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Exclusive: Grieving mom reveals deadly cost of illegal immigration as daughter's killer seeks parole

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:45:33 -0400

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FIRST ON FOX: After her 18-year-old daughter, Hailey King, was run over by an illegal immigrant driving a truck 36 mph above the speed limit, Angel Mom Kathy Hall promised her dying daughter she was "never going to stop fighting for justice for her."

In an interview obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital from advocacy group The American Border Story, Hall recounted her daughter’s grisly killing, which, she said, launched her crusade to make sure that no other parents and children undergo the same fate.

While riding a scooter with a friend in Fayetteville, Arkansas, King was hit from behind by a speeding truck driven by illegal alien Sergio Rodriguez. According to Hall, her daughter was on her way home for dinner. Upon impact, King was thrown onto the hood of the truck. Hall said Rodriguez continued driving, swerving into another lane and sending King headfirst onto the street. King suffered a brain stem hemorrhage, inner and outer cranial hemorrhages, a burst spleen and a lacerated liver. She died shortly after the Nov. 7, 2016, incident, leaving behind her 2-year-old daughter, Brooklyn.

Hall said Rodriguez was sentenced to 17 years in prison for manslaughter, battery and leaving the scene of a crime. After just one and a half years, Hall said she was notified that Rodriguez had become eligible for parole, forcing her to repeatedly relive her trauma each time she goes to court to testify against his release.

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Hall said that authorities showed up at her door the night of the incident and told her, "You need to come with us to the hospital."

She said they took her to her daughter’s hospital room where she found her "sitting up at a kind of an angle and her eyes were wide open. But she was like staring off into space."

"I knew right when I looked at her that she was gone," said Hall. "So, I sat down with her and talked to her and told her how much I love her. Told her I was never going to stop fighting for justice for her … and then her heart stopped."

Besides King, Hall said that her daughter’s friend, Osmin "David" Gutierrez, was "trapped underneath the truck for over a mile" as the illegal immigrant continued driving. She said that "when sparks started happening, [Rodriguez] pulled into an apartment complex. And when he did, David's torso was – his legs detached, [and he] was left in the driveway screaming for his life."

"He was still conscious," she said.

Gutierrez died two years later from a blood clot resulting from his lost legs.

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Despite her promise, Hall said getting justice for her daughter has been a "hard long road." After the incident, Hall said Rodriguez "disappeared for three days" before police found him. When he was apprehended, Hall said Rodriguez was released on bond in less than an hour.

She believes that Rodriguez was "protected every step of the way" during the trial process while she and her family "were treated like we were the criminals when we'd go into court."

Despite his immigration status, Hall said a decision was made not to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She said she was told that "if we would have informed ICE that he was here and he was illegal, that they would have just picked him up and taken him down to Texas and sent him back and he would have never had to deal with the death of [her] daughter."

At the time, Hall said the family felt this "was kind of putting us in a rock and a hard place."

"It's so confusing to be there and say, ‘Okay, do I want him to be deported right now or do I just want him to spend time either way and get him out?’" she said. "We had no idea, you know, a choice like that. What kind of decision do you make?"

'SLAP ON THE WRIST': ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER'S SENTENCE IGNITES OUTRAGE AFTER CRASH KILLED 3

Due to parole hearings, Hall said that she and her family "have to relive this right now every two years."

"As soon as the pain dulls a little bit, you have to go back through the whole thing preparing to try to keep him behind bars again," she said. "My daughter, the only thing she did wrong that day was being on the back of a scooter coming home for dinner. She didn't deserve this."

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"She doesn't deserve for her daughter to not know who she is and how much she loved her. She doesn't deserve any of it, and she deserves to have the justice I promised to her as she was dying," Hall continued, concluding, "I'll never stop fighting; I'm going to do everything I can to keep my promise to her."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Fayetteville Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Washington County Circuit Court for comment.

Multiple people dead in North Carolina shooting, official says

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:41:50 -0400

Multiple people were killed and at least one person was hospitalized in what's being described as a "mass shooting" in Prospect Hill, North Carolina.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said the Caswell County Sheriff's Office requested assistance "regarding an early morning mass shooting on Brooks Road in Prospect Hills, North Carolina."

A Caswell County official later told WGHP that multiple people were killed in what's believed to be an isolated incident. At least one person was hospitalized, and no suspect has been identified, the official added.

"This event occurred around 8:30 AM. Caswell Deputies and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol immediately responded," the state bureau wrote in an earlier Facebook post.

"There is no threat to the general public at this time," it said in an earlier message. "The Castle County sheriffs office is working to gather the facts of the case."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Barry Manilow cancels concert 45 minutes before start amid ongoing lung cancer recovery

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:29:57 -0400

Barry Manilow canceled his Kentucky show on Tuesday just 45 minutes before it was scheduled to start.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight’s show in Lexington has been rescheduled," Manilow, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, wrote on X ahead of the concert. No other explanation was given.

While some slammed Manilow as "disrespectful" for the late cancellation, others were quick to offer him words of encouragement.

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"Sending hugs x take care and remember you must come first," one user wrote on X.

"I'm so sorry you've had to reschedule tonight's show," another added. "Please look after yourself Barry, sending much love and healing energy from across the pond."

In December, Manilow revealed he had been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer after doctors discovered a cancerous spot on his left lung following a bout of bronchitis.

"As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks," Manilow wrote on Instagram at the time. "Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It's pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That's the good news."

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"The bad news is that now that the Christmas A Gift of Love concerts are over I'm going into surgery to have the spot removed," he continued. "The doctors do not believe it has spread and I'm taking tests to confirm the diagnosis. So, that's it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns."

In February, Manilow announced he was rescheduling additional February and March dates on the tour after a "very depressing visit" with his surgeon.

That same month, the "Copacabana" singer detailed a tough conversation he had with his doctor.

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"He said, ‘Barry, you won’t be ready to do a 90-minute show. Your lungs aren’t ready yet,’" Manilow continued.

"You’re in great shape considering what you’ve been through, but your body isn’t ready. You shouldn’t do the first arena shows. You won’t make it through."

Manilow continued, "I had a feeling he’d say that. Deep down… my body knew what my heart didn’t want to admit: I wasn’t ready... When I do come back, I will COME BACK!!!"

In May, Manilow announced that while he had to cancel his "Hits Come Home" residency dates that month at Westgate Resort in Las Vegas, he's "making great progress" with his lung cancer treatment and plans to return to the stage sooner rather than later.

"Good news! I went to the doctor yesterday and he said I’m making great progress and look great! Well of course I do! Thank you very much!" he wrote on X. "All the training and exercising I’ve put in is paying off."

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"He did say, however, that I’m not quite ready for Vegas. That means I won’t be able to return for our May shows at @WestgateVegas. But the good news is he said I will be ready for my June arena shows in the UK. It’s going to be great to see you all in the UK. Westgate Las Vegas is my home away from home… and I’ll see you all in July. In the meantime… come to the UK! We’ll be there in June and hope you will be too! See you then… Barry."

Fox News Digital's Ashley Hume contributed to this post.

DAVID MARCUS: Experts crowned El-Sayed — then Michigan voters turned his win into a near-disaster

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:24:43 -0400

Over the past week, prior to far-left candidate Abdul El-Sayed squeaking to a possible victory over Rep. Haley Stevens in Tuesday’s Democratic Senate primary, the contest was treated by almost everyone in the news media as over, with El-Sayed a shoo-in.

I had been in Michigan reporting on the race, and what I wrote was the exact opposite: It was clear to me the race was tightening, especially after the endorsement of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. So when I saw every subsequent poll giving El-Sayed double-digit leads, I was shocked and a bit nervous.

Maybe, for the first time, the ground had lied to me and the numbers guys had this one right. But once again, the ground coverage defeated the aerial polling.

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But by Wednesday morning, this race, in which El-Sayed held a 95% to 5% advantage in prediction markets, had not been called, with El-Sayed seeming to head toward a meager 1- to 3-point victory, with his total under 50%.

Notably, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who dropped out of the race, still netted 4% — or, put another way, the difference.

As for the polling, the last five public polls had El-Sayed winning by 19, 17, 14, 16 and 11 points, respectively. The news media took this as gospel, and instead of covering a surging Stevens with a real chance to win — as I did — they covered an El-Sayed coronation pre-party.

What surprised me so much about this polling was that in Detroit, after dozens of interviews, I couldn’t find anyone voting for El-Sayed who wasn’t already an activist in some way. The more ordinary the politics or occupation of the voter, the more likely that person was to support Stevens.

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As I put it in these pages then, "Many Democratic voters I talked to wanted a steadier hand on the system, and they want to beat Trump and the GOP. But they don’t want to blow up the system."

Those voters, whom I met in Detroit diners and bars, were invisible to the pollsters. Yet, in the end, between Stevens and McMorrow, they were the majority of Democratic voters.

There needs to be a serious reckoning over how journalists use polls and prediction markets in the wake of this historic polling miss, because there is every reason to believe Stevens could have won if her very real momentum had been accurately described.

Elections are stories, and they have arcs. The last week of this campaign, by all rights, should have been about "The Stevens Comeback," but instead, the polls told the story: "El-Sayed Blowout."

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How many potential Stevens voters stayed home on Tuesday as a result? We will never know.

The national coverage throughout the week leading to Election Day was that even with Whitmer’s endorsement and that of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., to shore up the Black vote, El-Sayed and his communist-aligned podcaster ally, Hasan Piker, were cruising to victory.

Let’s be honest: It is the story everybody wanted. It is the sexy story of young socialists upending the Democratic Party establishment, but the embellished polls may well have become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

For Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, this is all excellent news. He wanted to run against the socialist-aligned El-Sayed, and now he will. He also has the advantage of El-Sayed’s being wounded by what turned into a humiliating underperformance.

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Rogers should also be buoyed by El-Sayed surrogate Piker’s statement Tuesday night about possibly reaching out to Stevens voters. Piker said: saying, "Everyone being like, 'Abdul has a f--- ton of work to do mending bridges' … You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of sh---. You literally called the dude a f---ing terrorist for months on end … And now you're going to say sit there and be like, 'you really gotta come to me now.'"

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These are not the sweet, sonorous sounds of intraparty unity.

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The race between Rogers and El-Sayed will be close and hard-fought, and I will find my way back to the Great Lakes State to take the temperature. In the meantime, the news media must be much more skeptical of polling because it may have turned this primary.

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Cleveland's new WNBA team rejects 'Lady Cavaliers' identity in unveiling of name, color scheme

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:17:25 -0400

Sirens: mythical creatures who perched along rocky shores, using their beautiful, hypnotic songs to lure unsuspecting sailors to their deaths.

Also, Cleveland’s new WNBA team.

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The expansion franchise unveiled its name, logo and colors Tuesday, officially introducing the Cleveland Sirens ahead of the team’s inaugural season in 2028.

The nautical branding is a nod to Lake Erie, but the organization had another objective in mind: making sure the new team did not look like a women’s version of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"We don't want to be the Lady Cavaliers, and we don't want to be wine and gold," Sirens President of Business Operations Allison Howard said. "We really need to be very separate, very distinctive."

The Sirens and Cavaliers are both owned by Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group and will share Rocket Arena. But Cleveland’s WNBA leadership made clear from the beginning that the two franchises should not share an identity.

Instead of borrowing the Cavaliers’ color scheme, the Sirens will use two shades of blue — appropriately named "Sirens Blue" and "Erie Blue." Their logo features the mythical creature beneath the team name, while the "S" in the wordmark contains a hidden "CLE."

"We love our Cavaliers, and they are such an amazing part of this organization," Howard said. "But this team can exist very much on the independent side of the Cavaliers."

Howard said the organization expects the Sirens to attract a different audience than the Cavaliers.

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"They eat different food, they drink different drinks," Howard said. "They get here earlier. They purchase merchandise differently, and they come from all over the state and even outside the state."

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Cleveland’s approach differs from several WNBA teams that share ownership with NBA counterparts. The Los Angeles Sparks mirror the Lakers’ purple and gold, while the Phoenix Mercury use the Suns’ purple and orange. The Minnesota Lynx and Timberwolves also feature similar combinations of blue and green, and the Indiana Fever share navy and gold with the Pacers, though the Fever incorporate red into their identity, too.

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The Sirens, however, are taking a path closer to the New York Liberty and Golden State Valkyries, which both separate themselves visually from their city’s NBA franchises.

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The Sirens will not be Cleveland’s first WNBA team.

The Cleveland Rockers were one of the league’s original eight franchises when the WNBA launched in 1997. Named as a tribute to the city’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rockers played seven seasons before folding in 2003 after owner Gordon Gund was unable to find a buyer.

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Former Rockers player Janice Braxton narrated the Sirens’ introductory video, which carried the theme "Hear the Call." Braxton and several other former Rockers players also attended Tuesday’s unveiling.

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The new franchise has already collected approximately 9,000 season-ticket deposits, and Howard expects that number to grow now that Cleveland fans finally know the name of their team.

Controversial socialist chef flip-flops on abolish the police, says she’s ‘serious about public safety’

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:00:16 -0400

Controversial chef and democratic socialist candidate Francesca Hong has reversed her position on defunding and abolishing the police, saying in a recent podcast interview that she has become "serious about public safety."

Hong is a Wisconsin Democratic lawmaker perhaps best known for her 2020 call to "cancel Thanksgiving" because of its colonial history. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and a leading Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor.

In an episode of "Pod Save America" released on Tuesday, Hong was asked about her 2020 tweets in which she wrote that "police exist to uphold white supremacy" and "I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police." The podcast host asked her, "I’m wondering how your views on policing have evolved since 2020?"

In response, Hong said, "My views have only become stronger in that I’m serious about public safety and I will not abolish the police."

SOCIALIST FRANCESCA HONG STRUGGLES TO EXPLAIN CALL TO 'CANCEL THANKSGIVING' AS POST RESURFACES

"My views are that people are struggling right now and need basic needs met, and I want to focus on stopping violent crime and giving law enforcement the resources and the training that they need, but ensure we are also holding accountable law enforcement that does not follow the law," she added.

Pressed on whether she still believes police exist to uphold White supremacy, Hong answered quickly, "No."

Hong was then asked, "What has changed in your thinking since you posted that in 2020?"

She answered, "I’ve had more conversations with people who are more directly connected to the problems and have learned that it is most important for a public servant like myself to make sure we’re looking at sensible, practical solutions that will help keep communities safe."

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"When you talk to people who are most justice impacted, a mother who lost a child to police violence, people who have contended with injustices in historically marginalized communities, but just also looks like making sure we are implementing solutions and helping change the material conditions of people’s lives," she said.

During the interview, Hong also characterized her previous statement fantasizing about a "world without prisons" as "more aspirational."

Critics have argued that Hong has a history of expressing controversial progressive takes, with former X posts resurfacing in recent weeks.

In 2019, she wrote, "I ate two bites of my kid’s cheeseburger at a Culver’s in black river falls and told him they ran out of ice cream. Mostly just wanted to leave bc I was on the verge of a [sic] anxiety attack… to [sic] many old white people who didn’t think we spoke English."

DEMOCRATS' SHARP LEFT TURN? DSA'S INFLUENCE GROWS AS MIDTERMS, 2028 RACES TAKES SHAPE

In another since-deleted post, Hong wrote, "Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx [sic] and women, so be it."

In a recent CNN appearance, Hong was asked, "Do you still believe that Thanksgiving should be canceled?"

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"I’m a chef, and one of the first meals that I made that was for the community when I was 16 [years old] was a Thanksgiving meal," Hong responded. "But Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities. And so, I think there, I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are multiple views, but views can evolve."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Hong, Pod Save America and the DSA for additional comment.

Anthony Fauci’s lawyer says Aaron Rodgers 'should stick to football’ after scorching him on Pat McAfee's show

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:20:45 -0400

Anthony Fauci may have taken the Fifth in the nation's capital, but his legal team isn't afraid to keep swinging.

Days after Fauci pleaded the Fifth 111 times during a Senate hearing on the advice of his attorneys, Aaron Rodgers could not help but rip the "absolute coward."

"Are you kidding me? You get a pardon, and you’re and you pleaded over 100 times at the White House? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. ‘I am science,’ and you get up there and can’t answer a question? What are we doing?" Rodgers said on "The Pat McAfee Show" earlier this week.

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Well, David Schertler, Fauci’s attorney, was asked by The Athletic to respond to Rodgers' criticism, and he did not hold back.

"Aaron Rodgers doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He should stick to football," Schertler said to the outlet.

Fauci was questioned by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., over his response to the pandemic and his policy decisions, during which the former White House COVID advisor was accused of funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China.

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"Spending the entire time writing in his diary about how fun it is to be famous. You gotta be kidding me. What are you going to say about me now? Seriously, what are they going to say about me now? Now, you can’t talk about the COVID stuff because obviously it was made in a lab in China," Rodgers continued.

"That’s like not even questionable anymore. Tony Fauci is an absolute criminal. It’s been a great life and a great career, and it’s nice to be sitting on this side now, especially after that coward pled the Fifth over 100 times. I thought you had a pardon there, Tony. Why couldn’t you answer one question the entire time?"

The Steelers, though, did not seem to be bothered much by what Rodgers said.

"Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views. With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room," Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said in a statement to Fox News Digital/OutKick.

Fauci’s refusal to answer has Rodgers going full tilt years after dealing with constant scrutiny, whether it’s the man himself or the network he has issues with. Rodgers drummed up controversy when he said he was "immunized" from COVID-19.

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This season marks 22 years Rodgers has starred in the NFL, and he doubled down recently, saying this will be his final year.

Fox News' Scott Thompson and OutKick's Armando Salguero contributed to this report.

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Puka Nacua, due for new contract, hires Zay Flowers' agency after Ravens star's massive $140 million deal

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:54:39 -0400

Puka Nacua is taking notes.

The Los Angeles Rams wide receiver is beginning his fourth NFL season next month, making him due for quite a payday.

Nacua's 95.3 receiving yards per game are the most all-time, and since joining the league in 2023, no one else within six yards of him.

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Once an afterthought as a fifth-round selection, Nacua is now in the conversation as the best wide receiver in the league, and he wants to be paid like it.

Well, after Zay Flowers inked a $140 million extension that gives him $108 million guaranteed, both figures are the fourth-highest ever at the position, Nacua has reportedly brought in Flowers' agent to negotiate his next contract.

Like Flowers, Nacua is now represented by WIN Sports Group after previously being a part of the Athletes First team. WIN also represents stars like Dexter Lawrence, Jordan Davis, Nnamdi Madubuike, and Dion Dawkins.

Because Nacua wasn't drafted in the first round, unlike Flowers, he is not eligible for a fifth-year option, making him set to hit free agency upon the 2026 season's end.

ANTHONY FAUCI’S LAWYER SAYS AARON RODGERS 'SHOULD STICK TO FOOTBALL ’ AFTER SCORCHING HIM ON PAT MCAFEE'S SHOW

Flowers and Nacua entered the league the same year, and given that Nacua's numbers are better than Flowers' across the board, the Rams star figures to have a good argument to not only beat Flowers' deal but maybe even surpass Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the highest-paid receiver of all time ($168.6 million).

Despite Flowers playing in 50 games compared with Nacua's 44, Flowers has more than 1,000 fewer receiving yards and 76 fewer receptions.

Flowers has undoubtedly been a stalwart for the Baltimore Ravens, as he's coming off a season in which he caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. He’s now posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Yet had Nacua not missed six games because of injury in 2024, he may very well already have more than 4,500 yards (he had more than 90 receiving yards per game that season).

Flowers has missed only one regular-season game in three seasons (his rookie campaign), although he was unavailable for the 2024 playoffs.

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He became the fastest player in Ravens history (21 games) to reach 100 receptions and the first Raven with multiple 1,000-yard seasons in the first three years of his career. He ranked 11th in the NFL in receptions in 2025 and seventh in receiving yards. That was despite an underwhelming, injury-plagued season from Jackson — and Baltimore's willingness to run the ball with Derrick Henry.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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White House pushes 'watershed' fraud-fighting reform in Congress as Vance convenes task force

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:52:22 -0400

Vice President JD Vance, who chairs President Donald Trump's Task Force To Eliminate Fraud, said during remarks on Wednesday that the effort has identified $230 billion of suspected fraud so far.

"We've been able to stop $56 billion in fraudulent payments that would've otherwise gone to fraudsters, rather than to the people who need them," he said at a task-force roundtable event with lawmakers.

Vance called for reforms to help tackle the fraud.

VANCE TO HOST CONGRESS AT WHITE HOUSE TO DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON FRAUD

He said when the federal government distributes money to states for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the federal government has "no visibility into who is ultimately getting those benefits."

He said that if California provides "those food stamp benefits to an illegal alien, to a violent criminal, the federal government has no visibility, and sometimes the states themselves have no visibility."

"So we need to work with Congress, and we need some legislation that would actually force some data sharing between the state governments and the federal governments," the vice president said.

TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS CALIFORNIA A 'FRAUDSTER'S PARADISE,' WARNS STATE OFFICIALS COULD FACE CHARGES

Vance also floated the idea of tougher sentencing against those convicted of fraud.

White House deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor Stephen Miller called for "strict, clear, mandatory minimums" for fraudsters, saying they should be slapped with "a very substantial prison sentence."

DOJ CHARGES 19 DEFENDANTS IN ALLEGED $4M PHILADELPHIA MEDICARE AND MEDICAID FRAUD

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"That change alone would be watershed for fighting fraud because it would mean that the Department of Justice would be able to, through prosecuting a few hundred or thousand cases in a year, be able to chill the criminal conduct of millions," Miller said.

LIV Golf CEO quiets speculation with announcement of new investor to keep circuit afloat into 2027

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:42:24 -0400

Long live LIV?

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced in April that it would stop funding LIV Golf following the 2026 season. With the sole funder of the breakaway circuit cutting off the money spigot, it was speculated that LIV, or at least the current version of it, would cease to exist beyond this year.

On Wednesday, LIV CEO Scott O'Neil halted that speculation.

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Speaking ahead of this week's LIV New York tournament at Trump National Bedminster, O'Neil announced that an investor has been secured to keep the circuit afloat. While O'Neil did not divulge any specific details about the unknown investor, he did share an incredibly important fact about the next phase of LIV Golf and its players.

"LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the Board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the League’s next era, driven by and for the players," O'Neil said.

"Notably, our next chapter will make our players the majority equity holders in LIV Golf, a first for a major global sports league," he continued, while stating the goal is to enter a finalized transaction in September.

Aside from players holding a majority of the equity, it is unclear what LIV Golf looks like, and even more unclear which players will be competing, beginning in 2027. The plan for the 2027 LIV schedule is for it to feature 10 events, with five in the United States and five across the globe.

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The announcement that LIV will be around beyond 2026 comes as the unknowns still continue to add up regarding whether or not the LIV Team Championship, set for Aug. 27-30, will even be contested. The update on 2027 investments does not appear to have any bearing on the Team Championship.

It was reported at the end of July that the season finale is expected to be canceled after "multiple contractors" told Flushing It Golf that their travel and accommodations have been canceled and that "money is also owed."

LIV golfer and former major champion Martin Kaymer went on the record with Today's Golfer that the team championship was "highly unlikely" to take place.

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A source with knowledge of the ongoing situation shared with OutKick on July 29 that LIV was continuing to have positive discussions with prospective investors for LIV Golf 2.0 while working to secure funding for the circuit's future and long-term sustainability.

Based on the league's announcement on Wednesday, the discussions with prospective investors were, in fact, positive.

Government-run grocery stores face renewed scrutiny after Chicago's experiment fizzles

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:23:27 -0400

The idea of government-run grocery stores is facing renewed scrutiny as Chicago abandons plans for a municipal supermarket, raising questions about whether taxpayer-funded markets can survive.

"Chicago's city-run grocery stores are on the brink of collapse after a Save A Lot terminated its licensing agreement with stores operated by Yellow Banana," Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic analysis at Illinois Policy, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

"So the city spent $13.5 million on these stores, but now they're on the brink of closing. They were meant to address food security and availability in what the city deems food desks, but this outcome should really come as no surprise," Hill said.

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Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Fox News Digital Monday that the experiment is failing in multiple areas.

"So what we're seeing, particularly in New York and Seattle, are proposals to having the government actually artificially lowering prices by using their general revenue funds to make those groceries ‘more affordable,’ The state looked at that here in Illinois and dismissed it because it's inherently flawed," Karr said. "It has failed everywhere it has worked because it doesn't recognize the realities of the marketplace."

Chicago officials ultimately shifted away from opening a city-owned grocery store, opting instead to support privately operated neighborhood markets.

The Center Square reported Sunday that the closure of seven Save A Lot stores on Chicago's South and West sides has reignited questions about whether taxpayer-funded grocery initiatives can improve food access in low-income communities.

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In the article, Nicole Huyer, a free-market policy analyst, said the closures underscore the shortcomings of government-backed solutions.

The outlet also reported that the stores, managed by retail platform Yellow Banana, closed after Save A Lot terminated its operating agreement with the company, pointing to financial challenges that included a significant decrease in SNAP purchases.

The Whole Foods in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, which closed in 2022, received a significant government subsidy, relying on an $11 million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) subsidy from the City of Chicago.

When it closed, local outlet WTTW reported that state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, said in a statement that she was disappointed in the development, as the store had said it was not about making a profit but about ensuring access to healthy food.

"I was proud to work with Whole Foods to bring a new location to Englewood because they claimed their decision was not based on profitability, but rather a desire to help provide access to healthy groceries for residents," Harper said in the statement.

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Hill told Fox News Digital that the areas where government grocery stores are failing tend to not be friendly to business.

"Illinois and Chicago specifically is one of the toughest places to do business. So, Illinois has the second-highest property taxes in the nation," Hill said. "They're even higher in Chicago. Commercial property here is taxed at 250% more than residential property, which makes it tougher for businesses to operate."

"So, property taxes are out of control, which affect business margins as well," Hill added. "But on top of that, for consumers and for businesses, Chicago's total sales tax, which also applies to groceries, was just at an increase on Aug. 1. So the total sales rate in the city is now 10.5%. It's the second highest of any city in the nation. If the city's serious about helping businesses and residents in need, it should start there rather than wasting millions of dollars on projects that we know are going to fail."

Karr told Fox News Digital that cities should look at practical ways to make it easier for grocery stores to operate.

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"Instead of trying to use gimmicks, look at the real reasons why grocery stores are having a hard time staying open," Karr said.

"And frankly, the same applies to pharmacies," he added. "Although it's a little different because there's also pharmacy reimbursement at stake there. But when you look at grocery stores, what are your permitting processes? What are your licensing processes? What are your labor mandates? What's going on in your property tax? When you look at the city of Chicago and Cook County, we have the classification system where commercial and industrial carry two-thirds of the burden. That's a problem. You can't continue to pile those on and expect something to change."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Yellow Banana and Whole Foods for comment.

Two brothers deliver storybook moment by homering in respective debuts on same day in incredible fashion

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:14:59 -0400

Aug. 4, 2026 is a day the Lombard family will remember for a long time.

Not one, but two brothers made their pro baseball debuts. George Lombard Jr. made his major league debut with the New York Yankees, while his younger brother, Jacob, made his professional debut in Low-A with the Miami Marlins organization.

Both brothers made debuts to remember, as they each blasted a home run with their new clubs.

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George Lombard Sr. and his wife, Judy, had flights booked to watch their youngest son, Jacob, make his pro debut in Jupiter. However, upon hearing news of Lombard Jr.’s promotion, Jacob insisted the family should see his older brother in the Bronx instead.

"We found out about 11:30 p.m. last night, so pretty late last night. And my mom was preparing, getting ready to drive up here to Jupiter. It's not too far of a drive from Miami, but my brother calls my dad, my mom and I on the FaceTime, like we kind of do every night, and he tells us the news and we were kind of all jaw-dropped," Jacob Lombard said during an appearance on ESPN’s "SportsCenter."

"My mom was freaking out. My dad is on the other side of the country in Seattle. I told my mom, ‘Don't even think about it. You're not coming over here to Jupiter. You're going to New York. All you guys are going to New York.’ I'm very happy that the whole family got to go out there and see him and they got to watch kind of my game play out."

George Lombard Sr. played in the major leagues for six seasons and is currently the Detroit Tigers bench coach. The team allowed him to leave and attend his son’s debut in person.

Jacob Lombard hit his home run first. In the top of the third inning, Lombard, in his second at-bat, pummeled a breaking ball into the visitors' bullpen for a solo home run for the Jupiter Hammerheads.

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The YES Network broadcast showed a jubilant George Lombard Sr. and Judy watching their youngest son’s home run on their phone and celebrating from their seats in Yankee Stadium.

George Lombard Jr.’s home run came in the fifth inning off St. Louis Cardinals starter Hunter Dobbins. Lombard Jr., also in his second at-bat, crushed an 0-2 breaking ball into the left-field seats, similar to where his younger brother hit his.

Beyond both brothers hitting home runs in their second at-bats of the game, there were other striking similarities to the blasts. Both home runs had 33-degree launch angles, and both had exit velocities about 100 mph. Jacob hit his home run at 99.9 mph, while George’s was 100.2 mph.

Jacob was able to watch his brother’s home run live, as the Hammerheads called a mound meeting and the Yankees’ game was on at the bar in the stadium. As he went to the mound, Lombard Jr. hit his home run, cementing a day for the ages.

"I'm screaming at third base like, 'I think he just hit home run. I think he just hit a home run.' And then the TV shows my parents hugging and I was like ‘Oh my, he just did that.’ So, it was pretty unbelievable."

YANKEES' GEORGE LOMBARD JR, REPLACING EMBATTLED ANTHONY VOLPE, MASHES HOME RUN FOR FIRST HIT IN MLB DEBUT

Both parents were emotional and proud of their sons.

"Just the fact that he's worked his whole life for this and that day had come, there was no words," Judy Lombard said in an interview on the YES Network. "For the first time in my life, I think, I didn't have words. I was just in shock."

"You don't ever get these days back," George Lombard Sr. said in an interview on the YES Network. "This was as emotional as any day we've had with our boys."

George Lombard Jr. said it was a day he won’t forget.

"It was really cool," the older Lombard said. "Being a close game, it was a big run. So it was probably a moment, a swing, a day I won’t forget."

The 21-year-old became the first Yankees shortstop to hit a home run in his debut. He was able to get the ball back when he met the fan who caught the ball after the game. Lombard Jr. traded a bat and signed hats for the fan in exchange for the ball.

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Lombard was the 14th player in franchise history to hit a home run in his big league debut and first since Jasson Domínguez went deep in his initial plate appearance against Justin Verlander in Houston on Sept. 1, 2023. The group also includes injured captain Aaron Judge (2016) and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (1946).

At 21 years, 63 days old, Lombard became the sixth-youngest Yankees player since 1985 to make his debut and the second-youngest shortstop in that span. Derek Jeter debuted May 29, 1995, in Seattle at 20 years, 337 days.

Lombard Jr. also impressed with his defense, turning multiple slick double plays in the Yankees’ 2-0 win over the Cardinals.

"Obviously, a great first night for him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "The home run was great. The defense was tremendous."

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For Jacob Lombard, his brother’s major league debut is his goal.

"The whole goal is for me to also have that moment when, uh, you know, in a couple years. So, I'm excited. You know, they got to be there and I'm sure they're going to be at mine when mine comes," Lombard said.

If his minor league career is anything like his debut, it won’t be too long before the Marlins' 2026 first-round pick makes the major leagues, and the family can create another unforgettable memory.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Israeli President Herzog calls antisemitism a 'contamination of societies' as hate crimes surge

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:00:14 -0400

Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a stern warning about the global spread of antisemitism in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at his Jerusalem residence.

"Antisemitism is an age-old plague which should be dealt with by everybody, by all societies. It's not an Israeli issue or only a Jewish issue," he said.

"It's a contamination of societies that starts with the Jews — never ends with them. It's the most dangerous phenomena that has to be dealt with aggressively, with no mercy, with full adjudication, and most importantly, with education," he added.

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Herzog's warning comes as newly released New York City Police Department (NYPD) data show anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 56.9% of all confirmed hate crimes since the start of 2026, even though Jewish New Yorkers make up only about 10% of the city's population.

Herzog pointed to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he accused of spreading hate and compromising the lives of New Yorkers.

"Mamdani does not respect my nation's right for self-determination — the Jewish people's inherent right to have a nation of their own. And he's basically spreading blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric. He should understand that he's risking his own citizens, he’s risking their safety, well-being and life," Herzog told Fox News Digital.

In a video posted on social media on July 21, Mamdani called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people."

Days later, Raul Morales, 51, allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" while stabbing two men on Manhattan's Upper West Side, including one who was visibly identifiable as Jewish.

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"We've seen the stabbing just a few days ago... just because somebody was dressed as an Orthodox Jew. This cannot be accepted in New York, which is a city that is dear to our heart, dear to Israelis, and dear to me personally," Herzog said.

More broadly, a report released last month by the J7 Large Communities' Task Force Against Antisemitism found that 20 people were killed in antisemitic attacks across seven countries outside Israel in 2025, marking the deadliest year for such violence in the Jewish diaspora since 1994.

The J7 comprises Jewish communities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

According to the report, more than 23,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded across the J7 countries last year, representing a 97% increase in violent attacks and a 136% rise in overall incidents compared with 2022.

"Of course, Israel is doing its best, but it has to be an effort with governments all over the world, law enforcement agencies, educational systems and Jewish communities, which we care about a lot," Herzog said, in reference to confronting Jew-hatred.

Referencing a recent article by professor Niall Ferguson titled "The Death of History," he said, "How much TikTok or the social networks distort the facts of history? They negate the worst and greatest horror of humankind, the Holocaust. And that's why we have to stand up together and combat it," he told Fox News Digital.

Herzog stressed that misinformation spread through distorted and superficial channels makes it easy to smear Israel on social media, but that such narratives do not reflect reality.

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"[Israel] is the place where the Startup Nation flourishes. This is the place where great ideas are given to the world and contribute enormously to the world in so many great fields, from health to energy, to science, to agriculture, to food security, to what not. There's a reason why Americans who visit our country, young Americans, fall in love with this country," he said.

Growing antisemitism, coupled with polarization within and between Jewish communities and a weakening sense of Jewish identity in some places, led Herzog to launch Voice of the People in April 2023. The initiative brings together a council of 150 emerging leaders — one-third from Israel, one-third from the United States and the remainder from around the world.

Leaders are selected through an algorithm from thousands of candidates and serve rotating terms of roughly two years, developing ideas to address challenges facing the Jewish world.

The initiative held an in-person kickoff summit in March 2025 in Haifa, featuring Herzog and bringing together all council members, reflecting his belief in building the next generation of Jewish leadership, which he described as one of his main tasks.

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"I'm overjoyed by the great ideas I see and feel, and I hope that around November we will have a new registration starting for the next slot, the next cohort, and I invite as many Jewish friends to register," he said.

Republican who reportedly dropped out defeats Trump's pick in key swing-district primary

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:06:45 -0400

Republican voters in Michigan's 8th Congressional District chose Thomas J. Smith as their challenger to freshman Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet on Wednesday – defying President Donald Trump's endorsement of opponent Amir Hassan – in one of several House races the GOP hopes will help expand its majority in November.

The district stretches across Flint, Saginaw, Midland and Bay City, and has become increasingly competitive in recent election cycles. Al Lemmo also vied for the nomination.

Smith was a longtime GM employee, according to his website.

"We need strong conservative leadership that protects our constitutional freedoms, supports working families, secures our borders, and restores accountability in Washington," he said on his website.

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Smith reportedly suspended his campaign in July and endorsed Lemmo, according to the Detroit News, while Trump endorsed Hassan and invited him onstage at a recent rally.

Hassan spoke then about how many members of his family worked for GM. "The contrast is clear, the time is now," Hassan said. "Protecting America, getting back to the fundamentals… that’s what we’re doing this cycle."

HOUSE REPUBLICANS AIM TO TURN DEMOCRATIC CIVIL WAR INTO MIDTERM WEAPON

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Lemmo, a retired Army automotive mechanical engineer, ran on a pro-life and pro-onshoring platform.

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Smith recorded just over 50% of the vote by Wednesday morning, and was declared the winner by the Associated Press.

Smith told the Detroit News he is "humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet."

Rivet, who was a state senator representing Bay City before her tenure in Congress, won her primary Tuesday.

She defeated the GOP's Paul Junge by about six points in 2024's contests.

Hawaii Democratic House candidate faces felony threat charges after beach fight caught on video

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:38:32 -0400

A Hawaii Democratic congressional candidate was knocked unconscious during a profanity-laced beach confrontation captured on video days before he appeared in court on two felony terroristic threatening charges.

The video opens with Hawaii Democratic congressional candidate and U.S. House candidate Kirill Basin approaching a group of beachgoers and telling one man, "Put your bag away, bro. Put your bag away."

A woman then approached Basin as music by the Pixies played from a nearby speaker. Basin told the group, "I told him if he wants to go to the hospital, come here."

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The confrontation briefly appeared to cool when Basin said, "It is over," before shaking another person's hand. The reprieve lasted only seconds.

Basin then turned toward another beachgoer, shouted an obscenity and resumed arguing with members of the group. When a man told Basin he was speaking to his girlfriend, Basin replied, "I don't care."

The exchange quickly escalated. Basin repeatedly asked, "What are you going to do?" before challenging another man to fight.

After a woman called him "a child," Basin turned toward her, demanded to know what she had said and threatened to "put [her] in the ground" and "in the hospital" before walking away while calling her a derogatory term.

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Moments later, Basin walked back toward his belongings where a larger man – later identified as Kama Homan – approached from behind. Basin shoved Homan before the two began scuffling.

Basin stumbled backward over two beach chairs and fell to the sand. After getting back to his feet, he grabbed one of the chairs and swung it at Homan, who shoved the chair aside before punching Basin and knocking him unconscious.

Homan walked over and repeatedly told Basin to "wake up." Once Basin regained consciousness, he told someone he was "going to jail" before walking away. Moments later, he charged toward Homan again while shouting obscenities.

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Homan, who said he had mixed martial arts training, told Hawaii News Now he decided to intervene after watching Basin become increasingly aggressive.

"I'm like, maybe I should intervene," Homan said. "As I got closer and closer, he was just getting more irate and violent."

Homan said Basin shoved him before he responded.

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"He put his hands on me and as soon as he tried to shove me, I hit him with a left and a right," Homan said. "That's when he stumbled and fell over the chairs."

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The criminal complaint, which Fox News Digital reviewed, alleged Basin threatened multiple people during the confrontation, including Homan. A second felony count specifically alleged Basin threatened Homan with a knife.

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Homan said he recovered what he described as a 5-inch switchblade and turned it over to Maui police.

Fox News Digital reached out to Basin and his attorney, Brandon Segal, for comment.

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During Tuesday's initial court appearance, a judge maintained Basin's $1 million bail and ordered him to have no contact with Homan and four other people.

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If released, Basin also must stay away from Keawakapu Beach, including its parking lot, refrain from possessing firearms or ammunition, avoid drugs and alcohol, submit to random drug testing and undergo a mental health assessment with any recommended treatment.

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Basin was scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing Thursday at 1 p.m.

DARLINE GRAHAM: I'm South Carolina's newest senator. This is who I am and what I believe

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:36:49 -0400

To everyone who has reached out over the past few weeks with condolences, stories about my brother Lindsey, and prayers — thank you. You have helped me and my family get through some of the hardest weeks of our lives.

I never expected to be running for office. I have never had any desire to be a politician. I am doing this because I am answering President Donald Trump's call to serve and want to stand up for South Carolina and fight for his agenda.

Like Lindsey, I am a hard worker with a servant's heart. We grew up in the back of a bar and liquor store, in one room. Our parents worked hard every day to make ends meet — there was no time for sickness and few vacations, because if the doors weren't open, no money was coming in.

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My mother passed away when I was 11, and my father just over a year later. Lindsey stepped in to raise me. He was always there for me, and I will miss him dearly.

For 30 years my passion has been serving South Carolina. So when President Trump asked me to run for the Senate, I answered the call, and I am proud to have his endorsement.

For the past seven years, I led a state agency with 130 employees and a $90 million budget. We turned it from a struggling organization into a national model helping people find work and live independently. We made sure all spending was reasonable, allowable and necessary. I fought against duplication of services knowing it wasted taxpayers' dollars.

But beyond the resume, people want to know who I am and what I believe.

I'm a mother, a grandmother and a wife. I know how to bargain shop and I look for the buy-one-get-one-free sales at the grocery store. I just bought a new pair of shoes to walk around the U.S. Capitol off the clearance rack at the Shoe Warehouse. I cut my own grass with a push mower, and yes, I know how to use a weedeater.

Lindsey was the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was an expert on the federal budget. I am an expert on the family budget.

I have two daughters with health problems, so I know what it feels like to pay outrageous medical bills.

I know there isn't a single business in this country that would let you put everything on credit the way we do today with the federal budget.

I believe that if you have to show an ID to check out a library book, you should have to show one to vote. That's why the first bill I co-sponsored was the SAVE America Act. I am prepared to cancel the Senate’s August recess and stay in Washington to get it passed and sent to President Trump’s desk.

I believe Joe Biden let 12 million illegal immigrants walk into our country, and President Trump and I are going to walk them right back out. If you want to come to the United States, do it legally. And if you want to stay here, you need to respect our American values, not ask us to live by yours.

I support the Right to Life. I believe every human life is sacred and deserves protection.

I strongly support the Second Amendment, and I believe gun control is how steady you hold your weapon. I once had a concealed weapons permit and scored a 98 on the shooting portion of the test.

I'm a volleyball mom who loves nothing more than watching my daughter play, and I believe boys have no place in girls' sports and no business in girls' locker rooms.

I oppose DEI.

I think AOC is C-R-A-Z-Y.

I think Anthony Fauci should stop staring at the floor and answer the questions.

I feel like I had one of the most successful first days of any conservative senator in history — the sun hadn't even set before the ladies on "The View" were criticizing me.

I am the first woman United States senator in South Carolina history. My Democratic opponent, Dr. Annie Andrews, must not be the second. Dr. Andrews supports turning confused little boys into little girls and vice versa. I believe that makes her the worst pediatrician in the country.

I stand for the national anthem.

I believe our veterans are heroes.

I will always Back the Blue.

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And I know that President Trump and I will Make America Great Again.

I'm Darline Graham: a bargain shopper and a hard worker who knows your struggles because I live them too.

I'm not an expert on Congress — I am an expert on the problems facing families in South Carolina.

I'm asking for your prayers, and I want to earn South Carolinians' votes. I promise to work hard every single day for South Carolina.

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Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

How 'Sopranos' star Vincent Pastore helped create the single greatest television season of all time

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:28:52 -0400

Fans of the "Sopranos" are still reeling from the loss of beloved star Vincent Pastore over the weekend.

The veteran actor known for playing Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the HBO crime drama was found dead in his Bronx home, and although he was only on the show for two seasons, his passing left a giant hole in the "Sopranos" community.

You can count me in as one of those fans who was particularly bummed to lose Pastore, because he contributed to what is perhaps the finest season of television that has ever been gifted to mankind.

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It's no secret that I love "The Sopranos," as a quick scroll through some of my work will yield a smattering of articles pontificating on every aspect of the show.

It's one of my favorite series of all time, and season two in particular represents what is, in my humble opinion, the apex of episodic television.

This is thanks in large part to Pastore's contributions as Tony Soprano's best friend and loyal soldier, Big Pussy.

Throughout most of season one, we are shown that Puss is Tony's confidant, even more so than his second-in-command, Silvio Dante.

Tony goes to Puss for advice about his son, among other things, showing the two have a connection that goes far beyond "the business."

But by the end of the first season, Puss is suspected to be an informant for the FBI, and before anyone from the Soprano crew can confirm their suspicions, he takes off for parts unknown, only setting off more alarm bells for Tony and company.

When he returns at the beginning of season two with an airtight alibi — going to Puerto Rico for acupuncture therapy to treat his ailing back — he has to re-earn the trust of his fellow crew members.

What makes Pussy's return unique, however, is that it is revealed early in the second season to the audience only that he's actually a rat, and the rest of the season is spent watching Tony subconsciously piecing together the evidence that his best friend is working with the feds to take him down.

It makes for riveting television the entire season, as we get several moments of tension as viewers know that Pussy has turned state's witness and could get whacked at any time.

Pussy's heel turn also gives us more insight into the FBI's inner workings, as the Bureau starts to become more of a main character thanks to the show focusing on his forced partnership with them.

This all culminates in the moment Tony finally figures it out, and the methods through which he arrives at the conclusion that his soldier is playing for the other team are some of the most creative and twisted in all of television.

In the penultimate episode of season two, Tony's biggest competition, Richie Aprile, gets taken out by his fiancée (Tony's sister Janice).

This happens right as Richie is about to make a move on Tony to take him out, so with one episode to wrap up the season, it appears as if all of Tony's worries are behind him.

Then we are reminded of the elephant — or in this case, rat — in the room.

After a late night meal at an Indian restaurant followed by a nightcap at the crew's favorite Italian restaurant, a season's worth of suspicions comes bubbling up for Tony in the form of a violent episode of food poisoning.

While deep in the throes of his intestinal Hell, Tony has a series of fever dreams that start out as subtle warnings and end up practically spelling it out for him.

"You know I've been working for the feds, right Ton'," a fish with Pussy's voice says to Tony.

It's so unique and brilliant, and I have no idea how the writers even came up with something like that, but it's easily my favorite hour of television ever made.

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After that revelation, Tony and his crew take Pussy on a final, ill-fated boat ride where the compromised mobster cops to his crimes against the family before reminiscing on old times and sharing a final drink as Tony, Silvio, and Paulie draw their guns.

"You were like a brother to me. To all of us."

Before they have a chance to change their minds, the three heartbroken crew members unload their weapons into Pussy's chest and give him a burial at sea.

The episode and season end with a montage of all the destruction Tony and his crew have caused throughout the 13-episode run, interspersed with the mob boss enjoying the "fruits of his labor" at his daughter Meadow's high school graduation, blissfully unaware of (or unaffected by) the pain he's inflicted on his community.

The final shot lingers on the crashing waves of the North Jersey shoreline, reminding us of Pussy's ultimate fate, as the show fades to black while the haunting tones of The Rolling Stones' "Thru and Thru" play in the background.

It's perfect.

A perfect ending to a nearly perfect season of television.

And it's not just the Big Pussy storyline that makes season two must-watch TV, either.

The aforementioned Richie Aprile, played wonderfully by David Proval, makes for one of the most menacing villains of the series.

His back-and-forth with Tony throughout the season is equal parts hysterical and frightening, and he represents one of our protagonist's most formidable foes.

Season two also introduces another fan favorite to the cast in Furio Giunta, the native Italian who acts as Tony's enforcer and causes plenty of consternation between he and Pussy, as the latter (correctly) believes he is being replaced by the former.

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And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Tony's mother, Livia, who proves to be a bigger thorn in his side than even Richie at times throughout the show's run.

Nancy Marchand's turn as the morose, sociopathic matriarch of the Soprano family deserves special mention, particularly because she turned in such a masterful performance while battling the very cancer that would ultimately cost the actress her life shortly after season two wrapped.

"The Sopranos" would experience more highs throughout its six-ish season run, but none ever reached the zenith that was season two, in my opinion.

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The writers are firing on all cylinders, the cast of characters is robust, and the plot lines are engaging enough to leave you begging for more at the end of each episode.

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And none of it would have had the cultural impact it did if not for everyone's favorite FBI rat.

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The world lost a legend in Vincent Pastore this past weekend, but his legacy lives on in perpetuity thanks to his turn as Salvatore Bonpensiero.

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So long, Big Pussy. You were like a brother to all of us.

The best Kohl's back-to-school deals: Kids' clothes, shoes and backpacks from $6

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:01:38 -0400

Kohl's Ultimate Clearance event is packed with back-to-school deals on clothes, backpacks, shoes and more, making now the perfect time to stock up for your kids. Save 30% on Levi's jeans, grab uniform skorts for just $16 and score a five-piece Bluey backpack and lunchbox set for $30.

Latest back-to-school deals at Kohl's

Girls adidas Pacer shorts: $12 (40% off)
Girls Jumping Beans graphic tee: $5.99 (40% off)
Boys Nike Therma-FIT hoodie: $30.80 (30% off)
Girls Jumping Beans leggings: $5.59 (30% off)
Under Armour Hustle sport backpack: $37.50 (25% off)
Boys 2-pack uniform pants: $32 (20% off)

Clothing deals

Grab Nike, Levi's and other popular brands on sale now.

Men's Levi's 513 Slim Straight jeans: $45.46 (30% off)

Original price: $64.95

Grab multiple pairs of Levi's jeans for your high schooler or college student. The slim-fit design looks smart and polished, and the straight leg still offers plenty of room to move. There are seven different washes on sale.

Kids Nike Sportswear tee: $15 (25% off)

Original price: $20

This Nike tee will give your kids a comfortable cotton shirt to get through gym class. The relaxed fit keeps the shirt airy for all-day wear. It comes in a handful of colors.

Boys Hurley short-sleeve T-shirt: $14.99 (25% off)

Original price: $20

Add some personality to your child’s wardrobe with these Hurley T-shirts. A collection of fun logos shows off humor and style while still staying school-appropriate. Select colors and sizes start at $12.

Girls IZOD knit skort: $16.80 (40% off)

Original price: $28

Whether your child wears a school uniform or not, this IZOD skort fits the bill. It's neutral enough to match uniform requirements, but practical enough for play and weekend outings.

Shoe deals

These kids' shoes help active kids stay comfortable.

Kids Nike Court shoes: $44.25 (25% off)

Original price: $59

These Nike Court shoes will keep up with active kids. They have a tough rubber outsole that adds extra grip, and the synthetic upper stands up to scuffs, stains and daily wear.

adidas VL Court 3.0 kids tennis shoes: $41.25 (25% off)

Original price: $55

Adidas shoes withstand kids' busy lifestyles, while offering that classic look they'll love for years to come. A lightweight internal cushion adds just the right bounce for sports, skateboarding or walking.

Under Armour Assert 11s kids running shoe: $45 (25% off)

Original price: $60

Prepare kids for any activity with a pair of Under Armour Asserts. They have a lightweight build and a soft sockliner that makes them feel cloud-like. If your child plays sports of any kind, this is the shoe for them.

Backpack and lunchbox deals

A new backpack is a rite of passage for every student heading back to school.

adidas PHNM backpack: $52.50 (25% off)

Original price: $70

Older kids who need more space in their backpack can stay organized with the adidas bag. Multiple compartments help separate tech, books and folders, while the padded straps prevent fatigue between classes. The side pockets also hold water bottles for all-day hydration.

Nike Brasilia backpack: $37.50 (25% off)

Original price: $50

Fit a laptop, sports gear and all their other school necessities in this Nike backpack. The spacious compartment accommodates laptops up to 15 inches, and two mesh pockets offer space for water bottles. Heavily padded shoulder straps also limit discomfort.

Bluey 5-piece backpack set: $29.99 (25% off)

Original price: $39.99

Bluey fans will be delighted with a 5-Piece Bluey backpack set for school. It includes the backpack alongside a water bottle, lunchbox, pencil case and keychain featuring their favorite characters. The backpack has ample space for school supplies with two large pockets.

Spider-Man 5-piece backpack set: $29.99 (25% off)

Original price: $39.99

Fans of the superhero can swing into school with the Spider-Man backpack set. It comes with everything they'll need, including the backpack, a lunchbox, pencil cases and a fun character keychain.

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

Nike Futura Fuel Pack lunch tote: $26.25 (25% off)

Original price: $35

Make lunchtime fun with a Nike lunch tote that comes in 15 bold patterns. The single spacious compartment gives easy access and has an insulated lining that keeps food at the right temperature.

Brandt Snedeker is right to shut down the outside demand for younger Presidents Cup picks

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:05:03 -0400

There are bad problems, and there are good problems, and Brandt Snedeker has a whole bunch of the latter.

In less than 50 days, the 2026 Presidents Cup will get underway at Medinah Country Club, where the U.S. team will look to defeat the Internationals for the 11th straight time. Snedeker, the captain of the U.S. side, will have six of his 12 players selected for him via automatic qualifying, and then comes the inevitable difficult decisions surrounding his six captain's picks to round out his team.

With the Presidents Cup being both entirely lopsided and a gargantuan rung below the Ryder Cup on the ladder of significance, there is always pressure for a youth movement to be embraced by the U.S. team. Snedeker may be facing that pressure more than any other captain in the Cup's 30-year history, but he isn't succumbing to it, at least not yet.

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Those pressures of bringing the 'kids' along to Medinah became as obvious as ever before over the past two weeks with 21-year-old Jackson Koivun winning the 3M Open in just his third start as a professional and 24-year-old Michael Thorbjornsen winning the Rocket Classic for his maiden PGA Tour victory.

Given Koivun's insanely impressive amateur and college career at Auburn and his nearly-immediate win on Tour, much of the golf world went ahead and wrote his name in Sharpie to be named to the Presidents Cup team. Thorbjornsen's name has been penciled in, although he's been sneakily fantastic in his short PGA Tour career.

Snedeker played a practice round with Koivun ahead of this week's Wyndham Championship, and while he praised his game and called him a "generational" player, he made it clear his strategy as captain does not involve bringing on youth for the sake of bringing on youth.

"I don't ever really look at it like we have to change things or do things different. I think the golf dictates who needs to be on the team. I'm not into, 'oh, let's just take a young kid because we need a young kid on the team,'" Snedeker said on Tuesday.

"That doesn't make any sense to me. I think you take the best players who give you the best opportunity of winning. I don't think -- you can't discount what people have done and you can't -- it's really hard to forecast how guys are going to handle those kinds of things. You look at how they've played, what they're capable of, what their ceiling is, what their basement is, what their floor is and kind of go from there."

Snedeker's comments represent the polar opposite viewpoints that leadership in place and golf fans have when looking at the Presidents Cup, but that doesn't mean what he had to say about the situation is wrong.

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From a fan's perspective, and it's an understandable one, the Presidents Cup is a warm-up event for the Ryder Cup. With that mindset, why wouldn't Koivun be given a spot on the U.S. team and get match-play reps at the Presidents Cup, when it's assumed he will play his way onto the very short list of players who could represent the red, white, and blue at the 2027 Ryder Cup?

It's a fair question, especially when the U.S. Ryder Cup team has lost nine of the last 12 Ryder Cups dating back to the turn of the century, and needs to (must) try a new approach in 2027.

While Snedeker absolutely wants to see the U.S. team go to Ireland and upset Team Europe in 2027, that is not part of his job description as this year's Presidents Cup captain.

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Snedeker's lone objective is putting together the best 12-player roster he can to avoid becoming just the second U.S. captain to ever lose the Presidents Cup. That could, and more likely than not will, include taking Koivun and other young, up-and-coming players to Medinah, but it shouldn't be an absolute certainty simply because there is a Ryder Cup to be played 12 months down the road and those players may be in the mix to make that team.

I'll join the masses and go on record in saying Koivun should be on the U.S. Presidents Cup team, but I also understand that Snedeker is not in the future-telling business; he's in the business of winning the Presidents Cup, and anything that may come after that shouldn't take over the decision-making process for the first-time captain.

Republicans move to oust embattled Florida GOP lawmaker in bitter primary fight

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:03:44 -0400

House GOP divisions are erupting on the midterm campaign trail as Republicans fight an uphill battle to keep control of Congress for the latter half of President Donald Trump's term.

The infighting touched down in Florida on Wednesday, where two House Republicans are endorsing a primary opponent to incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who is facing multiple investigations into his finances and allegations of domestic abuse, among other claims. Mills has denied any wrongdoing.

Reps. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., announced they're backing former local TV anchor Ryan Elijah for Mills' seat and said they "urge our fellow Republicans to join us in supporting him."

"Ryan Elijah is an excellent candidate and will ensure victory for us in Florida 7," Haridopolos told Fox News Digital. The Florida congressman will be in attendance at Mills' debate against Elijah on Wednesday night and plans to sit next to the candidate's wife.

GOP PARTY FISSURES EXPOSED IN BATTLE FOR S.C. SENATE SEAT TO REPLACE GRAHAM: 'I DON'T LIKE HEARING THAT'

Notably, President Donald Trump has endorsed Haridopolos, Luna and Mills for re-election — a fact Mills brought up in his response to Fox News Digital.

"I’m the only candidate in this race endorsed by President Donald Trump. Not once, not twice, but three times. I’m proud to have earned his trust because he knows I’ll continue fighting to advance the America First agenda and deliver results," Mills said. "The fact is, my office has returned more than $107 million to the people of Florida’s 7th District, led Florida in constituent services, built one of the strongest conservative voting records in Congress, and flipped this district from blue to red,and kept it red. My record speaks for itself."

It comes after another GOP source told Fox News Digital that some Florida Republicans were worried about the chances of keeping Mills' seat if he won the primary on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded its projection for Republicans from "Solid R" to "Likely R" earlier this year. And with a Cook rating of R+5, Democrats could be within striking distance if Republicans see a tough enough cycle in November.

Mills is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to a source, though he has consistently insisted that he has not done anything wrong.

WATCH: CORY MILLS BLASTS DOJ PROBE AS ‘POLITICAL OP' AHEAD OF FLORIDA PRIMARY

The Republican military veteran dismissed reports of a DOJ investigation as a "desperate lie" by his opponents and said on X late last month, "We are not aware of any DOJ investigation, nor has there been any confirmation of such investigation by DOJ or FBI, and would fully cooperate if there was one."

Fox News Digital reached out to Mills for a response to Haridopolos and Luna's endorsement.

Mills is one of several House Republicans whose allegations of misconduct are posing a headache for the GOP on the campaign trail.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced overnight that he would drop his re-election bid after an explosive report detailed sexual harassment accusations by two young female staffers. Edwards has denied those accusations but has admitted to at times making staff feel uncomfortable.

GOP LAWMAKER'S GIFTS, 'EFFUSIVE AFFECTION' TOWARD YOUNG STAFFERS DETAILED IN EXPLOSIVE ETHICS REPORT

And Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, has been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife and former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and is facing pressure from congressional Republicans to drop out of his race as well. One House GOP source called the situation a "f---ing trainwreck" in comments to Fox News Digital.

Miller has denied any wrongdoing and asked the House Ethics Committee to initiate an investigation in order to clear his name. The former Trump aide has resisted calls to exit the race, insisting he will win in November and that the public accusations from his ex-wife are a bid to derail his political career.

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All three House seats are on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) target list, meaning Democrats are pouring money and resources into those races.

One House Republican, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital that all three should drop out of their races, stating, "We must lead by example."

Political newcomer seeks to unseat twin of Trump impeachment foe in swing Virginia district

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:58:28 -0400

Douglas Ollivant decisively beat two fellow political newcomers in the Republican primary contest to take on incumbent Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., in November.

Vindman, whose twin brother is a high-profile foe of President Donald Trump, currently represents Virginia's 7th Congressional district, a seat previously held by the state's Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

The Republican primary race between Ollivant, Rick Smithers and Philip Harding was unique in that none of the candidates had held elected office before, though two have government experience. The lack of reliable polling made it difficult to foretell who would emerge triumphant — but Ollivant ran away with victory, earning 56.6% of the vote compared to Harding's 30.7% and Smithers' 12.8%.

THE BALLOT BOX SHOWDOWNS THIS MONTH THAT YOU NEED TO WATCH

Ollivant is a retired Army officer who served as the National Security Council director for Iraq during the George W. Bush administration. He worked as a national security analyst and consultant after that.

Smithers is a pastor and construction business owner who branded himself as the biggest outsider in the race.

Harding is a businessman with a bachelor's degree from Harvard University. He also earned his graduate degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

All three candidates have generally aligned themselves with Donald Trump, though the president did not endorse anyone in the race.

FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: DEMOCRATS LEAD IN THE HOUSE, BUT REDISTRICTING KEEPS THE GOP IN THE GAME

According to FEC data, Ollivant had the cash advantage, raising $251,134. Harding raised $125,916 before primary Election Day, and there was no reported fundraising data for Smithers.

Virginia's 7th Congressional District, located in the northeastern part of the state and encompassing Culpeper and Fredericksburg east into Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and parts of Prince William County, is considered a true swing state.

Vindman, who ran unopposed this time around, won the vacant seat by only three points.

SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICANS TARGET DOZENS OF VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS ON EVE OF TAX FILING DEADLINE

As Democrats hope to retain the seat in November, Republicans are eyeing it as a potential flip, which would be a welcome pickup as the GOP fights tooth-and-nail to keep control of Congress, a historically difficult feat for the party in power during a midterm election year.

Vindman's twin brother Alexander is a longtime foe of Trump. Alexander Vindman is a former military official, and the then-National Security Council director for European affairs testified against Trump during the first failed impeachment attempt in 2019.

Alexander is an ardent defender of Ukraine, and became a central figure of the impeachment attempt, claiming that in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump attempted to make military aid for the embattled European nation contingent on an investigation into the Biden family's involvement in Ukrainian business activities.

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Ultimately, the impeachment failed, and both Alexander and Eugene Vindman were removed from the National Security Council.

Alexander Vindman later became a frequent anti-Trump guest on CNN and MSNBC, as well as on the left-wing podcast circuit.

Secret FBI probe cast Trump as possible Russian asset after Comey firing, memos show

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:57:59 -0400

The White House released newly declassified FBI memos showing that the bureau opened a 2017 counterintelligence investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s firing of James Comey was connected to Russia.

The investigation, codenamed "Oxferd Comma," opened after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, according to the White House's release. It is unclear as to why the word "Oxford" was seemingly misspelled.

The probe was launched due to national security concerns about whether Trump himself was a Russian asset, the documents allege.

Investigators sought to determine whether Trump was "directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes," according an FBI memo on May 16, 2017, jump-starting the investigation.

"In addition, this investigation will also seek to determine whether President Trump and others yet to be named obstructed and/or conspiracy to obstruct any associated FBI investigation," the same memo added.

Comey was appointed by then-President Barack Obama, serving as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017.

He oversaw the launch of the "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation in July 2016 after receiving information that Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos had suggested Russia possessed damaging information about Hillary Clinton.

SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO REVIVE CARTER PAGE LAWSUIT OVER FBI SURVEILLANCE TIED TO TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE

Comey also ran an investigation into Clinton about the use of her private email servers and sent a letter to Congress days before the 2016 election saying the FBI had discovered emails that "appear to be pertinent."

Trump fired Comey after taking office, with the administration initially citing his handling of the Clinton email investigation as reason for losing his job.

COMEY LEARNS FATE OF BID TO DELAY TRIAL OVER ‘86 47’ SEASHELL POST AT CENTER OF TRUMP THREAT CASE

A week after Comey’s firing, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as Special Counsel to take over and broaden the existing FBI "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation.

Mueller found in April 2019 that the Russian government sought to influence the election through a social media disinformation campaign and by hacking and releasing Democratic Party emails. His report stated that the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government.

After Mueller's probe was set to be finalized, memos on the "Oxferd Comma" investigation were closed on April 9, 2019.

Subsequently, Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham to review how the FBI had initiated the Russia investigation, which in 2023 concluded that the Bureau lacked sufficient factual basis to open the full Crossfire Hurricane investigation and exhibited bias by departing from its usual standards.

New documents on a declassified annex to Durham's final report show that officials had concerns rgarding Clinton’s campaign plan to smear then-candidate Trump by connecting him to Russia.

"Raising the theme of "Putin's support for Trump" to the level of the Olympics scandal would divert the constituents' attention from the investigation of Clinton's compromised electronic correspondence," reads the annex.

Included in the annex is a 2016 letter from Leonard Benardo, who worked for the Soros-founded philanthropic network Open Society Foundations and had business in Moscow in the 1980s.

"Julie says it will be a long-term affair to demonize Putin and Trump. Now it is good for a post-convention bounce. Later the FBI will put more oil into the fire," wrote Benardo.

The ‘Julie’ that Benardo references appears to be Clinton foreign policy advisor Julianne Smith, according to the report appendix.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for additional comment on Wednesday.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Shaquille O'Neal talks LeBron James' Lakers legacy, why his new 76ers might be extremely 'dangerous'

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:54:52 -0400

In an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA, LeBron James will try to make even more history with his new fourth team.

James signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers late last month, joining a team with newly acquired Jaylen Brown, one-time MVP Joel Embiid and scoring machine Tyrese Maxey to make them a championship contender in the Eastern Conference.

No player has ever won an NBA title with four separate teams (James is one of four players to win with three, along with John Salley, Robert Horry and Danny Green), but before James tries to bring one to Philly for the first time since 1983, his Los Angeles Lakers legacy is already a hot topic.

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James helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA title in the Disney "bubble" for his fourth title, for each of which he was named the Finals MVP. That is enough, Shaquille O'Neal says, to be considered a Lakers great.

"He definitely won a championship there and was a big game player, so he’s in the building," O'Neal told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

But he stopped short of putting him in the "top floor."

"Top floor belongs to Magic (Johnson), Kobe (Bryant), and Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). I’m going to put Kareem," O'Neal continued. "The second floor is me and those other guys.

NBA GREAT SAYS HE NEARLY 'DROPPED DEAD' DUE TO BLOOD CLOT AS HE OFFERS ADVICE TO VICTOR WEMBANYAMA

"Kobe and Magic played there longer than I did, and Magic was the first guy to bring that 'set.' LeBron will probably always be under those guys, but that doesn't take away from what he’s done in the game."

While discussing the timeless James, O'Neal recalled his timeless memories of eating Lucky Charms, as the self-dubbed cereal expert will be helping "the biggest cereal fan" win cash prizes, a hangout with the Big Diesel and more through General Mills' latest contest.

"I eat cereal because it brings out the kid in me," the newest General Mills partner said. "It’s what I like to do when I’m watching movies; last night, I was watching "Stranger Things Chapter 3," and it came on so perfect I had to pause it and go in there and get me some Lucky Charms, buddy. A big bowl, too. I came back in, turned my light on, turned the AC down to make it colder in the room, and hit play; it just made me feel like a kid because I’ve always been a Lucky Charms fan.

"Even though I’m 54, when I get home by myself and I’m watching a movie, I like to take it back to when I was age nine or 10 where mom and dad were sleeping. I’d go downstairs, get a nice bowl of cereal, and I'd have to wash the bowl before they got up so nobody knew I had my bowl of cereal... Teaming up with General Mills was a perfect fit because I’ve been eating these cereals forever."

The one thing about James' move to the City of Brotherly Love, however, is that there is, in fact, just one basketball.

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"If you look at that roster, it could be a legendary or dangerous roster. The dangerous part is I’m worried about Maxey and Brown, because Embiid is going to want the ball, and LeBron loves having the ball. Brown and Maxey are both used to having the ball deep into the shot clock to get into their shot. With LeBron holding the ball and Embiid wanting it in the post, them getting only two or three seconds with the shot clock is a different game. I don't know if they are going to be ready for that," O'Neal said.

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Astros player belts home run, rounds the bases and then gets devastating news after touching home

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:44:17 -0400

Houston Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell took a useless jog around the bases in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this week.

Talk about a brutal plot twist.

Trammell belted what he thought was his sixth home run of the season in the seventh inning of Monday's eventual loss to Toronto. The lefty uncorked on a fastball to the deepest part of Daikin Park (should still be Minute Maid Park, but that's neither here nor there), and thought he got all of it.

He touched first, rounded second, hit third and then finished his trot by touching home, thanking God, and making the short, triumphant walk back to his dugout for a well-earned congratulations from the rest of the team.

The only problem? When he finally looked up for the obligatory "atta boys!" from his teammates, they were nowhere to be found ...

... Because the ball was caught at the wall.

Take a look:

Taylor Trammell gets revenge

Oh no! Just a brutal look for Taylor Trammell. Humiliating. Devastating. I can't even imagine what's going through his head when he touches home and then realizes what he just did.

How do you look your teammates in the eyes after that jog? Goodness. Better yet, how do they look him in the eyes after?

Do they laugh? Do they try to pick him up? Do they just ignore it and act like it never happened? What a pickle.

To be fair, Trammell was clearly locked in. Good for him, by the way. We always rag on guys who show up the pitcher and make a huge spectacle out of hitting a home run.

Trammell put his head down and ran hard. That's what we want, right? No showboating. No bat-flipping. No admiring his blast. Just put your head down, touch all the bases, and get back to the dugout.

You're down 3-0. It's not the time for showing off.

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That being said, this one came back to bite poor Taylor Trammell. He thought he had himself a dinger. He's hit only 24 over a seven-year MLB career, so it doesn't happen often.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen Monday night, either.

REDS ANNOUNCERS FUME AT 'MIDDLE SCHOOL MISTAKE'

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But wait, there's more! There's one final twist to this sad story.

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Trammell put his head down after Monday's loss, went back to the drawing board, and ended up belting a three-run shot last night.

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This one cleared the wall. This one counted.

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All's well that ends well.

Perez Hilton under involuntary psych hold after apparent self-harm livestream: source

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:35:25 -0400

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

Law enforcement was called to Perez Hilton's Miami residence after the celebrity blogger appeared to be harming himself during a TikTok livestream on Tuesday evening.

"The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media," a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Deputies quickly located the individual’s residence, where they spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside."

"In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication. Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public."

CELEBRITY BLOGGER PEREZ HILTON SAYS HE FOUND GOD AMID MEDICAL SCARE IN EMOTIONAL CONFESSION

"At this time, deputies have tactically disengaged while continuing to monitor the situation and providing the needed support to his family," the statement concludes.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the individual had been "safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention."

"The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit and Licensed Mental Health Professionals are also on scene providing support and resources to the individual’s family."

A source close to the situation tells Fox News Digital that Hilton was placed under a psychiatric hold under the Baker Act and "had wounds and cuts all over the place."

"He’s alive," the source added. "He has superficial cuts all over the body."

The Florida Baker Act is a state law that gives law enforcement officers, judges and certain mental health professionals the authority to place an individual into an involuntary mental health evaluation when specific legal criteria are met.

Under the Baker Act, an individual can be transported to a designated receiving facility for an emergency psychiatric evaluation that generally lasts up to 72 hours.

On Wednesday, Hilton's family and team released a statement regarding his ongoing hospitalization.

"Many of you have reached out with concern for Perez, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers," the statement read. "We can confirm that Perez is receiving medical care, and our family’s focus right now is on his well-being. We kindly ask that you respect Perez’s privacy, as well as the privacy of his family, during this difficult time."

"If and when we are able to share any updates, we will do so with everyone as soon as we can," the statement concluded. "Thank you for your compassion, understanding, and continued support."

A representative for Hilton did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The content creator recently moved to Miami with his mother, 73, and his three young children.

Hilton, born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., rose to fame in the mid-2000s after launching his celebrity gossip website in 2004. The Miami native quickly became one of the internet's most influential entertainment voices, known for breaking celebrity news and his unfiltered commentary.

The media personality has frequently shared how parenthood has reshaped his priorities, often offering followers a glimpse into family life on social media.

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Earlier this year, Hilton revealed he had been hospitalized for 21 days after a severe case of sepsis stemming from complications related to the flu. The celebrity blogger said he developed an ulcer and stomach perforation after taking medication on an empty stomach, ultimately requiring emergency surgery and weeks of treatment.

In a candid video he shared at the time, he said God had "presented himself to me" during the ordeal and changed him through the experience.

"God presented himself to me and then did something. Something I can only call miraculous... it was real, and this has been life-changing," he said.

In a follow-up video, the entertainment columnist tearfully apologized for past mistakes and said he had begun reading the Bible again.

"I’ve been crying, but happy tears. Happy tears. Because this is just, this is just so crazy. I’ve been reading the Bible, and so much of what is said here I had already been thinking of. It’s just overwhelming in the best, most beautiful way," he said while holding up a Bible to the camera.

"I made a lot of mistakes in my past. We all have. Nobody's perfect," he said. "But my mistakes are very public. The internet is forever. Receipts are forever. I carry with me deep shame and regret. I'm sorry. I will continue to apologize. I have also reached out to make amends. I've apologized publicly and privately to dozens of people."

"Because I was so selfish, because I didn't care who I hurt. I just cared about the views, the attention, the money — people hated me," he continued. "Some people enjoyed it, but it felt like most people hated me. And last week, since I've been home, I haven't been getting as much hate, and I've been getting love and prayers."

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Hilton added, "And I know that some people are fed up with me talking about God. You don’t have to watch these videos. You don’t have to watch. I love God. My experience was real. My testimony is important."

"What matters is today. How I behave today, how I behave tomorrow," he continued. "And not only did God save me in so many ways, but God gave me a new lease on life and a new opportunity to truly be better and do better."

Fox News Digital's Kristine Parks contributed to this post.