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Trump taunts Canada on renaming Lake Ontario the 'Lake America' amid rising border trade rift

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:50:13 -0400

President Donald Trump escalated his war of words with Canada on Tuesday morning, floating a U.S. push to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America" and accusing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of lying about the Trump administration's position on French-language protections.

"The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don’t expect to [sic] doing much business with Ontario any longer," Trump wrote Tuesday morning on Truth Social.

Trump followed with another broadside aimed directly at Carney, rejecting claims the U.S. had sought concessions affecting the French language during the countries' recently collapsed trade negotiations.

"I would never interfere with Canadians speaking French!" Trump wrote. "In fact, I have never even thought of doing such a stupid thing."

"This lie was made up by a weak and ineffective Prime Minister in an attempt to gain political support, which he has totally lost, from the people of Quebec," Trump added. "I love French Canadians!"

The posts marked the latest escalation in an increasingly bitter dispute between Washington and Ottawa after trade negotiations broke down late last week, triggering a new round of tariffs and threats of retaliation between the longtime allies.

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"We were not prepared to compromise on the protection of the French language and our culture," Carney said Saturday while announcing the suspension of negotiations, adding that those issues were "never on the table" for Canada.

Carney doubled down Monday while in Quebec, arguing that French-language protections viewed by the U.S. as trade irritants were fundamental rights in Canada. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, however, disputed Carney's characterization, calling the French-language dispute a "funny, fake story" and saying the U.S. objection instead centered on requirements affecting American streaming companies.

Ontario is Canada's most populous province and a key hub in the tightly integrated U.S.-Canadian auto industry. The Great Lake is shared by Ontario and New York, making Trump's proposed name change another provocative shot at America's northern neighbor as the economic standoff deepens.

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The president has previously used geographic names to make a political point, ordering the change of Gulf of Mexico to be called Gulf of America.

Vice President JD Vance traveled to Maine on Monday and delivered a lengthy defense of the administration's hard-line approach toward Canada, accusing Ottawa of treating Chinese goods more favorably than products coming from its American neighbor.

"They treat Chinese goods more fairly than they do the goods that come from the people of Maine: It’s insanity," Vance said during a question-and-answer session Monday in Brewer. "And what we’ve said to Canada is stop it."

Vance said the two countries had appeared close to an agreement before negotiations fell apart, blaming Canadian officials for bringing what he described as unreasonable demands to the table at the last minute.

Trump separately announced Monday that 50% tariffs on Canadian automobiles, auto parts, trucks and steel would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, accusing Canada of years of unfair treatment of American producers.

"Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years," Trump wrote Monday.

Despite the sharpening rhetoric, Vance left open the possibility Monday that Washington and Ottawa could eventually return to the negotiating table.

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"I think that we should have a deal," Vance said. "We expect fairness in our trade policy."

Callaway admits it approved controversial Good Good woman-shoving ad in late-night statement

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:42:15 -0400

Callaway Golf has issued a second statement regarding the controversial advertisement with Good Good, this time admitting that it greenlit the since-deleted video showing a man shoving a woman to the ground.

Good Good, the popular YouTube golf channel that boasts more than 2 million subscribers, teamed up with Callaway for a special edition driver. In the advertisement promoting the golf club, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark shoved member Alexis Miestowski to the turf.

The beginning of the advertisement focuses on Miestowski reaching for the driver in a golf bag. Seeing this, Clark sprints at her, shoves her to the ground with his forearms, and stands over her before saying, "Do not touch my new driver."

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After deleting the video from its social channels, Good Good apologized in a statement, explaining that the ad "ultimately depicted actions that are not aligned with our values as a brand." Following Good Good's apology, Callaway shared a statement of its own explaining, "We are disappointed by the content that was posted, and are appreciative of Good Good for addressing this. We look forward to working together to ensure a more inclusive space in golf."

As questions continued to be asked about how the advertisement made it past production and was ultimately published online, Callaway CEO Chip Brewer released a statement just after 1 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning, owning up to the fact that the company approved the video before posting.

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"Last week, Good Good Golf and Callaway posted a video to promote a co-branded driver. While the video was produced by Good Good, it was approved by Callaway prior to posting. That approval should never have happened. Mistakes were made, and we are taking the matter very seriously," the statement began.

"As we deal with the consequences of our mistake and complete our investigations, I want to make it clear that we sincerely apologize for the video. The content was inappropriate and does not reflect our values. To be clear: We are unequivocally against discrimination, domestic violence, or threatening behavior of any kind.

"As soon as we recognized the seriousness of the issue, it was escalated appropriately, and the video was immediately removed. Preliminary statements were issued by both Good Good and Callaway, and now this statement has followed. We are also conducting both internal and external investigations and have already made changes to our approval processes aimed at ensuring this will never happen again.

"We believe we have been a positive force for diversity and inclusion in the game of golf. This video was completely inconsistent with that. I assure you that we will learn from this and do better."

OutKick has reached out to Good Good for further comment and will update this story if there is a response.

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The PGA Tour commented on the advertisement amid the backlash that Good Good received online.

"The PGA Tour believes in golf’s ability to bring people together and create a welcoming environment for all," the statement said. "We do not condone violence in any form, and the since-deleted video does not reflect our values or commitment to inclusivity and respect."

The PGA Tour stepping into the situation is noteworthy, with Good Good sponsoring the Tour's inaugural Good Good Championship this November in Austin, Texas.

Fun fact: An exoplanet 1,300 light-years away has clouds made of quartz crystals

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:25:51 -0400

Scroll through the slideshow and be amazed

Could Iran’s regime collapse? Experts assess Bessent’s bid to sever financial lifelines

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:09:47 -0400

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s Monday announcement that America will impose the economic equivalent of the military campaign that defeated Nazi Germany on the Islamic Republic of Iran could set off a series of events leading to the dissolution of the nearly 47-year-old dictatorship in Tehran, according to Iran experts.

Bessent’s declaration of economic warfare follows President Donald Trump’s commitment last week to launch an "economic D-Day" against the Tehran regime. The comprehensive U.S. economic pressure point campaign targeting Iran’s already troubled economy could have dramatic effects on the restive population in the country of over 90 million people.

"In the Second World War, D-Day marked the historic beginning of a campaign with our allies to target and drive the enemy from its positions, including those in third countries. Today, in that same spirit, we are launching an economic onslaught against Iran's financial connections around the globe," said Bessent. He added, "Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone. Iran's fanatics devote themselves to death to America and seek nuclear weapons to do just that. They have murdered and maimed more of our citizens and service members than any other terrorist regime on Earth."

TRUMP THREATENS 'UNPRECEDENTED' ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY NATION AIDING IRAN

Just hours before Bessent spoke, Iran’s currency, the rial, plunged to an all-time low. The rial fell to 2.02 million to the U.S. dollar. Iranians are struggling to afford basic goods.

Jonathan Harounoff, an Iran expert and British author of Persian heritage, told Fox News Digital that "Ultimately, this pressure campaign will likely continue to cripple the regime and set the stage for perhaps yet another domestic uprising. The precise timing of such a revolt is impossible to predict."

Harounoff, who has written extensively on upheavals in Iran against the clerical leadership, added, "What isn't impossible to predict is that the regime is governing brutishly over a repressed population that has endured sustained economic and social immiseration. It's only a matter of time before more protests break out, and the real question is whether international organizations like the U.N. and Western governments will choose to stand by — or tangibly support the Iranian people and actively sever any cooperation they maintain with the regime."

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He warned that, "Too often, outsiders speak of regime change as if it were a passive exercise. Certainly, only the people of Iran can bring about organic, homegrown, transformational change — and they have 47 years of turmoil and repression driving them toward it. But there are real ways to support the Iranian people (Starlink, supporting think tanks and foundations, raising awareness of the plight of Iranians, etc.) and help them achieve what has, until now, been a quixotic dream."

Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital, "The question is often asked: what makes this iteration of the maximum pressure campaign different from all other iterations? The answer is this iteration is taking place against a backdrop where there is a synchronization of economic and military pressure against the Iranian regime — a combination which has never been deployed by a U.S. administration until now. The U.S. naval blockade currently in place against Tehran is unprecedented. The Iranian regime's industrial base — for example, steel plants — has also been damaged following kinetic strikes. The Iranian regime’s military capacity has likewise been degraded."

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He noted, "So Operation Economic Outcast is being launched at a time of true weakness in terms of its national power. The regime's risk tolerance may be increasing, but so is its desperation. The drivers pushing the Iranian people into the streets to protest have only gotten worse since January — with political, economic and social forces all deteriorating. The regime is seeking to use the tussle over the Strait of Hormuz as a distraction from all of this."

Alireza Nader, an independent Iran expert, however, expressed skepticism that the tightening of the economic screws could provoke a mass revolt. "I don’t think starving the civilian population in Iran will lead to an American victory. The regime has demonstrated an extreme brutality toward the population, having massacred thousands of unarmed protestors this past January. And Iranians are less likely to rise up when the promised help to them from Trump and Netanyahu never materialized."

Nader said, "The Woman, Life, Freedom movement against the regime prior to the war had the best chance of overthrowing the regime. This war has disrupted the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom."

Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Israel, told Fox News Digital that "there are some protests inside Iran for pensioners and those who did not get their salaries."

He said the January protests began with "economic problems." President Trump has said that the Iranian regime murdered 52,000 Iranian demonstrators during the Jan. 8 and 9 mass protests against the regime.

Sabti, who was born in Tehran and has deep sourcing in Iran, said Trump’s economic offensive campaign against Iran could "bring out the people again." He said there were some "rumors" that lower-rank army soldiers did not receive their salaries.

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The U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent seized on the point that the regime will have payroll problems today. He said, "To the ordinary soldiers supporting this regime, as more and more of your paychecks stop or are supposedly just delayed, ask whether your commanders are leading your country to triumph or to ruin, and recall that the Berlin Wall fell when ordinary soldiers decided not to shoot at their own people."

New evidence in Lockerbie Pan Am Flight 103 bombing case pushes federal judge to postpone trial

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:02:17 -0400

The criminal trial of a former Libyan intelligence official charged in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 was postponed by a federal judge Monday after defense attorneys said they received new evidence over the weekend from prosecutors.

Jury selection was set to begin Wednesday in Washington, D.C., in the trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi. It would have been the first U.S. trial stemming from the bombing that killed 270 people, most of them Americans.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich did not specify the nature of the novel evidence in his order.

Al-Marimi’s defense team said prosecutors handed them the evidence on Saturday, adding in their request to the judge that their "constitutional and ethical obligations require the defense to investigate this development."

LONG-LOST PAN AM CRASH WRECKAGE FOUND DECADES AFTER DEADLY DISASTER THAT RESHAPED AIRLINE SAFETY

The judge granted Al-Marimi’s lawyers the delay and scheduled a status hearing on Sept. 1.

Al-Marimi is charged with making the bomb that downed the Pan Am flight, killing all 259 passengers and crew members. The plane came down over the small town of Lockerbie, Scotland, where it destroyed an entire city block and killed 11 people on the ground.

Citizens of 21 countries were among the victims, including 190 Americans and 43 people from the United Kingdom. Among those aboard were 35 Syracuse University students returning home from a semester abroad.

The bomb exploded less than 40 minutes into the flight, which had departed from London Heathrow Airport and was headed to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

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Kara Weipz, board president of the nonprofit Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, told The Associated Press that her organization has not received any details about what caused the delay in Al-Marimi’s trial.

Weipz’s brother, Richard Monetti, was one of the Syracuse students who died on the flight.

Weipz said the families of the victims had already been packing to head to Washington for the trial.

"At the same time, for almost 38 years we've been seeking the truth of what happened," Weipz said. "If that's what this is, then that's a good thing, and this delay is worth it... It's important to hear all the facts."

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Prosecutors say Al-Marimi carried out the bombing at the behest of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, who was ousted from power in 2011 and violently killed by rebels.

In 2000, two other Libyan agents were tried by a panel of Scottish judges on a U.S. military base in the Netherlands. One was convicted, while the other was acquitted.

For decades, the true identity of the bombmaker has been a mystery.

Al-Marimi, now in his mid-70s, faces two counts of destruction of an aircraft resulting in death. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

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Prosecutors say Al-Marimi worked for Libya’s intelligence service from roughly 1973 until 2011, eventually attaining the rank of colonel.

Investigators allege he brought a suitcase containing a bomb to an airport in Malta and handed it off to co-conspirators for a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. The suitcase was then transferred to London, where it was loaded onto Flight 103.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mysterious 3,000-year-old hoard with violently smashed sword emerges during construction project

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:00:14 -0400

Archaeologists in Central Europe recently came across an unusual hoard of Bronze Age tools — including a sword that had been deliberately smashed with a powerful blow.

The discovery was announced by Archaeological Center Olomouc (ACO), a research institution in the Czech Republic, on August 12. The hoard was found in a heavily flooded area at the end of May.

The cache, discovered near Kojetín in central Moravia during archaeological work connected to a railway project, contained an assortment of worn and broken bronze objects.

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The artifacts included eight deformed sickles, one intact sickle, part of a sword blade, ornament fragments, three ingots and two unfinished objects.

"Use-wear analysis has shown that most of the bronze objects had been used before their deposition and that some were deliberately damaged," ACO officials said in a statement.

Pictures show the mud-covered Bronze Age artifacts shortly after their discovery.

The sword bore particularly dramatic signs of damage, with archaeologists concluding that it had been struck apart with a single powerful blow.

"[It was] probably delivered with a chisel or an axe, while several of the sickles were intentionally deformed," the ACO release read.

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Lead archaeologist Vít Záhorák told officials the team's decision to use metal detection was crucial to finding the objects.

"We knew our work was continuing in an area occupied by an extensive prehistoric settlement, so we also used metal-detecting survey during the archaeological monitoring," said Záhorák.

"It was this method that led to the discovery of the bronze hoard," he added.

While it may seem plausible that the tools were concealed as a temporary hiding place, officials say the evidence points to a more ceremonial purpose.

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"The current interpretation instead suggests that the objects were deliberately deposited in a former wetland and that their deposition may have formed part of a ritual practice," the statement said.

Officials noted that the Kojetín discovery has parallels with other Bronze Age sites.

"Deposits of bronze objects in watery or waterlogged settings are also known from other Bronze Age sites," the statement read.

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"In some of these cases, archaeologists have considered a possible connection with ritual practices. Further specialist analyses will help determine whether the Kojetín hoard had a comparable significance."

The artifacts are currently undergoing conservation and analysis by specialists.

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The Bronze Age hoard is far from the only archaeological discovery to emerge in the Czech Republic in recent years.

Last year, officials announced the discovery of multiple military graves during highway construction, including one dating back to the 1745 Battle of Žďár during the Second Silesian War.

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This spring, ACO officials reported finding over 1,000 ancient artifacts spanning during excavations along a future high-speed railway route.

Charles Barkley declares WNBA is 'for women only' after ongoing transgender athlete debate

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:50:09 -0400

NBA Hall of Famer and sports commentator Charles Barkley declared Monday that the WNBA is "for women only. Period."

During an interview on CNN host Michael Smerconish's podcast, Barkley commented on former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom being removed from a WNBA game Sunday night after being confronted by Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Critics have accused Freedom of deliberately stirring up controversy by wearing a T-shirt that read "WOMAN noun. adult human female."

Barkley responded that while he respects the transgender community, he believes "under no circumstances" should biological men play against biological women and criticized NBA and WNBA leadership for failing to address that.

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"I'm disappointed in [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver and Cathy [Engelbert] the [WNBA] commissioner," Barkley said. "First of all, you can't let stupid stuff go out to the internet, which is one of the worst things that ever happened to the world. They should have come out two weeks ago before all this. People are looking for attention now...but [Freedom] has a point though, because Cathy and Adam haven't said, 'Hey, it's in the title, WNBA."

Barkley urged the commissioners to come out and draw a line in the sand, saying, "'There's no transgender people going to play in the WNBA. If you don't like it, kick rocks. And we're not going to discuss it anymore.'"

"And Enes is trying to get attention," Barkley continued. "'No, we're not doing that either. The WNBA is for women. And listen, this is the last time we're going to discuss it. We're not going to turn it over to the fools on the internet. We're not going to turn it over to Congress and things like that. The WNBA is for women only. Period.'"

Barkley added that between stories like Freedom's removal from a game and the backlash against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham opposing biological males in female sports, the WNBA is gaining a bad reputation.

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"When's the last time you heard something positive about the WNBA? I can't even remember. And I'm a WNBA fan," Barkley said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the NBA and WNBA for comment.

Jennifer Sey, founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, praised Barkley's comments for speaking "the truth" out loud to his audience.

"Elite athletes have always known the truth about sex and sports. Charles Barkley is just bold enough to say it out loud," Sey said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Independent Women ambassador Peyton McNabb agreed with Sey, telling Fox News Digital, "It really is that easy to say. If the WNBA wants this conversation to go away as badly as they claim, then stop dancing around it and stand up for women. Say the league is for women, period. What are they so afraid of? They continue to create this controversy for themselves by refusing to say something that should be so simple. Charles Barkley had no problem saying it - why does the WNBA?"

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Director of Independent Women's Law Center May Mailman, however, expressed doubts that Barkley's comments would sway public responses to protecting women's sports.

"Men should not play in women’s sports, and everyone knows what that means. The real question is whether Barkley speaking up will give others confidence to do so. And unfortunately, it’s hard to see that, because Sophie, after many years, got the confidence to do so, and she’s nearly had her head taken off at games and has fans showing up to protest her," Mailman said.

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The WNBA came under controversy after both Freedom and former NBA player Royce White declared their intentions to join the WNBA in response to the players and coaches supporting transgender players.

Though the sports league's rules state that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," the WNBA rules do not define what a "woman" is.

DiJonai Carrington's '8/23' post ages like milk after Fever-Sky game, flies under the radar

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:48:12 -0400

Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington flew under the radar on Sunday as the hullabaloo between Enes Kanter Freedom and Natasha Cloud dominated the headlines following the Sky’s loss to the Indiana Fever.

Carrington seemed to be extra excited about playing the Fever again after getting into a skirmish with Sophie Cunningham in their previous game. Carrington’s hack on Cunningham led to a Flagrant 2 and a subsequent ejection back on Aug. 8. She then posted "8/23" on her X account and claimed "white privilege" on a separate post on Threads.

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So, when Aug. 23 came around, everyone was expecting some kind of fireworks. Instead, Carrington and the Sky’s performance against the Fever was a dud.

Carrington had seven points on 3-of-11 from the field with an assist and a block in 18 minutes. She was minus-5 off the bench. In the four minutes she played in the previous Fever-Sky matchup, Carrington had eight points, a rebound and was plus-6 on the court.

WNBA watchers took note of Carrington’s "8/23" post and pointed out it came to fruition in a different way.

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Caitlin Clark made eight 3-pointers and the Sky lost by 23 points, 113-90.

Clark was on fire, making 13 of her 24 attempts. She was 8-of-12 from beyond the arc and finished with 37 points. Kelsey Mitchell added 30 points as she was 10-of-19 from the field and 6-of-9 from deep.

Indiana has clinched a spot in the WNBA playoffs with a 25-14 record. The Fever sit in fifth place – a half-game behind the Atlanta Dream, two games behind the Golden State Valkyries for second place and six games behind the Minnesota Lynx for first place.

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Chicago has been eliminated from playoff contention with a record of 15-23. The Portland Fire and Dallas Wings are battling it out for the eighth and final spot.

AI may answer some New Orleans 911 calls

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:42:47 -0400

Calling 911 is one of those moments when you expect a human voice on the other end. In New Orleans, though, an artificial intelligence system may answer in a limited situation involving certain calls about already reported auto crashes.

The Orleans Parish Communication District handles 911 emergency communications in Orleans Parish. OPCD says the AI helps manage repeat crash reports while keeping human call-takers available for other emergencies.

Hearing an automated voice after dialing 911 could make anyone pause. So, here is what the system actually does, when it steps in and where humans remain in control.

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SMART STREET SENSORS COULD BE WATCHING YOUR CITY NEXT

How New Orleans 911 AI works

OPCD began working with emergency communications company Carbyne on AI-assisted call triage before launching the system in 2023. Carbyne calls the technology AI-V Emergency Call Triage. The company designed it to help emergency communication centers deal with sudden floods of calls about the same event.

A car crash can create that problem quickly. OPCD says one accident can generate numerous calls from nearby drivers. During busy periods, those repeat reports can pile up while call-takers handle other emergencies. The AI gives OPCD another way to manage some of those repeat calls.

The system checks whether an incoming call comes from within 200 meters, or about 650 feet, of a crash that 911 already knows about. It can step in only when every human call-taker is occupied. OPCD says it has not deployed the system this way for any other category of 911 call.

What happens when the AI answers

The conversation starts simply. OPCD says the AI identifies the call as New Orleans 911. It then asks whether you are calling about an accident at a specific location. Your response determines what happens next.

Answer anything other than yes, and the system returns your call to the 911 queue for a human call-taker. OPCD says this safeguard works regardless of the language you use. Confirm that you are calling about the known crash, and the AI tells you that 911 already knows about it.

Someone involved in the accident or a caller with more information can stay on the line for a human. Otherwise, the system tells the caller that they may hang up. OPCD says the AI itself cannot end the call. The caller decides when to hang up.

What the AI cannot do

The limits of the system become especially important when you are talking about 911. OPCD says the AI cannot dispatch emergency responders. It also cannot determine how urgently a call should be handled.

Its role focuses on identifying this specific type of repeat crash call and determining whether the caller needs to remain in the human queue.

OPCD also says the technology isn’t a large language model like ChatGPT. The system performs a much narrower task within the emergency communications network. Comparing it directly with a general-purpose AI chatbot can therefore create the wrong impression of what it actually does.

What happens when the system does not understand you?

This was one of my first questions about the technology. OPCD says the system sends a call back to the queue or a human operator when it cannot understand the caller.

It also defaults to a human when a call falls outside the limited crash scenario it was designed to handle. The system supports multiple languages. OPCD also trained it using local 911 recordings to better understand New Orleans accents and local street names. That local training can help in a city where a street name could challenge an unfamiliar voice system.

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What happens if you hang up while waiting?

There is another safeguard worth knowing about. OPCD says the AI system keeps the 911 center's normal callback procedures in place.

Once your call enters the queue for a human, hanging up does not erase it. The call center can contact you after staff work through the queue. Still, OPCD advises callers to stay on the line whenever possible. A call waiting in the queue will eventually reach a call-taker.

Calls still get recorded

An AI interaction does not disappear from the system. OPCD says it logs these calls with the normal metadata and audio recording. Those records remain available when investigators need them.

The agency also says calls handled through the system do not get uploaded to an outside large language model. That addresses an obvious privacy question whenever AI becomes part of an emergency communications system.

Has the New Orleans 911 AI made mistakes?

OPCD says it tested the technology for several months before putting it into live use. The agency says its team reviewed 100% of the calls handled by the system during its first three months. During that review period, OPCD says it found no false positives or false negatives.

In practical terms, the system handled the calls OPCD expected it to handle without taking over calls outside its intended use. That result is encouraging, although it covers a defined review period rather than every call handled since the system launched. OPCD says its compliance team continues to audit the technology closely.

Has the system helped?

Carbyne has published performance figures from its work with OPCD. Because Carbyne provides the technology, these numbers are vendor-reported rather than findings from an independent study. In a Carbyne case study, the company says its AI-V Emergency Call Triage system triaged more than 3,500 events during a 90-day period.

Carbyne reports that redundant calls among those triaged calls dropped by more than 30%. The company also says distressed callers got their calls answered up to 40 seconds faster on average. Those numbers suggest the approach has potential. Still, I would like to see OPCD continue releasing its own performance data over time.

Is AI replacing New Orleans 911 call-takers?

OPCD says no. The agency has struggled to fill all of its available call-taker positions. Staffing shortages also remain a broader problem across the 911 industry. OPCD says it views AI as a tool to support its human call-takers rather than replace them.

For New Orleans, the goal is to reduce repeat crash reports during call surges so human call-takers can reach other people waiting for help. The agency says it has not expanded AI triage to other categories of 911 calls.

Could New Orleans expand its 911 AI later?

OPCD is studying what else the technology might eventually do. However, those experiments are taking place in a testing environment rather than on the live 911 system.

The agency says it has explored whether AI could help with other types of call clusters. It has not put those uses into operation. OPCD also says it will not expand the AI triage tool to additional 911 categories unless the agency can ensure the technology works properly. For now, its live use remains focused on the specific auto-crash scenario.

What this means to you

New Orleans may be the test case here, but this story reaches far beyond one city. AI is starting to move into public services that people rely on during emergencies. That means your community could eventually face the same questions. When should AI step in? What should it be allowed to handle? How quickly can you reach a human when something goes wrong?

For now, New Orleans keeps the system on a very short leash. It handles only certain repeat calls about known crashes, and human call-takers remain available for anything outside that narrow use. The bigger question is what happens next.

As more emergency centers look for ways to handle staffing shortages and call surges, AI could become part of the conversation where you live. If that happens, you should know exactly what the system can do, what it cannot do and how easily you can reach a person. That is what I would be watching most closely.

LAGUARDIA AIRPORT AI HOLOGRAM ANSWERS TRAVELER QUESTIONS

Kurt's key takeaways

Hearing AI on a 911 call would make a lot of people uneasy. I understand why. In an emergency, you want help fast and a clear way to reach a person. New Orleans has given its AI a narrow job. It can help filter repeat reports of an accident that 911 already knows about while human call-takers are busy. I can see the benefit. One crash may generate many calls while someone elsewhere needs help with a completely different emergency. Still, 911 deserves an extremely high standard. OPCD says its early audit found no false positives or negatives, and the agency continues to monitor the system. I want that scrutiny to continue. Any move beyond this limited use should come with clear safeguards and solid performance data.

Would you feel comfortable hearing an AI system after dialing 911 when it could help human call-takers reach other emergencies faster, or would you always want a person to answer first? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Abdul El-Sayed battles Jesse Watters over billionaires, Sharia law in tense interview and more top headlines

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:28:34 -0400

Good morning and welcome to Fox News’ morning newsletter, Fox News First. And here's what you need to know to start your day ...

TOP 3

1. Abdul El-Sayed battles Jesse Watters over billionaires, Sharia law in tense interview

2. Smithsonian-linked museum in El-Sayed’s backyard puts America’s post-9/11 response on trial

3. Dem mayor in hot seat over 'unhinged' move 'hunting down' property owners leasing to ICE

MAJOR HEADLINES

OUT OF BOUNDS – Enes Kanter Freedom exposes Natasha Cloud's profane tirade after WNBA ejection. Continue reading …

PENALTY ON THE PLAY – 49ers owner busted in $140 prostitution sting near Ohio trailer park. Continue reading …

TARIFF TENSIONS – Canada gears up for payback after Trump slaps goods with 50% tariffs. Continue reading …

NO SURRENDER – Expert says Putin ‘panicked’ as Ukraine’s deep strikes push war further into Russia. Continue reading …

BAD MEDICINE – Doctor accused of shooting two young sisters in violent road rage clash. Continue reading …

POLITICS

'BAD LOOK' – Newsom's attack dog taunts Buttigieg over South Carolina visit as 2028 fight heats up. Continue reading …

SEEN THIS BEFORE – Surging Dem with DSA ties is 'either a bona-fide socialist, or she's not very smart': GOP rep. Continue reading …

BALLOT BOX FACE-OFF – Trump endorsements face key test in Oklahoma, South Carolina GOP runoff elections. Continue reading …

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MEDIA

TOXIC INFLUENCE – Democrat rips Hasan Piker as 'hack who thrives on hate' over his warning to American Jews about Israel. Continue reading …

TURNING THE PAGE – Washington Post ordered to reinstate columnist axed after Charlie Kirk's death. Continue reading …

LONG OVERDUE – 'National Treasure' director predicts upcoming third film won't be able to 'ignore' politics. Continue reading …

DIVIDED DEVOTION – Trump inauguration pastor warns Christians in Dearborn are 'afraid to talk about Christ'. Continue reading …

OPINION

LIZ PEEK – China is cheering as the left blocks America’s AI infrastructure. Continue reading …

BRUCE PEARL – Conservatives are attacking the very college sports bill that protects women. Continue reading …

IN OTHER NEWS

FAMILY FRACTURE – Prince William ‘blindsided’ by Harry, Meghan return as Kate fears new turmoil from royal feud: experts. Continue reading …

SOBER CURIOUS – GLP-1 boom could reshape restaurant bars as diners cut back on alcohol. Continue reading …

SKY-HIGH RIVALRY – Sydney Sweeney tells Tom Cruise to 'watch out' after strapping herself to top of airplane. Continue reading …

AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on presidential portrayals and summer sips. Take the quiz here …

LISTEN

Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST for today's in-depth reporting on the news that impacts you. Check it out.

PODCASTS

'Ruthless' dives into socialist hypocrisy and midterm landscape. Check it out ...

Don't miss 'The Riley Gaines Show.' Catch the new episode at 10am ET ...

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton join ‘Hang Out with Hannity.' See the new episode at 10am ET ...

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Nike x NFL Rivalries uniforms return for 2026 season with 8 new teams, including Lions and Texans

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:02:57 -0400

With a new NFL season around the corner, the league and Nike are building off the success of last year’s "Nike x NFL Rivalries" program, a first-of-its-kind uniform and apparel collection manufactured and sold by Fanatics, which was designed to deepen the connection fans and communities have with their football teams.

For the 2026 campaign, eight new teams continue the Nike x NFL Rivalries program through distinct uniform designs created for each participating team.

The teams include teams from the AFC South – the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis Colts – and NFC North – the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.

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"Revealing eight new Rivalries uniforms marks the next chapter in a program that is beloved by fans across the NFL and Nike," Taryn Hutt, vice president of club marketing for the NFL, said in a statement. "By spotlighting the launch of the AFC South and NFC North Clubs and the passionate communities behind them, we continue to capture the spirit and tradition of football’s greatest divisional rivalries."

This program became Fanatics’ best-selling merchandise release to date, which demonstrated just how strong the fan demand was, while establishing momentum for the program’s sequel in 2026.

The teams will be debuting these Rivalries uniforms during an upcoming home game against their division rival, starting with the Colts in Week 3 against the Texans.

JOSH ALLEN DELIVERS FULL-THROATED UNSOLICITED DEFENSE OF BUFFALO BILLS' HIDEOUS NEW UNIFORMS

Here is the full schedule for the teams this season, while a full description has been added as to how the uniforms came together:

Colts: Week 3 vs Texans, Sept. 27, 1 p.m. ET

"Amps up the classic Colts look with enhanced stripes, high-shine finishes and dark, intense tones designed to evoke power and speed. Horseshoe, iron work and anvil-inspired details keep the look rooted in Colts tradition."

Packers: Week 5 vs Bears, Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET

"Celebrates the Packers’ unique fan ownership and community connection, with stock certificate-inspired details woven into the numbers and sleeves. Vintage green and alabaster tons give the historic concept a fresh, elevated look.

Lions: Week 8 vs Vikings, Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET

"Takes a futuristic approach to Lions identity, pairing Honolulu blue with carbon-fiber-inspired numbers that nod to the city’s automotive and racing heritage. Lion-eye shoulder details reinforce the team’s ‘Defend the Den’ mentality."

Jaguars: Week 8 vs Colts, Nov. 1, 1 p.m. ET

"Blends Florida coastal culture with the city’s urban swagger, featuring a custom Jaguars script, jaguar-print details, chrome accents and dimensional numbers. The design celebrates DUUUVAL from the shoreline to the streets."

Titans: Week 10 vs Jaguars, Nov. 15, 1 p.m. ET

"Blends the Titans’ Two Tone Blue heritage with Nashville’s music culture, featuring a navy base, Titans Blue accents, neon-inspired numbers and guitar/amplifier-inspired striping."

Texans: Week 11 vs Colts, Nov. 19, 8:15 p.m. ET

"The all-white ‘iced out’ uniform celebrates H-Town culture through metallic and chrome finishes inspired by the city’s custom car scene. ‘Be Someone’ bridge-inspired numbers, street-tile patterns and street-name details bring Houston’s identity into the design."

Vikings: Week 15 vs Lions, Dec. 20, 8:20 p.m. ET

"Draws on Viking history and the spirit of the North, pairing deep purple and ivory with carved numbers and Viking Knot-inspired details. References to the Gjallarhorn, longship and classic helmet create a look that feels both ancestral and modern."

Bears: Week 16 vs Packers, Dec. 25, 1 p.m. ET

"Gives Bears heritage a modern update, using a midnight palette, burnt orange accents and striping inspired by classic team design and the Chicago flag. Bold orange pants and heritage details nod to George Halas and the return of the ‘Monsters of the Midway.’"

The Rivalries uniforms will be included in the team’s lineup for three years in addition to their existing alternate uniforms. And additional teams will debut their own Rivalries uniforms during the 2027 and 2028 seasons, while the eight teams from 2025 will also wear their uniforms at some point this season in a select game against a division rival.

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Finally, this year’s launch features visual campaigns showcasing the new uniforms in communities where each rivalry lives. The campaigns include current players like the Lions’ Jameson Williams, Texans’ Nico Collins and Packers’ Jordan Love , while homegrown talent in those cities like rappers Big Sean, Slim Thug and Bun B, as well as country singers Gowa Gibbs and Thomas Edwards, are featured.

With each jersey date set, fans can get ahold of these new threads starting Sept. 1.

Sarah Spain says WNBA players need ‘real media,’ but that sounds more like league-approved PR

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:01:20 -0400

Sarah Spain thinks the WNBA should steer its players toward what she calls "real media."

That’s a PR job. Not a journalism job.

MEGAN RAPINOE CALLS ON TRADITIONAL WNBA MEDIA TO BE REPLACED WITH THOSE WHO ‘UNDERSTAND QUEER CULTURE’

On a recent episode of her podcast, Spain said she wants the league to keep setting up relationships with "the real media" that covers the WNBA "in a fair way."

Her definition of fair is pretty clear. Players trust the outlet, the outlet helps build their brands and the WNBA helps make the relationship happen.

She’s laying out a league-approved list of "reporters" players are supposed to trust.

The people who don’t make it? Spain threw them in with "a rando" on the internet spreading "bulls---."

And, by the way, Spain’s already inside the system she wants the league to grow. Spain's podcast has recently featured Connecticut Sun assistant coach Roneeka Hodges, Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, Seattle Storm players Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam, WNBA legends Cheryl Swoopes and Ticha Penicheiro, and former WNBA president Donna Orender.

Spain has the access and she calls that fair coverage. Then she says the WNBA should help its players find more outlets like hers.

That's convenient, huh?

The WNBA has publicists, marketers, agents, sponsors and social media teams to build brands. It doesn't need to turn reporters into another arm of that operation.

The credential emails show what 'fair' can mean

Spain’s preferred media setup is already taking shape in the WNBA.

I know because the teams have put it in writing.

The Atlanta Dream denied an OutKick credential request for its Aug. 5 game against the Phoenix Mercury. In follow-up answers, the Dream said it had denied 14 applications, given priority to season credential holders and outlets that consistently cover the team, and considered "the tone of coverage."

Tone of coverage.

That has nothing to do with whether a reporter got facts wrong. It has everything to do with whether the team likes the way it is being covered.

WOMEN’S SPORTS MEDIA OUTLET BACKS TRANS ATHLETES, THEN AVOIDS QUESTIONS FROM REPORTER WHO DISAGREES

The other credential denials use different words, but the same record keeps pointing in one direction.

The Dallas Wings said priority went to outlets that regularly cover the Wings and WNBA. The Connecticut Sun cited "reputable media/wire services" and outlets with a record of covering the organization. The Las Vegas Aces said it would prioritize local outlets and organizations that regularly provide editorial coverage of the Aces and WNBA.

The Chicago Sky asked a Fox News reporter about his planned coverage, denied the request and said credentials were for media covering games "for basketball purposes."

Then Atlanta told us it weighs tone.

That’s the one that matters.

The WNBA can call the preferred outlets reputable. Spain can call them real media. But a credential decision based on tone is still a team deciding whether it likes the reporter doing the coverage.

The WNBA knows where to take the story it wants told

And the league just gave us another example.

When it wanted the public to know Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White were ineligible for the 2027 draft, the WNBA didn’t answer OutKick’s questions about the rule it used. Instead, unnamed league sources told Front Office Sports the men were ineligible and called their declarations "simply publicity stunts."

Front Office Sports printed the conclusion and the league’s framing. But it never told readers whether it asked the WNBA to define "woman," explain its eligibility standard or say how Freedom and White failed it. If it did ask, readers were never told the WNBA refused to answer.

That’s different from the treatment OutKick gets when we report something inconvenient for the league. Then Front Office Sports wants documentation, competing sources and a discussion about our motives.

Spain says the WNBA should steer players toward "real media" outlets they can trust. The league has already made clear which outlets it trusts: the ones that will carry its message without making it answer the question.

LEFT-WING SPORTS HOST SARAH SPAIN LAUNCHES DISGUSTING PERSONAL SMEAR OF SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM

USA Today columnist Christine Brennan asked DiJonai Carrington whether she intentionally poked Caitlin Clark in the eye during the 2024 WNBA playoffs. It was a question that had to be asked after an incident happened on the court, yet the WNBA Players’ Association responded by calling for Brennan to lose her access.

Spain has gone after Brennan, too. Earlier this summer, she called Brennan’s Caitlin Clark coverage a "dereliction of duties as a journalist" and questioned whether Brennan’s book promotion explained her singular focus on Clark.

In Spain’s version of "real media," the reporters who ask the wrong questions don't belong.

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Then Sophie Cunningham said "biological men" shouldn't compete in girls’ and women’s sports. Days later, the WNBA’s biggest players and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert were available all weekend in Chicago for All-Star festivities.

The questions should have been obvious to any reporter interested in doing their job.

Do you agree with Cunningham? Does the WNBA support female-only sports? What is the league’s policy on transgender eligibility?

The reporters with access didn’t ask.

Spain had access, too. She moderated a panel at the WNBA’s All-Star Media & Innovation Summit, hosted a live show, sat courtside at the game and later said she spoke with Paige Bueckers, Fever coach Stephanie White, Stephanie Dolson and Aliyah Boston.

Her All-Star recap had plenty about the parties, cookies, mascots and her baseline seat. It didn't include a single question about Cunningham’s comments, female-only sports or the WNBA’s transgender eligibility rules.

And when Fever coach Stephanie White read a prepared statement accusing unnamed people of hate, fear mongering and divisiveness, WNBA media elevated the rehearsed rant into an "important" moment instead of testing a single one of those claims.

Spain predictably took White’s side, too. She played part of White’s performative outrage speech on her podcast, said she was "adamantly opposed to Sophie Cunningham’s grift" and said White "was warranted in that anger and frustration."

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Spain wants the league steering players toward outlets that will help build their brands and tell them who to trust. Those are the outlets she calls "real media."

The reporters who ask questions the league doesn’t want answered get hit with a credential denial, accused of having the wrong tone or brushed off as "randos."

That isn’t fair coverage.

It’s a loyalty test that punishes the reporters who are actually doing their jobs.

Major brain changes that occur around age 50 could impact dementia risk

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:00:45 -0400

The brain may undergo a notable shift at midlife, as new research suggests that its protective immune cells begin to decline and are increasingly replaced by inflammatory cells at around age 50.

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego; New York Genome Center; and University of California, Irvine, found that these brain changes may help explain why aging increases the chances of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease, including dementia.

The study analyzed postmortem tissue from the hippocampus – the portion of the brain that is responsible for learning and memory – in 40 neurologically healthy adults, ranging from 20 to 95 years of age.

THE 'AGE' OF YOUR BLOOD COULD PREDICT DEMENTIA RISK, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

"The most striking change was that after about age 50, the brain’s resident immune cells, called microglia, appear to be increasingly replaced by immune cells that enter from the bloodstream," first author Nathan Zemke, Ph.D., principal investigator at the UC San Diego Center for Epigenomics, told Fox News Digital.

"Microglia normally protect the brain by clearing debris and responding to injury, but the incoming cells carry stronger inflammatory signals."

The researchers believe this shift may contribute to chronic inflammation linked to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

They also noted the deterioration of cells involved in maintaining the blood-brain barrier – the protective filter that helps keep harmful substances out of the brain – as well as widespread changes in DNA and gene activity.

'LONGEVITY GENE' MAY PROTECT THE BRAIN FROM ALZHEIMER'S BY BOOSTING DNA REPAIR, STUDY FINDS

One of the most exciting implications of the study, according to Zemke, is that the replacement immune cells originate in the blood, which means they are more accessible than cells already deep inside the brain.

"It may eventually be possible to modify blood-derived immune cells so that they are more protective and less inflammatory when in the brain," he said. "That could provide an entirely new way to approach Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases without having to directly manipulate cells within the central nervous system."

Although these findings are still in early stages, Zemke said, gaining a better understanding of why this immune-cell replacement happens – and why it happens earlier in some people than others – could lead to new strategies for preserving brain health during aging.

The study’s chief limitation is that it studied human brain tissue collected postmortem from different individuals across the adult lifespan, the researchers noted.

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"That allows us to identify strong age-related patterns, but it cannot directly show how the same person’s brain changes over decades or prove that a particular cellular change causes cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease," Zemke said.

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"We also do not yet know what triggers the influx of blood-derived immune cells into the brain. Determining whether changes in the blood-brain barrier, inflammation, genetics, lifestyle or other factors initiate this process will be an important next step."

The researcher emphasized, however, that he would not recommend that people make any specific medical or lifestyle changes based on this study alone.

"These findings are primarily about understanding the biology of brain aging and identifying new directions for prevention and treatment," he said.

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The timing and extent of the brain changes varied considerably between individuals, suggesting that brain aging is not necessarily a fixed process that happens identically in everyone.

"The next challenge is to understand what drives that variation and whether some of those factors can be modified," Zemke added.

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The study also included a small sample of just 40 people and examined tissue only from the hippocampus, meaning the findings may not reflect immune changes throughout the entire brain.

The study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, was published in the journal Science.

Atlanta Beltline trail stabbing suspect charged with murder had 30 prior arrests and was on probation: police

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:00:11 -0400

The man charged in Sunday’s fatal stabbing near the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail had 30 prior arrests and was on active probation for an aggravated-assault case, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

Johnathan Hamby, 54, was booked Monday on charges of murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony in the death of 29-year-old Ramon Harris near a Kroger grocery store at Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Atlanta police said officers responded at about 4:01 p.m. to a report of a stabbing, found Harris with an apparent stab wound and detained a suspect at the scene. Harris was taken to a hospital, where he died.

SCENIC SOUTHERN CITIES TARNISHED BY HOMELESS CRIME SCOURGE MUST HOLD ‘FEET TO THE FIRE,’ GOP LAWMAKER WARNS

Authorities said that the stabbing began when Hamby was allegedly arguing with Harris and another man before threatening to stab them. The incident happened near Atlanta's famed Beltline, a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails and public parks around the city.

"We believe this was an attack that was carried out as a result of an argument that was verbal in nature and quickly escalated," Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said in a news conference Monday.

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An arrest warrant, obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, alleges Hamby then stabbed Harris in the neck. Investigators also recovered two knives at the scene, the outlet reported.

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Schierbaum said that the department’s records showed Hamby was no stranger to interactions with police and had been arrested 30 times. The chief also noted that Hamby was a felon on active probation for a prior aggravated-assault case in Brookhaven.

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FOX 5 also reported that Hamby had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a knife.

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According to Fox News Digital’s review of Fulton County jail records, Hamby’s previous arrests included allegations of battery, aggravated assault, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, obstruction of law enforcement and criminal trespass.

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Monday that he asked the city's public safety and Beltline teams to review patrols, camera coverage and the emergency response surrounding the attack.

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"After seeing the video of yesterday’s heinous attack on the Atlanta Beltline, my prayers are with the victim, his loved ones and everyone forced to witness such a horrific act of violence. Atlantans and visitors should be able to enjoy the Beltline safely, and I have asked our public safety and Beltline teams to conduct a review of the safety protocols surrounding this incident, including patrols, camera coverage and emergency response," Dickens said.

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The mayor said that Hamby's long history as a felon raises "serious questions about how someone with that record was once again in a position to endanger the public."

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"Those facts demand that we examine the systems surrounding behavioral health, repeat offenders and public safety, and address any failures plainly with the partners responsible for those systems. Atlanta will continue doing everything within our power to keep people safe, but we cannot solve these challenges alone," he said.

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APD said that its information is preliminary and that the homicide investigation is ongoing. An attorney was not listed for Hamby as of Monday evening. Fox News Digital has requested additional information from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

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Sports cartoons of the day

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:08:52 -0400

Smithsonian-linked museum in El-Sayed’s backyard puts America’s post-9/11 response on trial

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:58 -0400

DEARBORN, MI – Nearly 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, a Smithsonian affiliate in Michigan continues to use its 9/11 exhibits and anniversary programming to focus on discrimination and government actions in the attacks' aftermath, while giving less attention to the nearly 3,000 people killed that day, Fox News Digital found.

The Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, Michigan, features an exhibit arguing that Arab Americans "suffered two-fold as a result of the tragic events of September 11th," both from the attacks themselves and from what the museum describes as unfair treatment by the U.S. government afterward. Since its founding, the museum has repeatedly hosted programs examining what it describes as discriminatory consequences of the U.S. response to 9/11.

Fox News Digital visited the museum earlier this month, reviewed its exhibits and gift shop, and examined years of anniversary programming and federal funding records.

The AANM has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and is also an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian has been under intense scrutiny from conservative lawmakers in recent months for allegedly allowing political bias to influence its presentation of history.

TRUMP V. SMITHSONIAN: A TIMELINE OF HOW THE WHITE HOUSE FIGHT OVER 'WOKE' HISTORY UNFOLDED

One placard criticizes the government’s post-9/11 detention of immigrants investigated for possible terrorist links, noting that "virtually none were charged" in connection with terrorism.

"The Arab American community suffered two-fold as a result of the tragic events of September 11th. As with all Americans, they suffered the horror and grief. However, Arab Americans were unfairly held responsible, yet not a single Arab American was found guilty of any connection to September 11th," it reads.

On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger planes, crashing two into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. Passengers and crew fought back aboard United Flight 93, the fourth plane, prompting the hijackers to crash the plane in Pennsylvania. The attacks killed 2,977 people and triggered the largest investigation in FBI history.

The museum placard also argues that Arabs faced harsher immigration enforcement after the attacks, saying some were "deported for minor visa violations or petty offenses which previously would have been overlooked."

HISTORIAN BLASTS SMITHSONIAN'S ACTIVISM SHIFT AFTER FIRST VISIT IN OVER A DECADE: 'COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE'

In the 11 months after the attacks, immigration authorities detained 762 noncitizens on immigration charges in connection with the FBI’s terrorism investigation, including for overstaying visas or entering the country illegally, according to a Justice Department inspector general report. The watchdog found that some detainees with no terrorism ties were treated harshly and held under unnecessarily restrictive conditions.

Public opinion also showed a more complicated picture of the post-9/11 backlash. President George W. Bush publicly urged Americans not to blame Muslims for the attacks, and polling later suggested attitudes toward Muslim Americans actually improved in the immediate aftermath. The share of Americans who viewed Muslim Americans favorably rose from 45% in March 2001 to 59% in November, two months after the attacks, according to the Pew Research Center.

Beyond its permanent exhibit, AANM has repeatedly used programming around the 9/11 anniversary to examine discrimination and law-enforcement policies affecting Arab and Muslim communities.

The museum holds a "solidarity" town hall each year, where criticism of the American reaction to 9/11 is often the focus. The online description of the event does not mention the deaths connected to the attacks themselves, but rather "offers a safe space for communities to reflect and engage in dialogue about the harmful prejudices that Arab and Muslim (and anyone perceived to be Arab or Muslim) individuals face on both an individual and systemic level."

One such town hall in 2018 examined "how communities of color have been targeted through the frame of national security and profiled as violent threats."

A year later, the AANM’s annual town, which received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, criticized how "institutions and communities of color have been infiltrated" by law enforcement as well as how leaders of those groups have been "targeted" following 9/11.

SMITHSONIAN AMERICA 250 EXHIBIT FEATURES 3X MORE LIBERAL ITEMS THAN CONSERVATIVE ONES

The AANM was founded in 2005, partially in response to the increased scrutiny directed at the Arab American community following the attack on the World Trade Center. In addition to receiving well over half a million dollars in funding from the NEH over its lifetime to support its exhibits and educational programming, the museum also benefited from a $385,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development which helped it expand its physical footprint in 2013. It received further HUD funding, over half a million dollars, between 2017 and 2019 as well as at least $50,000 from the State Department between 2016 and 2017, according to annual reports published by the museum.

Dearborn, where about 54.5% of residents are of Middle Eastern or North African descent, is a key political center in Michigan ahead of one of the country’s most competitive Senate races this year. Socialist-aligned Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the Senate, drew strong support from the city earlier this month.

The museum’s focus extends beyond its criticism of the U.S. response to 9/11.

On Sept. 10 — the eve of the 25th anniversary of the attacks — the AANM is scheduled to host a screening of "Seeds for Liberation," a film that portrays Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack as part of a decades-long Palestinian "struggle" and places it within a broader history of "anti-imperialist and decolonial movements."

During Fox News Digital’s visit earlier this month, a section of the museum was dedicated to art criticizing Israel's alleged "occupation" of Palestinian land. One piece of art, the word "wall" presented in a stylized print, accuses the Israeli government of perpetuating a system of "apartheid."

The art installation broadly accuses Israel of targeting civilians in military operations, denying basic necessities to Palestinians and unjustly occupying land.

FORMER DEMOCRATIC STAFFERS, DEI LEADERS SHAPE SMITHSONIAN LEADERSHIP AMID POLITICAL FIRESTORM

One placard accompanying a sculpture states that Israel has killed more than 2,000 Palestinian children since Sept. 29, 2000, citing If Americans Knew (IAK).

The placard’s sourcing is itself controversial. Some pro-Palestinian organizations have distanced themselves from IAK over allegations of antisemitism and ties to White supremacists, allegations the group has disputed. IAK also operates a news site that has published articles rejecting the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Another placard attached to a sculpture pulls a quote from Defense of Children International Palestine (DCIP), which the Israeli government designated as a terrorist organization in 2021. DCIP and human rights groups have disputed the designation.

The museum gift shop also sells Palestinian-themed merchandise, including map-shaped magnets and key chains, coloring books promising to help children "explore Palestinian heritage" and keffiyehs.

IN CHARTS: A VISUAL BREAKDOWN OF THE SMITHSONIAN'S BILLION-DOLLAR TAXPAYER-FUNDED BUDGET

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The AANM, Smithsonian, NEA and NEH did not respond to requests for comment after being reached by Fox News Digital on Friday.

Smithsonian affiliates, like the AANM, are independently operated museums that maintain formal partnerships with the Smithsonian, providing them with access to artifact loans, educational resources and consultations from institutional experts.

In recent months, the Smithsonian has faced mounting pressure from Republican lawmakers and the president over allegations that its museums advance left-of-center ideological causes through their exhibits. Officials have threatened funding cuts against the institution if it does not root out what the Trump administration characterizes as anti-American bias.

GLP-1 boom could reshape restaurant bars as diners cut back on alcohol

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:45 -0400

The rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could be changing more than what Americans put on their plates, as restaurants increasingly look to wellness drinks and other alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages.

The National Restaurant Association's new 2026 Restaurant Beverage Trends report found growing interest in a wider range of drink choices, particularly among younger consumers, as restaurants experiment with everything from wellness and energy drinks to smoothies, lemonades and alcohol-free cocktails.

Chad Moutray, chief economist at the Washington, D.C.-based National Restaurant Association, told Fox News Digital that the growing use of GLP-1 medications is one of several health trends restaurant operators are watching.

MOVER OVER, APEROL: VIRAL ITALIAN SPRITZ ARRIVES IN US WITH EYE-CATCHING TWIST

The report, which was conducted by the National Restaurant Association and is based on surveys of consumers and restaurant operators across the country, found that health is already influencing some Americans' decisions about alcohol.

Among adults surveyed who said they don't drink alcohol, 25% cited health reasons. That figure climbed to 34% among Gen Z nondrinkers.

Several trends are converging as younger consumers become more health-conscious and GLP-1 medications become more widely used, Moutray said.

"I think you're seeing a lot younger folks who are, in general, wanting to be healthier. You have the Make America Healthy Again movement, which is also driving some of this trend," he said.

PROTEIN COFFEE IS EXPLODING IN POPULARITY AMONG ADULTS WORRIED ABOUT MUSCLE LOSS

"You have people drinking energy drinks and health drinks and all those things. And then you add to that the GLP-1 notion, where if you're taking one of those drugs and your appetite is more suppressed, you're not going to drink as much alcohol."

Restaurants are already preparing to broaden their drink selections.

Among limited-service restaurant operators, 24% said they planned to add new wellness drinks in 2026, while 26% planned to add energy drinks, 29% smoothies and 27% lemonades.

Just under half, 46%, planned to add new coffee offerings.

"I think as GLP-1s become less expensive as this year goes on and as we move into 2027, you're going to see restaurant operators continuing to look for alternatives that can be good menu options for consumers that might be taking those drugs," Moutray said.

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Derek Brown, a hospitality consultant and founder of Drink Company, said he's also seeing GLP-1s contribute to a broader shift toward moderation.

"Yeah, there's no doubt that GLP-1s are having an effect on the way that people consume," Brown told Fox News Digital. "And it's part of a basket of things that's contributing to people moderating more often."

The drugs can affect people's appetites for both food and drinks, Brown said, potentially leading some customers to consume less alcohol or choose nonalcoholic alternatives.

"I think that's clearly part of this entire moderation trend that we're seeing that's just a part of it, but it's significant enough, so I think that's certainly a real thing," Brown said. "And I definitely think that bars and restaurants are starting to feel that."

The changing beverage landscape, however, doesn't necessarily mean younger Americans are abandoning alcohol.

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Per the report, 71% of Gen Z adults and 74% of millennials surveyed said they drink alcohol either at home or at restaurants. Sixty percent of Gen Z adults and 68% of millennials said they drink alcohol at restaurants.

Moutray believes younger consumers are instead choosing from a broader portfolio of drinks.

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That broader selection could be increasingly important for restaurants. The report found that 87% of full-service operators and 80% of limited-service operators said beverages can be an important driver of customer traffic.

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"It's driving traffic, it's getting people excited and it's, hopefully, also helping to improve overall profit margins," Moutray said.

Blue state's water failures could threaten food supplies across US, lawmaker warns

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:39 -0400

California's aging infrastructure is helping fuel a clean water crisis that could have ramifications across the country, a key House Republican warned.

Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom of playing politics with the management of the Colorado River, a major body of water that millions of people in the Western United States depend on. She's arguing that the Golden State's bloated bureaucracy and environmental regulations are making it more reliant on the Colorado River, thus stressing its supply and affecting the other six states through which it runs.

"The system is now becoming very, very stressed because California has not kept up with the infrastructure demands and needs of its citizens," Hageman told Fox News Digital. "Pinedale, Wyoming, may be a long way removed from Southern California, but when there are calls on the river and when there are demands that we reduce the amount of water that we are able to use in order to meet a demand downstream, that isn't fair."

California's water infrastructure has largely remained unchanged since the late 20th century, despite a ballooning population.

COLORADO SMALL TOWN ABANDONED AFTER ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS RESIGN, WATER CONCERNS GROW

Hageman argued that California's growing need paired with a lack of new infrastructure is hurting the agricultural sector in areas that rely on the Colorado River — which could have ripple effects beyond the West.

TRUMP CAN PROTECT CALIFORNIA AVOCADO FARMERS AND TAKE A BITE OUT OF MEXICAN CARTELS, TOO

"California could grow almost all the food we need in the United States, but they've really decimated their Ag industry because they've taken irrigation water away from their Ag industry to try to meet municipal demand and industrial demand elsewhere. So really it's just, it's a whole parade of bad decisions that are being made," she said.

"Food independence is a national security issue. We do not want to become food dependent on Mexico or Central America or bringing all of our food in from other countries. We have the resources to grow healthy, high-quality food right here while also protecting our environment."

Environmental groups like Tell the Dam Truth have opposed new dam builds in California, arguing they contribute to climate change while harming biodiversity.

"With its strong environmental laws, regulations, and policies, California has the opportunity to not only stop new dam construction, but also decommission dams to restore the biodiversity and carbon sequestration currently inundated in river valleys across the state," the group's website states.

Groups like the Sierra Club have also opposed desalination, an alternative water source that would require California to convert its abundant saltwater into a usable product.

But Hageman said that opposition was misguided.

"They're very backwards people. I kind of look at them like flat-Earthers. They're very backwards people in the way that they approach things. They ignore the fact that humans are also part of the natural environment, and they ignore the benefits of what we can create by building this much-needed infrastructure," she said.

The Colorado River's Upper Basin runs through Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah. The Lower Basin runs through California, Arizona and Nevada.

TRUMP TO SHRINK 2 UTAH NATIONAL MONUMENTS BY 90%

It has faced growing problems, in part due to climate change and increased dependence, prompting discussions about whether the seven aforementioned states could update their existing water-sharing agreement.

A failure to do so thus far has prompted the Trump administration to step in and force steep cuts to the Lower Basin states for the next two years.

NEWSOM, WALZ URGE CONGRESS TO BLOCK ANTI-CLIMATE BILL IN THEIR ‘WOKE’ CRUSADE

Newsom praised the plan while pointing out California has reduced its use in recent years, but said it was only a "short-term" solution.

"This is a necessary step to protect a river that 40 million Americans depend on, at a time when climate change is driving a regional water crisis that makes every drop of water count. California continues to lead the way forward, growing our economy while cutting our Colorado River water use to the lowest level since 1949," he said of the Trump administration order. "Any long-term solution must share responsibility fairly across all seven states in recognition of the new reality of the Colorado River."

California also recently made plans for a new reservoir project, projected to cost $6.8 billion, which is expected to be completed in the mid-2030s. The state is also investing in new groundwater infrastructure and other initiatives to expand availability of the critical resource.

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A spokesperson for the California Natural Resources Agency re-emphasized the state's reduced dependency on the Colorado River when reached by Fox News Digital.

"California’s Colorado River use is at its lowest since 1949 – and our urban water agencies have reduced their demand for imports by 50% since 2000. Even with that, we continue to invest billions of dollars to increase water supply as we face changing conditions driven by climate change," the spokesperson said.

"Suggesting we move the world’s fourth largest economy entirely to desalinated water is a deeply unserious proposal that ignores the underlying issues facing all users of the Colorado River. All Basin states must share the responsibility of caring for the Colorado River for generations to come – and that means real conservation from all seven states."

Newsom's attack dog taunts Buttigieg over South Carolina visit as 2028 fight heats up

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:39 -0400

The battle for the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nomination is already spilling into public view, with a top aide to California Gov. Gavin Newsom taking a swipe at fellow White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg over his effort to build support with Black voters in the South.

Newsom communications director Izzy Gardon mocked Buttigieg's recent visit to South Carolina, which his representative Aida Ross highlighted with a post on X over the weekend that included a photo of the former Transportation secretary with members of the Orangeburg branch of the NAACP.

"Pete returned to Orangeburg, SC! Great night with the Orangeburg Branch of the NAACP," Ross said alongside the photo.

Meanwhile, Gardon responded to the post: "First time in SC in 3 years? Nice!"

JENNIFER SIEBEL NEWSOM DODGES QUESTION ON HUSBAND GAVIN'S PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS

The exchange garnered buzz online, as it placed two of the Democratic Party's most closely watched potential presidential contenders at the center of a growing fight over Black voter outreach — an issue likely to be central in 2028 as South Carolina again prepares to hold the party’s first nominating contest.

It also comes amid wider Democratic tensions over whether the party is doing enough to engage Black voters and the South, with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens accusing the DNC of "abandoning the South" and "abandoning Black voters" after Atlanta was eliminated from 2028 convention contention last week.

Meanwhile, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain declared last month, amid debate over the party’s presidential primary calendar, that "the South is not the past, it is the future," while Democratic chairs from five other southern states also previously warned the DNC against sending Black voters the message that their loyalty is "taken for granted," according to the Associated Press.

When reached for comment, Gardon told Fox News Digital that the post was made from his personal account and in his "personal capacity," calling it "simply my own observation." He stressed that he was "NOT speaking for the Governor or anyone else."

Ross did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

JASMINE CROCKETT WARNS DEMOCRATS ARE TOO FOCUSED ON WHITE VOTERS, IGNORING BLACK VOTERS

"Love to watch Gavin Newsom staffers dunk on Pete Buttigieg staffers as they all jostle to catch up to AOC in the 2028 Dem primaries," Republican strategist Matt Whitlock wrote on X.

"We’re just dropping all pretenses huh," quipped political polling executive Adam Carlson.

Democrat strategists also weighed in on the in-fighting.

"Staffers of potential 2028ers who denigrate other potential 2028ers at this juncture should be embarrassed. They reflect extremely poorly on their principals," Democrat strategist Jennifer Holdsworth said in response to Gardon's jab.

"Weird tweet to send rn - bad look," Democratic consultant Eric Koch said.

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"Potential 2028 staffers, huddle up: you do not want to start the fighting now or on this platform," added the Head of Digital Engagement at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Stefan Smith. "It’s too early in the cycle. The longer we play nice (and encourage the principals to play nice) the better it is for everyone."

Prince William ‘blindsided’ by Harry, Meghan return as Kate fears new turmoil from royal feud: experts

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:31 -0400

Prince William was reportedly "blindsided" by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s surprise decision to return to the U.K. with their children.

Several royal experts told Fox News Digital that the Prince and Princess of Wales are "concerned" about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returning for an extended period beginning this month. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are set to begin school there in September, People magazine reported.

"Prince William was blindsided," Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," told Fox News Digital.

PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE’S UK MOVE PUTS FRESH SPOTLIGHT ON THEIR EXPLOSIVE CLAIMS AGAINST ROYAL FAMILY

"He had found Harry’s recent eagerness to publicly signal that he wanted to spend more time in Britain unusual, but that is very different from anticipating a full return. William now has to navigate a situation he did not create, did not ask for and, given the state of their relationship, almost certainly would not have chosen."

A Kensington Palace spokesperson told Fox News Digital: "We would never comment on private family matters."

In a statement shared with The New York Times, a spokesperson for the Sussexes said, "On the heels of a wonderful trip with family and friends this summer, Harry and Meghan have decided to spend an extended period in the U.K. this autumn. They are excited to have their children spend more time in the country that’s such an important part of their family’s story."

The spokesperson confirmed that the couple’s businesses will remain unchanged and based in the U.S. Meghan and Harry will also keep their home in California.

British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the Waleses are "feeling uneasy" about facing another chapter in the "endless Sussex soap opera."

WATCH: PRINCE WILLIAM UNLIKELY TO RECONCILE WITH PRINCE HARRY SOON: EXPERT

"It’s about broken trust," Chard explained. "Prince William is said to feel that Harry and Meghan have spent years attacking the institution, then monetizing their grievances through a very lucrative media operation. From his view, it’s an ongoing campaign for maximum impact and self-gain. He’s not going to fuel it, and he’s not going to endorse behavior he sees as damaging."

William and Kate were seen arriving in Scotland on Thursday, where they’ll spend time with King Charles at Balmoral Castle. The royal family has spent summers at the Scottish estate since the reign of Queen Victoria, with family members traditionally hunting, fishing and horseback riding there.

The king learned about Harry and Meghan’s move three days before it was made public, according to reports.

"Prince William, along with Catherine, is currently at Balmoral Castle visiting the king," royal broadcaster Neil Sean told Fox News Digital. "Harry and Meghan have, so far, not been invited to visit the king privately while on a holiday. This will not happen while William is there. I’ve been told he has no desire to connect on any level with his younger brother and simply has no time for [Meghan]."

A spokesperson for Archewell, which handles the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, told Fox News Digital: "We do not comment on the family’s private travel arrangements or meetings with the extended family."

The Daily Mail reported that the king and his heir held a "Sussex Summit" following the announcement. A source told the outlet that the Prince and Princess of Wales "have no interest in engaging with anything Harry and Meghan do or say."

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"Things are projected to be tense at Balmoral," British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "... Princess Catherine is particularly guarded given how deeply hurt she was by both of them. Both she and Prince William are very determined to maintain their own family stability and remain focused on duty with their royal roles paramount."

Several royal experts previously told Fox News Digital that William and Harry haven’t been on speaking terms since at least 2022.

"My sources have described genuine concern within the Wales camp," Schofield said. "I don’t think Prince William and Princess Catherine are sitting at Balmoral panicking about Harry and Meghan returning, but they are understandably apprehensive about what their return could bring. The last several years have taught them that private family tensions have a habit of becoming very public."

"The concern isn’t simply that Harry and Meghan will be geographically closer," Schofield continued. "It’s the unpredictability that comes with the Sussexes. There have been interviews, books, documentaries and very personal allegations about members of the royal family. … My sources tell me the Wales camp has not forgotten the hostility directed at them after some of Harry and Meghan’s previous public accusations."

Schofield said unnamed sources told her Kate is also unsettled by the news.

"My sources tell me that Catherine does not want to revisit that chapter of her life," Schofield explained. "She has endured very personal allegations, an enormous amount of public scrutiny and a difficult few years. My understanding has always been that her priority is Prince William, their children and the future."

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"Meghan returning to Britain doesn’t mean Catherine suddenly has an obligation to reopen a relationship that has caused considerable hurt," she said. "Catherine can wish Harry and Meghan well without wanting them back inside her private life. ... The idea of resurrecting the ‘Fab Four’ is fantasy. Too much has happened, and too much has been lost."

The Sussexes are expected to live at a private, nonroyal residence outside London, The Associated Press reported. They won’t resume their royal duties, which they gave up in 2020.

The couple’s return to the U.K. comes as the king continues treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer diagnosed in 2024. In 2025, Harry said he didn’t know "how much longer my father has" and expressed a desire for his children to get to know their grandfather.

Last month, the king met with Harry, Meghan and their children at Highgrove House.

Vanity Fair royal correspondent Katie Nicholl reported at the time that, according to sources, "not even the Prince and Princess of Wales were made aware that the meeting was taking place."

"The Sussexes played a blinder with the king welcoming them, having not told him last month of a plan they have had for ages as their children will soon be in school," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital.

The move is understood to have come together relatively quickly, as Harry and Meghan waited to learn whether their children had been accepted to the private school they applied to.

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"Since the brothers haven’t spoken in years, the imminent arrival of the Sussexes places William and Catherine in a pressured and difficult situation," said Fitzwilliams. "William is reportedly furious. But what is essential is that the king accepts that the Waleses and their children are the future of the monarchy."

Schofield doesn’t believe reconciliation between the brothers is likely, at least anytime soon.

"Geography cannot repair a relationship where trust has been so badly damaged," she said. "Harry’s return could make that estrangement more obvious because people will inevitably ask why two brothers living in the same country still aren’t seeing one another. ... William and Catherine could suddenly find themselves under public pressure to perform a reconciliation that probably doesn’t exist behind closed doors."

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"... William may have reached the conclusion that distance is healthier than reconciliation, and he is entitled to make that decision," Schofield said. "The realistic goal at this stage probably isn’t friendship [with Harry]. I would argue it’s peaceful coexistence for the sake of their father. ... Harry and Meghan moving back to Britain creates proximity, not reconciliation. They can buy a house near London. They cannot buy back trust."

Charlotte man accused of mass shooting threats at 5 schools released days before classes begin

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:09 -0400

A Charlotte man indicted on five felony counts accusing him of threatening mass shootings against five area public schools was released from jail just three days before students were scheduled to return to class.

Drew Andres Owens, 33, was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 22, according to jail records. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students were scheduled to return on Aug. 25.

A Mecklenburg County grand jury indicted Owens in March 2025 on five counts of communicating threats of mass violence on educational property. He has pleaded not guilty, and the cases remain pending.

THREE SCHOOL SAFETY STEPS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN

Four counts allege Owens sent emails on Feb. 15, 2025, threatening West Charlotte High School, Ardrey Kell High School, Community House Middle School and Hawk Ridge Elementary School.

According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Owens allegedly sent messages threatening to "slaughter staff and students."

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY TRIGGERING FALSE ACTIVE SHOOTER ALERTS AT 5 SCHOOLS: SHERIFF

A separate indictment alleges a mailed threat against Garinger High School. The affidavit claimed that a student, who was armed with two shotguns and an AR-15, would carry out the mass shooting. School administrators later determined that no student by that name was enrolled there, according to the affidavit.

The warrant affidavit states that Darryl Owens, Drew's father and a West Charlotte High School ROTC instructor, told police he also believed his son was responsible for the school threats.

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Darryl Owens allegedly told authorities that his son had harassed relatives, neighbors and family friends after being removed from the family home in 2021, and had sent unsigned emails and letters threatening to kill or shoot people at multiple locations.

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The father told police he had previously obtained a restraining order against his son, that Owens had been arrested for violating it and that the order was later dismissed. He also told police that Owens had recently sat outside neighbors' homes and photographed his car at West Charlotte High School "to try to lure him outside."

CHARLOTTE REPEAT OFFENDER CHARGED WITH KILLING MAN HOURS AFTER RELEASE ON BOND

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According to court records, the bond in the four-school case was lowered from $135,000 to $60,000 in May 2026. Docket records indicate the four-school case had originally been set at a $135,000 secured bond with electronic monitoring in February 2025.

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A judge reduced that amount to $60,000 on May 1, 2026. The separate case tied to Garinger High School carried a secured bond of $15,000. Owens satisfied the court-ordered pretrial bond conditions and was released Saturday, Aug. 22.

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Court records showed a $60,000 secured bond in the four-school case and a $15,000 secured bond in the Garinger case. A professional surety posted the $60,000 bond the previous Friday night.

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WSOC previously reported that Owens’ record included arrests for resisting arrest and shoplifting. The local outlet did not report a total number of prior arrests and Fox News Digital has reached out to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for additional details.

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Following his release, parents told WSOC that they are nervous to send their kids off to school as the school year kicks off.

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"Is he going to show up at one of the schools? It’s not good," said one parent. "I’m not going to feel at ease, I’m not going to pretend it’s OK."

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"In this situation it’s confusing because he had a $200K bond," another parent said. "He’s clearly a public safety threat, so what took the threat level down?"

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"He’s out and that’s it, and the rest of us have to deal with it and teachers have to go to school on Tuesday and deal with it," another parent said.

It was not immediately clear if Owens had an attorney representing him.

BRUCE PEARL: Conservatives are attacking the very college sports bill that protects women

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:00:54 -0400

Men don’t belong in women’s sports. That isn’t complicated, but some conservative influencers and interest groups are allowing it to become complicated through careless claims about legislation designed to protect college athletics.

I spent nearly five decades coaching college basketball. I know the difference between winning a possession and winning the game. Conservatives now face a similar choice: We can chase applause by attacking allies and mischaracterizing the bill, or we can unite around the facts and win the larger fight for women, fairness and the future of college sports.

Some organizations and women’s-sports advocates claim the Protect College Sports Act would "gut" Title IX or invalidate state laws that reserve women’s teams for women. They are wrong. The text says the opposite.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: COLLEGE SPORTS BILL ENTERS LEGISLATIVE 'RED ZONE' AS SEASON KICKS OFF

Section 127 explicitly states that nothing in the bill will "override, modify, or amend" Title IX. Female athletes would retain their current legal protections and ability to bring sex-discrimination claims. Section 120 also protects athletes, employees and others from retaliation for reporting discrimination or participating in Title IX proceedings.

Critics also claim the bill would erase state laws keeping men out of women’s sports. It would not. The legislation establishes national standards for Division I and Division II competition on limited eligibility questions, including academics, professional status, legal violations, age and years of eligibility. It neither creates a federal right for men to enter women’s competitions nor pre-empts state laws establishing sex-based athletic categories.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS FILE AMENDMENT TO STOP COLLEGE SPORTS BILL FROM OVERRIDING STATE WOMEN'S SPORTS LAWS

The bill does not expressly create a federal right for biological males to compete in women’s sports, and Section 127 states that nothing in the bill overrides, modifies or amends Title IX. Critics seem to be grasping at anything and eager to disregard the Title IX provisions here. Especially since the Supreme Court ruled in June that schools may keep men out of women’s sports.

It also requires governing bodies to enforce rules related to state and federal law and allows individuals to sue when the law is violated.

CONGRESS MUST FIX THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT BEFORE GIRLS PAY THE PRICE

The bill also gives schools a powerful incentive to invest in women’s and Olympic sports. It creates a $22.5 million athlete-retention fund and allows schools to unlock up to an additional $5 million through eligible NIL investments in women’s, Olympic and non-revenue sports. A school seeking the full $27.5 million retention allowance would first need to invest $5 million in those sports. That is an ingenious way to ensure continued investment in programs that might otherwise be left behind.

And every year Congress waits, the financial pressure on college athletics grows, and the programs with the fewest resources become even more vulnerable. My 2025 Final Four team had a total NIL budget of approximately $4 million. By the 2027 Final Four, some teams could be operating with budgets approaching $30 million.

Conservatives should debate legislation, demand improvements and scrutinize every line. But facts must guide us. Too many Washington organizations would rather score points against perceived rivals than secure lasting victories for women and college athletes.

CRUZ AND CANTWELL REFUSE TO BEND TO SEC AND BIG TEN CONCERNS IN REVISED COLLEGE ATHLETICS LEGISLATION

Outrage is easy; turning shared principles into law is harder. Infighting only helps the left, which has spent years undermining Title IX while conservatives battle over legislation that expressly preserves it. If we can’t unite and get this done, we will lose college sports as we know them, and women’s and Olympic sports will continue to be among the first casualties.

The stakes extend beyond Title IX, and the crisis is no longer theoretical. Thirty-two Division I Olympic-sports programs were cut between the announcement of the House settlement and May 2025. WRAL reported that more than 40 Division I Olympic-sports programs were cut between May 2024 and July 2025, even though 75% of American Olympians in 2024 competed in collegiate athletics. NCAA data

Even the University of Arkansas, backed by SEC resources, announced plans to eliminate its tennis programs before donors intervened to save them. If programs at schools like Arkansas are vulnerable, imagine the danger facing smaller schools, women’s teams and non-revenue sports nationwide.

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Credit where credit is due: Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and others have stepped up to move this legislation forward. President Trump has also led from the front by restoring the biological meaning of sex in federal policy, taking action to save college sports and backing this bill. Now, those who claim to support the America First movement should get in the game, help Congress finish the job and deliver this win for women and college athletes.

Congress now has the opportunity to take important steps to stabilize college sports, support educational opportunities for young women and men, and provide protections for the uniquely American experience of intercollegiate athletics.

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There is broad agreement that college sports cannot go on with no meaningful guardrails around eligibility, transfer policy and NIL oversight. The Protect College Sports Act is an important step in the right direction, and Congress needs to keep the positive momentum moving forward.

Winning the point may feel good. Winning the war matters more.

Democrat mayor blasted by DHS for 'hunting down' property owners leasing to ICE: 'Unhinged'

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:00:50 -0400

The Department of Homeland Security is calling out Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu’s "unhinged" effort to dissuade business owners from leasing to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the city, equating it to "hunting down" private property owners.

After Boston banned ICE vehicles from using city-owned parking lots to stage operations, ICE issued a notice seeking to rent hundreds of parking spaces in the city for five years. In response, Wu, an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, issued an open letter to parking garage and lot owners throughout Boston in which she revealed the city had submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request "for any local responses to ICE."

DHS fired back in an X post, writing that "these actions by sanctuary Mayor Michelle Wu are unhinged."

"She knows she has NO authority to block us from using private property. So, she’s hunting down private property owners and threatening them for working with ICE — because she’d rather intimidate law-abiding Bostonians than get criminal illegal aliens OFF the street," wrote DHS.

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ICE issued a "sources sought" notice last month for "surge parking" in 14 cities across the country. The notice revealed ICE was seeking 249 contiguous parking spaces in Boston.

In response, Wu issued an official appeal from the city of Boston for garage and lot owners to "reject ICE staging facilities." She wrote that "were ICE to procure such resources, it would constitute an unprovoked and unwarranted escalation, creating potentially significant risks to public safety and halting economic activity across our entire region."

She boasted that she "joined together with six other cities across Greater Boston and signed Executive Orders prohibiting ICE from staging its operations on municipal property and parking lots," adding, "Today, I ask you to join us: Reject any proposition by ICE to facilitate an attack on the people of Boston."

Wu also noted that the same day, the city submitted a FOIA request for any local responses to ICE. She told the garage and lot owners, "We will keep you updated as we push for a response," adding, "Thank you again for your partnership."

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In its FOIA request, which was submitted to ICE and reviewed by Fox News Digital, the city of Boston states that it is seeking "all submissions and/or responses to ICE Sources Sought Notice with Notice ID ‘DHS-ICE-SurgeParking.’"

DHS responded to Wu’s FOIA request by calling her a "pro-criminal illegal alien politician" in another X post. The agency said the request also indicates that Wu "admits she has no authority to block ICE from utilizing private property."

"If private citizens want to allow federal law enforcement onto their own property, they should be allowed to do so—free of threats, intimidation and coercion from their radical left-wing mayor who shamelessly compared ICE agents to a neo-Nazi group," wrote DHS.

Fox News Digital reached out to Wu’s office and the city of Boston for comment.

Wu’s FOIA request came after the Boston City Council adopted an "emergency resolution" earlier this month urging the city to "explore all avenues to oppose" proposed parking leases for ICE in downtown Boston.

TOM HOMAN EXPLAINS IMMIGRATION STRATEGY FOCUSING ON SANCTUARY CITIES

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The council said that by adopting the emergency resolution, it was calling on the city to "explore available options to prevent the proposed parking leases and expressed its opposition to an increased ICE presence in the city."

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Besides Boston, ICE’s notice showed the agency seeking significant numbers of parking spaces in the metropolitan areas of Denver, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and several other cities.

Darline Graham faces make-or-break GOP runoff in historic bid to keep brother’s Senate seat

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:00:36 -0400

President Donald Trump isn't on the ballot, but his clout over the GOP and the immense power of his endorsements in Republican primaries are on the line Tuesday in statewide runoff elections in South Carolina and Oklahoma.

Trump is backing Sen. Darline Graham in the Republican Senate nomination runoff in South Carolina, in the race to succeed her late brother, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, who unexpectedly died this summer at age 71.

And the president is supporting former state budget secretary and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Oklahoma, where GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt is term-limited.

Both Trump-backed candidates are facing off in competitive contests on that day that also includes a special election runoff in Georgia to fill a congressional seat left vacant following Democratic Rep. David Scott’s death in April. The two candidates are Democrats, which means the winner will further reduce an already extremely fragile Republican majority in the House.

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In South Carolina, Darline Graham is facing off with conservative Rep. Ralph Norman, with the winner replacing the late senator as the Republican Senate nominee on the midterm ballot in reliably red South Carolina.

Graham and Norman finished first and second in a special Senate primary two weeks ago, but with neither candidate landing a majority of the vote, they advanced to a runoff from a field that also included Rep. Russell Fry and former governor and former Rep. Mark Sanford.

"We need every South Carolina patriot to go to the polls and vote for Darline Graham," Trump urged on Friday as he headlined a rally for Graham in Myrtle Beach. "What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I'm on the ballot. Just come and vote. It's so important."

Graham is backed by term-limited South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who last month appointed her to fulfill the rest of her late brother's current term in the Senate. She also has the backing of Fry, a top Trump ally in the House, as well as the support of Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina's other senator and chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

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Norman, who unsuccessfully campaigned earlier this year for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the race to succeed McMaster, has been showcasing his support for the president in his Senate campaign and questioning Trump's backing of Darline Graham.

He was backed last week by Sanford, who briefly launched a long-shot and unsuccessful 2020 presidential challenge against Trump. Sanford, who is known as a fiscally conservative budget hawk, pointed to the nation's debt as a key motivator behind his decision to launch a Senate campaign, and later for backing Norman.

The Trump endorsement hasn't proven to be a sure bet this cycle in South Carolina.

Trump backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for the GOP gubernatorial nomination — in the race to succeed the term-limited McMaster — ahead of the state's early June primary.

Evette was the top vote-getter in the primary but lost the ensuing runoff election against South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson in a landslide. And Trump, ever hungry for a victory, endorsed Wilson in addition to Evette days before the runoff.

"It’s becoming a referendum on Trump," a South Carolina-based Republican consultant told Fox News Digital.

The strategist, who asked for anonymity to speak more freely, argued Trump "came to South Carolina to solidify his endorsement because he has to show a win here."

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Norman, as he runs for the Senate, is also backed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's first term in the White House. Norman was the only member of South Carolina's congressional delegation, and the first member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, to endorse Haley over Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries.

"Trump still has a nasty taste in his mouth for Nikki Haley," the GOP strategist argued.

In Oklahoma, the Trump-backed Mazzei finished slightly behind state Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the initial June GOP primary, with a crowded field keeping either from winning the nomination outright. The winner of Tuesday's GOP runoff will be considered the clear general election favorite in the Republican-dominated state.

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Trump has boasted a powerful endorsement scorecard in GOP primaries so far this election cycle.

"My Endorsements are stronger than ever," the president touted this past weekend in a social media post.

But five of his gubernatorial picks in Republican primaries have fallen short. Besides South Carolina's Evette, that list includes Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa, who lost nominating contests this spring. And two weeks ago, Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and Minnesota businessman and "My Pillow" founder and former CEO Mike Lindell fell short.

"There’s no question that an endorsement from President Trump provides a tremendous boost in a Republican primary. But it doesn’t necessarily mean the candidate’s going to win," veteran GOP strategist and communicator Ryan Williams told Fox News Digital.

Williams said that "the president still has a firm grip on the party, even in places where a candidate he backed loses a nomination." But he noted that "if there are underlying issues with a candidacy, those can pose problems that even an endorsement can’t overcome."

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Meanwhile, in Georgia, two Democrats are vying to serve the remaining months through the end of the year of Scott's term in the House.

The finalists are former Gwinnett County School Board Chair Everton Blair and Marcye Scott, the late congressman's daughter.

LIZ PEEK: China is cheering as the left blocks America’s AI infrastructure

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:00:23 -0400

The progressive left is working hard to derail America’s AI dominance by blocking data center construction. So is China.

The AI push is critical to U.S. national security, to win what retired Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis calls the "new AI Cold War with China." But, it is also essential to U.S. economic growth. The U.S. needs to buttress its shrinking workforce, and AI agents are standing by to take over from retiring Boomers, self-deporting immigrants, and a declining number of college graduates.

AI is coming of age at the perfect time and yet anti-growth activists, amplified by foreign adversaries and media alarmism, want to shut it all down.

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China is helping them do that. While concerns about the build-out of energy-hungry data centers across the country are spurring authentic local opposition, there is also little doubt that America’s enemies are encouraging the resistance.

In 2023, The New York Times published a report detailing their investigation into Neville Roy Singham, an American Marxist based in Shanghai who, according to the Times, "works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide."

At the time, Singham had funneled "at least" $275 million into leftist U.S. nonprofits like Code Pink, The People's Forum, BreakThrough News, the Justice and Education Fund, and Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. The Times documented that these groups are interconnected, sharing staff and content; the Times writes that Singham also "shares office space — and his groups share staff members — with a company whose mission is educating foreigners about "the miracles that China has created on the world stage."

Though he denies it, investigative reports and congressional leaders argue Singham's network advances China's strategic goals. Beijing’s main objective today is to race ahead of the U.S. in AI. President Xi cannot count on Chinese tech innovators, so is feverishly trying to hobble America’s data center build-out, the infrastructure essential to continued American dominance. Singham’s non-profit network is helping by amplifying the anti-data center campaign.

The Bitcoin Policy Institute reported recently that the "Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a Marxist-Leninist group… whose stated mission is to dismantle American capitalism," is "deeply enmeshed" in local groups fighting against data center construction. The group’s leaders come from Singham’s non-profit network and the PSL has been effective in delaying or blocking about $24 billion in proposed AI-infrastructure investment.

REPORT: CHINESE PROPAGANDA, SINGHAM NETWORK, FOREIGN DARK MONEY LINKED TO CAMPAIGNS AGAINST DATA CENTERS

BPI writes, "The Singham network’s campaign against American AI has been years in the making"; it catalogs the "seeding [of] anti-data-center talking points well before the local fights began." For instance, the PSL's Communist paper, "Liberation News," published a piece in 2025 blaming rising electricity bills in Illinois to the data center boom, declaring the facilities "are generating massive profits for some, but leave workers with more bills and devastate the environment."

JIM BANKS, GOP LAWMAKERS RALLY BEHIND DOJ PROBE INTO ALLEGED CCP-LINKED FUNDING NETWORK

In June, in response to the BPI reporting, the House Energy and Commerce Committee demanded the White House and the FBI investigate foreign efforts to block the American data center buildout. The attack on AI progress is complex; the Manhattan Institute's Stu Smith wrote that the PSL and other Singham network groups are "not just one group or one campaign. It is an ecosystem of overlapping organizations, causes, and front-facing projects that all reinforce each other locally."

According to BPI findings, campaigns tied to the Singham network have contributed to delaying or restricting projects in East Charlotte, North Carolina, Prince George's County, Maryland, and elsewhere.

The AI industry’s brilliant CEOs have been astonishingly slow to counter the anti-data center propaganda. Only recently have the firms begun a counter-narrative highlighting the increased tax dollars and other benefits generated by their companies. For example, in Richland Parish, Louisiana, a giant Meta data center produced a spike in sales tax revenue which, in turn, led to teachers receiving a bonus of nearly $51,000, more than many of them make in an entire year.

In Loudon County, Virginia, some 250 data centers are expected to provide $1.3 billion in taxes, or roughly 40% of the county’s total 2027 tax revenue. For local residents, that’s some payoff.

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Americans concerned about their energy bills or worried that data centers are consuming too much water are demanding legislators protect their interests, and rightly so. The fix is not difficult, and some states are already passing bills that will require hyperscalers to provide their own electricity and limit the water used in cooling the vast computers enabling the AI boom.

Americans are also worried that AI will steal their jobs. But the truth is, with millions of Boomers (finally) retiring, a declining birth rate and an exodus of immigrants further shrinking our workforce, the U.S. needs AI to provide the labor to drive our economy forward. Young people may have to reassess which fields will be most promising, but their future will without a doubt be enhanced, and not crushed, by the most powerful technological development ever created. Those who learn how to use AI will be rewarded; those who fight it will be run over.

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Overlaying the opposition to AI is a mindless hatred of President Donald Trump, who won the support of our technology leaders because he offered an economy driven by cheap energy and unhampered by the suffocating regulations and green policies of Joe Biden and his Democrat colleagues. The Left’s attack on AI-fueled growth and the billionaires creating the investment surge scratches more than one itch.

AI backlash has become a hot political weapon in the upcoming midterms, with both Republican and Democrat candidates opposing the data center build-out. The stakes are high; only China will benefit from that opposition. Senator John Fetterman gets it, writing on X, "AI supremacy and energy dominance underpins our national security." He is correct.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LIZ PEEK

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LIZ PEEK: China is cheering as the left blocks America’s AI infrastructure