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Heroic Florida K-9 returns to sheriff's office days after being shot protecting 3 deputies, losing leg

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 01:02:34 -0400

Less than a week after being shot and losing a leg while protecting three deputies, heroic Florida K-9 Ace was back on his feet Tuesday for an emotional return to the sheriff's office.

Ace, a 7-year-old German shepherd who has served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office since March 2020, was wounded as deputies attempted to arrest 27-year-old Angel Bowers.

Authorities said Bowers allegedly fired at least four rounds at three deputies who were attempting to arrest him after he failed to appear in court. Bowers was killed by deputies at the scene.

DEPUTY US MARSHAL FATALLY SHOT WHILE SERVING ARREST WARRANT IN LOUISIANA

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Ace protected the three deputies from Bowers but was shot in his left front leg, shattering the bone and tearing an artery that caused massive blood loss.

Ace's partner and handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, treated his wounds and carried him to safety, according to the sheriff's office.

Ace was rushed to Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Lakeland, where he was stabilized before a Tampa General Hospital Aeromed helicopter transported him to the Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch. Veterinarians there performed a several-hour surgery to amputate his left front leg.

On Sunday, the sheriff's office posted video showing deputies arriving at the veterinary medical center to greet an energetic Ace as he prepared to return home.

AMERICA'S WOUNDED COPS FIND HOPE, HEALING AND SECOND CHANCE THROUGH OFFICERS WHO REFUSE TO LEAVE THEM BEHIND

"Upon waking from the anesthesia, Ace attempted to walk out of there," the sheriff's office wrote. "He has not been deterred since. In fact he outran the camera attempting to film his release this afternoon!"

Video shows Ace interacting with deputies before walking out of the medical center under his own power to thunderous applause while wearing a shirt that read "ride or die."

Two days later, Ace made his first trip back to the sheriff's office since being shot in the line of duty.

"Look at Ace. He's happy; he's eating; he bit my finger," Judd said. "We are so proud of Natalie and Ace. They stood in the gap between good and evil and they saved three deputies' lives. That's why we're so proud of him. He did so good."

MAN WANTED IN DEPUTY AMBUSH CAUGHT AFTER WILDLIFE CAMERA SIGHTING AND MAJOR MANHUNT

Judd said Oestreich will spend time with Ace as he continues to recover before she returns to work. Ace, however, will retire from law enforcement.

"Chill out and enjoy your retirement Ace," Judd said.

The sheriff's office also honored Ace in a social media post, writing, "His days of chasing bad guys may be over, but Ace will always be one of our heroes!"

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Polk Sheriff's Charities Inc. has established a K-9 fund to help support Ace's care. The sheriff's office said those interested in helping can donate directly to the fund through the organization's website.

Minnesota House speaker Lisa Demuth wins GOP gubernatorial primary to replace Tim Walz in November

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:35:15 -0400

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will move on to face the Democratic nominee in November to replace outgoing Gov. Tim Walz.

The victory amounts to a significant show of strength for Demuth, who stayed in the race after losing the Republican Party endorsement to Kendall Qualls at the state convention. Qualls secured the endorsement after 10 ballots, but Demuth argued that her legislative experience and record of leading House Republicans made her the party’s strongest candidate for November.

Additionally, Demuth defeated MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell, who had President Donald Trump’s endorsement and has national name recognition.

No Republican has won a statewide election in the state since 2006, when Gov. Tim Pawlenty narrowly won reelection by less than a percentage point. Since then, Republicans have lost 28 consecutive statewide contests through the 2024 election, an 18-year drought that became the longest for either major party in Minnesota history.

KLOBUCHAR VOWS FRAUD CRACKDOWN, AUDIT OF MN GOV’T AS GOP BLASTS WALZ TIES

"There is hope for Minnesota, for the change that is so desperately needed," Demuth told Fox News Digital about her victory at her election night watch party in St. Paul on Tuesday night.

"People are frustrated with fraud, they can't believe that it happened, that it was allowed to go on for so long, and so I think the message is hope, and change that is desperately needed, reducing taxes and improving education, and ending that fraud are those main messages."

The race was dramatically reshaped in January when Walz abandoned his campaign for a third term, saying he wanted to spend his final year in office focused on combating fraud in state programs rather than defending his political future.

Walz had launched his reelection campaign only months earlier, but mounting scrutiny of fraud involving government-funded programs had become a major political liability and a central line of attack from Republicans.

WALZ APPROVAL RATING CRATERS TO LOWEST LEVEL EVER AND TRAILS TRUMP AMID MASSIVE FRAUD SCANDAL: 'TIRED OF IT'

Walz’s withdrawal marked an abrupt turn for a politician who had vaulted onto the national stage less than two years earlier as Kamala Harris’ 2024 vice presidential running mate.

As governor, Walz had signed a sweeping set of Democratic priorities after his party took full control of state government, including expanded abortion protections, free school meals, legalized recreational marijuana and paid family and medical leave. But his administration also faced sustained criticism over its handling of fraud in state programs that prosecutors say could total over $9 billion.

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Walz’s departure opened the governor’s race and quickly turned attention to Klobuchar as a potential successor.

Klobuchar ultimately entered the contest, transforming what had been shaping up as a referendum on Walz’s eight years in office into a race in which Republicans would instead have to take on one of Minnesota’s most established statewide politicians.

STATE OF PLAY: Highly watched Hong race remains too close to call as progressives notch key primary wins

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:06:19 -0400

A series of closely watched primaries across the Upper Midwest delivered key victories for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing Tuesday night — with one major test still hanging in the balance in battleground Wisconsin.

Minnesota was among the clearest signs of progressive strength, with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan winning the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith, while progressive "Squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar secured another primary victory in her overwhelmingly blue Minneapolis-area district.

Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig in a closely watched clash between the party’s progressive and establishment wings. Flanagan drew support from prominent figures on the left, while Craig had the backing of several leading establishment Democrats.

SOCIALIST WINNING STREAK FACES MAJOR SWING-STATE TEST AS POLLS CLOSE IN WISCONSIN

Meanwhile, progressive "Squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar won the Democratic primary in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, securing another victory for one of the most prominent members of the House’s progressive wing.

Omar’s win adds to a string of primary victories for the congresswoman, who has previously survived well-funded efforts to oust her.

MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS

But the biggest remaining question of the night is in Wisconsin, where Democratic voters are still waiting to learn who will carry the party’s banner in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Tony Evers.

State Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, is seeking to extend the progressive left’s string of victories in one of the nation’s most closely divided battleground states, where Democrats are fighting to keep control of the governor’s mansion.

Hong, a 37-year-old former chef and single mother, has drawn backing from nationally known progressives, including Reps. Omar and Ro Khanna of California.

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She is running on a platform that includes raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 an hour, guaranteed paid leave and a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers.

Hong has also faced scrutiny over years-old social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police, positions she now says she no longer supports.

With most of Tuesday’s marquee contests decided, Wisconsin stands as the night’s biggest remaining test of whether the progressive left can carry its momentum into one of the nation’s premier battleground states.

Five teen friends killed after vehicle plunges down Colorado cliff, leaving community shattered

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:01:55 -0400

Five 17-year-old friends were killed when their vehicle plunged off a cliff and down a steep Colorado hillside, leaving their families and community grappling with an unimaginable loss just as a new school year begins.

The five boys, all from Grand Junction, were traveling along Lookout Lane late Saturday when their vehicle veered off the roadway and went down the steep incline, according to authorities.

Three of the teenagers, including the driver and front-seat passenger, were wearing seat belts, while the other two were not buckled in and were ejected from the vehicle, the Mesa County Coroner's Office said.

SILICON VALLEY DEVELOPER ACCUSED OF MURDER AFTER INVESTIGATORS SAY TESLA REACHED 142 MPH BEFORE FATAL CRASH

All five died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Authorities were not alerted to the wreck until approximately 7:45 a.m. Sunday, when 911 dispatchers received a report that a vehicle may have gone over the edge of a cliff, according to the Grand Junction Police Department.

Police and firefighters responding to the area discovered the wrecked vehicle along the hillside.

Speed is being investigated as a possible factor, police said. Authorities have not publicly identified the driver or said what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.

MISSOURI SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED ALL 12 ABOARD IS A 'DEVASTATING LOSS,' COMPANY SAYS

The coroner's office said it would not release the teenagers' names because of its policy against publicly identifying minors.

Though the teens have been identified by families and loved ones as those in the Grand Junction community share memories and rally around those left behind.

One of the victims was Braden Taylor, 17, whose grandfather, Calvin Wilken, confirmed his death in an emotional Facebook post obtained by Fox News Digital.

"Very sad news our youngest grandson Braden 17 died in a car rollover down 5 ledges of a very steep drop off over looking the railroad tracks and the Gunnison River," Wilken wrote.

"He was a passenger with 4 of his buddies, all deceased," he added.

Wilken said the crash occurred just blocks from the family's former home in a ridge-top development above the area.

A GoFundMe established for Braden's parents said the teenager was their youngest son and that the family is now confronting unexpected funeral expenses while trying to process his death.

GEORGIA TEACHER, FATHER HAILED AS HERO AFTER DYING TO SAVE GIRL FROM MYRTLE BEACH RIP CURRENT

"Wade and Michelle are now facing the unimaginable pain of losing their youngest son while also carrying the weight of sudden funeral expenses," the fundraiser said.

The scale of the loss has rippled across Grand Junction.

Modern Classic Motors, a local business, shared verified donation links for all five families and said the tragedy was weighing particularly heavily on the community as students returned to school.

"Our hearts are broken for the five young lives tragically lost over the weekend and for their family and friends who are left with this unimaginable loss," the business wrote on Facebook.

"As the new school year kicks off today, we can only imagine the heaviness and sadness that is being felt throughout our schools today," the post continued.

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The four other teenagers were identified by loved ones as Tristan Tucker, Titus Gould, William Simms and Tyler Martinez, according to the Daily Mail.

Tucker had been preparing to begin his senior year of high school, get his driver's license and experience the milestones that come with being 17, according to a fundraiser for his family cited by the outlet.

He was remembered as being "full of life, potential, and a free spirit."

A Meal Train was also established to support Gould's family following his death, according to the Daily Mail.

Martinez's grandmother, Debbie Gallegos Martinez, publicly mourned her grandson after the crash.

"With a heavy heart and tears rolling down my cheek my grandson was one of this [sic] boys," she wrote, according to the outlet.

Another family member asked people to keep all five families in their prayers, calling the tragedy "devastating and heartbreaking."

The Grand Junction Police Department also issued an emotional message.

"Our hearts are heavy following the tragic losses this weekend," the department wrote. "You're our neighbors, our friends, and our family."

"We grieve alongside our community and stand together to support one another."

Lindsay Clancy defense wants TikToker to expose hospital ‘lies’ as judge warns ‘this is not Tripadvisor’

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:44 -0400

A dispute rooted in a TikTok video arose at the outset of Lindsay Clancy's murder trial Tuesday, as her attorneys moved to add a former mental hospital staff member to the witness list — one who had publicly accused witnesses of spreading "lies and misrepresentations" about the psychiatric facility where Clancy was treated weeks before she killed her three children.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington asked Judge William Sullivan to add former McLean clinical social worker Emily Thorndike to the witness list, arguing that her years working on the same short-term unit could rebut what he described as a misleading picture of a "five star" hospital overflowing with treatment options that Clancy refused.

"Her involvement in this case came about after one of the prosecutors — I don't recall which — made it out on direct examination that McLean is some kind of a five-star institution where the doctors, the psychiatrists, the psychotherapists, and the counselors were all banging into each other in the hallway trying to interview Miss Clancy, who was just blithely refusing care and treatment, which is not the case," Reddington said.

WATCH: Defense seeks to add former McLean Hospital employee to witness list in Lindsay Clancy case

LINDSAY CLANCY’S HUSBAND COULD TESTIFY FOR HER AT TRIAL OVER DEATHS OF THEIR THREE CHILDREN

"So now the jury is left with that image that McLean is purportedly some kind of a five-star hospital because they are affiliated, quote-unquote, with Harvard," he continued.

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

Reddington explained that he tracked down the TikToker, later identified as Thorndike, after she took to the social media platform to expose the level of treatment at the mental health facility.

"I saw her video saying that she could not stand for, and I quote, ‘the lies and the misrepresentations from that witness stand about McLean Hospital’."

LINDSAY CLANCY DEFENSE SCORES ‘EXTREMELY HELPFUL’ PSYCHOSIS CONCESSION AS EXPERT FLAGS NEXT HURDLE

Prosecutors, meanwhile, fired back that Thorndike had left McLean roughly a year before Clancy’s stay, had no firsthand knowledge of her treatment and had been following the trial online before posting her opinions online.

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WATCH: Court debates new witness relevance over McLean Hospital staffing

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Sullivan appeared hesitant to let Thorndike to grade the quality of Clancy’s hospital care.

SEND US A TIP

"This is not Tripadvisor," the judge quipped, saying he would not permit a battle over whether McLean deserved five stars or two.

WATCH: Judge shuts down ‘five-star’ hospital debate in Lindsay Clancy trial: ‘This is not Tripadvisor’

GOT A TIP?

But Sullivan called the narrower question of staffing and available programs a "closer call" and took the defense motion under advisement. He has not ruled about whether or not to allow Thorndike to take the witness stand.

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WATCH: Lindsay Clancy's medical provider details psychiatric treatment and medication changes

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The witness list dispute came before jurors heard a series of desperate messages Clancy sent to her psychiatric nurse practitioner, Rebecca Jollotta, in late 2022 as she struggled with insomnia, medication changes and intrusive thoughts.

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

Nov. 30: After saying her depression had worsened, Clancy told Jollotta she was "not at the point of being suicidal" but added, "I’m really feeling as if I can’t go on like this."
Later that day, on Nov. 30, she described the worsening depression as "feeling completely hopeless and unmotivated to do anything at all."
Dec. 1: She said she had started having "very intrusive thoughts that I never had before" and wanted to change her medication plan.

WATCH: Lindsay Clancy's MyChart messages detail worsening depression and medication requests

In another Dec. 1 message, she apologized for repeatedly contacting the clinic: "It’s just a scary, very scary, stressful time for me. And starting new meds with side effects is very scary to me."
Dec. 2, 7:51 a.m.: She said she woke with "horribly intrusive thoughts of wanting it to be all over."
Dec. 2, 9:04 a.m.: "I’m willing to try anything," she later said, adding, "I feel like we are throwing all these different meds at my insomnia" and "I feel completely numb."
Dec. 3: Clancy reported that after going without Ativan, "all day I had horrible intrusive thoughts and felt deeply depressed." She said that after taking 0.5 mg of Ativan, "now the thoughts are gone and I feel good."

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Jollotta testified Tuesday that she interpreted the message as symptoms of depression and anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure, rather than suicidal ideation, and did not direct Clancy to immediately go to an emergency room.

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Fox News Digital reached out to McLean Hospital for comment.

Ilhan Omar on track for fifth term as Minnesota voters maintain far-left streak

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:53:17 -0400

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., fended off four challengers in her Democratic primary on Tuesday as she heads to the general election where she will fight to retain her seat for a fifth term representing Minnesota's 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The incumbent Somali-born congresswoman faced lower profile challengers — Julie Trang Le, a former federal immigration prosecutor; Abena McKenzie, a nurse who ran against Omar in the 2024 primary, receiving just 0.38% of the vote; Latonya Reeves, DNC member and a longtime activist running from Omar's right; and Nate Schluter, a political outsider with barely any footprint in the race.

But no challenger had realistic potential of overtaking Omar, who has solidified her spot in Congress through appealing to the increasingly progressive voter bloc in her district, which hosts the largest concentration of Somali Americans in the U.S.

SOCIALIST SURGE: FAR-LEFT DEMOCRATS TEST NATIONAL PLAYBOOK AFTER BLUE-CITY PRIMARY SHOCKS

The 5th District includes Minneapolis and several nearby suburbs and is one of the most Democratic congressional districts in Minnesota.

Omar has represented the district since 2019. She was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress and the first Somali American elected to the House.

The one-time refugee and a founding member of the so-called Squad has become one of the Democratic Party's most prominent progressive voices. She has repeatedly drawn national attention for her positions on immigration, healthcare and U.S. policy toward Israel.

2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS

The primary in Minnesota, where Omar secured the nomination for a fifth-straight term, comes as progressive and socialist candidates have scored several high-profile victories around the country in this year's Democratic primary races.

There's much debate over whether those advances by the far-left faction of the party will be a feature or a downfall for Democrats looking to regain control of Congress in the 2026 midterms.

Omar will now advance to the general election in November to face the Republican nominee, who will be chosen in Tuesday's GOP primary race between Dalia Al-Aqidi, a pro-Israel former journalist born in Iraq and considered the frontrunner; John Nagel, a retired Minnesota State Patrol lieutenant; and long shot political outsider candidates Angie Windhauser and Abbey Zieska.

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The 5th Congressional District in Minnesota has consistently elected Democrats for decades, making the Democratic primary the race that often draws the most attention.

Bipartisan ranking by the Cook Political Report puts the race at 'solid Democrat' with a +32 rating, making it highly unlikely that the district would flip red.

Schumer dealt another blow as progressive insurgency scores win in key Senate battle

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:41:37 -0400

Progressives again scored a victory in Minnesota where Gov. Tim Walz’s second-in-command toppled an establishment-backed member of Congress.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan eked out a victory over Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., on Tuesday, marking yet another battle won in the progressive proxy war to reshape the Democratic Party during this midterm election cycle.

Flanagan, like other progressives in the hunt for a position of power in Congress, has honed her left-leaning bona fides by backing Medicare for all and pushing an end to military aid to Israel.

REPUBLICANS GET THE DEMOCRAT THEY WANTED AS SOCIALIST ABDUL EL-SAYED WINS MICHIGAN SENATE PRIMARY

She’s also vowed to go after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the wake of two deadly immigration enforcement-related shootings in Minnesota and used Craig’s support of legislation, like the Laken Riley Act, as a political cudgel to build a distinction between the two of them.

Those positions have earned her the backing of progressive heavyweights like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and even Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., whose decision to retire from the Senate opened up the contest.

Notably, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who is running for governor, has not weighed in on the race so far.

Craig, who was viewed as the safer, more moderate pick, had the backing of the Democratic old-guard, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

BIG MONEY PROPELS DEM MEGACHURCH PASTOR TO VICTORY IN LONGSHOT KANSAS SENATE BID

Republicans are licking their chops, too, at Schumer getting handed another loss.

"Morale among Chuck Schumer’s establishment is at an all-time low, and Bernie Sanders’ socialist flank is filling the gap with candidates like Peggy Flanagan and Abdul El-Sayed," Bernadette Breslin, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Fox News Digital.

And it’s also brought reams of cash into the race. Craig has raised nearly $13 million this cycle, according to filings from the Federal Election Commission, while Flanagan has raked in just shy of $7 million.

"Peggy Flanagan is about bringing about real change, standing up to the big money interests," Sanders told "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "There is a reason why the super PACs and the billionaires are flooding Minnesota with all kinds of money. Same thing as Michigan."

Republicans see Flanagan’s candidacy in the same vein as Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who last week similarly squeaked out a narrow win over Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., who, like Craig, has Schumer’s backing.

BOMB-THROWER DEM MAKES SHOCKING PROMISE TO KICK SCHUMER TO CURB DURING SENATE DEBATE

They also have built-in messaging against her: Flanagan was Walz’s right hand as the Minnesota fraud scandal rippled across the airwaves and nation. While the scandal killed his prospects of running for reelection as governor, it has so far not kneecapped Flanagan's candidacy. And Walz hasn't waded into the endorsement game in the Senate contest, either.

They’re confident that national Republicans’ candidate of choice, former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, will win her primary and be the candidate to turn Minnesota red. There's also the possibility that Flanagan, who has not raked in the same level of cash that Craig did, may become a resource drain for other key races on Democrats' score card.

"Minnesota and Michigan being in play was not on Chuck Schumer’s bingo card this cycle," a GOP operative told Fox News Digital. "It remains to be seen which battleground(s) Democrats will have to pull resources from to drag socialists like Peggy Flanagan and Abdul El-Sayed across the finish line in November."

And Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., when asked by CNN which races kept him up at night, said one contest gave him hope.

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"The one thing that gets me excited when I think about this election cycle on the map is Minnesota," said Scott, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). "I think Minnesota, we have a real shot with Michele Tafoya."

"What we know without question is, she is within a point of the lieutenant governor right now," he said. "So if we can continue to let her show the contrast between the two candidates, I think Michele Tafoya's the kind of Republican that can win."

Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire says USC, Texas A&M and NC State all turned down scheduling requests

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:17:05 -0400

As always, the conversation around college football in the 2025-2026 offseason has revolved around strength of schedule.

Conference bragging rights are based on it. The College Football Playoff selection committee incorporates a strength of schedule and strength of resume metric into their ranking system. Perceptions of team strength can swing wildly based on assumptions of their schedule's difficulty.

Predictably, the Big Ten and SEC dominate most lists of the toughest schedules in the country in 2026. The Texas Longhorns may have the most difficult road of any team in the country. Ohio State has road trips to Texas, USC, Iowa, Nebraska and Indiana, while hosting Oregon and Michigan. It's hard to argue that's not one of the toughest schedules, even for arguably the best roster in the sport.

ESPN PERSONALITY BUSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR INACCURATELY TRYING TO PROMOTE THE SEC'S STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

The top-to-bottom strength of the nation's two preeminent conferences, particularly the SEC, means most programs in those leagues have a reasonably demanding slate. Then there's the other Power 4 conferences.

Few would argue that the ACC or Big 12 plays the same level of schedule as Texas or Ohio State in 2026, for example. And schools in the SEC and Big Ten are happy to remind you of it. When playoff debate time comes around, they're the first to point out that 9-3 in the SEC is different from 9-3 in the Big 12. And they're usually right, at least to an extent.

But if you ask the Texas Tech Red Raiders, there's an explanation for their weaker strength of schedule, and it's because those same schools won't play them.

CODY CAMPBELL THREATENS LAWSUITS AGAINST CFB PLAYOFF, WARNS OTHER CONFERENCES AGAINST AVOIDING TEXAS TECH

Tech head coach Joey McGuire told Brett McMurphy and On3 that despite their best efforts, and conversations with big programs like USC, Texas A&M, NC State and others, they haven't been able to find top-tier opponents for their non-conference schedules moving forward.

"We’re talking to everybody and anybody. So far, everybody’s told us no," McGuire said.

There may be justifiable reasons for those teams to avoid the Red Raiders, including some residual frustration and anger over the handling of the Brandon Sorsby situation. Yet at the same time, it raises legitimate criticism of those schools, their conferences, and how they argue about this all-important metric.

Texas Tech can't make the other Big 12 teams better. But they can try to make their schedules tougher by adding matchups against traditional powerhouses like Texas A&M, USC, or Texas. If those teams won't schedule Texas Tech, how can they criticize them for not playing enough tough games?

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Again, there are legitimate concerns over how Tech handled the Sorsby scandal. And McGuire has already said he wants the team to embrace the role of the "villain" in college football. Still, Tech has made major investments in improving their program, building a playoff contender, and competing with the best of the best. Instead of running away, teams should give them a chance to prove that they're reaching that next level.

Or don't complain about it later.

Democrats take sixth shot at ousting popular GOP governor who voted for Harris

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:03:43 -0400

Democrats in deep blue Vermont have a new nominee as they take a sixth straight shot at trying to oust popular Republican Gov. Phil Scott.

Economist Amanda Janoo on Tuesday defeated former child advocacy organization CEO Aly Richards — who is backed by former Democratic Govs. Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin — to capture the party's gubernatorial nomination, the Associated Press reported.

Scott was unopposed as he cruised to the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Scott is running for a sixth two-year term steering Vermont, and if he wins the general election and completes another term, he’ll pass Dean as the northern New England state's longest serving governor. Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire are the only two states in the nation to elect governors every two years.

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Scott is a moderate Republican and a vocal GOP critic of President Donald Trump.

The governor endorsed former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, and voted for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, over Trump in that year's general election.

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Beating Scott in November will once again be a tough task for Democrats in a state where their party normally dominates elections.

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Scott won a whopping 73% of the vote in his 2024 re-election, besting the 69% he received in his 2022 victory.

Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell power Fever past Liberty, lift Indiana atop Eastern Conference

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:45:08 -0400

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White commanded the spotlight for more than two minutes before Tuesday night’s game. But once the ball went in the air, her team did the rest of the talking.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell caught fire early, scoring 20 of her 28 points in the first half, while backcourt running mate Caitlin Clark finished with 22 points and 10 assists as Indiana cruised past the New York Liberty, 106-92, for its seventh win in nine games.

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Mitchell made 11 of her 16 attempts from the field and she, like Clark and Sophie Cunningham, made four 3-pointers. Cunningham finished the game with 12 points and Aliyah Boston added 19 points and seven rebounds.

Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu each had 19 points for the Liberty. Jonquel Jones ended the night with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

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When Indiana’s 3s stopped falling in the third quarter, New York charged back quickly and cut the deficit to 66-57 with 6:51 to play. The Fever recovered, with Mitchell’s three-point play and Cunningham’s three-pointer in the final minute of the period pushing the lead to 87-67.

Before the game, White defended herself after she was criticized for her response to DiJonai Carrington’s flagrant foul on Cunningham, and pleaded with people to focus on the sport and not the continual sideshows.

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"The hate, the fearmongering, the divisiveness that’s trying to hijack our league will not win. It won’t win," White said, her voice rising as she pounded the table in front of her. "We are united. We are connected. We will not be divided. Every day these women put their ass on the line. Every day when they go low, we go high. Love will win. Grace will win. Humility will win and kindness will win. I stand by them, I will always stand by them. Everybody else can go to hell."

After making the comments, White immediately left without taking questions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dems eye pick-up in Wisconsin swing district as Rep Van Orden set for rematch in key House race

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:39:53 -0400

A former waitress, small-business owner and nonprofit founder won the Democratic primary in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday, setting her up for a rematch with Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden.

Rebecca Cooke, raised on an Eau Claire-area dairy farm, defeated former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge on Tuesday evening. The win puts Cooke back on the ballot in one of Democrats’ top House pickup opportunities this fall.

It will be Cooke’s third attempt to win the western Wisconsin seat. She lost the 2022 Democratic primary to then-state Sen. Brad Pfaff before securing the party’s nomination in 2024. Van Orden defeated her that November by roughly 11,000 votes, winning 51.4% of the vote to Cooke’s 48.6%.

WISCONSIN DEM TOUTS ENDORSEMENT FROM UNION PUSHING BACK AGAINST CDL CRACKDOWNS ON ILLEGAL ALIEN TRUCKERS

Cooke has sought to make her working-class background central to her campaign. She grew up on a dairy farm near Eau Claire, has worked as a waitress since she was a teenager and founded the Red Letter Grant, a nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs. She also previously operated a small retail business and served on the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. after being appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Her campaign has focused on affordability, health care and the economic challenges facing rural communities, while portraying Cooke as a pragmatic Democrat able to appeal across party lines in a district that includes Eau Claire, La Crosse and much of western Wisconsin.

Cooke entered the primary as the better-funded candidate and with national support from Democrats.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) added Cooke to its "Red to Blue" program, which directs party resources toward candidates viewed as viable in competitive districts.

Berge, a mental health counselor and former Eau Claire City Council president, ran as a local alternative to Cooke, arguing voters should have a choice rather than see the nomination effectively decided by national party backing and fundraising. Her strongest base of support was expected to be in and around Eau Claire.

IOWA DEM ADMITS BEING ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ WITH WHITENESS AS SHE SEEKS TO FLIP COMPETITIVE HOUSE SEAT

The general election is likely to renew scrutiny of Cooke’s personal finances and past political work. Van Orden’s campaign has pressed her to release a financial disclosure that was extended until Aug. 13, two days after the primary. The campaign has argued that earlier disclosures showing income from political consulting and rental properties undercut Cooke’s working-class image.

Republicans have also sought to cast Cooke as a Democratic political insider, pointing to her work on Democratic campaigns and fundraising. Cooke has presented that experience as part of a broader record that includes operating a business, leading a nonprofit and working in the hospitality industry.

Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL who was first elected in 2022, is seeking a third term.

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The 3rd district in Wisconsin, a swing state, has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections, but Cooke’s narrow 2024 loss and substantial fundraising have made the race a closely watched contest as Democrats seek to win back the House in November.

The bipartisan Cook Political Report moved the race from "lean Republican" in the last election cycle to "toss up."

Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice says he is '100% locked in' after serving 30-day jail time for probation violation

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:25:25 -0400

Before Rashee Rice was back with his Kansas City Chiefs teammates for the upcoming season, he had to serve 30 days in jail following a probation violation stemming from a multi-vehicle crash back in 2024.

Rice called the discipline a "reality check."

"It was a learning experience and a reality check," Rice said, via ESPN. "Don’t focus on the past. Focus on what’s going on now. I’m doing [well] mentally."

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Rice was on probation for his involvement in the 2024 multi-vehicle crash, where he eventually pleaded guilty to two felony charges.

The NFL also docked Rice six games for violating their personal conduct policy, which he served this past season.

CHIEFS RECEIVER RASHEE RICE JAILED FOR 30 DAYS AFTER PROBATION VIOLATION AND IT COULD GET WORSE

Rice violated his probation after testing positive for THC, which mandated a 30-day jail sentence in Texas. He began serving that sentence on May 19, and he was released from jail in mid-June.

He also received surgery to take care of loose bodies in his right knee, which caused him inflammation during his eight games for the Chiefs in 2025.

He declined to speak with reporters who were waiting for him outside the detention center, but now at training camp, Rice faced the music.

"It was mentally tough. They gave me ways to communicate with my teammates still as well as my athletic trainer," Rice explained. "Besides the hard times in there, I kept my mind right watching shows and as much Kevin Hart as I could to laugh."

Rice added that he was allowed to get treatment done on his knee while serving his time as well.

"I would stretch it, do some activation on it and then hit the weight room and jog, just condition and get the muscle fatigue going as well as my stamina."

Rice is only entering Year 4 in the NFL, but off-the-field issues have taken away from the solid chemistry he has with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has trusted him with top wide receiver duties. His production has warranted that as well.

"I’m 100% locked in on what’s going on now with the team," Rice explained. "I’m ready to go out there and dominate. I’ve got a good group of brothers behind me."

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Rice tallied 571 yards on 53 receptions with five touchdowns in his eight games with the Chiefs in 2025. He had a breakout rookie campaign with 938 yards on 79 catches with seven scores in 2023, but he was unable to play a full year in 2024 after suffering a season-ending knee injury.

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Longtime anti-Trump Dem ousted after tough primary from upstart progressive mayor

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:08:11 -0400

Fourteen-term Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., met his match in Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin during Tuesday’s hard-fought primary race.

Larson, who has served in Congress since the Clinton administration, faced three challengers: Bronin, state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest and Hartford Education Board member Ruth Fortune. The sprawling district includes Hartford, Glastonbury, Bristol and Windsor Locks.

Earlier this term, during a markup of legislation providing House members with DOGE access to Treasury payment information, Larson erupted at his colleagues and began yelling:

"You will do whatever Elon Musk and Donald Trump tell you to do. Where's the independence of the committee? Where's the legislature? We're an equal branch of government," Larson yelled. "Look at the empty seats here. Where's Elon Musk?"

HOUSE DEMOCRAT LASHES OUT WHEN GRILLED ON WHETHER SOCIALIST VICTORIES WOULD THREATEN DEM UNITY

Larson has routinely criticized Musk and President Donald Trump during his tenure, notably filing more than a dozen articles of impeachment following the arrest and extraction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

In that case, Larson accused Trump of piracy and other offenses. The impeachment push came as Larson faced a primary challenge from the younger Bronin.

Bronin, who also served in the Obama administration, appeared to be gaining on incumbent Larson as the year went on. He ran as a candidate seeking generational change in a longtime Democratic seat.

STATE OF PLAY: DEMS BATTLE FOR SHOT AT CRUCIAL ARIZONA HOUSE SEAT AMID GOP'S RAZOR-THIN MAJORITY

The First District has not seen a Republican lawmaker since Rep. Edwin May Jr., R-Conn., who served during the Eisenhower administration.

Gilchrest is considered a progressive who also is also pro-choice abortion rights.

Fortune, considered the lowest-funded major candidate, ran an education-focused campaign.

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Republican challenger Amy Chai, a medical doctor focused on addiction treatment, said on her campaign site that Americans are too stressed and depressed because of national divisions and need a change.

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Democrats, however, are again favored over Chai and the GOP this fall in the district.

North Korea launches another ballistic missile as US, South Korea prepare for military drills

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:00:14 -0400

North Korea launched another ballistic missile Tuesday, marking its second reported ballistic missile launch in less than a week.

Japan’s prime minister’s office announced the latest launch Tuesday. Details about the missile’s trajectory, range and where it landed were not immediately available.

The U.S. military said it was monitoring the launch and consulting with allies and partners in the region.

NORTH KOREA EXPERT WARNS US CAN 'NEVER TAKE THEIR EYE OFF' KIM JONG UN FOLLOWING MISSILE TEST DURING IRAN WAR

"We are aware of the recent missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, these events do not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies," U.S. Pacific Command said in a statement. "The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region."

The latest launch comes less than a week after North Korea test-fired a short-range ballistic missile from its eastern Wonsan area on Aug. 5.

That missile landed in waters off North Korea’s east coast and did not reach Japanese territory, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said following the launch.

Koizumi said North Korea’s repeated missile launches pose a threat to Japan and the region, and Tokyo lodged a protest with Pyongyang through their embassies in Beijing.

MICHIGAN MILITARY EXERCISE PREPARING THOUSANDS OF TROOPS FOR CHANGING BATTLEFIELD

South Korea’s military bolstered its surveillance posture and coordinated with the U.S. and Japan following the Aug. 5 launch, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

South Korea’s presidential national security council called that launch "a provocation" that violated U.N. Security Council resolutions and urged North Korea to stop its missile activity.

The launches come ahead of annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, which are typically held during the second half of August.

"This annual exercise aims to build understanding between Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, and ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), ROK government agency, ensuring their ability to fortify the combined defense posture and enhance Alliance response capabilities against a spectrum of security threats," United States Forces Korea has said of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises.

WHY TRUMP IS DOWNPLAYING REPORTS RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE HELPING IRAN

"It will feature live, virtual, constructive and field-based training, engaging personnel from the various military services," it added.

U.S. and South Korean officials have said the training is defensive in nature, while North Korea has characterized the exercises as preparation for an invasion and has often responded to military drills with missile tests.

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The Aug. 5 test was North Korea’s first ballistic missile launch since late June, when it tested a tactical ballistic missile carrying what state media described as a "special mission" warhead along with other weapons.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said following those tests that his military needed to bolster its "deadly and destructive offensive posture."

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.

4-year-old dies after suffering electrical shock from clothes dryer inside Kansas home

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:53:24 -0400

A 4-year-old child died in a "tragic accident" last Thursday after being electrocuted by a clothes dryer, according to Kansas officials.

The incident happened in Savonburg, Kansas, while the child was "playing" inside a home, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) said in a statement Saturday.

The child "allegedly received an electrical shock from a 220v dryer," the sheriff’s office said.

The parents rushed their child, who was reportedly unconscious, to a local hospital around 9:30 p.m., according to authorities.

GEORGIA TEACHER, FATHER HAILED AS HERO AFTER DYING TO SAVE GIRL FROM MYRTLE BEACH RIP CURRENT

However, the child was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

No foul play is suspected at this time, and the ACSO is investigating the incident.

Officials extended their condolences to the family and responders involved following the incident.

"The Sheriff’s Office extends our heartfelt condolences to the family members and all those affected by this tragedy, including the Allen County dispatchers, first responders, and hospital personnel," the office said.

A 220-volt electrical current, which was involved in Thursday’s accident, can cause serious injury or death, including cardiac arrest.

MAN, WOMAN KILLED IN RIP CURRENT AS LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE LEAVES DANGER ZONES IN BEACH DESTINATION

While clothes dryers have been linked to thousands of home fires annually, primarily caused by lint buildup blocking exhaust ducts or overheating electrical elements, electrical deaths involving major laundry appliances are considered extremely rare.

In one of the rare instances, a 10-year-old boy was found dead inside a dryer at a Houston-area apartment complex in 2018, according to Fox 5 DC.

A medical examiner determined the boy had been electrocuted, while investigators found no signs of injury or foul play.

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The death was ruled accidental.

Republican survives primary on Tim Walz's old congressional turf as Dems eye seat flip

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:52:19 -0400

Republican voters in Minnesota chose their incumbent representative in the U.S. House as their nominee in the race for the state's 1st Congressional District.

Finstad faced off with Gregory Goetzman and Oliver Morlan in the Republican primary on Tuesday.

Goetzman previously unsuccessfully challenged Finstad in 2024, earning a measly 4.26% of the vote compared to the incumbent's 90.9%. Morlan, who is involved in his family's industrial cleaning business, ran in Tuesday's race as the political outsider.

2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS

Of Minnesota's eight districts in the U.S. House of Representatives, the 1st District is one of the state's four Republican-held House seats. It covers a large swath of southern Minnesota, including Rochester and much of the state's farm country.

Finstad will advance to the November general election to face the winner of the Democratic primary between Alex Eaton, a math teacher and former teachers-union leader, and Jake Johnson, a small business owner. Eaton is considered more establishment while Johnson is considered to be the more progressive of the Democrat candidates.

The bipartisan Cook Political Report ranks the race as 'lean Republican,' a downgrade from the 'solid Republican' ranking in the last elections as Minnesota, especially in its city centers, increasingly embraces leftist ideals.

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Rep. Finstad has represented Minnesota in the House since winning a 2022 special election. It was held after Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who after years of therapy and surgery for a kidney cancer diagnosis in 2019 and after testing positive in January 2022 for COVID-19, died on February 17, 2022.

Before Hagedorn, the seat was represented by Democrat Tim Walz, who left Congress after being elected governor in 2018. He is still governor, after an unsuccessful run for vice president on the ticket with then-Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Walz announced on January 5, 2026 he would not seek reelection.

Minnesota's 1st congressional district has trended Republican in recent election cycles but has a history of electing candidates from both parties.

Agriculture, health care, manufacturing and the economy are expected to remain central issues as the race moves toward the November general election.

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The Republican and Democratic nominees will compete in November to determine who will represent southern Minnesota in the U.S. House.

Failed presidential candidate wins Dem primary for Midwest governor amid fraud scandal fallout

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:32:50 -0400

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has won the Democratic nomination for governor of Minnesota as she continues her bid to replace outgoing Gov. Tim Walz, who dropped out of his re-election bid in the midst of a massive fraud scandal.

Klobuchar, Minnesota's senior U.S. senator and a former Democratic presidential candidate, defeated a field of long-shot challengers in Tuesday's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary.

Klobuchar will move on to face the winner of the crowded GOP primary in November.

MN GOVERNOR RACE TO REPLACE WALZ SEES MAJOR SHAKEUP AS GOP CONTENDER ENDS CAMPAIGN: 'DON'T SEE A PATH'

Walz announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term as governor as his administration faced intense criticism over its handling of fraud involving Minnesota government programs that federal prosecutors say could end up costing the taxpayers over $9 billion.

The fraud issue has loomed over Minnesota politics, with Republicans hammering Walz and state Democrats over what they say was a failure to prevent the misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Klobuchar entered the race with significant advantages in name recognition and political experience. She has represented Minnesota in the Senate since 2007 and previously served as Hennepin County attorney.

She also sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 before ending her campaign and endorsing former President Joe Biden.

KLOBUCHAR VOWS FRAUD CRACKDOWN, AUDIT OF MN GOV’T AS GOP BLASTS WALZ TIES

When she rolled out her governing priorities in May, Klobuchar said: "You are right to be angry about the fraud. It is unacceptable and it must end." She promised a "top-to-bottom audit" of state government beginning on "day one."

The Plymouth, Minnesota born Klobuchar's campaign includes a policy plank titled "Make Government Accountable and Root out Fraud." It says that "fixing the government is the foundation of everything we need to do" and promises "immediate action to root out fraud."

Klobuchar's gubernatorial campaign puts her in the unusual position of seeking a new office without first relinquishing her seat in Washington.

Klobuchar has not resigned from the Senate while campaigning for governor. Her current Senate term does not expire until January 2031, meaning a loss in the gubernatorial race would not by itself cost her the Senate seat.

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If Klobuchar wins the governorship in November and resigns from the Senate, her departure would create a vacancy in Minnesota's congressional delegation.

Klobuchar will now attempt to keep the governor's mansion in Democratic hands in November in a state that has not had a Republican governor since former Gov. Tim Pawlenty left office in January 2011.

White House asks DOJ to consider new prosecution in Reflecting Pool case

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:26:52 -0400

White House officials have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to explore whether it would be possible to pursue a new prosecution against the man accused of vandalizing the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, weeks after federal prosecutors moved to dismiss felony charges against him, Fox News has learned.

The previous case, which U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office moved to dismiss on July 31, accused Olympic canoeist David Hearn of damaging the costly $14 million project after cracks, algae growth and peeling sealant were discovered.

Pirro's office cited findings from the Department of the Interior that concluded the damage was linked to flaws in the installation process rather than vandalism.

White House officials have since reached out to the DOJ to determine whether Hearn could instead face a misdemeanor charge, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal. No final decision has been made, Fox News has learned.

TRUMP URGES JEANINE PIRRO TO REVISIT DROPPED LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM CASE

In response to the move, Hearn's attorneys said pursuing a new case would only undermine the DOJ's credibility after prosecutors already acknowledged they lacked sufficient evidence to support the original charges.

"If true, it would mark a shocking first: a case that the DOJ lost by its own admission because it lacked the evidence to convict, returning from the dead. This would add another bizarre turn to a sad chapter in the DOJ's history and further harass an innocent man," the attorneys said in a joint statement.

The statement was issued by Norm Eisen of Democracy Defenders Fund, Mary Dohrmann of Washington Litigation Group, and Steve Levin of Steptoe LLP.

TRUMP SAYS HE 'DISAGREES 100%' WITH U.S. ATTORNEY JEANINE PIRRO OVER REFLECTING POOL CASE

While Pirro's office has moved to drop the original federal case, prosecutors sought a dismissal without prejudice, meaning the charges could potentially be brought again.

The possibility of a renewed prosecution comes as the Trump administration has repeatedly maintained that the damage was caused by vandalism.

President Donald Trump said slashes were found in the pool's material that appeared to have been made with a knife. He also claimed people had been seen kneeling at those exact locations with their hands in the water.

U.S. Park Police identified Hearn as a suspect after he was reportedly seen grabbing and tugging on a loose section of the pool's coating on June 19. Police said he continued to do so even after National Park Service employees urged him to stop.

TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM ALLEGATIONS, CITES NEW WITNESS ACCOUNT

The damage was estimated at about $1,000 and resulted in Hearn's indictment on July 2 on one count of felony destruction of property.

Trump has urged Pirro to reconsider her "hastily made" decision to drop that felony charge and criticized Hearn's alleged political connections, claiming he was a "big player" in the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.

"U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro should re-visit her hastily made decision, especially since it turned out that the ‘gentleman’ involved is a big player in ActBlue, a disgraceful fundraising SCAM, and is represented by a TRUMP DERANGED SLEAZEBAG, Political Hack Lawyer, Norm Eisen, and CREW, a group that uses ‘charity’ for political purposes which is, to the best of my knowledge, ILLEGAL!" Trump said.

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Trump later said Pirro "choked" under pressure from a judge regarding the case and "folded like an umbrella."

Trump’s ‘firewall’ against socialism in battleground state punches ticket to election

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:25:11 -0400

Rep. Tom Tiffany is one step closer to capturing the governor's mansion in battleground Wisconsin for the Republican Party.

Tiffany, a hard-right member of the House Freedom Caucus who is backed by President Donald Trump, on Tuesday topped medical service technician Andy Manske to secure the Republican gubernatorial nomination, the Associated Press reported.

"This fight is bigger than any one party. It’s bigger than any one candidate. This fight is about Wisconsin and protecting the state we know and love. It’s about lowering property taxes, returning the surplus to you, getting utility costs under control, and letting hardworking Wisconsinites keep more of what they earn," Tiffany said in a statement after winning the primary.

Tiffany is expected to face off in the general election against far-left state Rep. Francesca Hong, who is likely to win the Democratic nomination for governor.

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The winner in November will succeed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who decided against seeking a third term in office. The race is a top gubernatorial flip opportunity for the GOP.

Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is running on a platform that includes guaranteed paid leave, boosting the state's minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 per hour, and a one-year moratorium in Wisconsin on building AI data centers. Hong has faced scrutiny over years-old social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police. But she says she no longer supports cutting police budgets or abolishing police departments.

"I'm not defunding the police, not abolishing police. I am serious about public safety," Hong emphasized on Saturday as she took questions from voters.

DEMOCRATIC GROUP LAUNCHES $15 MILLION WAR ON DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS: 'MORTAL DANGER'

Hong also made national headlines over the past two weeks for a resurfaced social media post from 2020 where she argued that the country should "cancel Thanksgiving" in order to "stop celebrating colonialism."

Hong walked back her Thanksgiving comments, amid backlash, and now says that Thanksgiving is her "favorite holiday."

On her resurfaced tweets, Hong told reporters on Saturday that she has "evolved" and "learned."

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Pro-GOP super PACs, including one aligned with the Republican Governors Association, shelled out millions of dollars to boost Hong in the primary, as they viewed her as the weakest Democratic candidate.

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In a Fox News Digital interview on the eve of the primary, Tiffany said his state would be "the firewall… We’ll be the place that stops socialism."

And Tiffany, who grew up on a dairy farm, added, "Some people may not agree with a few of the policies that I'm for, but they know I'm genuine. They know I'm authentic."

Socialist winning streak faces major swing-state test as polls close in Wisconsin

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:26 -0400

MADISON, Wis. – Polls closed Tuesday evening in Wisconsin, where a closely watched Democratic primary featuring rising progressive star Hong is headlining a consequential night of contests across six states and putting the party’s ideological divide on full display.

The Wisconsin showdown is among the night’s clearest tests of the battle between the Democratic Party’s ascendant left wing and its center-left establishment, with the outcome poised to reverberate well beyond the Badger State.

Voters also headed to the polls Tuesday in South Carolina, Vermont, Connecticut, Alabama and Minnesota, with another marquee contest unfolding in South Carolina in the race to succeed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham — and offering a fresh test of President Donald Trump’s endorsement power.

Trump is backing Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator’s younger sister, in a crowded special Republican Senate primary one month after Graham’s sudden death. GOP Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham last month to serve the remainder of her brother’s term. Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry and former Gov. Mark Sanford are among her top rivals for the nomination.

But some of the night’s biggest political fireworks are still to come in the Midwest, where Wisconsin and Minnesota are the key battlegrounds in the high-stakes fight between the left-wing and the center-left establishment for the future of the Democratic Party.

After far-left candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly edged out more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens a week ago in battleground Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, the spotlight now shifts to statewide nomination showdowns Tuesday in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

At stake: a top-tier Senate showdown in Minnesota that's among a dozen races nationwide that will determine if the Democrats can win back control of the chamber from the GOP, and a gubernatorial face-off in crucial swing-state Wisconsin where Republicans are aiming to flip the governor's mansion.

DEMOCRATIC GROUP LAUNCHES $15 MILLION WAR ON DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS: 'MORTAL DANGER'

"Michigan proved that working people are ready for something different, and Wisconsin is next," Democratic candidate for governor Francesca Hong wrote following El-Sayed's victory.

Hong, a state representative and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, is the polling frontrunner in a Democratic gubernatorial nomination showdown that's been rocked this summer after two major contenders dropped out, and another candidate re-entered the race.

The primary winner will likely face off in the general election with Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the overwhelming polling and fundraising frontrunner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, in the race to succeed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who decided against running for a third term. Tiffany, who is backed by Trump, is a hard-right member of the House Freedom Caucus.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Hong, a 37-year-old former chef and single mother, is backed by top nationally known progressives, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ro Khanna of California, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender. But Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a longtime champion of the left, last week said he didn't plan on endorsing Hong, arguing that he was not familiar enough with her campaign or the race. And Hong also didn't land the backing of another top progressive champion: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Hong is running on a platform that includes guaranteed paid leave, boosting the state's minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 per hour, and a one-year moratorium in Wisconsin on building AI data centers. Hong has faced scrutiny over years-old social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police. But she says she no longer supports cutting police budgets or abolishing police departments.

"I'm not defunding the police, not abolishing police. I am serious about public safety," Hong emphasized on Saturday as she took questions from voters.

Hong walked back her Thanksgiving comments, amid backlash, and now says that Thanksgiving is her "favorite holiday."

On her resurfaced tweets, Hong told reporters on Saturday that she has "evolved" and "learned."

Tiffany, in an interview on the eve of the primary as he teamed up for a couple of campaign events with former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, told Fox News Digital that Wisconsin will be a "firewall… We’ll be the place that stops socialism."

MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, two of the major contenders for the Democratic nomination, exited the race this summer. And Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who earlier suspended his campaign and backed Rodriguez, re-entered the contest.

Crowley is backed by Evers, who joined him on the campaign trail in the closing stretch leading up to the primary.

There's a growing number of more moderate Democrats concerned that if Hong captures the gubernatorial nomination, as many expect, it will give Tiffany a big boost in his bid to flip the governor's office.

A Wisconsin-based Democratic strategist who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely argued that with Hong at the top of the ticket, "it will hurt Democrats down ballot, in key congressional and legislative races" in the Midwestern battleground.

Meanwhile, pro-GOP super PACs, including one aligned with the Republican Governors Association, have shelled out millions of dollars to boost Hong in the primary, because they view her as the weakest Democratic candidate.

Asked about electability concerns, Hong told Fox News on Sunday that "this election belongs to the voters. We let the voters decide. The candidate that's the most electable is the one that earns the most votes. So we're focused on meeting voters up until Election Day, until the polls close."

TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE SOUNDS ALARM IN WISCONSIN: ‘COMMON SENSE AGAINST CRAZY’

The Democratic Party's civil war is also on display in Minnesota, as progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and more moderate Rep. Angie Craig are the top two contenders battling for the party's nomination. The current senator, Democrat Tina Smith, is retiring at the end of this year.

It's been 24 years since a Republican won a U.S. Senate election in Minnesota. But a primary victory by Flanagan, who is backed by Sanders and another progressive heavyweight, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, may boost the GOP hopes of flipping the seat in a blue-leaning but competitive state.

Former longtime TV sports reporter turned political activist and conservative commentator Michele Tafoya, who is backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is the polling and fundraising frontrunner in the GOP Senate nomination race. The field also includes former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, 2024 Senate nominee Royce White, a former NBA basketball player, and retired U.S. Navy officer Tom Weiler.

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Embattled Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, announced at the beginning of the year that he wouldn't seek a third term as governor amid heavy political pressure and national scrutiny over the state's handling of a major child care fraud investigation.

Longtime Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the overwhelming frontrunner for the party's gubernatorial nomination.

Mike Lindell, the My Pillow founder and former CEO who is a close Trump ally who joined the president in denying former President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 White House race, is a leading contender for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, along with Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth. The field also includes healthcare technology executive Kendall Qualls.

The primary is the latest test of Trump's Republican endorsement clout and his sway over the GOP. But the Trump endorsement hasn't proven to be a sure bet this cycle in solidly-red 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.

In deep-blue Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is running for renomination for a third term. Lamont is facing a primary challenge from the left, from state Rep. Josh Elliott.

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And in Democrat-dominated Vermont, Republican Gov. Phil Scott is unopposed in the GOP primary, as he seeks a sixth two-year term as governor. Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire are the only two states in the nation to elect governors every two years.

Former lobbying group CEO Aly Richards and economist Amanda Janoo are facing off for the Democratic nomination, with the winner challenging Scott in the general election.

In Alabama, voters in the reliably red state's 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Congressional Districts go to the polls in special primary elections. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey called for the special contests after a U.S. Supreme Court order allowed Alabama to use a 2023 GOP-drawn congressional district map instead of a court-ordered one that included a second Black-majority seat.

South Carolina GOP Senate showdown heads to runoff in race to succeed Lindsey Graham

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:22:39 -0400

Appointed Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman have advanced to a runoff election in the special Republican Senate primary in South Carolina, the Associated Press reported, in the race to succeed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

With no candidate topping 50% of the vote, Graham and Norman will face off in the runoff in two weeks. Rep. Russell Fry and former Gov. and former Rep. Mark Sanford, as well as other contenders, fell short in Tuesday's primary, which was held one month to the day after the late longtime senator suddenly died at age 71.

The nomination showdown is the latest test of President Donald Trump's immense grip over the GOP and the power of his endorsements in Republican primaries, as the president backed Graham, who is the late senator's younger sister. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster last month appointed Graham to fill the remainder of the current Senate term, which concludes at the end of the year.

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"I want to thank President Trump, his steadfast support and his complete and total endorsement means so much to me. He knows that I will stand with him and fight for his agenda, just like Lindsey did," Graham said at her primary night event.

Norman, who unsuccessfully campaigned this year for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the race to succeed term-limited South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, and Fry, a two-term congressman, are both House allies of Trump and also showcased their support for the president in their Senate campaigns.

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Sanford, who briefly launched a long-shot and unsuccessful White House GOP nomination challenge against Trump in the 2020 presidential primaries, is known as a fiscally conservative budget hawk. Sanford pointed to the nation's debt as a key motivator behind his decision to launch a Senate campaign.

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The large field of GOP contenders also included businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham by nearly 30 points in the June Republican Senate primary.

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

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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.

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The winner of the Senate runoff election in two weeks will be considered the clear front runner in the midterms against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician.

Private equity company Apollo agrees to finance deal with New York Yankees organization for $2.6 billion

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:57:41 -0400

Well, it's here, private equity has entered the world of Major League Baseball.

Private equity has long yearned to make inroads into the growing and increasingly lucrative world of sports, including even college football teams or conferences. But this week became the biggest sign yet that these businesses are intent on increasing their investments into preeminent sporting organizations.

Not just any preeminent sporting organization, the largest, most successful and most recognizable brand in Major League Baseball: the New York Yankees.

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On Tuesday, Apollo Sports Capital and the Yankees announced that the two sides had agreed to a deal injecting $2.6 billion into the Yankees franchise, while keeping the Steinbrenner family in charge. This represents one of the largest investments into a baseball team, and a blueprint for similar investments moving forward.

It's not clear how much of a stake in the Yankees Apollo is purchasing, though Forbes estimated the organization's valuation at around $8.5 billion earlier in 2026. But Major League Baseball rules restricts any individual private equity company to 15% ownership stake in a team.

Again, though it's not been reported how much ownership Apollo is taking, it seems likely that $8.5 billion figure is far too low. And it indicates that, as usual, owners crying poor about their franchise valuations are not being fully forthcoming or honest.

Not every team is the Yankees. But when a private equity company is willing to invest $2.6 billion just to get involved with a baseball team, it's clear that there's a lot more money coming into MLB than they've let on. The San Diego Padres, for example, sold for nearly $4 billion earlier in 2026. Peter Seidler bought that organization for $800 million in 2012.

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Still think baseball needs a salary cap? Or do owners need to spend commensurate with the rapid growth of their franchises in recent years?

Hal Steinbrenner issued a statement on Tuesday welcoming Apollo to the "Yankees family."

"We welcome Apollo to the Yankees family," he said in the statement. "We are continually seeking ways to strengthen our positioning, and this partnership allows us to explore pursuing strategic opportunities."

Just what fans want to hear: strategic opportunities, not "signing Tarik Skubal."

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But again, this is what baseball's become; billionaire owners using their locations, investment and money to finance "strategic opportunities," not make their baseball team the best it can possibly be. Instead of blaming players or the Dodgers for doing their best to win games, more attention and focus should be placed on owners treating their organizations like real estate investments instead of competitive sports.

‘Twilight’ star Kellan Lutz traded California for Tennessee land and Bible studies

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:53:06 -0400

Kellan Lutz said this week that he left California three years ago for Tennessee after the pandemic.

"I love California, I really do," he explained on "Inside of You" with Michael Rosenbaum. "The whole Tennessee move happened when we had our second kid."

The "Twilight" actor said they moved from Orange County – and his wife, Brittany Lutz, hopes to eventually move back there or at least to be "bi-ish coastal."

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Lutz’s wife was born and raised in Orange County. "Her family is awesome. But post-COVID, a lot of people flew, like fled California. A lot of people lost jobs and wanted to move somewhere a little bit more peace given."

His wife’s family chose to leave California, and he said they followed them to Tennessee, mainly because otherwise she wouldn’t have had a support system when he goes on location for work, and she’s left at home with the children.

"And one of the kids got sick. She felt really out of control as far as not being able to bring both kids there or just kind of helpless. So, she's like, ‘Can we move?’ I'm like, ‘Yeah, of course," he explained.

He added that other men with kids in his life told him that new moms usually wanted to move to where their mom lives "just to help with the kids."

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"Then when they decided to move, I was like, "OK, well, we're going to do it. We're going to give it a couple years and we have, and it's great. There's a lot of great things about Tennessee, especially Franklin where we live."

The family moved to Tennessee three years ago, but he acknowledged he doesn’t know how long they’ll stay.

"We got some land, got great Bible studies that we're a part of, great churches, great community," he said. "There's a lot of actors. I've gone to probably more movie premieres in Franklin, Tennessee, than I have in L.A., you know, the last couple years since I lived there."

Admittedly though, there are adjustments.

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"Like we aren't seasons people," he said. "There's tornadoes. My wife goes on red alert, especially when you have kids. And we do miss good sushi and good Mexican food."

Trump looms over blue state primary as progressive gov faces far-left challenge

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:31:57 -0400

Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is no fan of President Donald Trump, but his progressive primary challenger, state Rep. Josh Elliott, says he’s too cozy with the president.

Lamont defeated Elliott in a high-stakes New England primary Tuesday in a state that not long ago shifted from competitive territory to reliably Democratic.

Elliott, D-Hamden, painted Lamont as too "nice" to Trump, saying that being "nice is a problem right now."

"Nice doesn’t solve affordability. Nice doesn’t solve fascism or fight back against fascism," Elliott told the Connecticut Mirror.

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"[Ned] can be nice all day long, but that’s a liability right now."

Lamont, meanwhile, told the outlet that "talk is cheap" and said Elliott has little to offer compared with the incumbent’s record during his nearly eight years in office.

Lamont’s camp said it wants to see single-payer healthcare and additional resources for early childhood education in the state. Connecticut is increasingly becoming a bedroom community for the New York City, Providence and Boston metropolitan areas.

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Lamont faces state Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, in the November general election.

While now reliably blue, Connecticut not long ago had several Republicans in Congress and GOP governors with staying power, including John Rowland, who was later imprisoned.

Republicans held Connecticut’s governorship for much of the period between the Reagan era and 2010, when the late Gov. M. Jodi Rell decided against seeking another term and Democrat Dannel Malloy succeeded her.

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Former Sen. Prescott Bush, father of former President George H.W. Bush, represented Connecticut in the U.S. Senate for more than a decade in the mid-20th century.

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Lowell Weicker, a liberal Republican U.S. senator who preceded Joseph Lieberman, also served as governor in the 1990s under the "A Connecticut Party" line, which he founded.

AOC's attempt to dismiss 'Woke 1' as 'crazy' draws criticism from left-leaning outlets

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:22:51 -0400

Even left-leaning and progressive media have begun to turn on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over her attempts to laugh off the extreme rhetoric of the "Woke 1" era.

On Tuesday, The Atlantic published an article titled "The Democrat Can't Just Laugh Off 'Woke 1,'" criticizing Ocasio-Cortez for shrugging off the past progressive beliefs she once championed as a "crazy" time.

"I have a local city councilman that has this saying, 'Woke 1 was crazy,'" Ocasio-Cortez said while laughing on ABC's "This Week." "And I think that what’s important is that we have to assess what a candidate is saying now."

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The Atlantic writer Idrees Kahloon wrote that Ocasio-Cortez was not the only Democratic candidate who has attempted to walk back or distance herself from extreme beliefs like defunding the police but warned that those attempts could backfire as socialists continue to gain power.

"All of these avoidance strategies could fail. Woke 1 may be over, but progressives have not given up their attempt to take over the Democratic Party apparatus," Kahloon wrote. "Candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America — who have proved ascendant in primary elections this year — still take radical positions."

"Ideas never die, but they can go dormant," he continued. "The unwillingness to extirpate wokeness now may result in its resurgence later. The silence of conventional Democrats and the ascent of the DSA could make the party’s 2028 presidential-primary contest resemble the 2020 one."

"Then, candidates of all stripes competed to out-left one another, committing themselves to positions that caused their party electoral trouble for years," Kahloon continued. "Should Ocasio-Cortez become the Democratic candidate for president, she may experience that painful lesson firsthand."

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A Mother Jones report on Tuesday likewise viewed Ocasio-Cortez's comments as an attempt to appear more moderate for a 2028 presidential run and criticized her for "going backward" in terms of social reckoning.

"While this may be valuable in future elections, it raises the question of what it says to those who elected Ocasio-Cortez and are still confronting the struggle of the late 2010s and previous decades. One can win votes without laughing off progressive discussions. What if the rhetoric of six years ago evolved into a more widespread, substantial reckoning? In 2026, it’s not enough to repeat the same rhetoric — let alone signal toward going backward," the Mother Jones article read.

CNN reporter Aaron Blake described Ocasio-Cortez laughing off past political takes on Tuesday as "bad for our politics" if voters cannot trust what politicians believe.

"Implicit in these arguments is that maybe these politicians didn't believe what they said in real time — that they were just saying stuff. But the question then becomes: Does that also apply to what they're saying today?" he wrote.

"It would be better to reward politicians who have the foresight and wisdom to take positions that they actually believe in and can stick to — and can stand the political test of time," Blake added.

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Though progressive outlet Vox largely defended Ocasio-Cortez's tonal shift, it also acknowledged that politicians like Ocasio-Cortez were "stepping back from things they used to say."

"The broad ideals — diversity, equity, a basic sense of fairness — still matter to Democratic voters. Criminal justice reform still has real purchase with the base. Minority and women candidates have kept winning since 2024, and even ideas like reparations still resonate with big chunks of the Democratic electorate. What’s changed isn’t who these candidates are — it’s what they choose to lead with," a Vox article read on Monday. "What has fallen out of favor is a way of talking."

In a comment to Fox News Digital, NewsBusters Executive Editor Tim Graham remarked that liberal outlets are likely criticizing Ocasio-Cortez for inadvertently ridiculing the goal of electing more Democrats.

"The liberal journalists who aren't accepting ‘Woke 1’ excuses are the ones who want the AOC wing of the Democrats to come to grips with how they will lose in red or purple states by taking cartoonishly extreme positions like defunding the police. That may work in deep-blue Queens, but not in Nebraska," Graham said.

"They're saying 'we agree on our shared goals, but we don't like your lingo or your rhetorical poses,'" he added. "You can't get away from it just by claiming it's now passe. It may have aged badly, but it never went away. Woke 1, if it was repealed, was repealed by [President Donald] Trump when he won in 2024 and set out to dismantle DEI ideology as it was installed in government-funded institutions."

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Ocasio-Cortez previously faced intense backlash from conservative commentators and politicians for laughing off her past support for extreme rhetoric or policies.