Latest & Breaking News | Fox News

WNBA star Chelsea Gray posts screenshot of alleged racist insult from fan after loss to Caitiln Clark's Fever

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:02:12 -0400

Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray posted a screenshot of an alleged Instagram direct message she received after her loss to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Sunday.

The screenshot contained an alleged racial slur against Gray, and included the user's profile name and photo.

"People act like we just make this s--- up. And the audacity to tell us as athletes to 'shut up and dribble,'" Gray wrote under the screenshot.

SUSPENDED ALYSSA THOMAS RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM TEAMMATE & COACH AFTER CHEAP SHOT ON CAITLIN CLARK

The Fever defeated the Aces 109-75, as Clark had 12 points with seven rebounds and six assists. The Fever guard continued to work her way back to a full-time role after suffering a back injury on June 24.

The game against the Aces came amid heightened tension among WNBA fans and players which followed the incident where Clark was punched in the throat by Alyssa Thomas during a June 24 game between the Fever and Phoenix Mercury.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The incident and subsequent discourse has resurfaced contentious racial debates surrounding Clark's presence as the pre-eminent player in the WNBA. Thomas and her teammates previously revealed they also received racial insults and threats after the throat punch.

Last week, 11 Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert alleging Clark faces racially motivated hostility, and expressing concern about the "physical hostility" and "violence" she faces, suggesting it might be "racially motivated."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable," the letter states.

Engelbert then allegedly canceled an interview on "The Dan Patrick Show" late last week, Patrick claimed on Friday's show, due to guidance from the league's public relations team.

Could flesh-eating screwworms end up in your beef? USDA reveals risk level

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:00:59 -0400

The return of the New World screwworm — a flesh-eating parasite eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s — has raised fresh concerns about whether it could threaten the nation's food supply.

Unlike other foodborne diseases like norovirus, Ecoli and Salmonella, which sicken millions of Americans every year, experts say the screwworm is not a threat to the food on our dinner tables.

"The US food supply is not compromised by New World screwworm, which is an animal issue, but not a foodborne pathogen issue," Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, told Fox News Digital.

MYSTERY PARASITE LEAVES AMERICANS BATTLING ‘EXPLOSIVE' ILLNESS AS CDC INVESTIGATES

"While screwworm infestation is an infection of live animals, it does not result in meat, milk or produce becoming contaminated."

Screwworms die off during standard meat, processing and cooking, according to Glatt.

While native to South America and the Caribbean, the screwworm migrated north through Central America and Mexico following a 2023 outbreak in Panama and Costa Rica, the CDC says.

FLESH-EATING SCREWWORM FOUND IN TEXAS CALF AS RANCHERS BRACE FOR POSSIBLE SPREAD

On June 3, health officials confirmed one case in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas – the first detection in the U.S. since it was eradicated in the 1960s (excluding a localized outbreak in deer in the Florida Keys from 2016 to 2017), per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Since early June, the USDA has reported 33 screwworm infections in animals in Texas and New Mexico – including cattle, goats and a pet dog.

Safety measures

The U.S. milk and food supply is routinely tested by regulatory agencies, according to Glatt.

"Animals used for human food production must pass inspection before and after slaughter to ensure that food safety and humane handling requirements are met," a USDA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

"An infestation or animal illness that makes meat unsafe for consumers will prevent the animal from entering the food supply."

If an animal at a slaughterhouse shows signs of illness, the meat inspection system overseen by the USDA isolates it from others and labels it a "US Suspect" – meaning it needs additional examination by a public health veterinarian, per USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service regulations.

If an infection is discovered prior to the animal reaching the slaughterhouse, a veterinarian will treat the animal and disinfect the wound to prevent worsening infection.

Any livestock infected with new world screwworm are to be quarantined until all wounds heal, according to the UDSA.

Methods of transmission

A screwworm is a fly – typically the size of a common housefly or slightly larger. It infects warm-blooded animals – usually livestock, wildlife and pets – and only rarely may infect people, the CDC states.

An infection starts when a female fly lays eggs after being attracted to the smell of a wound, but the opening can be as small as the size of a tick bite. One female may lay up to 3,000 eggs during her lifespan (about 10 to 30 days), per the CDC.

The eggs hatch into maggots that "screw" into the wound to feed. After about a week, the maggots fall to the ground, burrow in the soil and morph into adult screwworm flies.

"It spreads only when an NWS fly lays eggs in a wound, not through meat, poultry or dairy products," the USDA spokesperson said.

"It’s also important to note that people do not catch screwworm from other people, and they do not become infected by eating meat," Dr. Bobbi Pritt, professor and chair of laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told Fox News Digital.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"Most people living in the U.S. are very unlikely to ever encounter this parasite."

The fly thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, while colder temperatures help limit its survival. Some researchers warn that climate warming could expand the areas where the insect can survive if it becomes established, although experts say the current outbreak has been driven primarily by its northward spread through Central America and Mexico.

Combating the spread

The USDA is combating current U.S. outbreaks by deploying sterile male flies to mate with female flies using a method known as the Sterile Insect Technique, which helped eradicate the infestation in the 1960s, per the USDA.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Since female screwworm flies mate only once during their roughly month-long lifespan, those that breed with sterile males produce no viable offspring, causing the population to gradually die out.

In May 2025, the USDA announced a $21 million investment to renovate a sterile screwworm fly production facility in southern Mexico, with production expected to begin as early as summer 2026.

The agency also plans to spend $750 million on a new "fly factory" at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, which is expected to open by November 2027.

Symptoms, treatment and prevention

"In the rare cases of human infection, the symptoms that should prompt someone to seek medical attention include a non-healing wound with pain, redness and swelling that is getting worse, a sensation of movement or crawling in the wound, and visible fly larvae in the wound," Pritt told Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Maggots should not be removed without medical assistance, as attempting to do so can leave parts of the larvae behind and worsen the infection, per the CDC.

If any maggots fall to the ground, they should not be discarded in the trash, as this could spread the infestation. Instead, they should be placed in a leakproof container filled with alcohol to kill them, and a doctor should be contacted to safely remove the remaining maggots.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

To protect against infection, the CDC recommends the following steps.

Keep any open wounds covered
Limit exposure to skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, hats and socks
Use EPA-registered insect repellent
Protect clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin
Avoid sleeping outdoors or sleep in tents with screens
Sleep indoors with closed or screened windows

Meet the Democrats gunning to replace Graham Platner in a crucial Senate showdown

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:56:20 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - The clock is quickly ticking in the race to replace former candidate Graham Platner as Maine's Democratic Senate nominee in the race to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Candidates gunning to win the Democratic nomination must file with the state party by Wednesday to get on the ballot. Eight Democrats have filed so far to run for the nomination, which will be determined by 601 voting delegates at a July 25 convention held by the Maine Democratic Party.

Platner, a populist Democrat who was backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, won the early June Democratic primary in a landslide. He was challenging Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections.

A combat veteran and oyster farmer whose campaign caught fire, Platner steamrolled the Democratic establishment. But even as he crushed the competition to capture the nomination, Platner had already been forced on defense in the wake of a slew of scandals.

DEMOCRATS RUNNING TO REPLACE PLATNER CALL FOR ICE TO BE 'ABOLISHED'

Platner dropped out of the race last week, amid calls from top Democrats in Maine and across the country to immediately exit the race following an explosive report contained an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated.

Facing a July 27 deadline to replace Platner with a new nominee, the state Democratic Party announced that all 16 Maine counties will convene special nomination meetings this weekend where participants will vote to elect delegates.

Those delegates will meet the following Saturday, July 25, in Bangor, Maine, to vote for the party's nominee.

Ahead of the vote, a "statewide network of volunteer leaders who organized, knocked doors, hosted events, and built the loop grassroots infrastructure behind Graham Platner's campaign," in an open letter on Tuesday to the state party made it clear that the organization they built "does not transfer automatically to whoever the Party selects."

"It will only continue to exist, and only continue to be deployed, for a nominee who publicly and explicitly adopts" a list of core progressive commitments that they listed.

The letter is a sign of the tough task ahead for whomever wins the nomination to quickly unite the different wings of the Democratic base.

Here's a look at who have already announced they're running.

Nirav Shah

Shah finished with the most votes in last month's Democratic gubernatorial primary, but lost the nomination to former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree following ranked choice voting.

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

Shah directed the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to 2023 and later served as principal deputy director of the federal CDC, stepping down shortly after President Donald Trump assumed office last year.

Touting his "strong progressive stances," Shah told Fox News Digital that "my message to those supporters of Graham's is a very clear one. You have a home in this campaign. You have an important voice in this campaign."

Troy Jackson

Jackson, a former Maine Senate President and fifth-generation logger, came in third place in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Jackson campaigned with Platner during Maine's primary, and, along with Platner, was endorsed by Sanders.

He's backed by Sanders' founded "Our Revolution," as well as the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as he runs for the Senate.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

"This movement is always been bigger than one person. It's about taking on a system rigged against working people, fighting for Medicare for all, strong unions, higher wages, reproductive freedom, and an economy where billionaires and corporations finally pay their fair share," Jackson said Monday during a 'Our Revolution' virtual town hall, as he pointed to Platner supporters.

Shenna Bellows

Bellows, Maine's Secretary of State, came in fourth place in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

"Flipping the Senate in November is crucial. I’m running to pass Medicare for all, fight for workers’ rights, and protect our neighbors," Bellows said in a social media post.

If she wins the nomination, this will be the second time Bellows will face off against Collins. The senator topped Bellows by a more than two-to-one margin in the 2014 Senate election in Maine.

Jordan Wood

Wood is a former congressional staffer for Katie Porter who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination this year in Maine's 2nd Congressional District, a crucial swing seat.

Wood originally launched a Senate campaign last year, but pivoted to the House race when Democratic Rep. Jared Golden announced he wouldn't seek re-election.

"This campaign belongs to the Mainers who built it: the volunteers, small-dollar donors, and neighbors who filled town halls in every corner of the state. We refuse every dime of corporate PAC, AIPAC, and lobbyist money, because a movement funded by the people answers only to the people," Wood said on social media.

David Costello

This is Costello's second run this year for the Senate nomination.

He finished with 8% of the vote in the June primary, coming in third behind Platner and Gov. Janet Mills, who had already suspended her campaign but her name remained on the ballot.

A former Maryland Department of the Environment deputy secretary, Costello was the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine in the 2024 election, coming in a distant third to incumbent independent Sen. Angus King.

Dan Kleban

A co-founder of the Maine Beer Company, Kleban briefly ran for the Democratic Senate nomination before dropping out and endorsing Mills.

"I fully support an open, transparent process to earn the trust of our delegates, unite our party, and bring a new generation of leadership to Washington," Kleban wrote as he announced his filing on Tuesday.

Paige Loud

Loud is a social worker who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd congressional district.

"The grassroots movement in Maine is more powerful than ever, and we cannot afford to lose that momentum. This has always been about building a future where every Mainer has a voice and a seat at the table," Loud wrote as she launched her Senate bid.

Elizabeth Dickerson

Dickerson's LinkedIn page indicates she served as a state representative from 2012 through 2014, resigning from the Legislature and working as a teacher in Colorado from 2016 to 2020 before moving back to Maine.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I believe in a world where everyone belongs, but the disparity between the rich and the poor keeps growing. I believe that with power, responsibility should follow," Dickerson wrote in explaining her Senate bid.

Texas teens arrested after 18-year-old found dead in Dallas-area lake as family demands answers

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:50:38 -0400

The family of an 18-year-old Texas honor student whose body was recovered from a Dallas area lake is demanding murder charges after police accused two teenagers of concealing evidence instead of reporting his drowning.

Daniel Erving, 18, was last seen around 4:45 p.m. on April 13 after leaving his Rowlett home. His family reported his disappearance after he left with only his cellphone, leaving behind his driver's license, money and other personal belongings, according to the Rowlett Police Department.

Three days later, authorities recovered Erving's body near the Paddle Point area of Lake Ray Hubbard. The Dallas County Medical Examiner later ruled his death an accidental drowning, according to the Dallas Police Department.

TODDLER DECLARED DEAD AFTER NEAR-DROWNING WAS FOUND ALIVE IN HOSPITAL MORGUE HOURS LATER, POLICE SAY

Dallas police told Fox News Digital detectives conducted a "thorough investigation," including witness interviews, evidence collection and coordination with the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office.

"The Medical Examiner determined Daniel Erving's cause of death was drowning, and the manner of death was ruled accidental," the department said.

🚨 Know something we should investigate?

📩 stepheny.price@fox.com

📸 IG: @fndstephprice

🎥 X: @StephenyPrice

Your tip could lead to our next story.

Investigators later determined that "two individuals who were present at the lake failed to report the incident and later discarded items belonging to Daniel," Dallas police told Fox News Digital.

NORTH CAROLINA COLD CASE HEATS UP WITH STEPMOTHER ACCUSED OF KILLING MISSING TEEN

"As a result, investigators obtained arrest warrants for Lucas Roper, 19, and a juvenile suspect. They are each charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence, a third-degree felony. Both suspects have been arrested, and the cases will proceed through the criminal justice system," the statement continued.

Police declined to provide additional details, citing the active criminal investigation and pending prosecution.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox 4 Dallas, Erving had gone to Lake Ray Hubbard with Roper and a juvenile on April 13, where the three allegedly jumped into the water from a railroad bridge near Miller Road.

MAN ACCUSED OF MOWING DOWN TWO GIRLS IN ALLEGED DOUBLE MURDER EXPOSES TWISTED REASON HE KEPT STREAMING

The affidavit reportedly alleges Erving drowned after entering the water, but instead of calling 911, Roper and the juvenile discarded Erving's clothing, deleted messages from his cellphone, threw the phone from a moving vehicle and left the scene.

During a Monday news conference, Erving's family said they believe there are still unanswered questions surrounding the teen's death and argued the case warrants a closer look.

The family's news conference was organized by the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), a North Texas civil rights organization, which joined Erving's relatives in calling for transparency and urging prosecutors to consider additional criminal charges.

In a news release ahead of the event, NGAN said the family is seeking "transparency, accountability, and a complete investigation" following the recent arrests and called on the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to pursue any additional charges supported by the evidence.

FOLLOW US ON X

Family attorney Sean Daredia said the Erving family has retained an independent investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding Daniel's death.

Daredia questioned whether the available evidence is consistent with an accidental drowning.

"If it's an accident, why hide the clothes? Why flee the scene? Why toss Daniel Erving's cell phone out the car?" he said.

He urged the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to present the case to a grand jury and pursue homicide charges if the evidence supports them. Daredia also encouraged anyone with information about what happened at Lake Ray Hubbard to come forward.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS

Erving's mother, Tameca Erving, questioned why anyone would dispose of her son's belongings if his death had truly been an accident.

"A reasonable-minded person would know if you are not guilty of a crime, why would you throw away his clothes and delete messages and not even call his mother?" she said. "I want justice for my son."

Erving's sister, Mackenzie Erving, described her brother as a "law-abiding" young man with dreams of serving in the military.

"He wanted to serve his country," she said. "When it's a life-or-death situation, you are to render aid. You are to help someone. Someone needs to be held accountable."

NGAN President Dominique Alexander said the arrests represented "a significant step" but argued the investigation should continue wherever the evidence leads.

"We are calling upon the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to follow the evidence wherever it leads," Alexander said in a statement. "If the evidence supports additional charges, then those charges should be pursued. Justice demands nothing less."

GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Erving's family has also criticized what they describe as a months-long delay between the teen's death and the arrests.

NGAN said Erving's loved ones continue to question why so much time allegedly passed before law enforcement was notified after he disappeared and why no one immediately returned to notify his family that an emergency had occurred. The organization also raised concerns over allegations that Erving's personal belongings were discarded following the incident.

The Rowlett Police Department initially investigated Erving's disappearance after he was reported missing on April 13. Authorities later recovered his body from Lake Ray Hubbard before transferring the death investigation to the Dallas Police Department, which has jurisdiction because the death occurred within the city of Dallas.

"The Dallas Police Department is the lead agency investigating this case, as Daniel's death occurred within the City of Dallas," the Rowlett Police Department told Fox News Digital.

GOT A TIP?

Rowlett police said they are assisting Dallas investigators as requested and "will continue to provide support throughout the investigation."

Because the case remains active, the department said it could not release additional information "as doing so could compromise the integrity of the investigative process."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The Rowlett Police Department remains committed to fully cooperating with the Dallas Police Department until the investigation is complete," the department said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office and Erving's family attorney for comment.

Pro wrestling legend Tommy Dreamer vows violence in upcoming ACW match in New York: 'Hell to pay'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:50:21 -0400

Pro wrestling legend Tommy Dreamer fired a preemptive warning shot to fans for what they may see when he steps back into an Awesome Championship Wrestling (ACW) ring against Josh Shernoff in a lumberjack match featuring the tag teams The Now and Sent 2 Slaughter.

The six men involved in the match have a lengthy history with each other. Shernoff pinned Dreamer in a six-man tag team match back at the Poughkeepsie Rumble in January. Before The Now and Sent 2 Slaughter had their chaotic steel cage match at Reckoning in May, Shernoff challenged Dreamer to a match at ACW Indypendence Day, which will take place Saturday.

COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL

As the rivalry between the two groups escalates, Dreamer said some fans who embark on the MJN Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, may witness a level of violence they are not used to.

"People try to do things to make a name for themselves in this industry," he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "I was unaware the guy used to be a wrestler, too. He's a great mouthpiece and yeah, I didn't take him too seriously and it's embarrassing, you're in a match and you're in control and all of a sudden you don't know what happened and then, yeah, you lost. He's been running his mouth. I haven't been at the last couple of ACW shows and kind of using my absence to his advantage.

"So now, there's no more running and I'm going to get him and I'm going to do what made me famous, especially in that building, to him and I apologize to the people who are a little squeamish or aren't used to that type of old school professional wrestling that the innovator of violence sometimes used to bring out."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Shawn Donovan and Danny Maff brutalized Vik Dalishus inside the steel cage at Reckoning while Hale Collins was handcuffed to the structure on the outside of the ring. Dalishus’ wife rushed over the barrier and into the ring to try to stop the madness.

Dalishus was hospitalized after the incident.

"I wasn't at that last show and I know they've done a lot of crappy things to my friends Vic Dalishus and Hale Collins," Dreamer said. "I mean, they showed up at that guy's wedding. These guys are doing some things that go beyond pro wrestling. I think as a as a wrestler, we all go in there with no fear. but you don't realize, and I'm realizing this as I get older, that there's ramifications to others and a responsibility to others.

"When I was being crazy in ECW, I didn't have kids, Vic got hurt in front of his wife and his children. You talk to second generation wrestlers they're like, ‘Man, I remember my father getting beat up and I was crying,’ or, you know, I remember even having conversations with my daughters, they would always be like, ‘Daddy falls down a lot,’ but I'd be like, ‘Yeah, but daddy always has to get up.’ Well, that night daddy didn't get up for Vic Dalishus He had to go to the hospital. That's hard. And then to kind of, like I said, talk smack about it, it's a different era in a different industry than it was the Wild Wild West back in the day. There’s going to be some hell to pay on Saturday."

Now, it culminates in Saturday’s match which is set to be just another chapter in the rivalry.

Dreamer told Fox News Digital he’s relishing the opportunity to perform at the MJN Center once again.

"Listen, man, I'm wrestling 37 years. I never thought I'd have this beautiful career. that I have. Some people are amazed I'm still walking. I feel good," he said. "I had two matches this past weekend. I have three matches this upcoming week … It’s an honor. It's an honor to step in the ring. It's an honor to share a locker room with … I've wrestled Cowboy Bob Orton and Randy Orton in that building alone. I've seen wrestling there as a kid. I watched Miss Elizabeth walk in and manage Randy Savage and I was like, who is this person? You saw Andre the Giant get laid out by King Kong Bundy and they cut his hair. And then for me, I performed there for ECW. I broke my neck there, I broke my back there all in one night on a pay-per-view. To work there for ECW, WWE, TNA and my own House of Hardcore, I had a wrestling school there, I'm so in that culture there.

"Coming out of COVID was a scary time for everybody and then to see wrestling back there and the way the fans have rallied around ACW because just like they're two guys from the community as well and never forgot where they grew up and wanted to bring exactly what they promised – Awesome Championship Wrestling to the Mid-Hudson area. That area used to say this all the time, we don't appreciate something until it's gone. And it used to have ‘Monday Night Raw’ there every what two weeks, something like that. And then, look how much it costs to get into ‘Monday Night Raw’ now and you had it in your backyard all the time. And these two guys, The Now and ACW, they're bringing wrestling back to a hot bed of pro wrestling. And you've been to the shows they’re all really, really entertaining shows and it's a great night out. It's affordably priced and it's an awesome day for pro wrestling."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

ACW’s Indypendence Day takes place Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Ohio mom arrested for having 16 kids in 'evil' living conditions wants to be reunited with children: lawyer

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:49:56 -0400

An Ohio mother of 16 children facing sweeping charges of child abuse requested through her lawyer to be reunited with her kids during the trial this week.

Elizabeth Siders, 33, is charged with 16 counts of second-degree child endangerment alongside her husband, Gary Siders, Jr., and his two senior parents. The mother is being detained on $300,000 bond, but her attorney, J. Thomas Stolly, has requested that she be allowed to leave the jail under certain conditions, pointing to her lack of criminal history.

"Through conversations with Counsel, the Defendant maintains that her principal desire (is) to reunite with her children; she understands that reunification of any sort is an impossibility if she does not appear before this Court," a court filing obtained by WOWK 13 says.

Stolly's filing goes on to argue that Siders would not pose a threat to her children since they have now been removed from her care. A judge has yet to rule on the request.

FBI ANNOUNCES 305 ARRESTS, 24 MISSING CHILDREN RECOVERED IN CHICAGO DURING OPERATION NEW DAWN

The other two suspects — Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders — also were charged with 16 counts of second-degree child endangerment. A judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf during a court hearing last week, setting all four defendants's bond at $300,000.

Officials have not confirmed whether all 16 children were related but said they ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years old and included both boys and girls.

'JON & KATE PLUS 8' REALITY STAR'S TELL-ALL MEMOIR FOLLOWS YEARS OF ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer clarified that the suspects are not originally from Vinton County.

"This is an intra-family situation. This is not human trafficking. There is nothing to put our other children at risk," Archer said

Earlier last week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he was being updated on the case.

"It is heartbreaking to learn the conditions that these children were living in and to learn of their medical conditions," he said. "Attorney General Wilson is an experienced prosecutor, and he has told me he has never seen anything like what he saw today. Fran and I pray for these children and thank the children's services workers, law enforcement officers and medical personnel who are helping them."

CHRISTIAN FAMILY TAKES FIGHT TO DC EMBASSY AFTER GOVERNMENT SEIZES DAUGHTERS OVER 'RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM'

Attorney General Andy Wilson publicized the case at a news conference last week after the children were removed from the home.

Wilson called them the worst conditions he had encountered in his career, describing it as "pure evil." Several were in serious condition when found, and two were flown to Level 1 trauma centers because of their injuries.

"If they had waited 24 hours, there is a very high probability that we’d be dealing with a death, or multiple deaths, of these children," Wilson said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described horrid conditions the children were in, saying there was a high presence of feces and bacterial matter.

Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

JD Vance defends 'The View' appearance, explains the need to engage with hostile environments

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:47:28 -0400

Vice President JD Vance defended his appearance on ABC's "The View" during an interview last week with Mike Rowe, as the VP encouraged breaching environments with ideological differences.

Rowe, during his "The Way I Heard It" podcast, applauded Vance for going on the liberal talk show, and said he didn't have to do it.

"No, but I'm glad I did," Vance said. "I think the only way to pierce through this is to actually go and try to do these conversations everywhere, right? And you're the kind of guy where everybody from the left or the right can talk to and that's good. That's an amazing thing. But you also need to be willing to go into more hostile places, and you need to be willing to go into more ideological places."

Vance appeared on "The View" last month to discuss his new book, "Communion," about religion and his conversion to Catholicism. He sparred with the co-hosts of the liberal show on several issues, including immigration and Black history.

Vance said, "Why are you in public life if you don't think you can carry your message? If you don't think there's even a chance of persuading, not 50% of the people who are watching me on 'The View,' but maybe 10% of the people who are watching me on 'The View,' thought, at the very least, maybe this guy isn't such an a------."

Rowe quipped it was a "high bar."

JD VANCE WALKS BACK CONTROVERSIAL ‘CHILDLESS CAT LADIES’ COMMENT ON 'THE VIEW' BUT DEFENDS FAMILY MESSAGE

"Look, if you set a low expectation you're going to exceed it, right? That's one of the most important lessons in life, man," Vance said.

The vice president said that one of the only ways to bridge the division in the country is to talk to people.

"I think that the solution to — people talk about the division in our country, I think that the division is a symptom of something much deeper. But fundamentally, one of the ways to bridge the divide is just to go and talk to people. Like, yeah, the ladies of 'The View,' some of them were asking unfair questions or talking over me a little bit, but they were fine. They were nice to me. They allowed me to have a platform to say what I wanted to say, and that's all you can really ask for," Vance said.

Vance clashed with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin over Black history, as they both argued that it was being erased by the Trump administration.

"Black history has been erased from public spaces," Hostin said at the time.

TENSIONS FLARE ON 'THE VIEW' AFTER SUNNY HOSTIN CLAIMS JOY BEHAR 'IN LOVE' WITH JD VANCE

"Black history is not erased from public spaces," Vance replied.

"That is true!" Hostin argued.

"That is not right," Vance said. "I’m telling you, we celebrate Black history, we celebrate all American history in this administration. You guys might be skeptical of this, but I promise you it's true."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

However, despite many disagreements, the interview was relatively cordial. Co-host Joy Behar told Vance he should run for president because he had a good vibe, the show's producer Brian Teta revealed on the "Behind the Table" podcast after the interview.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I think that, even though, for a Republican. Mind you, I'm not a Republican," Behar said.

Matt Damon refuses to put body in 'dangerous' situations for Hollywood roles after turning 50

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:47:08 -0400

Matt Damon says he has moved past the point in his life where he is willing to put his body through "dangerous" changes for a movie role.

The 55-year-old Academy Award-winning actor — who portrays Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca, in Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated movie, "The Odyssey" — opened up about the physical transformation he underwent for the role and explained why he refuses to put his body through any additional strain.

"If I would've put weight on, that would've been dangerous, and it's not something I'll do anymore," he told People magazine. "I was happy to do it earlier in my life."

‘THE ODYSSEY’ STAR MATT DAMON REVEALS STRICT DIET CHOICE THAT 'CHANGED MY LIFE' AFTER HIDDEN HEALTH ISSUES

This time, Damon said, it was "more about getting physically fit, which involves changing your diet."

"You just have to be very intentional about what you put in your body," he said.

During an appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast earlier this year, Damon revealed he lost a significant amount of weight after former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce remarked that the "Good Will Hunting" star looked "pretty yoked up" in viral photos from the set.

MATT DAMON WAS 'PUSHED TO THE LIMIT' WHILE FILMING 'THE ODYSSEY,' DETAILS GRUELING PHYSICAL DISCOMFORTS

"Yeah, I was in really good shape," Damon said. "I lost a lot of weight."

According to Damon, Nolan had a very specific vision for Odysseus.

"He said he wanted me lean but strong," Damon explained. "It's a weird thing."

The Oscar winner said one major dietary change played a key role in helping him reach that goal.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

"I literally, just because of this other thing I did with my doctor, stopped eating gluten," Damon said. "I used to walk around between 185 and 200 pounds. And I did that whole movie at 167 pounds."

"I haven't been that light since high school," he added. "So it was a lot of training and a really strict diet."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

During an appearance on "Sunday Sitdown with Willi Geist," the Academy Award winner opened up about the grueling physical demands of portraying Odysseus, admitting the ambitious production pushed both the cast and crew to their limits.

"He was like, 'This movie's gonna be hard.' And I looked at him like, 'I've made, I don't know, 80 movies,'" Damon recalled of one of his early conversations with Nolan. "And he goes, 'No. This movie's gonna be really hard.' He, to his credit, was not lying."

"It was definitely the hardest movie I've ever done just because it was so ambitious, just because what he was trying to do," Damon continued. "The prep and all that I had to do as a guy in his 50s, that was its own challenge. That was my own cross to bear, away from everybody."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Damon said filming took the cast across demanding locations, from beaches in Morocco to mountaintops and boats in unpredictable conditions.

"There was a lot of physical discomfort. It felt more like an expedition than a movie," he said. "Everybody was pushed to kind of the limit of what they could do. But the beauty of it is you look around and everyone is going through it with you."

Trump declares US military no longer needed in Iraq as Baghdad shifts course

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:46:52 -0400

President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States no longer believes it needs a military presence in Iraq, arguing Iran has been weakened enough for Baghdad to stand on its own as Washington prepares to end its coalition mission later in 2026.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Zaidi echoed that vision, declaring that armed factions operating outside state control would have "no justification" once the coalition mission concludes and insisting Iraq's security forces would be capable of protecting the country on their own. Al-Zaidi said limiting weapons to the state was "a decision, not an option."

Trump said the U.S. partnership with Iraq would shift away from military cooperation toward investment and energy development, while al-Zaidi summarized the transition by saying, "U.S. forces will be out of Iraq. U.S. companies will be inside Iraq."

TRUMP ADMIN WARNS IRAQ OVER IRAN TERROR PROXIES AS US REPORTEDLY BLOCKS CASH PAYMENTS

"We don't think we need the military there anymore," Trump said. "We're there to help them. We're there to protect them if need be. But we don't think that's going to be necessary."

He argued Iraq's security environment had fundamentally changed because Iran had been "very much destabilized" and its military was now "just a tiny fraction" of what it had been four months ago.

The remarks underscore a remarkable shift for a country once synonymous with roadside bombs, sectarian violence and the fight against ISIS. More than two decades after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Trump administration is publicly arguing the security environment has improved enough to replace a military partnership with an economic one, pointing to billions of dollars in planned U.S. energy investments as evidence American companies are now willing to do business where American troops once fought.

Iran has long exercised influence in Iraq through political parties and powerful militias within the Popular Mobilization Forces, many of which have operated alongside — but outside — the Iraqi security apparatus. Washington has for years pressed Baghdad to bring those groups fully under state control.

HOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY

Under a 2024 agreement, the U.S. and Iraq agreed to end the American-led coalition's military mission in Iraq starting in September 2025. While U.S. forces drew down from several bases, American troops have remained in the country in an advisory role and to support counter-ISIS operations tied to neighboring Syria.

About 2,500 U.S. troops remained in Iraq prior to the beginning of the drawdown in September 2025, down from a peak of about 170,000 during 2007 at the height of the Iraq war. Nearly all U.S. forces departed in 2011 before about 5,000 returned in 2014 to fight ISIS.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Al-Zaidi, a businessman and political newcomer, took office this year after emerging as a consensus candidate following months of political deadlock. Trump publicly backed his candidacy and opposed the return of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the administration viewed as too closely aligned with Iran.

During Tuesday's Oval Office meeting, Trump repeatedly praised al-Zaidi, calling him "a great leader" and predicting his influence would extend "all throughout the Middle East." Trump also claimed he had "played a role" in al-Zaidi's rise to power and said his endorsement helped propel the Iraqi leader to victory.

Spend less time cleaning your pool this summer with Beatbot robot cleaners — up to 36% off

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:34:41 -0400

Before you dive into the pool this summer, make sure it's ready for swimming. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or throwing a World Cup party, let a Beatbot robot pool vacuum handle the cleaning. Models are now up to 36% off.

Choose the entry-level iSkim to clean every corner of smaller pools, or step up to the Sora 30, which runs for up to five hours while collecting debris. For larger pools, the AquaSense 2 Ultra scrubs floors, walls and even the surface. Beatbot also offers a 3% discount for seniors and military personnel.

AquaSense 2 Ultra: $2,199 (30% off)

Original price: $3,150

Keep your pool clean all summer with the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra, which scrubs floors, walls and the waterline in a single cleaning cycle. Use the companion app to monitor the robot, check your pool's water quality and choose from multiple cleaning modes. AI-powered navigation maps your pool for thorough coverage, then the robot returns to the surface for easy retrieval. Save $951 before the sale ends.

Sora 30: $689 (31% off)

Original price: $999

Tackle leaves, dirt and other debris with the Beatbot Sora 30, which cleans everything from shallow platforms to walls and the waterline. Save $300 while the 30% discount lasts. Its five-hour runtime and 5-liter debris tank help it finish the job in a single cleaning cycle. When it's done, the robot returns to the surface, so you don't have to jump in to retrieve it.

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

Beatbot iSkim: $319 (36% off)

Original price: $499

Go with the Beatbot iSkim if you're looking for an affordable way to automate pool cleaning. Now more than $100 off, this entry-level model features a 9-liter filter basket that holds more debris between cleanings, a built-in solar panel that helps keep the battery charged and all-terrain wheels that reach pool sides and corners. A full charge delivers up to 28 hours of runtime, making it a great fit for most residential pools.

You can also shop Beatbot's full lineup of pool vacuums here, or stop its Amazon storefront here.

NFL fans roast NBC analyst after Tom Brady's low placement on controversial QB ranking

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:38:44 -0400

Just because the NFL’s regular season doesn’t begin until September doesn’t mean passionate fans have taken a hiatus from debating controversial lists.

NBC football analyst Chris Simms is currently in the crosshairs of those fans after the 45-year-old ranked the greatest quarterbacks of all time based only on the primes of their careers.

To the shock of many fans, Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, was not at the top of that list. Simms ranked Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning No. 1.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

But Brady wasn’t the No. 2- or No. 3-ranked quarterback either. The New England Patriots legend was ranked by Simms as the No. 9 quarterback that he would choose of all time in his prime.

Here is Simms' full list.

Manning
Patrick Mahomes
Aaron Rodgers
John Elway
Brett Favre
Josh Allen
Lamar Jackson
Dan Marino
Brady
Roger Staubach

Simms was eviscerated in the comment section for his decision to leave Brady so low.

"Bro, Brady threw for 5,000 yards and 50 TD’s and went 16-0 in his prime and 14 years later he threw for 5,300 yards and 43 touchdowns. His prime lasted a decade and a half and was better than anyone’s peak," one user wrote.

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION GREG HAWTHORNE DEAD AT 69

The user referenced Brady’s 2007 season, when he helped the lead the Patriots to an undefeated regular season. Brady led the NFL in completion percentage (68.9%), yards (4,806), and touchdowns (50) that season.

The other season the user referenced was Brady’s penultimate season, his age-44 season, when he led the NFL in yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43).

Another user wondered if Simms had personal bias toward Brady.

"What did Tom Brady do to make Chris Simms hate him," the user posted with a laughing-crying emoji.

Another user called the list "a joke," while others used emojis to laugh at the absurdity of Brady’s placement.

A different fan questioned the criteria for the controversial list.

"I support anybody that realizes Brady is overrated. That said, what is the criteria for this? Longevity, peak? Eye test? Needs more clarity. No idea how Elway is that high," the user wrote.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

One X user criticized the list, not because of Brady's ranking but because of to the exclusion of another Pro Football Hall of Famer.

"Any all-time list without the great Joe Montana is just trash and not to be taken seriously," the user wrote.

Simms did have one commenter who agreed with his ranking of Manning over Brady.

"Peyton Manning is the best quarterback of all-time and I’m tired of people acting like he’s not. Brady wanted to be as good as Manning for the first four years of his career. Brady has said so himself. Manning was absolutely unbelievable with the Colts. Brady is the best player of all-time. His achievements are clearly second to none, but Manning was the better QB," the user wrote.

Other fans took issue with the inclusion of Allen and Jackson on the list.

"Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson over Dan Marino and Tom Brady is so stupid," one user wrote.

"OMG what a joke, Lamar and Josh don’t even belong near this list…" another user posted.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A different user questioned Staubach’s presence on the list.

"Brady is 1, Montana 2. Jackson and Allen do not belong with this group. Elway should be much lower. Not sure about Staubach belonging here either," the user wrote.

Simms played in the NFL for eight seasons and spent one season as a coaching assistant for the Patriots. He played his college football at Texas.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Missouri nurse found dead months after anesthesiologist husband admitted to assaulting woman

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:34:33 -0400

Mystery deepens surrounding the death of a Missouri nurse and wife to a prominent anesthesiologist.

Alexandra "Allie" Hummel, 36, was found unresponsive in her home on June 23, on Lone Cedar Trail in New London after investigators responded to a 911 call.

The Ralls County Sheriff's Office said the coroner called for an autopsy.

SLAIN NJ MOTHER 911 CALL MADE BY HER HUSBAND HAS FORENSIC EXPERT WARNING ONE MISTAKE COULD DERAIL FOCUS

Records indicate Hummel was a licensed nurse in Missouri; her husband, Dr. Andrew Hummel is a licensed anesthesiologist.

Fox News Digital made contact with Hummel's husband who declined to comment on the investigation.

Court records reveal in March 2026 he pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman. He was first arrested in July 2025 on charges of strangling and striking a woman of whom he was "in a continuing relationship of romantic nature" in the face.

📩 Send me a story idea: kelsie.cairns@fox.com

📸 Instagram: kelsiecairns_tv

🎥 Facebook: Kelsie Cairns

Dr. Hummel is currently self-employed at Northern Ozark Anesthesia Solutions, his own LLC, according to LinkedIn.

SLAIN NEW JERSEY THERAPIST’S GRAD SCHOOL ROOMMATE RECOUNTS FRIENDSHIP WITH COUPLE DURING TIME IN BOSTON

He most recently worked at Hannibal Regional Hospital.

Andrew Hummel has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing in his wife's death.

NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY

Hummel would have celebrated her 37th birthday, on July 7.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The investigation into Hummel's death is ongoing.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Hannibal Regional Healthcare System.

New Hampshire resentencing gives Dartmouth killer Robert Tulloch a parole path after Supreme Court ruling

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:30:18 -0400

Robert Tulloch, who previously received a sentence of life without parole for the murders of two Dartmouth University professors in 2001 when he was a juvenile, is now eligible to be released by the time he is 62 years old.

Tulloch was automatically sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the 2001 stabbing deaths of Half and Susanne Zantop.

A resentencing hearing for Tulloch, who was a 17-year-old at the time of the murders, was required following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, ruling that mandatory life sentences without parole imposed on juvenile offenders are unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

BRYAN KOHBERGER'S MOTHER CALLED HIM 'MY ANGEL' AND INSISTED POLICE MADE A 'REALLY, REALLY BAD MISTAKE': BOOK

Tulloch was one of the few individuals in New Hampshire serving such a sentence at the time of the Supreme Court’s decision.

Initially slated for three days, Tulloch’s resentencing hearing lasted about an hour in Grafton Superior Court in North Haverhill, New Hampshire, on Monday morning as both the state and defense reached a joint sentence recommendation of two concurrent sentences of 45 years to life for the murders, with credit for time served since his arrest over 20 years ago.

As additional requirements of resentencing, Tulloch may have no contact with any members of the Zantop family, including Half and Susanne Zantop’s daughters Veronika and Mariana Zantop, and may not profit "in any way" from the murders "through the sale of his story or any other commercial exploitation."

During the resentencing, Veronika Zantop talked about how she and her family were affected by the death of her parents. Veronika, a psychiatrist, urged the judge to not allow Tulloch the opportunity for freedom.

"This wasn’t a crime of passion or retribution," she said. "He wasn’t using substances, he wasn’t psychotic. There was just sheer depravity." She urged that he stay in prison "for the longest possible sentence."

SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS

Under the terms of the recommendation, Tulloch, 43, is also now eligible for parole at age 62.

LUIGI MANGIONE'S FEDERAL TRIAL PUSHED TO NEXT YEAR IN ASSASSINATION OF UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO

"The murders of Half and Susanne Zantop were horrific crimes that caused immeasurable pain to their family, friends, students, and the Dartmouth and Upper Valley communities," New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE

"While this resentencing was required by court decisions and a changed legal landscape, the State worked to ensure that the sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of these crimes, promotes accountability, protects the public, and provides meaningful protections for the Zantop family," Formella said. "Our hearts go out to the Zantop family and all of those who knew and loved Half and Susanne Zantop."

SEND US A TIP

According to Tulloch’s friend James Parker, the teens were bored with their lives in Chelsea, Vermont, when they concocted a plan to kill strangers, steal their money and move to Australia.

For several months, Tulloch and Parker knocked on doors in New Hampshire and Vermont pretending to be conducting a survey on the environment before being let in by the Zantops. Susanne Zantop, 55, was head of Dartmouth’s German studies department and her husband, Half Zantop , 62, taught Earth sciences.

GOT A TIP?

Parker, who was 16 at the time, told prosecutors Tulloch stabbed Half Zantop and then directed Parker to attack Susanne Zantop. Tulloch also stabbed her.

Fingerprints on a knife sheath and a bloody boot print linked the teens to the crime, but after being questioned by police, they fled Vermont and hitchhiked west. They were arrested at a truck stop in New Castle, Indiana. Investigators said that the pair were attempting to flee to California.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

On April 5, 2022, Tulloch pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a then-mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Tulloch's codefendant Parker was sentenced to 25 years to life on second-degree murder charges after pleading guilty to being Tulloch's accomplice in Half Zantop's murder and agreeing to testify against Tulloch. In June 2024, Park is released on parole.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

"I think it’s unimaginably horrible," Parker said during his parole hearing when asked by a board member what he thought of what he did. "I know there’s not an amount of time or things that I can do to change it, or alleviate any pain that I’ve caused."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital has reached out to Tulloch's attorneys, Richard Guerriero and Oliver Bloom, and the New Hampshire Attorney General's office for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MLB commissioner says Trump 'interested' in MLB CBA negotiations but 'will pass' on potential help

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:24:27 -0400

President Donald Trump has tried his hand at helping college sports, and if it were up to him, he'd probably do the same for Major League Baseball.

The league's current collective bargaining agreement expires in December, and with the sides perhaps as far apart as they've been since 1994, the 2027 season is in limbo.

Many may remember the 2022 season was delayed because of an owners' lockout after the expiration of the previous CBA that December. However, the sentiment at the time among baseball experts was, if you thought that was bad, wait until 2026.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Well, 2026 is here, and they weren't kidding. The owners, for the first time since 1994, have formally proposed a salary cap, which players have said is nonnegotiable.

Ahead of Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to reporters, and one asked whether he thought Trump would intervene in the negotiations.

Manfred did not want to "speculate" about Trump's potential involvement.

"Look, I think it would be wildly, wildly inappropriate for me to speculate what the president of the United States might do or not do in a hypothetical situation," Manfred said. "We know this. He's a great sports fan, and he is really knowledgeable about the business of sports, so it doesn't surprise me."

Manfred did say, however, that Trump is "interested," but it doesn't yet seem he wants his help.

"Behind that, I'm going to pass," he said.

Last month, Trump said it is "shocking" the league does not yet have a salary cap.

MLB PLAYERS, OWNERS AT ODDS OVER POTENTIAL OLYMPIC PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING PUNISHMENT FOR DECLINING: REPORT

"If you don't have a salary cap, you don't have a sport. They can't help themselves. In sports, they can't help themselves. Football has a salary cap. They should have done it a long time ago. I know so much about sports, they should have done it a long time ago...

"Major League Baseball — it's shocking, frankly, that they didn't put a cap on many years ago. They had a chance to do a cap, and they blew it."

The White House did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Major League Baseball is in serious danger of losing games, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, for the first time since the 1995 season was reduced to 144 games as the players' strike stretched into the following year. The 1994 postseason was even canceled, and the sport was hanging by a thread.

Now, baseball is seeing another boom, as rule changes implemented by Manfred have helped games move more quickly, bringing more fans into ballparks. Attendance could increase for a fourth consecutive year for the first time since 2004-07. It is not currently on pace to do so, but the summer is still young.

"The best way to lose momentum is to stand still," Manfred said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Earlier this year, Trump held a college sports roundtable and signed an executive order focused on "saving college sports." Unlike the NHL, NBA and NFL, MLB has never had a salary cap.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Pritzker skewered as ‘victim of his own’ policy after repeat offender arrested in governor’s backyard

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:14:56 -0400

A repeat offender was charged with trespassing at Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s Chicago home over Independence Day weekend, prompting renewed criticism from Republicans and crime-policy critics over the Democrat’s public-safety record.

Dwayne Cortez Milton was arrested on the night of July 4 after he was seen allegedly jumping a fence and entering Pritzker’s backyard. Milton faces a trespassing charge but was released from custody pending trial, ABC 7 Chicago reported.

Milton was ordered released in the trespassing case, but court documents show he pleaded guilty July 7 in a separate theft case and remains in custody. The suspect was allegedly under electronic monitoring at the time of the trespassing charge and had an extensive criminal history, CWB Chicago reported, citing court records.

Pritzker has been repeatedly criticized for his soft-on-crime policies, including the elimination of cash bail, opposition to mandatory minimum expansions, expanding parole opportunities and sentencing reform. Illinois became the first state to abolish cash bail statewide after Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act in 2021, following years of Democratic-led criminal justice reform efforts in the state.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: CHICAGO COP KILLED AFTER SUSPECT RELEASED UNDER SAFE-T ACT

Opponents to the SAFE-T Act have claimed it makes it harder to keep some repeat offenders detained before trial, while supporters say the law prevents wealth from determining whether defendants remain jailed before a trial.

Critics were quick to react on social media, arguing the incident underscored their concerns about Illinois’ criminal justice policies.

"A 10-time convicted felon slips his electronic monitor. The court isn't told for days. He's found in JB Pritzker's own backyard. How many more warnings does Illinois need before we admit the SAFE-T Act is failing," wrote GOP Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey on X.

"Sorry to hear that, Governor. No one deserves to have their home violated like that. I hope you will take reforming the SAFE-T Act more seriously now," wrote Americans for Prosperity IL state director Brian Costin.

"The Governor is a victim of his own soft on crime policy. He has blood on his hands as many convicted felons continue to commit violent crimes daily," said Illinois Review contributor Mark Weyermuller.

President Donald Trump and Pritzker have repeatedly clashed over their sharply differing approaches to crime as the administration has ramped up its stronger stance on deploying National Guard members to back various large cities.

"Governor JB Pritzker should pick up the phone and call me," Trump posted on Truth Social at the end of June after 39 people were injured and 4 were dead in the Windy City over a weekend.

Fox News Digital reached out to Pritzker's office, the Chicago Police Department and the White House for comment.

WATCH: ANGEL MOM TURNS TABLES ON SANCTUARY POLITICIANS WITH BASIC QUESTION ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES

Trump and Pritzker’s feud has reached some of its most heated points over the administration's immigration enforcement policies deporting illegal aliens.

BIDEN JUDGE REJECTS TRUMP'S SANCTUARY CITIES LAWSUIT, SAYS EVEN A WIN WOULDN'T SOLVE DOJ'S PROBLEM

Pritzker, who is floated as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, has repeatedly defended Illinois' sanctuary policies and accused ICE agents of targeting "law-abiding" immigrants rather than dangerous criminals.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I would like them to take real gang members and violent criminals off our streets — like, I would love it," he said in October. "But that’s not what they’re doing. They’re just going after Black and Brown people."

Missing Canadian hiker found dead 2 weeks after vanishing during mountain trek in Washington

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:14:20 -0400

A massive search for a missing Canadian hiker ended Monday after authorities recovered the remains of the 34-year-old in Washington's Twin Sisters mountain range nearly two weeks after he vanished.

The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office said Gursimran Singh, of British Columbia, had been missing since late June after failing to return home from a hike in the Twin Sisters mountains. Search and rescue crews received a report of a possible sighting Sunday, leading them back to the area Monday with the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team and the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council.

"Sadly, this was a recovery mission," the sheriff's office said in a statement announcing Singh's death. "Our heartfelt condolences to Gursimran's family, friends and loved ones during this painful time. We are so sorry for your loss."

SEARCH CALLED OFF AFTER BODY MATCHING MISSING TEEN NOLAN WELLS FOUND OFF MISSISSIPPI COAST

Authorities first asked the public for help on July 1 after Singh failed to return to his home in British Columbia three days earlier. Investigators said his last known location was South Twin, one of the two main peaks in the Twin Sisters mountain range, where he was believed to have been rock scrambling. His vehicle was later found along Middle Fork Road.

The search soon grew as mountain rescue teams from across Washington joined local crews to search the steep mountain terrain.

Helicopters flew rescuers to South Twin Sister to search Sisters Glacier on foot while drones and aircraft from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations searched from the air.

NAVY SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR SAILOR WHO WENT MISSING WHEN HELICOPTER WENT DOWN IN ARABIAN SEA

After Sunday's reported sighting, crews returned to the mountain Monday morning, where they found Singh's remains.

"We are deeply grateful to all who contributed time, expertise and resources throughout this mission," the sheriff's office said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Singh's death comes just days after authorities recovered the body of another overdue hiker, Steven Dorsett, in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Whatcom County.

WATCH: GOP senators rally behind Lindsey Graham's sister as successor, remember late senator's legacy

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:14:03 -0400

In the midst of grieving for their late colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., GOP senators rallied behind the appointment of Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily fill her brother’s seat to represent South Carolina in the Senate.

"She will do a great job," Sen. Roger Marshall told Fox News Digital. "She'll represent the same values that he represents."

He continued, "She'll intuitively know how he would vote on particular issues, even if she doesn't know as much about it as he would have. I think that she'll be a strong vote up here for us, a strong American first conservative for South Carolina."

LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER APPOINTED TO SENATE AS GOP RUSHES TO PROTECT FRAGILE MAJORITY

Just two days after Graham died from aortic dissection, Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina appointed Nordone to serve the remainder of her brother’s term, which ends Jan. 3.

"It's amazing how life goes on," Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said. "The country needs to continue. The Senate needs to do its work. And I think choosing who the Governor McMaster chose to replace him is perfect."

President Donald Trump, a close McMaster ally, also endorsed Nordone to temporarily serve as a replacement for Graham. Shortly after Trump’s public endorsement, McMaster officially appointed Nordone — a move allowed under South Carolina law.

TRUMP REVEALS DETAILS OF FINAL PHONE CALL WITH GRAHAM AFTER SENATOR'S DEATH, CALLS LOSS 'BIG BLOW' TO SAVE ACT

"Everybody’s loving that," Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said about Nordone filling Graham’s seat. "Darline really was the light of his life. I mean, he took her under his wing. That’s an amazing story in and of itself."

After their parents died within just a year of one another, a then 22-year-old Graham became Nordone’s legal guardian when she was just 13 years old. Graham took on a father role for his younger sister, adopting her after enlisting in the Air Force so she could qualify for his military benefits and pushing her to finish all of her schooling.

"If you could, you know, call Lindsey on the phone and say ‘Hey, what should we do?’ That would have been it. So that’s great. Absolutely great."

WHO IS DARLINE GRAHAM NORDONE? LINDSEY GRAHAM'S SISTER EMERGES AS TRUMP'S SENATE PICK

Nordone's swift appointment restored Republicans to a 53-seat majority in the Senate after Graham's death temporarily reduced the GOP conference by one seat.

Beyond backing Nordone, GOP senators repeatedly returned to the same theme: Graham's character and his uncommon ability to build friendships across the conference.

"Lindsey’s the kind of guy that did so many good things for so many people over the decades that there's probably 99 senators right now saying he was one of their best friends," Cramer told Fox News Digital.

"Lindsey was a dear friend, one of my besties," Marshall said. "And I think what's interesting, there's probably 98 of us up here that think Lindsey Graham was one of our best friends. We were that close to each other."

He continued, "He had that gift of hospitality. He made everybody feel so welcome."

A one-week filing period for a special primary election begins on July 21, with the special primary election following — held on Aug. 11.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Nordone has not stated whether she would consider pursuing a run for a full six-year term as senator, but Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., have begun laying the groundwork for bids.

If a runoff is necessary, it would follow two weeks after the special election on Aug. 25, leaving the nominee two months of campaigning until the general election on Nov. 3.

Arkansas students outperform national average after universal school choice expansion, governor says

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:06:20 -0400

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders pointed to emerging results as evidence that the state's universal school choice program is bolstering student outcomes after a new report indicated students participating in the program scored above the national average in math and English following the overhaul.

"In every single subject, last year we saw a 20% increase for our student performance," Sanders said Tuesday.

"Arkansas is investing in education where it matters, and it's paying off, and we're seeing a big difference."

CALIFORNIA EDUCATION LEADERS SOUND ALARM OVER NEWSOM’S ‘BRAZEN POWER GRAB’ STRIPPING SUPERINTENDENT POSITION

Discussing the initiative on "Fox & Friends," the Republican governor credited Arkansas' Education Freedom Account program with giving families more control over their children's education while pairing universal school choice with increased investments in public schools, teacher pay and literacy programs.

Sanders said that under the program, eligible families receive roughly $8,000 per student each school year to help pay for private school tuition, charter schools or homeschooling, while the state simultaneously increased funding for public schools and salaries for more than 12,000 educators.

"We had about 50,000 kids that have participated in last year's school year and that have signed up for the upcoming year," she said.

AMERICA'S NEXT 250 YEARS BEGIN IN THE CLASSROOM

"That means that the money is truly following the students. We are empowering parents to make the best decisions about where and how their kids can be educated."

The state is also deploying "literacy coaches" to struggling schools while raising starting pay for teachers and ensuring current teachers receive at least a $2,000 raise.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

While touting the tailored approach's success, Sanders cited her experience as a mother of three to emphasize the inadequacies of a "one-size-fits-all" system, stressing that "different kids need different environments" to reach their full potential.

"Parents should be allowed and empowered to figure out what that is. I believe that every single kid can learn when given the right resources, the right environment and the right opportunity, and in Arkansas, we're making sure that's happening," she said.

Conor McGregor launches 'World's Baddest Man' fighting tournament series on Fox Nation with eight-figure prize

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:03:59 -0400

MMA superstar Conor McGregor and Fox Nation are teaming up to find the baddest man in the world.

McGregor is set to host "World's Baddest Man," a new original documentary competition series premiering in summer of 2027. Created in partnership with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), of which McGregor is a co-owner, the series will provide unprecedented access to the fighters entering the ring, chronicling their training, sacrifices, personal struggles and relentless determination as they compete for the coveted title of World's Baddest Man and an eight-figure prize pool.

"Conor McGregor is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports, and we're excited to partner with him on a bold new original series unlike any other," said Lauren Petterson, president of Fox Nation.

CONOR MCGREGOR REACTS TO DISASTROUS UFC RETURN: 'MY HEAD GASKET IS GONE'

"'World's Baddest Man' combines premium documentary storytelling with world-class competition, providing Fox Nation subscribers unprecedented access to unique athletes while showcasing the grit, determination and heart required to compete for one of the biggest prizes in combat sports."

Conor "The Notorious" McGregor will be heavily featured in the series as he follows a diverse roster of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship athletes through a grueling elimination tournament toward a winner-take-all live championship event.

WWE'S PAUL HEYMAN TAKES SWIPE AT CONOR MCGREGOR INJURY ON 'MONDAY NIGHT RAW'

"BKFC has changed the game of combat sports, and I couldn’t be more excited to partner with FOX Nation and unleash the 'World’s Baddest Man' tournament," the Irish fighter said.

"This tournament will bring together the toughest fighters on the planet in a true test of heart, grit and willpower, and I’m proud to be part of something that will set a new standard for what it means to be the baddest man in the world."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The announcement comes just days after McGregor’s long-anticipated return to the UFC on Saturday night against fellow MMA star Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas. McGregor appeared to injure his leg early in the bout, prompting the referee to stop the fight just over a minute after it began and awarding Holloway a TKO victory.

The new series will put McGregor at the center of a different kind of combat sports showcase, as elite domestic and international fighters compete in a high-stakes, bracket-style tournament next summer on Fox Nation for the title of "World’s Baddest Man."

CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOX NATION

Fox News Digital's Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

'McDonald's changed the course of my life': Congressman sells business he built since his teen years

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:02:56 -0400

A North Carolina congressman who started working at McDonald's as a teenager has sold the restaurant business he and his wife spent decades building, bringing a nearly 50-year chapter with the fast-food chain to a close.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., and his wife, Teresa, announced Monday that they've sold their McDonald's restaurant business to longtime friends and fellow franchisees Christine and Chris Nevant of Asheville, North Carolina.

Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

REGIONAL BURGER CHAINS ARE BEATING FAST-FOOD GIANTS IN ONE KEY MEASURE

Edwards said the transition marks the end of a journey that began when he took his first job at McDonald's when he was 16 years old.

Years later, he purchased that same restaurant — eventually increasing his ownership into multiple locations across western North Carolina.

"McDonald's changed the course of my life," Edwards said in a statement. "It taught me the value of hard work, personal responsibility, teamwork and serving others."

The sale allows Edwards to fully step away from business ownership and devote more time to serving western North Carolina in Congress, he said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"While leaving a business that has meant so much to our family is bittersweet, this transition allows us to dedicate even more time and energy to the work of serving our communities and fighting for the people of our mountain region," Edwards said.

The buyers are longtime friends of the Edwards family. They've owned McDonald's restaurants in the Asheville area for years, according to a news release announcing the sale.

The announcement did not disclose how many restaurants were included in the sale.

After Edwards was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2016, Teresa Edwards took over the day-to-day management of the McDonald's restaurants.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS

"There is no question that Teresa made this possible," the 65-year-old congressman said.

"She carried the responsibility of managing our business for nearly a decade while I served in elected office. Her dedication, leadership and countless sacrifices gave me the opportunity to serve our communities. I couldn't be more grateful."

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

The couple thanked their employees, customers and the surrounding communities for supporting the business over the years.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"We will always be thankful for the friendships we've made and for the opportunity to have been part of so many lives through our restaurants," Edwards said.

University of Alabama student, father of 3 killed; suspect found hiding in attic, police say

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:52:18 -0400

An Alabama man accused of gunning down a University of Alabama student, a father of three and a family dog was captured hiding in an attic crawl space just hours after the victims were found inside a home, authorities said.

De'Kendrick Crawford, 24, is charged with capital murder in the July 6 killings of Jazmine Alexis Bates, 22, and Jose Felix Alvarez-Duenas, 31, according to the Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit.

The investigation began after a homeowner, who was out of the country, became worried when she couldn't reach Alvarez-Duenas, whom she had asked to house-sit and care for her dog.

POLICE IDENTIFY TWO TEEN SUSPECTS AFTER PENN STATE STUDENT SHOT DEAD OVER STOLEN PHONE

After checking her doorbell cameras, she spotted a man acting suspiciously on her back porch during the overnight hours and asked her landlord to contact police.

When Brookwood officers arrived for a welfare check, they found Alvarez-Duenas dead just inside the front door.

As they cleared the home, they discovered Bates dead inside a bedroom closet. Both had been shot. The homeowner's dog had also been killed.

NFL STAR'S BROTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTHER AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM SELF-BARRICADED NEAR BODY

Bates, Alvarez-Duenas and the homeowner all knew each other from working at a local business, investigators said. Crawford had also previously worked there and knew all three.

Doorbell camera footage, electronic evidence and other physical evidence quickly led detectives to Crawford, who was tracked to a relative's apartment in nearby Northport.

🚨 Know something we should investigate?

📩 stepheny.price@fox.com

📸 IG: @fndstephprice

🎥 X: @StephenyPrice

Your tip could lead to our next story.

Rather than surrender, Crawford barricaded himself inside the apartment, prompting a large response from local, state and federal law enforcement.

NATIONAL GUARDSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FATAL SHOOTING OF SOLDIER HE FOUND IN BED WITH HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND

Officers eventually breached the apartment and found him hiding in an attic crawl space roughly 10 hours after the victims were discovered.

According to jail records, Crawford was booked July 7 on charges of capital murder involving two or more persons and discharging a firearm into an occupied building.

The homicide investigation also uncovered that Crawford was already wanted on an unrelated felony warrant tied to a May shooting near the University of Alabama.

Police allege Crawford fired several rounds into an occupied office building near Coleman Coliseum after being fired from a contractor job on campus.

FOLLOW US ON X

Authorities emphasized that the contractor position was unrelated to the local business where he had worked alongside the victims.

The killings stunned friends and former coworkers at Buffalo Phil's Wings, where Bates, Alvarez-Duenas, the homeowner and Crawford had all previously worked together.

"It is with shattered hearts that we share the unimaginable loss of two beloved members of our work family," the restaurant wrote in a Facebook tribute. "Felix and Jazmine were more than employees—they were family."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS

The restaurant remembered Alvarez-Duenas as "a devoted single father to three beautiful children," adding that "nothing in this world made him prouder than being their dad."

Bates, who moved to Alabama from Chicago, was expected to graduate from the University of Alabama in December. The restaurant said she "came here with big dreams and was determined to build a bright future," remembering her as someone with "a beautiful heart, and a smile that made everyone around her feel welcome."

GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

"Our hearts are with Felix's three children, both of their families, their friends, and everyone whose lives they touched," the restaurant wrote. "Felix and Jazmine...you will never be forgotten."

The University of Alabama also mourned Bates' death.

SEND US A TIP

"We extend our deepest sympathy to family and friends of Jazmine Bates after this tragedy," the university said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "UA staff have contacted her family to offer support. Counseling and support resources are available to impacted students through the Office of Student Care and Well Being."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The university also thanked local law enforcement and the University of Alabama Police Department for their response.

GoFundMe pages have been created to help support Alvarez-Duenas' three children and to assist Bates' family with funeral expenses and transportation costs to return her to her hometown of Chicago.

Folarin Balogun admits that red-card reversal affected USA World Cup teammates: 'A lot of outside noise'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:36:21 -0400

The United States Men's National Team had all the momentum when Folarin Balogun's red card from the Round of 32 was suspended, giving him a chance to play in the Round of 16 — at least, that's what American soccer fans thought.

The day before the USMNT's Round of 16 game against Belgium, which Balogun was originally supposed to miss because of a red card in the previous game, FIFA ruled that he would be eligible.

The ruling added to what was already a huge controversy, as it was argued Balogun should not have been red-carded in the first place. Nonetheless, Balogun was active despite an appeal and strong reaction from Belgium.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

However, it was hardly a needle-mover, as Belgium embarrassed the Stars and Stripes with a 4-1 win. If anything, the needle might have moved the wrong way, Balogun himself said.

"My initial reaction was I was happy to be back in the team, but when I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy, and I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves, because it is something that is so unique," Balogun told CBS on Tuesday.

"The closer we got to the game, I tried to just focus as best as I could, but it was difficult. A lot of outside noise and that’s hard to avoid."

Balogun said the entire situation was "confusing," as the team was initially practicing without him. But the team found out on the bus to practice that Balogun would be active.

"Everybody was screaming and shouting," Balogun said.

BELGIUM MANAGER PRAISES CLASSY GESTURE BY FOLARIN BALOGUN AFTER RED CARD CONTROVERSY: 'I REALLY LIKED THAT'

But that did not change the whirlwind of emotions, which may or may not have contributed to the loss.

"It's more just being able to separate the emotion from the job at hand. We're all professionals, so it's not something I think was too difficult to be able to separate once we got over the initial announcement. You saw it was a difficult game against Belgium and that can kind of overshadow whether we were focused or not. From me being inside the camp and inside the setup, I know we had full concentration going into the game," he said.

President Donald Trump admitted to calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the red card.

"All I did was, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul," Trump said. "And again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything, that would be different.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I think it’s a terrible… if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play, I think it would have had a big stain. I relayed it. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players."

Belgium was knocked out by Spain in the quarterfinals, and Spain will face France in the first semifinal match Tuesday in Atlanta.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

English referee will miss out on massive World Cup final bonus due to controversial ban

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:30:32 -0400

While the FIFA World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina has fans excited for reasons both soccer and history related, the matchup means a premature end for one of the best officials at the tournament.

Premier League referee Michael Oliver, along with fellow countryman Anthony Taylor, will not be permitted to officiate the semifinal thanks to England punching their ticket to the final four of the 2026 World Cup.

Whether the Three Lions advance to the finals or not is a moot point as well, as Oliver and Taylor's World Cup journey has come to an end because of something out of their control.

ENGLAND STUNS MEXICO 3-2 IN INSTANT WORLD CUP CLASSIC, HANDS TEAM FIRST WORLD CUP LOSS AT ESTADIO AZTECA

Referees are forbidden from officiating a match involving their home country, and, because they cannot be assigned to a match that has a direct consequence for their home country in the next round, the two Englishmen are exempt from officiating the Spain and France semifinal as well.

For Oliver, the ban means missing out on a massive payday, as referees who made it through the entire tournament would be in line to make off with a sum north of $100,000 with bonuses added for officiating matches in the final stages of the World Cup.

Oliver has officiated four matches at this year's World Cup, including his most recent fixture being the Spain vs. Belgium quarterfinal.

MESSI, ARGENTINA AVOID A SHOCKING UPSET IN WILD KNOCKOUT STAGE MATCH AGAINST CAPE VERDE

England's opponent adds a little extra gasoline to the fire as well, given the geopolitical implications between the two nations stemming from the Falklands War of the early 1980s.

Though the conflict is over four decades old, the subject is a touchy one whenever England and Argentina have taken the pitch for the last 40-plus years.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Between that and the controversial 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, when Argentina's Diego Maradona led his country past England with his "Hand of God" goal, the two countries will look to write the next chapter in their unlikely rivalry on Wednesday afternoon.

Mississippi teen accused of killing elderly couple had worked for them before shooting: family

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:07:12 -0400

A teenager in Mississippi knew the elderly couple he's accused of killing before sparking a standoff with law enforcement, according to new testimony in court.

Cordarius Hobbs, 17, is charged with killing 74-year-old Billy Blair and his 71-year-old wife Virginia Carol Blair during a home break-in on June 3 in Mendenhall, Mississippi. Family members of Hobbs testified during the Thursday preliminary hearing that he knew the couple.

Family members testified that Hobbs did work for the Blairs for things like cleaning around the house before the alleged shooting, according to WAPT. Billy Newsome, Hobbs’ grandfather, said he believes his grandson was called to work on the day of the alleged shooting but believes he's innocent.

"My grandson used to work for the man, why you gone rob a man that you work for," Newsome said. "Why you gone stay there that long and you know the police out there, and then you gone wait until everybody gets there to run, it just ain’t adding up, something just ain’t right here."

MISSISSIPPI TEEN ALLEGEDLY KILLED ELDERLY COUPLE IN THEIR HOME BEFORE FIRING ON DEPUTIES IN STANDOFF

On June 3, three contractors installing a generator at the Blairs' home discovered Carol Blair's car door open with several guns on the seats around 10 a.m., prompting them to call the Simpson County Sheriff's Department for a welfare check at 11:30 a.m, according to a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigator.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

By noon, the investigator said that officers arrived and were met with shots fired at them, starting a nearly two-hour-long standoff. Hobbs was captured after trying to run away from officers, the official said, adding that the teen was unarmed when he was caught.

Carol Blair was found in a bedroom curled in the fetal position and had three gunshots to the back of her head. Bill Blair was found lying on his back in the kitchen with three gunshot wounds to his face.

SEND US A TIP

The state investigator said three firearms were found inside the home as well as 280 shell casings, all owned by Bill Blair.

Hobbs' defense attorney, Zachary Vaugh, argued that there's a lack of direct forensic evidence connecting the teenager to the shooting.

"There was nothing to say he’s a principal, he’s the one that pulled the trigger on these things," Vaugh said. "One of the things alone was, one of the victims was shot twice on one side of the head and once on the other. I think that’s pretty compelling that somebody else may have been in there. There’s a lot of things that are possible, just a tremendous amount of things."

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

"When you have an officer say there’s no one that can identify him at the time of the shooting, I just don’t see how that adds up," he said.

Hobbs is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of burglary, in addition to 10 other charges. He was denied bond.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

In a statement on Facebook, the couple's family previously said, "We are crushed in spirit, bruised, and brokenhearted, but we are not alone."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Jason Busby, who was friends with the couple, remembered them as being extremely selfless when speaking with WLBT.

"The man would’ve given you the shirt off his back, his wife is the same, and they’re just great people. It’s just a tragedy," Busby said. "Everybody around here is still in shock. They were just good people."

National League pitching depth makes them the smart moneyline pick for MLB All-Star Game

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:06:22 -0400

The MLB All-Star Game is here. We bet on the Home Run Derby last night and won some cash on that, so why would we skip the main game? I know that the All-Star Game has lost some luster in the past years, but if we cash a ticket, it pays the same way any regular MLB game would pay.

Last year, we hit Schwarber as the MVP, so let’s try to get some more money.

Total and Moneyline

Looking at the rosters is always the first place to start for the All-Star Game. In the American League, there are some very familiar starters – Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger, Yordan Alvarez, and some newer names – Shea Langeliers, Ben Rice, and even Junior Caminero. I like the balance of new and old. Those starters probably will get two at-bats. Looking at the reserves, I’m fairly unimpressed. I get that they are all having good seasons, but I don’t love the options to fill out the remainder of the game.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR DURING THE 2026 MLB ALL-STAR GAME AT CITIZENS BANK PARK IN PHILADELPHIA

For the National League, they have a fairly similar makeup with Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Juan Soto, and Kyle Schwarber as the veteran presence. Guys like Drake Baldwin, CJ Abrams, and Andy Pages are the younger dudes. However, I really like the bench from the National League. Need a base hit? Luis Arraez. Need a clutch moment? Bryce Harper. Defensive replacement or stolen base? Pete Crow-Armstrong. I think the National League is deeper.

For pitching, the American League is turning to Dylan Cease to start. He should be solid, and I like the rest of the American League starters. There is also some heat coming out of the bullpen if they want actual relief pitchers.

The National League is having home starter Christopher Sanchez take the ball. Sanchez is a dominant pitcher and should be fired up to make this start. Imagine being the National League Manager and going Sanchez-Chris Sale-Jacob Misiorowski-Paul Skenes-Logan-Webb- Jhoan-Duran-Raisel Iglesias-Riley O’Brien-Mason Miller. That doesn’t include most of their pitching options either.

As you can probably expect, I’ll bet on the National League to win this one. I just think their roster and their pitchers are better. Who actually will play in this game is a tough question to answer, though. We never seem to know it for certain. Some guys show up but don’t want to play (other guys just opt out beforehand). I’ll take the National League at -135, and I’ll skip the total, but lean to the under 7.5.

SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS

MVP

I really don’t have a great vote for MVP. I picked Harper yesterday, and I think he is worth it to pick here as well. However, I do think we get some sort of longball early in a game from a starter. I think it is worth picking Freeman as a shot is a decent look as well. At +3000 he has power to get the homer, and should get two at-bats. If we are going to take a different reserve, Pete Crow-Armstrong at +2500 seems to have a bit of value because he can make highlight plays, has been on a tear, and could steal a couple of bases.

I've only named National League players, and even though I think they win, we probably should pick a couple of American League guys as well. Yordan Alvarez has been ridiculous this season and could put a ball over the ball in this one no matter who is pitching. I will also take Willson Contreras at +4500 for the same reason as last night - he is extra motivated to bring some positivity to him and Venezuela.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Officially, I'll take the National League to win at -135. For MVP, I'm going to put a quarter unit on Freeman, Harper, Crow-Armstrong, Contreras, and Alvarez each. Just like yesterday, none of these are big bets. This is an exhibition, I just want to make it fun for us.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024