforcement actions targeting fraudulent asylum claims.

DHS said the Singh case marks the second time the department has sought civil penalties against an immigration attorney under 8 U.S.C. § 1324c(d), which authorizes fines for immigration-related document fraud.

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Last month, ICE issued five notices of intent to fine against attorney Vinod Doddamani, seeking a combined $255,232 in civil penalties over alleged immigration document fraud.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Singh for comment.

Ketanji Brown Jackson agrees with Michelle Obama’s criticism of ‘plucking’ kids of color into elite schools

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:27:03 -0400

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson backed Michelle Obama's criticism of isolating students of color at elite colleges during Wednesday's episode of the former first lady's podcast, agreeing after Obama said schools failed those students when they spread them thinly across campus.

Jackson said Harvard's sizable Black community helped her feel at home. Jackson was an undergrad there and also received her law degree at Harvard; Obama also received her law degree there but was a Princeton undergraduate.

"You don’t do kids of color service by plucking them out and making them one of a few and then scattering them about the campus," Obama said.

"I think that’s absolutely right," Jackson said.

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Jackson described feeling popular but lonely in high school before the discussion turned to college. She contrasted that isolation with the belonging she found after arriving at Harvard in the late 1980s.

"At the time that I went to Harvard, which, we’re contemporaries in terms of the timing of it, there was a sizable Black community on campus," Jackson said. "And it was like, I found my people, in a sense."

Jackson said students in that community shared similar backgrounds and allowed her to feel comfortable being herself. She said she lived with five other Black women and praised the broader community they found on campus.

"The people who had similar life experiences and backgrounds that I had, where you could feel totally comfortable being yourself," Jackson said. "And my roommates and I ... I roomed with five other Black women, and there were six of us on campus, and then we were within this larger community, and it was just amazing."

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Jackson, a 1992 Harvard College graduate, recused herself from the Supreme Court's case over Harvard admissions because she had served on the university's Board of Overseers. She participated in the companion University of North Carolina case when the court struck down both schools' race-conscious admissions programs in 2023.

Jackson joined Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissent as it applied to UNC and issued her own opinion warning that the majority's decision would deepen racial disparities.

"No one benefits from ignorance," Jackson wrote. "Although formal race-linked legal barriers are gone, race still matters to the lived experiences of all Americans in innumerable ways, and today’s ruling makes things worse, not better."

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Harvard’s reported Black enrollment has declined in both classes admitted since the ruling. Among students who reported their race, Black students accounted for 11.5% of the Class of 2029, down from 14% in the Class of 2028 and 18% in the Class of 2027. Asian American enrollment reached 41% in the latest class, while Hispanic enrollment fell to 11%.

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Fox News Digital reported in February that the Justice Department sued Harvard for applicant-level records to examine whether its undergraduate, law and medical schools comply with the ruling. The department said the lawsuit sought documents and did not accuse Harvard of new discrimination.

"If Harvard has stopped discriminating, it should happily share the data necessary to prove it," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in a Justice Department press release.

Harvard moved to dismiss the case in June, saying it changed its procedures immediately after the ruling, blocked application reviewers from seeing race check-box information and produced thousands of pages showing its compliance.

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"Harvard is committed to following the law, including civil rights laws in connection with admissions and financial aid, and Harvard has complied with and continues to comply with the law under the Students for Fair Admissions decision," Harvard said in a February statement to Fox News Digital.

Trump AG pick Blanche stalled as key Republicans refuse to budge

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:25:37 -0400

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s chances of confirmation were derailed Wednesday, less than 24 hours before a pivotal vote in the Senate.

It’s another chapter in the troubled saga that has followed Blanche since he was tapped to replace former Attorney General Pam Bondi and one that boils down to issues among Blanche, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and two key Republicans who control his fate in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., are demanding that the DOJ provide explicit, written proposals to modify the settlement deal reached between the IRS and President Donald Trump and his family earlier this year.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., had hoped a deal could be struck and allow for the confirmation to move forward, eying next week as the major floor vote to formally confirm Blanche as Bondi's replacement.

"I think that that's an issue between, right now, the White House and Senators Cornyn and Tillis," Thune said. "But, yeah, I would encourage them to sit down, which I think they are, and try to come to a resolution there so that the markup can continue tomorrow, and we can get Todd Blanche ready for the floor."

The DOJ had until 4 p.m. Wednesday to get the lawmakers what they wanted, but the agency fell short, and Blanche’s bumpy carriage ride to confirmation turned into a pumpkin.

Without a guarantee that Cornyn or Tillis would vote to confirm Blanche, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, opted to postpone the hearing until a later date.

Their targets are the now-defunct, nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund and the president’s audit immunity. Republicans and Democrats alike railed against the fund, particularly over concerns that the funding would go to people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill.

Trump's audit immunity has similarly ruffled feathers. Blanche, in his announcement of the settlement deal earlier this year, outlined that, as part of the agreement, the IRS would not be allowed to audit Trump, his family or affiliated companies.

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Cornyn has proven the most resistant until his demands are met. He's used his newfound freedom to extract concessions from the Trump administration in recent weeks.

His push for an explicit end to the audit language in the settlement agreement is another such example. The longtime lawmaker, who will exit the Senate at the end of this year after being ousted by the Trump-backed Ken Paxton, was set to meet Blanche Wednesday morning.

But the confab was called off, and Blanche continued making the rounds in the Senate throughout the day, capping off his visit to the Capitol with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo. He declined to comment to reporters on his way out.

Cornyn said it was "made clear from the outset that we expected some written proposals to modify the release that was signed in the tax dispute with President Trump and his organization."

"We need to conform the actual document to what Todd Blanche testified under oath as the president's acting attorney general," Cornyn said. "We've had two meetings scheduled that have now been canceled because they have not been responsive in providing those written documents."

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Trump, when asked about the holdup in the Senate for Blanche, portrayed himself as a president at an arm's length from the situation and said he heard his attorney general pick was "going through quite nicely."

"Well, all I can say is Todd Blanche is outstanding. And I thought he's — I thought it was pretty routine because he's so good," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "You just wouldn't find a better person. So, I don't know, maybe John Cornyn is upset with me because I didn't endorse him. I don't know what it is, but I haven't heard that there's a problem."

Tillis made clear he doesn't "have a beef with DOJ or with Blanche."

"They're trying to get it done, but still gotta get it done," Tillis said.

He also noted that the number of hurdles that getting those kinds of written proposals through was more extensive than meets the eye. For example, Tillis said the actual settlement likely was signed by the president's lawyer and not Trump himself.

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"So there's, you know, there's a circle of people that have to go through the loop," he said. "And I get that, but, you know, if we can get it done or possibly get him reported out on Tuesday, if they schedule a markup, I would support that if we get the language."

LIV Golf possibly isn’t dying after all as rebel league is reportedly closing in on $250M cash infusion

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:23:31 -0400

For four years, golf’s establishment insisted LIV Golf was a temporary, Saudi-funded experiment destined to implode the moment the oil money dried up.

Golf's media establishment mocked defectors as sellouts and eagerly counted down the days until LIV's collapse.

Put those obituaries on hold.

LIV Golf is reportedly close to finalizing more than $250 million in outside investment, according to the New York Post. Multiple investment firms have submitted written commitments and qualified term sheets as part of a financing syndicate designed to keep the league operating through 2027 and beyond.

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The deal is not complete, and LIV declined to comment. But if the financing closes as expected, it would represent a major lifeline for a league many had already declared dead.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund informed LIV earlier this year that it would no longer bankroll the league beyond the 2026 season as the sovereign wealth fund redirected capital toward other priorities.

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PIF has reportedly poured more than $5 billion into LIV since its launch, funding enormous player contracts, massive tournament purses and the league’s global expansion.

Critics immediately smelled blood. The assumption was simple: Once the Saudi money stopped flowing, the party was over.

LIV responded by overhauling its leadership and searching for outside capital. The league appointed Gene Davis, a veteran restructuring executive, as chairman and retained investment bank Ducera Partners to lead its fundraising effort.

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Earlier pitch materials reportedly projected that LIV could reach profitability in approximately 20 months if it raised the full $250 million and dramatically reduced expenses.

Other versions of the proposal have called for as much as $350 million and projected a longer road to profitability, underscoring how fluid LIV’s plans remain.

Either way, the bloated spending of LIV’s launch era appears finished.

The days of casually handing out nine-figure signing bonuses are likely over. Tournament purses and the number of annual events could also be reduced as LIV attempts to build a more sustainable operation around media rights, sponsorships and its 13 team franchises.

The proposed "LIV 2.0" structure could also give players majority ownership of the league, potentially aligning its biggest stars more directly with the circuit’s long-term financial future.

Will LIV Golf look different moving forward? Absolutely.

But the idea that it would simply fold and hand the PGA Tour an effortless victory was always wishful thinking from the same golf establishment that has underestimated LIV from the beginning.

A completed $250 million-plus investment would provide LIV with more than operating cash. It would offer outside market validation that serious investors see at least some commercial potential in its team model, international schedule and attempt to modernize golf’s traditional broadcast product.

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Those who declared LIV Golf dead may have spoken a little too soon.

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

Ex-BYU football star Curtis Brown, family grieving after 2-year-old son died in drowning accident

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:15:03 -0400

Former BYU Cougars football player Curtis Brown and his family, including his wife Kim, are grieving after a drowning accident led to the death of their 2-year-old son, Haze.

Haze drowned in the pool at the Brown family home in Clovis, California, July 26, police told the New York Post.

A GoFundMe page was started by Chandler Pearson, a family friend who wrote on the site that the Brown family is dealing with an "unimaginable loss."

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"Kim and Curtis recently lost their miracle baby, Haze, in a tragic drowning accident. No words can ease the heartbreak they are facing as they grieve the loss of their precious son," Pearson wrote on the GoFundMe page.

"Many of you know and love Kim, Curtis, and their family, and have reached out asking how you can support them during this incredibly difficult time. One meaningful way to help is by contributing to this GoFundMe campaign. Your donation will help ease the financial burden of funeral expenses and other unexpected costs, allowing the Brown family to focus on healing and being together.

"Every act of kindness, no matter the size, reminds them that they are surrounded by a community that loves them deeply. Thank you for your generosity, compassion, and support during this heartbreaking time."

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The New York Post added that a family member found Haze unresponsive in the pool and immediately called 911, and police, EMTs and firefighters responded.

CPR was attempted on the toddler, but it was unsuccessful. Haze was taken to a nearby hospital and was later declared dead.

The GoFundMe page had received $77,375 in donations at the time of writing.

"It’s an extremely unfortunate situation," Clovis Police Department spokesman Ty Wood told the New York Post. "Adults should never let children swim unsupervised and should always learn CPR and keep rescue equipment nearby."

Brown and his wife are the parents of five, including son Trey and triplets Cruze, Julie and Kash.

Brown played five seasons with the Cougars from 2002 to 2006, including a redshirt sophomore campaign in 2003. He came into his own in 2004, racking up 789 yards on 158 carries with six touchdowns and cementing himself as someone to lead the way for BYU the next season.

Brown did just that, leading the Mountain West Conference with 14 rushing touchdowns, while registering 1,123 yards on 210 carries. He also had 454 receiving yards on 53 receptions with two more scores through the air.

In his final year, Brown had 1,010 yards on the ground and 566 through the air with 10 total touchdowns over 13 games.

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Brown finished his BYU career with 3,241 rushing yards and 1,309 receiving yards with 36 touchdowns over 52 games. He owned the rushing record in school history before Harvey Unga broke it in 2009.

Brown looked to the NFL as his next step in 2007, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. However, after four appearances during the preseason, the Bengals released him before Week 1.

BYU didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.