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Azzi Fudd wins WNBA 3-point contest, becomes first rookie champion

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:35:06 -0400

Azzi Fudd put on a historic shooting display during her first WNBA All-Star weekend. The Dallas Wings guard won Friday night’s 3-point contest, becoming the first rookie in league history to win the event.

Fudd finished the first round with 30 points, 10 shy of the maximum possible score. Portland Fire star Bridget Carleton was eliminated after scoring 19 in the round. Fudd took 27 shots, missing just six of her attempts en route to winning the coveted title.

Fudd acknowledged she experienced some nerves Friday night. "You saw ‘only’ six shots, but I feel like that was a lot," Fudd said. "But honestly, I was really nervous. I was excited."

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Fudd added: "It's fun to do because... and I don't want to sound cocky... but it's easy to me, just the set shot. Take the ball from the rack; it really is muscle memory. It's what I've been doing since I was young."

Fudd entered the All-Star break averaging 2.2 shots from beyond the 3-point arc this season. She's knocked down 53 total 3-pointers so far during her rookie year.

LIBERTY'S SABRINA IONESCU ADDRESSES ABSENCE FROM WNBA 3-POINT CONTEST: 'NEVER OFFICIALLY GOT INVITED'

While injuries impacted Fudd's college basketball career, Dallas valued her overall talent and took her with the first selection in April's WNBA Draft.

Fudd also said her injury setbacks came with an unexpected benefit. The repetitive shooting she did during rehab helped sharpen her form and build the rhythm needed to knock down shots from the same spots in Friday’s 3-point contest.

"That was a lot of chair shooting, a lot of stationary shots, so you get really good at shooting off of a rack and being stationary and robotic and having to knock your shot down."

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Before the 3-point contest, the WNBA debuted another All-Star event in Chicago — the Shooting Stars competition.

Replacing the past skills challenge, the Shooting Stars competition featured four three-person teams. Each roster included one former player designated as a legend, one current player and one rising young player. Team Washington defeated Team Seattle to win the inaugural event.

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Trump spares no one at WHCA dinner, taking aim at Dems, press and his own Cabinet

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:33:17 -0400

President Donald Trump struck a more conciliatory tone Friday at the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner, scrapping the combative speech he had prepared before an assassination attempt upended the annual event in April. The rewrite emphasized unity and gratitude, though the president still couldn't resist slipping in a few familiar jabs at the press while insisting: "The show must go on."

Trump returned to the stage just months after gunfire abruptly ended the organization’s annual banquet. An armed suspect, Cole Allen, stormed the event in what authorities say was an attempt to assassinate the president.

"The speech that I had ready just a short while. Oh, that was going to be a doozy. I was so psyched. I was going to rip people. And I don't know, just something changed it — really for the better. But I just wouldn't want to do that," Trump said to a room full of journalists and government officials.

"But we'll do a little ripping, if you don't mind. But it is true. I said, how do we handle this is going to be a different kind of evening. And it is. And in many ways it's a more beautiful evening, actually," he added.

TRUMP HEADS BACK TO CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER MONTHS AFTER GUNFIRE FORCED EVACUATION

Trump teed up his typical walk-out song — Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." — and quickly jumped into joking about seeking a third term before striking a more serious chord as he thanked the Secret Service for its work, not only during the attack at the original Correspondents' Dinner, but for protecting him every day.

He delivered a speech that went longer than expected, talking for an hour and four minutes.

"Just like my presidency, the second time is always better. It's always better, and the third time will be better yet. I'm only kidding," Trump said to some chuckles throughout the room.

The president said he could not deliver the same speech he had planned for the first dinner, "ripping" the press, but said "it was for the better" that he changed his remarks for the second time around.

COLE ALLEN INDICTED BY GRAND JURY ON FOUR CHARGES RELATED TO ALLEGED TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

He made various jokes aimed at not just Democrats but his own cabinet members.

"I hope that everyone finally got to enjoy their entire very delicious beef tenderloins, very special beef. And I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy, who's right here personally, ran over the cow and his car," said Trump.

TRUMP HEADS BACK TO CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER MONTHS AFTER GUNFIRE FORCED EVACUATION

He took aim at California Governor Gavin Newsom, former vice president Kamala Harris, possible 2028 presidential candidate Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker among other Democratic lawmakers and candidates.

" You can't have somebody like a J.B. Pritzker who I understand is not president, sadly. But, you know, some people say never used a fat word. And I know I would never call anybody fat," said Trump.

"I have my own problems, you know, it's not like I'm perfect, sir. In the back. Don't call him a fat pig, okay? That's. I'm sticking up for him. Don't call him you. You can't do that, sir. You can't call J.B. Pritzker a fat pig," said Trump.

Trump mocked Chuck Schumer's criticism of Israel and his increasingly vocal positions on the Israel-Hamas war.

"I'm going to send him a beautiful Palestinian outfit tomorrow so he can greet Bibi Netanyahu when he comes to town next week," joked Trump.

He used the moment to call for term limits, saying, "all joking aside, I do think we need term limits in Congress."

"The other day, a senator I knew got a text... 'When you get home, I want to have you immediately come up the stairs and make love to me.' And he said, 'I can't do both," joked Trump, saying that he can't both walk upstairs and have sex—he only has enough energy for one of those activities.

The WHCA honored U.S. Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzales during Friday's dinner in recognition of his actions in helping stop Allen from entering the ballroom.

The computer scientist from Torrance, California, traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. by Amtrak after purchasing a one-way ticket. Court filings say he sent a manifesto to family and friends shortly before the attack, describing political motivations and apologizing for his actions.

Allen has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempting to assassinate the president, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, transporting a firearm across state lines and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.

"The attempted mass murder at the Washington Hilton, that's what it could have been, was an assault on our democracy itself," Trump said in his speech, which spanned from jabs at Democrats, the press and some jokes at the expense of his own Cabinet.

PHOTO OF TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SUSPECT COLE ALLEN IN HOTEL ROOM RELEASED AS DOJ SEEKS TO KEEP HIM JAILED

"One officer placed himself directly in harm's way and engaged the armed suspect, even after gunfire struck his protective vest. He stayed in the fight and the attacker was stopped," said Weijia Jiang, former WHCA president presenting the award to Gonzales.

"I know many of us have wondered. What if he hadn't acted in that exact way? What if he had waited a few more seconds? His courage that night reflects the core values of Secret Service duty, justice, courage, honesty and loyalty, and as a commitment to safeguarding his country and community," said Jiang.

During the speech, Trump highlighted his White House Ballroom following heat for the $200 million project, pointing to the lawsuits.

FIRST ON FOX: WHITE HOUSE REVEALS WHO’S JOINING TRUMP AT CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER — AND WHO CAN’T ATTEND

"In light of what we went through, I think, people understand it. It's going to be amazing, a phenomenal one of the biggest drone ports anywhere in the world," Trump said, referencing gunfire at the first WHCA Dinner.

Trump said that he "predicts" the WHCA would use the space for future dinners.

He also vowed to attemd next year’s WHCA dinner.

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"They said, 'Would you do it next year?' I said, 'I will be back next year,'" Trump said. "Now, if you get really, really nasty, maybe not. I don't know. But we're going to be back next year."

In his closing remarks, Trump said he has a "scoop" for the press announcing he is running for the fourth time.

He put on a red "TRUMP 2028" hat.

Mets star Juan Soto exits in sixth inning against Dodgers with lingering calf injury

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:47:56 -0400

The New York Mets have been dealt yet another blow on the injury front, this time with star Juan Soto exiting the game.

The Mets hosted the defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers — fresh off a White House visit — on Friday evening.

It was an eventful evening at the ballpark, as actress Emma Stone was there filming a movie and took some time to chat with Soto before the game.

TRUMP CAN'T HELP BUT TAKE JAB AT METS IN SPEECH WHILE PRAISING BRAVES CEO: 'THEY LOSE ALL THE TIME'

However, that may have been the highlight of the night for Soto.

The 27-year-old drew two walks, but partway through the sixth inning, the Mets took Soto out of the game.

The calf injury has been lingering for a while and has been on the Mets' radar. In fact, it first surfaced on July 16. Soto was even given time off earlier this week to address it.

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Before the game, interim manager Andy Green even addressed it.

"It’s improving for him," Green said, per MLB.com. "Hopefully after today, we don’t have to talk about it anymore."

Unfortunately, they will, and on social media, Mets fans were trying to handle the latest bit of injury news.

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Soto was the only All-Star for the Mets this season, which underscores what a problem it is if he's not in the lineup.

Through 84 games this season, Soto is batting .283 with 83 hits and 21 home runs. He is in the second year of a 15-year, $765 million deal that he signed with the Mets in December 2024.

Gretchen Whitmer endorses moderate Haley Stevens in tight upcoming Senate primary

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 21:55:03 -0400

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens ahead of the state’s U.S. Senate Democratic primary.

Stevens, a more centrist candidate, and progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed are considered the front-runners in the race as early voting starts on Saturday.

Whitmer’s endorsement could give Stevens a boost in a state where the governor twice won by considerable margins.

DEMOCRATS' CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWN

The governor also beat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary for governor in 2018.

Whitmer told supporters at a Teamsters hall in Detroit on Friday that Stevens has "what it takes to win" while appearing with her and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn.

"Michiganders need a fighter in Washington and there are few leaders with more fight in ’em than Haley Stevens," Whitmer said at the event.

SWING-STATE POLL SPELLS TROUBLE FOR FAR LEFT AS SCHUMER-BACKED CANDIDATE DOMINATES WITH CRITICAL VOTING BLOCS

Stevens, who flipped a Republican House seat in 2018, is also backed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, a two-term Democrat who is retiring from the seat.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are backing El-Sayed.

"The corporate establishment has closed ranks and made their pick – now, Michigan voters will get to make theirs," Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed, told the Associated Press.

JEWISH MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS ADMIT THEY WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN IF ABDUL EL-SAYED BECOMES NOMINEE

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Michigan’s Democratic primary is on Aug. 4 and the winner will face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November.

Democrats want to flip the U.S. Senate from narrow Republican control and must hold Michigan to do so.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Trump orders signs outside Smithsonian museum amid row over its depiction of American history

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 21:31:14 -0400

President Donald Trump on Friday ordered his administration to install signs outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History directing visitors to what the White House describes as "accurate" information about the nation's past.

The executive order instructs the National Park Service, which maintains the sidewalks outside the museum, to place signs informing visitors about a White House report released July 4 that criticized the Smithsonian's portrayal of American history. Trump also directed the creation of a temporary exhibit intended to correct what his administration considers inaccurate historical information.

TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CALLS OUT SMITHSONIAN FOR PUSHING ‘ONE-SIDED, DIVISIVE POLITICAL NARRATIVES’

The move follows a report from Trump's Domestic Policy Council that accused the Smithsonian and the National Museum of American History of failing to present history "in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic."

Because the Smithsonian operates independently of the executive branch, Trump cannot directly remove museum leadership or unilaterally change exhibits. Instead, the order targets federal property outside the museum that falls under National Park Service jurisdiction.

National Museum of American History Director Anthea M. Hartig defended the museum during congressional testimony this week.

"As we continue to fact check the report, we unwaveringly attest that it does not fairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum," Hartig told lawmakers. "There is always room for improvement. But I also know the beauty and the inspiration and the expertise that lies in our collections, our exhibits, and our programming."

MED SCHOOL DEANS COME UP EMPTY IN TENSE HEARING WHEN ASKED POINT BLANK IF MEN CAN HAVE BABIES: 'RIDICULOUS'

Friday's order builds on Trump's broader effort to reshape the Smithsonian's exhibits.

In March, Trump signed an executive order directing the Smithsonian's Board of Regents to eliminate what the administration described as "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology" from the institution's museums.

The White House later criticized the National Museum of American History's "Entertainment Nation" exhibit, arguing displays about American pop culture framed the nation's history through an ideological lens rather than celebrating its achievements. White House official Lindsey Halligan previously told Fox News Digital that "American taxpayers should not be funding institutions that undermine our country or promote one-sided, divisive political narratives."

OBAMA JUDGE RULES ON EFFORT TO BLOCK AMERICA 250 EVENTS AT WH AND LINCOLN MEMORIAL

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At the time, the Smithsonian said it was conducting a review of museum content and remained committed to "continuous and rigorous scholarship and research and unbiased presentation of facts and history."

The Smithsonian is overseen by a Board of Regents that includes Vice President JD Vance, Chief Justice John Roberts, members of Congress and citizen regents. The institution receives roughly two-thirds of its approximately $1 billion annual budget through federal appropriations.

Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

Fired '60 Minutes' correspondent accuses CBS News leadership of meddling in reporting

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 21:00:15 -0400

Ousted "60 Minutes" correspondent Cecilia Vega spoke out against her former bosses at CBS News, alleging they had meddled in the show's reporting.

Vega, who was fired by the network in May, appeared Thursday at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference & Expo in New Orleans. According to audio obtained by Status News, Vega decided to speak candidly about her experience despite initially being "scared" to do so.

"It's not that I just lost a job. There is a lot at stake," Vega said, per Status. "Sometimes you got to be scared and do it still."

CBS NEWS FIRES '60 MINUTES' CORRESPONDENTS, TOP PRODUCER IN SWEEPING SHAKEUP OF STORIED PROGRAM

Vega alleged that while reporting about the anti-ICE unrest in Minnesota in January that spotlighted the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, she was encouraged to also include footage of anti-ICE agitators attacking those that were perceived to be plain-clothed ICE agents, but she concluded there were "no credible examples" despite one reported at the time by Alpha News. She said her team was also asked to include comments made at a press conference by Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey about him allegedly urging local police to fight ICE agents and that the police chief rolled his eyes in reaction, insisting the moment was "misinformation" after a thorough search.

"That never happened," Vega reportedly said. "We could not find any instance of the mayor saying something like that."

BARI WEISS ADDRESSES SCOTT PELLEY FIRING IN CBS NEWS STAFF CALL, SAYS IT'S THE ‘PATH THAT HE CHOSE’

At a Jan. 14 press conference, Frey said residents had been asking police officers "to fight ICE agents on the street," denouncing the idea of two government entities "literally fighting one another." The police chief standing beside him can be seen raising his eyebrows in a surprised reaction to the apparent request from residents.

Additionally, Vega claimed she was told to introduce a report about President Donald Trump's war with Iran by saying, "Who is winning the war? Iran is totally outgunned by the United States and Israel" despite being just days into the conflict, a quote she considered an "administration talking point."

When asked if the alleged meddling impacted her reports, Vega replied, "If you watch my pieces, you'd see those examples did not make them in."

CBS SHOOTS DOWN 'POLITICAL INTERFERENCE' CLAIMS IN AFTERMATH OF '60 MINUTES' FIRINGS

While she refrained from citing Weiss by name, Vega said the "new administration at CBS News" was behind the various directives and that she "never had an opportunity to sit down with Bari Weiss one on one" before her firing.

"I don't know why I was fired," Vega said, per Status. "It's been about three months now... and I don't know. I was not given a reason. I still have not been given a reason."

A spokesman for CBS News pointed to a statement previously given to Fox News Digital after Vega first spoke out, saying, "We respect Ms. Vega and her contributions, but her claims are not based in reality."

CBS News also cited a comment Weiss previously told the Wall Street Journal, saying "What’s being called ‘editorial interference’ is in reality the job description of an editor in chief."

Vega was among several top "60 Minutes" staffers who were let go in May, including fellow correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and executive producer Tanya Simon. Veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley was also fired after a combative exchange he had at a staff meeting with the show's new executive producer Nick Bilton.

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Dan Le Batard claims ESPN is run by McAfee and 'White people' after layoffs, slanders OutKick in unhinged rant

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:42:25 -0400

Welp, Dan Le Batard is back virtue signaling and cashing in left-wing political points. This is nothing out of the ordinary for the former ESPN personality as he provided his analysis of the ESPN layoffs, which included polarizing personality and one of the network's most prominent race-baiters, Ryan Clark. Le Batard also fired a shot at OutKick in his racially unhinged rant on Friday's show.

If you’re unaware, OutKick broke the news that the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" was going to let go of Ryan Clark on Monday, though our reporter Bobby Burack was made aware of the move on Friday. When Burack and fellow reporter Dan Zaksheske reached out to ESPN in the afternoon to tell them they were going to break the story within the hour, ESPN panicked. What they did next is under scrutiny. They used that hour to pull Ryan Clark off air during a commercial break, and pitched the story to The Athletic, so they could break it before we did. Since then, Jemele Hill has tried to slander OutKick and Burack. Le Batard is now jumping on that slanderous bandwagon while providing a race-focused take that may have inadvertently been the most Ryan Clark thing he could have said.

"Disney and ESPN somehow keep getting called too woke," Le Batard said. "All the journalists are out the door now. All of the Black people, or almost all of the Black people who were actually going to say things that Black people agree with strongly, all of them are gone too. You’re gonna have trouble finding Hispanics, you’re gonna have a network run by McAfee and all of the White people now in charge there."

ESPN PARTING WAYS WITH NFL ANALYST RYAN CLARK AHEAD OF NETWORK'S FIRST SUPER BOWL BROADCAST

There it is! The race card has been pulled. Classic Le Batard. Remember the unwritten rule for liberal sports personalities, just like Ryan Clark: If you don't have a proper argument or anything truly intelligent to say, make it about race.

Le Batard then turned his attention to OutKick.

"It's fairly shocking to see Ryan Clark let go in that fashion," Le Batard stated. "To embarrass a proud Black man at the end because an institution covered in s--t stains does the reporting. Someone leaks the information to an institution covered in s--t stains that is a perpetual grift," Le Batard claimed, without proof, as he slandered our reporting.

SPORTS MEDIA RUSHES TO CAST RYAN CLARK AS VICTIM WHILE PORTRAYING ESPN AS THE VILLAIN

He went on to say: "Someone inside ESPN decided I'm going to f--k Ryan Clark at the end.

"They had it planned for Tuesday. Let me embarrass this dude because that's the game I play at a dishonest time with something that isn't even media. [OutKick’s] just a dishonest entity in a costume of media."

When asked to provide proof of our "dishonesty," Le Batard did not respond to a text message. Nor has he responded to inquiries about the lack of Black people in charge of his show.

In sports media, mistakes are made. Corrections have been made in reporting over the years at OutKick, just like any other legitimate media outlet, but to claim the entire company is "dishonest" and essentially fake media, is wildly unfounded.

Instead of objectively criticizing ESPN for how it handled Ryan Clark's exit, including waiting days to address it, Le Batard took shots at us. Where's the journalistic integrity in that? There is none.

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This is also another example of a leftist calling someone and something they don’t like a "grift." It’s a low IQ way to distract & deflect from the actual issue at hand. A grift is sharing content and building a platform based off of things you don’t actually believe. That couldn’t be further from the truth at OutKick.

OutKick drives the national conversation about sports and American culture with original, smart, fearless reporting along with common sense analysis. We question the consensus, which Le Batard falls into more often than not, and expose the destructive nature of "woke" activism people like him propagate. OutKick is the antidote to the mainstream sports media that often serves an elite, left-leaning minority instead of the American sports fan.

California trans suspect arrested in mother's killing after neighbor recalls heated argument

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:37:50 -0400

A California man was arrested this week in connection with his mother's killing, authorities said.

Angela Caprioli, 61, was found dead Monday at a home in Laguna Beach, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department. The New York Post identified Caprioli and the suspect, Safford Wolfson, as mother and son.

Wolfson, 36, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder after investigators previously identified him as a person of interest in the case.

RETIRED MATH PROFESSOR CHARGED AFTER WIFE, AN AIRLINE METEOROLOGIST, FOUND SHOT DEAD: COPS

Police said officers responded to a home in the 1300 block of Dunning Drive shortly after 11 a.m. for a death investigation and found Caprioli deceased.

The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.

Neighbor Dustin Pettit said he witnessed Wolfson and Caprioli engaged in what appeared to be a heated argument at the home days before the alleged killing.

FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED AFTER SUSPECTED HUMAN REMAINS FOUND BURIED AT PROPERTY WHERE HIS FATHER LIVED

"I saw her outside talking with him and it seemed like a pretty hostile conversation," Pettit told The California Post.

"She turned around and went inside and slammed the door, like she was fed up with whatever was going on."

Pettit also told CBS Los Angeles that Wolfson had moved into the home about six months earlier.

"He was pretty mysterious. He wasn't talking to us, you know, he would come outside, smoke a cigarette and play some guitar," he said. "That's kinda the extent of the relationship we've had with him over the last six months or so."

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According to the New York Post, social media accounts associated with Wolfson identify the account holder as transgender.

The outlet also reported that Wolfson wrote on Facebook in 2024: "Not even my mom wants to hang out with me man… talk about lame-o!"

House Republicans confront NJ governor over 6,600 noncitizens registered to vote in alleged software failure

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:32:51 -0400

Nineteen House Republicans are demanding answers from New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on how approximately 6,600 self-identified noncitizens were registered to vote and cast 400 ballots in what the state described as a software failure.

The group put the question to Sherrill in a letter published on Friday afternoon.

"Despite those answers, a software failure reportedly transmitted their information for voter registration between June 2023 and June 2024. This was not a minor clerical discrepancy," the group wrote in the letter. "It was a catastrophic breakdown of the most basic safeguard in our election system: ensuring that only eligible American citizens are registered and permitted to vote. How do you know this was just a software glitch and not a nefarious act?"

The letter continues to underscore Republican-led concerns that lawmakers are inviting election security liabilities without passing legislation to shore up voter identification and implement federal standards to ensure proof of citizenship.

GOP ERUPTS OVER 6,600 NONCITIZEN VOTERS FOUND IN BLUE STATE AS SCANDAL DEEPENS: ‘WORSE THAN ANYONE EXPECTED’

Its signatories included Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-N.J., and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., two of New Jersey’s three Republican congressmen.

Notably, the third, Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., did not join.

The system failure originally came to the public’s attention when Sherrill disclosed the issue in an announcement on Tuesday.

"Last week I learned that a serious software error in New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle System led to the registration of roughly 6,600 people who indicated that they were not U.S. citizens between June 2023 and June 2024, almost three years prior to my taking office," Sherrill said.

NEW JERSEY REMOVES 6,600 PEOPLE FROM VOTER ROLLS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO CAST A BALLOT FOR 2024 ELECTION

"These individuals answered ‘no’ when asked on a keypad whether they were a U.S. citizen when applying for drivers' licenses and identification cards, but through no fault of their own, the system registered them anyway."

Republicans in their letter listed a series of questions they said the state should answer, including what testing it normally conducts for voter roll maintenance, the specific counties where the improper ballots were cast, and whether Sherrill’s administration would support voter-ID legislation.

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"Republicans have been sounding the alarm for years about weaknesses in voter-registration systems, inadequate voter-roll maintenance, and the danger that noncitizens may be registered and permitted to vote in national elections, which is illegal under federal law," the letter stated.

The group has requested a response to its questions no later than Aug. 21, 2026.

Illegal immigrant who killed Nashville restaurant owner to face ICE deportation after prison

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:18:08 -0400

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are seeking custody of a Mexican citizen who authorities say entered the United States illegally through Texas in 2021 under the Biden administration and killed a Nashville restaurant owner.

After pleading guilty and being sentenced Tuesday to decades behind bars, ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Ulises Raigoza-Martinez, requesting that Tennessee officials notify the agency before his release, so federal authorities can take him into custody for removal proceedings, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The case stems from a June 19, 2024, encounter in the parking lot of the Nashville restaurant Smokin' Thighs, where investigators claim Raigoza-Martinez stopped to steal tools from owner Matt Carney's pickup truck.

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

When Carney, 42, walked outside to confront the thief, Raigoza-Martinez sped away, striking the restaurateur with his vehicle, authorities said. Carney landed on the hood before being thrown to the pavement when Raigoza-Martinez turned the vehicle.

Carney suffered critical injuries and died at a Nashville hospital on July 4, 2024.

Police arrested Raigoza-Martinez in South Nashville on July 18, 2024. Two years later, on July 22, 2026, he pleaded guilty to murder, theft over $10,000, tampering with evidence and theft over $2,500, before being sentenced to 20 years in prison.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS SEEKS CUSTODY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER TRUMP DEPORTATION, BIDEN RELEASE

DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said Raigoza-Martinez "should NEVER have been in our country to commit this heinous murder."

"We will work with our state and local partners in Tennessee to ensure that he is handed over to ICE custody once his sentence is complete, so that we can remove him from our country," Bis said.

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If Tennessee officials honor the ICE detainer, federal immigration authorities will take custody of Raigoza-Martinez after he completes his prison sentence so he can be placed into removal proceedings and deported.

One restaurant chain's special promo may not have been a great idea during Red Sox winning streak

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:10:16 -0400

The Boston Red Sox had their 15-game winning streak snapped earlier this week, and no one may be happier about it than a Boston-area restaurant.

Sure, the folks who work there are probably big Red Sox fans, but this winning streak had them losing their asses thanks to a promotion they were running.

The chain, 99 Restaurants, originated in Boston and has locations throughout New England and into New York.

REDS FANS GO BERSERK AFTER CATCHER TYLER STEPHENSON'S ABS CHALLENGE WINS THEM FREE PIZZA

According to Front Office Sports, the restaurant has been running a really simple promotion with the Red Sox since 2008: when the Red Sox win, kids eat free.

I think you can already see how this may have become a problem.

The Red Sox did not lose from July 2 until July 22, which means that for almost three weeks, kids were throwing down free grub.

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Now, I've seen a million promotions like this. Especially if you go to a minor league game, you'll see this for just about anything that can happen in a game.

Infield fly? Well, that just earned everyone in attendance a free small Blizzard treat from your local Dairy Queen (terms and conditions apply)!

But most of the time, I end up wondering how many people are going in with ticket stubs or even remembering that this promotion is even happening. Trust me, I love the idea of six free wings from some bar as much as the next red-blooded American, but there's a good chance I'll forget about it.

However, people didn't forget that youngsters were getting free food at 99 Restaurants. In fact, the restaurant said they gave away "thousands" of free meals, which reportedly go for about $8.

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That's a lot of chicken tenders...

Well, the chain got a nice two-day respite after the Red Sox's 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, but the team will look to get back to their free kids' meal-giving ways in a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

NYC 'Allahu Akbar' stabbings suspect's charges revealed, yells bizarre message during perp walk

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:18:52 -0400

The man accused of stabbing two people while allegedly yelling "Allahu Akbar" on Manhattan's Upper West Side Thursday afternoon has been charged with attempted murder, including hate crime counts tied to one of the victims, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

During a perp walk Friday afternoon, Raul Morales, 51, could be heard yelling "Justice for the Romero family" to reporters, mentioning an unknown woman by name, and vowing, "you're going to remember her name forever."

It is unclear who the woman is, and what the possible significance is of the remarks.

According to the NYPD, Morales was being transported to Downtown Manhattan for central booking following the perp walk.

WITNESSES RECOUNT 'SCARY' NYC STABBING AFTER SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY YELLED 'ALLAHU AKBAR' DURING ATTACKS

Morales is charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the stabbing of a 57-year-old Asian man, the NYPD confirmed.

In the attack on a 50-year-old Jewish man, Morales is charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

Morales' roommate told the New York Post that the 51-year-old calmly told him he was "just going for a walk in the park" before leaving the apartment Thursday. The roommate said Morales did not appear angry or agitated before the attacks.

Neighbors who knew Morales said they were shocked by the allegations. Several residents told the New York Post they had never seen him display violent or erratic behavior in the years they had known him.

SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY YELLING ‘ALLAHU AKBAR,' STABBING 2 MEN IN NYC ATTACK

Police said the stabbings appeared to be separate attacks that happened near each other Thursday afternoon on the Upper West Side.

Authorities said there was no known connection between Morales and either victim or between the two victims.

Investigators also executed a search warrant Friday at Morales' Upper West Side apartment as they continued to piece together a possible motive for the attacks. Police have not publicly disclosed what, if anything, was recovered during the search.

According to police, Morales allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" during the attacks. The NYPD is investigating whether bias played a role.

One victim is Jewish, while the other is Asian, police said.

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Both victims were taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Police said initial findings suggest mental health may have been a factor in the attacks, though Morales had no known mental health history with the NYPD.

The New York Post, citing law enforcement sources, reported Morales previously served about two years in state prison on drug charges in the early 1990s and remained on probation for much of that decade. The outlet also reported Morales had at least two prior drug-possession arrests and five sealed arrests.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attacks as "hateful and despicable," while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was "disgusted" by what appeared to be another attack targeting the Jewish community.

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

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck notches major legal win against Google, defamation suit to proceed

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:30:48 -0400

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck landed a major legal victory against Google on Friday as his defamation lawsuit will be able to move forward, according to a Delaware Superior Court ruling.

Last October, Starbuck filed a suit against Google seeking at least $15 million, alleging the company’s artificial intelligence programs defamed him by falsely portraying him as a "monster" to millions of users in the form of "AI hallucinations."

"The Court views these allegations as sufficient to support a claim for emotional distress damages at this stage in the proceedings, being sufficiently well-pled to proceed to discovery and flesh out the allegations," Judge Meghan Adams ruled in the court filing.

GOOGLE HIT WITH LAWSUIT OVER AI 'HALLUCINATIONS' LINKING CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST TO CHILD ABUSE CLAIMS

Starbuck touted the victory towards discovery on social media.

"Was it directed to lie about me due to political bias, as their AI alleged? Was it a rogue programmer? A negligently released product? An executive demanding this? Poisoned training? A political bias operation? We don’t know the answers to those questions yet but in discovery we get to find those answers and depose the people relevant to our case," Starbuck wrote on X. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it’s about to get bright in here. Discovery means we get to find out what Google knew, who knew it and why they allowed their AI products to continue spreading these horrific lies."

ROBBY STARBUCK ON WHY HE SUED GOOGLE: 'OUTRAGEOUSLY FALSE' INFORMATION THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Starbuck later wrote, "Google is one of the most powerful companies on earth. It may even be THE most powerful. But today, on July 24th 2026, they failed to shut the courthouse doors on us. In short, David landed a shot on Goliath today. Why? Not because David is so great but because God is and the human pursuit of justice IS righteous. Today is a historic victory and now we’ll prepare to win the rest of this fight, not just for me, but for all of us."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Starbuck marveled at the "historic decision."

"As we enter a time when AI increasingly dominates everything around us, we must ensure that it can’t hurt people. What was done to me should never happen to anyone else," Starbuck said. "We must draw a line in the sand that the AI being built can’t harm humans whether it’s via defamation or future physical harm. It’s my hope that this case can be the line in the sand. I very much look forward to discovery where we can dive deep on why and how this happened, as well as if any political bias played a role."

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

AI CHATBOTS TAKE HEAT OVER LEFT-WING BIAS: ‘NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED NEUTRAL’

The lawsuit claims Google's AI platforms – Bard, Gemini and Gemma – have continued to display false statements about Starbuck since 2023, despite multiple cease-and-desist letters. The false statements included claims he had been accused of sexual assault, rape and harassment.

The suit also claims Gemini itself "stated" that its alleged falsehoods about Starbuck were shown to 2,843,917 unique users.

"The breaking point for me was when they accused me of child rape. That was where I was like, ‘We have to just go forward with the lawsuit. They're clearly not taking this seriously. It's escalating into something much more serious and crazy,’" Starbuck previously told Fox News Digital.

Starbuck said that the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk made him realize "some crazy person could believe this stuff," prompting him to set the record straight.

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Fox News' Brian Flood and Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

Cause of death revealed for Big Sur hiker whose body was found naked on remote California trail

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:00:43 -0400

The California hiker whose remains were found in a remote Big Sur wilderness earlier this year died from complications of alcohol withdrawal, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, which ruled her death natural.

Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, died of "probable alcohol withdrawal seizures due to chronic alcohol use disorder," the sheriff's office said.

Shields was found dead April 9 near Sykes Hot Springs along the Pine Ridge Trail in Los Padres National Forest. Investigators initially treated the case as suspicious because her cause of death was unknown, and hikers reported seeing a head wound and marks on her neck.

CALIFORNIA HIKER'S BODY FOUND NAKED IN BIG SUR BACKCOUNTRY

The sheriff's office said investigators found no evidence Shields was the victim of a crime.

She was found lying near a shallow creek wearing a black sports bra, with her clothing, sandals and a water bottle nearby, according to authorities.

An autopsy determined a laceration above her left eye was superficial and did not contribute to her death.

Investigators also concluded the marks on her neck were caused by postmortem insect activity and found no evidence of strangulation.

NOLAN WELLS INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY DOESN'T POINT TO FOUL PLAY, FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS

"Investigators found no evidence during the forensic examination or throughout the investigation to indicate that Ms. Shields was the victim of a crime," the coroner's report states.

Fox News Digital previously reported that witnesses who discovered Shields' body told local media they encountered a man who identified himself as her friend and said he had found her after the pair became separated on the trail.

At the time, Monterey County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. Andres Rosas urged the public not to jump to conclusions, saying investigators were working to determine the cause of death and that everyone at the scene had cooperated.

The coroner's report also states Shields had a history of bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder. Family members told investigators her mental health declined in the months before her death after she stopped taking prescribed psychiatric medication. Her sister also told investigators Shields had previously experienced alcohol withdrawal seizures before becoming sober.

Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto said she hopes the findings provide answers for Shields' loved ones.

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"Our thoughts and prayers remain with Joanna's family and loved ones," Nieto said. "We hope these findings provide them with some measure of peace and closure after several difficult months."

Fox News Digital's Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.

Simone Biles returns to hospital for procedure weeks after 'almost dying' in 'medical emergency'

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:56:37 -0400

Simone Biles was back in a hospital recently to undergo a "procedure" more than a month after she "almost" died.

Biles shared a selfie of herself and her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, on her Instagram Story, praising him for taking her to her procedure on his birthday.

Biles was sporting a hospital gown and cap with Owens by her side as the couple smiled for the photo.

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The gold-medal gymnast posted white hearts and happy-crying emojis with the picture.

Biles has not released specifics about what caused her "medical emergency" that resulted in her going to the hospital last month, but said only that it "could have ended very differently."

SIMONE BILES FIRES BACK AT INSTAGRAM USERS WHO MOCKED HER NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE, REVEALS MEDICAL EMERGENCY

"This was one of, if not the scariest experience of my life, especially since Jonathan was in [Indianapolis] for practices. I've been in bed resting this week. I'll explain sooner or later, but [shoutout] to my close circle who reached out, checked in, visited & or sent flowers," she wrote at the time.

Biles' husband, Jonathan Owens, is a safety for the Indianapolis Colts. The couple has been married since 2023, though Owens' NFL career has occasionally forced them to spend time apart. Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018, he has played for five different teams.

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The two met while Owens was with the Houston Texans in 2019. Biles lives in Texas, where the couple has built a massive home together. Since his time in Houston, Owens has also played for the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears and now the Colts.

Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

Succession: Why Congress has no clear plan when lawmakers can’t serve

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:34:16 -0400

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have a lot in common.

Both have long spells of absences from Capitol Hill due to health.

Kean was out for months this winter and spring. But until he returned in June, no one knew exactly what was going on. Neither Kean nor his office or family said a word about why the congressman was AWOL.

Upon his return, Kean announced he endured a lengthy hospital stay for depression.

McConnell’s absence is similarly cryptic.

His office simply declared in June that the Kentucky Republican was hospitalized and receiving "excellent care."

Yet it took weeks to learn that McConnell was hospitalized for a fall and then pneumonia.

The dearth of information fueled conspiracy theories about whether McConnell was even alive. It prompted a letter of inquiry from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) as to the senator’s well-being.

He told SiriusXM he hadn’t "heard a thing. Not an email. Not a letter. Not a call."

But that’s not where the similarities between Kean and McConnell end.

During Kean’s absence, hardly a day went by when someone didn’t ask me about how they could potentially fill his seat. The same has gone on with McConnell for the past month-and-a-half.

There’s conjecture about whether their respective state’s governors, or even the House or Senate could declare their seats vacant since they haven’t shown up "for work." The American electorate is angry right now.

Prices are up. They’re disenchanted with politics.

At the very least, they want to know that the people they elected are on the job. And if they’re not, voters believe they’re entitled to explanations from those who serve them.

WATCH: LAWMAKERS REVEAL WHERE THEY STAND ON CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AFTER RECENT HEALTH SCARES

No one received timely clarity from either Kean or McConnell.

Which brings us to why some constituents think there should be a mechanism to remove lawmakers who are infirm or out for prolonged periods of time.

It’s not that easy.

Here are the constitutional qualifications for someone to serve in the House, according to Article I, Section 2: "No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen."

The Senate mandates are similar, as dictated by Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution:

"No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years, a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."

Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution declares that "Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own Members." It goes on to say that "with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member."

So, the Constitution is clear about the requirements to join the House or Senate.

It also grants both bodies the agility to decline to seat someone and even remove them from office.

But despite granting those authorities to Congress, the Constitution is silent on why the House or Senate might not seat someone. And, the Constitution is vague on reasons to expel a lawmaker.

That’s why we must rely on the standard established in Article I, Section 3 on qualifications of House and Senate members.

It says nothing about health. It says nothing about mental capacity. It says nothing about attendance or dereliction of duty.

It just determines the minimum criteria for people to serve in Congress. And if either the House or Senate decides they don’t want you here, they can either bar you at the door or kick you out.

Besides the House and Senate expelling someone, a governor must declare a seat vacant. And there’s nothing anyone can do to force someone to step aside.

The late Sen. Carter Glass (D-Va.) of Glass-Steagall fame, if you know banking law, fell ill in 1942. He was absent from the Senate for four years before dying. Glass rejected entreaties for him to resign.

The late Sen. Karl Mundt (R-S.D.) suffered a stroke in 1969 and couldn’t speak. Mundt’s wife nixed calls by Senate Republicans, demanding he resign. Mundt remained in office until early 1973, when his term expired.

Other lawmakers have missed swaths of time due to illness over the years prior to Kean and McConnell.

The late Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.) was absent for extended periods, suffering from Parkinson’s Disease in the 1990s and 2000s.

Former Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) suffered a stroke in 2012. He missed more than a year before returning to the Senate.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) missed several months after he was shot in 2017 at the GOP Congressional baseball practice.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was away for a couple of months after battling depression shortly after he joined the Senate in 2023.

These are just a few instances of lawmakers missing chunks of time because of illnesses.

There is only one instance in recent history where the House or Senate took action because of someone’s bad health.

On October 31, 1980, the late Rep. Gladys Noon Spellman (D-Md.) suffered a heart attack.

Voters re-elected Spellman a few days later. But Spellman fell into a coma, and she was unable to take the oath of office when the new Congress convened in January 1981.

Regardless, the House took the extraordinary step of voting to pay her – even though she wasn’t a Member. It was obvious that the Maryland Democrat would never be well enough again to assume office. The House then voted to declare her seat vacant, compelling Maryland to hold a special election.

So, the House didn’t remove Spellman because of her being incapacitated.

She wasn’t a Member at that stage. But, under Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, the House asserted its authority to "be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own Members."

It deemed that Spellman was not qualified.

The former President of the Maryland Senate then ran for the seat and won the special election. That’s how former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) came to Congress.

Spellman lived until 1988, never regaining consciousness.

LINDSEY GRAHAM’S FINAL ACT REVERBERATES IN SENATE AS SISTER IS URGED TO 'KEEP PEDALING'

Just before the Senate swore-in Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) last week, I received a call from someone asking if she was a "full senator." I answered in the affirmative.

Either you are or you aren’t.

You can vote. You can serve on committees. You can speak on the Senate floor. You have an office in the Capitol complex. It doesn’t matter how you got there. Darline Graham was a senator – via an appointment after the death of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

The Senate granted Graham the same committee assignments as her brother. That’s when someone asked if she could vote on the Judiciary Committee.

Same answer. She is a senator.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) has appointed her to at least serve out the balance of Lindsey’s term, which expires in January.

Darline Graham is now running for the full term which begins in January. But she must first make it through a primary – and potentially a runoff – in order to secure the Republican nomination. Then win the full term in November.

Note that we talked about McMaster appointing Darline Graham to the Senate. All but four states allow the appointment of senators. However, the Constitution bars appointment to the House.

So if a House member dies or resigns, the state must fill the seat via a special election. That’s why some House seats sit vacant for protracted periods.

Lindsey Graham’s seat was vacant barely two days before McMaster tapped the late senator’s sister to step in.

This is why Republicans have such a tenuous hold on the House right now.

There are currently 431 members. The breakdown is 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats and one Independent who teams up with the GOP. Extended absences by Kean — and to a lesser degree, Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) because of a major heart condition — made it hard for the GOP majority to operate.

Resignations or deaths could really alter the balance of power.

But once someone is in a House or Senate seat, they’re in. There’s no succession plan for health.

Average Americans suggest that they would lose their jobs if they didn’t show up for work. Even with a serious health condition.

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But the same thing happens in Congress. Every two or six years. People vote for the House and Senate.

Those lawmakers may in fact lose their jobs. But it might just take a very long time.

Selena Gomez posts swimsuit-filled yacht vacation photos with husband Benny Blanco

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:29:28 -0400

Selena Gomez got cheeky while on vacation with her husband.

In a recent Instagram post, the 34-year-old actress shared a series of photos from her recent getaway with her husband, Benny Blanco, captioning the post with a blue heart.

The photos included snaps of her husband, the delicious food they ate, Gomez petting horses and many that featured her on a yacht in a swimsuit.

One photo shows her rocking a white one-piece with a plunging neckline as she leans against the railing on the yacht, with the blue water visible behind her. She paired the swimsuit with sunglasses and gold hair clips as she looked up at the camera with her lips pursed.

SYDNEY SWEENEY SHARES BIKINI AND UNDERWEAR PHOTOS IN INSTAGRAM DUMP FROM AUSTRALIA TRIP

She is seen wearing the same one-piece later on in the carousel of photos. This time, however, she is sitting on the couch playing Scrabble with Blanco, who is sporting an all-white look and flashing the camera peace sign as he concentrates on the game.

In another photo, the "Only Murders in the Building" star is giving the camera a sultry look as she poses with her arms up in a blue bikini. She's wearing the same bikini in a different photo, but this time posing with her back to the camera.

"Happiness looks SO good on you. You are absolutely loved❤️," one fan wrote in the comments section, while another added, "I am so glad that she finally found her happiness ❤️."

Blanco couldn't help but comment on his wife's post, commenting, "ok lil juicy butt," before adding, "i see you."

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The former Disney Channel star and the record producer confirmed their relationship in December 2023, with Gomez noting they had already been seeing each other for six months.

They later announced their engagement in December 2024 and tied the knot in a private ceremony in September 2025.

"My perspective on it, in a simplistic way, is that I actually feel valued. I feel seen. I feel respected. And I think that’s all I’ve ever really wanted," she told Interview magazine in February 2025. I’ve kind of been alone in the world. I was alone for five years before we got together, and I think that really helped me appreciate someone like Ben."

She went on to say that 10 years prior to the engagement, she doesn't think she would have been "in a space in my life where I could have accepted the kind of patience, the kind of unconditional love that he gives me."

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Gomez is currently working on the sixth and final season of "Only Murders in the Building," sharing behind-the-scenes photos from set on Instagram, featuring Steve Martin, Meryl Streep and Olivia Colman.

She has earned six Emmy Award nominations for her work on the show, one for her role as Mabel, and five for her work as executive producer on the series.

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John Tortorella opens up about getting fired by Vegas after losing the Stanley Cup Final

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:17:54 -0400

Normally, when a coach leads a team to the Stanley Cup Final, even if they lose, they're back behind the bench the following season.

Not former Vegas Golden Knights coach John Tortorella, however.

Despite only taking over with eight games left in the regular season, he led Vegas to the franchise's third Cup final in nine seasons.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS MAKE SURPRISE DECISION ON JOHN TORTORELLA AFTER SHOCK HIRE LED TEAM TO STANLEY CUP FINAL

But after Vegas dropped Game 6 to the Carolina Hurricanes, the team didn't waste any time announcing that Tortorella would not be returning and that Ryan Craig — coach of Vegas' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights — was replacing him.

"I guess the word I’d use is ‘disappointed,’" Tortorella said. "I was honest with Kelly (McCrimmon, Vegas GM). We met the next morning (after Game 6)," Tortorella said in a new interview with The Athletic. "Kelly is very honest, and he let me know within one minute of sitting down in that meeting — he basically told me, ‘Ryan Craig is coaching the team next year.’ I told him what I thought, and we had an honest conversation. I truly respect where the organization is going.

"We didn’t finish the job, and I wanted some more time with that club to try to finish the job. That’s not my call. That’s the general manager and president’s call. You just get about your business after that."

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It's wild how much the Golden Knights embody their city, because, man, do they ever like to gamble, and they're usually on the money. It's insane.

Sure, Craig was the heir apparent, and they wouldn't want to lose him after investing so much in his development.

But Tortorella is a Cup winner (22 years ago, I know, but it still counts), and really had the team firing on all cylinders... so they make a change?

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Hey, their last gamble, axing Bruce Cassidy and bringing in Torts, worked out well.

But if the team struggles out of the gate, there's a good chance the front office faces some questions.

Combat vet senator chokes up over fallen friend in fiery floor speech about Iran war: ‘We will finish it’

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:13:23 -0400

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., choked up on the Senate floor as he pointed to a bracelet honoring a fallen friend he said was "cut in half" by an Iranian bomb, turning a Democratic-led push to rein in President Donald Trump’s war powers into an emotional warning about the cost of failing to confront Tehran.

The Montana Republican and combat veteran delivered the fiery remarks in opposition to an Iran War Powers Resolution that would have forced the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorized the mission. The Senate rejected an effort to advance the measure Thursday in a 47-49 vote, but not before Sheehy accused critics of ignoring decades of Iranian-backed attacks on Americans.

"We didn’t start this war, we did not. But, we will finish it," Sheehy said from the Senate floor. "And forever wars are not popular with anybody these days. Both sides of [the aisle] love to attack our forever wars. And I can promise you, being someone overseas wearing the uniform, when you’re fighting for your country, you don’t care what party’s in office."

REPUBLICANS FALL IN LINE WITH TRUMP ON IRAN WAR DESPITE RISING COSTS AND US DEATH TOLL

Sheehy argued Democrats were right to call the conflict a "war of choice," but said the choice was made by Iran’s regime decades ago — not by Trump.

"This is a war of choice. The Democrats are correct," Sheehy said. "It’s a war of choice that was begun by a radical, lunatic band of terrorists that took over a beautiful nation 47 years ago."

The former Navy SEAL then ticked through decades of attacks he tied to Iran and its proxies, invoking the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, the USS Cole, the Achille Lauro and terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

TRUMP THREATENS 'MAJOR MILITARY PUNISHMENT' FOR IRAN OVER FUTURE HOUTHI ATTACKS

"This regime that we are fighting does not care about our partisan politics," Sheehy said. "They don’t care who you voted for, who you pray to, or where you live. They want to kill all of us. And they don’t just say it, they actually do it. And they’ve been doing it for 47 years."

Sheehy also invoked William Buckley, whom he described as "an American military officer" who was abducted and tortured in the 1980s.

"William Buckley was abducted in 1985," Sheehy said. "He was skinned alive on camera by the Iranians."

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The senator concluded by describing Iran's ongoing retaliatory attacks as "the flailing's of a nation in collapse" not strength, citing what he called "an occasional missile strike" on commercial boats and U.S. military members in the Middle East. Meanwhile he encouraged his congressional colleagues to "think about the people who are deployed right now standing on that wall with a loaded weapon who volunteered to defend our country and our way of life" in what Sheehy described as a "just war."

"Last time I checked, we wiped these bastards out ... because they deserve it," Sheehy said. "We did not start a war with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), they started it with us 47 years ago and their attacks have gone unanswered for half a century. It is time to fix this problem and make sure another generation of Americans does not have to fight this murderous, savage adversary."

EXCLUSIVE: ICE removes former NFL player Daniel Ogama Adongo after visa overstay, criminal record

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:13:02 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: A former NFL player from Kenya with a criminal record has been removed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Chicago, ICE exclusively told Fox News Digital.

Daniel Ogama Adongo, 37, was a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts until 2015 and has been arrested multiple times over the last decade, including a conviction for criminal mischief with damage in 2020.

He was sentenced to a year in jail.

DHS BLASTS MINNESOTA BOARD FOR UNANIMOUSLY PARDONING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONVICTED OF 3 ASSAULTS

ICE said Adongo overstayed his visa in 2016 and under the Laken Riley act, signed by President Donald Trump last year, those in the country illegally are required to be detained without bond if convicted of certain crimes.

His other arrests include felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct, according to officials.

In March, Adongo was ordered to be removed by a Department of Justice immigration judge; the order was carried out on June 20.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS SEEKS CUSTODY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER TRUMP DEPORTATION, BIDEN RELEASE

"This dangerous individual was clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed," ICE Chicago Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson said in a statement. "Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes."

Adongo came to the U.S. after he was recruited as a rugby player and played two seasons with the Colts from 2013 until 2015.

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"Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, child sex abusers, gang members, and terrorists," ICE said.

TOM HOMAN WARNS ICE SURGE COMING TO NEW YORK CITY AS MAMDANI BOASTS ABOUT SANCTUARY STATUS

It added, "Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. More than 3 million illegal aliens are out of the country and counting. Our message is clear: If you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you."

Adongo could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

The surveillance camera on your street corner: lawful spying or constitutionally problematic?

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:04:51 -0400

The cameras that scan your car on your commute to work have quietly become one of the most widespread surveillance tools in America.

They record vehicle sightings, feed searchable databases and, when agencies choose to share data, can connect searches across jurisdictional lines.

Recent courts have upheld the particular ALPR networks before them, but they have left open whether a denser, more revealing system could cross the constitutional line.

What are ALPRs?

Automated license plate readers (ALPRs), which are usually small, solar-powered cameras mounted on a pole, building or police car, capture and record where tens of millions of drivers go every day. Flock Safety, one of the leading ALPR vendors, has exploded in popularity with law enforcement, municipalities and businesses in recent years.

The ACLU estimates that there are between 80,000 to 100,000 Flock cameras deployed nationwide.

Flock’s own marketing claims that it is present in more than 6,000 communities, working with more than 1,000 businesses, and more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, resulting in billions of vehicle scans per month.

LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS AT HOME DEPOT AND LOWE’S SPARK PRIVACY FEARS

How it works:

ALPRs photograph every passing car, capturing details like license plate number, make, model, color, and other distinguishing features like roof racks, bumper stickers, and scratches to create what Flock calls a "vehicle fingerprint."

This information is then uploaded to a searchable database that can be shared with other agencies when the owning department enables it, typically without a warrant.

Privacy concerns abound.

Privacy advocates, online creators, and concerned citizens argue that the concern isn't any single photograph but the aggregate data. A dense, searchable, cross-jurisdictional archive, they contend, can reconstruct a person's movements, associations and routines over time, providing a mosaic of a person’s life all without a warrant.

In a review of Flock audit logs, the Electronic Frontier Foundation reported finding searches associated with protest activity.

Advocates also point to reported misuse, including allegations that officers ran searches to track partners or acquaintances, and cases in which drivers were stopped and even held at gunpoint after an inaccurate plate scan.

But law enforcement say the tools help them solve crimes more efficiently.

Police departments and Flock counter that a license plate is displayed in public, that officers see only what any bystander can, and that the tool helps them solve crimes more efficiently.

Flock points to data retention limits, user accounts, and audit logs, and cites company data claiming its technology supports more than a million investigations a year.

What does the law say?

Courts have long held that, generally, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy of movements when traveling in an automobile on public roads and with license plate information that is exposed to public view.

WASHINGTON COURT SAYS FLOCK CAMERA IMAGES ARE PUBLIC RECORDS

In March 2026, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held in United States v. Elijah Porter that police use of an LPR system did not constitute a Fourth Amendment search because the system, consisting of around ten cameras, provided only periodic information about a person’s movement, not the whole picture; the court noted the periodic nature of the information captured was "much more" limited than geofence data and cell-site location information.

In Schmidt v. City of Norfolk, a pending appeal before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, two plaintiffs, one a Norfolk resident and the other a frequent commuter through the city, argued that the city's 176 cameras — retaining 21 days of images — let police retrace residents' movements without a warrant.

A federal judge granted summary judgment to the city, finding the camera network did not reveal enough of the plaintiffs’ movements to constitute a Fourth Amendment search but noted that at some point, ALPR surveillance technology could become intrusive enough to cross constitutional privacy lines.

Notably, building on the 2018 Carpenter decision, the Supreme Court ruled last month in Chatrie v. United States that police conduct a Fourth Amendment search when they obtain a person’s Google Location History (the record of location data that Google keeps on its users).

Though Chatrie involved cell-phone data, not license plate records, ALPR critics claim that Chatrie strengthens the argument that a searchable archive of someone’s past movements is constitutionally different from a single observation.

However, while cellphones can follow someone continuously, ALPR systems are generally fixed to a static location.

BLANCHE URGED TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN FIGHT AGAINST DATA CENTERS

Meanwhile, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) proposed the "Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act" this week to prohibit the federal government from purchasing or using mass tracking tools, in addition to banning states from using federal funding for the same systems.

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Saying we need to "ban these dadgum" things, Burchett argues the cameras are warrantless surveillance tools that violate the Fourth Amendment, saying that Americans should never choose between safety and liberty.

Pryce Renfroe contributed to this report.

Trump says Saudi nuclear agreement won't move forward without Abraham Accords: 'They have to be a member'

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:00:58 -0400

President Donald Trump said Friday that Saudi Arabia will have to join the Abraham Accords before the United States moves forward with a civilian nuclear agreement, saying the requirement had always been understood during negotiations.

Asked why he appeared to add a new condition after Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced progress on a Saudi nuclear deal, Trump rejected the suggestion that anyone had gotten ahead of him.

"No, nobody got out ahead. I mean, I just say that in order to do it, they have to be a member of the Abraham Accords, which have been very successful. But it's time now that they do it," Trump said.

TRUMP CALLS ON ARAB NATIONS TO SIGN ABRAHAM ACCORDS

Later, when asked whether he had authorized Wright to sign the agreement, Trump maintained the condition was never in doubt.

"Well. We didn't talk about it, but it was always understood. And Chris knew and Saudi Arabia knew that if they joined the Abraham Accords, the deal is not, I'm not going to do the deal," Trump said.

When a reporter followed up by asking why Wright signed the agreement if that condition remained, Trump said any deal would still have to clear Congress and would not move forward unless Saudi Arabia joined the Abraham Accords.

TRUMP'S IRAN DEAL SPARKS GOP DEMANDS FOR VOTE AS CONGRESS REMAINS IN THE DARK

"Because they understood that, subject to Congress and everything else, in order for that deal to go through, they had to sign into the Abraham Accords," Trump said. "We think the Abraham Accords bring peace in the Middle East."

Trump argued the regional security landscape had shifted after Iran's military capabilities were significantly weakened.

"There's no longer an Iran factor. There's no longer Iran to worry about because they've been reduced in terms of their capability and power by many fold," Trump said.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN'S MISSILES 'AREN'T THE PROBLEM' AFTER WHITE HOUSE MADE THEM CENTRAL TO WAR RATIONALE

Trump also emphasized that any agreement with Saudi Arabia would be limited to civilian nuclear energy.

"They'll join and they'll do their civil. It's really, it's civil nuclear. But that's what it is. No enrichment. It's civil nuclear," Trump said.

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The remarks came during an Oval Office event celebrating what the administration described as a milestone for advanced nuclear energy after four privately funded reactor companies met Trump's goal of bringing new reactor designs online by the Fourth of July. During the event, Trump hailed what he called a "historic milestone for civilian nuclear energy" and a "renaissance of nuclear power in America."

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional comment.

Trump weighs in on LeBron James vs Michael Jordan debate: 'I only like people that like me'

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:55:55 -0400

President Donald Trump has weighed in on one of basketball’s biggest debates: Who is better, LeBron James or Michael Jordan?

For Trump, the answer is easy. The president is all in on Jordan.

"Michael Jordan is a guy that's a friend of mine, play golf with him. He's a really good guy. And I think LeBron is, maybe he's a racist, but maybe he doesn't like Trump, I don't know. But I only like people that like me. So, I would say Michael Jordan all the way," Trump said at the Oval Office on Friday.

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Trump was asked the James vs. Jordan question because James announced Friday that he plans to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. He will sign a two-year, $8 million contract, according to ESPN.

Jordan played in the NBA for 15 seasons, winning six titles in his career, all of which came with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan retired twice during his career, as he played baseball after the Bulls’ first three-peat during the 1993-94 season.

He returned during the 1994-95 season, and the Bulls began their second three-peat a year later during the 1995-96 season. Jordan then retired again, this time for three seasons, and spent the final two seasons of his career with the Washington Wizards.

In his career, Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game, the most in NBA history, along with 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The Basketball Hall of Famer made the All-Star team 14 times, won five MVPs, six NBA Finals MVPs, was a 10-time scoring champion, and made the All-Defensive Team nine times.

LEBRON JAMES MAKES NBA FREE AGENCY DECISION, ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SIGN WITH 76ERS

James is heading into his 24th season, his first with the 76ers. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then signed with the Miami Heat to create "The Big 3" with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

James won the first two of his four NBA titles with the Heat in 2011-12 and 2012-13. After four seasons with the Heat, James returned home to Cleveland.

In his second stint with the Cavaliers, James led the Cavaliers to the title in 2015-16, completing a 3-1 series comeback over the Golden State Warriors. After four more seasons in Cleveland, James departed for the Los Angeles Lakers.

In eight seasons with the Lakers, James won one NBA title during the 2019-20 season. That championship was won in the bubble in Florida because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

James is the NBA’s leader in games played, points, most All-Star selections and All-NBA selections. He is the only player in NBA history to score more than 43,000 points and has the most 30-point games (700) of all time.

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He has won the MVP award four times, is a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Finals MVP and a six-time All-Defensive Team member.

In his career, he has averaged 26.8 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Both James and Jordan have incredible résumés, which has led to one of the most contentious debates in sports. But even with James’ résumé still growing, Trump’s answer is clear: Jordan all the way.

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Buffalo Bills' latest edition to their new stadium is predictably (and painfully) on brand

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:55:20 -0400

The Buffalo Bills are in the final stages of unveiling their new, $2.1 billion stadium, and from the looks of it, it has all the bells and whistles any football fan could need.

When Highmark Stadium opens in time for the 2026 NFL season, it's sure to be one of the most state of the art venues in the league.

Two billion big ones can buy you a lot these days, but it's one of the latest editions to the Bills' new home — one that likely didn't cost a ton — that has everyone on the internet talking.

NY GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL TRIES TO GET BILLS CHANT GOING AT NEW STADIUM, COMPLETELY FAILS

No, it's not a 100-foot scoreboard or a retractable roof, but it is something that is instantly identifiable as a Buffalo staple, and after seeing it, I couldn't imagine the new stadium without it.

Is there anything that screams "Bills Culture" quite like a 20-foot broken folding table in the middle of the concourse of a multi-billion dollar stadium?

The answer, of course, is "no," and although it seems like a no-brainer in hindsight, whoever pitched this in the market meetings deserves a raise.

JOSH ALLEN RECALLS HIS ROLE IN BILLS' COACHING SEARCH, DETAILS JOE BRADY’S APPROACH TO NEW ROLE

For the uninitiated, the new ornament is an homage to "Bills Mafia," the crazed section of the Buffalo fanbase who is notorious for throwing themselves through folding tables at tailgates before the game (those tables may or may not also be on fire at times).

Some Debbie Downers on X are trying to clown the Bills for adding this to their new digs, but if you hate this then you don't love fun or football.

A broken folding table is woven into the fabric of the identity of the city; it's literally ingrained in the fanbase's DNA.

JOSH ALLEN SAYS HE WOULD BE 'VERY HONORED' TO PLAY FOR TEAM USA IN FLAG FOOTBALL AT 2028 OLYMPICS

As a Dolphins fan, I wish we had something that was so identifiable with our fanbase.

When I was in middle school, the Dolphins tried to do this whole rebrand as a place where celebrities would come and hang out.

They called a section of the stadium the "Orange Carpet," and got "local" A-listers who lived in the area like J-Lo and the Williams sisters to show up to games, but all it did was alienate the core fanbase (the losing didn't help).

It was right around that time that my dad and a lot of other longtime supporters stopped buying season tickets, and it's been kind of embarrassing to be a Fins fan ever since.

My point is that Buffalo is a real football town, and having a 20-foot piece of art dedicated to the people who show up every autumn and winter in sub-zero temperatures just to watch their team inevitably lose to the Chiefs in January is beautiful; it's poetic.

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The fans love their Bills and the Bills love their fans, and that's what football is all about.

Long live Bills Mafia and long live the folding table statue.

Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck's mom, Chris Anne Affleck, dead at 83 after pancreatic cancer battle

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:36:03 -0400

Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck's mom has died following a battle with cancer.

According to an obituary published in The Boston Globe on Friday, Christopher Anne Affleck, died peacefully in her sleep on June 2 at the age of 83.

The Hollywood Reporter reported she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025, and was given six months to live.

"Her greatest wish after her diagnosis, however, was to live to see her grandson graduate high school," the obituary reads. "She did so, attending with her family on May 31, 2026. She died peacefully, in her sleep, two days later."

HOLLYWOOD STARS WHO DIED IN 2026

Born in 1942 in New York City, Chris proved to be a great activist, teaching "literacy classes in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, marched against the Vietnam War, and reveled in 1960s counterculture."

She went on to become "one of the first Radcliffe women" to graduate from Harvard, and spent 35 years as a public school teacher.

"Every student, whether just arrived from Haiti or Cambridge upper crust, was a cherished citizen of her classroom republic, equal to each other and to herself," the obituary states.

After working as a teacher for over three decades, Chris retired in 2008, spending time volunteering for President Barack Obama during his campaign, traveling to Israel/Palestine and becoming an organizer for the Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine.

Chris welcomed Ben in 1972 and Casey in 1975, with her ex-husband, Timothy Affleck, before they divorced in 1984.

Both Ben and Casey credit their parents with instilling in them a love for the arts at a young age, with Casey telling Collider in 2013 that they "started out as children doing this" in part because their "father was in the theater and our mother took us to the theater all the time."

"I got into acting as a young child on account of a sort of arbitrary thing. A friend of my mom’s was a casting director so, really as kind of a lark," Ben told Parade in October 2007. "I had a couple of acting jobs that had just enough exposure to give me the option to continue if I wanted to. I followed through with it."

Ben later had his big break when he won the Academy Award for best original screenplay in 1998, alongside Matt Damon, for their work writing "Good Will Hunting."

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Both Ben and Damon brought their mothers with them as their plus-ones for the big ceremony.

"We were sitting next to our moms, and we won, and we kind of hugged our moms. I remember how everyone had made such a big thing out of it as if this was such a novelty," Ben told Vanity Fair in April 2023. "I remember thinking, being insecure, like, ‘Why? Why is it weird that we’re bringing our moms?’ Who else do you think we would bring?"

He continued, "There was nobody else that was going to go. That was it. Of course, our moms were gonna go. That was really innocent and not faked."

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In addition to her two sons, Chris is survived by her five grandchildren: Casey's two children, Indiana and Atticus, and Ben's three children, Violet, Fin and Sam.

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