https://meenews.co/post/6a80a4b42c5335ae1046d77e Bill Maher rips immigrants who refuse to adapt, says American values are ‘not negotiable’ te 2026-08-15T17:41:08.544Z Bill Maher rips immigrants who refuse to adapt, says American values are ‘not negotiable’ Comedian Bill Maher argued Friday that immigrants must assimilate to American culture and accept certain fundamental values like gay rights, women's equality and free speech, saying those principles are "not White values," but liberal ones. During his latest episode of HBO’s "Real Time," Maher blasted both sides of the political spectrum for their approach to immigration within the country — adding that there is "no doubt" that Democrats and Republicans "went to extremes." "If you want the American dream, you have to take the American values," he said. However, a public policy professor at Penn State University told Fox News Digital that Maher had it wrong.  DEM REP SETH MOULTON SAYS PARTY HAS NO IMMIGRATION PLAN, IS ONLY ‘OPPOSITION TO TRUMP’ "Biden's policy of open doors, and then Trump's policy of broken windows," Maher continued. "Now, I'm on the page of America doing what it used to do so well — stealing hard-working, talented immigrants from around the world and making them Americans." He went on to point to his belief that "something has changed" in the attitude of those immigrating to the United States who may no longer believe they should adapt to western cultural standards. "Now, most immigrants still want to assimilate, but some now have this other attitude of, ‘melting pot? F--- you, you melt," Maher said, while cracking a joke. "Look, you don’t have to love everything about America. We don’t. That’s why Yelp was invented." "But, you know, if you do get past ICE, America’s actually pretty cool," he continued. "We say, ‘You do you.’ Eat the food your grandma cooked. Speak another language at home. Celebrate religious holidays. We welcome your food, your art, your fashion, your first ladies." But according to Maher, the price of immigration comes with a cost. "But you have to answer one question: Do you like Western civilization? Because that’s what we are. And that’s not negotiable," he said. BILL MAHER DEFENDS WESTERN CIVILIZATION ON ‘REAL TIME,’ CITING REMARKS FROM JD VANCE "Honor killings, not letting women show their faces, polygamy, cousin f---ing, female genital mutilation — there’s lots of stuff we don’t do here, and it’s non-negotiable," Maher said. "And it’s not ‘White values.’ These are liberal values. People fought and died to establish them. And it’s not racist to say if you want to come here to help form a more perfect union, great. But some things are too fundamental to change." But the framing itself drew pushback from Nicole Kreisberg, an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy and the Department of Sociology at Penn State, who told Fox News Digital that Maher had the country's history backward. "In my view, Maher makes it seem as if America is built on a foundation of the 'melting pot,' rather than on 'assimilation,'" Kreisberg said. "To me, America is built on an attitude of 'assimilate or don't come.'" Kreisberg said that immigrants from all countries have historically been expected to assimilate to American culture, with harsh cultural consequences for those who either fail or cannot manage to do so. "Throughout history, the U.S. state has actually built up systems to discourage immigrants from pursuing this ‘melting pot’ strategy," Kreisberg told Fox News Digital. "Immigrants often face discrimination for speaking languages other than English in public; and for immigrants to advance in their U.S. careers, they often must speak English." Kreisberg added that for over two centuries, immigrants who hailed from countries with a large European population fared better than those who arrived in the country as racial minorities. "Immigrants past and present — such as Irish and Italians historically, or Chinese immigrants today — have sought to assimilate to avoid discrimination by changing their names to more ‘American’ ones, by adopting their food preferences for their children and by changing their political preferences," Kreisberg said, adding, "But unlike was the case with Irish or Italians, who eventually did manage to assimilate to become ‘White’ Americans, contemporary immigrants are struggling because of pivotal differences in how they are racialized." "In other words, no matter how much they try to assimilate, they may continue to face discrimination based on their skin tone," she said. BILL MAHER & DAVID CROSS GET INTO HEATED WAR OF WORDS OVER 'LOONEY LEFT' & TRANS RIGHTS, INCLUDING 3-YEAR-OLD On Friday, Maher turned to the audience and asked if "gay rights is one of our values that’s non-negotiable?" — eliciting a round of applause from the crowd. He pointed to congressional candidate Melissa Chaudhry, a progressive Democrat challenging longtime Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., and her failure to include LGBTQ+ rights as one of the causes she supports. When she was previously asked why her website did not mention LGBTQ+ issues, Chaudhry reportedly said, "because a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately," according to The Stranger. Maher blasted this stance during his segment Friday, while condemning what he believes is a shift in progressive policy to see "everything as oppressor versus oppressed, but can’t see who actually does a lot of oppressing." "So let me ask, is this the progressive policy now? Is Ms. Chaudhry right?" he said. "We throw gay people under the bus any time it clashes with what makes Muslims uncomfortable?" DFW AIRPORT SCRAPS CONTROVERSIAL ISLAMIC FOOT-WASHING STATION PLAN AS TEXAS GOV ABBOTT TAKES AIM He then looked to dismantle a quote from activist Linda Sarsour, saying, "Our number one priority is our community. It is not to assimilate." "OK, but that’s not really how immigration works," Maher said. "If I move to Japan, I don’t get to say, ‘OK, everybody. A couple of changes. First of all, shoes stay on in the house now. Also, no more tentacle porn, that’s gone.'" Maher’s argument continued as he pointed out several cultural practices that are considered taboo in western civilization — adding that anyone who comes to America should not expect the country to compromise on such beliefs. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE However, Maher concluded his argument by contradicting Kreisberg’s stance, insisting that his belief that immigrants should respect American values has nothing to do with "Islamaphobia," but instead a basic belief that those living within the country should respect the fundamental rights it protects. "Now, you can, and I’m sure some of you are screaming, ‘Islamophobia!’ But that’s just a bulls--- word to cow people into not talking about this," Maher said. "This has nothing to do with non-whites becoming the majority. I don’t give a s--- about that. I don’t give a s--- about colors. White people — they’re White, they’re not pandas. I care about liberal values being replaced by illiberal ones." Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a80a4732c5335ae1046d6b6 2 Planes With Same Call Sign in Phoenix Could Have Been ‘Disastrous’ te 2026-08-15T17:40:03.910Z 2 Planes With Same Call Sign in Phoenix Could Have Been ‘Disastrous’ An air traffic controller noticed that two planes — one departing, one landing — were both flight 2482. He acted quickly to avoid confusion. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a809dab2c5335ae1046d60e Actor charged with 24 felony counts in alleged child sexual abuse case te 2026-08-15T17:11:07.695Z Actor charged with 24 felony counts in alleged child sexual abuse case A California actor and producer is facing 24 felony charges after investigators said he used online casting calls to contact minors as part of an alleged pattern of child sexual abuse spanning decades. Shane Ryan Gledhill, 46, of Lompoc, was arrested Aug. 3 after Santa Barbara County Sheriff's detectives spent nearly five years investigating accusations of exploitation. Gledhill, whose work involved projects connected to actors including Shelley Duvall, Tom Arnold, Richard Dreyfuss and Ed Harris, was initially booked on 15 felony charges. That total has now climbed to 24. TIMOTHY BUSFIELD INDICTED ON CHILD SEX ABUSE CHARGES IN NEW MEXICO The investigation began in November 2021, when a 17-year-old survivor approached Santa Barbara County Sheriff's investigators about what they described as suspicious and inappropriate conduct involving Gledhill when she was 15, according to authorities. That initial report led to an investigation that eventually identified nine survivors, the Sheriff's Office said. All were minors at the time of the alleged offenses. In February 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at his residence in Lompoc. Investigators seized thousands of digital files, which underwent an extensive forensic examination. The Sheriff's Office said the investigation uncovered a pattern in which Gledhill allegedly used online casting calls and film-making projects to contact aspiring young actors. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS That detail prompted authorities to publicly release his booking photograph. "The Sheriff’s Office is releasing Gledhill’s booking photograph because detectives believe he often used the professional names ‘Shane Ryan’ and ‘Shane Ryan-Reid’ when contacting aspiring actors and filmmakers." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The press release continued, "Individuals who interacted with him under those names may not recognize his legal name. Detectives hope the photograph will assist in identifying additional survivors or witnesses." The charges against Gledhill include alleged offenses such as child molestation, rape, forcible sexual assault, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense, possession of child sexual abuse material and providing harmful matter to a minor. Gledhill was taken into custody at his Lompoc home on an arrest warrant and booked into the Northern Branch Jail. His bail is set at $2 million. "Based on evidence developed during the investigation, detectives believe there may be additional survivors who have not yet been identified or come forward," the press release shared. Investigators believe the alleged conduct could span roughly 25 years, with potential survivors or witnesses located not only along California's Central Coast but also in the Los Angeles area and on the East Coast. Gledhill has a preliminary hearing set for Sept. 9 at Santa Barbara County Superior Court's Lompoc division. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a809b532c5335ae1046d5c8 Five college football teams ranked outside the preseason top-10 that went on to win it all te 2026-08-15T17:01:07.996Z Five college football teams ranked outside the preseason top-10 that went on to win it all In recent years, preseason polls in college football have caused quite a few fans to lose their marbles, so if you're one of the many who fall in this camp, you may want to take a mental health day on Monday, because that's the day the preseason AP Poll drops. While the release of the AP Top-25 should be a reason to celebrate – since it signals the arrival of college football – it's had the opposite effect lately. Most of the consternation comes from fans who believe their favorite team or conference is being under-ranked or under-represented, so if that's your particular gripe, fear not. THE 5 MOST DISAPPOINTING PRESEASON TOP-10 COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY Many championship-winning teams over the past quarter century have found themselves ranked outside the top-10 of the inaugural AP Poll of any given season, and today I wanted to look at five notable examples from the turn of the 21st century. These are teams who defied the odds and turned what many thought would be a respectable season into an unforgettable one. Let's take a stroll down memory lane. We start this list off with a familiar face, as the most recent national champion is a prime example of shattering preseason expectations. Coming into last season, the idea was that the Indiana Hoosiers were able to catch a ton of teams by surprise while navigating an extremely friendly schedule in 2024 en route to a shocking Playoff appearance. Not many fans or media pundits were predicting a repeat of 2024 for Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers, and they were right, in a way. Not only did the Hoosiers make it back to the College Football Playoff, they won the whole damn thing, doing so while playing an infinitely harder schedule. The Hoosiers' preseason ranking took many things into account: undermanned roster (at least as far as recruiting rankings are concerned), tougher schedule, and more, but they didn't know how much of a wizard Coach Cig would be. CURT CIGNETTI REVEALS HOW WORKING FOR NICK SABAN CHANGED EVERYTHING: 'EVERY DAY WAS 4TH-AND-1' A guy like Fernando Mendoza deserves special mention, too. The Hoosiers' signal caller went from a little-known transfer from Cal to a Heisman Trophy winner and a number one overall NFL Draft pick. With the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to point and laugh at the pollsters for not ranking Indiana higher, but it made the victory even sweeter for Hoosier fans everywhere. This one might feel like a bit of a reach, given that they were literally just outside the top ten to start the season, but the 2013 Florida State Seminoles ended up being one of the defining teams of the 2010s and the last ever BCS champion, so the fact they started the season at 11 makes them an even more mythical story. The Noles had won the ACC Championship as well as the Orange Bowl just a season prior, but they also lost a ton of veteran leadership to the NFL, including quarterback EJ Manuel and two first-round NFL Draft picks on defense. Head coach Jimbo Fisher recruited well enough to offset those personnel losses, but no one knew how all these new players would gel, particularly redshirt freshman signal caller Jameis Winston. An undefeated season for the Noles and a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign for Winston proved every single one of the doubters wrong, as FSU ran roughshod over the ACC en route to its third national title in program history. When I say roughshod, I mean it, too. FSU slaughtered pretty much everyone on its schedule, including beating all four ranked conference opponents on its schedule by a combined score of 200-35. Pure dominance. And to think, this dream season probably started with Seminole fans lamenting the AP Poll for giving their team the shaft. Fascinatingly enough, there are a few key parallels that can be drawn between the first national champion of the 21st century and the most recent. The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners were only one spot higher than the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers, both were led by second-year head coaches, and neither had been ranked in the preseason polls for quite some time prior to this season. At the turn of the millenium, the Sooners had fallen on tough times, new head coach Bob Stoops hadn't done much to inspire hope in the folks of Norman following a 7-5 season in 1999. Despite this, Oklahoma was given a preseason ranking for the first time in five years, and although it wasn't exactly a symbol of confidence from the pollsters, it signified progress. Stoops showed everyone that he and his Sooners may have been a little ahead of schedule, though, with a perfect 13-0 season and a national championship over a Florida State team that had lost only one game in its previous 24 contests. Though Stoops was known for his defensive prowess, the offense showed out for most of Oklahoma's biggest games, including hanging 63 points on its rival, the 11th ranked Texas Longhorns. Not bad for a team no one thought would do much more than make another repeat appearance to the Insight Bowl. Hey look, it's another team with a second-year head coach coming off a 7-5 campaign the year prior. Other than a win over rival Michigan the year prior, coach Jim Tressel and the 2002 Buckeyes didn't have a lot to be excited about coming into the season. At least, that's what the general public thought. Behind the bruising running of precocious freshman tailback Maurice Clarette and a suffocating defense, Ohio State didn't allow more than 17 points throughout the entirety of its conference slate, which included a 14-9 strangling of a top-ten Michigan team. The real feat of accomplishment, though, came in the national championship game, as the Buckeyes defeated a Miami team many football historians believe is one of the best in the history of the sport. NEW PURDUE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TRIES TRASH TALKING INDIANA ATHLETICS IN BIZARRE MOMENT Against all odds, the 11.5-point underdogs toppled the Hurricanes and their staggering 17 first-round NFL Draft picks in a thrilling (and somewhat controversial) double-overtime thriller in the desert. Many fans remember this Buckeyes team as the one that toppled a budding Miami dynasty, and it all started with a double-digit preseason ranking. If there is one shining example of a team shattering preseason expectations, it's the 2010 Auburn Tigers. Aside from the brilliance of quarterback Cam Newton, this team had no business winning anything of significance in the 2010 campaign. Coach Gene Chizik was in year two of a very questionable hire, one that was roundly booed by Auburn fans from the time he exited the plane in eastern Alabama due to his 5-19 record at his previous stop of Iowa State. An 8-5 record in year one did little to quell those grumblings, and the recruiting was stagnating behind other SEC rivals like Alabama and LSU. It looked like the Tigers were headed for another eight or nine-win season with more questions than answers until Clark Kent opened his shirt to reveal his "SuperCam" costume. I can't put into words how magical Newton was throughout the 2010 season, but to put into perspective just how much of the burden he shouldered for Auburn during its championship run, the Tigers led the SEC in scoring offense despite not having a single skill player other than Newton take a single regular season snap in the NFL. Those kind of mind-bending facts are what make this season so special for Auburn, but it also proves the preseason pollsters right in a way. Who could have seen the kind of carry-job coming that Newton pulled off in 2010? SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS The Tigers beat six ranked teams that year en route to a perfect 14-0 season in which Newton captured a Heisman and Auburn hoisted a crystal football. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! What makes Newton even more special is the fact that both the Tigers and Chizik immediately crashed back down to Earth the moment the star signal caller bolted for the NFL. Auburn would plummet back to a pedestrian 8-5 record in 2011, followed by a 3-9 campaign the next year that saw Chizik hit the unemployment line. Truly a team that captured lightning in a bottle. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8096a32c5335ae1046d4e0 Seattle Seahawks make Devon Witherspoon NFL's highest-paid CB of all time, but probably not for long te 2026-08-15T16:41:07.730Z Seattle Seahawks make Devon Witherspoon NFL's highest-paid CB of all time, but probably not for long It is an NFL business fact that when its best players agree to new contracts, they break records as well as the bank. That's the case with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who on Saturday became the league's highest-paid cornerback. Witherspoon agreed to a four-year deal worth $132 million that includes more than $101 million in guarantees, according to a source. And this: It not only makes Witherspoon the league's highest paid player at his position today but also all-time. PATRICK MAHOMES LEAPS PAST DAK PRESCOTT AS NFL'S HIGHEST-PAID QB WITH RECORD CHIEFS EXTENSION WORTH $504.75M Witherspoon's deal will average $33 million per season on an annual average basis which beats the $31 million per season Denzel Ward got from the Cleveland Browns last month. That's not all. Witherspoon, a Pro Bowl selection all three years he's been in the NFL, is getting paid to stop opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks. And this deal pays him more than many opposing wide receivers and quarterbacks. Consider that Witherspoon's deal pays more on an annual average than Aaron Rodgers gets from the Pittsburgh Steelers on an annual average – $22 million. It pays more than Kirk Cousins gets from the Las Vegas Raiders – $11.3 million. And while it doesn't eclipse what Baker Mayfield ($33.3 million) gets from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his total guarantees of $101 million are more than twice Mayfield's $50 million in total guarantees. Witherspoon's deal is in quarterback territory and Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold can attest to that. Darnold last season signed a deal that averages $33.5 million per season with $55 million in guarantees. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES LOCK UP JALEN CARTER THROUGH 2031 WITH RECORD $152M CONTRACT EXTENSION Witherspoon blew the guarantees figure away. And Witherspoon is obviously in the same neighborhood on an annual average. The business of the NFL is thriving and these deals are proof. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM And it is not likely to stop. Witherspoon's deal signals that another, likely bigger, contract is en route for a cornerback across the country. The New England Patriots and cornerback Christian Gonzalez have been negotiating a new deal for months. Patriots owner Robert Kraft is on record as saying the Patriots were offering to make Gonzalez the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. It was a race to see whether Gonzalez and the Patriots or Witherspoon and the Seahawks would agree to a contract first. Witherspoon won that race. And you know what spoils go to the loser? Gonzalez will now be aiming to surpass Witherspoon's contract – because for the best of the best in the NFL, the next contract is usually the biggest. FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8096622c5335ae1046d4b3 SpaceX officially closes its Cursor acquisition te 2026-08-15T16:40:02.905Z SpaceX officially closes its Cursor acquisition AI coding startup Cursor is now officially a part of SpaceX. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a80944b2c5335ae1046d48f Justice Thomas reveals this elite institution is ‘off limits’ to him: ‘That's the world we're in’ te 2026-08-15T16:31:07.661Z Justice Thomas reveals this elite institution is ‘off limits’ to him: ‘That's the world we're in’ Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently claimed that certain law schools and colleges were completely "off limits" for him and other conservatives to visit. "You know, I have never been to Stanford Law School," Thomas told Peter Robinson during an on-stage discussion hosted by the Hoover Institute. He went on to say that current conservative thought leaders, like himself, are largely unwelcome from high education institutions like Stanford Law School. "That's the reality," Thomas said. "That's the world we're in, because there’s certain places that are just presumptively off limits. This is the way it works. And that's true. I mean, I've been to Yale Law School, but that's the way it works. And to say it isn't, is to lie." CLARENCE THOMAS WARNS AMERICA: LIBERTY DIES WHEN WE CHOOSE COMFORT OVER COURAGE The comments from the high court justice came amid ongoing criticism from conservative pundits that college campuses have become intolerant to right-wing ideas and that students are being indoctrinated by liberal professors. Thomas alleged that, if not for YouTube, the ideas and works of American economist Thomas Sowell, who profoundly shaped his political views, would be lost to the younger generation of students because some people's views are "unpalatable" to the student body. "And so what these kids are getting is all that stuff [that] is not there," Thomas said, referring to colleges. "It's just on YouTube. It's available to everybody, and they get to make up their own mind." A Stanford spokesperson rejected Thomas' notion that the law school was "off-limits" for him to visit. "We would be honored to host Justice Thomas at Stanford Law School," a spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The Stanford Constitutional Law Center, directed by Professor Michael McConnell, former Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, regularly hosts members of the judiciary on campus." "Our students and faculty would welcome the opportunity to hear from Justice Thomas and engage with his perspectives on the Court, the Constitution, and the law," the spokesperson continued. WATCH: CHAOS ERUPTS AS LEFTISTS INTERRUPT CONSERVATIVE GROUP'S UCLA EVENT FEATURING DHS LAWYER But in the past couple of years, there have been multiple incidents in which a conservative speaker's visit to the school was disrupted by student protesters. When Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, visited in 2023 to give a presentation titled "Covid, Guns, and Twitter," he was met with fierce backlash from students affiliated with LGBTQ groups because of his judicial record. The student groups — OutLaw and Identity and Rights Affirmers for Trans Equality (IRATE) — repeatedly pressured the hosting organization, Federalist Society, to cancel the event or move it to Zoom. When that failed, a group of 90 law students appeared with signs and bullhorns to protest Duncan's talk, causing major disruptions that made it impossible for Duncan to complete his presentation. Duncan requested assistance and DEI administrator Tirien Steinbach took the podium acknowledging his free speech rights, but siding with the student protesters. "For many people here, your work has caused harm," Steinbach said to Duncan. "Is the juice worth the squeeze?" The incident led Stanford dean Jenny Martinez and president Marc Tessier-Lavigne to issue an apology to Duncan. The school required students to participate in mandatory training and subsequently made the school's position unusually explicit: protesting Duncan was protected, but preventing an invited speaker from effectively delivering a presentation violated Stanford's disruption policy. DHS LAWYER SAYS UCLA 'UTTERLY FAILED' TO STOP PROTEST CHAOS AT LAW SCHOOL APPEARANCE Three years earlier, when then-Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins visited the law school to host a discussion, twelve student organizations organized a walkout. The groups took issue with Hawkins' role in litigation to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. Just five minutes into Hawkins' address, more than three-quarters of the audience left. Thomas did not point to either incident during his remarks at the Hoover Institution, nor did he say whether he had ever been invited to speak at Stanford. He did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Still, Thomas suggested that the ideological divide he sees within higher education has made engagement between conservatives and some of the nation's most prominent academic institutions increasingly difficult. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8091b22c5335ae1046d423 How to tell if your AI platforms’ accounts have been hacked te 2026-08-15T16:20:02.897Z How to tell if your AI platforms’ accounts have been hacked A guide on how to check if hackers have broken into your accounts on the most popular AI platforms. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a808f9c2c5335ae1046d400 ‘A Man Without Love’ singer Engelbert Humperdinck credits underwater workout for keeping him ‘alive’ at 90 te 2026-08-15T16:11:08.979Z ‘A Man Without Love’ singer Engelbert Humperdinck credits underwater workout for keeping him ‘alive’ at 90 At 90, Engelbert Humperdinck has an unusual workout routine he credits with keeping him "alive" and going strong. The British singer, known as the "King of Romance," recently appeared on "The Jim Masters Show," where he shared his unconventional exercise regimen. "I walk out in the pool all the day," he told the host. "I do all my martial art moves in the pool underwater, which makes it even more effective. … And that’s how I stay alive and keep going and keep myself as fit as possible so that the audience can see me in a respectable way." JOAN COLLINS SHARES HER SIMPLE SECRETS TO AGING GRACEFULLY AT 93 "That's where I work out there in the pool," he said. "I do all my stuff up there, which is great." And it appears to be working. The "Release Me" singer is still performing regularly, with concert dates scheduled into 2027 abroad. He's also preparing to release a new album, "Faithfully," on Aug. 28. The album features Humperdinck putting his own spin on songs by Journey, the Cars, KISS and Aerosmith, with several guest musicians joining him on the record. While Humperdinck is working to keep his body young, a decades-old song is helping him reach younger audiences. His 1968 track "A Man Without Love" was featured in two episodes of Marvel Studios' "Moon Knight." "… Since ‘Man Without Love,’ it’s triggered something off," he said. "And it’s so nice. It’s so nice to know that people are now not worried about an age. They’re worried about the music, and that’s all that counts as far as I’m concerned. But I try to stay as young as possible all the time." While Humperdinck continues connecting with audiences through the love songs that made him famous, the lyrics have taken on a deeper meaning since his wife, Patricia, died in 2021 after living with Alzheimer's disease and contracting COVID-19. The couple married in 1964 and remained together for 57 years until her death at age 85. "She’s the backbone. She was the backbone to my whole life, I think, because she started with me when I was nobody. … And so she was instrumental in the early years. And when I really made it in the industry and got a family, I used to have to leave home for about three months at a time. And she raised the children by herself." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER While his heartfelt ballads are now bittersweet, Humperdinck still finds joy in performing them for audiences today. "There's no better feeling. There's no better feeling than walking on stage," he said. "I call myself a thespian of song. So when I'm singing, I act a part. It's not acting really, it's reality coming through. But I give my all and I read the lyrics a little differently now, especially since I lost my wife. And it comes out more sincere." "I’m a ballad singer, and I love, love singing ballads," he said. "There’s nothing like a good romantic ballad to touch the heart. And it puts people together. ... I feel responsible for putting people together." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS When the final curtain eventually falls, Humperdinck hopes those songs will continue bringing people together. "My legacy is my music, and music is timeless," he said. "And I listen to the radio and I watch on my phone, and I see the people in the past who have had massive, massive hits, and they're still being viewed by the living. And that's just wonderful. That's the kind of legacy I want to leave behind. I want to leave a good taste in my career behind." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a808f9c2c5335ae1046d3f7 Palisades Village to re-open, marking new milestone for fire-devastated community te 2026-08-15T16:11:08.325Z Palisades Village to re-open, marking new milestone for fire-devastated community Nineteen months after the Pacific Palisades wildfire destroyed more than 5,000 homes and uprooted the lives of tens of thousands of residents, locals and visitors to the affluent Los Angeles Westside neighborhood are marking one of the first positive milestones. Palisades Village, the neighborhood’s 100,000-square-foot, walkable luxury retail and restaurant enclave featuring more than 40 curated boutiques, eateries and experiences, is celebrating its reopening on Aug. 15. Festivities will range from a ribbon-cutting ceremony to shopping experiences, tastings, family-friendly activities and entertainment. "The way we reopen is a sign throughout the city that’s suffering in so many ways that we actually are resilient," Rick Caruso said during an earlier tour of the property. "We’re on a mission to bring back this city." PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY DRIVEN BY 'SOCIETAL REVENGE,' BEHAVIORAL ANALYST TESTIFIES IN COURT The billionaire businessman, who is the founder and former CEO of real estate company Caruso, is considered a leading civic figure in Los Angeles. He has served on several local government commissions and established Steadfast LA, a public-private, recovery-focused partnership in the wake of the fires. Caruso reportedly spent more than $100 million of his own money on a failed mayoral campaign against Karen Bass in 2022 and has been an outspoken critic of how she has handled the wildfire and the running of the city since. While the Palisades Fire burned for three and a half weeks in January 2025 before being contained, Palisades Village largely survived the disaster but remained closed for extensive $100 million smoke remediation and rebuilding. The surrounding downtown commercial corridor, however, was severely impacted, with numerous local businesses and structures reduced to ashes. SPENCER PRATT PRAISES FIERCE GOP FOE IN RARE BIPARTISAN TURN "His complex was great, and I think it’s great that it’s reopening," one well-known Hollywood music composer who lost his home in the tragic fire and preferred to remain anonymous told Fox News Digital. "That will definitely help to just get some momentum where people will feel hopeful and that we’re getting back to normal and progressing in the right direction." He noted the continued need for a grocery store in the immediate area. Both a Gelson's and Ralphs Fresh Fare were obliterated in last year’s blaze. "… Houses are starting to pop up. It would definitely be nice to see in the next 12 months anything from the little restaurant that was once there, the supermarket and one of the gas stations — those basic needs that a community needs would be nice," he added. MISTRIAL DECLARED FOR PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT WHO ALLEGEDLY FIXATED ON LUIGI MANGIONE For his part, Caruso has stressed the importance of taking every step possible to ensure the Palisades Village revamp was clean, safe and free of toxins. "We took everything down to the studs and rebuilt it after having environmental engineers test it," Caruso told the Hollywood Reporter. Since 2018, Palisades Village has served as a see-and-be-seen hub for Hollywood types and locals. Its reopening will feature both legacy and new businesses. For instance, the Netflix-run Bay Theatre will return, along with namesake fine jewelry company Jennifer Meyer Jewelry, which gained a massive celebrity following after actress Jennifer Aniston wore one of its signature pieces in the 2006 romantic comedy-drama "The Break-Up." Approximately 60% of its original tenants will return, while others, such as Lululemon and Saint Laurent, will not. New business debuts include a New American grill run by award-winning chef and restaurateur Timothy Hollingsworth. The eatery will join Nancy Silverton’s new Italian chophouse, Spacca Tutto. "This is one of many positive steps in this journey," Traci Park, LA City Council member for the 11th District, told Fox News Digital. Park has worked closely with Caruso and his team and has been heavily involved in the recovery efforts in the Palisades. "We have been really excited to celebrate the return of every school, every business, every new home breaking ground across the Palisades, but I would say this may be one of the biggest developments in terms of spurring overall recovery, but specifically local business economic recovery," she said. Jacqui Irwin, Assemblymember for District 42, who introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2692 to help residents of a Palisades condo community who were in legal limbo after discovering that the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) governing their property had expired shortly before the fires, called the reopening an "important milestone." "This is about more than reopening stores and restaurants, it’s about restoring a place where neighbors can reconnect, families can gather, and a community can begin to feel whole again," Irwin told Fox News Digital. "While there is still a great deal of work ahead, this reopening reflects the resilience and determination of the Palisades business community and offers a meaningful sign of healing, hope, and moving forward together." Corinne Verdery, CEO of Caruso, said, "Opening day will celebrate the resilience and shared determination that made this moment possible." She called it a "meaningful milestone" and "a celebration of all that lies ahead." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Beyond business aspirations and re-creating the high-end Palisades hub, the venture is deeply personal for Caruso. Both his daughter and son lost their homes in the blaze, while he and his wife lost a family home. The shopping center’s reopening, he said, is just one chapter in the Palisades’ comeback story. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a808f5d2c5335ae1046d3db Overnight rain gives Lake Havasu City a brief soaking before heat returns te 2026-08-15T16:10:05.900Z Overnight rain gives Lake Havasu City a brief soaking before heat returns Lake Havasu City picked up about 0.16 inches of rain overnight Saturday, adding to a relatively wet stretch as the region heads back toward another run of triple-digit heat. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a808aea2c5335ae1046d2a1 Rashida Tlaib rally moved after Jewish-owned Florida venue cancels event, cites 'increased security concerns' te 2026-08-15T15:51:06.618Z Rashida Tlaib rally moved after Jewish-owned Florida venue cancels event, cites 'increased security concerns' Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., an outspoken critic of Israel, was set to headline a rally in South Florida boosting three progressive Democratic candidates before the Jewish-owned venue hosting the event backed out a day before. The "Chomp the Oligarchy" rally to support two U.S. House candidates and one Senate candidate was scheduled for Friday night at The Venue in Fort Lauderdale, just four days before Florida’s primary election. State Rep. Michael Gottlieb, a Democrat, posted Thursday morning calling the event "anti-Jew," while also accusing House candidates Elijah Manley and Oliver Larkin, along with state Rep. Angie Nixon — who is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate — of being part of an "Anti-Israel and Anti-Zionism coalition." Gottlieb then said Tlaib "has by far the deepest record of antisemitic allegations and is being brought here to help these candidates raise funds for their campaigns." JEWISH CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SAYS HARASSMENT FROM GAZA AGITATORS WENT ‘BEYOND FREE SPEECH’ Following Gottlieb's post, The Venue posted a statement Thursday night indicating that the event was canceled, citing "increased security concerns." The statement did not mention Tlaib by name but said management pulled out after becoming aware of the "full scope" of the event and reviewing promotional materials. "Due to the increased security concerns as well as the welfare of attendees and staff, the decision was then made that the event would not proceed at our property," the statement said. "The Venue Fort Lauderdale is Jewish-owned and operated and our values and commitment to the Jewish community are deeply important to us." Fox News Digital reached out to The Venue for additional comment. Tlaib's representatives did not immediately return a request for comment. DEMOCRATS SPLIT OVER TLAIB'S LEBANON MEASURE AS REPUBLICANS SEIZE ON HEZBOLLAH OMISSION Prior to the event being canceled, The Venue reached out to Gottlieb asking him to take down his post, something he refused to do, The New York Times reported. Cameron Driggers, a lead organizer for the rally, told the Times that the Venue reached out to the rally organizers saying it would only host the event if Tlaib was uninvited, but the organizers refused. Manley, who has been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, is facing off against Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., while Larkin, a self-identified DSA member, is challenging incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. Nixon is running against Alexander Vindman, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel known for testifying during President Donald Trump’s first impeachment inquiry. JEFFRIES DECLINES TO BACK WASSERMAN SCHULTZ AS BLACK LEADERS REVOLT OVER DISTRICT SWITCH The "Chomp the Oligarchy" event's organizers said on Instagram that they "will not be silenced by racist right-wing agitators and conservative Democrats," adding that they will "keep fighting to deliver for working-class Floridians." The rally ended up taking place at an alternate outdoor location reportedly with about 300 supporters in attendance. In his speech, Larkin addressed the tumult surrounding the event. "What we've seen in the last 36 hours is a mobilization campaign to try to intimidate and harass us with a campaign of Islamophobia. A campaign that seeks to excuse AIPAC's corrupting influence over our elections," Larkin said to a chorus of boos from the crowd. DEMOCRATS SPLIT OVER TLAIB'S LEBANON MEASURE AS REPUBLICANS SEIZE ON HEZBOLLAH OMISSION Tlaib also appeared at the rally as planned, introducing Nixon before she delivered her remarks. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital on Wednesday "it’s no coincidence" Tlaib would be appearing at an event supporting candidates seeking to defeat Jewish Democrats. Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman in Congress, has faced bipartisan criticism for her comments on Israel and Jewish people. The Michigan congresswoman has denied accusations of antisemitism. Congress censured Tlaib in 2023 for her embrace of the slogan "from the river to the sea," which she says is an "aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence" from Palestinians. Many Jews view the slogan as a veiled call for genocide against Israelis. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8088942c5335ae1046d255 Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland te 2026-08-15T15:41:08.293Z Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland The Pop Culture Quiz is your weekly test of what’s making headlines and breaking the Internet, from the Heartland to Hollywood. This week's quiz spotlights Hollywood confessions and dramatic transformations. Can you get all 5 questions right? For more Entertainment articles, visit www.foxnews.com/entertainment To try your hand at more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click here. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8088932c5335ae1046d24c Jonathan Alpert: Women were told to speak up. Except about women’s sports te 2026-08-15T15:41:07.647Z Jonathan Alpert: Women were told to speak up. Except about women’s sports Sophie Cunningham did exactly what women have been told to do for generations: She spoke up when she thought something was unfair. Apparently, that advice comes with an exception. Women have spent decades being told to trust their judgment, use their voices and refuse to stay quiet simply because an opinion makes someone uncomfortable. But when Cunningham said women’s sports should be for women, speaking up suddenly became the problem. That’s what makes her story bigger than basketball. Cunningham is willing to say publicly what plenty of women are more comfortable saying privately: They can support transgender people, treat them with dignity and respect, and still believe that women’s sports should be based on biological sex. Women fought for generations to have their voices taken seriously. So why, when the subject is their own sports, are some of them afraid to use them? CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Women’s sports exist because biological differences matter in athletic competition. That’s why we have women’s teams, records, scholarships and championships in the first place. The separation wasn’t incidental. It was the point. Sports also require choices. Someone makes the roster and someone doesn’t. Someone gets the scholarship and someone doesn’t. Someone wins the medal and someone finishes second. Deciding who belongs in a competitive category necessarily affects everyone competing for those opportunities. Cunningham isn’t standing on some obscure political fringe. More than two dozen states have enacted restrictions on transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports. In June, the Supreme Court upheld laws in Idaho and West Virginia that allow eligibility for girls’ and women’s school sports to be based on biological sex. This isn’t some fringe position Cunningham dreamed up. It is now written into law across much of the country. Yet when a prominent woman says essentially the same thing, the reaction can make the position seem beyond the bounds of acceptable discussion. Cunningham has faced criticism from within the WNBA, protests have followed the Indiana Fever, and the controversy has grown large enough that the league is now discussing the transgender-athlete issue. But the outrage gets the headlines. The silence it produces matters more. I’ve heard women talk about this privately for years. They don’t want transgender people mistreated. But when the conversation turns to sports, some hesitate. They wonder why the biological differences that justified creating a female category in the first place should suddenly stop mattering when deciding who gets to compete in it. In private, there are questions and disagreement. In public, there is often silence. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! You don’t need to formally censor people to make them stop talking. Social pressure can do the job just fine. Watch someone get attacked, ridiculed or labeled for expressing an opinion and you learn from it. You may still believe exactly what you believed before. You just decide saying it publicly isn’t worth the trouble. That’s how self-censorship works. Nobody has to tell you to shut up. You anticipate what will happen if you speak, and you do it yourself. Teenagers are especially good at reading these signals. They notice which opinions get approval, which draw criticism and what happens to someone who says the wrong thing. If the social cost of an unpopular view gets high enough, the question changes from "What do I actually think?" to "What am I allowed to say?" That isn’t empowerment. It’s learning to keep your mouth shut. For generations, women were expected to accommodate others, sometimes at their own expense. Feminism challenged that. Women were told they didn’t have to stay quiet simply to keep somebody else comfortable. Yet some women now find themselves doing exactly that when the subject is women’s sports. They may believe the rules are unfair. They may have questions about biological sex and athletic competition. They may simply believe that the female category should remain based on sex. But they also know what saying so publicly can cost them. Staying quiet is easier. The vocabulary is new. The underlying instruction is remarkably old: Stay quiet. Be agreeable. Don’t rock the boat. Women don’t all agree about transgender athletes, and they shouldn’t have to. Women who believe inclusion should come first are entitled to make that case loudly. Women who believe biological sex should determine eligibility for the female category should be able to make theirs just as loudly. None of this excuses treating transgender people badly. They deserve dignity, respect and safety. But respect cannot require women to pretend there is no conflict here, no competing interest and no legitimate question worth asking aloud. Women have a stake in this conversation too. Cunningham spoke up because she thought something was unfair. When people got angry, she didn’t take it back. You can disagree with her. You can argue that she’s wrong. But the reaction to women who voice these concerns helps explain why others choose silence instead. Women fought for generations to have a voice. They shouldn’t have to whisper when the subject is their own sports. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8088932c5335ae1046d243 Little League World Series sign-stealing controversy erupts for the second straight year te 2026-08-15T15:41:07.086Z Little League World Series sign-stealing controversy erupts for the second straight year We've got big drama in the Little League World Series. For the second year in a row, sign-stealing accusations have blown up on the internet, with the latest taking place in Friday's game between Wisconsin and Iowa. It just means more in Williamsport! Davenport Northwest (Iowa) defeated Whitefish Bay (Wisconsin), 7-6, in the Midwest Regional Championship game on Friday. The win sent Davenport to the Little League World Series, and sent poor Whitefish home to, presumably, start school. But was there something nefarious at play? Let's head to the bottom of the second inning, where Iowa plated a couple runs and raised a few eyebrows along the way: "They're taking signs on second," the catcher tells his coach during a mound visit. "Who is?" manager Kyle Fox responded. "The second baseman." The kids go on to tell Fox that Northwest players are tapping their leg when the sign is put down, which is pretty clear from the video. Fox ignores it, and proceeds to give his pitcher a scouting report for the next batter. An inning later, things reached a boiling point with the bases loaded. That's when another Iowa player on second appeared to motion something with his arms right before the pitch, prompting Fox to call time from the dugout and tell the umpires exactly what was going on: ... And that was it. No warnings. No protests. No talking to the other coach, or the other team. The umpires congregated for 15 seconds, and then went back to playing ball. So, what are our thoughts here? The initial response, for me, would be ... So what? Runners have been relaying signs to the hitter from second base for a century now. It's on the catcher to put down better signs. It's on the manager to figure it out. Except, it's deemed "unsportsmanlike behavior" in Little League baseball. Rule 9.00 (d) states: Each umpire has authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager, or substitute for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If an umpire disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play. NOTE: The local league has the option to adopt this rule application. The stealing and relaying of signs to alert the batter of pitch selection and/or location is unsportsmanlike behavior. If, in the judgment of the umpire, this behavior is occurring, the team manager and those responsible including any player(s) and/or coach(es) shall be warned after the first offense. Those responsible including any player(s), coach(es), and/or manager shall be ejected from the game for a team's subsequent offense. So, an umpire must first give the opposing team/player/coach a warning, and if it happens again, someone is getting tossed. This happened last year in a game between Oklahoma and Texas West, when play was stopped to get an actual ruling. Nothing happened, and things really went off the rails when play resumed: Lordy. What a moment! After all that, the kid belts a grand slam and Oklahoma goes on to win. You can't make it up. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS Anyway, sign-stealing has always been a thing. It happened when I was in Little League many moons ago. I was a catcher. From what I recall, we didn't just lay down and turn over. We mixed up the signs, and moved on with our day. It wasn't rocket science. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! Put down three signs, and the second one is the sign. Something like that. It's not hard. But, rules are also rules. And if the rule says it ain't allowed, the umpires probably shouldn't let it happen. Thoughts? Let me know! Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8083e62c5335ae1046d1ab Seaweed-based coating could keep strawberries fresh for days without refrigeration, study finds te 2026-08-15T15:21:10.645Z Seaweed-based coating could keep strawberries fresh for days without refrigeration, study finds If you’ve ever brought home a carton of fresh strawberries only to find them moldy and destined for the trash a few days later, researchers may have found a simple solution: coating the fruit in a seaweed-based liquid that could keep it fresh without refrigeration. University of British Columbia (UBC) scientists developed the seaweed-derived coating with the goal of extending the shelf life of fresh produce and reducing food waste and reliance on energy-intensive refrigeration. "Nearly half of all food produced in Canada is lost or wasted, costing the economy an estimated $58 billion annually," the university reported in a news release on the seaweed-coating breakthrough. "Fresh fruits and vegetables are particularly vulnerable to spoilage, losing moisture and becoming susceptible to mold and bacteria during storage and transport." EATING 5 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES A DAY MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR HEART HEALTH, STUDY FINDS According to UBC, researchers developed the "natural, biocompatible, plant-based, and consumer-friendly" coating for post-harvest preservation by combining agar, a substance derived from red seaweed; with zinc, an essential nutrient; and tannic acid, a naturally occurring plant compound found in foods and beverages such as grapes and tea. "Applied to strawberries, grapes and apple slices, the coating extended shelf life by at least two-fold," the researchers reported in their study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. "The coating acts like a very thin and invisible protective barrier," Tianxi Yang, a UBC assistant professor of food science and the study's lead author, told Fox News Digital. "It helps slow moisture loss and gas exchange while also providing antibacterial and antioxidant protection, which together delay dehydration, softening, oxidation and spoilage." The shelf life of an average carton of strawberries could be extended considerably with this coating, Yang said. "At room temperature, uncoated strawberries showed visible spoilage within about two days, while coated strawberries remained fresh and intact for at least four days," she said. "When the coating was combined with refrigeration, we observed no spoilage for at least six days." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The coating is designed to be essentially tasteless and preserve the produce’s natural flavor, Yang said. Initial observations suggest the coating does not noticeably change the strawberries’ smell, texture or natural appearance. Yang added that she and fellow researchers plan to conduct comprehensive sensory studies soon. According to the UBC release, "the coating also showed antibacterial properties and no signs of toxicity in tests using human intestinal cells." The coating has not yet been approved for commercial use. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ For consumers concerned about ingesting the coating, researchers found that most of it can be easily rinsed off under running tap water. Further safety assessments and regulatory review would still be required before commercial use, Yang noted, but she said the results so far are encouraging. "The technology has demonstrated promising performance and scalability in the laboratory," she said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS "The next steps will focus on further safety and regulatory evaluation, scale-up and commercial validation. We are also interested in connecting with potential investors and partners who can help advance the technology toward commercialization." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8083e52c5335ae1046d1a2 Former Bernie Sanders operative warns radical left has 'overtaken' the Democratic Party from within te 2026-08-15T15:21:09.971Z Former Bernie Sanders operative warns radical left has 'overtaken' the Democratic Party from within A former Bernie Sanders operative is sounding the alarm over what the Democratic Party has become, warning that the far left has "overtaken" the party from within. "Part of the reason it's been overtaken is because the establishment tried really hard in 2020 to block us, and in 2019, after AOC won, they did a blacklist and that actually backfired on them, and it made the far left grow stronger," Evan Barker told "Jesse Watters Primetime." Barker, who raised money for Democratic candidates throughout her career before deciding to vote for Trump in 2024, argued that the Democratic establishment's efforts to contain its insurgent flank ultimately backfired, pushing activists to build their own political infrastructure — from training one another to recruiting donors, including billionaires. EX-DEM OPERATIVE DETAILS 'NEW DONOR ESTABLISHMENT' BEHIND MAMDANI-ERA PROGRESSIVES: 'NOT FROM THE GRASSROOTS' The result, Barker argued, is a party increasingly influenced from the inside by its activist base, donors and staffers, some of whom she says are considerably further left than the politicians they work for. "I think they've kind of been captured from all sides. They have these hyper-left-leaning donors coupled with the staff that's been radicalized and the base," she said. Barker said she has watched that shift play out even within the movement she once joined, pointing to Sanders' positions on issues including guns and immigration. "I've seen him kind of be dragged further and further to the left by what he views as his message bearers, people like AOC and Ilhan Omar and now Abdul El-Sayed," she added. DEMS' LEFTWARD LURCH GETS LEGS AS EL-SAYED'S MICHIGAN SENATE VICTORY SPARKS PARTY DEBATE Barker's warning comes as a new crop of progressive candidates and democratic socialists test its strength ahead of the midterm elections, including figures she says are carrying forward the movement that Sanders helped build. Progressive Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whom Barker specifically named as one of Sanders' emerging "message bearers," recently secured the Democratic nomination in a close primary against Rep. Haley Stevens. Others have won key primaries elsewhere, including Mamdani-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez in New York. Barker previously revealed to Fox News Digital that the Democratic Party's leftward shift prompted her decision to leave the party, sharing that she was inspired to enter politics during former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. "If you look at him then, and you compare him to the modern movement of the party today, it is just night and day. They have gone left on so many critical issues, like immigration and identity politics, and defund the police and just all of these things that I did not sign up for," she said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE She added that former President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and then-Vice President Kamala Harris' subsequent nomination made her recognize in "real time the manifestation of everything the Democrats had become." Fox News' Robert McGreevy contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8083a42c5335ae1046d17b Arizona Snowbowl and Machine Solutions hosting leadership and communication class te 2026-08-15T15:20:04.905Z Arizona Snowbowl and Machine Solutions hosting leadership and communication class The three-day Our Community Listens class is "part of a broader effort to help equip local leaders, employees, educators, and residents with the skills to build stronger relationships and healthier organizations." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8081502c5335ae1046d14a Ted Cruz, conservatives respond after Talarico criticizes Bible-related education in schools as 'propaganda' te 2026-08-15T15:10:08.206Z Ted Cruz, conservatives respond after Talarico criticizes Bible-related education in schools as 'propaganda' Texas state representative and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico’s campaign responded after a resurfaced video of his comments on the Bible and education sparked outrage. A clip resurfaced this week of Talarico, a Christian seminarian, speaking in a video hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund in 2025. In the clip, the host asked Talarico about his legislative battles with "Christian Nationalists," meaning people who consider America to be an inherently Christian nation.  The portion that went viral recently when Talarico blasted the "most insidious" legislation he fought to stop while serving in Texas government, claiming one bill required schools in the state to teach Bible stories as historical fact. He argued that this amounted to pushing "propaganda" on children and was not just bad for state schools, but for society overall. "It was a new state curriculum that would teach Christian Bible stories as historical fact, as the only truth to our youngest students, and I mean kindergarten, first graders," he said. "These are kids who aren’t able to think for themselves yet. They haven’t formed their own worldviews." TEXAS DEM NOMINEE JAMES TALARICO INVOKES FAITH TO DEFEND ABORTION RIGHTS, ‘THE BIBLE IS SILENT ON ABORTION' He further warned that the alleged effort to "push propaganda, to push indoctrination on those youngest students is deeply immoral and should trouble all of us." Sen. Ted Cruz. R-Texas, retweeted the clip, asking a brief, "Um, wut?" alongside numerous other commentators. "The claim made by Representative Talarico is misleading," Mary Elizabeth Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values told Fox News Digital. "The curriculum he was referring to in the video from 2025 is the Bluebonnet curriculum, which was an English Language Arts curriculum adopted in the winter of 2024 that helped students understand the copious amounts of Bible references made in historical speeches and common stories like Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech."  "The references to the Bible in the Bluebonnet curriculum help students understand the thousands of everyday idioms that people use every day that have some context to Scripture," she continued.  "The Bluebonnet curriculum was defended by top religious liberty law firms like First Liberty Institute and high elected officials like Dr. Ben Carson," Castle added. "The purpose of the biblical references was to improve reading scores and reading comprehension among students. The majority of Texas parents and stakeholders testified in favor of the curriculum, which passed at the State Board of Education. A very small number of people would agree with Mr. Talarico’s sentiment and a number of school districts have purchased this curriculum." POWERFUL LGBTQ+ GROUP'S ENDORSEMENTS COULD TANK VULNERABLE DEMS OVER RADICAL YOUTH TRANS AGENDA First Liberty executive general counsel Hiram Sasser told Fox News Digital, "Courts across the nation have determined that the Bible has had profound influence on Western culture and is an important piece of literature and history. No education is complete without understanding the Bible and its influence, as even the ACLU recognizes. What is crazy is that Talarico is to the Left of the ACLU, which agreed in a court settlement with us that the Bible may be taught in Texas schools." "Democrats have a funny way of defining ‘indoctrination.’ When they do it, it's ‘inclusion.’ When it opposes their ideology, it's considered government-imposed cruelty," Tim Graham, the executive editor of Media Research Center's NewsBusters, told Fox News Digital. "Talarico has clearly and repeatedly identified himself as a pusher of leftist gender ideology, which stands in dramatic contradiction to biblical teaching. So it's not shocking he doesn't want anybody discussing the Bible in the classroom." A spokesperson for Talarico's campaign told Fox News Digital, "James is a Christian seminarian who’s dedicated his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ — fighting religious and political corruption when he sees it because there’s nothing Christ-like about powerful people using scripture to score political points. While billionaire-bought politicians like Ken Paxton attack James for his faith — he will continue encouraging Texans across the political spectrum to come together by loving their neighbors as themselves." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE In an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Talarico shared his personal views on the importance of the separation of church and state, even as a Christian seminarian. "As a Christian, I think my concern is for the Muslim kid and the Jewish kid, the Hindu kid, the atheist kid who’s sitting in a classroom who now has a poster on the wall forced by the government that says, you know, your religion is inferior, or you're not welcome here," he had said. "And I just think if Jesus saw that, he would weep for those students and would demand that we love them as ourselves. And so that's why I kind of spoke out against the bill on theological grounds, not just constitutional grounds." Talarico’s campaign has also drawn criticism over his support for raising children as transgender, though he has drawn a line regarding procedures such as gender reassignment surgeries for minors, a policy he explicitly opposed in a June interview. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a807efd2c5335ae1046d100 Sophie Cunningham supporters rally in Indiana while displaying what makes America great te 2026-08-15T15:00:13.683Z Sophie Cunningham supporters rally in Indiana while displaying what makes America great A large group of female activists, moms, and concerned citizens rallied again this week outside an Indiana Fever game in support of Sophie Cunningham and keeping women’s sports female. On Friday evening just outside of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, they made their voices heard. After traveling to Portland and Chicago, I witnessed firsthand how refreshingly normal Indiana Fever games felt both outside the arena and inside. The crowds were vocally supportive of the women, and the few men accompanying them. Many Fever fans gave the Cunningham rally crowd a thumbs up, some provided encouraging words, and others stopped to take photos with the almost life-size Sophie Cunningham poster. It was a nice change of pace compared to the radical, profane, aggressive trans protesters they have had to face in other cities. Shockingly to much of the WNBA and liberal media, this group isn’t just a bunch of conservatives, who completely align on all of their politics. It’s a diverse group of people that represent a beautiful mix of registered Democrats, conservatives and people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities. It’s not some sort of MAGA coalition, which many love to claim. It’s a group that represents what America should, and used to like: Almost three dozen citizens agree that women’s sports and spaces should remain female, though disagreeing on a litany of other issues, while supporting the one female professional athlete courageously willing to stand up for what’s right. SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SEES SUPPORT SURGE AFTER STAR PUTS CAREER ON LINE FOR GIRLS SPORTS Kara Dansky, a registered Democrat who serves on the board for Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender, told me, "The truth of the matter is, the clear majority of registered Democrats in this country are aligned on these topics." She went on to diagnose the problem from the top down in Washington, D.C., and across the country, saying, "The problem is that our elected officials are selling out women and girls. They’re selling out children at the altar of a cult." When asking Dansky what she’d say to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who put together a task force of general managers and team presidents to tackle the transgender issue the league faces, she didn’t hold back. "There are girls watching today. There are girls that do not understand what Title IX meant in 1972 to women like you, who have benefited from Title IX. You owe these girls commitment to female only sports." HHS OFFICIAL WARNS OF IRREVERSIBLE RISKS AS TRUMP ADMIN RESTRICTS FUNDING FOR YOUTH GENDER PROCEDURES A group called LGB Courage Coalition also rallied outside the Fever vs. Wings game with a gigantic sign that said: "Chemical castration isn’t medicine. Save girls’ sports. Save boys’ bodies." LGB Courage Coalition Executive Director Jamie Reid, who is a whistleblower from a pediatric gender center said, "I participated in medically transitioning kids… I [now] work to try to stop transitions and I think that it is incredibly tied up with the sports movement right now." When asking Reid what she would tell the WNBA Commissioner and her task force from her unique perspective, she said: "At the bottom line, this is about medical evidence. There is no good medical evidence to support the medical transition of any minor. We know at that basis, we don’t have to be so wrapped up in the question of ‘What is a woman?’" Reid reemphasized how this should not be addressed from a "WNBA values" perspective, like how the task force is said to be tackling this, but "If we address it from a medical evidence perspective… We don’t have to have these huge task forces. We just know medical transitions do not work." Reid finished her thought with, "This is not a liberal or a right issue. This is also not a gay or straight issue. I’m a lesbian, my entire coalition is gay and lesbians… Most Americans know that [transitioning] kids is not right. This is a common sense American issue where Sophie Cunningham just said what we already knew in the Midwest." Social media influencer Becky Weiss, who has 1.2 million followers on Instagram, told me: "I've been speaking out against the extreme LGBTQ ideology, especially targeted at children." Weiss also had high praise for Cunningham. "I love what Sophie is doing, taking a stand for little girls, grown women in women’s sports, because they deserve to play on a fair playing field. Boys simply do not belong. It’s not controversial. It’s just literally common sense." STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! When discussing what she’d tell the commissioner, Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams, Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve, Weiss said, "There’s no such thing as a trans child. A kid only thinks they’re trans if someone grooms them, groomed them, or indoctrinated them to believe they are trans… Men don’t belong in women’s bathrooms, in women’s sports, in women’s locker rooms. And kids certainly don’t need to have any of this in their lives." This group, which seems to grow every game they rally, is a great example on how to agree to disagree. They find common ground on a vital issue that is affecting women and girls, and yes, boys too as Jamie Reid and her team emphasized in our conversations. Kara Dansky even believes in aspects of White privilege. I think it’s nonsense. But we shook hands and are happy to link arms in the fight to protect women’s sports and spaces. That’s how America should be. Let’s hope as rally organizer Amy Sousa told me that she hopes the "pressure that we put on them (WNBA), will make them stand up and do the right thing." You don’t need weeks or months, WNBA. The league is for females only. Just state the common sense that the vast majority of America affirms. In the meantime, these women, and a few men, will continue to organize across the country, showcasing a lost art of linking arms on an important issue, while not allowing petty politics to ruin the progress they’ve made. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a807ef62c5335ae1046d0da Flagstaff Medical Center adds treatment option for prostate cancer te 2026-08-15T15:00:06.129Z Flagstaff Medical Center adds treatment option for prostate cancer The treatment has a radioactive payload that’s attached to a protein designed to seek out only the areas with cancer, as it is aligned with a type of cell that's only present in prostate cancer, even if the cancer has… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a807ca12c5335ae1046d0b0 Birders bond over banding te 2026-08-15T14:50:09.349Z Birders bond over banding Hummingbird Society hosts 2 more weekends of public banding A hummingbird’s heart hums just as much as its wings. When the International Hummingbird Society puts on its banding events every other Saturday at the Page Springs Fish Hatchery, members want everyone to get the chance to feel it. After ab Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a807a482c5335ae1046d047 Former Disney star David Henrie rejected 'secular' Hollywood lifestyle after life-changing monastery visit te 2026-08-15T14:40:08.650Z Former Disney star David Henrie rejected 'secular' Hollywood lifestyle after life-changing monastery visit Former Disney star David Henrie is opening up about how he rejected the "secular" Hollywood lifestyle after going on a life-changing monastery visit. Earlier this week, the "Wizards of Waverly Place" star was a guest on Raymond Arroyo's "Arroyo Grande" podcast and discussed how his friendship with fellow actor Kevin James led to him discovering his faith. "I started changing my whole perspective on life and faith. I so craved an objective belief system. I grew up in relativistic Hollywood and, you know, a partying lifestyle, secular life, worldliness, materialism, and it left me empty," Henrie said. "I call it the bubblegum theory of pleasure. Every time you eat a piece of bubblegum, it loses its flavor. In a few moments, you pop another one in. At the end of the day, you've gone through the whole pack, and now you just feel worse than you did when you started. That was me before I met Kevin," he continued. HEATHER LOCKLEAR SAYS SHE LIVES 'FAR AWAY' FROM HOLLYWOOD AND STAYS OUT OF THE SOCIAL SCENE Henrie detailed that he found God during this time, and James extended an invitation to him to visit St. Michael's Abbey in Orange County in 2012 and do his general confession. "And I was like, 'What's that?' So, I learned about what it was, and I wrote a whole chapter book to bring to the priest there," Henrie said. Henrie told Arroyo that he felt "so relieved" after his monastery visit with James. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "It was the monastery that changed my life," he added. The actor tied in his first monastery visit to his documentary series, "Seeking Beauty," where he explores the deeper meaning behind the art, architecture, food, music and culture of some of Italy’s most beautiful places. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The first season debuted in January on EWTN+ and the second season is based in Spain and is in the works. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8075992c5335ae1046cfa7 Lions betting outlook for 2025: why the NFC North division title is the best play at +170 te 2026-08-15T14:20:09.315Z Lions betting outlook for 2025: why the NFC North division title is the best play at +170 Last season, it was fairly easy to make an argument that the best division in the NFL was the NFC North. All of the teams in that division were able to win nine games, but the Vikings and the Lions missed the postseason. Will the Lions find a way back into the playoffs this year, or will it be another down year? I was pretty high on the Lions going into the season last year. I didn’t expect them to take a step back, and for the first portion of the season, I think I was correct. They lost Ben Johnson to the Bears, but I still thought the team would be good with all of their weapons and their defense. The Packers beat them to start the season, and their only other loss in the first seven weeks was to the Chiefs. After the bye week, the wheels kind of fell off as they went 4-6 over their final 10 games. Only one of the final six losses was by more than one score, so perhaps there can be some positive regression coming their way this year. DETROIT LIONS GREAT FRANK RAGNOW DETAILS HIS ABRUPT RETIREMENT, FAILED COMEBACK ATTEMPT As mentioned, with Johnson taking over the Bears, the Lions didn’t have quite as crisp an offense, but they did add Drew Petzing this season, and that should help the offense take a step forward. The team had some changes on the offensive line, but they also did put some moves in place to address it. One change that should be interesting is that they sent away David Montgomery to the Texans. They replaced him with Isiah Pacheco, who is not quite the bruiser that Montgomery was. Aside from that, they gave an extension to a couple of guys, but nothing major. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS I have to imagine that the team, looking at last year’s performance and those close games, thinks they can just make small adjustments in order to get back to the postseason. Without Montgomery, the ball should be in their star, Jahmyr Gibbs’ hands even more. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the league, and Jared Goff has hooked up with him repeatedly. With a strong offensive line, the Lions offense could be very dynamic. On defense, it probably comes down to health. Aidan Hutchinson is a great defensive end, and they have some solid linebackers. I do have concerns about the secondary, but overall they should be fine. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! They have a win total of 10.5, and their schedule sets up fairly well to get those wins. I’m not sure I want to get too involved with it though. I probably would prefer to play them to win the division at +170. I think their schedule is easier than the Bears and Packers, which might mean they only need to beat out the Vikings, a team with a quarterback battle. Another interesting one is for them to have three wins after five games at +170. They faced the Saints, Bills, Jets, Panthers, and Cardinals. The Saints and Jets are at home, and I think both will be wins. I don’t know that they will beat the Bills and Panthers on the road, but they should beat Arizona. I also like St. Brown to be over 1249.5 receiving yards. He has hit that in three consecutive years. For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8075982c5335ae1046cf9e DAVID MARCUS: Karoline Leavitt’s lasting legacy is opening the White House to indie press te 2026-08-15T14:20:08.513Z DAVID MARCUS: Karoline Leavitt’s lasting legacy is opening the White House to indie press At the end of the month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will end a tenure that many consider to be one of the best in the 97-year history of the office. Importantly, she will leave something behind — a vital legacy of opening the briefing room to independent media. Leavitt handled her office with grace and dexterity, no mean feat for someone communicating for President Donald Trump, who talks more than a morning radio disc jockey. Somehow, she was never in front of his messaging, but also never far behind. As a queen of cool, Leavitt could not be flustered. She always had an air of confidence and, dare I say, levity. Even when her occasional jocular barbs were tossed at reporters, they rarely turned into acrimony. SCRAMBLE FOR KAROLINE LEAVITT'S REPLACEMENT ENSUES WITH JUST WEEKS UNTIL TRUMP'S SPOKESPERSON EXITS Beyond serving as a model for future press secretaries, Leavitt’s strongest legacy will be her commitment to opening up the White House media ecosystem to small indie news outlets and even social media influencers. Every press conference opens with a question from the "new media seat," a practice that was much maligned early on by fussy old legacy outlet reporters who rolled their eyes at these commoners gaining entry to their fancy club. I recall a friend of mine, who was new to the briefing room, telling me of an old regular huffing and puffing and saying, "This is where I stand, you have to move!" She did not move. WHITE HOUSE PUSHED FOR PROTOCOL TO PRESERVE CORRESPONDENTS' CREDIBILITY AFTER TRUMP'S SECRET PLANE SWITCH How gauche it was, having mere bloggers or TikTok personalities with this kind of access to the most powerful office in the world. But Leavitt understood that in today’s media, those voices now have as much purchase as major newspapers once did. It was bumpy at times; the early rollout of binders with files of information on Jeffrey Epstein turned out to be more walk of shame than victory lap. But much more often, these newer outlets were bringing questions to the fore that the legacy media tend to ignore — not through negligence, but because they aren’t niche outlets. Leavitt understands that the White House press briefing room is a two-way street. Its main function may be to get the president’s message to the people, but the press also brings the concerns of the people to the White House in the form of questions. Influencers, though merrily mocked, have a very direct relationship with their audiences. Especially younger audiences. I asked Andrew Kolvet, spokesperson for Turning Point USA — which has a firm focus on educating young voters — about Leavitt’s tenure, and he told me, "She has forced legacy news media to work harder to keep up while opening up multiple seats to new media voices who have had to raise their fact-checking and editorial games in a space that desperately needs it. She sparred with them all in viral exchanges that became must-watch news, even for college kids scrolling their phones." Kolvet also couldn’t quite resist adding, "As a TPUSA alumni, she was a happy warrior just like Charlie [Kirk]." Leavitt brought in voices such as Andy Ngo, who has been warning of the advance of Antifa activists for years, and we have seen more of these violent thugs put away — including a leader in Texas who received 100 years in prison for attacking an ICE facility. Meanwhile, activist reporters like Nick Shirley have been given much attention from Leavitt’s comms shop. He and those like him have revealed potentially billions of dollars in fraud. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS WIDELY PRAISE KAROLINE LEAVITT AS SHE ANNOUNCES EXIT FROM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION The reason that opening the White House press briefing room to independent news media and content creators is Leavitt’s greatest achievement is that, in all likelihood, it will survive not just her moving on, but long after the Trump administration is gone — no matter which party takes power. This is because, even if a Democrat wins, it will be a tough sell to start kicking out these outlets that the country has been accustomed to hearing from. Even for the left, such a move would probably be too censorious to try. Yes, Leavitt is a gifted communicator who can be spoken of in the same breath as great press secretaries such as Tony Snow and Ari Fleischer. But ultimately, her greatest contribution is opening the door for new media, and by extension, those this new media represents. Leavitt will be missed, but her dedication to giving every voice in the media a fair shot at the White House will stay with us for a long time to come. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8073422c5335ae1046cf56 NFL preseason picks: Rams over 16.5 points and Panthers with the points against Bills te 2026-08-15T14:10:10.990Z NFL preseason picks: Rams over 16.5 points and Panthers with the points against Bills Well, the first set of preseason games that I bet didn’t exactly go as planned. I had one win and two losses. The losses were interesting. I was WAY off about the Packers and Steelers game, with the Packers scoring only nine points in the contest. The Cardinals and Raiders put on a show, as expected, but I missed the best of the number and lost on the over. I had 41.5 and the total hit right at 41. Looks like I am in preseason form for NFL betting as well. Let’s try to get a little back here as there are some fun games to look forward to. This would be a great game to watch if it were during the regular season. As it stands, we just have to deal with the preseason and enjoy whoever takes the field. There is very little chance that Matthew Stafford sees any work in this game, and probably doesn’t see it in almost any preseason game, with the exception of perhaps the third or fourth game. It is a bit shocking that Patrick Mahomes is even in a conversation for him to play again, but he won’t be out there either. So that leaves backups. RAMS MAKE SURPRISE FIRST-ROUND MOVE, TAKE ALABAMA QB TY SIMPSON Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson will see the bulk of work, and with them battling for the backup position, I think they will both do well. Justin Fields is the new Chiefs backup, and he should be interesting with the Andy Reid offense. I’m not sure how long he will play, but I’d like to see him get a quarter of action. I’ll back the over 16.5 points for the Rams. I think they have more than enough weapons and very motivated quarterbacks. Believe it or not, this actually could’ve been a Super Bowl matchup last year. Obviously things didn’t shake out that way, but both did make the postseason. Both also suffered heartbreaking losses in the playoffs. Now they get to battle in the preseason. The Panthers are playing their second game of the preseason, while the Bills are taking in their first. This will also be the first game played in their new stadium. That really doesn’t add much other than some potential extra motivation. In their first game, the Panthers had Haynes King throw the ball 34 times. Kenny Pickett added another 11 tosses. They ran it 22 times total. If that continues, you can expect a bit higher of a score. I can’t imagine they will look to run the ball a ton, unless they are trying to protect King. I don’t know if there is an official word on whether Bryce Young will get some action, but if he has a drive or two, that also could contribute to points. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! The Bills have been a little more upfront with what is happening. Josh Allen will take a series or two, which is probably partially because of the new stadium. It isn’t exactly like he needs practice. Maybe they want to get him some game action with DJ Moore now that he is with the club. I don’t have much faith in Kyle Allen or Shane Buechele to lead the charge. I’m going to take the Panthers with the points. I get that it would be a nice story for the Bills to win the game, but the reality is that the Panthers backups should be better, and more adjusted to game speed, than the Bills. Give me the Panthers with the points, and I’ll sprinkle that moneyline as well. For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8073422c5335ae1046cf4d Jeff Arcuri reveals how 'Bachelorette' wife’s cancer fight transformed his comedy — and their marriage te 2026-08-15T14:10:10.384Z Jeff Arcuri reveals how 'Bachelorette' wife’s cancer fight transformed his comedy — and their marriage Life can be uncomfortable. Jeff Arcuri has built a career on finding the joke in uncomfortable moments. "I think you can make anything funny. You can make awkwardness funny if you’re just honest. People respond to the honesty," the comic told Fox News Digital. That philosophy has been shaped by nearly two decades of stand-up, but the last few years have tested it in ways Arcuri could not have scripted. As his career surged toward his first special, "Jeff Arcuri: Nice to Meet You," now streaming on Netflix, his personal life grew more complicated when his wife, "Bachelorette" alumna Katie Thurston, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. "The past two years with my wife kind of grew me up a little bit," Arcuri said. "So my comedy kind of matured, and that’s what the special is. The first half is the stuff that I found funny, and the second half is a lot of s--- that really happened to me." LAWYER-TURNED-SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION IS BETTING IT ALL ON GOD, LOVE AND GRIEF Rather than rely on material he had accumulated over years, Arcuri said he wanted the special to reflect the reality he was actually living. "There’s no way I’m going to do a special not talking about what’s going on in my current life right now." Long before Arcuri applied that philosophy to deeply personal material, it was central to the crowd work that helped him gain a following online. He said he often prefers engaging with someone who appears reluctant to participate rather than the person eager to become part of the show. "I want him, because now if he laughs, I win," Arcuri said. "He’s going to answer honestly, thinking it’s going to throw me off. But in reality, he’s probably going to only build it, because a truthful audience member is the most valuable, hilarious thing." That belief in honesty created a challenge in "Nice to Meet You": telling jokes that were true to his experience without bumming out the crowd. He needed to make it safe for viewers to laugh when the subject matter became serious. Arcuri recalled saying during the special that one of the hardest parts of his wife’s illness was getting her to laugh, "because that’s all I got." The line was not necessarily intended as a joke, he said, and audiences at most of the tapings did not treat it like one. But one crowd laughed. "I guess I’m that good," he jested, noting that small adjustments in delivery can make huge changes in the show. It didn't mean pretending the underlying experience was not serious. COMEDIAN DES BISHOP ON HOW AMERICA MADE HIM FUNNIER AND HIS 'HEALTHY COLLABORATION' WITH WIFE HANNAH BERNER That approach extended beyond the stage. Asked whether he was comfortable discussing his wife’s diagnosis, Arcuri responded plainly, "Yeah. I put it on Netflix." He said he and Thurston have found value in talking openly about what they are experiencing rather than treating cancer as a forbidden subject. Thurston shares cancer updates on her Instagram account, which Arcuri said is followed by a lot of women going through their own experiences with illness. She tends to be very transparent about her diagnosis and treatment — perhaps too transparent. Arcuri said he sometimes learns updates about his wife through her Instagram broadcast page. "Call me first!" he joked. Poking fun at the situation is key to the couple's coping strategy. He recounted one of his wife's quips that made his father spit his food out. "My wife gave me Lactaid at the dinner table because I forgot it in my hotel room ... I go 'Oh, thank you, my angel.' And she said, 'Don't call me that, I ain't dead yet!'" Arcuri resisted describing that material as "dark comedy," since he didn't write it with that in mind. Rather, he simply wanted his act to be true to his life. "If anything, I had to make light of something hard," he said. WITH 10 KIDS AT HOME, COMEDIAN KOUNTRY WAYNE SAYS REAL LIFE WRITES THE JOKES Arcuri’s current ease onstage came after years in which success was far less certain. The comic got his start in comedy around 2009 or 2010, he said, after which he spent some time telling jokes in Michigan before moving to Chicago for more stage time and then to the Big Apple, where he got the opportunity to appear on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." "I did a s---ty job at that. I did a bad job." What followed was what he described as "the most depressive comedy years of my entire life." "I thought I was going to make it when I came here, and I just ate it for two years straight." But booking shows on cruise ships and developing relationships with other New York comedians culminated in an audition for the famous Comedy Cellar, and performing there gave him the confidence to start posting his work online. The past two years also forced Arcuri to recognize that humor could not carry every emotional burden. While his career took him around the world, Thurston was navigating cancer treatment. Arcuri said therapy helped him manage what it meant to support someone through that experience while handling his own fear. "I was her person and she was my person, but also there’s a lot you go through being adjacent to somebody that’s going through that," he said. He found himself repeatedly reassuring his wife that things would be all right. "I’m telling her that, ‘We’re going to be OK,’" he said. "But I’m telling her that — who’s telling me that?" Eventually, he told Thurston something he had struggled to admit. "I’m afraid about your health and it freaks me out. And sometimes I pretend to be stronger than I am." Arcuri said he had worried that showing that fear would change how his wife saw him. "I was so scared she wouldn’t see me as a man if I wasn’t like, ‘It’s going to be okay.’" Instead, she thanked him for saying it. For a comedian whose instinct is almost always to seize the funny moment, it was another kind of honesty. For all the ways Arcuri says his comedy has matured, his instinct to find the joke has not gone anywhere. And Thurston helps him turn real life into new material. He called her "my muse and my biggest inspiration and my biggest motivator with comedy." Arcuri recalled walking out of the bathroom in a revealing robe when Thurston reacted by calling him "Flabio" instead of "Fabio." "Your subconscious roasted me. You said 'Flab-io' and you didn't realize," Arcuri recalled saying to his wife. "She was mortified. And then the next thing she said was, 'Write that down.'" Even the title of his debut special was inspired by a real habit he hadn't planned. His manager pointed out that the comedian routinely said, "Nice to meet you," to people he called on in the crowd during his shows. "I watched through it, and it’s like, ‘Hey, nice to meet you. I’m Jeff,’" over and over, he recalled. "It’s also my debut special," he added. "So it’s those two things mixed in." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE After years of trying jokes, bombing, rebuilding and finally finding an audience, the title doubles as a fitting introduction to the next phase of his career. And if Arcuri’s philosophy holds, whatever comes next — awkward, difficult or otherwise — will probably end up in the act. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8073412c5335ae1046cf44 Archaeologists uncover mysterious face hidden for centuries in Book of Revelation city te 2026-08-15T14:10:09.777Z Archaeologists uncover mysterious face hidden for centuries in Book of Revelation city A rare, 2,500-year-old marble statue has emerged from the ruins of Sardis, an ancient city immortalized in the Book of Revelation. The discovery, which dates to the fifth century B.C., was announced by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism earlier in August. Sardis is located in the Salihli district of Manisa, about 45 miles east of the major Turkish city of İzmir. Pictures show excavators carefully uncovering the monumental statue, which still retained well-preserved facial features, at the archaeological site. ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH SECRET CHURCH TIED TO COUNCIL OF NICAEA, CHRISTIANITY'S DEFINING MOMENT The statue depicts a young man and measures around 7.2 feet tall. In a translated social media post, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy described the find as an "extraordinary discovery." He noted that the statue was repurposed as paving along a colonnaded street during the Roman period and was positioned face-down, helping protect its features for centuries. "The unusual details of its clothing bear traces of Lydian culture," said Ersoy. AUTHOR DINESH D'SOUZA CHALLENGES BIBLE SKEPTICS WITH 'STARTLING' ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES "The statue, which appears to be holding a fruit in its hand, provides important evidence that will contribute to our understanding of life, religious beliefs and cultural interactions in Sardis during the period." In a translated statement, officials described the statue as having "larger-than-life dimensions [that] make it a rare example from the period." "The young man is depicted wearing a thick himation, a thin chiton, and beneath them a distinctive garment featuring horizontal lines," the translated statement said. "This type of clothing is not seen on comparable statues from Anatolia and Greece, highlighting the work’s local characteristics and its connection to Lydian culture." ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH ANCIENT TREASURE CACHE AT BIBLICAL CITY CONNECTED TO GENESIS Sardis was once the capital of the ancient Lydian Kingdom before later becoming an important center of the Persian Empire, the period to which the statue dates. The city is named as one of the seven churches in Asia Minor addressed by Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 3:1–6 begins, "To the angel of the church in Sardis write..." The other churches included Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Smyrna, Philadelphia and Laodicea. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Ancient marble statues were often painted, and researchers plan to examine the Sardis statue for any surviving traces of pigment. The artifact is covered in a thick layer of hardened deposits, which conservators will remove with care while protecting any remaining paint. Specialists will also examine the surrounding soil for traces of color. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS Once conservation and restoration are complete, the statue will be displayed at the Manisa Museum in western Turkey. The discovery is the latest in a series of archaeological finds from ancient cities mentioned in the Book of Revelation. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Earlier this summer, an ancient mosaic was uncovered in Smyrna, an archaeological site in modern-day İzmir, Turkey. In Ephesus, archaeologists found a Roman-era marble bathtub and a fragment of a male statue that had been reused as a paving stone. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8073412c5335ae1046cf3b Carmen Electra reveals what she wants in a man after racy Playboy comeback te 2026-08-15T14:10:09.151Z Carmen Electra reveals what she wants in a man after racy Playboy comeback After making her Playboy comeback, Carmen Electra says she’s open to hopping back into the dating pool. At 54, the "Baywatch" bombshell posed for the magazine three decades after her debut. The actress and model first appeared in the magazine in 1996 at age 24 and now graces the pages of its Summer 2026 issue, which is on sale now. Posing in fishnets, Electra also answered readers' burning questions about love — but she isn't just dishing out dating advice. She's ready for a romance of her own. MARTHA STEWART GETS CANDID ABOUT PLASTIC SURGERY, DATING AS SHE TURNS 85 "I still like a guy that's a little bit edgy, but I wouldn't mind being with a dad type," the star told Fox News Digital. "I did actually date a dad. He had a daughter. I fell in love with the daughter. And I kind of thought that was going to be the relationship. Didn't work out, but I could be with someone who has a kid or not." The actress and model has walked down the aisle twice before. She wed former NBA star Dennis Rodman in November 1998. Rodman filed for an annulment just nine days later, though the pair reconciled before Electra ultimately filed for divorce in April 1999. Electra gave marriage another shot with Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, saying "I do" in 2003. The couple announced their separation in 2006, and their divorce was finalized in 2007. CARMEN ELECTRA REVEALS HER SIMPLE RULE FOR KEEPING THE ‘SPARK ALIVE’ IN RELATIONSHIPS Today, Electra isn't putting any limits on love. "They don't have to be a dad," she said. "They could be a little bit younger. I don't know. I don't really know who that guy is yet. I work really hard. I make money. I'm not looking for the man with money. That's not my goal. If he wants to buy me a few gifts, that's nice. But I can take care of myself. He just has to be a good person. That's very important. And we have to like the same things." "It's also cool when opposites attract," she noted. "Because they say if two people are too similar, one person is unnecessary. So you don't want it to be too similar, but you do want to like certain things. You want to have some things in common. But you also want to learn from each other." Electra has long worn her heart on her sleeve — and "love" on her skin. The pinup previously told Fox News Digital she has the word tattooed on her wrist. "I've always been about love," Electra said at the time. "I've always come from a place of love. And if we could all do that, what a wonderful place we could be in. If you really mess with me, I don't know how much love you're going to get. But I truly believe in love." Electra said she has felt plenty of love from her social media followers, who have cheered her on through the years. "Look, sometimes I'm trying different things on my Instagram page," she said. "Not everyone's going to love those things, and you might not get as many likes. But you turn around and boom, my fans are there." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER After making a splash in Hollywood, Electra has discovered what makes her feel most confident, and it has nothing to do with looking glamorous or having a beau. For her, it's all about being booked and busy. "I feel the most confident when I'm working, and I've been working a lot," she said. "When I'm working, I'm really happy. It's weird; you would think that by now I'd be over it. But I'm just not. I love it. And the more I work, the more confident I feel. When I'm in love, I feel confident. But I don't have someone in my life right now. But I'm still confident because I'm working." After returning to Playboy, Electra has a message for women who think getting older means fading into the background: Don't buy it. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "Don't let anyone tell you you're too old," she said. "That's a myth. You are living your own life. You're not living your life for other people. And honestly, if you're manifesting that, that's what it's going to be for you. You have to change your thought process. You have to start telling yourself every morning, 'I'm beautiful. I'm good enough. I look great. I'm pretty.' Whatever it is that you want to be, you can be that." "At one time in my life, I was reading a lot of books about Buddhism," she reflected. "I remember one book talked about your inner child and never losing your inner child. And I've always been a bit childish. So I always thought, 'I'm not going to lose it.' I never want to lose that, and I'm not going to. And I think the people who are older than me, who are still in this business and who I think are beautiful, have a youthful spirit. And people will love you for being who you really, truly are." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a80678a2c5335ae1046cd85 Sean Payton takes vicious shot at Falcons home crowd after humiliating first half te 2026-08-15T13:20:10.801Z Sean Payton takes vicious shot at Falcons home crowd after humiliating first half It's only preseason — and that goes for everyone. The players. The coaches. The fans. All of it. We're all in this together. We're all kicking off the rust and getting back into playing shape together. It's a marathon, not a sprint. That being said, things didn't go great for the Atlanta Falcons in Friday's opener against the Denver Broncos. For starters, new QB Tua Tagovailoa was pretty 'meh.' He completed a handful of short passes to Kyle Pitts, and fumbled the second snap of the game. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM That was Tua in midseason form, by the way. Nobody loves a good fumbled snap more than him. Trust me. I had to watch it for four seasons. Anyway, Atlanta went into the locker room trailing, 24-0, and Denver coach Sean Payton made sure to kick the entire city while it was down: "Yeah ... a lot of people dressed up as empty seats today, so, anyway ..." Lordy. Brutal shot at the Atlanta faithful. Not great! A couple things ... That being said, Sean Payton is very clearly in midseason form. He's ready to rock and roll this year. The Broncos were a healthy Bo Nix ankle away from going to the Super Bowl last season, and they've only reloaded for this year. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Payton is coming out of the gates hot and setting the tone. Judging by last night's 27-7 throttling, it appears his team is following suit. Welcome back, NFL. Let's get this preseason over with so we can get to the real thing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8067852c5335ae1046cd5f A look inside the new federal courthouse coming to Flagstaff te 2026-08-15T13:20:05.888Z A look inside the new federal courthouse coming to Flagstaff Federal court services in Flagstaff will expand next year once a new building on the city’s west side reaches completion. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8067832c5335ae1046cd46 Every fusion startup that has raised over $100M te 2026-08-15T13:20:03.723Z Every fusion startup that has raised over $100M Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion to date, with the majority of it going to a handful of companies. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8065332c5335ae1046cc76 Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt reveals why she lifts heavy weights — and doesn’t count calories te 2026-08-15T13:10:11.180Z Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt reveals why she lifts heavy weights — and doesn’t count calories Kansas City Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt recently opened up about her health philosophy on "The Riley Gaines Show," revealing that heavy strength training and a simple approach to nutrition keep her energized and confident. Speaking on a recent episode of the podcast, the former Miss Kansas USA and marathon runner dispelled misconceptions around women's fitness — specifically the belief that lifting heavy weights leads to a bulky physique. "There's so much misconception out there that if you lift weights, you're going to be bulky and big," Hunt told host and women's sports advocate Riley Gaines. "That is not how it works." KAI TRUMP REVEALS DIET AND NUTRITION SECRETS THAT CREATED SIX-PACK ABS POST-SURGERY Hunt said that over the past three years, her routine has changed significantly, as she stepped back from long-distance running to focus more on heavy strength training. "When you have enough muscle, you can sustain a healthy diet with lots of variety," the former pageant queen noted, adding that building muscle eliminates the need to track every calorie or macronutrient. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Instead of relying on meal tracking, Hunt said she applies a sort of litmus test to determine whether a food fits into her clean-eating lifestyle. "If I was a farmer, could I grow this or make this?" she asks herself. "If I don't know how to make it, maybe I shouldn't eat it." Hunt's passion for physical fitness began early in life, she told Gaines. Originally, she planned to go into competitive soccer, but her athletic trajectory changed after she suffered multiple concussions. The injuries forced her to pivot away from soccer into pageantry, marathons and strength training. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Reflecting on her shift away from competitive team sports, the football heiress emphasized how physical activity shaped her self-image and mental resilience. "Sports empower women," Hunt said. "They teach you how to be healthy and also to not attach health and wellness to how you look and to vanity. It's more about, 'Am I healthy? How can I perform?'" She said she believes that physical strength fosters body confidence, regardless of societal standards. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES "I'm strong. So even if I don't look like what society idolizes as beauty, I'm confident in my skin because I know I'm strong." For women seeking a healthy, strength-focused routine, Hunt recommends building workouts around consistent weightlifting, balanced with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and a favorite form of cardio, whether that's hiking, walking or trail running. Above all, physical fitness should be viewed as a long-term lifestyle aimed at overall well-being, not just a quick goal to hit, according to Hunt. "Fitness isn't about reaching a certain aesthetic and calling it a day — it's about pursuing a life where you can be your best for everyone else around you," she said. "Find something that you love and can do for life." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8065322c5335ae1046cc6d Carly Simon seemingly takes aim at ex James Taylor on new album as she sings 'Maybe I never loved you' te 2026-08-15T13:10:10.581Z Carly Simon seemingly takes aim at ex James Taylor on new album as she sings 'Maybe I never loved you' Carly Simon appears to take aim at her ex-husband James Taylor with a five-word bombshell: "Maybe I never loved you." The Grammy-winning singer seems to turn the wreckage of their decade-long marriage into a song on her new album, "Comes in Waves." "Maybe I never loved you / But anyway, I thought I did," Simon sings on the album’s second track. "I married you, we had a kid / That counts for something." ‘YOU’RE SO VAIN’ SINGER CARLY SIMON SAYS PARKINSON’S AND CANCER DIAGNOSES KEPT HER FROM PUBLIC EYE She immediately undercuts her own certainty, wondering whether she did love her former husband — and whether he ever truly loved her. "Maybe I never loved you / Yes, and maybe I did," she sings. "And maybe you never loved me / Although God knows, you said you did." Taylor is never identified by name. Simon was married to the "Fire and Rain" singer from 1972 to 1983. Their relationship was rocky and remained in the public eye for decades. "You came for me those times I hid / I’m so glad you did that," she sings. "And maybe it’s wrong to wonder how everything kind became forbidden." The song eventually concludes with what sounds like a final attempt at closure. "And maybe it’s best to bury whatever it was we had our fill of," she sings. "Maybe I never loved you / Maybe I always will." Fox News Digital has reached out to both Simon and Taylor for comment. In a 2015 interview with People, Simon said she and Taylor had not spoken in more than a decade. "I still want to heal him, I still want to make him all right," she said. "And I love him so much." Simon said Taylor's treatment of her had been deeply painful, but writing her memoir helped her understand something about herself and about unrequited love. IN MEMOIR, CARLY SIMON REVEALS SHE USED 'SPANISH WITCH DOCTOR' TO HELP SAVE HER MARRIAGE "My incredible loyalty to him, in spite of the fact that he has treated me without any regard, has been so painful to me for so long," she told the outlet. "But, through the course of writing the book, I really started to understand that I could love and not be loved. And that was the big realization for me, that it doesn’t have to be a two-way street." The deeply personal album arrives as Simon has also been navigating significant health challenges away from the spotlight. The "You’re So Vain" singer has Parkinson’s disease and recently had surgery for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. Simon explained to People why she had largely stayed out of the public eye. "It has taken me some time to understand the diagnosis, to adjust to it, and to decide how much I wanted to say about it publicly," the 83-year-old told the outlet in a statement published July 27. "Parkinson's is different for everyone, and it can be unpredictable," she continued. "Some days I'm so tired I can't get the day moving at all. On others, it gives me a little more room to move, think, work and feel like myself." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Her comments offer a rare glimpse into what the legendary singer has been experiencing privately while continuing to create music. Her latest project, "Comes in Waves," marks the end of an 18-year hiatus from releasing original music — and she's looking squarely at the past while confronting the realities of the present. Simon and Taylor were one of music's ultimate power couples of the 1970s. Their romance moved fast. Simon said she went to Taylor's dressing room at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1971 after seeing him perform. "I have a wonderful history with Carnegie Hall," she said previously in a Harper’s Bazaar interview. "I met James there that same year when I went to his dressing room to say hello, and he invited himself to my home for a late-night lunch that expanded into a life together." By the following year, they were married. Their wedding took place on Nov. 3, 1972, in a small ceremony at Simon's New York home. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS But the marriage didn't last. The couple separated in 1981, and their divorce was finalized in 1983. They share two children, Sally Taylor and Ben Taylor. Behind the scenes, their marriage was unraveling as Taylor struggled with drug addiction. Both Simon and Taylor have acknowledged infidelity during their marriage. Simon later described their relationship in her 2015 memoir, "Boys in the Trees," as "far from the idyllic one that the general public reads about." She had an even harsher description of their relationship. "Our love became bipolar, switching from love to hate, lust to loathing, and back again, sometimes within a day," Simon wrote. Taylor has also acknowledged how deeply his addiction damaged his relationships. "You could fall in love, but if one of the people is addicted, it’s not going to work," he told Parade. "The whole person is simply not available." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8065312c5335ae1046cc64 New York Magazine severs ties with writer Ross Barkan, updates 67 columns following plagiarism probe te 2026-08-15T13:10:10.000Z New York Magazine severs ties with writer Ross Barkan, updates 67 columns following plagiarism probe New York Magazine announced Friday it has severed ties with columnist Ross Barkan after launching an investigation into plagiarism allegations. "After an independent editorial review, New York found that Ross Barkan did not adhere to our editorial standards, and we have updated 67 columns that did not include proper attribution of language, information, and/or sourcing," the publication said in a statement obtained by Semafor. "We have updated our archives to include proper attribution in all of the stories that our review found previously inadequate, noting that those updates were made, and are committed to addressing any other instances that come to light." "Upon conclusion of the review, we have determined that we will no longer publish his column. We regret that this work did not live up to our editorial standards, and apologize to the writers whose work was not properly attributed," the magazine added. NEW YORK MAGAZINE COLUMNIST ACCUSED OF PLAGIARISM BY FELLOW REPORTERS, TRIGGERS INTERNAL REVIEW In a statement to Fox News Digital, Barkan wrote, "We've decided to end the column and I send all the best to New York Magazine. In the course of nearly 250 pieces, there were times I should have been more careful with citation. I'm sorry about these errors and will work to do better, more careful in the future." Barkan also teased a new column he plans to launch in September. Vox Media, New York Magazine's parent company, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. OLIVIA NUZZI EXITS NY MAGAZINE FOLLOWING RFK JR. RELATIONSHIP REVELATIONS The controversy began in May when Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell accused Barkan of lifting from his report about conservative commentator Ben Shapiro and his outlet The Daily Wire for one of his columns. After Harwell highlighted the similarities between the two articles, New York Magazine updated its piece with an editor's note offering credit to the Washington Post, though Harwell explained he wasn't "entirely sure what happened." COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE CENTER OF NY MAGAZINE HIT PIECE ON YOUNG CONSERVATIVES SPEAKS OUT NPR correspondent Bobby Allyn found additional examples of what appeared to be Barkan lifting similar phrases and descriptions from The Intercept and Compact Magazine on other reports. "The paragraphs in question are summarizing the historical background or context of the stories, with some instances containing the same 30 words in a row, or near identical passages with a word or phrase slightly tweaked," Allyn wrote. Barkan was initially defiant in response to critics, telling Fox News Digital at the time he "did not plagiarize anyone" and "[a]ll of this is ridiculous." Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8062dc2c5335ae1046c8da Spain stocks African enclave Ceuta with boosted security as Morocco monitors calls for second border rush te 2026-08-15T13:00:12.573Z Spain stocks African enclave Ceuta with boosted security as Morocco monitors calls for second border rush Spain and Morocco have beefed up security on both sides of the border in Spain's African enclave Ceuta as renewed calls circulate social media for Moroccan migrants to rush the border a second time after an initial mass migration event in July overwhelmed the city. Soldiers patrolled the city's commercial and government buildings Friday while an enhanced police presence could be seen on Ceuta's main avenues, Reuters reported. On the Moroccan side, security personnel dressed in all-black patrolled the beaches of Fnideq, one of the most prominent launching points from which migrants illegally entered Ceuta on July 30 as part of a mass migration event that saw over 70,000 people rush into Ceuta from Morocco. The strengthened security followed calls on social media for Moroccans to again rush into Ceuta, and into Spain's other African enclave, Melilia, on Saturday. FIREBRAND REP UNLOADS ON SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER AS 'HORDES OF MILITARY AGED MEN' SWARM EUROPEAN COUNTRY "The Ministry of the Interior has detected, during the last few days, the circulation of anonymous publications and messages on certain social networks inciting the organization of attempts at collective and illegal crossing to the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, practices which carry serious risks to the safety of people and aim to instrumentalize migration issues in acts of incitement, which are criminalized by law," Morocco's Ministry of the Interior said in a statement posted to the country's state-affiliated news website MAP. Morocco arrested multiple people who circulated the inciting statements, Interior Ministry spokesperson Rachid El Khalfi said. The Interior Ministry also called on Spain to continue working to return the remaining Moroccan migrants in Ceuta back to the North African country. TRUMP PUTS ASYLUM LAWYERS ‘ON NOTICE’ WITH NEW FRONT IN WAR ON FRAUD Of the more than 72,000 migrants who rushed the border, the vast majority have returned to Morocco, according to statements from Spain and Ceuta's government. About 5,000 remain, Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters Friday. Spanish officials have been screening the remaining migrants and have processed roughly 500 asylum seekers' cases, rejecting the vast majority of them, Reuters reported. Spain has also installed floating barriers in the waters where migrants had previously swam across. At least 96 people died during the mass migration event. Fox News Digital contacted the governments of Spain, Morocco and Ceuta for further comment. Reuters contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a805bd22c5335ae1046c7e4 Sophie Cunningham got up on an Indy bar last night to belt out Toby Keith classic, Mr T sings & dodgeball te 2026-08-15T12:30:10.588Z Sophie Cunningham got up on an Indy bar last night to belt out Toby Keith classic, Mr T sings & dodgeball It's time for another edition of Saturday Screencaps where we dive into everything that happened last night while you were out on the patio Respecting Summer. Let's get started with a trip to Indianapolis where Sophie Cunningham had herself a night. Her and the Fever pulled out a 98-87 win and then Sophie went right to Clayton's Country Bar in downtown Indy where she got up on the bar and belted out Toby Keith's classic, "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue," like a real patriot. I'll continue to say it: You don't love Sophie Cunningham enough. This isn't fake emotion. This is a woman who doesn't care what the disgusting LIBS think of her. She wants dudes out of female sports and she loves this great country. Suck it, lefties. SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM INSPIRES HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES TO SPEAK OUT ON FAIRNESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS How did I know that Sophie ended her night at Clayton's singing her heart out? I had a text message waiting on me this morning from a source I met during my Big Ten Championship game back in December. My buddy Ballystar and I were in Hooters late one night on that trip. We sat down at the bar to suck down some beers. It was just another night. Then, a guy who looked like he could be in ZZ Top sat down next to me. One thing led to another and I'm talking to this guy. It turns he's a massive fan of OutKick. He's a fan of Clay Travis. Highly intelligent. I tested him on OutKick content and he passed the test. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! I learned ZZ went to West Point. A day or so later, I did my due diligence and I realized this guy who looked like he could go on a world tour playing a slide guitar is a Great American® who has seen and done a few things around the world, if you know what I mean. That's who is texting me Sophie Cunningham news at midnight. God bless Sophie. God bless having well-placed sources. And never forget how fortunate we are to live in the greatest country in the history of the world. 📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.com Send photos, stories, tips, rants—whatever you've got. 📰 Screencaps Page: 👉 Read the latest Screencaps ▶️ YouTube: Screencaps with Joe Kinsey Subscribe for videos, rants, and behind-the-scenes. 🐦 Twitter/X: @JoeKinseyexp Tag me or drop a DM. 📸 Instagram: @OutKickScreencaps You guys need to start tagging me on content you're seeing. 📘 Facebook Page: Screencaps on Facebook 👥 Facebook Group: Join the Screencaps Community 📬 Mail (Thursday Night Mowing League): 27072 Carronade Dr, Unit A 155 Perrysburg, OH 43551 🗞️ Newsletter: 👉 Subscribe here This morning, after publishing this column, I'll be out on the road south to Dayton, OH for the day where I'll hang with my dad to celebrate his 71st birthday and I'll see my mom. The only issue: there's more rain rolling into SW Ohio and eastern Indiana. Golf is out. The course is about 10 miles east of a flood warning area. And now, there's a massive blob of rain heading right for this area where it's been raining for five days. Based on the reports out of Dayton this morning, areas along I-70 near the Indiana line could see 2–3 inches of rain per hour in the initial burst and 3–6 inches of rain total isn't out of the question. Don't worry, I'll turn around so we don't drown. – Phil in Florida emails: As a former hiring manager that had to call people in for interviews, I’d say that an incorrectly spelled name starting with a K, is more likely to get a call back for an interview than names close to anything Key and Peele openly mocked. Myself and many hiring managers I know have passed on candidates just because we had no idea how to say their names. None of them btw were foreign names, these were a bit more urban. – Doug J. is impressed: – Rory M. warns: Get a "Disregarding a Stop Sign" ticket one time. It's regarded as a moving violation. You'll be out several hundred dollars and your insurance will go up way more than for standard speeding. Taking an extra 1 or 2 Mississippi to make sure you make a clear trunk drop won't seem like a big deal anymore. Kinsey: I know that Doug in Springfield, OH isn't telling people to run stop signs as a habit. He's talking about stop signs out in the open fields of Ohio after the corn is cut down. It's a Saturday. That's it. Let's get rolling this morning. Stay dry. Stay safe. Turn around, don't drown. Go out and RESPECT SUMMER. I'll have to do it with a rain coat on. And don't forget, I'll be back tomorrow morning to handle SeanJo's shift. He's on vacation. Numbers from : Stuff You Guys Sent In & Stuff I Like : Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8057232c5335ae1046c750 ‘I’ll settle for not crazy’: Denver business leaders brace for socialist shift after big win for DSA te 2026-08-15T12:10:11.095Z ‘I’ll settle for not crazy’: Denver business leaders brace for socialist shift after big win for DSA Affordability was a top concern for voters who helped launch democratic socialist candidate Melat Kiros to victory in Denver's Democratic primary in June, defeating 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette. But as democratic socialists gain momentum in Colorado, business owners are grappling with how their progressive policies may collide with the actual costs of running a business in Denver. "With DSA specifically, I think that too many times, the rhetoric sounds great until it meets the economic realities," J.J. Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, told Fox News Digital. "And by the way, the basic laws of economics, they still apply even at altitude." Ament runs the oldest and largest chamber of commerce in Colorado, representing the business community. The chamber is nonpartisan and has members from both sides of the political spectrum, he said.  While the chamber does not endorse individual candidates, Ament noted that it does participate at the member level to promote pragmatic, pro-business candidates, and promote free enterprise and free-market policies. COLORADO'S SOCIALIST SURGE SHAKES UP THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT "I tell people sort of as a joke, but not really, that I want pro-business. I'll settle for not crazy," he said. Colorado, according to Ament, has changed significantly over the past decade or more as the state has come under single-party Democratic control, shifting from one of the top 10 states for business to a place where increasing regulations and higher taxes have made it more difficult to operate a business. "Those risks could be created whether it's single-party control by Republicans or single-party controlled by Democrats," Ament said. "The reality is where everybody thinks the same, very little thinking actually occurs. And so the trend has been to more regulation, higher fees and taxes, the cost of doing business." He added that as the city has grown and housing has not kept up, affordability has become a crucial issue, driving up the costs of running a business. GROCERY BOSS WARNS MAMDANI'S CITY-RUN STORES PIT GOVERNMENT AGAINST 'ITS OWN CITIZENS' As DSA-backed candidates took seats on the Denver City Council in 2023, the chamber warned that Colorado was becoming "increasingly hostile to business." Kiros' platform calls for a number of policies affecting the economy, including raising corporate taxes and the federal minimum wage. Ament believes some DSA-backed policies, like raising the minimum wage, have hurt the very workers and small businesses they were intended to help. "Just ask any restaurant owner in Denver how the government's interference in minimum wage and tipped wage has helped or hurt the very people, again, it was purported to be designed for," he said. "A lot of times we have policies that are in the name of consumers, but aren't necessarily for consumers." Ament said the chamber's goal is to help people understand the economic realities of running a business while promoting policies and incentives that make starting a company simpler and less expensive. JOHN RICH WARNS NASHVILLE'S FAMED BROADWAY COULD GO DARK AS BUSINESSES FACE TAX ‘DEATH NAIL’ "We want every resident here to fully participate in the benefits that come with a thriving economy," he said. "But the choices that are being made are making that even more difficult. We were constantly trying to figure out how to create ladders to crawl over barriers when we just should stop creating the barrier in the first place." Brad Deen, service manager at Import Mechanics, knows full well the challenges facing small business owners in the area. He said his auto shop has faced increasing problems with crime, drug use, and public safety as the population has boomed. "It seems like it's directly correlated to the influx of the population to Denver," Deen told Fox News Digital. "Seeing more unhoused and more open-air drug use than I would have in 2004." Deen was one of several business owners and residents who launched the South Broadway General Improvement District (GID) this year. Community members and businesses voted to impose an additional mill levy tax on themselves to fund private security and cleaning crews in order to make the area more appealing for customers. MAMDANI CLASHES WITH DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS' PUSH TO ABOLISH POLICE AND PRISONS Deen admitted he was reluctant to support additional taxes but felt it was necessary to protect his business. "As somebody who has kind of railed against tax increases my whole life, this was kind of a different line for me to take, but something that I felt had to be done," he said. He said the Broadway GID is already making a "huge positive change" by providing 24/7 staff to clean up graffiti and trash. The district has also worked to foster a more collaborative relationship with city leaders, and he noted that police have been more responsive and more present in patrolling the area than in years past. Deen took a pragmatic approach when considering how DSA policies might affect his business if Kiros wins the election in November. He said he has benefited and been hurt by policies from both the left and right, and believes no one has all the answers to complex problems like homelessness. If Kiros is elected, he said he would ask her to address encampments outside Denver businesses first. EXPERT WHO FLED CUBA WARNS OF ‘VICIOUS CYCLE’ THAT WILL LEAD TO ‘COMMUNISTS IN DOUBLE DIGITS’ IN CONGRESS He expressed some concern about policies supporting higher taxes on corporations eventually being placed upon small businesses and hurting their operations. "As a relatively large employment group in the city, any large tax increases have a huge impact on us being able to, you know, get staff raises, give bonuses, and provide benefits," Deen told Fox News Digital. Dealing with crime and rising costs is a challenge also facing Jamie Sanchez, another Denver small-business owner. He runs The Drip Café in Denver's Santa Fe Art District. He also operates a Christian homeless ministry called Recycle God's Love, which he started with his late wife, Carolyn, in 2012. "I am seeing a lot of businesses turning over and shutting down just through the past three years we've been here," he told Fox News Digital. "So I could imagine why the cost of living here is skyrocketing. I mean, our minimum wage is insane right now to pay baristas to make coffee. So that makes it really difficult. So I can only imagine for some of the other business owners, it's getting really difficult, especially with rent and tax and all that going on. It's definitely been a strain on our business." Since opening his coffee shop three years ago, Sanchez said he has experienced broken windows, graffiti and threats. An outspoken Christian, Sanchez drew the ire of a local group called the Denver Communists before his shop even opened, after the group noticed Recycle God's Love called homosexuality a sin in its beliefs section on its website.   Since then, on every first Friday of the month, protesters from the Denver Communists have held signs and passed out flyers accusing the coffee shop of being run by a "right-wing church" that hates the LGBTQ+ community. Sanchez said "Keep Santa Fe gay" and obscene stickers have also been placed on his windows and doors. "The Denver Communists specifically have targeted us because of the beliefs that we have," Sanchez told Fox News Digital. "Even though we haven't shown any hate towards these individuals. In fact, we serve people from this group at our homeless outreach. We serve them in our café, we've welcomed them in, we have invited them in, and so our goal is to actually show them the love of God because yeah, we do believe different things, but our approach is to love them in hopes that they would come to Christ." The Christian shop owner sees the backlash as part of a spiritual battle. "The reason I come to that conclusion is because a lot of these protesters claim to be Satanists," he told Fox News Digital, adding that he's seen protesters wearing shirts depicting Satan or attacking Jesus. Sanchez said he now holds live worship music in the café every first Friday to help "drown out" the commotion outside. BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONS "These groups have decided to twist things and use half-truths to try to stir people in the community to not frequent our coffee shop in hopes that we would not have enough sales to meet rent and that we will shut down," Sanchez said. "And it hasn't been working. In fact, the opposite has been happening to where people are knowing we're here now because of this situation and God has been using it for good." The Denver Communists told Fox News Digital they were not protesting the café strictly because it is Christian, but because of its religious beliefs about sexuality. "We are not targeting Christianity, we [are] targeting homophobia and transphobia," a spokesperson for the Denver Communists said. "Sanchez wants to claim Drip’s particular right-wing evangelical fundamentalism is representative of all Christianity, but it’s not. Many Christians are not homophobes and transphobes. Many Christians have joined us in protesting against Drip, including clergy members." The group, which formed in 2012 as a branch of the International Socialist Organization, told Fox News Digital they view the Drip Café's mission as part of a nationwide, right-wing "coordinated assault ... against the democratic rights and cultural acceptance won by LGBTQ+ people." "Right-wing churches like Drip Café are key incubators of the homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny that underpin this assault," the group said. "Any effort to make anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry mainstream must be vigorously opposed." The group is not affiliated with the DSA but shares some broader anti-capitalist and socialist goals promoted by Kiros, such as wealth redistribution and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Kiros recently brushed aside concerns regarding communists inside the DSA faction of the Democratic Party, telling PBS "Firing Line" host Margaret Hoover there is room in the party for various viewpoints. "Yeah. Well, some members of the Democratic Party are proudly proclaiming themselves as capitalists, and it’s a big tent, right?" Kiros said. "But, again, at the end of the day, it’s up to the voters, right?" Kiros denied being a communist, arguing that younger voters are embracing the democratic socialist message because it represents "economic populism." Jamie Sanchez has concerns about what it could mean for his business if candidates sharing similar viewpoints to those protesting his shop get into local government. "It definitely is concerning when I hear some of the socialist, communist-type people getting into the local government because of what we've been facing from just national groups who are coming and protesting us," he told Fox News Digital. "So I feel like if they're aligned with that, it is pretty concerning because that would mean that the government eventually would be against this Christian coffee shop essentially. But overall, I trust God and what he's doing, so I don't have any fear about that either." Melat Kiros's campaign and the Democratic Socialists of America did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8057222c5335ae1046c747 BROADCAST BIAS: Networks turn Trump’s plane switch into a fancy scandal te 2026-08-15T12:10:10.455Z BROADCAST BIAS: Networks turn Trump’s plane switch into a fancy scandal The coverage of political scandal is one of the most obvious fields of study for anyone looking at media bias. The same people who unconvincingly claimed President Barack Obama's presidency was "largely scandal-free" can manufacture a scandal a day under President Donald Trump. The allegedly outrageous scandal of this week happened in Turkey, where the Secret Service advised Trump to switch to a different military plane to fly home while the press (and top administration officials) stayed on Air Force One, but were not told the president wasn't on board. As soon as The Washington Post had the story, the anti-Trump spin kicked in. The press were left on a "decoy" plane that could have been shot down by the Iranians. While the broadcast networks love to open their newscasts with severe weather updates to grab viewer attention, this mini-scandal led CBS and NBC on Tuesday night, and ABC jumped in right after the weather. WHITE HOUSE PUSHED FOR PROTOCOL TO PRESERVE CORRESPONDENTS' CREDIBILITY AFTER TRUMP'S SECRET PLANE SWITCH On PBS, "News Hour" anchor Geoff Bennett exemplified the tone: "How unusual is it for the Secret Service to turn Air Force One and its passengers, to include White House staff, the traveling press, into a decoy?" Correspondent Nick Schifrin explained that this happened before with President Bill Clinton in Pakistan in 2000. On NPR's "Morning Edition" on Wednesday, they brought on former Secret Service agent Robert McDonald, who tried to reassure the audience that he was sure Air Force One still had Air Force protection in the air, so, "I think the premise that those two planes were left out on their own, I think, is a little bit reaching." Anchor Michel Martin resisted: "But you don't know that for a fact." McDonald acknowledged that, but found it hard to believe two Air Force 747s "would be left to fend for themselves." Journalists went on for days with "decoy" outrage, but it's hard to argue Trump left them in danger, since top aides were still on the plane – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and domestic policy adviser Stephen Miller, among others. Everyone in the media knows that covering a president carries the risk of being in the crossfire if someone makes an assassination attempt. They just witnessed it in the first attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner this spring. FETTERMAN SAYS AMERICA MUST TURN DOWN THE TEMPERATURE AFTER WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS DINNER SHOOTING What's astonishing is how little they seem to care about Trump's vulnerability to assassination, even after he was shot in the ear in one of several foiled attempts to murder him. On Aug. 4, a 38-year-old California man named Jeanine John Taele was arrested at the Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles after he was spotted taking photos and monitoring security preparations two days before a scheduled visit by the president. Taele had a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket, and authorities recovered a loaded pistol in his car. But in the case of the switched planes, the press sounded like they only worried about their own safety, and they act like Trump endangers himself with his rhetoric and by waging war on terrorist regimes in the Middle East. Some people thought the Secret Service tactics were grounds for levity. As the story broke on Monday night, MS NOW hosts Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell had giggles over the concept of the president being moved from plane to plane on a catering cart, saying that he "lost complete control" of his situation. On Tuesday night, Aug. 11, O'Donnell proclaimed, "No president has ever done more than Donald Trump to reveal himself to be a deeply cowardly man," when he wasn't at all like Harrison Ford's terrorist-punching president in the movie "Air Force One." CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Subbing on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," actor Anthony Anderson wisecracked: "Let's give it up to the Secret Service. Do you know how hard it is to sneak a pig out of Turkey?" He added: "I'm no security expert, but if I was trying to find Donald Trump, a catering truck is the first place I'd look. Next time, hide his ass in a bookmobile." I was a White House reporter for two years, so I can sympathize with journalists feeling strongly about the concept of being endangered overseas. But they all should understand the Secret Service has a job to do, and it's to keep the president safe. Everyone on that plane was safe. So why did they have to treat it as a scandal? Because manufacturing daily outrages seems to be their job in covering President Trump. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM TIM GRAHAM Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8057212c5335ae1046c73e Stop making a common burger mistake, chef warns: 'One of the worst things you can do' te 2026-08-15T12:10:09.763Z Stop making a common burger mistake, chef warns: 'One of the worst things you can do' Soaking your burger bun in the grease and juices leftover from cooking the patty to add extra flavor may seem intuitive, but one chef says it's "one of the worst things you can do." To form a nice crust on the bun, executive chef Michael Hawk of the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, Florida, said to toast it in butter to create a barrier that's both flavorful and adds texture. "Use a sauté pan with medium heat and whole, unsalted butter, melting the butter and putting the bun cut-side down in the pan, applying a little bit of pressure for a little more contact with the pan, and toast it for about two to three minutes, until it's golden brown," Hawk told Fox News Digital. MEAT EXPERT SHARES THE MISTAKE MOST AMERICANS MAKE WHEN COOKING STEAK He recommends checking the buns occasionally to make sure they're getting brown enough without burning. "Ideally, the right time to start toasting your bun is just as your burgers are starting to finish," he said.  "Burgers, when you pull them off, need a little bit of time to rest so they're not just leeching the liquids out on the bun. If you're going to take the time to make a nice toasty bun, then you don't want to put a liquid right on top of it." The three or four minutes it takes to get the buns ready is the "perfect amount of time to rest that burger," Hawk said. Burning burger buns usually happens when people use a grill, according to Hawk, because the heat is much more intense. He advised using a slow, gentle heat to toast the buns.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS If using a grill, place them on the outer edges where the surface is less hot. Hawk's preferred type of bun is brioche or potato bread, because they don't add many additional flavors, allowing for the flavor of the meat to shine through. He said any bun works, though, and people should choose whichever they prefer. Hawk offered several other dos and don'ts for the perfect burger. The shape, size and meat blend of a burger are all factors in how to cook it. When cooking a batch of burgers, making them all the same shapes and weights helps, he said. Hawk advised using a digital thermometer to ensure burgers are cooked precisely and to take them off the heat source 5 degrees before they reach their ideal temperature, since they'll keep cooking while they rest. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Smash burgers continue to be a popular method of cooking burgers, and Hawk said there's only one time people should apply pressure to their patties. "Smash it as a raw patty," he said. "That's the perfect time to smash it, and the only time you want to smash it." Once the burger starts to cook, it'll develop a seal on its outer edges that retains the moisture inside, he shared. "If you smash it halfway through the process, it's going to result in a drier burger, and it's not really going to develop that nice crust, either," Hawk said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Hawk said that pressing the burger while it's cooking is "probably the biggest mistake people make at home." The other top tip Hawk gave for home cooks is to temper the meat, which not a lot of people do out of concern for bacteria, he acknowledged. "Allow that burger to come up to room temperature a little bit," he said.  "Ten to 15 degrees will save you some time on the grill with a much more intense heat source, so it helps you retain more moisture." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8057212c5335ae1046c735 Florida cold case suspect allegedly confesses to 1987 murder and reveals secret crime-scene details te 2026-08-15T12:10:09.101Z Florida cold case suspect allegedly confesses to 1987 murder and reveals secret crime-scene details A Florida man charged in the 1987 killing of a 20-year-old mother allegedly confessed after contacting authorities himself and investigators say he described details of the crime scene that had never been publicly released. Gary Edward Glowacz, 70, is charged with second-degree murder and armed burglary with assault or battery in the death of Melissa Ellison, who was found dead inside her Jacksonville home on Dec. 28, 1987, according to court records obtained by Fox News Digital. Ellison was found lying on her bed after her roommates first discovered her 13-month-old child crying on a couch in the living room, according to Glowacz’s arrest report. Investigators said Ellison had suffered blunt-force trauma to the head and neck. Blood was found on the sheets, her head had been positioned below a pillow, and a nightgown had been pulled over her waistline, according to the arrest report. Detectives also found soot or ash on the bed that they said was consistent with a wooden log having been used to strike her. TIPSTER CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER POLICE SAY ANONYMOUS CALL HELPED SOLVE 30-YEAR DISAPPEARANCE The case remained unsolved for decades. On July 8, 2026, Glowacz called authorities in Clay County and said he wanted to "set things straight" about Ellison’s death, according to the arrest report. Police said he told a deputy that he had committed a burglary at the home and had struck Ellison with a log. KILLER ADMITS TO DECADES-OLD COLD CASE SLAYING AFTER INVESTIGATORS LEAN ON NEW FORENSIC EVIDENCE: OFFICIALS During a subsequent interview with Jacksonville cold case detectives, Glowacz allegedly said he had been using narcotics at the time and entered the residence looking for money or property he could sell. Glowacz told detectives he found Ellison and her baby in a bedroom, left the room, picked up a wooden log inside the residence and returned, according to the report. He allegedly said he struck Ellison once in the head, then carried the child into the living room and placed the baby on a couch. Police said Glowacz then returned to the bedroom to look for money. He allegedly told detectives he pulled Ellison’s body by the legs and lifted a corner of the mattress while searching underneath it. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Investigators said those details closely matched evidence documented at the scene in 1987. The arrest report says that Glowacz accurately described the layout of the residence and where the log had been located. Detectives wrote that those details had not previously been released publicly and were not contained in the article Glowacz said he read before contacting authorities. KILLER UNDONE BY DECADES-OLD THREADS — GLOVE, TOWEL AND SHIRT STITCH TOGETHER COLD CASE JUSTICE READ THE ARREST REPORT: SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS Police also said law-enforcement databases showed Glowacz lived about half a mile from the crime scene in 1987 and had been arrested in connection with an unrelated burglary in the area on the same day Ellison was found dead. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE SEND US A TIP According to the arrest report, Glowacz told detectives he had seen an article about the cold case in March 2026 and said that was when he realized Ellison had died. GOT A TIP? According to investigators, he told them he had delayed coming forward until after the holiday season because he wished to spend time with his family. Police arrested Glowacz following the interview. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCASTGET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Prosecutors later formally charged him with second-degree murder and armed burglary with assault or battery. The charging document alleges Glowacz killed Ellison by striking her while committing second-degree murder and entered or remained in her dwelling while armed with a dangerous weapon. Fox News Digital has reached out to Glowacz's public defender for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8057202c5335ae1046c72c 'The End of Oak Street' Review: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor fight dinosaurs in surprisingly fun movie te 2026-08-15T12:10:08.407Z 'The End of Oak Street' Review: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor fight dinosaurs in surprisingly fun movie The year of Anne Hathaway is kicked into hyperdrive. Following the release of the legacy sequel "The Devil Wears Prada 2," the indie art house film "Mother Mary" and on the heels of Christopher Nolan's epic "The Odyssey," the Oscar winner now stars in the new movie "The End of Oak Street" (and she still has another movie slated for this fall!).  She and Ewan McGregor are Denise and Greg Platt, a not-so-happy couple who put on a happy face for their two teenage children, Audrey and Brian (Maisy Stella and Christian Convery) in their idyllic neighborhood on — you guessed it — Oak Street in Summer 1982.  One night, a mysterious light floods the outside of their home, and they wake up without any power, running water, and are not even picking up any radio stations. It doesn't take long after Denise and Greg leave the house to figure out something isn't right — there are dinosaurs everywhere.  ‘ONE NIGHT ONLY’ REVIEW: MONICA BARBARO AND CALLUM TURNER CHARM IN HIGH-CONCEPT ROM-COM The entirety of their neighborhood was somehow transported back to a prehistoric era where the end of the street is literally cut off by a giant cliff with jungles taking over people's backyards. The Platts must fight to survive and find a way back home — if there's even a way back home.  Someone in Hollywood — possibly writer-director David Robert Mitchell — must've pitched, "What if it's 'Jurassic Park' but set in suburbia?" The premise is totally inexplicable, and that's completely OK, as long as the audience can buy into the premise, even one this absurd. Mitchell's strong execution on a pure entertainment level supersedes the need for a logical explanation.  ‘SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY’ REVIEW: TOM HOLLAND, ZENDAYA RETURN FOR ACTION-PACKED, EMOTIONAL SEQUEL Mitchell, best known for his 2014 breakout horror flick "It Follows," knows how to build up suspense and put together fun action sequences. He's aided by cinematographer Mike Gioulakis, editor John Axelrad and Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who delivers yet another magnificent score.  It's no surprise that J.J. Abrams, the producer behind "LOST," the "Cloverfield" trilogy and the recent "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" films, also produced this sci-fi action thriller.  'THE ODYSSEY' REVIEW: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN GOES EPIC WITH HIS MOST AMBITIOUS FILM TO DATE Hathaway hits her stride here, arguably more so than any of her other role this year, playing the no-nonsense matriarch of the household, while McGregor brings levity as the perhaps Pollyannaish father. But all of them, including Stella and Convery, take turns kicking dinosaur butt. And some of the dinosaurs are quite terrifying!  'THE INVITE' REVIEW: SETH ROGEN, OLIVIA WILDE HOST ONE HILARIOUS DINNER PARTY YOU WON'T REGRET ATTENDING "The End of Oak Street" is a fun, crowd-pleasing wild ride that is full of laughs and suspense that feels like a throwback to the kinds of movies that Hollywood used to make. If you're going to squeeze in one more movie with the family before the kids go back to school, consider this one.  "The End of Oak Street" is rated PG-13 for some strong violent content, bloody images, some strong language and suggestive material. Running time: 1 hour, 39 minutes. In theaters now. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8054cc2c5335ae1046c6c7 Multiple people shot at Virginia State University, campus on lockdown: police te 2026-08-15T12:00:12.016Z Multiple people shot at Virginia State University, campus on lockdown: police Multiple people were shot at Virginia State University on Saturday morning, and the campus remains on lockdown, according to the university and VSU Police. "A shooting occurred in the area of the Quad Annexes involving multiple victims, who were transported to area hospitals," VSU Police wrote in a statement posted to X. "Police are on scene and request that you avoid the area. Campus remains on lockdown. Updates to follow," the statement concluded.  SEVERAL PEOPLE DEAD, INCLUDING SUSPECT, IN RURAL MICHIGAN MULTI-SCENE SHOOTING: POLICE The university said the shooting involved "multiple suspects" near the Quad Annexes. The investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8054cb2c5335ae1046c6be NFL player reveals suspension for Performance Enhancing Drug happened because he was addressing infertility te 2026-08-15T12:00:11.170Z NFL player reveals suspension for Performance Enhancing Drug happened because he was addressing infertility Nazeeh Johnson's story is a heartbreaker and not because he learned on Friday that the NFL is suspending him six games for violating league policy, but because that violation is apparently linked to the Tennessee Titans player and his wife trying in vain to start their family. Hours after the NFL announced Johnson would be suspended on Aug. 30 without pay for violating the Performance Enhancing Drug policy, and that he would not be able to return to his team until Oct. 19, Johnson went on social media to explain why he tested positive. Prepare yourself because this one cuts to the core. FALCONS' JAMES PEARCE HIT WITH 8-GAME SUSPENSION AS NFL ANNOUNCES WAVE OF BANS ACROSS THE LEAGUE "My wife and I were trying to conceive a child," Johnson explained on X. "We found out that I was infertile, and I took a fertility medication that was helping me try to conceive a baby. "I was not aware that there was a substance in the medication that was on the banned list, and I tested positive for a PED." That isn't the worst part. A source close to Johnson told Fox News Digital that he and his wife Gabrielle were initially encouraged by the treatments both were taking. It seemed to work. She got pregnant. But then, tragedy. "We lost our baby a few weeks ago, and this has been an incredibly difficult time for my wife and me," Johnson said in his post. Gabrielle shared a post on X showing part of the regimen she underwent to try to get pregnant. "This is real life," she wrote on a post that includes video of her injecting medication, having eggs harvested, and finally getting a positive pregnancy test result. "This is a lot of people’s lives," she continued. "It can be a joke or a chance to tear someone down – but for us, it’s our life. There’s no fun in it. Just pain, tears, and recently, disappointment. And that pain doesn’t end when football does." The suspension is not the first time Johnson's career has suffered a significant setback. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 but was forced to miss all the 2023 season when he tore the ACL in one of his knees during training camp. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM In 2025, the year he and Gabrielle were married, Johnson's season was cut short again when he played only two games due to a shoulder injury. He signed a one-year contract with the Titans this offseason. There is, on the surface, no part of this that seems to be anything other than agonizing. But Johnson offered a glimmer of hope in his explanation about the looming suspension. "Fortunately, we have nine good eggs left," he said. "So we’re holding on to hope that we’ll be able to grow our family." Johnson also offered some advice to other NFL players before they, too, take any medication for any reason. "Lesson to all NFL players and new players coming into the league: do not put anything in your body without following the process and getting approval beforehand," he said. FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8052732c5335ae1046c653 Fever coach Stephanie White opens up about fan reception after turbulent week of WNBA controversy te 2026-08-15T11:50:11.772Z Fever coach Stephanie White opens up about fan reception after turbulent week of WNBA controversy Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White ended her week on a high note Friday, after facing immense national scrutiny for days, but still made mention of people trying to "tear" her team apart. White was cheered by the Indiana crowd ahead of the Fever's game against the Dallas Wings. She had been booed ahead of their most recent game against the New York Liberty on Tuesday, amid controversy over how she initially responded to a flagrant foul on Sophie Cunningham. But after Cunningham and Caitlin Clark defended White publicly, the fans went back to cheering for the coach on Friday. FEVER COACH STEPHANIE WHITE DODGES QUESTION ON GOP LETTER ABOUT CAITLIN CLARK’S TREATMENT IN WNBA "It means a lot, we love eachother in that locker room. And we know that there's a lot of people out there that are trying to tear it apart," White told reporters after the game. "When we say we're a family, we mean that. It doesn't mean we always get along, it doesn't mean we always agree, but at the end of the day it means we circle our wagons and we have each other's back... "It means a lot to me personally, and obviously, any time you get an ovation from the crowd it's nice too. I think our fans, the true Indiana Fever fans, are amazing. They've been incredible to me for a long time." White added that the players and coaches on her staff have been "lifting her up." White's tough week began on last Saturday after her team's game against the Sky in Chicago. When asked about a now-infamous flagrant-2 foul by DiJonai Carrington against Cunningham, White appeared to give Carrington the benefit of the doubt and suggest that the foul wasn't on purpose. Then ahead of the Fever's Tuesday game against the Liberty, White dedicated her entire pre-game media availability to a rant that sandwiched her admission that she realized the foul was "egregious" in between condemnation of external prognosticators critics. "For those who have anything to say about the play in the last game, I didn't see the replay. I went straight to a press conference, I thought the play got called right. Thankfully, Sophie is OK. Was it egregious? Absolutely," White said. "When you get a chance to see that on replay over and over, you see that. I didn't see that in real time. I personally take any suggestions that I don't 100% always have my players back." SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM'S FORMER TEAMMATE APPEARS TO FULLY ENDORSE DIJONAI CARRINGTON'S FLAGRANT FOUL ON FEVER STAR Clark and Cunningham defended White publicly on Tuesday night. "Our locker room in there, it's tight, and we have each other's backs," Cunningham said. "Coach loves us... "She didn't see the clip. At the end of the day, she didn't see the clip." Clark offered a more personal defense of White. "I think we forget a lot of times, like, we're human and she has feelings," Clark said. "There's moments that are really hard." Clark drew from her own experience under intense scrutiny. She told White that even thick skin has limits. "I've been through the same thing," Clark said. "There's been days where I've been really upset, and you can have the thickest skin in the world, but sometimes it does get to you." For at least a night, the focus of the Fever's season turned back to basketball on Friday, as Clark and Cunningham led a clean and convincing victory over Paige Bueckers and the Wings. Indiana has won eight of 10 and finished the night as the league’s fourth-place team, a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Dream — its opponent on Sunday. The Wings have lost seven of 10 to fall into a tie for seventh with Washington. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a80526e2c5335ae1046c62d Flagstaff Event Almanac for August 15 te 2026-08-15T11:50:06.298Z Flagstaff Event Almanac for August 15 Aug 15 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8049142c5335ae1046c480 Lindsay Clancy murder trial becomes social media obsession as TikTokers, sleuths debate controversial case te 2026-08-15T11:10:12.747Z Lindsay Clancy murder trial becomes social media obsession as TikTokers, sleuths debate controversial case "It's kind of a cultural obsession," said Boston-based criminal defense attorney Peter Elikann. The Massachusetts mother at the center of an ongoing murder trial for the killings of her three children is captivating the internet and social media. Lindsay Clancy, 35, faces three counts of first-degree murder after her three children, Cora, Dawson and Callan – all under 6 years old – were found strangled to death in the family's Duxbury home in 2023. POSTPARTUM MOM LINDSAY CLANCY ON TRIAL FOR MURDER BRINGS COURT TO A HALT WITH SUDDEN BREAKDOWN She doesn't deny killing them; Clancy and her defense team maintain she was suffering from ongoing postpartum psychosis at the time of their deaths. She entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. "This isn't a case of having the blues, being down in the dumps and being depressed," Elikann, who is not involved in the trial, told Fox News Digital. HEATED LINDSAY CLANCY COURTROOM EXCHANGE OVER 911 CALL, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS SETS STAGE FOR MOM’S MURDER TRIAL He explained that the world is just beginning to understand the impacts of postpartum psychosis – which differs from postpartum depression. He referenced the Andrea Yates case from the early 2000s in Houston, Texas where the mother drowned her five children in a bathtub and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. "This psychosis is really kind of an emerging field," he says. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Some TikTokers and social media sleuths are jumping to Clancy's defense, developing conspiracy theories and claiming she did not have the support she needed. Clancy's attorney is hoping to have one TikToker testify, asking the judge to allow Emily Thorndike, a former McLean Hospital clinical social worker, to be added to the witness list. Thorndike had publicly accused witnesses of spreading "lies and misrepresentations" about the psychiatric facility where Clancy was treated weeks before she killed her three children. Clancy's attorney, Kevin Reddington, said he tracked down Thonrndike after she posted about the case on TikTok. "I saw her video saying that she could not stand for, and I quote, ‘the lies and the misrepresentations from that witness stand about McLean Hospital’," Reddington said. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE Speaking about the high interest on social media, Elikann said, "It's kind of a cultural obsession and people feel that they're part of some kind of community." LINDSAY CLANCY’S HUSBAND COULD TESTIFY FOR HER AT TRIAL OVER DEATHS OF THEIR THREE CHILDREN Elikann went on to say, "With the advent of not just the internet, but now social media, it's like on steroids now, and everybody's an expert." GOT A TIP? While unsubstantiated claims and speculation circulate online about what led to the killings, Elikann emphasized the importance of following official facts over social media speculation. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST He mentioned one positive about the social media obsession. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL "The public is getting educated as to this issue of postpartum psychosis and trying to understand how a supposedly loving mother—who always indicated great interest in her children, was happy with her life, liked her job, liked her marriage, lived in this great community by the water south of Boston—why she would suddenly, out of the blue, commit this horrific, monstrous nightmare of an incident," Elikann said. Clancy's trial resumes on Monday. SEND US A TIP Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8049142c5335ae1046c477 Meghan Markle, Prince Harry box-office flop shows 'infamy' doesn't equal success: expert te 2026-08-15T11:10:12.205Z Meghan Markle, Prince Harry box-office flop shows 'infamy' doesn't equal success: expert Though Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may still dominate headlines, their latest Hollywood venture is raising questions about whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's names can convert all that attention into paying customers. Following the recent release of "Cookie Queens" — a documentary executive produced by the couple through Archewell Productions that follows four Girl Scouts navigating the highly competitive world of cookie sales while examining ambition, leadership and adolescence — the movie's opening weekend failed to produce strong box-office numbers. "Cookie Queens" earned approximately $354,000 from 446 theaters, according to reported box-office figures. The documentary was beaten by "CatVideoFest 2026" — a compilation of viral internet cat videos — which earned approximately $569,000 despite playing on just 255 screens. PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE’S HOLLYWOOD DREAMS HIT WALL AS EXPERT WARNS OF ‘TOXIC BRAND’ STIGMA Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell for comment. The result has royal experts questioning whether Harry and Meghan's ability to dominate the news cycle still carries the same weight it once did. "Harry and Meghan remain extraordinarily effective at generating headlines, but headlines and paying customers are two very different things," royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube's "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," told Fox News Digital. "There was a period when simply attaching their names to something guaranteed enormous curiosity. I’m not convinced that’s true anymore." MARTHA STEWART QUESTIONS MEGHAN MARKLE’S HOMEMAKING CREDENTIALS WITH BLUNT CAREER ASSESSMENT "And there’s no getting around the optics of finishing five places behind a 70-minute compilation of internet cat videos. Hollywood can forgive a lot, but being beaten by ‘CatVideoFest’ is the sort of indignity that writes its own punchline." The Duchess of Sussex personally promoted the documentary ahead of its theatrical debut, discussing the movie and her own childhood experience as a Girl Scout. Schofield said that involvement makes the opening numbers particularly noteworthy. "Meghan certainly has enormous name recognition, but I think at this stage it’s fair to ask how much of that is fame and how much is infamy," she said. "There’s a significant difference commercially." "People may click on a Meghan Markle headline because they’re fascinated by her or irritated by her. That doesn’t mean they’re going to buy a movie ticket because her name is attached to the project. ‘Cookie Queens’ gives us another interesting data point on that distinction." MEGHAN MARKLE'S SHOW EMMY NOMINATION 'SOMEWHAT BAFFLING' DUE TO LACKLUSTER RATINGS: EXPERT British royals expert Hilary Fordwich shared the same sentiment in that the performance raises questions about the couple's ability to attract audiences when their projects are not centered on the royal family. "The extremely underwhelming box office is a clear indication that, yet again, unless they are bashing the royals and sharing inside stories, secrets and betraying the privacy of the family, there isn’t much they have that is at all in demand nor popular," Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "Meghan certainly doesn’t have the commercial pull she has so desired," she added. Fordwich argued the couple now face increased pressure to demonstrate they can produce a genuine mainstream hit. OPRAH WINFREY SPARKS FRESH BACKLASH AFTER SHE REVISITS PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE BOMBSHELL INTERVIEW That question has followed the Sussexes throughout their post-royal entertainment career. After stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California, Harry and Meghan signed major deals in Hollywood. Their Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," released in 2022, generated enormous attention by focusing heavily on the couple's departure from royal life and their relationship with the monarchy. Harry's 2023 memoir, "Spare," similarly produced worldwide headlines with its claims about life inside the royal family. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital those projects remain the couple's most significant attention-grabbers. "We all know their huge hits were the three infamous betrayals of the royal family, on Oprah, the Netflix series ‘Harry & Meghan’ and Harry’s memoir ‘Spare,’" Fitzwilliams said. "What is undoubted is the publicity that accompanies everything they do." WATCH: PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE'S EXIT HURT THE MONARCHY: AUTHOR CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "The world knows who they are, but isn't curious enough to tune in and watch Meghan's ghastly series 'With Love, Meghan,' their series on the Invictus Games, 'Polo' or, it seems, 'Cookie Queens.' Reports vary on the exact level of success or failure of Meghan's brand As Ever, but the jam, flower sprinkles and scented candles have become a bit of a joke." "So it’s all about buzz and nothing else, save their link with real royalty," Fitzwilliams claimed. Still, for Schofield, the numbers connected to "Cookie Queens" add to a broader question involving Archewell as Harry and Meghan move further away from the royal-family drama and focus more on their American ventures. "Harry and Meghan are a fascinating case study in the difference between attention and commercial influence," Schofield said. PRINCE HARRY LONGS FOR HIS OLD ROYAL LIFE AS AMERICA ISN'T WHAT HE EXPECTED, EXPERTS SAY "Infamy can be extremely valuable to newspapers, television shows and social media platforms because people will click, argue and engage. Monetizing that attention yourself is a completely different challenge." "People want to consume content about Harry and Meghan," she added, "but are they equally interested in consuming content from Harry and Meghan?" Schofield said Hollywood's expectations have changed considerably since the couple first arrived in California. "When Harry and Meghan first arrived in California, they were the story," she said. "Hollywood was essentially buying access to two people who had just walked away from the Royal Family, and the curiosity surrounding them was enormous." "Six years later, the novelty has diminished. The questions are much more conventional now: What can you produce? What can you sell? Can you build an audience around something that isn’t royal drama?" LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "They’ve had the deals, resources and access," she continued. "At this stage, tangible results matter." Schofield believes the couple's future standing in Hollywood may depend less on announcements and more on execution. "Hollywood is full of projects that die in development, so individually none of those are necessarily remarkable," she said. "But when you establish a pattern of big announcements without finished products, you risk damaging your credibility." "You cannot build a serious production reputation on press releases and announcements," Schofield added. And that, she said, is why even a relatively small documentary such as "Cookie Queens" matters. "When a project does reach audiences, its performance becomes part of the résumé," Schofield said. "Being beaten at the box office by ‘CatVideoFest’ is funny, but against this larger backdrop, it makes the need for a genuine success that much more urgent." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8049132c5335ae1046c46e ‘The Odyssey’ reminds us of the nightmare we are leaving for American children te 2026-08-15T11:10:11.654Z ‘The Odyssey’ reminds us of the nightmare we are leaving for American children In Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," the most uncomfortable scenes aren't the cyclops or the shipwreck. They're the ones set at home. Dozens of men have moved into Odysseus's palace on Ithaca. They slaughter his herds. They drain his wine. They lounge in his hall demanding his wife choose one of them, and every day they consume a little more of an estate none of them will ever own. Telemachus watches it happen. He is a boy. He has no standing, no army and no idea when — or whether — his father is coming back. That is not a Bronze Age problem. SEN RAND PAUL: MY PLAN WOULD FORCE CONGRESS TO STOP OVERSPENDING YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY We will soon be over $40 trillion in national debt. I have spent my career as an mergers-and-acquisitions banker valuing what things are truly worth, and I can tell you what that number is: it is a claim on people who cannot yet vote — taxation without representation. I became a grandfather last year. When I watch my grandson playing, there is one question that never once crosses my mind — how could I steal from him? I don't know a single person who thinks that way. And yet, collectively, year after year, our politicians buy votes with money belonging to people who haven't been born. That is the hall on Ithaca. The suitors were not monsters. They were ordinary men, following ordinary incentives, in a house where nobody could stop them. Socrates proposed that "lovers of wisdom" should make decisions for society. Two and a half millennia later, how are we doing? He would say we never understood his "ship of state." The skill that gets a person elected is not the skill required to govern, and we keep being surprised by this. CAPITALISM IS ABOUT INCENTIVES. STOPPING THE STUPIDITY OF SOCIALISM IS A BIG INCENTIVE Cut the time frame by 90%, to 1776. The Founders were so wary of faction they warned us about it in the founding documents themselves. They made Congress Article I — not merely one branch among three, but the body meant to write the laws. They would be stunned at how much of that work now happens in the other two branches, and how comfortable Congress has become with the arrangement. Cut 90% again, to 2001. Those Americans had just watched a Democratic president and a Republican Congress run a budget surplus while expanding trade. Tell them we would arrive here, in just two and a half decades — $40 trillion in debt, in the middle of a global trade war — and they would simply not believe you. Three data points, each a tenth of the distance of the last, and the trend does not improve. How did we get here? At bottom: incentives. SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN LIMIT ON PARTY CAMPAIGN SPENDING IN COORDINATION WITH CANDIDATES People respond to them, and our system gives citizens almost none to really understand the issues — because understanding does not translate into any real say. We hand our authority to a proxy selected largely on partisan soundbites, then root for our political team the way we root for a ball club. Wealth and civic health are twin engines. The nations with the strongest safety nets don't have them because their politicians are nicer; they have them because their economies are richer and their systems reward productivity over plunder. If we align citizen incentives with actual legislative understanding, capitalism and democracy can do what they do best: make the poor ever richer. Nolan's ending is not Homer's. His Odysseus clears the hall and discovers he cannot stay in it. He has killed the sons of noble houses under his own roof, and a man who does that cannot govern the place afterward. So, he abdicates. He puts the crown on Telemachus and sails west into exile. That is our arrangement exactly. We are handing the next generation an estate with a great deal eaten out of it. Plato distrusted democracy because he doubted ordinary people could become lovers of wisdom. In his world, with no printing press and no schools, he had a point. We have an information age that can educate anyone, issue by issue, better than the best minds in ancient Athens — but little incentive for anyone to use it. So, we need to build those incentives. We have the tools to give our citizens incentive to truly learn the issues and have their voices mean something. Make understanding an issue worth the hour it takes. A Congress receiving that kind of informed feedback would be answerable. A Congress that spends more time listening to constituents spends less time listening to lobbyists. A Congress with that standing might start reclaiming the ground Article One has quietly surrendered. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION If we would just harness our amazing technologies, we could make our ancestors of 2,500, 250, and even 25 years ago proud. Imagine if we used these tools to attack some of our 80/20 issues for starters. Nobody is sailing home to clear our hall. Our grandchildren are getting the house. We have spent 25 centuries asking who should make decisions for society. Perhaps we've been asking the wrong question. Perhaps we should instead ask how to give ordinary citizens stronger incentives to become "lovers of wisdom." My grandson wants lovers of wisdom to make decisions for society. So does yours. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8049132c5335ae1046c465 Top Dem operative brushes off latest scandal plaguing Maine Senate candidate as 'salacious gossip' te 2026-08-15T11:10:11.054Z Top Dem operative brushes off latest scandal plaguing Maine Senate candidate as 'salacious gossip' High profile Democrats aren't backing off their support for Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson following reports he fathered children with his cousin. Former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile was among the chorus of party voices throwing cold water on the claims about Jackson in a scandal-plagued Senate race that was already upended after former far-left candidate Graham Platner was forced to drop out earlier this summer following a series of controversies that culminated in a rape allegation. And now, Jackson is facing even more turmoil with the most recent revelations of a 1988 police report accusing him of assault. "There’s a lot of people who are doing a lot of gossip as news, and I don't want to break news that might not be true — especially on something so personal — that's not what I do," Brazile told Fox News Digital when asked about the report Jackson had two children with his cousin and longtime partner Lana Pelletier. INTERNET ERUPTS OVER REPORT THAT PLATNER'S REPLACEMENT IN KEY SENATE RACE FATHERED CHILDREN WITH SECOND COUSIN Jackson became the Democrat nominee for Senate in Maine despite Platner winning the June 9 primary race. Platner formally dropped out on July 10 — just in time for the Democratic Party to select a replacement for the November general election ballot. But just weeks after being nominated to step into the race, Jackson came under fire when a shocking report hit the internet claiming his longtime partner, with whom he shares two children, is his cousin. Brazile, a veteran Democrat and longtime operative for the party, told Fox News Digital she doesn’t "know anything about Mr. Jackson," when asked about the relationship with his cousin. "I wish him the best of luck. I don't know many… some of the nominees, but I wish them the best luck," Brazile said, remaining agnostic to those particular claims. "There are so many lies," Brazile went on. "I don't really want to comment on salacious gossip — innuendos." "All I know is that that's going to be one of the most competitive races, and we'll all be watching in the fall," she concluded. The bombshell report introduces another threat to the already tumultuous race where Democrats are trying to flip the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. FOX NEWS POLL: NEW MATCHUP, SAME RESULT: MAINE SENATE RACE STAYS LOCKED The Maine Wire editor Steven Robinson reported that Jackson shares two children with his second cousin "by blood" and alleged high school sweetheart, Lana Pelletier. In posting the genealogical findings, the independent journalist claimed Pelletier's father is a cousin of Jackson's mother. "I think it's important to get the facts," Brazile said about the report. A longtime political strategist, Brazile served as interim chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2011 and again in 2016. She has remained an influential voice within Democratic politics through multiple midterm election cycles and has often weighed in on candidates and the party's overall direction following major electoral setbacks. Shortly after Brazile and other Democrats refused to abandon their support for Jackson in the Maine Senate race, a police report from 1988 resurfaced accusing Jackson of assaulting a man in an altercation over Pelletier. The same report states that Pelletier told the police that Jackson "pushed her around." Jackson said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital said, "I took responsibility for [the fight] then, and I take responsibility for it now." Pelletier, for her part, claimed the statements attributed to her in the report are "not accurate," and defended Jackson in a separate statement to Fox News Digital. "I do not remember making the statements attributed to me and they are not accurate," she said. "This is the first time I have seen this report from 40 years ago. Troy and I have built a life and family together and I know the person he has been through the decades since, both as a caring partner and father." EMBATTLED MAINE DEMOCRAT DEADLOCKED WITH COLLINS DESPITE CONTROVERSIES IN KEY SENATE RACE, NEW POLL SHOWS Jackson is up against Collins, who has held her Senate seat since 1997. The Democrat candidate accused Collins' team of being responsible for the accusation that he fathered his second cousin's children as a "shameful and desperate" attempt to bruise his campaign. But he has never directly denied in previous statements to Fox News Digital the claims that Pelletier, the mother of his two children, is his cousin. "Susan Collins will do anything to distract from the fact that she votes with Trump 96% of the time and has sold out working people in Maine. Personal attacks on Troy's family are shameful and desperate," Jackson’s campaign said in the statement. Jackson’s campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s most recent requests for comment. Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8049112c5335ae1046c44c Dorm Room and Apartment Shopping: How to Pick Upholstered Furniture and Bedding te 2026-08-15T11:10:09.846Z Dorm Room and Apartment Shopping: How to Pick Upholstered Furniture and Bedding (NAPSI)—If you are shopping for your college student’s dorm room or apartment, you want to choose furniture and bedding that meets their needs and will last while they are at college. Here are some questions to consider when selecting upholstered… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8049102c5335ae1046c443 Dorm Room and Apartment Shopping: How to Pick Upholstered Furniture and Bedding te 2026-08-15T11:10:08.933Z Dorm Room and Apartment Shopping: How to Pick Upholstered Furniture and Bedding Choosing dorm room furniture is no time to lie down on the job. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a803d5c2c5335ae1046c2d0 Socialist in Trump country gives Karl Marx vision thumbs-up before ducking key tax question te 2026-08-15T10:20:12.705Z Socialist in Trump country gives Karl Marx vision thumbs-up before ducking key tax question Florida socialist congressional candidate Oliver Larkin repeatedly declined to say how much he would raise taxes on high earners while defending his call to tax billionaires "out of existence" during a contentious interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. Larkin, who volunteered for then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in 2008 and led a New Hampshire presidential campaign field office for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in 2016, sparred with Hannity over his Democratic Socialists of America-aligned platform as Florida voters prepare to vote Tuesday. When asked about the idea of an economy based on the promise of "to each American based on their needs from each American based on their ability," Larkin replied, "I think that’s a fine concept." EXPERT WHO FLED CUBA WARNS OF ‘VICIOUS CYCLE’ THAT WILL LEAD TO ‘COMMUNISTS IN DOUBLE DIGITS’ IN CONGRESS The axiom was popularized in 1875 by German political theorist Karl Marx in his "Critique of the Gotha Programme." Larkin, who is challenging moderate Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., in a district considered a prime Republican target in November’s general election, said he was less concerned with ideological labels than with meeting his potential new constituents every day. "I'm coming at the race from a pragmatic point of view of what the American people and the people of South Florida need, and that is Medicare-for-all, that is universal child care, that is the policy proposals that you just articulated on your show," Larkin told Hannity. Before introducing Larkin, Hannity listed a series of policies he said the millennial left-winger supported, including abolishing the Electoral College, automatic same-day voter registration, shunning fossil fuels, abolishing ICE and prosecuting its agents, free public college, an end to sanctions on Iran and Cuba and a "passionate hatred of Israel," in the conservative host’s words. THE MEDICARE FOR ALL TRADE-OFFS SOCIALISTS AREN'T TALKING ABOUT, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS Hannity challenged Larkin to go beyond the proposals and explain how he would achieve each of his policy objectives, starting with higher federal taxes "Out of every dollar these so-called ‘evil rich people’ make, how much should they be able to keep…?" he asked. Instead of offering a figure, Larkin praised former Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower for presiding over extremely high top marginal tax rates. "Give me a number," Hannity demanded. PROGRESSIVES WANT TO TAX BILLIONAIRES FIRST, AND YOU'RE NEXT ON THE LIST "What percentage of every dollar should every American be able to keep after they pay the government, local, state, federal [taxes]?" Larkin replied that the figure depends on income, but did not specify any income ranges except to say that "billionaires should be taxed out of existence." Hannity countered that most billionaires are among the "most brilliant" people and argued that it is wrong to take money from the most creative Americans through higher taxes. Larkin replied that X CEO Elon Musk — the world’s richest person — has received billions in government subsidies that helped build his wealth, arguing that billionaires should therefore face higher taxes and calling the South African immigrant a "vulture" for buying Tesla and presiding over its largesse himself. Hannity returned to pressing the candidate for specifics about his plans, including what tax rates Americans at different income levels should pay under a socialist system: "How much are you willing to let the government take? How much? Give us a number," he said, asking for an example with an American making $100,000 per annum. "I want to see a return on our taxpayer investment," Larkin replied without offering a specific figure. "I'm not interested in changing the tax rate on middle-class Americans on people making a hundred grand," he later added, prompting Hannity to ask what tax rate should apply to people making $500,000. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER "Give me a number," he insisted. "The DSA people talk a lot about fairness. What is fair for a guy that makes a half a million dollars a year out of every dollar -- how much should the government get? Answer the question." "It’s not that simple," Larkin argued. After crosstalk, the candidate said the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes should be raised, but did not specify an amount. Moskowitz’ and Larkin’s district — which has changed numbers several times — has been represented by Democrats for most of the modern era. Over the past two decades, including when it was numbered the 22nd District, Col. Allen West has been the only Republican to represent the district. West served one term. From its inception in 1993 through the early years of George W. Bush’s presidency, the district was represented by Republican Rep. Eugene Clay Shaw Jr. After socialist candidates lost in Wisconsin but won in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Minnesota, Florida Democrats will decide Tuesday whether to follow the same trend. Fox News Digital reached out to Larkin for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a803d5c2c5335ae1046c2c7 Gun rights gets 'greatest restoration' in 100 years with latest Trump DOJ move, lawmaker hails te 2026-08-15T10:20:12.166Z Gun rights gets 'greatest restoration' in 100 years with latest Trump DOJ move, lawmaker hails Gun rights advocates are cheering a recent ruling that will make it easier for people to obtain firearm suppressors and certain weapons, with a business founder-turned-lawmaker calling it "the greatest restoration" of Second Amendment rights in almost a century. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., who founded Clyde Armory in his home state of Georgia before he was elected to Congress, argued that the regulatory barrier was wrong in the first place because it taxed a constitutional right. "If you can tax something legitimately, then you can actually destroy it through increased taxation. You might, quote, 'have a right on paper,' but you don't really have a right because you can't afford the right. Is that really a right? It's not," Clyde told Fox News Digital. "So here we are removing the taxation on a constitutional right from a bill that was passed in 1934. And once you remove the tax aspect of it, then you remove the constitutionality of the registration aspect." GUN RIGHTS GROUPS CAPITALIZE AFTER JUDGE REVERSES DECADES-OLD RESTRICTIONS: 'MONUMENTAL' Clyde led the charge last year to roll back part of the National Firearms Act of 1934, a push that was ultimately successful in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Under the 92-year-old law, a $200 tax was established on silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and other firearms that also required additional federal registration to obtain. Republicans reduced that tax to $0 in the OBBBA, which gun rights groups then used to successfully argue that the added registration was unconstitutional. The ruling affects the parties that brought the lawsuit and is not a national injunction on the law, however, according to the Associated Press. But Clyde said it was an "incredible win for the Second Amendment," adding he hoped "more wins" would come in the future. INSIDE TRUMP'S UNPRECEDENTED BATTLE PLAN TO EXPAND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS THROUGH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT "When you protect the Second Amendment, which protects every other amendment in the entire Constitution — I think that's the teeth behind the Constitution," Clyde said. "The right to free assembly, the right to freedom of religion, the rights of freedom of speech, the right of the free press, and the right to take your grievances to the government without fear of persecution or prosecution — that's the First Amendment, and that's what the Second Amendment protects," he added. Clyde later led 47 Republican lawmakers in a letter urging Attorney General Todd Blanche not to appeal the ruling. The letter reads: "An appeal would prolong regulatory uncertainty for law-abiding gun owners and businesses and would consume DOJ resources defending a position that this Congress and now a federal district court has said cannot stand." CLARENCE THOMAS' CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT AGAINST FEDERAL GUN LAW GETS FIRST MAJOR COURT TEST Gun right activists' celebrations were compounded on Thursday when the Trump administration did not file an appeal to the judge's ruling, meaning the order could go into effect without pause. Gun violence prevention groups panned the inaction, however. "Today, our government is failing us. At midnight, uniquely lethal weapons and devices — including silencers, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns — were deregulated for the first time in nearly a century," Kris Brown, president of Brady: United Against Gun Violence said in a statement on Thursday. "The Department of Justice had the opportunity to act to protect our safety, but it failed to do so...Today, the gun industry and silencer dealers are celebrating, while Americans are left less safe." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a803d5b2c5335ae1046c2be DSA brand on trial as El-Sayed struggles where Dems can least afford it te 2026-08-15T10:20:11.596Z DSA brand on trial as El-Sayed struggles where Dems can least afford it A combustible and divisive Democratic Senate primary in battleground Michigan is giving Republicans an early edge as they aim to flip a crucial Democrat-held seat in the midterm elections. A Fox News poll conducted after this month's primary showdown, in which left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly edged more moderate Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens to capture the party's nomination in the race to defend the seat held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters, indicates El-Sayed is having difficulty unifying the Democratic base. That appears to be giving Republican nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers more ammunition to court Democrats uncomfortable with some of El-Sayed's controversial past comments and far-left policy positions. Democrats must hold the swing state seat as part of their uphill climb to win back the Senate majority from the GOP. HEAD HERE FOR ALL OF THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS According to a Fox News survey of Michigan registered voters conducted Aug. 6-10 and released this week, Rogers held a 51%-47% edge over El-Sayed, within the survey’s margin of sampling error. Rogers’ edge is fueled largely by stronger party unity among Republicans. Nearly all Republicans (96%), including both MAGA (99%) and non-MAGA Republicans (89%), backed Rogers, the poll indicates. El-Sayed's support among Democrats is slightly lower, at 91%. While 98% of self-described Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) supporters backed El-Sayed, that number dropped to 69% of non-DSA Democrats and independents. WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN: CHECK OUT THE FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS Meanwhile, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the more moderate Democratic gubernatorial nominee in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, grabbed 81% support among non-DSA Democrats and independents. That helped fuel Benson's overall 52%-47% advantage over Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. John James. "El-Sayed is clearly underperforming in some groups...There is damage done from the primary," veteran pollster and strategist Chris Anderson, the Democratic partner on the Fox News Poll, said. Anderson told Fox News Digital that El-Sayed "needs to bring home Democrats...He has his work cut out for him and he needs to convince some folks, but I think there’s favorable ground for him to be playing on despite the concerns that a lot of voters hold." Rogers, in an interview with Fox News Digital ahead of the primary, said "we've unified the Republican Party in a way I haven't seen in decades here on this particular race." "We're building our team, our resources, and ready for the fight...in a way I don't think Democrats are expecting," Rogers, who is backed by President Donald Trump as he runs for the Senate for a second straight cycle, touted. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB A former Wayne County Health Department director, El-Sayed, if elected in November, would make history as the nation's first Muslim senator. He is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for "Medicare-for-all" a major component of his campaign. He has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is a vocal critic of Israel during its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" against Palestinians. El-Sayed, who was endorsed and joined on the campaign trail by progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, has also vowed not to accept PAC donations. Republicans argue that El-Sayed is too far to the left and too radical for the Great Lakes swing state. Rogers, in his Fox News Digital interview, called El-Sayed "way too extreme for Michigan. I mean, Abdul, he has his own special sauce of crazy." SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER In a campaign video released last week, Rogers reached out to Democrats he called "hopeless, because the person who won [their party's primary] does not represent your values, well, just know, there is still hope" and said they have a "home" with his campaign. El-Sayed, speaking to Fox News Digital on the eve of the primary, was confident that he would be able to unite Democrats. "I think we all understand the risk of Donald Trump. We all understand the risk of Mike Rogers," El-Sayed said. Referring to voters who supported Stevens, he emphasized, "I think everybody understands what the stakes are. So I'm looking forward to welcoming everybody who might have voted differently in the primary." Anderson, the veteran Democratic pollster, said he expects El-Sayed to better unify the Democratic base as Election Day nears. "These are folks who in highly partisan environment are going to be faced with do they vote for a Democrat or a Republican," Anderson said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a803d5b2c5335ae1046c2b5 Killer ex-cop executed for child's slaying as sheriff says he’s sure same monster murdered another girl te 2026-08-15T10:20:11.010Z Killer ex-cop executed for child's slaying as sheriff says he’s sure same monster murdered another girl After almost four decades, the execution of James Duckett brought closure for two families who believe they both lost young girls to the same killer. The 68-year-old was executed by lethal injection July 28 for the rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee while on duty as a cop for the Mascotte Police Department. McAbee’s family attended his execution at the Florida State Prison in Raiford. They were joined by family and friends of 14-year-old Jeanifer Weldon. Authorities believe she also was killed by Duckett four months after he murdered McAbee. INVESTIGATORS REVISIT FLORIDA SERIAL KILLER CASE AS SEARCH RESUMES FOR POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL VICTIMS But law enforcement officials stopped pursuing a conviction out of fear it would prolong his life, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news conference. It had been decided that piecing together evidence on the case could "jam up" the process or "create more defense, or more arguments, or more excuses why he shouldn't be executed," Judd told reporters on July 30. So once Duckett was sentenced to die for McAbee’s murder, authorities stopped pushing to secure a conviction for the killing of Weldon, Judd said. McAbee went missing in May 1987. She was last seen with Duckett in his patrol car on an evening when he was the only officer working the streets. When her body was found, evidence showed she’d been sexually assaulted, strangled and drowned, according to court records. A month later, Duckett was named a suspect and was fired from his job as a cop. Very strong fingerprint and DNA evidence linked Duckett to the case, Judd said. NEW CALIFORNIA LAW EXPANDS DNA TOOLS FOR MISSING PERSONS INVESTIGATIONS Then three months later, another girl went missing in Central Florida. Weldon disappeared on Sept. 19, 1987, in Polk County, about an hour south of the town where Duckett had worked as a police officer. It was three days before her 15th birthday. She’d spent the Saturday with friends on a trip to town to Tampa, where she’d bought a fluffy kitten to add to the stuffed animal collection in her bedroom, Judd said. Around 9 p.m., she left her friends to walk about two miles home, carrying her new stuffed kitten in a green plastic bag, Judd said. She never made it home. For "13 frantic days, we looked for Jeanifer to no avail," Judd told reporters almost 39 years later. There were few leads, until a phosphate miner pulled over to investigate a pair of shoes he spotted on the side of the road in Fort Meade. It had been about two weeks since Weldon had disappeared. When he got out of his car, he was hit with the pungent smell of a decomposing body, Judd said. Weldon’s "skeletonized" remains were found behind tall grass and a berm in a wooded area away from the road, Judd said. Duckett eventually became a suspect in that killing, too. Investigators believed Duckett had used his old law enforcement uniform to convince Weldon he could provide a safe ride home. Family members and investigators felt Weldon wouldn’t have gotten in a car with Duckett without that reassurance and confidence that he was a police officer and someone she could trust, Judd said. She died by strangulation, he said. Investigators suspect she was raped before her death. A month after Weldon’s death, Duckett was arrested for the killing and sexual battery of McAbee. He quickly became a suspect in Weldon’s killing, too. But the evidence wasn’t as strong, and was more circumstantial, Judd said. The night Weldon disappeared, Duckett had left for work at his new mining job five hours early. He drove down the highway "exactly past where Jeanifer Weldon would have been walking home," Judd said. He arrived at work sweaty and two hours late, saying that he’d had car trouble. But investigators learned that his hands weren't "greasy or nasty or dirty," Judd said. The next day, Duckett brought home a gift for his children—a stuffed kitten in a green plastic bag. It matched the one purchased by Weldon. FORENSIC GENEALOGY UNMASKS COLD CASE SUSPECT AS STRANGLER, SEXUAL PREDATOR DECADES LATER: OFFICIALS There also were "fingernail marks or scratches on his back," Judd said. When his wife asked him about the marks, he told her, "I was climbing under a barbed wire fence at work," Judd said. Polk County investigators spent tens of thousands of hours working to pursue a conviction in the Weldon case, Judd said. Then a few years ago, after Duckett was convicted of McAbee’s murder and had received the death sentence, they questioned whether they should continue pursuing it, he said. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X They continued to "chip away" at finding DNA evidence, Judd said. And they hoped Duckett would confess during one of his interviews before his execution. He declined to talk. Though he was never convicted of her killing, Duckett’s execution still brought some sense of closure to Weldon’s still-grieving family. "I'm confident the right person was executed," said Amy Weldon, Jeanifer Weldon’s younger sister. "I don't like how long it took, but I am confident 100% that the right person died." SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS Judd was less satisfied with the execution of the former cop. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE "The problem is we didn't put him to death soon enough," Judd said. "You know, it's never too soon to kill a psychopathic, child predator … It's never too soon." SEND US A TIP For 38 years, Duckett was given multiple appeals. GOT A TIP? "He just didn't pay soon enough, but he did pay," Judd said. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Judd also suggested that controversial surveillance cameras on roadways might have prevented Weldon’s death. "Today, we may have found him before he ever got a chance to rape and murder her," he said. "We would have found him within hours." GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Addressing the debate over the cameras, Judd railed, "Yet there's some nut jobs that don't think we should be able to look at a camera that's on a public right of way, only looking at a tag and the color of a car. "We're going to find lost children, lost Alzheimer's patients, warrant suspects, and we're never going to invade your privacy to do it." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a803d5a2c5335ae1046c2ac Iran jails psychologist over Trump plea as regime demands he make Americans ‘look stupid’: family te 2026-08-15T10:20:10.423Z Iran jails psychologist over Trump plea as regime demands he make Americans ‘look stupid’: family FIRST ON FOX: An Iranian psychologist who publicly appealed to President Donald Trump to stand by Iranians protesting the Islamic Republic has been sentenced to seven months in prison, while his relatives say authorities tried to pressure him into recording a video insulting Trump and Americans.  Seyed Ahmad Seyedabdollahi, a 32-year-old psychologist and counselor from Borujen who had been living in Tehran, posted an English-language video on Jan. 4 directly addressing Trump. In the video, reviewed by Fox News Digital, he urged the president to act quickly on his pledge to support Iranian protesters, saying young Iranians had trusted his words and that those who helped the Iranian people would be remembered. ""...To prove your good intentions to the Iranian people, either do something without saying anything or act very quickly on your words, because many young people trust what you say. And, as you probably know, many things are useless to people who are dead.I assure you that the Iranian nation remembers good deeds well, and they will try to repay their friends in the future." TRUMP ADMIN BYPASSES TEHRAN'S ISOLATION CAMPAIGN TO REACH IRANIANS DIRECTLY Ten days later, on Jan. 14, Seyedabdollahi was arrested at his father's home in Borujen, according to Iran International, Iran Wire, Harana human rights activist news agency, and the Hana Human Rights Organization. Hana reported that plainclothes agents confiscated phones and electronic equipment and that Seyedabdollahi was subsequently held in solitary confinement and at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence detention facility in Isfahan. A relative of Seyedabdollahi told Fox News Digital that the video triggered sustained pressure from Iranian security authorities. "Since that day, he has faced serious pressure from Iranian security authorities. He was arrested twice and subjected to repeated interrogations," the relative said. "During his detention, he spent extended periods in solitary confinement. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to seven months in prison, and in July 2026 he was transferred to prison to begin serving his sentence." Branch One of the Borujen Revolutionary Court convicted Seyedabdollahi of "engaging in media activities against national security," sentenced him to seven months in prison and barred him from government and public services for five years, Iran International reported Aug. 6. He was detained again July 7 to begin serving the sentence and remains in Borujen Prison. IRAN INMATES SEW LIPS SHUT IN MASS HUNGER STRIKE AT NOTORIOUS US-SANCTIONED JAIL: REPORT Hana Human Rights Organization said he was denied contact with his family for 17 days following his first arrest and that his family initially did not know where he was being held. Iran International reported that he was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing during his detention and at times was prevented from communicating with his family. Iranian authorities have also opened a second case against Seyedabdollahi on a charge translated as "propaganda against the establishment" or "propaganda against the system of the Islamic Republic." The case, opened in June, remains at the preliminary investigative stage, according to Hana. Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital appear to detail the authorities' investigation of Seyedabdollahi and contain references to alleged foreign contacts and financial transactions involving the United States and Israel. His relative said interrogators accused him of being connected to the CIA and Mossad and of receiving money in exchange for making the video. "They told him you are a member of the CIA and Mossad and you took money from them for this job," the relative said. AIR FORCE INTEL VET ALLEGEDLY SPIRALED INTO IRAN’S TERROR UNDERWORLD: TIMELINE OF DECEIT, HUNT FOR SPY SUSPECT The relative also alleged that Iranian authorities pressured Seyedabdollahi to record another video repudiating his original message and attacking Trump and Americans. "He did not give in to numerous pressures to publish a clip that contradicted the first video," the relative said. "He was asked to sexually insult Trump and make the American people look stupid and ignorant so that we could broadcast your clip on the national media." The relative further alleged that Seyedabdollahi endured solitary confinement and mistreatment during interrogations, and said he continues to face pressure in prison after refusing authorities' demands. Those allegations also could not be independently verified. "His situation in Borujen Prison is not good because he has been out of solitary confinement for a few days, but sometimes they take him to solitary confinement under various pretexts," the relative said, adding that monitored telephone calls make it difficult for him to speak openly about his treatment. FREED AMERICAN REVEALS BRUTAL IRAN PRISON ORDEAL, WARNS HOSTAGES FACE GREATER DANGER The relative said the five-year prohibition on public and government employment has compounded the punishment by threatening Seyedabdollahi's ability to work after his release. "You understand the economic conditions of Iran. Now imagine that in this situation someone has been deprived of their social rights, i.e. job and income, and he is imprisoned," the relative said. The relative described Seyedabdollahi as a psychologist and popular speaker with a following among young Iranians, and said he remained focused on those who suffered more severely during the government's crackdown. In the brief period when he was free, the relative recalled him saying, "Don't feel weak. Our problems are insignificant compared to the thousands of people who have lost their lives." Seyedabdollahi was one of several Iranians who directly appealed to Trump during January's nationwide protests. Iran International reported that he posted his video Jan. 4, two days after Trump warned Iranian authorities against firing on peaceful demonstrators. Trump again warned Tehran on Jan. 9 and on Jan. 13 urged Iranians to continue protesting, writing that "help is on its way." Iran International reported that the crackdown resulted in mass arrests and cited the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency as saying more than 50,000 people were arrested during a period of just over six weeks. The outlet also reported that U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said at least 56 people had been executed on national-security-related charges since March 19, including 27 in cases linked to the January protests. The Iranian mission to the U.N. declined to comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8038ae2c5335ae1046c1ee Trump scores major immigration victory as judge clears way to end TPS protections for thousands of Somalis te 2026-08-15T10:00:14.179Z Trump scores major immigration victory as judge clears way to end TPS protections for thousands of Somalis President Donald Trump scored a major legal victory Friday after a federal judge cleared the way for his administration to terminate temporary legal protections for thousands of Somali nationals living in the United States. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston lifted a stay that had prevented the Department of Homeland Security from terminating Somalia's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, citing a June Supreme Court ruling that sharply limited judicial review of similar administration actions. The decision allows the Trump administration to move forward with ending TPS for Somalia, potentially exposing affected migrants who lack another lawful basis to remain in the U.S. to deportation. SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Burroughs, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, had previously blocked the termination from taking effect in a lawsuit brought by four Somali nationals and two advocacy groups, including African Communities Together. The Trump administration announced in January that it planned to terminate Somalia's TPS designation, with then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arguing that conditions in the country had improved enough to end the humanitarian protections. The Supreme Court ruled in June in Mullin v. Doe that the TPS statute bars judicial review of certain non-constitutional decisions by the administration to terminate TPS designations. The court also found that the plaintiffs' equal protection challenge in that case was unlikely to succeed. The ruling curtailed lower courts' ability to review Trump administration efforts to terminate TPS designations for nationals of multiple countries. SUPREME COURT WEIGHS TRUMP EFFORT TO TERMINATE TEMPORARY PROTECTIONS FOR HAITIAN, SYRIAN MIGRANTS Plaintiffs challenging the termination of Somalia's designation argued that the administration's decision was motivated by bias against non-White immigrants, pointing to Trump's previous descriptions of Somalis as "garbage" and "low IQ people." Following the Supreme Court's ruling, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint raising new constitutional claims and sought emergency relief in another effort to prevent Somalia's TPS protections from ending. Burroughs issued an administrative stay earlier this month after African Communities Together and other plaintiffs alleged that the administration violated the Fifth Amendment by terminating Somalia's TPS designation based on racial and national-origin discrimination. In Friday's ruling, Burroughs said the plaintiffs had presented a compelling case but concluded that the Supreme Court's decision constrained her ability to continue blocking the administration's action. BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY Burroughs wrote that she was "bound … to view things through the Mullin prism," referring to the Supreme Court case. "Plaintiffs have made a convincing showing that they will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is withheld … and the balance of hardships and the public interest also favor Plaintiffs, given that the government has made no showing that maintaining TPS status for the duration of this litigation would impose an undue burden," she wrote. Despite those findings, Burroughs lifted the stay, allowing the administration's termination of Somalia's TPS designation to move forward. The Trump administration's decision affects several thousand Somali nationals currently living in the United States. Sources at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services previously told Fox News Digital that 2,471 Somali nationals in the U.S. currently have TPS, while another 1,383 have pending TPS applications. Fox News Digital's Preston Mizell and Elaine Mallon, along with Reuters, contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8033f72c5335ae1046c146 Veteran pediatrician hails Medicaid shift ending youth sex-change treatments: 'This is not denial of care' te 2026-08-15T09:40:07.892Z Veteran pediatrician hails Medicaid shift ending youth sex-change treatments: 'This is not denial of care' The sweeping policy shift announced Tuesday to end Medicaid funding for youth sex-change treatments is being hailed by at least one veteran pediatrician, who argued that the procedures were never "compassionate" approaches for children facing gender dysphoria. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Quentin Van Meter, the immediate past president of the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), reflected on the new restrictions issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). "I'm really congratulating HHS and CMS for... taking the step to block the medical and surgical interventions or funding for those in those healthcare systems... primarily because it's not an appropriate kind of intervention," Van Meter said. Despite claims that children will be left to suffer under the policy change, Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist, asserted that government intervention is not meant to strip them of the care they need, arguing instead for ongoing mental health treatment to address the underlying issues driving their distress. MEDICAID ENDS FUNDING FOR CHILD SEX-CHANGE PROCEDURES AS TRUMP ADMIN SLAMS 'EXPERIMENTAL' TREATMENTS "This is not denial of care. This is not lack of compassion. This is not denial that these patients exist, as we are told that we are doing this," he added. "This is actually very compassionate, very appropriate, and has been scientifically proven to be of benefit to these children." Van Meter, who has 42 years of experience in the field dating back to his fellowship at Johns Hopkins in the late 1970s, further argued that "puberty is not a disease" and that interventions intended to alter its course under sex-change procedures can instead exacerbate the mental health problems children are facing. Tuesday’s policy shift also comes against the backdrop of what Van Meter described as a collapsing medical framework behind the youth transgender movement, citing mounting evidence and a series of disturbing findings. This includes a federally funded study researchers allegedly tried to bury after multiple transitioning children reportedly died by suicide, federal allegations challenging a prominent transgender medical authority, the shocking rise in potentially thousands of detransitioners, and the irreversible damage caused by sex changes, including sterilization. SEN HAWLEY WARNS IT WOULD BE 'UNCONSCIONABLE' IF BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FLOW TO TRANS KIDS’ SEX CHANGES One of the examples Van Meter pointed to dates back to 2015, when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded a five-year study to examine the outcomes of sex-change hormones in children. By the second year, three participants had died by suicide. Not only did researchers fail to immediately halt the study after the first death, they also attempted to bury the results by refusing to publish the data, according to Van Meter. The study’s chief investigators reportedly had a significant conflict of interest, having been "very proactive in the transgender arena" and often asserting that "these treatments are very beneficial and should be continued." The multimillion-dollar study, titled "The Impact of Early Medical Treatment in Transgender Youth," was later scrutinized by a GOP-led Senate committee in 2024. The committee accused the researchers involved of having "intentionally withheld scientific data from the American public showing that puberty blockers do not improve the mental health of children." The Republican lawmakers involved added that the study also found 11 participants with suicidal thoughts. DETRANSITIONER CHLOE COLE SHARES COMPLICATIONS AFTER GENDER PROCEDURES: ‘I AM GRIEVING’ Separately, a major transgender medical authority known for spearheading the pediatric sex-change guidelines that major medical groups relied on, has been accused of promoting ideological opinion instead of evidence-based medicine. The criticism centers on the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which is being challenged in a Texas court case involving the Federal Trade Commission. "None of this is a standard of care, none of it is rigorous. It's just their specific opinion based on their ideology," Van Meter said. Van Meter added that there has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking to detransition, citing online support resources that reportedly receive an estimated 600 to 700 hits per month from patients seeking help. During a conference last March, Van Meter said he encountered roughly 85 individuals from around the world who wanted to detransition, indicating that "there clearly is a population for which this has been a detriment." HHS OFFICIAL WARNS OF IRREVERSIBLE RISKS AS TRUMP ADMIN RESTRICTS FUNDING FOR YOUTH GENDER PROCEDURES However, detransitioning is reportedly a highly complex process that involves reconstructive surgeries, gradual medication weaning and extensive mental health support. Sex-change treatments can ultimately result in severe and irreversible physical harms, Van Meter said.  Pediatric interventions can result in permanent sterilization, profound sexual dysfunction, permanently diminished bone density, impaired brain development, a heightened risk of early dementia and lifelong health conditions requiring continuous medical management. The desire to undergo sex-change procedures can often emerge among vulnerable children "when their life is falling apart," as they seek an escape from underlying problems such as divorced parents, parental incarceration, alcoholism, drug abuse or the death of a family member, Van Meter said. Impressionable children may then encounter online communities that frame undergoing a sex change as a cure-all or claim that their gender is the root of their problems. FTC ALLEGES INFLUENTIAL TRANSGENDER HEALTH ORGANIZATION MISLED PARENTS ABOUT SAFETY OF YOUTH TREATMENTS Beyond the need for better mental health access for children, Van Meter said more should be changed systemically across transgender policies. Van Meter proposed cutting federal funding from medical schools that promote research into sex-change treatments or teach such procedures as the standard of care in their curricula. He said doctors and pediatricians often uncritically promote transitions because they can easily be labeled a "bigot" or "hater" otherwise.  Health care workers who disagree are also denied a voice in medical literature, academic departments and professional associations, he said. Additionally, he added, the statute of limitations should be extended to give detransitioners ample time to sue healthcare providers for facilitating such treatments, while clinics should be audited for scientific transparency. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a802ced2c5335ae1046bfaf Sherrod Brown Seeks Senate Comeback in Ohio, Hoping His Populist Pitch Still Resonates te 2026-08-15T09:10:05.895Z Sherrod Brown Seeks Senate Comeback in Ohio, Hoping His Populist Pitch Still Resonates At 73, Sherrod Brown is mounting a comeback bid in Ohio. He is one of the Democrats his party is counting on to retake control of the Senate. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a802cec2c5335ae1046bfa6 As China Pushes to Expand in Asia, Trump Focuses on Iran te 2026-08-15T09:10:04.882Z As China Pushes to Expand in Asia, Trump Focuses on Iran Asian allies are beginning to wonder whether the United States would or could defend them in a war. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a802ceb2c5335ae1046bf9d What Is Happening at the Border in Big Bend National Park? te 2026-08-15T09:10:03.936Z What Is Happening at the Border in Big Bend National Park? Over the objections of environmentalists, local sheriffs and some state leaders, the Trump administration appears to be moving ahead with border infrastructure in one of Texas’ most beloved parks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a802cea2c5335ae1046bf94 Prosecutors Examined Firm With Tie to Judge in Trump Hush Money Trial te 2026-08-15T09:10:02.710Z Prosecutors Examined Firm With Tie to Judge in Trump Hush Money Trial The U.S. attorney in Chicago subpoenaed a fund-raising firm that had been co-owned by the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who conducted the trial that led to Donald Trump’s felony conviction. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8025ee2c5335ae1046be73 Ciscomani Ranked Arizona’s Most Bipartisan Member Of Congress For Second Consecutive Year te 2026-08-15T08:40:14.691Z Ciscomani Ranked Arizona’s Most Bipartisan Member Of Congress For Second Consecutive Year By Ethan Faverino | Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) has once again been ranked as Arizona’s most bipartisan member of Congress, earning an “A” grade and a 97.5 Bridge Score in the latest Bridge Grades report evaluating members of Congress. The score, based on data through June 30 2026, places Ciscomani among the top 20 most bipartisan members of the entire House. His 97.5 score is more than double the House average of 44.9. Bridge Grades, a nonpartisan project of the Mediators Foundation, evaluates members of Congress based on how collaboratively or divisively they govern. The organization uses third-party data examining legislative records, bipartisan bill sponsorship and co-sponsorship, public statements, rhetoric, and other measures of congressional collaboration. According to the organization, “bridgers” are lawmakers who build bipartisan consensus and coalitions, while “dividers” pursue more partisan approaches to governing. For Ciscomani, the latest recognition marks the second consecutive time he has received an “A” grade from the Bridge Grades. “Getting results for Arizona families means working with anyone willing to find solutions, regardless of party,” stated Ciscomani. “I was sent to Congress to deliver common-sense, lasting results for Arizonans, and I will keep fighting to deliver real, tangible outcomes for our local communities. This recognition again reflects the hard work of my team and our commitment to ensuring Southern Arizona has a seat at the table in Washington.” Ciscomani’s bipartisan ranking comes alongside his record of legislative activity during the 119th Congress. According to data cited by the congressman, he has introduced 32 bills, with 10 passing the House of Representatives, as well as bringing tens of millions of dollars in federal investment back into Arizona. The congressman has also been recognized for his legislative effectiveness. The nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking previously ranked Ciscomani as the most effective member of Arizona’s congressional delegation during the 118th Congress. As a member of the House Appropriations and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Ciscomani has focused on issues including national security, veterans’ services, border security, Arizona’s water resources, and federal investments in local communities. The latest Bridge Grades recognition adds another national bipartisan distinction to Ciscomani’s record as he prepares for another general election campaign in Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District, where he faces Democratic nominee JoAnna Mendoza. “Voters who want lower costs, safer communities and funding for local priorities trust Representative Juan Ciscomani to break through the D.C. noise and get results,” stated NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen. “But far-left lobbyist Joanna Mendoza would jeopardize Arizonans’ priorities for her extreme agenda, raising taxes and risking their safety.” “Working down the aisle” has remained a central theme of Ciscomani’s congressional record with his office pointing to bipartisan legislation, federal funding for Arizona communities, and legislation addressing issues ranging from veterans and critical mineral to economic development. Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link. The post Ciscomani Ranked Arizona’s Most Bipartisan Member Of Congress For Second Consecutive Year first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8025ed2c5335ae1046be6a Federal Judge Denies Nonprofits’ Bid To Block Phoenix Parks Ordinance te 2026-08-15T08:40:13.137Z Federal Judge Denies Nonprofits’ Bid To Block Phoenix Parks Ordinance By Matthew Holloway | A federal judge denied a request on Tuesday from two healthcare nonprofits seeking to block Phoenix from enforcing restrictions on food distribution and medical treatment in city parks. The court found that the organizations had not shown a likelihood of success on their argument that the activities constitute expressive conduct under the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa denied the preliminary-injunction motion filed by Circle the City and Valle del Sol Community Health. Humetewa also canceled a hearing that had been scheduled for Wednesday. “The Court disagrees that Plaintiffs’ provision of medical care or food to the unhoused is inherently expressive conduct under the First Amendment,” Humetewa wrote. The order leaves Phoenix’s Medical Treatment and Food Distribution in Parks Ordinance enforceable against the two organizations while their underlying lawsuit continues. The organizations filed the case, Circle the City et al. v. City of Phoenix et al., in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona on June 15 and submitted their motion for preliminary injunction the following day. Circle the City provides street medicine and other healthcare services to homeless residents, while Valle del Sol operates harm-reduction programs that include syringe services. Their lawsuit argues that the ordinance violates the First Amendment by restricting charitable food distribution and medical care while exempting other activities involving food or medical assistance. The plaintiffs also contend that the city’s permit system operates as an unconstitutional prior restraint and that Arizona law authorizing harm-reduction programs preempts the ordinance’s restrictions on syringe services. Humetewa found that the nonprofits had not demonstrated that observers would understand their provision of food and medical care as communicating their stated message that every person deserves dignity and access to basic services. Humetewa cited the absence of signs, literature, or other accompanying communications in the record. Humetewa also wrote that the First Amendment gives governments greater latitude to regulate conduct than spoken or written expression. Attorney Will Knight of the National Homelessness Law Center said the plaintiffs were disappointed with the ruling and were reviewing their legal options. Phoenix declined to comment on the decision, citing the pending litigation. The Phoenix City Council approved the ordinance on May 6, and it took effect on June 7. Individuals and organizations must obtain a Parks Services Permit before conducting charitable food distributions or providing covered medical treatment in a city park. Phoenix will issue no more than two per eligible park each month. The ordinance requires covered medical services to be provided under the supervision of a licensed professional inside an enclosed tent or mobile medical vehicle located on a parking lot or other approved hardscape area. The ordinance also prohibits the sale, distribution, or exchange of syringes or needles, needle-exchange programs, and the distribution of needle or intramuscular naloxone in city parks. Violations constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. The ordinance contains exemptions, including those for first responders, assistance provided during emergencies, aid given to family members, water and electrolyte distribution, educational outreach, and private gatherings where food is served to participants. Phoenix says the framework is intended to keep parks clean, safe, and accessible while connecting homeless residents with established service providers. The city encourages residents to support organizations participating in its Healthy Giving program. The Humetewa ruling follows a different result in a parallel challenge brought by St. Herman’s Table, an Orthodox Christian ministry that distributes meals to homeless residents at Cave Creek Park. U.S. District Judge Krissa Lanham granted St. Herman’s Table and its founder, Lance Brace, a temporary restraining order on June 10, finding that they were likely to succeed on their First Amendment Free Exercise claim. Lanham extended the order on June 16 until she rules on their preliminary injunction motion. The temporary order prohibits Phoenix from enforcing the ordinance against St. Herman’s Table and Brace. It does not apply to other organizations. AZ Free News reported in June that St. Herman’s Table distributes meals, water, Bibles, and hygiene supplies each week as part of its religious ministry. The ordinance and Phoenix’s handling of homelessness have also drawn political criticism. In May, Arizona Republican Party Chairman Sergio Arellano joined radio host James T. Harris during a visit to the downtown area known as “The Zone.” Arellano criticized city leadership and praised an unidentified faith-based nonprofit that the Arizona Republican Party said received no taxpayer funding. Harris regularly conducts homeless outreach through The Bridge for Community Services, where he serves as corporate vice president and executive director. The party’s post did not identify the organization accompanying Harris, and The Bridge is not a party to either federal lawsuit. Humetewa’s ruling addresses the request for immediate relief filed by Circle the City and Valle del Sol. Their broader challenge to the ordinance remains pending before the federal court. Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com. The post Federal Judge Denies Nonprofits’ Bid To Block Phoenix Parks Ordinance first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8025eb2c5335ae1046be61 ACLU Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality Of Prop. 314 te 2026-08-15T08:40:11.636Z ACLU Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality Of Prop. 314 By Staff Reporter | The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has ended its lawsuit about a month after it filed to challenge the constitutionality of Proposition 314 — at least, for the time being. The ACLU filed a notice of voluntary dismissal with the Arizona District Court on Wednesday. It made that filing a day after the preliminary injunction hearing was initially scheduled to occur, but which had been vacated the Friday prior.  Prop 314, passed by Arizona voters in 2024, gave law enforcement the authority to enforce federal immigration laws. An ACLU attorney representing Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (Florence Project), the plaintiff challenging the proposition, says their team can find no evidence of law enforcement exercising this new authority.  Prop 314 made illegal immigration a state crime. That means state and local police may arrest illegal aliens and state judges may order deportations of illegal aliens. The proposition also required immigration verification for financial aid and public welfare, and made it a Class 6 felony to submit false information or documents for purposes of employment or public benefits.  The proposition went into effect in mid-July.  ACLU attorney John Mitchell said their team would wait for evidence that law enforcement or state judges had acted upon Prop 314 before relaunching their challenge.  “The trajectory of this litigation has always depended on when and how the state chooses to enforce Section 5,” said ACLU attorney John Mitchell. “In the first month that Section 5 has become fully enforceable, we’ve just seen none. So, from a litigation standpoint, it means our best strategy is to hold off until we get evidence of that enforcement.” Mitchell’s take appeared to be the ACLU heeding arguments made by Attorney General Kris Mayes, who was named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Mayes’ team warned in a filed response that the lawsuit was premature since no law enforcement or courts had exercised Prop 314 authority.  “Because Section 5 has barely gone into effect, Florence Project has not shown and likely cannot show that anyone has been subject to arrest, detention, or prosecution for violating the illegal entry provision,” stated the attorney general’s office. “Likewise, no one has been subject to an order to depart the country under [the law], because such orders are tied to a charge or conviction for violating the illegal entry provision.”  The Florence Project, with the support of the ACLU and the ACLU of Arizona, filed its lawsuit in early July, claiming Prop 314 violated the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. The organizations stated that only the federal government may regulate immigration.  “Immigration is a quintessentially federal authority. Congress has created a carefully calibrated immigration system, with detailed procedures that determine whether a person may remain in the United States, when to pursue criminal entry charges in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, and what protections people receive to ensure that they do not face persecution or torture upon removal,” stated their complaint. “Congress placed all relevant authority in the hands of federal officials — in keeping with the federal government’s exclusive immigration powers and the sensitive foreign policy implications of these powers.”  The Arizona District Court denied the organization’s motion for a temporary restraining order about two weeks ago.  Living United For Change, another progressive group, lost their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Prop 314 last year. AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link. The post ACLU Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality Of Prop. 314 first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8025ea2c5335ae1046be58 AZFEC: Maricopa County Primary Election Proves Prop 144 Will Speed Up Election Results te 2026-08-15T08:40:10.032Z AZFEC: Maricopa County Primary Election Proves Prop 144 Will Speed Up Election Results By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club | It’s pretty rare in politics to find a policy that is considered across the political spectrum as a true win, win. In the most recent primary election, Maricopa County implemented a new process that may actually be considered a win, win, win for elections.  Win number one: more options for voters, not fewer.  Win number two: faster election results.  Win number three: more integrity in the process.  What is it? On-site tabulation of early ballots. That’s right, a policy we spearheaded with Senator J.D. Mesnard in 2022. Then, it was SB1362. It was introduced on the heels of an election taking weeks to get election results and one of the largest drivers of the delay were early ballots that voters did not mail back, did not drop off during early voting, but instead held onto until election day and dropped them off en masse at polling locations. Hundreds of thousands of ballots dropped off, that later had to be transported to the county, signature verified, cured, removed from the envelope, and finally tabulated.  That wasn’t novel, and you can see why so many would choose to vote this way. For some, they simply forgot to return their ballot in time. Now it is election day, they don’t want to wait in line to fill out a two-page ballot again, so they drop it off. Or they filled out their ballot at home, and they don’t trust the mail to get it delivered and would prefer the assurance of dropping it off themselves. Or they like filling out their ballot at home, but they also like to go to the polling place on election day. Whatever the reason, a large portion of voters choose to do it every year. Most of them do not realize it delays results for weeks.  SB1362 began as a mandate on the counties, requiring them to provide this option to voters. Believe it or not, the counties fought it tooth and nail the entire session. Eventually, the bill was amended to make it optional for counties to implement. They still opposed it. Why? They knew that if voters found out that their county officials could be doing this but are refusing to do so, voters would get mad at them.   But that isn’t all… >>> CONTINUE READING >>> The post AZFEC: Maricopa County Primary Election Proves Prop 144 Will Speed Up Election Results first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a8021372c5335ae1046bdbd Legal expert calls for Smithsonian leadership overhaul over ‘self-loathing’ portrayal of history: ‘It’s bile’ te 2026-08-15T08:20:07.845Z Legal expert calls for Smithsonian leadership overhaul over ‘self-loathing’ portrayal of history: ‘It’s bile’ A legal expert is calling for a leadership overhaul at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH), arguing the museum has embraced a negative, "self-loathing" portrayal of the nation’s past. "I think this is part of a broader effort by radicals on the left to redefine the history of the United States and reframe it in an oppressor-versus-oppressed narrative," Cully Stimson, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former assistant U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital. "Instead of looking at American history chronologically with all the triumphs and tragedies, including slavery, and then the things that our country did to eradicate the vestiges of slavery, and then passing the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments and the Civil Rights Acts and getting rid of various other laws that were discriminatory in practice or in spirit. They take a very pro-reparations, ‘we’re a bad country,’ oppressor-versus-oppressed narrative." The comments come after a July 2026 White House report accused the Smithsonian of advancing DEI and left-wing agendas, prompting a pair of heated congressional hearings that put National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig under the national spotlight. DESCENDANT OF SLAVES SHAMES SMITHSONIAN’S WOKE ‘INDOCTRINATION’ AGAINST THE ‘GREATEST NATION ON EARTH’ Lawmakers accused museum leaders of allowing political activism to seep into exhibits and influence how history is presented, while Hartig maintained that the museum is nonpartisan and "does not take sides in America’s political debates." Stimson said the hearings are exposing "bile that they’re trying to pass off as history," saying "sunlight’s a good disinfectant." "If the head of the Smithsonian had any shame whatsoever, she would have resigned in disgrace already and she doesn’t have any shame because she’s perfectly happy with what she’s done," Stimson said. "She’s just the pointy end of the radical spear that’s out there trying to force this thing down the throats of Americans." Stimson said Hartig should have been fired "the minute after the hearing" for what he called "smug and self-righteous" behavior during her testimony and for failing to take accountability. "Her little writing the question down and her smugness was really evincing of what she really thinks of the American people and congressional oversight," he said. REP GILL CHALLENGES 'GENUINELY INSANE AND OBJECTIVELY OFFENSIVE' DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS AFTER VIRAL HEARING Looking back to America's 250th anniversary celebrations in July, when hundreds of thousands of people came to D.C. to celebrate the milestone, Stimson said families and children were instead greeted with "all sorts of disgusting things, bondage, and all sorts of other nasty things" at the museum. Some of the controversial exhibits highlighted in the report and hearings featured sexually explicit material, focused on race, gender and sexuality, and portrayed the Founding Fathers through their ties to slavery rather than their roles in building America. "There should be an entire section dedicated toward the Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the Reconstruction Amendments and all the things that happened, the Civil War, but no," he said. Stimson said America has gone through many ups and downs "to get beyond the ugly parts of our history," giving Americans reason to celebrate the country today. "We should not have a museum dedicated to flagellation and self-loathing," he said. "That is not how you celebrate your country." Many Democrats have also accused Republicans of trying to "whitewash" history, a claim Stimson rejected, saying that celebrating America does not mean ignoring the darker parts of its past. MIKE ROWE SAYS HISTORY SHOWS WHY AMERICANS KEEP REJECTING SOCIALISM "Celebrating doesn’t mean whitewashing history," he said. "Every civilization throughout mankind has had slavery. That doesn’t make it right, it makes it reality." But Stimson said this approach to teaching history goes further than the museums and that the concern is "something you need to be aware of." "You see this in higher ed, you see this unfortunately in high school and even below in lower schools, and unfortunately at our premier national museums, including the American History Museum," he said. Stimson said people should take away the same lessons that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when parents isolated at home got a firsthand look at what their children were being taught. "That’s why you saw more and more homeschoolers, more and more people in the school choice movement just explode across the country," he said. He added "parents are the first educators of their children" and it’s up to them "to present American history" the right way. A complete reset could be what the museum needs, according to Stimson. "That’s all it is," he said. "It’s bile. It needs to be ripped out, root and branch, and redone." Fox News Digital reached out to the Smithsonian for comment but did not receive a response before publication. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7feda82c5335ae1046accf Man charged with assault, hate crimes after allegedly disrupting Shabbat services at NYC synagogue te 2026-08-15T04:40:08.585Z Man charged with assault, hate crimes after allegedly disrupting Shabbat services at NYC synagogue A man was charged with multiple hate crimes after allegedly disrupting Shabbat services at a New York City synagogue Friday, striking a congregant and attacking a member of the security team, authorities said. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the man disrupted services at Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The NYPD later identified the suspect as Larry Montes, 46, of the Bronx, and said he was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other charges. NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN CHARGED IN ALLEGED HOUSTON SYNAGOGUE ATTACK PLOT AS INVESTIGATORS SEARCH FOR 2 OTHERS "As synagogue security was escorting him out, he struck a member of the congregation, damaged synagogue property, and then spit at and headbutted a member of the security team," Tisch said in a statement posted on X. An NYPD sergeant working a paid detail at the synagogue immediately intervened and took Montes into custody, according to Tisch. No one was seriously injured, and the incident remains under investigation, Tisch said. "I have spoken with the rabbi of the synagogue, and I'm relieved that no one was seriously injured," she said. "Those who were hurt were evaluated at the scene and are doing well. There are no known additional threats at this time, and additional NYPD resources have been deployed to the synagogue." JEWISH LEADERS FAULT MAMDANI RHETORIC AS UPPER WEST SIDE STABBING, HATE CRIME PROBE CONTINUES New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was "horrified" by the incident. "I am horrified by the assault at Central Synagogue during services today," Mamdani said. "I can only imagine the pain and fear an attack like this, during Shabbat services, causes for the congregation and for Jewish New Yorkers across our city," he continued. "Every New Yorker must be able to observe their religion without fear of violence." "This despicable act has no place in our city, and our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe," he added. Tisch said the incident was particularly personal because she grew up attending Central Synagogue. "I understand the sanctity of this space and its meaning for congregants," she said. "Central Synagogue is where I grew up. In joy and in sorrow, it has always been a place of comfort and peace. What happened there tonight is deeply painful. A place of worship should never be a crime scene." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fd18a2c5335ae1046990f Caitlin Clark overcomes injury scare, drops 29 points on Dallas Wings as Fever take top spot in East te 2026-08-15T02:40:10.004Z Caitlin Clark overcomes injury scare, drops 29 points on Dallas Wings as Fever take top spot in East Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were back at the friendly confines of Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as they welcomed another one of the league's biggest stars, Paige Bueckers, and the Dallas Wings. Now, there's been a lot of drama in the WNBA as of late, and this one delivered some of that as well. Just a different brand of drama. Not the clotheslining and rage-tweeting-about-White-privilege-from-the-locker-room kind. DIJONAI CARRINGTON RESPONDS TO 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' POST, BUT LEAVES MEANING OF IT STILL UNCLEAR The Wings entered the game shorthanded, with Azzi Fudd among those sidelined. Still, despite missing some serious firepower, Dallas kept things close. It started slowly, with both teams failing to put more than 20 points on the board in the first quarter, but the offense ramped up a touch in the second quarter, with the Wings taking a 37-35 lead to the locker room. Speaking of which, it was at the very end of the first half that one of the most notable moments of the game occurred. Clark rolled her ankle while the Fever were on defense and, worse yet, hobbled off the court to the locker room. The Fever were hoping to take over first place in the Eastern Conference, and that would be tough in a close game without Clark. However, thousands of fans in the building breathed a sigh of relief when Clark started the second half and went on a roll. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! The floodgates opened offensively, with Clark finishing the night with 29 points and 10 assists. Bueckers also scored 29 points for the Wings, adding six assists and six rebounds. But the Fever got an added scoring punch from Kelsey Mitchell — who finished with 23 points for a franchise-record 18th straight 20-point game — and Tyasha Harris, who went 4-for-4 from 3-point range, to pull away for a 98-87 win. That gives the Fever first place in the East over the Atlanta Dream, who, coincidentally, will host them on Sunday in a big game for the conference's top spot. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fccd82c5335ae10469865 Shake Shack worker allegedly calls out before robbing own restaurant, returns in uniform 2 days later te 2026-08-15T02:20:08.773Z Shake Shack worker allegedly calls out before robbing own restaurant, returns in uniform 2 days later An Arizona Shake Shack employee is facing charges after allegedly robbing his own restaurant at gunpoint, locking two co-workers in a walk-in cooler and then returning to work in uniform just two days later. Keondre Simmons, 33, allegedly called out of work at the Shake Shack at Kierland Commons in Phoenix around midnight on Aug. 3 before showing up at the restaurant later that morning to commit the robbery, according to court documents reviewed by FOX 10 Phoenix. Investigators responding to the armed robbery learned that an employee opened a rear delivery door after hearing a bell and believing a scheduled delivery had arrived. CHICK-FIL-A EMPLOYEE BUSTED IN BIZARRE $80K MAC-AND-CHEESE THEFT SCHEME "[The employee] opened the door after hearing the delivery bell, believing a scheduled delivery had arrived," court documents state. "When the door opened, the suspect pointed a firearm at [the employee], ordered him inside, and escorted him at gunpoint toward the walk-in cooler. The suspect forced [the employee] inside and locked the cooler door." Police said the suspect then forced the on-duty manager into the office and ordered him to open the store's safe. "[The on-duty manager] unlocked the safe and, under threat of firearm, removed approximately $2,800 in mixed denominations and placed it into a black gun case-style container the suspect carried," police wrote. "The suspect subsequently forced [the on-duty manager] into the walk-in cooler with [the employee], and successfully locked the door." TERRION ARNOLD, LIONS' 2024 FIRST-ROUND PICK, CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING AND ARMED ROBBERY IN FLORIDA Investigators said both victims eventually managed to escape the cooler, but the suspect returned moments later, escorted them to the office and ordered them to kneel at gunpoint. "The suspect took both victims' cellphones and the office landline, then destroyed them by throwing them into a sink filled with water. The suspect then exited the business through the rear delivery door," police wrote. Investigators later identified Simmons as the suspect, according to the court documents. Two days after the robbery, Simmons allegedly returned to the Shake Shack wearing his work uniform, where police arrested him. SIX MEN ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED TWO PEOPLE AT VACATION RESORT, TORTURED THEM AT BOAT RAMP: FBI Simmons later told investigators that he "discarded the clothing worn during the incident, and a firearm is inside his residence," according to court documents. Simmons faces charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and kidnapping. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 25. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fc1222c5335ae104696dc Construction workers uncover $10 million in gold while building sewer under former brewery te 2026-08-15T01:30:10.796Z Construction workers uncover $10 million in gold while building sewer under former brewery Construction workers in Belgium this week uncovered $10.4 million in gold while building a new sewer below a former brewery, according to local police. Police in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, a Flemish community outside Brussels, said the workers contacted them immediately about the find, which officers cataloged, then placed in a "high-security federal government vault." An 18-year-old worker on the site named Kobe told VRT news he at first thought the gold pieces were 1 Euro coins. "Our first reaction was actually disbelief, surprise. Of course, we didn't expect to find gold," Kobe said, adding that the workers had to remove a piece of foundation to lay down pipe for the sewerage. TREASURE HUNTERS STRIKE GOLD AFTER YEARS OF DISAPPOINTMENT WITH FIND WORTH A FORTUNE "When we did that, we suddenly saw something lying around," he said. Project leader Mario said it was a "crazy feeling." "They shouted, 'We found gold,'" he told the outlet of his workers. "I went to look and took the gold in my hands. We also continued to dig up new coins and bars. Only then did what we had found really dawn."  He called his boss and then the police. The construction workers don’t actually get to keep the gold. Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has the right to claim the gold within five years. When asked if it had crossed his mind to keep it, Mario told VRT, "It's about so many coins and bars, that almost wouldn't be possible. Besides, it would also be theft." METAL DETECTORIST'S 'FEELING' LEADS TO MASSIVE ROMAN SETTLEMENT DISCOVERY IN POPULAR TOURIST HOTSPOT Kobe said he still hoped for a finder’s fee. "That would be nice." The building is owned by an organization that provides welfare support to the Flemish community. The director of the organization said he hoped the gold could be used to help with the "enormous need we experience daily," according to the BBC. The local police warned treasure hunters against visiting the site, saying it’s a fenced-off construction site with "several dangerous pits" and that the gold has all been removed. Police added, "We hope this treasure ends up in the right hands and that this unexpected discovery positively changes many lives!" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fc1212c5335ae104696bf Scene pkg Aug 14 te 2026-08-15T01:30:09.290Z Scene pkg Aug 14 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fbc722c5335ae10469631 DFW Airport scraps controversial Islamic footwashing station plan as Texas Gov Abbott takes aim te 2026-08-15T01:10:10.669Z DFW Airport scraps controversial Islamic footwashing station plan as Texas Gov Abbott takes aim FIRST ON FOX: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday directed a review of state grants to entities operating two major Texas airports over religious accommodations, as Dallas Fort Worth International Airport said it would no longer move forward with a proposal to install Islamic washing facilities. Abbott said the state will review grants to entities operating DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston for possible revocation and denial of future funding. He also referred both airports to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation. "Government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over all others. DFW plans to install Islamic wudu washing facilities are illegal. I've directed a review of all state grants to both airports for possible revocation, and referred DFW & IAH to USDOT for investigation. Texas will not allow illegal religious discrimination at taxpayer-funded facilities." Abbott wrote on X Friday. DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIRPORT TO INSTALL ISLAMIC FOOT WASH STATIONS INSIDE BATHROOMS DFW told Fox News Digital on Friday that it had been evaluating a proposal to add ablution washing stations on the pre-security side of Terminal D, its international terminal, but accelerated that review following increased public attention. "DFW was in the process of evaluating an internal proposal to add a set of ablution washing stations on the pre-security side of Terminal D, the international terminal. Like all proposed projects, the airport ultimately considers the operational benefits, customer service impacts, operational risks and costs before approving them.  "While that evaluation was planned, the airport accelerated its review due to elevated public interest this week and has determined not to proceed with the project as it would not deliver the originally anticipated operational benefits." The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on July 31. The filing initially listed the project as privately funded, estimated its cost at $300,000 and indicated construction would be completed by the end of the year. DFW previously said those details resulted from administrative errors by the airport's outside design firm and stressed that the project had not received final approval. CONNECTICUT BARS NATIVITY DISPLAY IN STATE CAPITOL BECAUSE IT'S 'RELIGIOUS,' LAWSUIT THREAT SAYS "While the estimate noted was $300,000, that was a preliminary high estimate and we expect the project, if it were approved to proceed, would cost closer to $120,000," a spokesperson for DFW previously told Fox News Digital. The airport said the design firm also mistakenly selected "privately funded" when submitting the regulatory filing. "That was an error and it should have indicated that airport funds would be used to pay for the work like all our projects," DFW said. DFW said it does not use taxpayer dollars for airport operations and instead relies on revenue streams including parking and concessions. MYSTERY WI-FI NETWORK ABOARD FLIGHT RAISES ‘UNUSUAL’ ALARM ABOUT TRAVELERS' INFORMATION Abbott's office said Friday that George Bush Intercontinental Airport already has an ablution facility and an adjoining prayer room. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Abbott asked the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration to review religious facilities and accommodations at both airports. "These ablution facilities appear designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion. That is illegal," Abbott said. "Both airports are government-owned facilities. The federal and state constitutions prohibit government from facilitating this sort of discrimination. Just as the government cannot favor the secular over the sacred, it also cannot favor one religious view over all others." Abbott's office said recipients of state grants must certify compliance with laws prohibiting discrimination. Similar low-level basins and interfaith spaces exist at other major U.S. airports, including Chicago O'Hare, as Fox News Digital previously reported. Fox News Digital has reached out to Houston Airports and the U.S. Department of Transportation for comment. Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fb7c12c5335ae1046909e US flag football team stunned by American Samoa in shocking first loss in 14 years te 2026-08-15T00:50:09.723Z US flag football team stunned by American Samoa in shocking first loss in 14 years Just about every team you can think of at any level, in any sport, has lost at least once since 2012. But the U.S. Men's Flag National Team hasn't... at least not until Friday. That's right: a 14-year winning streak has come to an end for our nation's top flag football players, but if the streak had to end, it may have come at the best possible time. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! As you're no doubt aware, the IFAF World Championship is taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany — which is precisely where everyone's brain goes when they think "flag football" — and the Americans had a date with American Samoa. Obviously, the Americans came in favored, seeing as they hadn't lost since Obama was in office, "The Dark Knight Rises" hit theaters and the London Olympics took place. But the squad from American Samoa — led by former Maryland QB and current Tua brother Taulia Tagovailoa — did the unthinkable and handed the Americans an L. Unbelievable. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE The U.S. is still alive in the tournament, and while having your 14-year win streak snapped has to sting, I think it happened at a good time. I'm one of those people who thinks every dominant team needs that wake-up loss. The one that reminds you that even if you boatraced every other team for nearly a decade and a half, you're not invincible. So, this is one of those moments, and it comes just two years before flag football is set to take a spot at the Olympics. And there will be a lot of eyes on that competition, because there's talk of NFLers trying to crack the roster... and also, what else is everyone going to watch instead? Rhythmic gymnastics? Of course not. So, fourteen lossless years was a good run, and it should make going two years without a loss seem like an absolute cakewalk. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fb7ba2c5335ae10469081 Colorado Was Targeted as Trump Fumed Over Election Denier, Email Shows te 2026-08-15T00:50:02.993Z Colorado Was Targeted as Trump Fumed Over Election Denier, Email Shows The state has accused the government in a lawsuit of retaliating after the conviction of Tina Peters, a Trump supporter. An administration official convened a group to discuss “immediate actions.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fb7b92c5335ae10469078 Justice Dept. Dismisses Threats Case in Minnesota Days Before Trial te 2026-08-15T00:50:01.775Z Justice Dept. Dismisses Threats Case in Minnesota Days Before Trial The government said it could not prove that a man accused of threatening federal agents had committed a crime, adding to the scores of cases in the administration’s deportation efforts that have unraveled. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fb0b12c5335ae10468f82 TUSD surveys families on 4-day week, year-round options for 2027-28 te 2026-08-15T00:20:01.933Z TUSD surveys families on 4-day week, year-round options for 2027-28 The Tucson Unified School District proposed a four-day school week and a year-round calendar for the 2027-28 school year in an email survey to families late Friday afternoon. The year-round option begins earlier in the summer and includes longer breaks during the school year. It would begin July 22, 2027 and end May 25, 2028.  TUSD is Southern Arizona’s largest school district with about 35,000 students in 88 schools. The district is currently tackling issues with absenteeism and enrollment.  In the school calendar survey, the district floated four possible school schedules: the first mirrors the 2026-27 school year, the second extends Thanksgiving break, the third is a four-day school week, and the last is a year-round option. A four-day week was adopted by the TUSD Governing Board last spring for Palo Verde High School. This marks the first week of that new schedule. The east side school is the first traditional public school in the Tucson area with a four-day school week. The proposed calendar is similar to Palo Verde’s schedule, which runs Monday-Thursday with Fridays off. Palo Verde is a pilot program without an official time limit and will cost more than $6.2 million, TUSD’s financial analysis said last April. That’s Palo Verde’s $6.11 million budget plus additional staffing needs. Palo Verde’s four-day school week includes a longer school day with seven, 60-minute classes from 8:10 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. Fridays are free for students and abbreviated for staff, who rotate to support students. The fifth day of the week is for credit recovery, academic help, internships and family flexibility, staff told the board. Among TUSD’s 10 largest high schools, Palo Verde has seen the most growth  — 11% over the last four years, according to Arizona Department of Education data. It has almost 700 students. The Chandler Unified School District, Arizona’s second-largest district — has a modified year-round school year which allows two week breaks in the fall, winter and spring, which reduced burnout for students and staff, the district website says. The post TUSD surveys families on 4-day week, year-round options for 2027-28 appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fae632c5335ae10468f3c Ex-Cambridge professor found dead after plagiarism scandal led to abrupt resignation te 2026-08-15T00:10:11.935Z Ex-Cambridge professor found dead after plagiarism scandal led to abrupt resignation Jason Arday, the ex-Cambridge professor who sparked an international controversy over plagiarism allegations, was found dead Friday according to multiple reports. BBC News reported that a man at a south London address was found "unresponsive" and that according to the Metropolitan Police, "a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin have been informed." "At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious," Met Police said in a statement to BBC News. "We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news," Cambridge University vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice told Fox News Digital. "Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time." CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR RESIGNS AFTER MAJOR PLAGIARISM ACCUSATIONS PROMPT INVESTIGATION The Metropolitan Police did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Last week, Arday resigned as a sociology professor at Cambridge University after the university announced an investigation into his academic qualifications and honorary appointments amid plagiarism accusations, with one accuser telling Fox News Digital that Arday had been hired to be the "face of DEI." This week also marked the release of his memoir, "Great and Unfortunate Things," which had also come under scrutiny due to some of the questionable claims Arday had made about his background. Publisher Simon & Schuster had stood by releasing the book in statements to the media. Accusations against Arday resurfaced last month from former Cambridge philosophy researcher Nathan Cofnas, who published a Substack article alleging that Arday was a known "plagiarist and fabulist" for more than a year, and much of his personal biography was questionable. CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM EXTENDS BEYOND STUDENT PROTESTS AND INTO CLASSROOMS, ADL WARNS Cofnas first expressed doubt about Arday's background after the educator said he had been nonverbal until age eleven and practically illiterate until 18, while still being able to get a Ph.D in 2015 and eventually become the youngest Black professor at Cambridge University in 2023. Using the plagiarism-detection program, Copyleaks, Cofnas said he found several examples of Arday directly lifting materials from a 2009 dissertation without proper citation and sometimes even retaining copy-editing mistakes. Other earlier papers written by Arday were also issued corrections to add more citations, which Cofnas characterized as an admission of plagiarism. CAMPUS GRADUATION CHAOS SHOWS HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS A SERIOUS MORAL RESET Arday's appointment in 2023 received massive media attention, with much of it celebrating it as a landmark moment. In addition to the plagiarism allegations, Arday faced further scrutiny about his biography. Among his boldest claims were that he once ran 30 marathons in 35 days to raise money for charity, an astonishing long-distance feat for even standout runners. After initially rushing to Arday's defense, Cambridge ultimately launched an investigation into the professor. "The University of Cambridge has begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments. In order to ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded," the statement read. Shortly after the statement was released, Arday released his own statement through the Good Law Project announcing that he was resigning with "immediate effect," noting "public scrutiny" as a factor. "Sadly, the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack. While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love," Arday wrote. He continued, "I have tried to continue because I believe deeply in the values of higher education, in rigorous scholarship, and in the transformative power of universities. I have tried because of my students, my colleagues and the countless people who have written to tell me that my journey gave them hope. But there comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great." Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fac0c2c5335ae10468ee9 Wisconsin Democratic candidate says her party 'left behind' rural America te 2026-08-15T00:00:12.872Z Wisconsin Democratic candidate says her party 'left behind' rural America Blue Dog Democrat Rebecca Cooke, a Wisconsin congressional candidate, discussed in an interview Thursday how she is trying to set things right after she accused her party of abandoning rural and working-class voters in recent years. She appeared on the "Politics War Room" podcast with co-hosts James Carville and Al Hunt, known for calling out the far left of the Democratic Party. "I don’t wanna put you in a box, but you say you’re a Blue Dog and a New Democrat, tell me what it means to be a Blue Dog Democrat," Hunt asked.  "They are folks that are fiscally conservative, socially liberal, are really working from, like, a place-based perspective," Cooke said. "They're people that understand rural Democrats, working-class Democrats, that are showing up in rural communities and working-class spaces that historically our party has left behind. And that's like I think why I was connected with them originally or why I — you know what they were doing resonated with me so much." JAMES CARVILLE PREDICTS 2028 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WILL TEST TRUE STRENGTH OF PARTY'S SOCIALIST WING She cited multiple examples of other moderate Democrats who "understand how to talk to people in rural America where I feel like a lot of folks in the Democratic Party don't anymore, and I certainly do." "I think we've built strong coalitions across this district with farmers, you know, healthcare workers, people in rural communities that feel really left behind," Cooke added. Hunt cited her past comments, "You've said that in Congress, Republicans are too right-wing and congressional Democrats are too left-wing. Specifically, how has Hakeem Jeffries [been] too left-wing?" "I'm talking just, I think, in general when I talk — I did an ad last cycle where I was standing in the middle of the road on my parents' farm talking about how folks in DC are either too far left or too far right, and we need more people in the middle that want to work across the aisle to get things done," she said. "I'm somebody that wants to work in a really bipartisan way and not put, you know, party before people or politics before people, and I think that's I think what's important." Cooke suggested that the Democratic Party needs more candidates from a working-class background, citing her own experience. "I've been a waitress since I was 16 years old," she said. "I've run a small business here in my community but I also waitress to make ends meet. I did some fellowships last year also, with the group called Third Way, around, you know, how do we get more working-class folks to run for office? How do we connect more with working-class voters in general?" "And I'm proud of that work because I think there's this disconnect in the party and when we run working-class people, folks come out to vote because people trust those people, right? Folks trust me because I have some of the same lived experience that they they've had, right?," Cooke added. HAKEEM JEFFRIES DOUBLES DOWN ON 'MAXIMUM WARFARE' RHETORIC, TELLS CRITICS 'I DON'T GIVE A DAMN' She cited other examples from her life, saying many politicians cannot relate to such experiences.  "We've had to sell our cows because of the low price of milk," Cooke said. "I've had to struggle to compete with the Amazons of the world in running a small business. I know what it's like to sign the front of a paycheck as well as the back of a paycheck, right? And I know what it's like to do hourly wage work. There's a lot of members of Congress that have never done those sorts of things. So when they're making policy that's impacting working families, they're out of touch with that." Fox News Digital reached out to Cooke's campaign, asking what specific issues she would push for the Democratic Party to moderate on to win back rural and working-class voters. "Rebecca grew up on a dairy farm and has been campaigning in every county, rural and urban, in the 3rd district because she wants to earn support from Wisconsinites of all backgrounds, including Republicans and Trump supporters," a spokesperson said. " CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "On MSNOW this week, she said if she sees someone with a MAGA hat, she’s going to shake their hand and introduce herself," the spokesperson continued. "She’s running to fight for working people and has no problem disagreeing with other Democrats, like when she said she’d ‘stand up to Democrats to fight for a secure border,’ she ‘support[s] funding the police fully, and doesn’t believe in universal student loan forgiveness because it only sticks a bandaid on a structural problem.’" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fac042c5335ae10468ecb Man, 18, Pleads Guilty to Repeatedly Kicking Sea Lion in California te 2026-08-15T00:00:04.002Z Man, 18, Pleads Guilty to Repeatedly Kicking Sea Lion in California The man bobbed and wove before lobbing a kick at a sea lion in San Diego last month, a video of the episode shows. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fa9b32c5335ae10468e83 California teen faces prison after viral video shows him squaring up, repeatedly kicking sea lion in the face te 2026-08-14T23:50:11.704Z California teen faces prison after viral video shows him squaring up, repeatedly kicking sea lion in the face A California teenager pleaded guilty Friday to repeatedly kicking a sea lion in the face and chasing the animal as it tried to escape, according to video of the attack. Tyler Muehl, 18, who lives in the San Diego seaside neighborhood of La Jolla, entered his plea in a federal courtroom to a misdemeanor violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act’s prohibition on harassing wildlife, the Justice Department said. "Federal crime. Federal consequences," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon wrote in a statement. SUSPECT IN VIRAL MONK SEAL HARASSMENT VIDEO SAYS HE WAS DOXXED AS FEDERAL COURT FIGHT BEGINS The incident was investigated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Muehl admitted to kicking the sea lion on July 22 as the mammal was peacefully sitting on a seawall, federal prosecutors said. "Intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is not only illegal, it is dangerous for the well-being of the animal," said NOAA official Eric Morgan. The teen approached the animal with his hands squared up as if he were preparing to fight, authorities said. As he made his approach, Muehl referred to himself as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Max Holloway. He then kicked the animal four times, "which caused the sea lion to rear, flinch and immediately recoil," prosecutors said. EL-SAYED IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER 'SICKENING' ANIMAL CONTROL RECORD GOES VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA "After the second kick, the sea lion turned and tried to flee, but Muehl chased after the animal and kicked at it a third time," a DOJ news release states. "As the sea lion tried to get away, it stumbled on the sea wall as it fled." Officials said the teen kicked the sea lion again and chased it until the animal made its escape.  As part of his plea agreement, Muehl said the video, which went viral online, was a "fair and accurate recording of what occurred." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) commented on the incident on its social media accounts. "Assault is ASSAULT, no matter the species," the group wrote on X in a July 24 post. "Leave animals ALONE, and always speak up when you witness abuse." Muehl faces up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines. He is expected to be sentenced Oct. 20. Fox News Digital has reached out to Muehl's attorney for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fa75a2c5335ae10468e31 Reagan National Airport makes drastic change following deadly 2025 midair collision te 2026-08-14T23:40:10.474Z Reagan National Airport makes drastic change following deadly 2025 midair collision A new radar system has been installed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the Washington, D.C., area after a 2025 midair collision that killed 67 people due to multiple systemic failures. The airport has received the Surface Movement Radar, known as SMR-4, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday. The technology will help air traffic controllers identify aircraft and vehicles moving along runways and taxiways, even in bad weather and low-visibility conditions. "This new radar is our latest reinforcement tool to equip our controllers as they safeguard our air travel. We’re working at the speed of Trump to deliver the world-class air traffic control system America deserves," Duffy said. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AUDIO CAPTURES TENSE MOMENT TWO PLANES NEARLY COLLIDED AT BOSTON LOGAN AIRPORT He said the new radar system will give air traffic controllers a "clearer portrait" of airport activity. Reagan Airport is the fifth airport to install the system. Newark Liberty International Airport received the technology earlier this week. Over the next three years, $30.5 million will be invested in safety and technology upgrades at Reagan National, the Transportation Department said. The new upgrades came after the Jan. 29, 2025, midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet operated by PSA Airlines, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near the airport. FAA INVESTIGATES SOUTHWEST NEAR MISS AFTER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SENDS JETS ON COLLISION COURSE All 64 people aboard the American Eagle flight and three aboard the military helicopter were killed. The federal government admitted liability for the deadly collision. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said systemic failures in airspace design, safety oversight and risk management by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army contributed to what happened. "This complex and comprehensive one-year investigation identified serious and long-standing safety gaps in the airspace over our nation’s capital," Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the NTSB, said in a January 2026 report.  "Sadly, the conditions for this tragedy were in place long before the night of Jan. 29." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fa7592c5335ae10468e28 Delta flight diverted twice after lavatory leak floods cabin, leaves passengers stranded for hours te 2026-08-14T23:40:09.830Z Delta flight diverted twice after lavatory leak floods cabin, leaves passengers stranded for hours A Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an unexpected stop in London after the crew reported a mechanical issue involving an onboard lavatory, the airline said. Delta Flight 81 departed Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport on Aug. 13 bound for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when the issue prompted the flight crew to divert to London Heathrow Airport. The Airbus A330-900 was carrying 209 passengers and 13 crew members at the time, according to information provided by Delta. As the aircraft approached Heathrow, the flight crew declared an emergency with air traffic control because the plane would be making an overweight landing, the airline said. FLAMES SHOOT FROM AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT BEFORE EMERGENCY LANDING Despite the emergency declaration, the aircraft landed normally and safely at Heathrow. Delta maintenance personnel then serviced the Airbus in London in an effort to address the lavatory-related mechanical issue. "We apologize to our customers for their experience and delay on Delta Flight 81 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Seattle, which diverted to London Heathrow after the crew reported a mechanical issue involving an onboard lavatory," a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This is not the experience we strive to provide, and we're focused on getting our customers to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible." LIVE BULLET FOUND ABOARD UNITED FLIGHT FORCES PASSENGERS OFF PLANE FOR SECURITY SWEEP AT DENVER AIRPORT Once maintenance work was completed, the aircraft was able to depart Heathrow — but the disruption meant passengers still faced an additional detour before reaching their intended destination on the West Coast. Instead of continuing directly from London to Seattle, the flight headed to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport because of the crew's available duty time, according to Delta. Passengers cleared U.S. Customs at JFK before continuing their journey to Seattle. The unusual itinerary ultimately took the 209 passengers from Paris to London, then across the Atlantic to New York before they could continue on to Seattle. Delta did not provide additional details about the specific mechanical problem involving the lavatory or what maintenance was required to address it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fa7532c5335ae10468e0a South Florida Venue Cancels Rally With a Pro-Palestinian Congresswoman te 2026-08-14T23:40:03.058Z South Florida Venue Cancels Rally With a Pro-Palestinian Congresswoman Representative Rashida Tlaib was supposed to headline an event called “Chomp the Oligarchy” for three candidates for Congress who face Jewish Democrats in Tuesday’s primary. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fa5022c5335ae10468dc3 Abuse victims ask Arizona high court to reconsider its clergy-shield ruling te 2026-08-14T23:30:10.392Z Abuse victims ask Arizona high court to reconsider its clergy-shield ruling (Photo via Getty Images) Attorneys representing the children of a father who sexually abused them and reported that abuse to church leaders are asking  the Arizona Supreme Court to reconsider its unanimous ruling last month siding with religious leaders who argued the state’s clergy-penitent privilege law shielded them from reporting that abuse to authorities.  The justices also declared that any intervention by the courts would violate the First Amendment, making clear they don’t think any changes to Arizona law aimed at forcing clergy to report abuse would be constitutional. But the attorneys for the victims said the Supreme Court ignored the text of Arizona law and key facts in this case and handed churches unreviewable power to self-declare what is “confidential” communication and what isn’t. They want the court to overturn its ruling. “It is a dangerous ‘public policy’ to allow and encourage powerful religious organizations to unilaterally declare that all concealed child sexual abuse is privileged and ‘confidential’ retroactively,” Flagstaff attorney John Trebon wrote on behalf of the victims. “The ‘public policy’ of encouraging child abuse to be concealed was unequivocally and affirmatively created by the Arizona Supreme Court and not by the Arizona legislature.” The result, Trebon told the high court, is that there will be no point in abuse victims going to church leaders in Arizona because they now have no legal responsibility to help them. “The incentive and delegated authority given to the Church will silence their cries for help and their abuse will be concealed,” he wrote. “Child sex abuse within powerful religious organizations in the U.S.A. has been rampant. The Arizona legislature tried to encourage reporting. The Opinion in this case creates public policy to conceal abuse.”  In Arizona, clergy are not mandated reporters and suspected child abuse or neglect isn’t exempted from that, even if it is ongoing. And religious leaders cannot be forced to testify in court about abuse a parishioner confessed to committing. The case, Doe v. The Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, revolved around how Paul Adams disclosed to church leaders that he had sexually abused all six of his children for years. Adams, a Customs and Border Patrol officer in Bisbee, was arrested in 2017 after he posted videos of himself abusing his children online.  In 2010, Adams confessed the abuse to his bishop, John Herrod, who in turn called a church “abuse help line,” which told him he should not mention the abuse to any authorities. The case was featured prominently in an Associated Press investigation that found the help line created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often steered those reporting abuse away from legal authorities and instead to attorneys representing the church in order to cover up abuse allegations.  Three of Adams’ children eventually filed a lawsuit against the church in 2021, claiming that it had covered up the abuse. Adams was excommunicated from the church and died by suicide while in custody after confessing to his crimes.  The LDS Church argued that it was not bound by Arizona’s law requiring people report child abuse because of an exemption for clergy who receive the information in a confession or confidential communication from a parishoner. A Cochise County Superior Court judge agreed and granted the church’s motion for summary judgement in its favor.  An appeals court reversed that, concluding that Adams’ clergy-penitent privilege was “waived” when Herrod had Adams repeat his confession to a church disciplinary board and before his wife, Leizza. Herrod also informed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that Adams, an employee of the federal agency, had confessed to the sexual abuse. The appellate court ruled that a jury should be allowed to determine whether the privilege was waived, and whether the church followed its own internal handbook advising leaders on how, or whether, to report abuse. But the Arizona Supreme Court said the appellate panel was wrong to do so. First, it ruled that the clergy-penitent privilege is a testimonial privilege — dealing only with whether a clergy member can be forced to testify — and is therefore irrelevant to any duty to report abuse, so whether it was waived or not doesn’t impact whether the bishops had a duty to report. That duty is determined by the “clergy exemption” in the reporting statute. And whether that exemption is invoked is fully up to the judgment of the clergy member and the church, the high court ruled. The First Amendment bars a jury from evaluating whether the bishops followed their own religious doctrine in deciding not to report, the Supreme Court concluded, because the courts must defer to a church’s own characterization of what counts as a confession and what its doctrine requires. Attorneys representing Adams’ children argue that the court erred in its opinion because it relied on a “skewed interpretation” of Arizona’s mandatory reporting law, arguing that the law and other similar laws do not violate the First Amendment.  “The result is painfully ironic because the Opinion utilizes a statute designed to protect children as the tool to forsake them,” Trebon wrote. “The Opinion eviscerates the protections provided by mandatory reporting statute. In its place, the Court creates an obvious incentive for religious organizations of all stripes to conceal child abuse — all under the ironic banner of religious freedom.”  The attorneys note that Leizza Adams heard her husband’s confession repeated “in a manner that no reasonable person would believe as ‘confidential,’” adding that Herrod even told her in a meeting the LDS Church now says was confidential that she should report the abuse to police. They also note that Adams’ confession was learned of by “at least 35 people” and the abuse continued for seven more years.  “There is no other known case in the United States that has found that a neutral child abuse reporting statute violates the First Amendment unless the statute is purposefully construed to eviscerate the requirement that clergy report communications of abuse that were not ‘confidential,’” Trebon argued. “The ‘exemption’ and the ‘privilege’ contain the same elements and are essentially identical, despite the Opinion’s efforts to differentiate them. They are mirror images.”  The victims also argue that the ruling “virtually eliminates mandatory reporting for clergy” and expands the ability of religious institutions to be shielded from civil liability for abuse within their walls.  “If this decision stands, the practical consequences for public safety and the rule of law are dire,” Trebon wrote. “The Court has essentially established an absolute immunity for religious institutions that fail to report child sexual abuse, insulating them from civil liability and judicial oversight even when an abuser reveals his crimes in the presence of multiple people over a period of years that were never confidential.”  Trebon also emphasized the extreme nature of the abuse in the case: Adams’ first victim was five years old when they told Herrod, who was also the family’s doctor, that Adams had molested her and videotaped it.  Failing to report ongoing child sexual abuse in violation of a mandatory statute is a purely secular dispute affecting third-party victims, not an internal dispute over church governance, Trebon argued.   “The bishop (and his successor who also know of the child rape) saw the victim in church every Sunday for the next seven years and did nothing to help her nor her siblings who were also raped by their father,” he wrote. “The horrific sexual acts on these infants continued until the victim was 12 years old, when a gruesome 9-minute video of the horrific abuse came to the attention of law enforcement in New Zealand.”  The National Center for Missing and Exploited children documented over 9,000 different files of child sexual abuse material related to the Adams case, according to the attorneys.  “The net result of this decision is that Arizona will attract religions and criminals that wish to conceal sexual abuse under the guise of religious freedom,” Trebon wrote. “The soul of our society is revealed in the manner that we protect our children.” YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fa0542c5335ae10468d0a El-Sayed’s half-sister offered Oct. 7 ‘blessing’ one year after Hamas attack: ‘Allahu Akbar’ te 2026-08-14T23:10:12.427Z El-Sayed’s half-sister offered Oct. 7 ‘blessing’ one year after Hamas attack: ‘Allahu Akbar’ University of Chicago professor Eman Abdelhadi, who is the half sister of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, delivered an "October 7th blessing" one year after Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people in widespread terrorist attacks. "I want to say, Allahu Akbar," Abdelhadi said, opening her blessing in a video posted to Instagram on Oct. 7, 2024. "That phrase means God is greater, and it's an important phrase in the Muslim tradition. It's one that I've been thinking about a lot over the last year, because it's a phrase that reminds us that no matter how great the brutality, the oppression, the intensity of what we're going through. The horizon of justice is just around the corner." Throughout her video commemorating the anniversary of terrorist attacks, Abdelhadi makes no mention of the Jews killed by Hamas. She filmed her blessing wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional cloth associated with Palestinian militant movements. "Abdul loves his sister and also disagrees with her on a number of political positions and the rhetoric she's chosen to use, including on foreign policy," a campaign spokeswoman told Fox News Digital when asked about the video. "But Abdul is the one on the ballot and his record of public service and his platform is what matters to voters here in Michigan. His campaign has always been about his love for America and Michigan." EL-SAYED’S HALF SISTER REVEALED AS RADICAL PROFESSOR ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING A COP AT ANTI-ICE RIOT "There is something greater than even the strongest armies and for me that's God," Abdelhadi continued in the video. "Reflecting on that reaffirms my commitment to justice, my commitment not to get caught up in the narratives that colonial powers enforce on us … I hope you know that we have a lot of work ahead of us and that we need each other to do that work. We have an imperative to not just imagine a better future, but to build one together." "I’ll see you on the streets," she said, concluding her statement. The video was posted on Instagram on Oct. 7, 2024, in a collaborative post by "Rabbis4Ceasefire" and Abdelhadi’s account. Rabbis4Ceasefire described it in a caption on the post as an "October 7th blessing from Eman Abdelhadi, Scholar, Writer & Organizer." In a new comment added Friday, Abdelhadi said Rabbis4Ceasefire had organized and named the event as "a moment of grief for lives lost between 10/7/23 and 10/7/2024," asked her to participate and described the video as her "offering" to the gathering. The resurfaced video drew sharp criticism on X.  "Jewish Michiganders are proudly putting country over party and rejecting Abdul El-Sayed’s extremism. We must put country over party and elect Mike Rogers," Democrats for Mike Rogers, El-Sayed's GOP challenger, posted in response.  "Abdul El-Sayed's Sister, Eman Abdelhadi, recorded a celebration video in reaction to October 7th," commentator Eyal Yakoby wrote. Abdelhadi has previously faced legal trouble over her activism, including an October 2025 arrest after she allegedly spat on an Illinois state trooper during protests outside a suburban Chicago ICE detention facility. She was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery to a government employee and two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing a peace officer. UNEARTHED EL-SAYED ESSAY DRAWS EXPLOSIVE TRUMP-BIN LADEN PARALLEL Abdelhadi’s half brother has engendered ample controversy over his statements on the Israel-Palestine conflict while on the campaign trail. El-Sayed, for instance, sent a fundraising email on the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks where he criticized the Israeli government’s military operations, but said nothing of Hamas’ initial killings. The Michigan Democrat has equated Hamas and the Israeli government, calling both evil. ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN'T MEAN HE ENDORSES 'AMERICA DESERVED 9/11' REMARK He has also received criticism for his continued association and campaign appearances with streamer Hasan Piker, who once said that America "deserved 9/11." Though El-Sayed has called the streamer’s statement "dumb," he has declined to disavow Piker, accusing critics of engaging in cancel culture. Abdelhadi did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Friday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7fa0532c5335ae10468d01 Vegas Golden Knights unveil quintessentially Sin City center ice design for 10th season te 2026-08-14T23:10:11.804Z Vegas Golden Knights unveil quintessentially Sin City center ice design for 10th season It's hard to believe, but the Vegas Golden Knights are about to begin their tenth NHL season. And what a ride it's been. They've gone from the "Golden Misfits" to, at times, embracing their role in many fans' minds as one of the league's premier villainous franchises. And what better way to celebrate a decade in the NHL than with the most Vegas-y center ice design the league has ever seen? VEGAS' JACK EICHEL OFFERS A PERFECT RESPONSE TO GOLDEN KNIGHTS BEING VOTED THE MOST-HATED TEAM IN THE NHL Did we expect anything less from a team that puts on the bastard child of the Ice Capades and Medieval Times before every game? Personally, I think the design looks great — even if it's almost certainly going to be a nightmare to keep tabs on the puck anytime there's a pass through there — but let's see how the always thoughtful citizens of social media feel about it. Alright, so maybe your perception depends more on your rooting interests than I had initially thought. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Love 'em or hate 'em, it has been a good nine seasons so far for the Golden Knights, who have already proven themselves to be one of the most successful expansion teams the league has ever seen. They, of course, pulled off a stunner and made it to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural campaign back in 2017-18, only to lose to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. In 2023, the team made it back to the Stanley Cup Final; this time they defeated the Florida Panthers for the franchise's first championship. They tried for a second just this season, but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. Still, over those nine seasons, three trips to the Cup Final are impressive. But what's more impressive is the consistency the club has shown. They've only missed the playoffs once in their existence, and they still came in fourth in the division that season. Vegas also continues to be a top choice for a lot of free agents and players asking for trades, so expect the Golden Knights to continue being among the league's perennial contenders. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f9dfb2c5335ae10468c9d Several people dead including suspect in rural Michigan multi-scene shooting, police say: reports te 2026-08-14T23:00:11.472Z Several people dead including suspect in rural Michigan multi-scene shooting, police say: reports Six people, including the suspected gunman, are dead in rural Missaukee County, Michigan, following a multi-scene shooting, according to local reports. Earlier Friday, Michigan State Police shared on social media that officers were investigating a shooting in the area and that authorities were looking for Chad Hickman, 39, who they said should be considered "armed and dangerous."  Police later said that Hickman had been located. Officers began investigating Friday morning when three people were found dead and another was wounded at a home near LaChance Road and Kelly Road in Richland Township, according to UpNorthLive. NEW YORK STATE POLICE LAUNCH MANHUNT AFTER KILLING, HOUSE FIRE FOR 'ARMED AND DANGEROUS' SUSPECT A fourth person was reportedly found dead in another home, and a fifth person in a wooded area. Fox News Digital has reached out to Michigan State Police. Hickman was later found dead, according to UpNorthLive. "Not only is this difficult for our investigators and our troopers, but it's very hard for this community. You know, this type of loss is tragic," MSP Public Information Officer Lt. Ashley Miller told the outlet. "And we're going to conduct a thorough investigation, and we want to make sure to keep our community members up to date on our current situation and what we're discovering throughout this process." Police haven’t given any more details about what led to the shootings. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f9ba12c5335ae10468c41 Kelly Osbourne blasts Dee Snider as 'spectacularly classless' for claiming Ozzy didn’t write his own songs te 2026-08-14T22:50:09.826Z Kelly Osbourne blasts Dee Snider as 'spectacularly classless' for claiming Ozzy didn’t write his own songs Kelly Osbourne and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider are going head-to-head after the retired musician claimed Ozzy Osbourne "always" had other people write his songs for him. Earlier this week, Snider wrote on X, "Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics." He went on to claim that bassist Bob Daisley and Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister were frequent writers of Ozzy's music, and that Geezer Butler "wrote ALL of @BlackSabbath lyrics."  According to Daisley's website, he claimed to have written the majority of the songs for Ozzy's first five solo albums. Daisley is credited as a songwriter on "Blizzard of Ozz" and "No Rest for the Wicked." During Ozzy's time with Black Sabbath, Butler was widely credited as the main lyricist for the band. Snider's comments prompted a sharp response from Ozzy's daughter via her Instagram Stories Friday. KELLY OSBOURNE DEMANDS CHILD SUPPORT AND HER DOGS BACK IN FIERY RANT AMID REPORTED BREAKUP Kelly shared two text-heavy posts, including one directly addressing Snider. "My father’s legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself. His friends, those who worked with him, those who love him, and millions of fans around the world that still continue to buy his records know exactly what he meant what he contributed and what he leaves behind. His legacy will live on eternally," Kelly wrote on the first image. KELLY OSBOURNE WELCOMES FIRST BABY WITH SID WILSON, SHARON OSBOURNE PRAISES DAUGHTER: 'SO PROUD' In her next Instagram story, Kelly called Snider’s criticism "spectacularly classless" and argued that he had little basis to speak authoritatively about her father's career and legacy. "And if Snider wants to invite comparisons between their careers, that comparison is devastating enough on its own," she wrote. Kelly then compared Snider and Ozzy's careers, writing, "Snider had a brief period of mainstream success more than 40 years ago. My father's career spanned nearly six decades — from helping define heavy metal with Black Sabbath to building an extraordinary solo career. His music will continue influencing generations long after all of us are gone." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Kelly suggested that Snider’s criticism was an attempt to put himself back into the conversation, while her father’s "name, catalogue and influence" remain globally relevant. She argued that Ozzy’s accomplishments stand on their own, writing, "My father doesn’t need Dee Snider’s approval to establish his place in music history." She concluded, "trying to make my father smaller won’t make Dee Snider bigger," arguing that attacking Ozzy’s legacy only draws greater attention to the difference between the two musicians’ careers and lasting cultural impact. Early Friday morning, Snider returned to X to make it clear that he has "nothing but love for Ozzy." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "He was always lovely to me. @BlackSabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties," Snider wrote. Representatives for Kelly did not respond to Fox News Digital. Snider's representative said the rocker had no further comment. Ozzy died on July 22, 2025, at 76, just weeks after performing his final concert with Black Sabbath. His death certificate later listed cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease among the causes of his death, with Parkinson’s disease noted as a contributing condition. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f9b992c5335ae10468c01 Talks to sell PayPal to Stripe and Advent are heating up te 2026-08-14T22:50:01.552Z Talks to sell PayPal to Stripe and Advent are heating up PayPal is still reportedly negotiating a potential sale to Stripe and private equity firm Advent, as the fintech firm's new CEO attempts to turn the company around. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f99492c5335ae10468bdd Butch Huskey, one of the last MLB players to wear Jackie Robinson's famed number 42, dies at 54 te 2026-08-14T22:40:09.311Z Butch Huskey, one of the last MLB players to wear Jackie Robinson's famed number 42, dies at 54 Butch Huskey, one of the final MLB players to wear No. 42, has died at age 54. Huskey initially wore No. 10 with the New York Mets but changed his jersey number to No. 42 in 1995, two years before Major League Baseball retired the number league-wide in honor of Jackie Robinson. Yet when MLB retired the number, it allowed those already wearing it — like Huskey, Mo Vaughn and Mariano Rivera — to be grandfathered in and continue donning the number on their jerseys as long as they were still playing, no matter who they played for. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Thus, even when Huskey left the Mets, he was able to wear the number with the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins. Huskey also played for the Boston Red Sox in 1999 but opted for No. 44. The Mets announced his death on social media. Huskey made his MLB debut in 1993 but did not get full playing time until three years later with his new number. Playing mostly first base in 1996, he impressed with a .278 batting average and .754 OPS. In 1997, he improved by hitting .287 with an .822 OPS, belting a career-high 24 home runs and driving in 81 runs, also the most of his career. He took a step back the following season, though, and was traded to the Mariners the following offseason. ANTHONY VOLPE HAS FACE-PALM MOMENT WITH ABS SYSTEM AS FIRST BATTER OF MINOR LEAGUE GAME Huskey was then moved from Seattle to Boston in the 1999 season. The Sox made the postseason as a wild card, but they lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series en route to the Bombers' second of three straight World Series victories. His last stint was with the Colorado Rockies, with whom he wore No. 35. Huskey is the last person to wear No. 42 in Mariners history, and only four players wore it after him in the big leagues: Vaughn, Rivera, Michael Jackson and Jose Lima. The number was retired for Robinson during one of Huskey's Mets games against Robinson's former Dodgers, who had since moved to Los Angeles. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f96f22c5335ae104687c4 FBI captures Top Ten Most Wanted fugitive with alleged Sinaloa Cartel ties, Patel says te 2026-08-14T22:30:10.641Z FBI captures Top Ten Most Wanted fugitive with alleged Sinaloa Cartel ties, Patel says The FBI captured Ten Most Wanted fugitive Gregory Henderson Jr., just three days after adding the alleged Indianapolis gang leader to its list and offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest. Henderson, 46, had evaded arrest since a sweeping federal takedown of his alleged organization in August 2023. He faces federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. The FBI alleges Henderson led a violent Indianapolis gang whose drug trafficking network was supplied by the Sinaloa Cartel and distributed methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding Midwest. WOMAN ADDED TO FBI'S TEN MOST WANTED LIST ARRESTED HOURS LATER AFTER TIPS POURED IN FROM FLORIDA: PATEL His capture marks the ninth FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive apprehended since President Donald Trump returned to office. The nine fugitives had collectively spent more than 50 years on the run, according to the FBI. The FBI says the nine captures are more than twice the four Ten Most Wanted fugitives captured during the Biden administration. FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital exclusively that Henderson’s capture reflected a broader increase in Ten Most Wanted apprehensions under the Trump administration. "Nine Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives is more than twice as many as captured under the entirety of the prior administration — and this FBI and our partners did it in 18 months under President Trump’s brilliant leadership," Patel said. "Gregory Henderson Jr. had been on the run for a year, wanted for his alleged involvement in major drug trafficking operation and animal fighting conspiracies as the alleged leader of a violent neighborhood-based gang located in Indianapolis, Indiana - a gang with significant drug distribution ties to the Sinaloa Cartel." "This administration is letting good cops be cops and they are delivering in historic ways. I’d like to congratulate our FBI Indianapolis team who led this case from the beginning and thank our great Justice Department and law enforcement partners who righteously pursued this case with us," he added. 'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' FUGITIVE CAPTURED ON SAILBOAT OFF NJ COAST AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE RUN The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General was among the federal partners involved in the case. "I would like to thank the FBI, DOJ, and our USDA OIG among many other federal partners in their relentless pursuit for justice. Mr. Henderson had sought to evade the law after committing multiple crimes and leaving behind pain and anguish for many people and animals, but today is the end of that devastation," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins told Fox News Digital "President Trump has focused his administration on delivering justice for those targeted by violent crimes, and we will not rest until we achieve this goal." The FBI added Henderson to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on Aug. 11, describing him as armed and dangerous. Henderson and 20 others were federally indicted in the Southern District of Indiana in August 2023 on drug trafficking and dog fighting conspiracy charges. More than 300 federal, state and local law enforcement officers carried out a takedown later that month, arresting 18 people while Henderson evaded capture. Federal agents seized 61 guns, quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, $98,000 in cash and 166 fighting dogs during the operation, according to the FBI. Law enforcement also uncovered what the FBI described as a significant dog fighting and illegal gambling operation allegedly led by Henderson. "Henderson Jr. has a long history of criminal activity, including street violence, intimidation, assault, and weapons, in addition to drug trafficking and animal cruelty," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Tim O’Malley. Details about where and how Henderson was captured were not immediately available. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f96f12c5335ae104687bb Trump leaves stage mid-speech to embrace parents of 12-year-old killed by stray bullet in the Bronx te 2026-08-14T22:30:09.961Z Trump leaves stage mid-speech to embrace parents of 12-year-old killed by stray bullet in the Bronx President Donald Trump stepped off the stage on Friday while making a speech in New York to comfort the family of a 12-year-old boy who was killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx. Trump was speaking to the Nassau County Police Academy when he mentioned Jacob Freytes, a boy who was killed late last month by a stray bullet while sitting on his bike outside a bodega. "In a beautiful impromptu moment, President Trump exits the stage in the middle of his speech to embrace Migdalia Martinez and retired NYPD Sergeant Jesus Freytes, whose 12-year-old son Jacob was tragically killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on social media after capturing the moment on video. CRIME IS FALLING, OFFICIALS SAY — VICTIMS CLAIM REPORTING ISN’T WORTH IT Before leaving the stage to meet his parents, Trump mentioned Freytes while talking about his administration’s effort to lower crime. "Two weeks ago, a 12-year-old boy named Jacob Freytes — You read about this one? — was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet fired by a repeat offender in a gun battle." He added: "Jacob was the son of a loving mom and a retired New York City police detective, and they are incredible people, and I think I heard that they may be with us today. Are you with us?" He then left the stage and hugged Freytes' teary-eyed mom, Migdalia Martinez, and his father, retired NYPD Sgt. Jesus Freytes, saying a few private words to both of them. AS SOCIALIST MAYOR BATTLES ICE, SEATTLE POLICE AND CRIME VICTIMS SAY REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE TERRORIZING THE CITY "Incredible. Horrible story. What a horrible thing," he said when he returned to the stage. "But we're going after them. These are bad, sick people." Freytes’ death has prompted Republicans to introduce "Jacob’s Law" in the New York Legislature that would put harsher penalties on criminals whose reckless actions result in the death of a child. "I gave him a kiss, and I walked out, and we always do a little dolphin kiss. And I walked out and went to work," Martinez told "Fox & Friends" Tuesday. "Around five o'clock, they called me and said that he had gotten shot. And all I could do was try to think of different ways to get here faster," she added. "When I got there, I just seen my boy gone." Police said William Ferrer, 45, was arrested and faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Ferrer has an arrest record dating back more than 25 years, including prior charges for drunk driving, drug possession, menacing and criminal contempt, according to the New York Post. Fox News' Madison Colombo contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f949a2c5335ae10468756 Teenage British cyclist Finlay Tarling dies after tragic incident in Volta a Portugal race te 2026-08-14T22:20:10.014Z Teenage British cyclist Finlay Tarling dies after tragic incident in Volta a Portugal race Teenage British cyclist Finlay Tarling died Friday following a tragic incident in the Volta a Portugal race, NSN Cycling Team announced to social media. Tarling, 19, was run over by a car that entered the road, according to local reports. The driver reportedly missed the signs from stewards and entered the road going in the opposite direction of the race. "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Finlay Tarling at the Volta a Portugal today," NSN Cycling Team said on X. "Fin was a much loved member of our team but most importantly, he was a son, a brother, and a friend to so many. He will be deeply missed." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The incident occurred during the eighth stage of the race, between Melgaço and Fafe in northern Portugal. Tarling was immediately attended to by doctors. It wasn’t clear if other riders were involved. "At this moment of profound dismay, the organization of the Volta a Portugal and the Portuguese Cycling Federation express their most heartfelt condolences to the family of Finlay Tarling, to his teammates, to the NSN Development Team, and to all his friends and loved ones," organizers said on X. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! The eighth stage of the race was stopped following the incident "as a sign of respect and mourning," organizers added. Portuguese President António José Seguro and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro both sent messages of condolence to the rider's family. Tarling was the younger brother of Ineos Grenadiers cyclist Joshua Tarling. Tarling represented Great Britain on the road and track. He placed second in Stage 6 of the Tour du Rwanda earlier this year. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f92452c5335ae104686fc Halle Berry celebrates 60th birthday in plunging robe with defiant message te 2026-08-14T22:10:13.053Z Halle Berry celebrates 60th birthday in plunging robe with defiant message Halle Berry is stepping into her 60s in style. The "X-Men" actress shared a series of sultry photos on Instagram Thursday, the day before her birthday. "Today….don’t give a f---!" she captioned the post. In the photos, Berry posed for the camera in a black robe with large red floral designs and lace along the edges and sleeves. EMILY RATAJKOWSKI'S SHREDDED RED BIRTHDAY DRESS LEAVES LITTLE TO THE IMAGINATION AT NYC CELEBRATION She wore the robe tied loosely around her waist, creating a plunging neckline that extended down to her belly button and slightly exposed her chest. Some of the photos show the "Monster's Ball" star indulging in chocolate-covered strawberries, while others show her smiling as she lounged on a daybed. Fans sang Berry's praises in the comments. "Not a single f--- left in stock!! Carry on, @halleberry! 🔥" one fan wrote. Another added, "Why are you so perfect? Ugh 😍😍😍😍😍" "Perfection! Queen ❤️," one commenter wrote, as another said, "My goodness… 🔥." The actress also shared a photo kissing her fiancé, Van Hunt, as the two lounged on a sofa outside. On Friday, Berry took to Instagram to thank all her followers for the birthday wishes with a picture of her holding up a card that said, "Happy 60th." "Thank you from my ❤️ for all the birthday love and well wishes. I’m grateful to still be here!!" she wrote in the caption. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Hunt and Berry began dating during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Berry told AARP: The Magazine in January 2022 they got to know each other for four months by talking on the phone. "We were forced to let only our brains connect and discover if we had a connection before our bodies decided to get involved," she told the outlet. "I'd never done it this way. I fell in love with his mind, his conversation." After sparking romance rumors in July 2020, Berry confirmed their relationship in September of that year with an Instagram photo of herself wearing a T-shirt with his name on it and the caption, "now ya know." Since confirming their romance, the two have often been photographed together on the red carpet and have made frequent appearances on each other's social media accounts. Hunt revealed in June 2025 that he had proposed, but Berry did not publicly confirm their engagement until February 2026. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I think we will get married just because, out of the people I’ve been married to, this is the person I should have married," Berry told "Today" in June 2025. "And I feel like I should, we should get married, but it’s not because we feel like we have to. I think it’s something that we would like to do just because we want that expression." Berry was previously married to David Justice from 1993 to 1997, Eric Benét from 2001 to 2005 and Olivier Martinez from 2013 to 2015, though her divorce from Martinez was not fully settled until 2023. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f92442c5335ae104686f3 Stephen A Smith admits Byron Donalds could make him a Republican, calls him ‘the real deal’ te 2026-08-14T22:10:12.411Z Stephen A Smith admits Byron Donalds could make him a Republican, calls him ‘the real deal’ ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said Thursday that Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., could make him a Republican, praising the Trump-backed gubernatorial frontrunner days before Florida Republicans choose their nominee to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis. "And I ain't no d--- Republican. But that mean if anybody could make me one, it would be him. I'm just going to keep it a buck. I'm just letting you know," Smith said. "He's the real deal. Make no mistake about it. I've seen him battling with Democrats. I've seen him battling with people on different shows, whatever. He ain't backing up. He knows his stuff. OK? I talk to him all the time. All the time. And I ain't got nothing bad to say about him," he added. A Donalds campaign official confirmed to Fox News Digital on Friday that Smith and Donalds are friends. Campaign communications director Gates McGavick said Donalds was attracting voters across demographic groups by focusing on affordability and public safety. FLORIDA GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY CANDIDATE SAYS AS GOVERNOR, HE'D 'SHUT DOWN' EVERY ABORTION CLINIC IN STATE "Byron Donalds is drawing support from Floridians of all backgrounds because he has a clear vision to make Florida more affordable, keep Floridians safe, and make sure the radical left stays out of the Sunshine State," McGavick said. "He is building a broad coalition that puts common sense over crazy to lead Florida into the future." One GOP source's assessment provided to Fox News Digital on Friday focused on President Donald Trump's endorsement. "Donalds is endorsed by POTUS and we fully expect him to win the primary," the source said. A James Madison Institute poll released Aug. 6 placed Donalds at 49% among likely Republican primary voters, 31 points ahead of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. Donalds' campaign had raised more than $90 million, as he faced Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and investor James Fishback, while DeSantis withheld an endorsement of any candidate. TRUMP FLEXES HIS POLITICAL MUSCLE OVER GOP AS DEMOCRATS SEE MIDTERM OPENING IN KEY RED STATE Smith described himself as skeptical of Democrats while pressing Donalds on Black voters' distrust of Trump and concerns about Donalds' close alignment with the president "You heard me ask that question [what have Democrats done for you]. I ain't apologizing for it. I'm very skeptical about them," Smith said. "Make no mistake about it. I mean, I've lost interest in them in a lot of different ways. I'll be the first to admit it right here on the public airwaves, but I also am trying to be fair-minded when I think about this," he added. The comments continue Smith's increasing openness to Republican candidates. In March, he challenged Democrats to earn Black votes rather than take them for granted. Days later, he told Sean Hannity that, despite being a Democrat, he would support Secretary of State Marco Rubio over prominent Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. STEPHEN A. SMITH BLAMES ‘THE RIGHT’ FOR WNBA FIRESTORM, SAYS LEAGUE ‘LEFT THE DOOR OPEN’ Donalds answered Smith’s question about skepticism among Black voters by urging them to assess politicians through policies and results rather than personal comfort or social media commentary. "It's something that I acknowledge. I would challenge Black people in America. First of all, this ain't even about trust. It's about verification," Donalds said. "We've had people on both sides of the aisle promise Black people everything until the cows come home. But it's really about, are you going to verify the promises, and verify what the policies actually do, or are you just going to trust it because you have comfort level with a certain politician," he added. Fox News Digital reached out to Smith for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. DeSantis, who was re-elected in a landslide in 2022, is barred from running for a third term. Over the past 10 years, Florida has gone from being a swing state to being dominated by Republicans at the state and national levels. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f923e2c5335ae104686c7 Can Senator Ed Markey’s Progressive Politics Help Him Overcome the Age Issue? te 2026-08-14T22:10:06.122Z Can Senator Ed Markey’s Progressive Politics Help Him Overcome the Age Issue? Ed Markey is hoping that his progressive politics will save him in Massachusetts. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f923d2c5335ae104686be Navy Carrier’s Problems Are Tied to Attacks on U.S. Base Early in War te 2026-08-14T22:10:05.441Z Navy Carrier’s Problems Are Tied to Attacks on U.S. Base Early in War Diego Garcia, a tiny island 2,200 miles from the Gulf of Oman, took over as the Navy’s logistics hub after Iran damaged a base in Bahrain. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f923c2c5335ae104686b5 President Trump Takes Credit for Steep Crime Rate Declines te 2026-08-14T22:10:04.340Z President Trump Takes Credit for Steep Crime Rate Declines Violent crime rates, including murder, have dropped precipitously. The trend began before the president’s current term. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f8ff02c5335ae1046867f Bomani Jones baselessly accuses 'White folks' of favoring Josh Allen, while he favors Black quarterbacks te 2026-08-14T22:00:16.254Z Bomani Jones baselessly accuses 'White folks' of favoring Josh Allen, while he favors Black quarterbacks Though it's not even late August, former ESPN host Bomani Jones is already angered by Josh Allen and the White folks. On his podcast this week, Jones previewed the NFL season by accusing White people of having a bias toward Allen that people of color do not share. "America's number one rooting project, the Buffalo Bills ... they got him a new stadium. Boy, White folks is so ready for the eventual Josh Allen coronation. And it's not all the White folks, but it's White folks. We ain't got it." ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Is that so? His guest, The Ringer writer Diante Lee, nodded along, saying, "It's enough of them [White folks]." Damn those White folks. If you were wondering which story, scandal, podcast, or statement Jones and Lee are referring to, you are not alone. I wondered the same thing. Unfortunately, neither specified what proof they have of this supposed racial bias. OutKick asked both Jones and Lee to explain. Neither has responded as of publication. We will update this story if either does. But don't expect it. Bomani Jones has been on this talking point for a while. He has long accused nameless media figures of giving Josh Allen a pass and rooting for him because he is White. Jones is one of the leading participants in the media-manufactured race war between Allen and Lamar Jackson. As expected, he sides with Jackson. Just last week, he complained that anonymous people — who else? — are putting more pressure on Jackson than Allen this season. His argument: The Bills kept Allen and gave him a new head coach, so he has no more excuses. The problem: The Ravens also kept Jackson and gave him a new coach. Why the double standard? While racially motivated, Jones may not have known that the Ravens fired John Harbaugh and hired Jesse Minter. He often doesn't appear to know the details about the sports he covers, beyond the skin colors of the subjects involved. EX-ESPN HOST SAYS SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DESERVED TO BE EJECTED AND PUNISHED — NOT DIJONAI CARRINGTON, WHO CLOTHESLINED HER Last season, he said Stafford must win a Super Bowl to make the Hall of Fame. "He's the new Josh Allen," Jones said about Stafford. "He's the least scrutinized No. 1 pick in the history of No. 1 overall picks. If the Rams don't win the Super Bowl, shut this Hall of Fame thing up." Jones was seemingly unaware that Stafford had already won a Super Bowl just a few years earlier. He later backtracked, saying Stafford needed to win a second Super Bowl to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. This argument didn't make much sense either, considering only 13 quarterbacks have won more than one Super Bowl, yet 36 have been enshrined, many of whom have lesser resumes than Stafford. But the facts didn't matter. Stafford played the Bears that week, and Jones needed to find a way to discredit Stafford and elevate Caleb Williams. Likewise, he is now arguing that Kyler Murray is a better quarterback than Sam Darnold, who just won a Super Bowl last season. Are you starting to see a trend? Bomani is also not a believer in Drake Maye, Fernando Mendoza or Justin Herbert. He does, however, have great faith in Cam Ward, Jayden Daniels and Dak Prescott. The prediction here is that Jones will prefer Dante Moore over Arch Manning in next year's NFL Draft. To be clear, Jones understands his audience. His reach is now limited to a niche group of sports fans who want to hear that White people are inferior athletes who have survived only because of White privilege. Therefore, Jones has lowered himself to arguing with straw men, whom he accuses of favoring Allen and Stafford based on their skin color. Granted, even his own fans appear tired of the schtick. Here's the top message on his Reddit fan page as of Friday afternoon: "Bomani has completely lost the juice. "Today’s episode made me tap out. He has nothing interesting left to say. If he’s going to spend the entire NFL season making the same 5 points about Stafford, Allen, Murray, and Hurts I’ll pass. "He had a great run but it’s honestly kinda depressing what he’s turned into." THE LEFT WANTS CAITLIN CLARK, SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM TO SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE WHEN IT COMES TO TRANS SPORTS The market for racial idolatry in sports media has collapsed. The demand for Jones, Ryan Clark, Jemele Hill, Cari Champion and many others is over. In fact, Jones never had much of an audience anyway. See the ratings for his former shows at ESPN. Put simply, there is no evidence that White folks are rooting for Josh Allen because he's White. But because Bomani so clearly roots for Black quarterbacks because they are Black, something he has admitted, he assumes everyone else is like him. Fortunately, most people are not. Most people are not this concerned about the skin colors of the people playing quarterback. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f8fef2c5335ae10468673 BROOKE ROLLINS: USDA Is Reopening Our Southern Ports To Livestock  te 2026-08-14T22:00:15.575Z BROOKE ROLLINS: USDA Is Reopening Our Southern Ports To Livestock  By U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins | Recently, I visited the port of entry in Douglas, Arizona, which has been traversed by cattle nearly 150 years. Last year alone, over 57,000 live cattle were imported into the United States from Mexico through the port—that is, until we closed it in May 2025 to protect American livestock from the New World screwworm (NWS). Thanks to our round-the-clock efforts, in partnership with state and local animal health officials, it is now safe to begin a coordinated, phased reopening of southern cattle ports.  Every model showed NWS entering our country by late summer of 2025, but by increasing oversight of containment efforts in Mexico and strengthening border protections, we bought critical time to prepare. Since January 20, 2025, the Trump administration has invested a record $1.3 billion in emergency funding to combat the pest—one of the largest animal health responses in U.S. history.  Our defensive plan is robust. We have expanded the number of staff working on NWS by 1,000 percent, and over the past two months, we have conducted more than 1,000 drone flights observing over 21,000 wildlife in Texas. To prevent NWS from reproducing, we are also dropping 100 million sterile flies per week over Texas and Mexico. This spring at Moore Air Base in Texas, we opened a new sterile fly dispersal facility and broke ground on a sterile fly production facility. Last month, a production facility we helped upgrade in Metapa, Mexico, officially opened, and another facility we support in Panama is currently producing sterile flies at maximum capacity.   But we’re not stopping there. In Arizona, I announced a $25 million U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investment to construct a brand-new sterile fly dispersal facility in the Grand Canyon state, which is coming into being thanks to the visionary leadership of Arizona’s own U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani. Ranchers can rest assured that we are working with state officials to advance this project as soon as possible. Sterile flies were key to eliminating NWS from the U.S. in the 1960s, and they remain so today.  Just as important are surveillance and preparedness on the ground, which are led in Arizona by the Arizona Department of Agriculture, and in Texas by Governor Abbott, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The Trump administration is reinforcing their efforts at every turn, including by ramping up outreach to producers and veterinarians and monitoring over 120 dedicated NWS traps and over 8,000 fruit fly traps along the border.  The results have been remarkable. Since the first confirmed case of NWS in the U.S. on June 3, the same month only saw 31 total cases within our borders, all of which are now inactive. Even better, July saw just 12 cases, and only 3 cases overall are active today. To put that in perspective, Mexico had over 30,000 cases last year alone. Clearly, our efforts are bearing fruit.  The fight is not over, but as the presence of NWS declines, so does the threat to our ranchers. That’s why it is now safe to reopen U.S. livestock ports of entry on our southern border, which have historically played a critical role in the American cattle trade—especially in recent years, as the U.S. cattle herd has reached a 75-year low. Live imports from Mexico make their way to U.S. feedlots and eventually end up on dinner tables across America.  The port in Douglas will be the first to reopen on August 24 due its low-risk profile and because the bordering Mexican state of Sonora remains the lowest-risk Mexican state for NWS and maintains some of the strongest livestock inspection and movement controls anywhere in Mexico. After evaluating the success of the initial reopening, we will then consider reopening the ports in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and Columbus, New Mexico, to live cattle, bison, and horses.   Make no mistake, these reopenings are contingent on Mexico making continued forward progress and meeting all enhanced USDA requirements. Every animal entering the U.S. will fully comply with our comprehensive import protocol, which requires preventive treatment for NWS, multiple inspections before an animal approaches our border for import, and inspection by USDA for any trace of NWS.   If at any point we determine there is an imminent threat to our domestic herd, we will not hesitate to immediately pause the reopenings. Protecting American livestock will always come first, and we will continue using every tool at our disposal to support the ranchers who raise them and to eliminate NWS once and for all. Our nation’s food security—and, therefore, our freedom—depend on it.  Brooke Rollins serves as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture The post BROOKE ROLLINS: USDA Is Reopening Our Southern Ports To Livestock  first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f8d912c5335ae10468613 Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Socialist streamer scrapped, a campus hate alert and coddled college kids te 2026-08-14T21:50:09.701Z Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Socialist streamer scrapped, a campus hate alert and coddled college kids EVENT SCRAPPED: Controversial streamer Hasan Piker's lecture axed by University of Washington amid free speech questions ‘DEMANDS OF COLLEGE:’ University of Michigan plans to shield 2027 freshman letter grades from transcripts in new mental health plan RED BLOODED: El-Sayed’s half sister revealed as radical professor arrested for allegedly assaulting a cop at anti-ICE riot HATE ALERT: Campus antisemitism extends beyond student protests and into classrooms, ADL warns NEW PROBE: Florida State University hit with federal civil rights investigation over race, sex-based scholarship programs CRASH COURSE: Socialism’s campus appeal meets Gen Z resistance as students keep score on communism Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f88e32c5335ae10467bef Spanish broadcaster allegedly skips Israeli hurdler during introductions at European Athletics Championships te 2026-08-14T21:30:11.222Z Spanish broadcaster allegedly skips Israeli hurdler during introductions at European Athletics Championships A Spanish national broadcast channel is in hot water following an alleged omission during its coverage of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England this week. RTVE, a news organization in Spain, was covering a hurdling event that featured athletes from all over the world lining up in their starting positions and staying loose. As the camera panned to each individual participant, the anchors for RTVE introduced the athletes by name as well the country they represented. However, when the camera reached Omri Shiff, a hurdler from Israel, both anchors inexplicably averted their attention to another participant who was apparently taking too long to get set. EXCLUSIVE: ISRAELI PRESIDENT HERZOG BLASTS MAMDANI, PRAISES TRUMP, SOUNDS ALARM ON IRAN By the time the camera moved off Shiff and onto another athlete from Hungary, the introductions resumed, and the rest of the athletes were once again mentioned by their name and what country they were there to represent. Even if you don't speak fluent Spanish, you can tell just by their cadence as well as the names being used that Shiff wasn't acknowledged during the athlete intros. You can even hear an audible pause while Shiff is being shown before the male anchor steps in to say something. GERMAN OFFICIALS WARN ISLAMIST, FAR-LEFT RHETORIC DRIVING SPIKE IN ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS After the camera moved to the Hungarian participant, the female anchor appeared to laugh and make a quick comment before returning to the athlete introductions. RTVE issued a public apology in a statement to The Jewish Chronicle, saying, "We sincerely regret not having named all the athletes who appeared on screen during the broadcasts on Teledeporte [sports channel], as happened in the case of the Israeli athlete Omar Shiff. "This situation was exclusively due to the complexity of the long athletics sessions and the dynamics of live broadcasting – such as trackside commentary or production requirements – and was in no way related to political, ideological or religious reasons. "Our commitment is to give visibility to every participant, and we work to achieve this in every broadcast. We reiterate our apology to the athlete affected." The outlet did not respond to requests for comment from OutKick. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f88e22c5335ae10467be6 Trump’s fight over rarely used 18th-century deportation law lives on in latest court clash te 2026-08-14T21:30:10.446Z Trump’s fight over rarely used 18th-century deportation law lives on in latest court clash The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday dismissed as moot a challenge to President Donald Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Tren de Aragua members, leaving the legality of his invocation of the 18th-century law unresolved. The New Orleans-based court said the case became moot after all three Venezuelan plaintiffs, whom the administration alleged were members of Tren de Aragua, had already been removed from the United States under other immigration authorities. While the Alien Enemies Act dates back hundreds of years, prior to Trump, it was most recently invoked by President Harry Truman in 1946. The law allows the president, under specified wartime or invasion circumstances involving a foreign nation or government, to detain and remove certain non-naturalized individuals of that hostile power. The Trump administration has argued that Tren de Aragua’s gang activity amounts to an "invasion or predatory incursion" under the law and has sought to use the authority as part of its broader immigration agenda, including efforts to speed the removal of suspected gang members. DC APPEALS COURT ORDERS JUDGE BOASBERG TO HALT TRUMP CONTEMPT PROBE OVER DEPORTATION FLIGHTS The Supreme Court previously blocked the administration from removing the detainees under the Alien Enemies Act while the case proceeded, but stopped short of deciding whether Trump had lawfully invoked the statute, sending the dispute back to the Fifth Circuit. Advancing American Freedom senior legal fellow Bryce Poole described the ruling as a mixed result for the Trump administration. "The Fifth Circuit's en banc decision in W.M.M. v. Trump represents one step forward, one step sideways for the Trump Administration," Advancing American Freedom senior legal fellow Bryce Poole told Fox News Digital. "Last year, in A.A.R.P. v. Trump, the Supreme Court blocked the removals but declined to decide whether President Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act was lawful, sending that question back to the Fifth Circuit." Advancing American Freedom is a conservative public policy advocacy organization founded by former Vice President Mike Pence. "It's a step forward because it vacates the prior ruling that said Trump's invocation was unlawful, leaving the President's AEA powers intact," Poole explained. "It's a step sideways because the court dodged the merits, so the AEA's legality remains a live question the Supreme Court will likely decide — probably in a different case like J.A.V. v. Trump, which has a certified class, so mootness won't apply." BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY Even though the court declined to rule on the merits, two judges signaled their belief that the president’s use of the law was appropriate in their concurring opinions. "I agree that this case is moot," Judge James Ho wrote. "But I also agree with the United States that we should address the merits questions directed to us by the Supreme Court — and affirm the President’s actions under the Alien Enemies Act and the Due Process Clause." "As I’ve also noted, judges are supposed to defer to a President’s declaration of a state of invasion — including the ones issued on January 20, 2025." Ho, a Trump appointee, added. "And if courts must defer when the President treats illegal immigration as an invasion, see id., then a fortiori we must defer when it comes to the narrower question of an invasion by Tren de Aragua." Ilya Somin, a George Mason law professor and scholar at the libertarian Cato Institute, disagreed strongly with Ho’s rationale. "If the president could create an 'invasion' simply by claiming that it exists, it would convert dangerous emergency powers that can only be used in extreme circumstances into blank checks the president can invoke any time he wants" he wrote. "That's contrary to the text of the AEA (which limits its use to situations where these circumstances actually exist) and to the text and original meaning of the Constitution." SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS Judge Andrew Oldham, another Trump appointee, also agreed that the president’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act was legally sound. With all 17 active Fifth Circuit judges participating, the court refused a request from the plaintiffs’ lawyers to substitute in new plaintiffs for the men who the Trump administration deported. Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act remains legally unresolved following the dismissal, with the court’s actions likely delaying a possible final decision at the Supreme Court. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f88e12c5335ae10467bd3 Supreme Court orders GOP to rewrite ‘argumentative’ voucher measure summary te 2026-08-14T21:30:09.142Z Supreme Court orders GOP to rewrite ‘argumentative’ voucher measure summary Photo via Getty Images The Arizona Supreme Court shot down a request from Republican lawmakers to preserve their summary of the voucher-regulating Protect Education Act in a voter education pamphlet, ruling that the description violates state law because it tries to sway voters against the initiative.  The Protect Education Act, which will be on November’s ballots as Proposition 212, would overhaul the state’s universal private school voucher system. Among other things, it seeks to add an income eligibility cap, crack down on voucher misuse and require schools that accept vouchers to meet certain educational and safety requirements.  Until now, the program has had few guardrails and that, combined with a universal expansion in 2022, resulted in an annual cost to the state of more than $1 billion and a wave of questionable purchases, like pianos and luxury car driving lessons.  But the vouchers, known formally as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, are the crown jewel for Arizona Republicans, who have consistently resisted adding any new regulations to the program. In their view, Prop. 212 is an existential threat to vouchers specifically and school choice more broadly.  As a result, they’ve sought to both defeat the initiative and fend off future efforts to restrain the program. Their chief tactic was to put their own proposal on November’s ballot that purported to prevent voucher money from being taken from military families, but also would nullify Prop. 212’s reforms — even if voters approve it later this year — and made any future changes to the program as a whole nearly impossible. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge struck that proposal from November’s ballot last month, though Republicans are appealing that ruling.  In yet another attempt to foil Prop. 212, GOP lawmakers crafted a description of it for the publicity pamphlet that will be mailed to every voter that a judge said was illegally designed to scare voters into opposing the ballot measure.  A provision in Prop. 212 allows the campaign behind the initiative to “initiate or intervene in any action or proceeding to enforce or defend” the laws it creates. Supporters of Prop. 212 argued in court filings that the provision is intended to allow the committee to get involved in lawsuits challenging the ballot measure’s constitutionality, validity or enforcement in the event that the attorney general or legislature opts not to defend it.  But Republicans crafted a publicity pamphlet description saying that backing the initiative would give the campaign the “power to sue the families and private schools that participate in the program.”   On Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Martin ruled that the description, which Arizona law requires to be impartial, must be rewritten. Republicans quickly appealed to the state supreme court justices, asking them to reverse Martin’s decision.  But the justices were unimpressed, swiftly ruling that the description appears to advocate against the initiative. Decades of previous court rulings have established that the language in the publicity pamphlet must not be provocative, tinged with partisan intent or attempt to convince voters one way or the other.  In the ruling, Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer pointed out that the summary of Prop. 212 falls short of the impartiality standard baked into state law and cherry-picks one interpretation of one provision to cast the entire ballot measure in a negative light.  “The proposed phrasing is argumentative, speculative, and non-neutral (in the sense that it leans toward one side of the argument) in that it does not simply set forth the operative language in question but highlights the possible effects of only part of it,” she wrote on behalf of the high court.  Timmer agreed that the initiative could be read as allowing lawsuits against families and private schools that misuse school vouchers, but noted that the broader context of the initiative favors the argument from supporters of the initiative, who say that it only allows the political campaign to join lawsuits. In their original complaint, the Protect Education Accountability Now committee said that the power to launch legal action to enforce the requirements of Prop. 212 is left up to the state attorney general.  The description of what the ballot measure does, Timmer wrote, ultimately leaves voters in the dark because it doesn’t include the interpretation that voucher supporters are advancing, just the one that makes the ballot initiative look bad.  “The analysis does not inform voters in a neutral manner of the full scope of what the Committee would be authorized to do,” she wrote. The state supreme court’s decision preserve’s the lower court’s order that Republican lawmakers rewrite their summary of the initiative. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f868a2c5335ae10467b82 Democratic governor credits Trump for delivering project for Michigan that Biden couldn't get over finish line te 2026-08-14T21:20:10.359Z Democratic governor credits Trump for delivering project for Michigan that Biden couldn't get over finish line Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that President Donald Trump has helped her deliver for the state, pointing to a specific fighter jet mission she tried to secure during the Biden administration but couldn't. Whitmer spoke to Newsom on his podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom," and said she needed to figure out how to conduct herself after the 2024 presidential election because her state had voted for Trump again. Newsom noted Whitmer had visited the White House, and the pair both agreed a working relationship with the president was "part of the job." "I've gotten some really good stuff done. Honestly," she told Newsom. "I got a fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and I tried to get that done under the Biden administration, couldn't get over the finish line, but I got it done with him. So, that's a huge deal to Michigan." PROGRESSIVE PRAISE FOR TRUMP AS WARREN BACKS PUSH TO CURB DEFENSE CONTRACTOR CEO PAYOUTS Former President Joe Biden's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Whitmer appeared to be referring to "Mission Next," which will replace the retiring A-10 Warthog aircraft based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan with 21 brand-new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. The mission is part of a modernization plan for the National Guard Base, according to the National Guard's website, which includes construction and infrastructure upgrades that will create jobs and new training opportunities. Trump shared details of the new fighter jet mission in April 2025 during a speech to National Guard members at the Michigan base for an event commemorating his 100th day in office. "Fresh off the line. That means they are brand new," Trump said at the time. "They've never been anywhere. This is where they're going to be for a long time. And I saw one of them, flew over my head, and I said, ‘What the hell is that?’ That plane has serious power. So, this is the best there is anywhere in the world, the F-15EX Eagle II. This will keep Selfridge at the cutting edge of Northern American air power." JD VANCE UNCOVERS THE HIDDEN WHITE HOUSE DRESS CODE PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPECTS FROM HIS INNER CIRCLE White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital on Friday, "While Joe Biden’s weak policies neglected our military, President Trump saved Selfridge Air National Guard Base, a crucial pillar of North American air defense; rebuilt our military; and restored readiness and lethality to our U.S. Armed Forces." "With President Trump as Commander in Chief, the United States Military will continue to lead the world in power, prestige, and might," Wales continued. "President Trump proudly won the state of Michigan in 2024, and will continue to deliver on his promises for all Michiganders." Whitmer said during the podcast conversation with Newsom that she knew how to work with people who weren't her best friends, even if she didn't like it.  The Michigan governor went viral in April 2025 for attempting to hide her face while photos were being taken during an Oval Office meeting with the president. She explained the moment days later, and said she just didn't want her picture taken. "I don’t want my picture taken, that’s all it was. I kind of wished I hadn’t put my folder up in front of my face, but whatever. You know I was there … I just wrote a book about learning to laugh at yourself, so I’m pretty good at it. We all have our moments," Whitmer said. Trump notably praised Whitmer at the time, calling her a "very good person," even though the pair have traded barbs in the past. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE However, the White House called out the Democratic governor in April after a local steel manufacturing company announced it would soon pour $43.4 million into expanding its Michigan-based operations. "Democrats like Gretchen Whitmer spent decades talking about fixing broken trade deals and creating manufacturing jobs here in America for American workers," Kush Desai, a White House spokesperson, told Fox News Digital earlier this year about the Michigan governor, who is often floated as a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028. "President Trump is actually delivering — and he’s delivering with the same agenda of tariffs, deregulation," the statement added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f84332c5335ae10467b17 Minor League team rolls out 'Nothing Night' with no music, videos, or public address announcements te 2026-08-14T21:10:11.601Z Minor League team rolls out 'Nothing Night' with no music, videos, or public address announcements Minor league baseball is known for its theme nights, promotional giveaways, and on-field antics that keep the fans entertained all game long. But at a time when this has become the norm, some want their baseball without a side of music blaring and the mascot doing donuts in the outfield on an ATV. And that's exactly what the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, will do on Aug. 18 when they host their first-ever "Nothing Night." "One of our executives back then had worked in Lake Elsinore, who did this as the Lake Elsinore Storm back in, I believe, 2008, and they went way extreme for it," the team's play-by-play announcer and manager of media relations Garrett Greene said. "It was like free admission, but there were no concession stands, and the bathrooms were locked. "And we were like, 'Let's not go that far with this.'" So, bathrooms and concessions will be available, but don't expect usual staples like walk-up music, videos on the Jumbotron, or games on the field between innings. This means that the crowd's attention has only one place to go: on the baseball game taking place directly in front of them. "There are some times where it's like, 'Hey, it would be fun to just show up and just have a nice, easy, relaxing game where the focus is entirely on the field,'" Greene said. "As the broadcaster, the game's normally the focus for me, but it's kind of nice that for one night we said, 'Hey, let's just strip everything else away. It's just one night and show kind of what baseball is.' SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS REDS FANS GO BERSERK AFTER CATCHER TYLER STEPHENSON'S ABS CHALLENGE WINS THEM FREE PIZZA STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! "If we take away all the crazy sound effects, music, in-between innings promotions, giveaways, and just make it, 'Hey, just show up, and the game is right there in front of you, and that's the most important thing for the night." The Space Cowboys (what a killer name, by the way) will take on the Oklahoma City Comets on Nothing Night, and while you won't see any frills, all the necessities for a modern baseball game will be on hand. "The main concern was, are we still going to have balls, strikes, and outs? We have a manually operated scoreboard... so it was like, is that the only place the score is going to be? Are we going to have pitch counts? Are we going to have automatic balls and strikes?" Greene said. "And so, we're going to have those things that you need to make a baseball game in 2026 happen." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f84322c5335ae10467b0e Dolphins consultant Troy Aikman will be limited in MNF role like Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is on Fox te 2026-08-14T21:10:10.990Z Dolphins consultant Troy Aikman will be limited in MNF role like Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is on Fox Troy Aikman, who this offseason added an informal consultant role with the Miami Dolphins to his work on ESPN's Monday Night Football telecast, has been told he must abide by restrictions that have been on Tom Brady for a couple of years. The NFL confirmed to Fox News Digital a report by Front Office Sports on Friday that Aikman must limit some of his access to clubs as part of his preparation for games. Those limitations were initially placed on Brady when he joined Fox Sports. TOM BRADY SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO RAIDERS ROOKIE FERNANDO MENDOZA: EARN YOUR OPPORTUNITY "The same parameters that pertained to Tom last season will continue this year and also will apply to Troy," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Both may attend production meetings virtually but will have no access to practice facilities or practices. "They may conduct interviews outside team facilities with football personnel and players. They could conduct the interview at the team hotel in an area separate from other football personnel." One more thing: "They could broadcast games involving their own club," McCarthy added. Aikman has been the lead color commentator for "Monday Night Football" alongside Joe Buck since 2022 but this offseason he was added to the Dolphins hierarchy when ownership brought him in to help in the general manager and head coach search that eventually led to the hiring of Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley. Hafley thanked Aikman at his introductory press conference for being part of the search committee that chose him as head coach. Sullivan clarified that Aikman is kept "in the fold" as an active resource, though with a distinct boundary regarding roster construction. It is clear, however, that Aikman provides his insights to ownership and other club leadership when he deems necessary and those are welcome. At least some of those insights are obviously gathered from his broadcast role connections. Aikman's role in Miami doesn't seem quite as formal as that of Brady, who is the No. 1 analyst on Fox broadcasts and also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. But the NFL is treating both the same now. The league has been pleased with how Brady has balanced his dual roles and stayed within guidelines. It has no concerns that Brady, previously, and Aikman, in future, will pose a conflict of interest for any team. "There have been no issues with Tom over the last two seasons. It is up to the coaches and clubs what they share with him," McCarthy said. "If they share information they shouldn’t, then that’s on them." Interestingly, the information Aikman has shared so far probably has hurt the Dolphins rather than helped. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM During an interview earlier this month on the "Dallas Dialogue with Dale" show, Aikman pointed out that the Dolphins are not going to be a good team in 2026. Everyone pretty much knew that already, but the problem is both Hafley and Sullivan have been working to get out the message that they want to win. That they aren't tanking this season. (The Dolphins tanked the 2019 season by trading and releasing multiple big-name players in hopes of gaining a high NFL Draft pick in the first round of the 2020 draft. It sort of worked, although coach Brian Flores didn't go along with the plan and milked five wins out of a roster constructed to lose). Anyway, Aikman apparently didn't get the memo from Hafley and Sullivan, who don't want their players and fans to think winning isn't a priority this season. "The Dolphins are not expected to be very good this year," Aikman said. "They're getting out of cap hell, so there's no Monday night game with the Dolphins this year." The Dolphins indeed do not play on Monday Night Football this season. But perhaps they would be smart to speak with Aikman about getting with the company line. FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f84322c5335ae10467b05 President Trump claims AOC, far-left Democrats are backing away from controversial positions te 2026-08-14T21:10:10.371Z President Trump claims AOC, far-left Democrats are backing away from controversial positions President Donald Trump said Friday that far-left Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are now trying to distance themselves from some of the radical positions they once championed. In an interview with Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams, Trump was asked about Ocasio-Cortez's perceived shift away from her earlier calls to defund police departments, as well as other soft-on-crime policies. "If you really look at it, they're all saying the same thing," Trump said of progressive Democrats. "They're all trying to disavow themselves from what they said about crime and, well, they're saying, ‘We love sanctuary cities.’" ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHRUGS OFF PAST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' COMMENTS, JOKING 'WOKE 1 WAS CRAZY' During an interview with ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, the congresswoman attempted to dismiss the extreme rhetoric of the so-called "Woke 1" era. The term is used by some progressive politicians to describe the pandemic-era social justice activism and far-left political rhetoric around 2019 and 2020, when some called for the defunding of law enforcement agencies, the abolition of police and prisons, the elimination of cash bail, as well as open borders and unchecked migration. Trump said some Democrats are now trying to distance themselves from sanctuary cities, which generally don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities. "I think you're going to see sanctuary cities start to end, because sanctuary cities are a disaster. And somebody like her, she was big for sanctuary cities," Trump said of Ocasio-Cortez. "They cause crime." EXCLUSIVE: LEGAL GROUP TELLS NYPD COPS THEY CAN CONTACT ICE DIRECTLY DESPITE BLUE CITY'S SANCTUARY RULES "That's when it all started. No cash bail," he added. "Somebody kills somebody, and they just say, all right, go ahead and come back in two weeks." During her ABC interview, Jonathan Karl briefly pressed the congresswoman — who is a member of the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — on radical comments made by fellow socialist and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong in 2020 and 2021. "I have a local city councilman that has this saying, 'Woke 1 was crazy,'" Ocasio-Cortez said while grinning. "And I think that what’s important is that we have to assess what a candidate is saying now." The congresswoman has refused to rule out a run for president, but she hasn't looked past November's midterm elections. Ocasio-Cortez's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f81dc2c5335ae10467a9f Falcons' James Pearce hit with 8-game suspension as NFL announces wave of bans across the league te 2026-08-14T21:00:12.763Z Falcons' James Pearce hit with 8-game suspension as NFL announces wave of bans across the league A flurry of suspensions was announced by the NFL on Friday, with James Pearce's eight-game ban leading the way. The Atlanta Falcons edge rusher has been embroiled in a domestic dispute, having been arrested in February. Pearce was charged with three felonies for his alleged involvement in a dispute with his girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Court documents revealed Pearce was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Pearce, a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year after a successful 2025 season with the Falcons, was arrested near Miami last month after allegedly fleeing officers and crashing his car after what police called a domestic violence incident with Jackson, a 2024 All-Rookie team honoree with the Los Angeles Sparks. Pearce is alleged to have crashed his car into another vehicle being driven by Jackson and struck a police officer while he tried to flee law enforcement, ESPN reported, citing a criminal complaint from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office. NFL RECEIVER SPLITS WITH FIANCÉE, FORMER MISS PERU, AFTER SENDING WEDDING INVITES: REPORT Jackson told police she noticed Pearce was following her in a white luxury vehicle, and when she stopped at a red light, the Falcons rookie tried to open her car. Jackson said she started to drive toward the Doral Police Department while Pearce was allegedly following her. Then, as she got closer to the police station, she alleged Pearce cut her off and collided with her head on. An officer reportedly pulled a gun on Pearce once Doral authorities responded to the incident in an attempt to force him to get on the ground. However, he allegedly got back into his car and drove away. Three other players were suspended by the NFL on Friday: Tennessee Titans defensive back Nazeeh Johnson, Washington Commanders edge rusher Dorance Armstrong and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis. Johnson will be out for six games for violating the league's Performance-Enhancing Substances policy. Armstrong will miss a game for violating the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, and Mathis' violation of the league's Substances of Abuse policy is costing him three games. Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f81db2c5335ae10467a8d In Arizona’s most competitive district, Trump’s policies collide with Ciscomani’s reelection bid te 2026-08-14T21:00:11.263Z In Arizona’s most competitive district, Trump’s policies collide with Ciscomani’s reelection bid U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (center) tours the Lucid electric vehicle factory in Casa Grande in 2023. (Photo via @RepCiscomani/X) Since it was created in 2021, Congressional District 6 has been Arizona’s most competitive district, with an electorate that is nearly evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.  But a growing dislike of President Donald Trump  and the fiscal impacts of his administration’s policies on the district are likely to take center-stage as Democrats seek to unseat the Republican incumbent in an attempt to flip control of the U.S. House of Representatives.  The district is currently represented by Republican Juan Ciscomani, who won his last two elections by 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively. But in a midterm election that will be a referendum on Trump’s second term, Democrats see the best chance they’ve ever had to oust Ciscomani, amid wins in competitive races across the country.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE At the top of issues that are likely to impact Ciscomani’s race is the direct impacts of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” or OBBA, the bill that slashed federal government spending in order to enact massive tax cuts, primarily for businesses and the wealthy. Among the federal spending that was axed were Biden-era tax credits aimed at spurring the sale of electric vehicles.  And Lucid Motors, which built the nation’s first purpose-built EV factory in North America in Casa Grande, said the end of those tax incentives was directly responsible for its decision to lay off more than 1,000 workers at that plant.  “The layoffs at Lucid are clearly not good news for the congressman, and Trump’s renewable agenda is not complimentary to the industry and its creating waves,” GOP consultant Chuck Coughlin told the Arizona Mirror. “Not all things are smelling like roses this cycle for the Republican incumbent, and he’s got, by all measures, a well biographed Democrat opponent.”  Since the factory opened in 2021, Lucid Motors has been the largest employer in Casa Grande, which sits at the northwestern corner of Congressional District 6. Ciscomani has visited the plant in the past, noting its status as a first of its kind factory in the country and was even present at its ribbon cutting ceremony.  But Lucid isn’t the only company in the district harmed by the policies pushed by the Trump administration — and supported by Ciscomani and nearly every other Republican in Congress. Kohler had initially received approval by the United States Department of Energy to build clean energy infrastructure at its plant in Casa Grande, but the administration canceled that grant money. Similar renewable energy projects across the state have met a similar fate as Trump has waged a war against  renewable energy in favor of reliance on fossil fuels.  “It is devastating for a community like Casa Grande and the surrounding area, because there are a lot of small towns that rely on those jobs to keep their roots down in the county,” JoAnna Mendoza, Ciscomani’s Democratic opponent, told the Mirror.  Ciscomani did not respond to requests for an interview or comment for this story.  But how will this impact the race?  According to Coughlin, one of the reasons CD6 is so highly competitive is that economic growth has spurred new voters to flock to the area.  “It is a classic swing district in Arizona. It is that district,” Coughlin said. “Arizona changes all the time because people move and populations move.” Those shifting demographics mean that Ciscomani will have to campaign harder and stay focused on his record as well as to try to stay out of engaging with rhetoric aimed at tying him to Trump, Coughlin said.  However, that may be easier said than done.  Ciscomani has publicly opposed certain aspects of the administration’s agenda, including with the OBBA when it was still moving through the legislative process. However, at the end of the day, he joined the GOP congressional majority and voted for the bill, which has had direct impacts for Arizonans in CD6.  Ciscomani’s position is one shared by dozens of Republican congresspeople who are now facing an electorate that is frustrated with Trump, his policies and the elected officials who have backed them.  He had previously said that the OBBA’s cuts could adversely impact jobs in his district, jobs like the ones at Lucid Motors. Now he and other Republicans whose communities are being directly impacted by measures in the OBBA are seeing it as a liability going into the midterms.  “This is one of those races where it comes down to candidates and campaigns that matter,” Coughlin said, adding that Ciscomani will need to make it a “local race” and focus on his work with constituents and avoid connections to Trump whenever possible.  But that’s not the path Ciscomani is taking. Earlier this month, Ciscomani tagged along with Trump administration officials, touting the OBBA. Those issues as well as the rising unpopularity of Trump’s mass deportation agenda are all things that will likely help the Mendoza campaign, Coughlin noted.  But that’s not to say it will be easy sailing for Mendoza.  “She can have a tight message, but again, I’ll go back to this, she’s never run a competitive campaign before,” Coughlin said. “I don’t know how she is going to perform as a candidate. I think it is going to be fascinating to watch.” Mendoza seems undeterred and told the Mirror that, if elected, she intends to help try to reinstate those renewable energy tax credits, as well as protect programs like SNAP and Medicaid. She emphasized that she will not be able to do it all on her own — it will take voters across the country sending Democrats to Congress.  “I alone can’t fix it, and I want to be really clear about that,” Mendoza said. “I think sometimes you get these empty promises from politicians.”  She also said she intends to continue to highlight the impacts of the Trump administration’s actions on rural voters in the region.  “In these small rural communities, they are feeling those impacts every day,” Mendoza said. “There is no secret sauce, no special messaging — it is about showing up and showing that you care.”  Coughlin warned that Democrats should try to focus less on Trump and more on their own policies in these competitive races if they are looking to win.  “It is not just Mendoza, it is the entire Democratic ticket. What are we campaigning for? What are we for?” he said, adding that they should focus on what makes them different and inform voters of their policies, specifically on things like immigration. “You gotta have some solution. Arizona is a border state.” Coughlin said it is especially important to focus on those issues in order to drive voters to the polls, given the low turnout of this year’s primary. Democrats need to find ways to drive out voters to their side, as low turnout in midterm elections has historically favored conservative candidates, although that metric has also begun to flip.  “Right now, I’m betting (CD6 is) going to flip,” Coughlin said, emphasizing that both candidates are going to need to run focused campaigns. “(Ciscomani) is a good campaigner, I know that…He is not going to run a bad campaign, and this is where it will matter what kind of campaign she runs.” YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f7f832c5335ae10467a1f Miami running back Jordan Lyle arrested on felony aggravated fleeing charge in Broward County te 2026-08-14T20:50:11.536Z Miami running back Jordan Lyle arrested on felony aggravated fleeing charge in Broward County Miami running back Jordan Lyle has been slated to take the next step this season after the Canes' championship appearance last year, but his season is not off to the best start. The 20-year-old rising junior was arrested in Broward County on Thursday on a felony complaint of aggravated fleeing or eluding law enforcement, court records say. Lyle is accused of driving "in any manner which demonstrates a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property" and "willfully" trying to get away from police. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "We are aware of an incident involving student-athlete Jordan Lyle. As due legal process runs its course, we will have no further comment at this time," Miami said in a statement. Lyle appeared in six games last year while backing up ACC rushing leader Mark Fletcher Jr. He showed promise early on but suffered an injury in Miami's first game of the season and never fully recovered. He returned several weeks later but was shut down after Miami's Nov. 8 game against Syracuse, having never played more than eight snaps upon returning. JAYDEN DANIELS WANTED ‘ RESPECT ’ FROM LSU. INSTEAD, HE STARTED AN UGLY FIGHT THAT WILL TARNISH HIS REPUTATION In his abbreviated time, he had 35 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. In his freshman season, he averaged a whopping 7.4 yards per carry (54 rushes, 400 yards) and scored four times in his 12 games played. Lyle's arrest comes just days after head coach Mario Cristobal sang his praises amid what's been reported as a strong camp. "I see the Jordan Lyle that we saw a year ago in many respects, but with better physical traits," Cristobal said Tuesday after practice. "He is healthy [now], which I think is a really important part. I don't think people really knew the extent of how banged up he was last year and we see the full speed player now. I am really excited about him." "Jordan has taken strength and conditioning very seriously and he has certainly improved his change of direction and acceleration and deceleration rates," Cristobal added. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f7f7c2c5335ae104679f4 NAU ROUNDUP: Cross country to host two home meets, soccer wins season opener in California te 2026-08-14T20:50:04.740Z NAU ROUNDUP: Cross country to host two home meets, soccer wins season opener in California Buffalo Park will play host to the Big Sky Cross Country Championships for the first time in over a decade. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f7d232c5335ae10467982 Self-driving trucks are officially testing on California highways te 2026-08-14T20:40:03.750Z Self-driving trucks are officially testing on California highways Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI, two companies developing self-driving trucks, have received permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f7ad52c5335ae10467958 EXCLUSIVE: Kennedy Center board moves to name grounds ‘President Donald J. Trump Plaza' te 2026-08-14T20:30:13.811Z EXCLUSIVE: Kennedy Center board moves to name grounds ‘President Donald J. Trump Plaza' FIRST ON FOX — The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees wants to name the famed arts institution’s grounds the "President Donald J. Trump Plaza," one of several new ways the board is seeking to honor the president as the center moves ahead with a sweeping renovation, Fox News Digital has learned. The board also wants the words "Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund" inscribed on the building once the fund reaches a $100 million endowment, according to information obtained by Fox News Digital. The previously unreported moves come after the board voted Thursday to add an inscription crediting Trump with restoring and renovating America's cultural center, and approved a partial closure of the complex for renovations. KENNEDY CENTER BOARD MEMBER KNOCKS SEN WHITEHOUSE FOR IGNORING INVITES AS DEM FEUDS WITH TRUMP-RUN LANDMARK The resolution recognizing Trump’s contributions passed by a 20-3 supermajority vote, while the partial-closure resolution passed 23-3, according to a source familiar with the matter. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Democratic Reps. Joyce Beatty of Ohio and Rick Larsen of Washington voted "no" on both resolutions, the source said. The board’s resolution calls for an inscription below the name of the center reading, "The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump." The board said it wants to recognize Trump’s contributions to the Kennedy Center after the president secured $257 million from Congress to address decades of deferred maintenance. VIDEO EXPOSES DISREPAIR LURKING BENEATH TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER AS $257M RENOVATION LOOMS The board also approved a partial closure following an independent analysis conducted in accordance with Judge Cooper’s orders. The Kennedy Center said the plan would leave a $3.4 million surplus, compared with a projected $78 million deficit under an alternative involving four years of revolving closures. The massive renovation will address water infiltration, damaged electrical rooms, hundreds of structural failure points in the parking garage and 2,000-plus-pound soffit panels that have reached "end-of-life" status and present a public safety risk. "The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the responsible stewardship of America's Cultural Center. With the confidence of the Board and Chairman President Trump's unprecedented support, this historic revitalization project can commence, ensuring the Kennedy Center emerges from this next chapter as a stronger, more resilient home for the arts — one that will serve audiences and artists for generations to come," a Kennedy Center spokesperson told Fox News Digital. CONFLICT OF INTEREST’: JUDGE WHO AXED TRUMP NAME FROM DC LANDMARK TIED TO ANTI-TRUMP CONSPIRACY THEORY Free Millennium Stage programs, film events, educational programming and the JFK memorial exhibit will remain available at the REACH during the partial closure. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform its 2026-2027 Classical Season at venues around the Washington, D.C., area and across the country. The latest moves come after a federal judge blocked an earlier effort to rename the center after Trump, along with an earlier closure plan. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f7acf2c5335ae1046793a Arizona tourism jobs hit record high despite dip in overnight visitors te 2026-08-14T20:30:07.521Z Arizona tourism jobs hit record high despite dip in overnight visitors Arizona’s tourism industry supported a record 326,359 jobs in 2025 even as the number of domestic overnight visitors declined, according to new data from the Arizona Office of Tourism. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f787b2c5335ae104678f1 Judge’s Harvard antisemitism ruling sends Trump Justice Department back to drawing board te 2026-08-14T20:20:11.055Z Judge’s Harvard antisemitism ruling sends Trump Justice Department back to drawing board The Justice Department is planning its next move after a federal judge in Boston dismissed its case accusing Harvard University of repeatedly turning a "blind eye" to antisemitism on campus. "We disagree with the ruling and are assessing next steps," Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon said in a statement.  "The Civil Rights Division has an extensive and active portfolio of antisemitism enforcement, including indictments, prosecutions, settlements and investigations across the country." Judge Richard Stearns, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit against the Ivy League school Thursday, determining the incidents of antisemitism were too isolated to establish a pattern showing that the school remained in violation of federal civil rights law after the federal government issued its complaint. DOJ SUES UCLA OVER ALLEGED ‘JUDENREIN’ CONDITIONS DURING ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENT "Without diminishing any concern arising from these occurrences, the court finds them, singly and collectively, to be too isolated and episodic to support a plausible inference that any institutionalized noncompliance with Title VI persists at Harvard to this day," Stearns wrote. The Justice Department filed its lawsuit against Harvard March 20, 2026, after a wave of anti-Israel protests that erupted on college campuses nationwide after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. At Harvard, protests during the 2023-24 school year included repeated occupations of libraries and other campus buildings and a weekslong encampment in Harvard Yard. Jewish students reported being harassed, intimidated and excluded from campus spaces.  The Justice Department alleged that Harvard violated Title VI by failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment despite complaints to university leaders about the conduct. But Stearns said the Justice Department referred to only three antisemitic incidents on Harvard's campus during the following school year that the school had allegedly failed to address. UCLA STUDENT COUNCIL CONDEMNS CAMPUS EVENT WITH FORMER ISRAELI HOSTAGE Those incidents included protesters allegedly breaching barricades outside an event featuring former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a Harvard employee allegedly removing posters of Israeli hostages and more than 60 masked protesters staging a "die-in" outside Widener Library, where they chanted, "We will honor all our martyrs." Stearns did not rule on whether Harvard had violated Title VI during the height of the campus unrest. Instead, his decision focused on whether the Justice Department had sufficiently alleged that violations continued after the government formally put Harvard on notice. The Trump administration sent Harvard a warning letter June 30, 2025, saying the school had violated Title VI over its response to antisemitism on campus. Under the statute, the government is required to notify a recipient of a violation and try to resolve it voluntarily before taking enforcement action. DOJ SPRINGS ANTISEMITISM REVIEW ON BLUE STATE COLLEGE AFTER 'LEBANESE RESISTANCE' FUNDRAISER In his dismissal, Stearns said the Trump administration's amended June 2026 complaint did not identify any incidents in which Harvard failed to address antisemitism after the government sent its warning letter. "The Government provided the requisite notice underlying this action on June 30, 2025," Stearns wrote. "As noted above, the Amended Complaint is devoid of any factual allegations plausibly establishing that any events that might be construed as evidence of noncompliance occurred after June 30, 2025." Stearns also rejected the Trump administration's allegation that Harvard University's failure to cooperate with every demand in the federal government's proposed voluntary agreement showed that the school was not in compliance with Title VI. "Harvard’s refusal to follow every specific demand from the administration wasn’t enough, because the legal question was whether Harvard was complying with Title VI — not whether Harvard was doing exactly what the administration told it to do," Stearns wrote. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The dismissal comes as the Trump administration pursues two lawsuits against the University of California over alleged discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students, faculty and staff at UCLA. Fox News Digital reached out to Harvard University for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f787a2c5335ae104678e8 Drea de Matteo says OnlyFans became ‘political statement’ after financial struggles threatened her home te 2026-08-14T20:20:10.361Z Drea de Matteo says OnlyFans became ‘political statement’ after financial struggles threatened her home "Sopranos" star Drea de Matteo is reflecting on how joining OnlyFans became not only a financial lifeline when she was facing the loss of her home but also an act of defiance against Hollywood. The 54-year-old actress has previously shared how launching an account on the subscription-based social media platform, which is primarily known for adult content, gave her the ability to financially save her home. During a Wednesday appearance on Jamie Kennedy's "Hate to Break It to Ya" podcast, de Matteo explained that the platform gave her a way to make a living without relying on the entertainment industry after she became increasingly alienated from Hollywood over her political views and opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. JAMIE KENNEDY BLASTS LEFT-WING DOUBLE STANDARDS AFTER ‘MAGGOT’ ATTACKS  "In some ways, the OnlyFans page was almost like a political statement on my part in a way," she said. "Oh yeah, get back at the system!" Kennedy interjected. "It was like, ‘F--- you,'" she said. "'I don’t need to work for your f---ing corporation.'" De Matteo said that the income she received from OnlyFans gave her the financial freedom to successfully fund her own entrepreneurial ventures, including her clothing line ULTRAFREE and her ULTRAFREE podcast. ‘AMERICAN PIE’ ALUM SHANNON ELIZABETH TURNS TO ONLYFANS FOR ‘FRESH START’ AS DIVORCE UNFOLDS "You launched your OnlyFans to be free," Kennedy said. "Yes, I did," she replied. Despite her success on "The Sopranos," she said she was never as financially secure as people assumed. The actress told Kennedy that she had never been particularly career-driven and would often return to acting only when she needed the income. "I had enough to survive," she said. "I would always go back to work when I knew I needed to put aside a chunk of money for the mortgage." 'MARRIED... WITH CHILDREN' STAR TED MCGINLEY REVEALS HE GETS PENNY RESIDUAL CHECKS FROM HIS HIT TV SHOWS "I was not — people think I'm made of f---ing money," de Matteo continued. "Everyone sees me coming, they're like, ‘here comes that rich b---- from "The Sopranos."’ And it's like, no, I'm not at all. In fact, you know, I live a pretty f---ing normal life. I had to do that [OnlyFans] page to get a lien off my house after foreclosure." She said her ability to work became further limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she declined roles she could not take without being vaccinated. She recalled that her agent eventually dropped her after determining there was little work the agency could secure for her if she remained unvaccinated. The decline in acting income compounded her financial troubles. She said she took a mortgage forbearance during the pandemic, temporarily pausing payments on her home, but later began receiving foreclosure notices. Although she was ultimately able to resolve the foreclosure, she said she was left with a lien on the property. In August 2023, de Matteo announced on Instagram that she had created an OnlyFans account, sharing a nude photo and saying she would be charging viewers $15 a month for exclusive content. *NSYNC’S JOEY FATONE NEARLY WENT BANKRUPT AFTER BOY BAND FAME, HAD ELECTRICITY SHUT OFF ON CHRISTMAS While speaking with Kennedy, she recalled that she immediately received a financial windfall after launching her OnlyFans page. "I put a picture up and within 75 minutes, the lien was paid," she said. "So that was why I kept the OnlyFans." "A picture. What type of picture?" Kennedy asked. "A picture of me in a bikini," she replied. Later in the conversation, when Kennedy asked about the amount of the lien, de Matteo told him, "That was $75,000." "I needed more money than that, but that was just for the lien," she added. "Did you pay your house off?" Kennedy asked, to which she replied, "No, no." "So were you making like a hundred G's a month?" he asked. "Um, I think sometimes I might have," she said. However, she said earning money from posting photos was not the original reason she created the account. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "Honestly, we were going to use the Only Fans platform to start a podcast because I was afraid that I'd be censored too much to talk about stuff, you know, just out there in the world," she told Kennedy. She explained that she initially set up the page as a "placeholder" for the podcast before her financial situation led her to use the platform differently. The actress also pushed back on assumptions about the type of content she shares on the platform. "I only got naked once," she said. She explained that the photo she posted was tied to the launch of her podcast and intended as a protest against geoengineering. "So, I painted my whole body in protest art and nobody would touch it because it said ‘stop geoengineering,’" she said She explained that she believes many of her subscribers are drawn to her page because of her role as Adriana La Cerva, her character on "The Sopranos." "The OnlyFans thing, I always say, it’s Adriana’s fan page because people love her," she said. "I mean, I’ve done a lot of other TV shows, but that’s the TV show people really love. So, you want to see more Adriana, go there and that’s where I am." During her appearance on the podcast, de Matteo also clarified previous remarks that she had made about her teenage son's involvement with helping create content for her page. In 2024, she made headlines after appearing on "Not Today, Pal," the podcast hosted by her former "Sopranos" co-stars Robert Iler and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. During the appearance, Iler told her that her then-13-year-old son had said he edited her OnlyFans photos, which she appeared to confirm. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Oh yeah. He’s like, ‘So, what do you want me to do with the bikini line here?’" she said at the time. De Matteo shares two children with her ex, Shooter Jennings. She told Kennedy that the exchange was taken out of context, explaining that her son had edited a single photo of her dressed as a superhero. Later in the interview, she was more emphatic about what she said was her son's limited involvement, saying he "has nothing to do with the OnlyFans page." "However, you know, as it was being launched and stuff, they were included in every f---ing step of what I did," she said of her children. "They knew what pictures were going up in the beginning." De Matteo said both of her children were aware of what she planned to post and that she would ask them whether they were comfortable with it. However, the "Sons of Anarchy" actress maintained that her son did not regularly edit content for the account. "He can edit anything," she said. "So no, he's not editing OnlyFans content. He edited one f---ing picture of his mother as a superhero and that's it." She said the attention surrounding the story ultimately took a toll on her son, who she said was teased by classmates over the reports. The actress said the controversy also affected her relationship with her son as she tried to help him navigate the backlash. "What's f---ed up about that entire thing is it caused such a strain, like even between he and I, because I have to be the person to coach him through all these like kind of adverse events, but I'm the f---ing reason for it in this particular instance," de Matteo said. "So it was really f---ing hard." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f76242c5335ae10467878 Alzheimer's risk may be 35% lower with common menopause treatment, study finds te 2026-08-14T20:10:12.301Z Alzheimer's risk may be 35% lower with common menopause treatment, study finds Women who used estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s-related brain changes or dementia, according to a large Stanford study published Aug. 12 in Neurology. The researchers analyzed post-mortem data from 21,462 participants, comparing 258 women who reported estrogen-only MHT use with approximately 2,701 women who reported no MHT use. The researchers examined the brains for signs of Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid-plaque density. Plaques and tangles are two hallmark brain changes associated with the common dementia. ALZHEIMER'S BLOOD TESTS MAY PREDICT SYMPTOMS YEARS IN ADVANCE, BUT EXPERTS URGE CAUTION The women who took estrogen-only therapy — most of whom had likely undergone hysterectomies — were found to have a 35% lower chance of Alzheimer’s pathology and 39% lower odds of dementia over a lifetime. Among some living participants, estrogen-only users also performed better on memory testing and were better able to function independently, the study found. Biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid supported these results. The participants averaged 70 years of age. Recent research indicates that menopausal hormone therapy may offer greater benefits when started during or shortly after menopause, the researchers noted. HOW EATING HABITS COULD INFLUENCE PARKINSON’S DISEASE RISK, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS Because the women in the study were generally older when they began treatment, the results may actually understate the potential benefits of earlier therapy. These findings appear to contradict prior studies that linked menopausal hormone therapy to increased dementia risk. "Estrogen has well-described neuroprotective effects in animal models," co-author Jennifer Bruno, PhD, an instructor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, told Fox News Digital. "Estrogen plays a role in shifting amyloid toward the non-amyloidogenic pathway and promoting tau dephosphorylation — both amyloid and tau are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease." DAILY EATING HABIT LINKED TO BETTER BRAIN HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS "Additionally, estrogen supports synaptic plasticity, reduces neuroinflammation and supports blood brain barrier integrity. So, finding less AD pathology in estrogen-only users was consistent with this mechanism." Memory can be impacted by many different conditions, which means clinical diagnoses can sometimes be unreliable, the researchers noted. "Although there’s been great progress with bloodborne and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, they don’t tell you the amount and precise location of the brain damage," said senior author Hadi Hosseini, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford. "By looking where the actual damage is done — the brain — you can see where the Alzheimer’s-associated defining features are and how many of them are there." CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES The study did have some limitations, according to the researchers. As it was observational, it could only show an association but could prove that the hormone therapy reduced Alzheimer’s risk. "It’s possible that women who used hormone therapy differed from non-users in ways we couldn't fully measure, such as baseline health status or engagement with healthcare," Hosseini told Fox News Digital. "We worked hard to adjust for known confounders and to account for who does and doesn't come to autopsy, but observational data can only take you so far." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia among older adults, with women comprising about two-thirds of diagnoses. While the study findings don’t change current clinical recommendations, Hosseini said they highlight the need for well-designed clinical trials to confirm these observations and to determine whether menopausal hormone therapy has a protective cognitive effect. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "These results add meaningful, first-of-their-kind pathological evidence to a genuinely controversial area — but they are a signal for further study, not a reason to start or stop MHT for brain health," Bruno added. "We need prospective, biomarker-based trials that follow women before, during and after menopause to understand the effects of MHT on brain health." The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f761d2c5335ae10467850 John Carro, Jurist Who Had Early Brush With Lee Harvey Oswald, Dies at 98 te 2026-08-14T20:10:05.363Z John Carro, Jurist Who Had Early Brush With Lee Harvey Oswald, Dies at 98 Decades before his rise to the New York State appellate court, he was a probation officer who tried to help Mr. Oswald, then a teenager living in the Bronx. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f761c2c5335ae10467847 Trump Dismisses Reports About Dire Conditions Aboard U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln te 2026-08-14T20:10:04.322Z Trump Dismisses Reports About Dire Conditions Aboard U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Asked whether the deployment of the Abraham Lincoln had gone on too long, the president said its deployment had lasted “not nearly long enough.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f73cc2c5335ae1046780d Paul Pelosi absent in first court appearance on hit-and-run charge in Napa County crash case te 2026-08-14T20:00:12.613Z Paul Pelosi absent in first court appearance on hit-and-run charge in Napa County crash case Paul Pelosi did not appear in a Napa County courtroom Friday for his first scheduled court appearance on a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge, with an attorney entering a not guilty plea on his behalf. Pelosi, 86, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was represented by attorney Amanda Bevins in Napa County Superior Court, according to The California Post. Bevins declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Friday. PAUL PELOSI, 86, FACES A HIT-AND-RUN CHARGE AFTER STRIKING A PARKED CAR IN NAPA COUNTY: SHERIFF'S OFFICE The court date came nearly a month after the Napa County District Attorney's Office formally charged Pelosi with misdemeanor hit-and-run and an infraction for an unsafe turning movement stemming from a July 3 crash. According to a criminal complaint previously obtained by Fox News Digital, Pelosi allegedly struck and damaged a parked Tesla while driving a burgundy Maserati convertible before leaving without attempting to identify the Tesla's owner or provide the information required under California law. Deputies later located Pelosi roughly a half-mile away, where he allegedly told officers that he had intended to return to the scene, according to the complaint. Prosecutors contend those actions formed the basis for the misdemeanor charge and accompanying traffic infraction. FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED FOR DUI AFTER TROOPERS ALLEGEDLY FIND 34 OPEN ALCOHOL CONTAINERS IN VEHICLE The district attorney's office said last month that it does not typically issue news releases announcing misdemeanor hit-and-run cases involving only property damage but made an exception because of the "significant public and media interest" surrounding Pelosi. Pelosi, a venture capitalist who has long maintained a residence in Napa County, was allegedly driving the Maserati at the time of the collision. The complaint did not indicate whether anyone else was in the car. The case marks Pelosi's second high-profile traffic-related legal matter in Napa County in recent years. In 2022, Pelosi pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI following a separate crash in the county. He was sentenced to probation, ordered to pay restitution and fines, required to complete a DUI education program and ordered to install an ignition interlock device. The July case also brought renewed attention to Pelosi's driving history. The New York Times reported last month that Pelosi has received driving infractions in four Bay Area counties in recent years, including San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Napa. According to the Times, the infractions included speeding, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, using a cellphone without a hands-free device and failing to stop at a red light. The Times also reported that Pelosi was driving during a 1957 crash in San Mateo County that killed his 19-year-old brother. A jury later cleared Pelosi of wrongdoing in connection with the crash. Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f73cb2c5335ae10467804 Brave widow of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson comes face to face with Luigi Mangione for first time te 2026-08-14T20:00:11.760Z Brave widow of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson comes face to face with Luigi Mangione for first time Paulette Thompson, wife of late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, came face to face with Luigi Mangione on Friday when he pleaded guilty to federal charges associated with the assassination of her husband. She was seen exiting the courthouse on Friday after Mangione made his guilty plea. Mangione, the man who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges on Friday in a Manhattan courthouse. Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges on Friday in a Manhattan courthouse. When asked by Judge Margaret Garnett if Mangione understood the maximum sentence he could receive is life in prison, Mangione responded, "Yes." SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS When given the opportunity to address the court, Mangione told a judge he called UnitedHealthcare and posed as an investor in order to get more information about the scheduled conference. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X "After years if enduring severe pain from a broken back…I learned UnitedHealthcare will hold an investor’s conference," Mangione said. SEND US A TIP "Before traveling to New York,I used a 3-D printer to make a gun," he added. "On the morning of Dec 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan…I knew what I was doing ." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE Federal prosecutors said they intended to show several pieces of evidence at trial, including security footage apparently showing Mangione arriving in New York on a bus and then following Thompson around the Hilton shortly before he was killed. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Garnett scheduled Mangione's sentencing hearing for Dec. 18. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL After the hearing, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch sent a sharp message to people who support Mangione. "To those who idolize Luigi Mangione. I say this violence is not a cause. Murder is not a message. And a killer is certainly not a hero," Tisch said. "From the moment that Mr. Thompson was assassinated on the morning of December 4th. The NYPD mobilized an enormous investigative effort. Our detectives combed through thousands of hours of surveillance video, followed up on hundreds of tips, and worked through an extraordinary volume of forensic and digital evidence." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f71752c5335ae104677ac Houston police shoot gunman who indiscriminately fired on vehicles, injuring a mother and daughter te 2026-08-14T19:50:13.351Z Houston police shoot gunman who indiscriminately fired on vehicles, injuring a mother and daughter A gunman who indiscriminately opened fire on passing cars in Houston, striking three people, including a woman and her daughter, was shot by responding police officers, authorities said. The shooting unfolded at about 11 a.m., when officers responded to reports of someone firing at cars along Wayside Drive. When they arrived, police found a man with a gun, the Houston Police Department said. The officers commanded the man to drop the weapon. At some point, three officers and a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety opened fire on the suspect. CHICAGO OFFICERS WOUNDED IN TRAFFIC STOP SHOOTOUT AS HOLIDAY WEEKEND LEAVES 3 DEAD, 16 INJURED The accused gunman was shot multiple times and taken to a hospital. No officers were injured. "He was standing in the median right here," a witness told KRIV-TV. "He was just shooting at cars coming down Wayside. He didn’t care who was coming which way. He didn’t care who he was shooting at. He didn’t care if there were kids in the car." Among the targeted vehicles was a car carrying a mother and her daughter, both of whom were struck by gunfire, police said. A third person traveling in a second vehicle was also shot. SHOOTING NEAR ICE DETENTION FACILITY IN AURORA, COLORADO, LEAVES 1 INJURED, PERSON DETAINED An occupant in a third vehicle managed to escape unharmed. The witness, who identified himself only as David, said he and his coworkers tried to stop cars from traveling toward the gunman. The suspect has not been publicly identified, and a motive for the shooting has not been disclosed. The incident is being investigated by the Houston Police Department and Texas Rangers. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f71742c5335ae104677a3 Ex-ABC News correspondent claims network overhauled his COVID lab leak report after sending copy to Fauci te 2026-08-14T19:50:12.723Z Ex-ABC News correspondent claims network overhauled his COVID lab leak report after sending copy to Fauci Ex-ABC News correspondent Terry Moran made an explosive claim this week about his former employer and how it allegedly overhauled a report he led on the COVID lab leak theory after running it first by Dr. Anthony Fauci. In an interview published Friday by "The Fifth Column" podcast, Moran recalled a time he said he felt the "heavy hand of censorship" at the Disney-owned network. Moran said in early 2021, he had seen discussions from "smart and serious" people online floating the possibility that COVID had leaked from a lab and that ABC's "Nightline" allowed him to pursue a story about the theory. Moran recalled talking to various scientists and Trump administration officials in a piece that he said did not make any conclusive claims but nevertheless "laid it out." FAUCI'S DIARY SHOWS HE FED QUESTIONS TO JOURNALISTS, BUILT FRIENDSHIPS WITH MEDIA FIGURES "We broke a little news that that lab had been funded by the Chinese military, despite the 'Bat Lady' [Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli] saying no, it hadn't... And we kind of laid it out," Moran said. "And at the end of the day, my own personal feeling was, you know, it's probably a little bit more likely it's natural. But if you told me it had leaked from the lab, fine. It's probably not cooked up. It's probably not a ‘Frankenvirus.’" "And the day that it's supposed to air, it gets reviewed, and it comes back to me, and it is incomprehensible," Moran continued. "And I had never been angrier. I'm in the booth–" "Are these lawyers?" podcast co-host Michael Moynihan asked. "Lawyers, standards and, I was told, Fauci," Moran responded. "And I said, 'I can't do this.' And they're going to air and it's a 15-minute piece or whatever. And I'm cursing and screaming in the the booth." TOP 4 EXPLOSIVE MOMENTS FROM CIA WHISTLEBLOWER'S TESTIMONY ON ALLEGED COVID-19 LAB LEAK COVER-UP "And this is day of?" co-host Matt Welch followed. "Day of air," Moran said. "And I am just absolutely livid, beside myself. And I'm usually — I try to be a good colleague that way. It's important to be respectful of somebody on the other end of that mic taking it in in New York and the editor... I have never watched that story and never want to, because it wasn't mine, I didn't think, and most importantly because it was incomprehensible. They had put so many caveats in there, and it was so legalized." "So they took the story that you did and either sent a copy of the transcript or a copy of the video to Anthony Fauci?" Moynihan then asked. "It would've been the script — that's what I was told. I don't know if that's true personally, but I was told that," Moran answered. In the two-part segment that aired in June 2021, Moran's segment put a spotlight on the debate over the origins of COVID. While he did interview Jamie Metzl, then a member of the World Health Organization's committee on human genome editing who had been outspoken about a potential leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Metzl was outnumbered by other medical experts Moran interviewed who rejected the theory. Additionally, the segment included interviews of ABC News medical unit producer Sony Salzman and investigative reporter Sasha Pezenik, who also poured cold water on the lab leak. FAUCI'S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED Moran, who exited the network in 2025, went on to denounce the "demonization" of Fauci, calling it wrong and labeling him a public servant who did his best. Neither Moran, Fauci, nor ABC News responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Fox News Digital also sent an inquiry to the White House. Fauci has resurfaced in recent weeks following the revelations from his diary published by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., that put a spotlight on how his private thoughts about COVID often contradicted what he said publicly, including about public health guidelines. The diary also revealed his behind-the-scenes chumminess with numerous media figures, including CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, NBC's Andrea Mitchell and ABC's George Stephanopoulos. Earlier this month, Senate Republicans on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after he pleaded the fifth 111 times during last month's hearing, accusing Paul of leading a crusade to imprison him. A criminal referral was made to the Department of Justice. The lab leak theory has since been embraced by multiple U.S. government agencies in recent years as the most likely origin of the COVID pandemic, including the CIA, the FBI and the Department of Energy. Many scientists continue to hold to the so-called "natural origin" theory and the topic continues to be hotly debated. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f71742c5335ae1046779a Marco Rubio's perfect weekend will make the left faint, Danica Patrick enjoys the view & angry Mike Vrabel! te 2026-08-14T19:50:12.053Z Marco Rubio's perfect weekend will make the left faint, Danica Patrick enjoys the view & angry Mike Vrabel! 'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com. Middle Friday of August. We're here. We're in the thick of it, folks. We had football last night. We have football tonight. We have football tomorrow. Sure, none of it counts and most of the good players are in street clothes on the bench, but whatever. It's our first kinda-sorta football weekend since early January. A tuneup, of sorts. A test run. It's preseason for us fans, too. We have to knock the rust off as well, and we don't have a lot of time to do it. Two weeks. That's all that separates us from an actual college football Saturday. Week 0 is 15 days away. That means you — yes, YOU — have this weekend and next weekend to get the summer chores DONE. Finish cleaning the yard, and clearing out the garage. Hang the pictures. Paint the walls. Do whatever you need to do over these next two weekends, because the end is, mercifully, in sight. Let's roll. Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Danica Patrick enjoys the view during her European summer vacation. What else? I've got Marco Rubio perfectly describing the perfect fall weekend (to a T), an American home run into a cornfield, and I'm thinking the Patriots' kicker better spend the weekend combing through the classifieds, because Mike Vrabel didn't sound thrilled after last night's game. Good to have angry Vrabel back after a ... humbling ... offseason. Grab you whatever you need to get you through the final few hours of a work week, and settle in for a Friday 'Cap! No hemming and hawing today. It's a Friday and we've all got things to do. We'll start with Marco, because that above clip is just perfect. Seriously. It's the perfect weekend, and one we all will be striving for in about three weeks. It's the one we've been dreaming about since last January. Really, last December. "The day would actually start much earlier. The greatest show on television today in America is 'College GameDay.' Great show. Starts around 10 or 11, and that leads you to noon, and then the noon game, and then there’s a 3:30 game," he said. "You could start at 10:00 AM on Saturday, you know, run the whole college football day, sleep for a few hours, then you wake up and then you’re into NFL Gameday. Then you’ve got the 1:00 game, the 4:00 game, the NBC game that night. "That is an incredible weekend, in my opinion, in my view." Bingo. He nailed it. Put aside politics for a minute. This is objectively the best possible weekend for the next few months. Mix in a few monster parlays on Saturday and Sunday, some fantasy football sweating, and a date with Scott Hanson on the RedZone channel, and buddy, you are SET. We're almost back, folks. Hang tight! ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Five more Sundays. Two more Saturdays. It's all coming together. In the meantime, of course, we have preseason football. We had a six-pack of games last night, and six more tonight. Yes, I know — "Preseason football STINKS! Just get me to the regular season." I get it. Trust me, I do. But, this is the time of year for evaluation. You don't know whatcha have ... till you know whatcha have. And what the New England Patriots have ... is a kicker problem: Amazing stuff. I forgot how likable Vrabel was this offseason, which is understandable. Adultery will do that to a person's reputation. The guy doesn't mince words. "Andy missed a couple field goals today, what was your message to him?" "Three. I don't have a message. We're expected to make them. That's pro football." Okeedokee, coach. Good luck today, Andy! OK, let's rapid-fire this Friday class into a big Friday night. First up? Let's rewind to the very beginning of last night's Patriots game and check in, again, with Mike Vrabel: Lordy. What a toss! I hate the Patriots, by the way, so I don't love having this much Pats content in a Friday class. But fair is fair. I don't make the #content, I just write about it. Next? Might as well stay on the gridiron and check in with George Kittle and Mac Jones to see how they spent their preseason opener: Anyone here done smelling salts? Admittedly, I have not. I've always wanted to try, though. I'm a little surprised they never came up when I was playing. Feels like a missed opportunity. They always look like a wild little ride to me. Let me know! Next? Here's the best baseball stat of the day on the way out: Amazing. Is there a greater, more American feeling than launching a home run into a cornfield? You'd be hard-pressed to find one. And how about those NAMES on that list? Anyone here remember Andy Pafko's home run during the first televised baseball game on CBS? I doubt it. Pafko's better known for being the player standing haplessly in left field during Bobby Thomson's "shot heard 'round the world" in 1951: Baseball fans fume at MLB's 'Field of Dreams' game decision, reporter Tricia Whitaker has a boat day & LLWS! Didn't think we'd end the week with a Bobby Thomson YouTube video, but that's why this class wins awards. We zig when they zag! OK, that's it for today — and this week. Good work, everyone. Happy first kinda-sorta football weekend of the season. Danica Patrick takes us into it. Did Marco nail the weekend? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f716d2c5335ae10467774 Stock Trading by Lawmakers Becomes a Campaign Attack Line te 2026-08-14T19:50:05.512Z Stock Trading by Lawmakers Becomes a Campaign Attack Line Republican and Democratic challengers are both using the issue to attack members of Congress as unethical, seizing on a common practice that enrages voters. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f716c2c5335ae1046776b The 5 Congress Members Whose Families Trade the Most Stocks te 2026-08-14T19:50:04.303Z The 5 Congress Members Whose Families Trade the Most Stocks Some lawmakers and their families have traded millions of dollars worth of stocks since the start of this term. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f6f122c5335ae104676f8 Thrive’s Joshua Kushner chides Silicon Valley VCs over AI euphoria te 2026-08-14T19:40:02.220Z Thrive’s Joshua Kushner chides Silicon Valley VCs over AI euphoria The AI opportunity is huge but "it would also be a grave error in our minds to let excitement weaken our investment discipline," Kushner warns in his first-ever investment letter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f6a692c5335ae1046766c Army identifies 2 pilots killed in Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood during training exercise te 2026-08-14T19:20:09.486Z Army identifies 2 pilots killed in Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood during training exercise The U.S. Army's Fort Hood has identified the two pilots who died during a training exercise on Wednesday involving an AH-64E Apache helicopter near Salado, Texas. Fort Hood identified the fallen soldiers as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead. "Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday," Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, said in a statement the Army released Friday. "The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community," Admiral added. ARMY IDS 2 VICTIMS KILLED IN JORDAN AIR BASE ATTACK; TRUMP: IRAN WILL PAY 'MANY TIMES OVER' Huey entered the Army as a motor transport operator in 2014 and was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in February 2022. The 34-year-old was from Killeen, Texas. Olmstead entered the Army in January 2023 as a warrant officer candidate, and was assigned to the unit in October 2025. The 25-year-old was a native of Belton, Texas. "In the difficult days ahead, our priority is to ensure these families and our Soldiers have the care and support they need," Admiral said. "We are making all appropriate resources available to those affected by this loss." The soldiers died when their helicopter crashed into a field near Salado, roughly 30 minutes from Fort Hood. The crash sparked a wildfire in the area which necessitated a large emergency response. The Army is investigating the crash. COAST GUARD HELICOPTER CRASHES DURING ALASKA TRAINING MISSION, INJURING FOUR CREW MEMBERS "A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived Aug. 13 and will lead the safety investigation of the mishap," Fort Hood added in the statement. Fox News Digital contacted the U.S. Army for further comment. Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f68152c5335ae10467603 The NFL saw what Taylor Swift did for ratings—now they’re staging QB romance for Gen Z: Report te 2026-08-14T19:10:13.920Z The NFL saw what Taylor Swift did for ratings—now they’re staging QB romance for Gen Z: Report You actually have to respect this social engineering out of the NFL. It turns out those viral moments last week between quarterbacks and their girlfriends that suddenly popped up on your social media feeds might not have been as organic as they appeared, according to a report from Front Office Sports. In one video, pop singer Madison Beer was seen caressing Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's face as if the two were shooting a scene straight out of a reality show. Some were blown away by the level of "petting" that Beer exhibited, even though the two just got engaged in late July. Even with that dynamic in play, the interaction seemed over-the-top, and now we know why. Front Office Sports claims a league source told the outlet that the "canoodling" camp videos were "partly coordinated." Model Olivia Ponton, who has been rumored for years to be Joe Burrow's girlfriend, and Jaxson Dart's girlfriend Marissa Ayers were also said to be included in this campaign. You can thank the Taylor Swift effect. During the 2023 season, after Swift appeared at five Chiefs games during December, Morning Consult Brand Intelligence's data found that 64% of Gen Z and Millennial women surveyed had a favorable outlook on the NFL. That number jumped 11% from pre-Swift in July to December 2023 with TV cameras fixated on the pop culture icon. During the 2025 season, the Chiefs played in four of the five most-watched games, including a Thanksgiving game on CBS that drew 57.3 million viewers. But now with Travis Kelce, 36, seemingly playing his final season, the league needs more of these bubble gum, TikTok relationships to maintain the momentum. BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT SAYS NFL FANS ARE WRONG ABOUT JUSTIN HERBERT & MADISON BEER VIRAL CAMP VIDEOS "The content is authentic, genuine and relatable, and that's resonated strongly with women and young fans, who are key growth audiences for the NFL," NFL executive Ian Trombetta told Front Office Sports of the training camp videos. Authentic? OutKick has asked Ian to clarify that remark. We have yet to hear back. With Swift and Kelce married and heading into the twilight of their NFL power, the heir apparent to TV face time appears to be the 27-year-old Beer. With 39.5 million Instagram followers & 21.1 million TikTok followers, the pop singer seems to have the intangibles the NFL social engineering team is looking for. She's attractive and just got off a 32-stop tour through the U.K., Europe and the U.S., including selling out Madison Square Garden in July. This is gold to the NFL. TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE'S WEDDING COULD UNLEASH UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL SPENDING FRENZY: EXPERT Perhaps it's coincidental, or not, but the Chargers will appear on prime time slots twice during the November holiday shopping period when women are typically sitting on the couch with their husbands watching games. It will be interesting to see if Beer suddenly has something to promote around Nov. 16 or Nov. 29 when the Chargers will be playing on ESPN and NBC. How are fans reacting to what appears to be the NFL picking the next potential Swift replacements? Not great. "This is actually insulting to women. Thinking THIS will get us into football?" one woman wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, men are also disturbed by the NFL's social media plan. "Pathetic. Planting people for content is cringe. Nothing is organic in this world anymore," an angry Twitter analyst wrote. Will the general public ever realize what the NFL is up to? It's a big world out there. No chance. "Cute they think those relationship can recreate the hype and revenue [Swift & Kelce] has had," another woman wrote. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f68152c5335ae104675fa NFL receiver splits with fiancée, former Miss Peru, after sending wedding invites: report te 2026-08-14T19:10:13.275Z NFL receiver splits with fiancée, former Miss Peru, after sending wedding invites: report Allen Lazard is now a free agent in more ways than one. The wide receiver and his fiancée appear to have called off their engagement after over a year. Lazard got engaged to Camila Escribens, who was named Miss Peru in 2023, last year in Montauk. His former New York Jets even celebrated. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM TMZ Sports reports that the former couple had already sent wedding invitations. The pair had a baby last October. Both Lazard and Escribens have erased each other on social media, short of their gender reveal for their daughter. Lazard is looking to get back on the field with what would be his third NFL team. 49ERS QUARTERBACK HOSPITALIZED AFTER STRUGGLING TO BREATHE IN FIRST GAME IN NEARLY 2 YEARS Lazard was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars but was only on the practice squad. The Green Bay Packers picked him up, and he quickly became a favorite of Aaron Rodgers. In 57 games with the Packers, he had 169 receptions for 2,236 yards and 20 touchdowns. As Rodgers' tenure appeared to come to an end, Lazard signed with the New York Jets early in the 2023 offseason. The quarterback followed him via trade weeks later. Lazard played in 36 games with the Jets but, like Rodgers, did not find similar success. In his first two seasons, he had 60 catches for 841 yards, and last season, he managed just 10 catches for 70 yards. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f680f2c5335ae104675d6 Selena Gomez Is Sued for Defrauding Investors in Mental Health Site te 2026-08-14T19:10:07.117Z Selena Gomez Is Sued for Defrauding Investors in Mental Health Site The actor, singer and beauty mogul founded Wondermind, a mental health platform, with her mother. Investors put in more than $1 million in the venture, which “quietly collapsed,” the suit said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f680e2c5335ae104675cd Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola Pushes Back Against Endorsement From Kamala Harris te 2026-08-14T19:10:06.357Z Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola Pushes Back Against Endorsement From Kamala Harris The campaign of Mary Peltola said it was focused on issues important to Alaska and did not approve a message of support from Ms. Harris. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f680c2c5335ae104675ae What we know about the alleged Iranian hacks on U.S. water utilities te 2026-08-14T19:10:04.160Z What we know about the alleged Iranian hacks on U.S. water utilities Over the last couple of weeks, hackers have targeted and broken into the systems of several water plants in the United States. Here’s what we know and don’t know about this wave of attacks allegedly carried out by the Iranian government. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f65c02c5335ae10467595 Elephants may have played surprising role in early human survival, study suggests te 2026-08-14T19:00:16.890Z Elephants may have played surprising role in early human survival, study suggests Elephants are widely adored by many people today — but a recent study suggests early humans were butchering them for survival nearly 2 million years ago. A group of international researchers found what they describe as "the earliest direct evidence of proboscidean butchery," including a newly identified elephant butchery site, according to an article published in the spring in the journal eLife. Modern elephants are the only living proboscideans today — a group that once included woolly mammoths and mastodons. The animal bones belonged to Elephas recki, an extinct elephant species. ANCIENT HUMANS WERE HUNTING AND EATING SHARKS 7,000 YEARS AGO, BURIAL SITE DISCOVERY SHOWS The research centers on Olduvai Gorge, a site in northern Tanzania's Serengeti Plains known for major discoveries of early human fossils and tools. At the site, excavators found stone tools alongside bones of ancient elephants — and the recent paper, written by archaeologists and paleoanthropologists, suggests the remains were likely deliberately butchered by early human ancestors. The bones date back some 1.8 million years, during the early Pleistocene epoch. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Though researchers have observed evidence of humans hunting large megafauna in later periods, the discovery suggests that early humans processed elephant carcasses more systematically. The study also says that early humans' ability to butcher large animals "represents a unique evolutionary trajectory, with no direct modern analogue." "This shift in behavior is accompanied by larger, more complex occupation sites, signaling a profound ecological and technological transformation," the paper states. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "Rather than opportunistic scavenging, these findings suggest a strategic adaptation to megafaunal resources, with implications for early human subsistence and social organization." Meat from large animals like elephants would have provided a significant food source for early humans, the paper notes. "The food surplus generated by the exploitation of some of these animals would have been a significant advantage for the survival and adaptation of the hominin groups," the study adds. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Fox News Digital reached out to the study's lead researcher for comment. Researchers continue to uncover new clues about human diets, spanning from ancient civilizations to the earliest humans. This past December, archaeologists in Pompeii uncovered preserved food remains revealing what enslaved people ate before Mount Vesuvius erupted. More recently, researchers identified food DNA on the Shroud of Turin, suggesting that Jesus' alleged burial shroud may have been contaminated over time. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f65c02c5335ae10467583 Cheap TV boxes may secretly click ads for fraud te 2026-08-14T19:00:16.124Z Cheap TV boxes may secretly click ads for fraud You plug a streaming box into your television, connect it to Wi-Fi and settle in for a movie. Meanwhile, that little device may have a completely different job running in the background. Security researchers say some cheap Android TV boxes can secretly route outside traffic through a household's internet connection. New research from Bitsight shows that some boxes may also pretend to be smartphones, visit AI-generated websites and click online ads. The hidden activity can generate advertising revenue or turn the box into a residential proxy that lets strangers use your home internet connection. Bitsight's latest findings reveal how organized and technically advanced one such operation may have become. That inexpensive streaming box could cost you far more than its purchase price. New! Free live CyberGuy class: Protect Your Money From Today’s Biggest Threats Join us Saturday, August 29, at 10 AM ET for a free CyberGuy LIVE class covering five simple steps to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson will explain how to set up bank alerts, strengthen your account logins, protect your phone number, freeze your credit and help secure your retirement savings against unauthorized transfers. No technical experience is needed. You’ll also receive our financial protection checklist, and every registrant will get a link to the class recording afterward. Reserve your free spot today at CyberGuyLive.com. BRINKS HOME DATA BREACH PUTS 1M CUSTOMERS ON ALERT Bitsight threat researcher Pedro Falé uncovered the operation while studying security risks involving cheap Android TV boxes. His team found an expired domain that had previously managed factory backdoors on certain devices. Bitsight registered the domain and began observing the information sent to it. The domain collected hardware information and lists of installed apps from connected boxes. Researchers quickly noticed something unusual: many of the devices identified themselves as phones from brands including Samsung, Vivo, Huawei and Xiaomi even though their software revealed signs of TV boxes. Falé wrote that researchers noticed "something was wildly wrong." Bitsight eventually named the operation the Fuyao Enterprise. Bitsight says the Fuyao apps appeared to arrive preinstalled on some Android TV boxes sold under the H96 name. Researchers found the apps most often on older H96 Max V11 devices. However, the available data covered only certain older models that reported to the expired domain. The findings do not establish that every H96 device contains the software. Bitsight also raised the possibility that an original equipment distributor, reseller or custom firmware provider added the apps before the boxes reached consumers. That means researchers cannot say from the available evidence exactly where in the supply chain the software was added. A Google spokesperson told CyberGuy: "The infected devices are Android Open Source Project devices, not Android TV OS devices or Play Protect certified Android devices. If a device isn't Play Protect certified, Google doesn't have a record of its security and compatibility test results." That distinction is important. These boxes may use Android's open-source code, but they should not be confused with devices running Google's official Android TV OS. Bitsight has not published a complete list of every device connected to the Fuyao operation. Therefore, you cannot confirm that a box is affected based on its brand alone. Researchers found the Fuyao apps most often on older H96 Max V11 boxes. However, that does not mean every H96 Max V11 is affected or that other models are safe. Google says it does not have the H96 device name we asked about registered as a certified device. However, Google would need additional technical information about the specific device to confirm its certification status. Start by finding your box's exact brand and model number. Check the label on the bottom or back of the device. You may also find it in your order history, purchase receipt or device settings under About or Device Preferences. Pay closer attention if your box: These signs do not prove the device contains Fuyao software. However, an H96 Max V11 or an uncertified off-brand box with several warning signs should be treated cautiously. Because malicious software may be built into the firmware, a factory reset may not remove it. Disconnect a suspicious box from your network and consider replacing it with a certified device from a recognized manufacturer. Bitsight says the Fuyao software could disguise a TV box as a smartphone, then quietly send it to operator-controlled websites containing AI-generated content. The box could view and click ads while appearing to advertising systems like a mobile user. Researchers mapped 144 websites tied to the operation and said the actual network could be larger. Bitsight says the operators also used computer vision to help the bots locate ads when webpage layouts changed. A customized version of Google's Blockly programming tool made it easier for operators to build and send fraud tasks to the boxes. The result was an automated system that could generate fake advertising activity without showing anything unusual on the owner's television. Bitsight says advertisers and ad networks were victims of the scheme. SHARED VPN VS DEDICATED IP: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU? One of Bitsight's more unusual findings involved the television's HDMI connection. Bitsight found that the boxes could switch between two money-making jobs. While an HDMI signal indicated that someone was watching TV, the box often acted as a residential proxy. When the TV was off, it could switch to ad fraud. Researchers believe this helped prevent the more resource-intensive ad activity from interfering with streaming. In practical terms, the box could route somebody else's internet traffic while you watched television and start clicking ads after you turned the TV off. A residential proxy sends another person's online traffic through a normal home internet connection. Websites then see the household's public IP address instead of the stranger's true location. Residential proxies have legitimate uses, but criminals can also use them to disguise where their activity originates. A compromised-box owner may never realize that outside traffic is passing through the home connection. The FBI has warned that compromised streaming boxes and other connected devices can give criminals access to residential proxy networks. The agency says malware may arrive preinstalled or enter through unofficial apps. The Fuyao operation is separate from the FBI's BADBOX 2.0 investigation, which has also involved compromised streaming devices and other inexpensive electronics. CyberGuy previously covered the FBI's warning that more than a million Android devices had been hijacked by BADBOX 2.0. Both cases show how an inexpensive connected gadget can quietly become part of a much larger network. In a 24-hour sample, Bitsight observed 65,957 reports tied to roughly 38,000 unique MAC addresses that appeared to have the Fuyao apps installed. Researchers cautioned that spoofing could make that figure higher than the actual number of physical devices. Their visibility was also limited to some older models from one brand. Using the roughly 38,000 observed device identities, Bitsight estimated potential ad fraud revenue of about $47,500 per day. Fengwo Group's website claimed more than 120,000 "AI digital humans," although researchers could not confirm that larger fleet. Bitsight estimated that a fleet of that size could potentially generate about $150,000 per day before accounting for possible proxy revenue. Bitsight attributed the Fuyao operation to Zhejiang Fengwo IoT Technology Co., Ltd., which it says operates under the Fengwo Group name. Bitsight says its attribution is based on evidence including shared digital certificates, internal files, advertising-revenue entities and company patents that appeared to match parts of the Fuyao system. The company's website also advertised more than 120,000 "AI digital humans." Bitsight suggested that phrase could relate to the automated device network, although that remains the researchers' interpretation. These conclusions are based on Bitsight's technical research. A court has not ruled on the allegations. CyberGuy reached out to Google, Zhejiang Fengwo IoT Technology, Fengwo Group and H96 Max for comment. Google responded with information about the distinction between AOSP and Android TV OS devices, Play Protect certification and consumer security protections. We did not hear back from Zhejiang Fengwo IoT Technology, Fengwo Group or H96 Max before our deadline. A few checks can help you decide whether that bargain streaming box belongs on your home network. Buy streaming devices from companies that provide security updates and customer support. Be cautious with unfamiliar brands that promise free access to paid content. Also avoid products advertised as "fully loaded" or "unlocked." Established manufacturers generally provide a clearer path for updates, security information and customer support. Google recommends checking whether your device is Play Protect certified. On your streaming device, open the Google Play Store. Select your profile icon, then go to Settings > About. Look for Play Protect certification. Google says uncertified devices do not have security and compatibility test results on record with the company. Play Protect can also warn you about or block known malicious apps on certified devices with Google Play Services. This protection can apply to apps installed outside Google Play. Do not assume the Google Play Store means your device is certified. Check the status yourself. You can also review Google's list of official Android TV OS partners to see whether the manufacturer uses the official platform. HOTEL WI-FI PHISHING ATTACK TARGETS MICROSOFT LOGINS Do not install apps from a marketplace you do not recognize. Stop if setup instructions ask you to disable Google Play Protect. You should also be cautious if a seller tells you to remove Google's official app store. Those instructions bypass safeguards designed to detect harmful apps. An unofficial streaming app may appear to work normally while proxy software runs in the background. Unplug the streaming box from your television. Then disconnect its Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. Open your router's app or administration page and review the connected-device list. Remove devices you do not recognize. Change your Wi-Fi password if the suspicious box continues to appear. Use a password manager to create and save a strong, unique password. You will need to reconnect your trusted devices with the new password. This is also a good time to review CyberGuy's guide to fixing common home Wi-Fi security risks. A factory reset may remove apps that were installed after purchase. However, a reset may not eliminate malicious software built into the original firmware. Replacing a suspicious box may be safer than continuing to use it. Do not sell it or give it to someone else. Take the device to a reputable electronics recycling program. Connect streaming boxes and other smart devices to a guest or IoT network when your router supports one. That separation can make it harder for a compromised box to communicate with computers or other sensitive devices on your primary network. Look for Guest Network, IoT Network or Device Isolation in your router's settings. A compromised box may use bandwidth when nobody is streaming. Review your router or internet provider's app for unfamiliar devices and unusual overnight traffic. Slow internet alone does not prove that malware is present. However, unexplained activity from an uncertified device deserves attention. A streaming box may sit on the same network as your phone or computer. Use strong antivirus software on devices that support it. Security software can alert you to malicious downloads, suspicious websites and other threats that try to spread beyond the streaming box. Also keep your operating system, browser and security apps updated. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com The FBI asks consumers to report suspected compromised devices through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Include the device's brand and model. Add the seller's information along with any suspicious apps or network activity you observed. Save your receipt and take screenshots of anything unusual before disconnecting the device. I love a good bargain, but I would be careful with any streaming box that connects to your home Wi-Fi. Bitsight found that some H96 devices may have quietly clicked ads or routed outside traffic through a household's internet connection. Google also clarified that the infected devices in this case are AOSP devices, not official Android TV OS or Play Protect certified devices. Before using a bargain streaming box, check its model number and Play Protect certification. If you see several warning signs, disconnect it and consider replacing it. Do you have a low-cost Android TV box at home, and what did you find when you checked its model and Play Protect certification? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f65bf2c5335ae1046757a Sports commentator Michael Holley is 'fine' after fainting during live broadcast in terrifying scene te 2026-08-14T19:00:15.418Z Sports commentator Michael Holley is 'fine' after fainting during live broadcast in terrifying scene Michael Holley, co-host of NBC Sports' "PFT Live," became overheated and fainted on camera during Friday’s show. Mike Florio was discussing Troy Aikman’s recent comments about his alleged conflict of interest with the Miami Dolphins and his role as an analyst for ESPN’s "Monday Night Football" when Holley appeared visibly unwell. Holley, 56, began to sway and then tipped backward as he lost consciousness and fell out of his chair and out of the frame. "PFT Live" then quickly cut to a commercial. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The show announced on social media that Holley was "fine." "On Friday’s PFT Live, Michael Holley became overheated and fainted in the studio in his home. We immediately went to a commercial break in order to get him assistance. Fortunately, Michael recovered quickly and is fine," the show said. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Florio said Holley had not had anything to eat or drink before the show. "Michael was in the studio at his home," Florio told Awful Announcing in a statement. "It’s very warm in there. He hadn’t had anything to eat or drink before the show. He became overheated during the show and passed out. I didn’t notice until he slumped in his seat, because I was looking at the camera, not the monitor. We went to break right away to try to get him assistance, if he needed it. Fortunately, he recovered quickly and is fine." Holley began working for NBC Sports and Peacock in 2020 and became a regular rotating co-host of "PFT Live" in 2024. He formerly wrote columns for the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, The Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal. He also spent 13 years as a radio commentator with WEEI. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f65be2c5335ae10467571 HBO’s 'Harry Potter' gets a hard no from 'Black Mirror,' 'Loki' directors over JK Rowling’s trans views te 2026-08-14T19:00:14.654Z HBO’s 'Harry Potter' gets a hard no from 'Black Mirror,' 'Loki' directors over JK Rowling’s trans views "Black Mirror" director Ally Pankiw and "Loki" director Kate Herron said Thursday on Instagram that they rejected opportunities to pursue directing work on HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series because of J.K. Rowling's views on transgender issues, extending the controversy surrounding the adaptation to prominent behind-the-camera talent. "Absolutely f---ing not! lol… (But thank you for asking)," Pankiw said. In an Instagram post, Pankiw shared a screenshot of an apparent exchange in which her representative asked whether she would consider working on "Harry Potter" and predicted that the project would be a "hard no." Pankiw described declining the opportunity as an easy way for entertainment industry professionals to avoid financially supporting views they opposed. JK ROWLING CONFRONTS THE BBC FOR PUSHING 'PROPAGANDA' OVER ITS TRANSGENDER SPORTS HEADLINE "It simply is this easy to say ‘no’ to funding transphobia! (Also this was for directing, not acting… obviously lol)," Pankiw said. Fox News Digital asked Rowling's PR team Friday to respond to Pankiw's accusation that working on the series would amount to "funding transphobia" and whether the directors' public refusals could affect HBO's ability to recruit talent.  "We won't be commenting," Rowling's team said. JK ROWLING CHALLENGES PAST 'HARRY POTTER' FILMMAKER TO SPECIFY WHICH OF HER BELIEFS ON GENDER ARE OFFENSIVE Pankiw later told Them that her team was checking whether she would be willing to interview or meet about directing an episode during the show's second season. She said HBO had not extended a formal offer. "It was not a hard job offer that I turned down, but more the opportunity to meet or interview," Pankiw said. "But honestly, I didn't investigate further!" Herron, whose credits include "Doctor Who" and the first season of Marvel's "Loki," said in the comments on Pankiw's post that she had been approached about the production twice. JOHN LITHGOW SAYS MUCH OF JK ROWLING'S TRANS REMARKS HAVE BEEN 'TWISTED AND MISREPRESENTED' "They've asked me twice, and I've had to explain my answer is never going to change from a ‘no,'" Herron said. HBO previously defended its relationship with Rowling in a 2024 statement provided to Variety. The network said the author, who serves as an executive producer, had the right to express her views and remained valuable to the adaptation. "J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement," an HBO spokesperson said. HBO CEO Casey Bloys also told reporters in 2024 that Rowling had been closely involved in selecting the show's writer and director and that her views had not affected the hiring of writers, performers and production staff. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE British actress Bel Powley, who plays Harry Potter’s aunt Petunia Dursley in the series, said she disagreed with Rowling’s views. "I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling's views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance," Powley said. Rowling has denied that she is transphobic and has characterized her position as a defense of women's sports, female-only facilities and sex-based legal protections. In a 2025 social media post, Rowling challenged entertainment industry figures who had criticized her views. "Is it my belief that women and girls should have their own public changing rooms and bathrooms? That women should retain female-only rape crisis centres?" Rowling said. "That men don't belong in women's sport? That female prisoners shouldn't be incarcerated with violent men and male sex offenders?" Fox News Digital reached out to Pankiw, Herron and HBO for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f65b62c5335ae1046754e Mary Morello, Free Speech Activist Who Defended Explicit Lyrics, Dies at 102 te 2026-08-14T19:00:06.659Z Mary Morello, Free Speech Activist Who Defended Explicit Lyrics, Dies at 102 An Illinois teacher — and the mother of the rock star Tom Morello — she took on Tipper Gore during culture war skirmishes over warning labels on records. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f65b52c5335ae10467545 Woman Charged With Vandalizing World War II Memorial te 2026-08-14T19:00:05.366Z Woman Charged With Vandalizing World War II Memorial Two felony charges have been filed against a Kentucky woman after spray paint appeared on the memorial in the capital. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f65b22c5335ae10467527 Read-it-later app Pocket shut down down — here are the best alternatives te 2026-08-14T19:00:02.774Z Read-it-later app Pocket shut down down — here are the best alternatives Pocket users have until October 8, 2025, to export their saved articles and other items, including lists, archives, favorites, notes, and highlights. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f63622c5335ae10467504 Who controls the Strait of Hormuz right now? Here's what the ship traffic actually shows te 2026-08-14T18:50:10.482Z Who controls the Strait of Hormuz right now? Here's what the ship traffic actually shows As tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain unsettled more than five months since the start of the war, the number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz appears to be far below pre-conflict levels. "Despite a brief recovery in late June, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly reduced, AIS [Automatic Identification System] transit information suggests operators increasingly favouring the Northern route following projectile attacks, ongoing security concerns, and heightened enforcement activity," a United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) voluntary reporting area overview noted. "Traffic remains well below normal levels, with AIS-detected transits approximately 90% below pre-conflict baselines and declining since the 24-26 Jun peak," the report said. The trade intelligence company Kpler reported in part of a Friday post on X that "Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz picked up on 13 August, with 13 confirmed crossings, a 44% day on day increase from nine. Of these, nine vessels used the Iranian Unilateral Scheme, none were confirmed on the Hormuz TSS and four routes remained undetermined." TANKERS ATTACKED AS TEHRAN, TRUMP BATTLE OVER CONTROL OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ International Chamber of Shipping Marine Director John Stawpert told Fox News Digital on Friday that while "traffic is significantly lower," compared to before the war started, "it's not completely stopped." "Essentially, what we see is a cyclical process," Stawpert said, explaining that when a ceasefire is announced there is an "uptick" in vessels entering and exiting the Persian Gulf, but "as those ceasefires break down ... you'll see that drop off again." He also noted there is still a mine threat in the waters, which has an impact on how much traffic can enter and exit the Persian Gulf. Stawpert indicated that to resolve the issue, there would need to be "a meaningful ceasefire that everybody has faith in," an end to the Iranian threat, an end of the U.S. blockade against Iran, and a grasp on which waters are "safely navigable" in the face of the threat posed by mines. President Donald Trump has claimed that the U.S. has full control over the waterway. "The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, 'A WALL OF STEEL,' and there is nothing Iran can do about it," Trump wrote in a Wednesday Truth Social post. "They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the IRGC is decimated and fleeing, and their 'Leadership' is uncertain, at best! They have No Money — Their country is "shot." All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer. Praise be to Allah!" he added. But the Islamic Republic of Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said in a Wednesday post on X, "Claims and repeated posts by U.S. officials that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer blocked do not change the reality: the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran’s conditions are accepted." Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on X Thursday claiming "the U.S. has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures. Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz. Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful. Allah is Great, Greater than ANY power on Earth. In Allah we trust." IRAN SAYS US MISCALCULATED OVER STRAIT OF HORMUZ DESPITE TRUMP'S CLAIM OF 'TOTAL CONTROL' The recently appointed leader of the Iranian Basij paramilitary unit said on Thursday that the passage is "under Iran's control and management," Reuters reported. "There's a northern route which is essentially Iranian controlled. There's a southern route through Omani waters which is overseen by the U.S. Navy," Stawpert explained to Fox News Digital, noting that control over the passage is "divided." U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has touted the flow of oil out of the strait. "Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the U.S. military and our gulf allies, the seven-day average for oil leaving the Strait of Hormuz is currently up to almost 9 million barrels per day," Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote in a Tuesday post on X. "When combined with the additional 5-7 million barrels per day leaving the region via newly upgraded pipelines and export facilities, total oil flows are currently averaging approximately 15 million barrels per day. On Sunday alone, over 20 million barrels left the Arabian gulf region, which is above the pre-conflict average." "In coordination with the U.S. military, the U.S. Department of Energy maintains the best available data related to oil and oil products leaving the Arabian gulf. Many private businesses undercount the number of ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz due to ships moving covertly through the waterway," Wright added in another post. "We need to bear in mind that there's human beings on board these ships," Stawpert told Fox News Digital, asserting that the "risk" they face is "unacceptable." IRAN DEFIES TRUMP, DECLARES STRAIT OF HORMUZ BLOCKED AFTER PRESIDENT CLAIMS US HAS 'TOTAL CONTROL' "And that's why this needs to end," he continued, "for those humanitarian reasons, more than anything." The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f63612c5335ae104674fb Josh Pate discusses new ESPN show, four faces of ESPN, Pat McAfee and future of media company with OutKick te 2026-08-14T18:50:09.839Z Josh Pate discusses new ESPN show, four faces of ESPN, Pat McAfee and future of media company with OutKick Josh Pate is the most popular college football commentator on the internet. This fall, he will also expand his partnership with ESPN, co-hosting a new Friday television program with "Bussin' With the Boys" hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan from college campuses across the country. This week, Pate spoke to OutKick about how, not long ago, he was making just $27,000 a year and was eventually evicted from his home. Today, he runs one of the most successful independent brands in sports media and says he turns down sponsorship opportunities to avoid overexposing himself. During the discussion, I read aloud a text I received from a top sports media agent a few weeks ago, saying that the four people ESPN plans to build around for its future are Pat McAfee, Laura Rutledge, Peter Schrager and Josh Pate. "Wow. That's company that I don't think I belong in, because I've got pretty big reverence professionally for everyone you just mentioned. I don't know Peter as well. Laura Rutledge is a living, breathing angel. Pat McAfee, to me, when you mention that name, you have to mention that name, and then you have to stop," Pate responded. "I go back, I use this comparison sometimes. I grew up on pro wrestling, ironically, speaking of Pat. I remember since that Attitude Era, late '90s, when I would have been a kid growing up, there's been this whole industry that has scaled and blown up around retrospectively looking back at that era. One of the concepts that always stood out to me and slapped me in the face, because I can relate to it and apply it to my professional life, is when people talk about the impact Steve Austin had on the industry of pro wrestling," he continued. "There have been big stars before. There have been guys who made a lot of money. But the transcendent ones, the ones that you look back on a quarter-century later, are the ones who not only created wealth and success for themselves, but created wealth and success for hundreds and thousands of other people merely because they existed. That's Pat McAfee in our space." EXCLUSIVE: COLIN COWHERD EXPLAINS WHY HE STUCK TO SPORTS AS ESPN BECAME 'RUDDERLESS' DURING TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY While Pate wasn't interested in comparing himself to McAfee, he described his expanded role with ESPN as something that still feels like a dream. "It's pretty surreal, to be honest with you. Myself, Will Compton and Taylor Lewan...we will be on a different campus every Friday...we wanted to be on campus. We wanted to be with college football fans...Friday is a different vibe, and if you're around college football, you know what I mean. A Friday in a college town, there's sort of this rising action vibe," he explained. In addition to his new agreement with ESPN, Pate will retain ownership of his media company and his flagship "Josh Pate's College Football Show." Pate explained that the business has five or six primary revenue streams, including YouTube AdSense and other programmatic revenue, brand deals, public speaking engagements, merchandise and talent deals. "We do a ton of revenue in merchandising because we have fun with it. So that is its own bucket. You've got public events, you've got appearances, you've got speaking engagements. That's its own bucket. You've of course got your talent deals, in this case ESPN," Pate said. "Because of the way I structure it in my mind, I don't think of them as multiple streams, although they are multiple streams in the classic sense. So you're probably looking at five or six main ones just right there." Pate told OutKick he has no interest in weighing in on topics simply because others believe someone with a large platform should address them, namely politics and the WNBA. His philosophy is to focus on subjects he knows and that his audience comes to him to discuss. "It's my responsibility to do whatever I want with my platform," Pate said. "You've got zero right to direct other people on what to do with theirs, because the very nature of them having a platform probably means they know their audience pretty well, and probably means they know what their audience does and doesn't want to hear from them." SPORTS MEDIA HITS ALL-TIME LOW IN COVERAGE OF DIJONAI CARRINGTON AND SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM And while college football is his primary passion professionally, Pate says he plans to expand his media company into his second passion: Weather. "Weather is my other passion. Storm chasing, specifically," Pate said. "This is something I've given a lot of thought to over the past year. It's had a lot of my attention, specifically since last winter. So I don't think this will be a hypothetical for long. I think this is something that we'll try and pursue." Pate noted that he is not a degreed meteorologist and therefore would not expect to be the face of such a project. But his interest in atmospheric science and storm chasing runs deep. He said he spends between 15 and 30 days on the road storm chasing during the spring. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS "Even if I am covering college football, that may be an avenue we go down one day," he said. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! Finally, Pate explained how important God and his faith are to his daily life. "Absolutely," Pate responded when asked if he believes in God. "It is woven into every moment of every breath I take. Like every day that I live. I view God as omnipresent in my life. I always have." Watch our full interview with Josh Pate on YouTube here. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f63612c5335ae104674f2 Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy seeks sole custody of kids in divorce from model wife te 2026-08-14T18:50:09.212Z Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy seeks sole custody of kids in divorce from model wife Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy pulled the plug on his marriage to Elle Evans – and asked the court to give him legal and physical custody of their two young children. Bellamy filed for divorce on Aug. 12 in Los Angeles. He cited irreconcilable differences as he chose to end the marriage after six years. The musician also invoked the couple’s premarital agreement on key financial issues, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Bellamy and Evans’ prenup could now take center stage as the couple untangles their finances. OLIVIA WILDE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE EXACT MOMENT SHE KNEW RELATIONSHIP WITH JASON SUDEIKIS WAS OVER Bellamy indicated that Evans could receive spousal support under the agreement, while asking the court to shut the door on any support payments to him. Just how much money could be at stake remained a mystery – the filing kept the prenup’s terms and any potential payout under wraps. The financial loose ends didn’t stop there. Bellamy admitted he had "yet to determine the full nature and extent" of their separate assets and obligations and flagged the possibility of additional community property and debts still to be sorted out. He also reserved the right to amend the petition, leaving the door open for more financial details – and potentially more disputes – to emerge as the divorce unfolded. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The divorce petition did not have a date of separation listed, but Bellamy previously revealed he and Evans had split last summer in a June interview with The i Paper. At the time, he admitted the separation was hard to explain. "Because it’s one of those situations that involves something that people wouldn’t normally think it is," he told the outlet. "It was a set of really unexpected circumstances." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "It’s the kind of thing no one really prepares for in life," Bellamy said. "It threw me off, and I had to prioritize looking after the kids and creating stability at home." Bellamy and Evans were first romantically linked in 2015 after reportedly meeting while making the music video for Muse's song "Mercy." Bellamy proposed to Evans during a Fiji vacation in December 2017, and they tied the knot in 2019. The estranged couple shares a daughter, born in 2020, and a son, born in 2024. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f610a2c5335ae10467483 Arizona ranks second for road deaths in delivery driver risk study te 2026-08-14T18:40:10.680Z Arizona ranks second for road deaths in delivery driver risk study Arizona had the second-highest traffic death rate among states included in a new study examining risks faced by delivery drivers. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f61052c5335ae10467474 Protect Education Act ballot eligibility still uncertain after ruling te 2026-08-14T18:40:05.521Z Protect Education Act ballot eligibility still uncertain after ruling Key points: A judge has ruled on the signature challenge to the Protect Education Act, but it remains unclear whether the measure will qualify for the ballot. The state’s ballot printing deadline for the general election is Aug. 20. An appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court is likely regardless of the outcome.  Despite a judge’s new ruling in the Protect Education Act signature challenge, it’s still unclear whether the school voucher reform initiative will be allowed on the general election ballot.  Maricopa County Superior Court Judge David McDowell issued an expedited ruling Thursday evening on the challenge by Empowerment Scholarship Account advocates who contend Protect Education Act petition circulators didn’t collect enough valid signatures.  McDowell tossed thousands of signatures from multiple circulators for the Protect Education Act. His ruling also favored the plaintiffs on the double-counting of invalid signatures, which may keep the initiative off the ballot.  The measure, also known as Proposition 212, garnered more than 421,000 signatures, more than the 255,949 required. A review from the Secretary of State’s Office reduced the total to 389,376, from which Arizona’s counties would conduct a random sampling to determine a signature validity rate. That number was further reduced in court after plaintiffs objected to the qualifications of numerous circulators for a variety of reasons, resulting in the removal of many signatures collected by those who testified throughout a three-day trial. Their petitions might be tossed because of clerical errors when providing their addresses and phone numbers or because they hadn’t had their civil rights restored following a felony conviction. Then came the issue of duplicate signatures. If someone signs an initiative more than once, Arizona law requires all but one of their signatures to be disqualified. That would disqualify another 24,369 signatures, which was the difference in the measure being eligible for the ballot.  If duplicate signatures disqualify a measure from the ballot, Arizona case law allows the Secretary of State to use the validity rate calculated by the counties to avoid double-counting the signatures ruled out. McDowell ruled against arguments raised by Protect Education Act attorneys that the legal challenges to county recorder criteria result in double counting because those challenges are already accounted for in the validity rate. “The court agrees that it is conceivable that a double count could occur, but the court cannot make a decision based upon a hypothetical double counting of duplicate signatures,” McDowell wrote.  But McDowell didn’t know at the time of his ruling whether the measure would qualify for the ballot because not all counties have completed their review of the secretary’s random sample and a validity rate hasn’t been calculated yet.  The state’s deadline to print ballots is Aug. 20, and the case is being expedited to allow for a potential appeal.  Kory Langhofer, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said Thursday night that the case is awaiting results from Maricopa County and Apache County. If those counties report something similar to the current average validity rate of the 13 other Arizona counties, the Protect Education Act would fall short by about 6,300 signatures.  Plaintiffs challenged signatures collected by more than 110 circulators, according to McDowell’s ruling. The case will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court when the counties get a validity rate, Langhofer said.  The post Protect Education Act ballot eligibility still uncertain after ruling first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f5eb32c5335ae10467426 Congressional approval not needed for White House ballroom, Trump tells high court te 2026-08-14T18:30:11.818Z Congressional approval not needed for White House ballroom, Trump tells high court Demolition work continued where the East Wing once stood at the White House on Dec. 8, 2025. President Donald Trump ordered the 123-year-old East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden leveled to make way for a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday to intervene in a lower court decision that halts his $400 million White House ballroom construction unless he receives authorization from Congress. The administration requested the justices grant an immediate stay to a 2-1 federal appeals court decision that sided with historic preservationists who argued Trump doesn’t have the authority to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the White House East Wing stood until Trump ordered its demolition in October 2025. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued the decision on Aug. 7 but delayed the ruling for two weeks to allow the administration time to appeal. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who previously defended Trump before the high court as his personal defense attorney, argued the project was needed to enhance security at the White House. The “updated East Wing complex is absolutely required and should not be enjoined,” he said, citing assassination attempts on the president.  Sauer also wrote that Congress has “twice over” already authorized the current project, through a 1916 law governing the National Park Service and a 1978 statute, by empowering the Department of the Interior to embark on major construction projects and delegating powers to the president to use appropriated funds to alter the White House. “Following this tradition, President Trump determined that many factors urgently required modernizing the old East Wing — most critically, that it no longer performed vital security functions,” according to the appeal. “Compounding those problems were structural defects, such as a degraded foundation, crumbling roof, pervasive mold and mildew, water-related deterioration, obsolete electrical infrastructure, toxic asbestos, and lead paint.” ‘Military complex’ The Trump administration has asserted publicly the project would serve as a security upgrade. Sauer again made that argument in his 45-page appeal.  The ballroom, which is expected to seat 1,000 people, will be incorporated into a “highly integrated military complex” descending several stories underground, he told the court, and would include security features such as drone-proof ceilings, bomb shelters, sniper nests, “military-grade venting,” and “state-of-the-art hospital and medical facilities.” According to Thursday’s appeal, the project is already 65% complete, with a concrete-and-steel “superstructure” reaching five stories underground and 70-feet high, occupying nearly 50,000 square feet.  The construction has accelerated over the past four months, with workers on a 250-person crew operating 20 hours a day, seven days a week, “to keep the Project ahead of schedule and under budget,” Sauer wrote, adding that $200 million has been spent or committed to date, and has been “shouldered by private donations.” Court battle In mid-April, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia blocked any above-ground construction on the ballroom, allowing underground construction on security facilities to continue.  A day later, April 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia stayed the lower court ruling and put the case on a fast track.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation hailed the split appeals court decision earlier this month as a “great day for our country and for the American people’s right to voice their opinions about the historic places they cherish, including the White House.” “From the beginning, our position has been clear and consistent: the law states that only Congress can authorize the construction of a ballroom at the White House,” the trust’s president and CEO Brent Leggs said in a statement Aug. 7. The National Trust for Historic Preservation did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment Friday. The East Wing was originally built in 1902 as a receiving area for visitors, according to the White House Historical Association. A 1942 renovation added a bomb shelter and a second story. From the late 1970s onward, beginning with first lady Roslynn Carter, the wing housed the office of first ladies and their staff. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f5c562c5335ae104673c0 Lake Havasu City man faces decades in prison after sex conduct convictions te 2026-08-14T18:20:06.444Z Lake Havasu City man faces decades in prison after sex conduct convictions A Lake Havasu City man faces decades behind bars following convictions for three counts of sexual conduct with a minor. A Mohave County Superior Court jury deliberated less than one half-hour Tuesday before returning guilty verdicts in the trial of… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f5a042c5335ae1046737f GSA finds China-made tech labeled ‘Made in USA’ in federal procurement program, orders sweeping review te 2026-08-14T18:10:12.724Z GSA finds China-made tech labeled ‘Made in USA’ in federal procurement program, orders sweeping review FIRST ON FOX — An independent federal agency is under review for allegedly listing foreign-made products as American, including technology manufactured in China, and the Trump administration is demanding a sweeping audit of its products, pricing and supply chains. In a draft letter viewed exclusively by Fox News Digital, the General Services Administration directs the U.S. AbilityOne Commission to verify the country of origin of every product on its Mandatory Procurement List and conduct a comprehensive audit of products offered through GSA on pricing, sourcing and compliance with federal law and procurement policy.  "Federal tax dollars spent on the AbilityOne program should support jobs for blind and disabled Americans, not foreign competitors," GSA Administrator Edward Forst wrote in a statement. AbilityOne oversees a federal purchasing program intended to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Federal agencies are generally required to buy products and services placed on the commission’s mandatory list from participating nonprofit organizations. "Many of AbilityOne’s product offerings raise serious national security concerns and cast doubt on its ability to carry out its mission," Forst added in the statement. "GSA will not allow questionable products to undermine the security of the federal marketplace." TOP TRUMP AGENCY PURGES OVER 20 SUSPECTED CHINA-LINKED PRODUCTS FROM FEDERAL MARKETPLACE Forst's department sent a letter to AbilityOne Commission Chair Christina Brandt to follow through on President Donald Trump’s March 2026 executive order requiring truthful "Made in America" advertising across federal procurement. The audit has also drawn interest from Vice President JD Vance's anti-fraud task force. "GSA requests that the Commission promptly conduct a full audit of all items offered for sale through GSA and related procurement data to verify COO [Country of Origin] representations, pricing, sourcing, and compliance with applicable law and policy," Forst's letter dated Friday read. "Such an audit is necessary to provide transparency and accountability to the American people, protect the integrity of Federal procurement, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are not supporting inaccurate or misleading claims." GSA said it found multiple examples of AbilityOne-associated technology products labeled on GSA procurement platforms as "Country of Origin: USA" that are, in fact, from foreign countries like China. PROGRESSIVE PRAISE FOR TRUMP AS WARREN BACKS PUSH TO CURB DEFENSE CONTRACTOR CEO PAYOUTS AbilityOne was given until Nov. 16 to respond to GSA's "areas of concern" and provide corrected country-of-origin information for products offered through the Federal Acquisition Service Verified Product Portal, address products currently listed with unclear origin designations and provide documentation explaining how it will conduct ongoing reviews. "GSA holds all its contractors to the highest standards," Forst's letter concluded. "To ensure we apply the same rules to the AbilityOne Program, I'm instructing my Senior Procurement Executive to promptly take appropriate action to eliminate the exception that permits the Commission to offer items originating in China and other non-allied nations. He will work with GSA and the Commission to ensure effective implementation." "GSA appreciates the Commission’s prompt attention to this matter. Ensuring that PL products available through GSA channels are fully compliant is essential to maintaining the integrity of the AbilityOne Program, the Federal marketplace, and the Government’s procurement obligations," he added. NEWSOM ADMIN FACES QUESTIONS OVER $6.2M DIAPER CONTRACT AFTER TOUTING 'COMPETITIVE' PROCESS The letter goes beyond country-of-origin concerns, raising questions about pricing and executive compensation at nonprofits participating in the program. GSA said AbilityOne-affiliated nonprofits can sell products to the government with markups of as much as 55%, depending on pricing arrangements. The agency alleged that some products provide "limited or no meaningful employment or value added to the taxpayer" while nonprofit executives receive compensation reaching more than $1 million annually. The letter contrasts those figures with an average annual salary of approximately $33,000 for blind workers, citing National Industries for the Blind data. An appendix identifies several AbilityOne nonprofits where executive compensation reportedly ranged from $500,000 to more than $1 million. GSA also pointed to previous False Claims Act cases involving AbilityOne nonprofits. Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a Wisconsin nonprofit, agreed to pay $1.9 million in 2020 to resolve federal allegations involving false claims and kickbacks on government contracts. GSA also cited a 2021 settlement in which Connecticut-based CW Resources paid $600,000 to resolve allegations that it falsely certified compliance with AbilityOne labor requirements. HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES FOREIGN FUNDING TRANSPARENCY ACT TO EXPOSE FOREIGN DONATIONS TO NONPROFITS Those settlements involved allegations resolved in prior cases and are separate from the country-of-origin findings outlined in the new GSA letter. Those figures are expected to intensify scrutiny of whether participating organizations are directing enough federal contract revenue toward their workforce and whether executive compensation is consistent with AbilityOne’s mission. The National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal advisor, is concerned the "policy relic" is "failing" in its mission, another example of how government waste, fraud and abuse must be audited by the Trump administration’s anti-fraud task force led by Vance. TRUMP IS PROVING THAT THE WAY TO BETTER OUR MILITARY IS TO SECURE OUR SUPPLY CHAINS "For years, NCD has reported that AbilityOne is a policy relic that hasn’t kept up with the needs of Americans with disabilities," NCD Acting Chair Neil Romano wrote in a statement Friday. "This is just another example of that overall failing." Fox News Digital reached out to AbilityOne for comment on the allegations and the call for an audit and has not yet heard back. GSA is also scrutinizing an AbilityOne policy known as "Essentially the Same," which allows certain products to be substituted for items already approved for the mandatory list. According to the draft letter, foreign-made goods have quietly displaced American products through that process, undercutting domestic manufacturers while continuing to benefit from preferential federal purchasing rules. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f5a042c5335ae10467376 Cathy Engelbert sure seemed to know what a woman was at her first WNBA press conference te 2026-08-14T18:10:12.087Z Cathy Engelbert sure seemed to know what a woman was at her first WNBA press conference For those hoping the WNBA would be able to end the week by giving us their official definition of a "woman," I've got some bad news for you. This cliffhanger is gonna keep you sweating through the weekend! That's right. Another day of silence out of the WNBA as the league struggles on what is apparently the hardest question in the history of time ... What is a woman? The league formed a task force late last week to tackle this problem, and, after days of deliberation, they still haven't come to a conclusion. Shocking. Of course, they did use that time to blame fans and the media for sewing division within the sport, calling out "bad-faith" efforts and accusing us of using players as political pawns. That's a tad hypocritical coming from a league that shoved BLM down our throats for an entire summer, if you ask me. But what do I know? The WNBA has limited options after two men declared for the draft, and those options aren't great Anyway, speaking of things that happened a long time ago that we're apparently now ignoring, let's check in with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who has been radio silent for weeks now on the ongoing culture war. Engelbert was introduced as the league's commissioner in 2019, and certainly seemed to know all about women — and the importance of "women's advancement" — during an introductory press conference that came back to light this week: "It’s such an exciting and important time in its history, and more importantly, a moment in time for women’s leadership," she said at the time. "There’s no place like sports where women and girls can gather confidence and be exceptional in life, and that’s the benefit I had from playing sports at an early age. I see tremendous opportunity to essentially bolster visibility for the sport, women’s basketball, around the player experience, the fan experience, fan engagement. "For those that don’t know me, this role brings together kind of a perfect combination of my more than 30 years of business experience and my passion for the sport of basketball, and then really I’ve dedicated at least the last decade to women’s advancement." Yes, I did some digging on this middle Friday of August, and stumbled upon Engelbert's first presser as WNBA commish. And boy, is it a humdinger given the current 'trans in women's sports' debate that has engulfed the league this summer. Engelbert mentioned the word "woman" 33 times during her press conference, and harped on the phrases, "women's advancement," "women's leadership," and "women's initiatives" throughout the availability. SAM PONDER CALLS OUT THE WNBA FOR COWARDICE: 'BE COURAGEOUS. STAND FOR WOMEN' She spent a large portion of her presser talking about her upbringing, which included a family of five brothers and a father, all who played basketball. "I think I do tell a story a lot about being a woman leader in a man’s world," she said when asked about breaking glass ceilings in a male-dominated industry. "Obviously, it started even from my family with the five brothers. I went to a college that was more male than female when I first arrived there…joined a profession that was very male dominated and kind of worked very hard on our women’s advancement and women’s initiatives." I don't know about you, but this certainly doesn't sound like someone who would want a biological male in her league. I'm just spit-balling here. Engelbert — who has recently locked her X account — also spent a large portion of that presser discussing her previous job at Deloitte, where she was the first female CEO in history to lead a Big Four accounting firm. She was proud of that fact, and rightfully so. "Yeah, I’ll tell you, there were three things that I was thinking of after obviously a long career with one firm," she said. "Very safe to say I wanted something different, something with a women’s leadership platform and something I have a passion for. "Really just having experience with the WNBA as a fan and kind of evaluating the upside and the moment in women’s leadership that I’ve been so passionate about. For instance, I am on the chair board of Catalyst, which is an organization around women’s leadership that works for women, works for everyone as their mission. "I really thought this was a good fit, particularly with the W looking for a woman business leader with a passion for the game, and so the timing worked and it was a good fit, and I was very intrigued by the upside of how great these world class women athletes are who are playing a game that I love." There's that word again! For someone who refused to come out this week and define what a woman is, Cathy Engelbert sure had no issue using the word back in 2019. She had no problem talking about her upbringing, as a woman. Her struggles, as a woman. Her business endeavors, as a woman. Or highlighting the fact that she was the chair of a company that was literally built "around women's leadership." So, what changed? How does one go from that, to this: "I know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in women’s basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention," Engelbert wrote in a memo last week. "We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead." That doesn't sound like the same commissioner from 2019. It sounds like a lot of word salad from someone who built her entire career on being a woman. And, frankly, it sounds like someone who is probably on her way out. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f5a032c5335ae1046736d Colts coach gets wiped out on sideline during preseason game in painful scene te 2026-08-14T18:10:11.399Z Colts coach gets wiped out on sideline during preseason game in painful scene The Indianapolis Colts’ biggest injury from their first preseason game might not have been to a player, but rather to a coach. Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason was taken out on the final play of scrimmage in the team’s 13-13 tie with the New England Patriots on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium. Mason, 39, unsuccessfully tried to avoid the Patriots and Colts players who were barreling toward the sideline. He appeared to get hit down low and was then writhing on the ground in pain. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "He got rolled up right on the sideline that last play," Colts head coach Shane Steichen said postgame. "So we’ll see. He’s getting evaluated for his knee right now." Mason is entering his fourth season as the team’s special teams coordinator. Last season, his unit was strong, as the Colts ranked second in the NFL in kickoff return average (28.8) and had the lowest opponent punt return average (6.3). ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Despite utilizing three different kickers, Spencer Shrader (13-of-14), Blake Grupe (11-of-11) and Michael Badgley (10-of-11), the Colts had the second-highest field goal percentage (94.4) in the NFL. Prior to joining the Colts, Mason had spent his coaching career in college football. He began as a student assistant at Denison in 2007-08 and eventually bounced around a few schools as a graduate assistant before becoming Cincinnati’s director of recruiting and special teams assistant in 2017. In 2018, he was promoted to special teams coordinator and remained in that role with Cincinnati until 2021, when he left and took the special teams coordinator job at Notre Dame. After one season with Notre Dame in 2022, he joined the Colts. The Colts will hope to have Mason back on the sideline sooner rather than later. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f59fc2c5335ae1046734c She Sewed the Blue Angels’ Flight Suits. Then a Big Company Got the Job. te 2026-08-14T18:10:04.976Z She Sewed the Blue Angels’ Flight Suits. Then a Big Company Got the Job. Jellie Whitehurst in Pensacola, Fla., was surprised to learn that after decades, the Navy had awarded a $1.7 million contract to a company in Virginia to supply the gear. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f59fb2c5335ae10467341 NAU opting into House Settlement sheds light on program’s biggest needs te 2026-08-14T18:10:03.790Z NAU opting into House Settlement sheds light on program’s biggest needs NAU is opting into the House Settlement this year, and teams are already working with its new resources to catch up to the rest of the NCAA. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f57af2c5335ae104672fd Alex Murdaugh defense says murder weapon may be tied to separate killing as judge seeks answers te 2026-08-14T18:00:15.809Z Alex Murdaugh defense says murder weapon may be tied to separate killing as judge seeks answers Alex Murdaugh’s defense attorneys on Friday raised an unverified claim that a recent Allendale County homicide could be connected to the Murdaugh murders, surprising prosecutors and the judge overseeing his retrial. Murdaugh returned to court after the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned his 2023 convictions and two life sentences earlier this year for the killings of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh. The court found that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors, depriving Murdaugh of an impartial jury, and ordered a new trial. Murdaugh remains imprisoned on separate state and federal financial-crime sentences. ALEX MURDAUGH'S DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTION UNANIMOUSLY OVERTURNED BY SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT On Friday, defense attorney Jim Griffin told South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin that the defense learned through FITSNews reporting that a recent Allendale County murder may have involved weapons connected to the Murdaugh case. Griffin said the defense wanted the state to investigate and turn over any related records. FITSNews told Fox News Digital that Griffin’s reference was to its Aug. 8 "Week in Review" YouTube episode. According to a transcript reviewed by Fox News Digital, FITS founding editor Will Folks and research director Jenn Wood discussed what they described as an unverified report involving a possible third gun at the Moselle crime scene. ALEX MURDAUGH DEMANDS NEW EVIDENCE SEARCH IN HUNT FOR CRACKS IN CASE "We’re hearing reports that a Murdaugh gun was used in a subsequent crime," Folks said. "We’re not going to say where at this point. We’re not going to get into the details." Folks said the outlet was investigating whether the firearm was tied to the Murdaugh family and perhaps one of the guns that has never been recovered. Wood cautioned that the information had not been confirmed. "It’s a pretty consistent rumor and, you know, I’m hearing it from very good sources," Wood said. "We have not been able to validate a lot of it and I’m not sure if it’s even the gun. It just said that it was tied to the murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh." ALEX MURDAUGH LAWYERS ALLEGE ‘FABRICATED’ EVIDENCE WAS USED TO SECURE MURDER INDICTMENTS Neither speaker identified Allendale County, described a ballistics comparison or said investigators had established that a weapon used in the Murdaugh killings was used in a subsequent crime. At Friday’s hearing, Griffin did not identify the victim, the alleged weapon or any testing that supported the purported connection. He said the defense wanted related records as potential Brady material — evidence that could be favorable to the defense. Griffin told McCaslin that a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) firearms examiner testified at Murdaugh’s first trial that shell casings from the .300 Blackout rifle used to kill Maggie Murdaugh bore extraction marks matching casings recovered from the Murdaugh family’s shooting range. Griffin said that if shell casings from the Allendale County case matched casings tied to the Murdaugh murders, the defense wanted the underlying testing and investigative records. ALEX MURDAUGH MAKES 'EXPLOSIVE' BID TO BLOW UP MURDER CASE HINGING ON DNA, DIRTY MONEY AND LIES: EXPERT Such a finding, he argued, could raise questions about the original ballistics analysis or suggest that a firearm associated with the Murdaugh case was later used in another killing. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters told the court the allegation was entirely new to him. "I have never heard the first thing about that," Waters said, adding that he communicates with SLED daily and had not been told of any such development. "I will certainly look into that, but I would be flabbergasted to find out that actually had happened and no one had advised this office of that," Waters said. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS McCaslin also appeared struck by the allegation. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE "As far as the murder in Allendale with the murder weapons, you certainly raised my eyebrows on that," McCaslin told Griffin. SEND US A TIP Griffin said FITSNews had broken other Murdaugh-related stories before the defense learned of them. He also told the court that a podcast included a reference to the alleged connection. GOT A TIP? McCaslin directed Griffin to send the material to Waters for review. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Waters said he does not follow podcasts or blogs covering the case. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL "I don’t watch the podcast and I don’t read the blogs because I try to base what I’m doing on the evidence and not on speculation that’s out there in the media," Waters said. "It would blow my mind if something like that had happened in SLED and not call me." No evidence establishing a connection between an Allendale County homicide and weapons used in the Murdaugh killings has been presented. Waters later said during Friday's hearing that SLED then told him there is no known ballistics match linking a .300 Blackout used in an Allendale County shooting to another crime. Waters said the firearm evidence from the Allendale case was entered into a ballistics database but "there have been no leads or no matches on that." "I’m going to find out more and double check and we’re going to run this down," Waters said, adding that SLED told him there were "no leads or hits" involving the .300 Blackout used in the Allendale shooting. Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f57a92c5335ae104672e2 Electrified water solved at Site Six, new solar lights installed te 2026-08-14T18:00:09.621Z Electrified water solved at Site Six, new solar lights installed Last week, residents raised concerns about electrified water at Site Six. The city has solved the issue, and Site Six should be back to normal today — with some new solar lights to show off, as well. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f57a72c5335ae104672d9 Bullhead City man gets 10 years in child sex sting case te 2026-08-14T18:00:07.810Z Bullhead City man gets 10 years in child sex sting case A Bullhead City man snared in a law enforcement sting operation targeting adults preying upon children for sex pushed back a bit at his Aug. 13 sentencing hearing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f55532c5335ae104671ad Massachusetts mayor charged with wire fraud in $1.5M COVID relief scheme te 2026-08-14T17:50:11.712Z Massachusetts mayor charged with wire fraud in $1.5M COVID relief scheme The mayor of a Boston suburb is facing federal wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly using more than $1.5 million in pandemic-era small business loans to pad his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and settle high-interest real estate debts. Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, 61, was arrested Friday morning following an investigation into his alleged misuse of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) — a program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act to assist struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. DePena was elected mayor of Lawrence in November 2021 and won reelection in November 2025. He previously served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 to 2021. "Mayor DePena was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence," said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. "He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies. Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials, and hold elected officials accountable." DISGRACED DEM CUT OFF FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH GOVERNMENT AFTER ALLEGED ‘OUTRIGHT FRAUD’ UNCOVERED In May 2020, DePena applied for an EIDL on behalf of his business, Tenares Tire Service Inc., an auto service and tire shop in Lawrence. The EIDL funds, which carried a 3.75% interest rate, were only to be used to alleviate pandemic-related financial struggles for businesses. The SBA initially approved a $150,000 loan for Tenares Tire in June 2020. However, DePena sought additional funding months later upon facing cash flow issues. In April 2021, he applied for an increase and was approved for a $350,000 modification. A second loan modification followed in October 2021 that brought the total to $1.1 million. Upon the second loan modification, DePena was unable to access the funds for a month, resulting in panic, officials said. "Brother, call me, I’m in trouble. I don’t want to pressure you, but I don’t have time to wait for this loan. I’m in your hands," DePena allegedly wrote in a translated Spanish text message to a financial advisor assisting with the loan application. "I know I’m bothering you a lot, but I have no other option," he added. "Only you can give me what I need." ALLEGED FEEDING OUR FUTURE FRAUD RINGLEADER TRANSFERRED FROM SOMALIA TO FACE US CHARGES Upon receiving the funds, prosecutors claim DePena began diverting them. Between August and October 2021, he allegedly transferred nearly $90,000 from his business accounts to personal accounts, subsequently writing checks totaling over $42,000 directly to "The Committee to Elect Brian DePena". In addition, officials said he used the taxpayer funds to pay off personal debts, including $85,000 paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to settle personal back taxes and another $883,293 to pay off high-interest mortgages on personal properties he owned in Lawrence. "CARES Act funds were created to help small businesses survive an unprecedented national crisis — not to bankroll personal debts, political ambitions, or real estate ventures," said Thomas Demeo, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office. "IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to protecting taxpayer dollars, pursuing those who exploit federal relief funds, and ensuring that financial integrity is upheld at every step." As of Aug. 5, DePena had made only 16 payments toward the Tenares Tire EIDL, totaling $130,160. Since the payments went toward the accrued interest, the outstanding loan balance remains at approximately $1.65 million, the complaint states. DePena is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Boston federal court on Friday afternoon. He faces up to 30 years in prison. The mayor's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f52f92c5335ae1046714c Air Force athletes chasing Olympic dreams in between serving the nation in a critical time te 2026-08-14T17:40:09.190Z Air Force athletes chasing Olympic dreams in between serving the nation in a critical time As U.S. airmen carry out combat operations in the war with Iran, a small group of service members is representing the Air Force in a different arena: elite international sports. Through the World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP, Air Force athletes can train full-time while remaining on active duty. Their assignment is to compete at the highest level, promote the service and attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games. When their athletic careers end, they return to conventional military roles. The program’s mission has taken on added weight since U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Feb. 28. An April 6 CENTCOM fact sheet said American forces had struck more than 13,000 targets using bombers, fighters, tankers, surveillance aircraft, electronic-warfare platforms and airlifters. The conflict remained unresolved in August. TRUMP HONORS TWO RECORD-BREAKING ATHLETES AT US COAST GUARD ACADEMY GRADUATION CEREMONY Against that backdrop, Airman First Class Anita Alvarez, 2nd Lt. Texas Tanner and 1st Lt. Wyatt Hendrickson are training toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Retired Air Force combat rescue officer Chad Senior offers an example of how an elite athlete’s experience can eventually translate into operational military service. Their circumstances are not identical. Alvarez and Senior are Olympians, although Senior competed through the Army’s athlete program before joining the Air Force. Tanner and Hendrickson have not yet reached the Olympics, but both have won major national championships while serving. Alvarez entered the Air Force as an established Olympic medalist. She had already competed in three Olympic Games and helped the United States win the artistic-swimming team silver medal in Paris in 2024. She entered basic military training in November 2024 and graduated at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in January 2025. According to the Air Force, she became the first Olympic medalist specifically recruited into the Department of the Air Force’s WCAP program. The Air Force did not produce her Olympic medal, but it has helped extend her career. Before enlisting, Alvarez said she balanced eight-hour training days with side jobs, school and uncertainty about what she would do after leaving her sport. WCAP allowed her to make training, recovery and mental preparation her full-time job. "I can put everything not only into the physical training every day, but also into my mental performance, into my recovery," Alvarez said. Her results since joining the service suggest the arrangement is working. World Aquatics records show that Alvarez won two World Cup bronze medals in team events in 2025. In 2026, she added a team acrobatic gold medal in Medellin, three silver medals in team and duet events, and two more bronze medals. Alvarez is also completing her degree while considering a post-athletic Air Force career. She expressed interest in aerospace physiology, becoming an officer and possibly pursuing pilot training. Listening to other airmen discuss deployments and operational missions has also changed how she views her athletic assignment. "I’m grateful for the opportunities to be able to compete and travel and do all these things in my sport because of the military members and what they’re doing overseas," Alvarez said. Tanner’s rise came through the Air Force Academy. The Sheridan, Wyoming, native completed one of the strongest throwing careers in Academy history before graduating and receiving his commission in 2026. TRUMP WARNS US 'WON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN OLYMPIC TEAM ANYMORE' WITHOUT NEW COLLEGE SPORTS REGULATIONS During his final collegiate season, Tanner set American collegiate records in both the discus and hammer. He finished second in the hammer and fourth in the discus at the NCAA outdoor championships, ending his Academy career as a six-time All-American. Only weeks after commissioning, Tanner won his first senior national championship. He threw 65.46 meters to capture the U.S. discus title in New York on July 25, winning by nearly a meter and a half. Two days earlier, he placed sixth in the hammer with a throw of 71.64 meters. The performance moved Tanner closer to his goal of competing at the Los Angeles Games. "It was to be a national champion," Tanner said. "Now that I’ve accomplished that, it’s to be the best in the world." Tanner said military service is part of a family tradition that includes his father, aunt, uncle, cousin and grandfather. He did not enter the Academy expecting to become a professional athlete, but WCAP opened that path after he had already committed to military service. When his throwing career ends, Tanner expects to enter Air Force contracting, helping acquire the goods and services needed to operate aircraft, installations and military units. "To be able to serve my country in more ways than one is honestly just something that is a legacy through my family," Tanner said. Hendrickson has produced one of WCAP’s most visible recent achievements. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 2024, he used his final season of college eligibility at Oklahoma State while serving on active duty through the program. In March 2025, Hendrickson defeated Olympic champion Gable Steveson to win the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship. He finished the season undefeated and received the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s outstanding college wrestler. Hendrickson then won the 2025 Pan American championship and earned a place on the U.S. senior world team. He placed 17th at that year’s World Championships before returning in 2026 to win another Pan American title. In June, Hendrickson defeated world medalist Mason Parris in two consecutive matches at Final X, securing the 125-kilogram position on the U.S. world team for the second straight year. "If this were an Olympic year, I’d be an Olympian," Hendrickson said. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! His long-term goal is an Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles. He said WCAP provides the command support and resources that make it possible for him to continue wrestling while remaining an active-duty officer. "If it weren’t for WCAP, I would not be a wrestler today," Hendrickson said. "They are really the backbone of support while I’m trying to pursue an Olympic gold medal." Hendrickson also acknowledged that other airmen are performing operational work he otherwise might be doing. After wrestling, he expects to serve as an acquisitions officer responsible for obtaining equipment and other resources for the Air Force. "I really have to give more credit to the airmen that are kind of filling my role right now," he said. "Hopefully I can repay them by bringing back a gold medal for the United States of America." Senior’s career shows what that transition from international competition to military operations can look like. Senior competed in modern pentathlon through the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. He entered the 2000 Olympic year ranked No. 1 in the world, finished sixth at the Sydney Games and placed 13th at the 2004 Athens Olympics. After the Sept. 11 attacks, Senior decided to leave elite competition and move into a more operational military role. He became an Air Force combat rescue officer and served with the 920th Rescue Wing and 308th Rescue Squadron. Air Force and Army records credit him with two deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. He later became the 308th Rescue Squadron’s director of operations and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring. Senior now works as a contractor supporting the Air Force and helping plan contingency rescues for human-spaceflight crews. He argues that WCAP’s value cannot be measured only by medals. Elite athletes arrive with years of experience in discipline, teamwork, failure and high-pressure performance. Those qualities, he said, can later strengthen operational military units. Senior views the program as an investment serving three groups: athletes receive the opportunity to pursue world-class goals, the military gains future service members and recruiting ambassadors, and taxpayers gain personnel accustomed to performing under stress. The real return, he said, comes after athletes leave competition and bring those habits back to the military. For Alvarez, Tanner and Hendrickson, that test remains ahead. Their present assignment is not combat service, and none claimed that winning a medal was equivalent to carrying out a military mission. Instead, they described their athletic careers as another form of representation — and as preparation for the work they will eventually perform outside the pool, throwing circle or wrestling arena. Alvarez is pursuing a fourth Olympic appearance. Tanner is a national champion only months after receiving his commission. Hendrickson has earned consecutive positions on the U.S. world team. Their immediate objective is Los Angeles. The Air Force’s longer wager is that the discipline required to reach the Olympics will remain valuable after the competition ends and a different kind of service begins. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f50a32c5335ae104670e7 The best tool to protect voting rights this fall? Your own community. te 2026-08-14T17:30:11.643Z The best tool to protect voting rights this fall? Your own community. (Photo via Getty Images) Last week marked the 61st anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act , which banned racial discrimination in voting, and the 51st anniversary of a VRA extension that protected voting rights for non-English speakers. These laws have helped ensure that millions of eligible Arizona voters were able to exercise that fundamental right over the past six decades, and will continue to do so when they head to the polls for this November’s midterms.  If you follow national news, you’re probably aware that this anniversary celebrates a VRA that is significantly weaker than when it first passed all those years ago. Recent court cases, including Louisiana v. Callais this spring, have chipped away significant portions of the law and, with it, key provisions that protected the rights of voters to have an equal say in selecting our country’s elected officials.  The good news? If you’re reading this article, you may or may not be aware of the enormous power you possess to protect what’s left of the VRA for voters in your community, starting right now. You don’t even have to go out of your way to do it.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE Whether you’re someone who regularly interacts with other members of your community — like a teacher, performer, business owner, health provider, or coach — or someone who just spends time with friends and family, you can be a force-multiplier for the most direct and impactful tool Arizonans have available to protect the VRA this fall: massive and diverse voter turnout.  To be clear, over the long term, elected leaders must act to codify protections for all eligible voters, regardless of their political orientation or background, to ensure the long-term health of our democracy. But over the next three months, friends, neighbors and trusted community members are the key players in protecting the right to vote.  This is especially true when it comes to mobilizing young people, who don’t trust the political system and are increasingly avoiding affiliation with political parties. Entities that traditionally have moved voters to act, like political campaigns or organizations, hold less sway than ever. At the same time, in-person interactions and spending time in community have been shown to help motivate people to the polls.  So, how can you use your relationships with your friends, families and community members to protect the right to vote? It’s simple: Be a source for trustworthy, nonpartisan information about the voting process.  If you run a business, post signs reminding your customers to check their voter registration status, which they can do at https://nationalvotereducationweek.org/vote/ or by visiting their local registrar or clerk’s office. If you interact with customers, remind them about relevant dates, like Oct. 5, which is the last day they can register to vote; Oct. 7-30, which is Arizona’s early voting period; and Oct. 23, the last day voters can request mail ballots.  If you know anyone in your life who’s new or unsure about the voting process — and especially if you interact with young voters, first-time voters or members of tribal communities — you can brush up on Arizona’s voter ID requirements and help people in your circle make sure they have the valid Arizona driver’s license or non-operating ID card, tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal ID, or valid federal ID — such as a passport — necessary to cast a ballot in Arizona.  And no matter who’s in your life, they’ll benefit from having a calm, confident, and accurate source of information who can dispel false rumors or misinformation about potential changes or federal government interventions in this fall’s election. Make sure they know that nobody, not even a federal agent, is allowed to intimidate them when voting.  All of this messaging is most impactful if it comes directly from you. Outsiders or political campaigns can try all they want to move voters, but friends and neighbors are the trusted messengers we need to meet today’s moment.  Looking for a free, easy way to inform voters in your community? Check out National Voter Education Week any time, and celebrate with us Oct. 5-9, 2026.  YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f4e492c5335ae1046709e Elephants may have played surprising role in early human survival, study suggests te 2026-08-14T17:20:09.490Z Elephants may have played surprising role in early human survival, study suggests Elephants are widely adored by many people today — but a recent study suggests early humans were butchering them for survival nearly 2 million years ago. A group of international researchers found what they describe as "the earliest direct evidence of proboscidean butchery," including a newly identified elephant butchery site, according to an article published in the spring in the journal eLife. Modern elephants are the only living proboscideans today — a group that once included woolly mammoths and mastodons. The animal bones belonged to Elephas recki, an extinct elephant species. ANCIENT HUMANS WERE HUNTING AND EATING SHARKS 7,000 YEARS AGO, BURIAL SITE DISCOVERY SHOWS The research centers on Olduvai Gorge, a site in northern Tanzania's Serengeti Plains known for major discoveries of early human fossils and tools. At the site, excavators found stone tools alongside bones of ancient elephants — and the recent paper, written by archaeologists and paleoanthropologists, suggests the remains were likely deliberately butchered by early human ancestors. The bones date back some 1.8 million years, during the early Pleistocene epoch. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Though researchers have observed evidence of humans hunting large megafauna in later periods, the discovery suggests that early humans processed elephant carcasses more systematically. The study also says that early humans' ability to butcher large animals "represents a unique evolutionary trajectory, with no direct modern analogue." "This shift in behavior is accompanied by larger, more complex occupation sites, signaling a profound ecological and technological transformation," the paper states. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "Rather than opportunistic scavenging, these findings suggest a strategic adaptation to megafaunal resources, with implications for early human subsistence and social organization." Meat from large animals like elephants would have provided a significant food source for early humans, the paper notes. "The food surplus generated by the exploitation of some of these animals would have been a significant advantage for the survival and adaptation of the hominin groups," the study adds. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Fox News Digital reached out to the study's lead researcher for comment. Researchers continue to uncover new clues about human diets, spanning from ancient civilizations to the earliest humans. This past December, archaeologists in Pompeii uncovered preserved food remains revealing what enslaved people ate before Mount Vesuvius erupted. More recently, researchers identified food DNA on the Shroud of Turin, suggesting that Jesus' alleged burial shroud may have been contaminated over time. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f4bf32c5335ae10467034 Farage puts seat on the line over ‘establishment hit job’ — voters send him right back te 2026-08-14T17:10:11.338Z Farage puts seat on the line over ‘establishment hit job’ — voters send him right back Reform UK leader Nigel Farage gambled his seat on the voters of Clacton siding with him over Britain's political establishment — and won. Farage regained his seat in Parliament Friday after triggering a highly unusual by-election that he said would allow voters to judge him amid allegations surrounding his finances. His closest challenger was not Labour or the Conservatives, but Count Binface, a satirical candidate played by comedian Jon Harvey who campaigns dressed as a trash can. Farage captured 22,239 votes, while Count Binface won 9,455, according to the official result published by Tendring District Council. Turnout was 44.37%. Britain's major political parties declined to field candidates in the contest, which they dismissed as a self-serving stunt. MEET 'COUNT BINFACE,' THE TRASH CAN-CLAD COMEDIAN CHALLENGING NIGEL FARAGE "I called this by-election because I wanted the people of Clacton and the voters of this constituency to be my judge. Not the mainstream media in Britain…and the political establishment who paint us out to be criminals and bad people every day," Farage told supporters before the final result was announced. "So I asked the voters of Clacton to be my jury." Farage resigned from Parliament last month, forcing the vote as he sought a renewed mandate amid a parliamentary investigation into whether he should have declared a £5 million, or roughly $6.75 million, gift from a billionaire cryptocurrency investor. Farage has acknowledged receiving the money and not declaring it, but maintains he did nothing wrong. The gamble succeeded in returning Farage to Westminster — but it did not make the investigation disappear. He had previously called the reporting around his finances an "establishment hit job" and said he had followed the rules. Shortly after the election result was declared, the parliamentary standards investigation, which had been suspended when Farage resigned his seat, was once again listed as active, Reuters reported. Parliament's current investigations page lists the Farage case as having opened May 13 under Rule 5, "Failure to register an interest." Parliament notes that the opening of an investigation does not itself mean the rules have been breached. FARAGE SAYS MASS MIGRATION HAS CHANGED THE UK ‘LITERALLY BEYOND RECOGNITION,’ BELIEVES PARTY CAN WIN ELECTION If the investigation ultimately leads to a qualifying suspension from Parliament, it could trigger a recall petition. Under British parliamentary rules, a suspension of at least 10 sitting days, or 14 calendar days, can trigger that process. A by-election would follow only if the recall petition reached the required threshold of support from eligible voters in the constituency. Reuters reported that Farage had cast the election as a battle between ordinary voters and an establishment determined to discredit him. But with Labour, the Conservatives and other major parties refusing to participate, his principal opponent became Count Binface — whose policies included capping the price of ice cream cones and conscripting anyone using a speakerphone on public transportation. Farage nevertheless framed the result as a sweeping rejection of his political opponents. "Today, the voters in Clacton have stuck two fingers up to the entire political establishment," he told supporters. Alan Mendoza, founder and executive director of the London-based Henry Jackson Society, and an advisor to Farage, offered a similar interpretation of the result. "A tremendous result for Nigel Farage in Clacton," Mendoza wrote on X Friday. He argued that Farage's increased raw vote total despite the boycott by major parties showed voters had resisted efforts to turn them against the Reform leader, calling the result a "spectacular two fingered salute" to his critics. Farage did not appear at the official vote declaration, saying police had advised him there was a campaign to disrupt the result. GB News later reported that Essex Police said it had not told any candidate not to attend the declaration. "I'm damned if I'm going to stand on the stage having won a resounding victory ... and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies," Farage said before the count was completed. The election comes at a more complicated moment nationally for Reform UK. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER FACES POTENTIAL LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE FROM NEWLY-ELECTED ANDY BURNHAM After holding a lengthy lead in national opinion polling, Reform has seen its support decline, Reuters reported, citing both the controversy surrounding Farage's finances and a rise in support for Labour since Andy Burnham became prime minister last month. Reuters said Labour was leading Reform 28% to 25%, while Reform also faces competition on the right from the Conservative Party and Restore Britain. Still, Farage increased his raw vote total from the 2024 general election. He received 22,239 votes Friday, compared with 21,225 in 2024, an increase of 1,014 votes despite lower turnout, according to GB News. For now, Farage has the seat back and the renewed mandate from Clacton voters that he sought.But the parliamentary investigation he was fighting is back as well. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f4bf22c5335ae1046702b Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in federal court to stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson te 2026-08-14T17:10:10.655Z Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in federal court to stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson NEW YORK — Accused assassin Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in federal court Friday morning, after days of speculation that he might admit guilt in the case in order to raise a potential double jeopardy claim weeks before his state-level murder trial. Prosecutors have alleged that Mangione, 28, is the hooded man who snuck up behind UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, and shot him in the back outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan. Mangione's defense team could attempt to raise a new double jeopardy claim with his guilty established in the federal case, but it remains unclear if he would prevail. UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO BRIAN THOMPSON'S 'PREMEDITATED' ATTACK AND SUSPECT LUIGI MANGIONE'S GETAWAY: TIMELINE Judge Margaret Garnett asked Mangione if he understood the maximum sentence he could receive is life in prison. He answered, "Yes." He told the judge he called UnitedHealthcare posing as an investor to get information about the conference. Given the opportunity to address the court, Mangione opted to stay seated. "After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back… I learned UnitedHealthcare would hold an investor’s conference," he began. The judge told him to speak louder. Mangione explained that while the specific location of the investor conference wasn't immediately made public, he researched it online. That's when he called the company directly. He said he traveled to the Big Apple with the intent of shooting Brian Thompson. "On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan," Mangione told the court. "I knew what I was doing." LUIGI MANGIONE JUDGE SAYS JURORS WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS AFTER THREATS AND HARASSMENT OF WITNESSES Federal prosecutors summarized some of the evidence they would have introduced at trial — including security camera video they say shows Mangione arriving in New York on a bus, following Thompson around the Hilton on the morning of the murder, and video of the shooting itself. The video shows a hooded gunman approach Thompson from behind and shoot him in the back. As he falls and turns around, he's shot again. Then the suspect is seen fleeing on a bicycle. Investigators recovered Mangione's DNA and fingerprints at or near the crime scene. Police found the suspected murder weapon in his backpack when he was arrested. They also have cellphone evidence and an eyewitness of the shooting. Garnett scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 18. LUIGI MANGIONE PLEA TALKS RAISE SHOWDOWN OVER BRIAN THOMPSON MURDER TRIAL "Brian Thompson's life was cut short by an act of violence that devastated everyone who knew and loved him," a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group said in a statement. "We are grateful to law enforcement for bringing Brian's murderer to justice, and our thoughts remain with Brian's family and loved ones during this difficult time." SEND US A TIP Thompson's family also issued a statement through a spokesperson: "Today's guilty plea marks an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family," it reads. "While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable. Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime. We remain mindful that additional proceedings in New York and Pennsylvania are still to come, and we will continue to seek the justice Brian deserves." LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST In addition to the top charges of second-degree murder and stalking resulting in death, Mangione faces a slew of lesser charges, including a number of firearms offenses and carrying a forged ID in both New York and Pennsylvania. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This is a developing story. Stick with Fox News Digital for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f4bea2c5335ae10466ffa Tucson duo turns burnout into business of compassion te 2026-08-14T17:10:02.367Z Tucson duo turns burnout into business of compassion In 2023, longtime friends Jose Ocaño and Angel Guzman were both navigating personal crises when they made an unconventional choice: quitting their jobs to start a business together. That business, Hatching Inc., now teaches burned-out helpers, from animal shelter workers to school social workers, how to reconnect with compassion. The pair have known each other since fifth grade. Ocaño began working at Pima Animal Care Center when he was 19. A certified vet technician, he ended up having to assist with the euthanasia of animals. While euthanasia can be the best and most humane option in some cases, that wasn't always the case at the shelter, he said. "I saw animals being euthanized because they sneezed," he said. "They were being euthanized because they were hissing at you after being in a long car ride." Ocaño noticed he and his colleagues were experiencing burnout. Part of the solution, he said, was to change PACC's operational procedures. "Over the years, PACC has become an incredible organization and one of the best life-saving models in the country and I got to be a part of that," Ocaño said. His success implementing changes at PACC took his work to a national audience when he was hired by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. But while working in human resources, he began experiencing the familiar feeling of burnout from his days at PACC. "So often I was going in to do programs and operational support, but I know that addressing the burnout and the human side of things was a necessary part," Ocaño said. "Over time, I realized this is the missing piece here. It's about centering people's humanity." Your membership pays emerging journalists to cover Southern Arizona the way it deserves. Angel Guzman, left, and Jose Ocaño, right, pose with a Tucson Unified School District social worker at their "Más Compassion" workshop, where the pair shared tools for combating burnout. Courtesy of Hatching. If the emotional challenges that come with caring are not met, Ocaño says it can make the situation worse. "It leads to people being … apathetic and hopeless," he said. During his time at Best Friends, Ocaño's mom entered hospice and passed away. "My life was really up and down at the time and a co-worker told me I'm 'hatching,'" Ocaño said. "She meant it like this next iteration, like you're growing, learning, and having to navigate this hard circumstance. That stayed in the back of my mind." Guzman is a professional violinist who has performed at Disneyland, toured with Latin artists and recorded with Camila Cabello. He's also a financial whiz, with his resume including a job with Adult Protective Services' financial crimes unit and work as a financial investigator for the state of Arizona. Guzman also had a benign tumor growing on his jaw where his violin rested. The operation to remove it would effectively end his career, so he resisted until it became too much. He eventually went ahead with the surgery, but missed playing the violin as a way to express himself and cope. "It was life-changing and how I perceived life and the world around me," he said. Guzman needed to find another outlet, so he filled his time with mindful practices. "I picked up practices like yoga, meditations because I could no longer go to the gym (or play)," Guzman said. "It was really a lot of adapting and accepting the reality of my circumstances." Tucson Unified School District social workers gather for a Hatching Inc. workshop, where Jose Ocaño and Angel Guzman led attendees through compassion-cultivation exercises to address burnout. Courtesy of Hatching. After deciding to quit their jobs, Ocaño and Guzman moved back to Tucson from Los Angeles with the intent of sharing tools for conquering burnout with Tucson Unified School District social workers. The idea behind Hatching didn't begin as a business plan. It was seeded in coping with life's hardships, and grew from emotional evaluation and finding ways to heal. But while the stage was set for their business, something was still missing. Then, Ocaño recalled an experience from his time working in an animal shelter in Fresno. "I was sitting in the break room with a staff member and we were sharing what the experience was like, working at this really intense, under-resourced environment. We shared advice and different things that I found had helped me," he said. "Then I realized (I had) this feeling of connection, this feeling of, 'I'm in this with you.'" It was at this moment, he said, that the idea for Hatching really took off. "We are going to hyperfocus on people and the helpers because we need them in order for the world to be a better place," Ocaño said. Hatching had now emerged, growing into what Ocaño and Guzman call "compassion cultivation." It's about helping people move from survival mode to compassion mode, Ocaño said. The pair found that people were often so "deep in survival" mode that even good suggestions felt like too much to take on, so they developed what they call "Más Compassion." "Often times … self-care … is not something we talk about and discuss in our community. So that's kind of a little insight of why we call it 'Más Compassion,'" Ocaño explained. Since 2023, Hatching has partnered with more than 100 organizations, drawn over 830 participants through The Más Compassion Experience and enrolled more than 1,000 people in its online courses. They start with what they call a "333" routine: three minutes of stretching, three minutes of musical reflection while asking internal questions, and three minutes of journaling. "This is where the magic happens," Ocaño said. Participants ask themselves questions like "What is it like to be me?" and "What do I carry?" then share their answers with co-workers. Participants answer the questions through an anonymous survey app, sharing what they learned about themselves and others during the exercises. "The number one things we hear at every workshop, and it's the most powerful takeaway, it's 'I'm not alone,'" Ocaño said. They said the goal is to always connect people to the present by reconnecting them to themselves, each other and their work. If workers can return to their jobs with "more compassion in their tank and some tools and a deeper connection to each other, and why they do (what they do)," Ocaño and Guzman say they've succeeded in cultivating compassion. Katherine Martinez is a a Kickapoo-Potawatomi Native majoring in journalism at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at martinezk29@arizona.edu. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. Donate to Tucson Spotlight Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f499e2c5335ae10466fa7 WWII Memorial vandalism suspect in custody, charged with two felonies, Pirro says te 2026-08-14T17:00:14.706Z WWII Memorial vandalism suspect in custody, charged with two felonies, Pirro says The suspect accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., has been charged with two federal offenses for injuring/depredating U.S. property and the destruction of a veterans’ memorial, according to court documents. The DOJ is accusing Kentucky woman Melissa L. Farris of an act of vandalism which occurred Thursday. The words "Clean hands, dirty money," were spray-painted on the memorial in bright pink paint along with dumping bubble soap into the fountain at the center of the memorial, according to authorities. Federal prosecutors allege that cleanup and restoration costs already exceeded $1,000. Fox News Digital scanned Farris' social media pages, which were cited in the court documents, and found she posted to Facebook Friday morning in a video.  "It's me. I am going to turn myself in … I'm outside district federal court," she said in a Facebook live.  PROSECUTORS MOVE TO DISMISS FELONY VANDALISM CASE AGAINST OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN OVER REFLECTING POOL "I am just trying to do the right thing … I was trying to get people to listen… I tried to reach the media, I tried to fight back. I tried to ignore it," she said in tears.  Farris claimed she lived in a paper-thin camper that she "boarded up with cardboard in the winter to feel a little bit warmer." Fox News Digital reached out to U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for comment. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather. This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans' Memorials, in Federal District Court against Melissa L. Farris, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. She is now in custody," United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced earlier Friday morning. President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the memorial's defacement.  "Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II. First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???" he wrote in a Friday post on Truth Social. The memorial is the latest D.C. monument targeted this year. Trump continues to seek the prosecution of a former Olympian accused of ripping the Lincoln Monument Memorial Reflecting Pool's coating. TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM ALLEGATIONS, CITES NEW WITNESS ACCOUNT In June, U.S. Park Police also launched an investigation after the numbers "8647" were burned into the grass near the Washington Monument. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f499d2c5335ae10466f91 'Blue Bloods' star Jennifer Esposito says she walked away from Hollywood after years of rejection and ‘abuse’ te 2026-08-14T17:00:13.877Z 'Blue Bloods' star Jennifer Esposito says she walked away from Hollywood after years of rejection and ‘abuse’ After years of attempting to meet Hollywood's expectations, Jennifer Esposito reached a breaking point. During an appearance on Maria Menounos' "Heal Squad" podcast, the "Blue Bloods" alum reflected on the ups and downs she experienced as a young actress and explained why she finally decided to pull the curtain and call it quits on Hollywood. "I remember, like, the anxiety of trying to be what everyone wanted me to be," Esposito said. "I got a call one time from my manager. I was on this movie, and they were like, ‘Are you happy on set?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’" Esposito recalled. "Like, ‘Oh, the producer called and said, like, you don't really say good morning.’" 'BLUE BLOODS' STAR JENNIFER ESPOSITO SAYS SHE WAS LOCKED IN PSYCH WARD AS HEALTH BATTLE SPIRALED The criticism caught Esposito off guard, she said. "I was just like, ‘We're starting at 5 in the morning. I'm just trying to learn my lines, like, just do my job.’ Like, nothing I was doing was right." Esposito claimed speaking up about more serious concerns presented another problem. "And then if you ever speak out about, like, any kind of abuse situation, like, you're not supposed to do that," she said. "Like, you don't do that. You know, there's no right step." ARMIE HAMMER COMPARES HIS HOLLYWOOD EXILE TO BEING CRUCIFIED: 'THE NAILS ARE IN MY HANDS' The actress also alleged there was a double standard between men and women in Hollywood, and pointed to Armie Hammer making a smooth return back into Hollywood. Esposito recalled questioning a stunt in which fake glass was supposed to explode in her face, only to feel pressure not to slow down production. "They were like, ‘We're just going to blow this fake glass in your face,’ and I was just like, ‘I don't know. Is that right?’ ‘Don't hold us up. You're going to hold us up? Oh, you're not going to do it?’" After years of questioning herself and revisiting her experiences in therapy, Esposito said she eventually realized she couldn't continue down the same path. "I would write a little, pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down, until I got to a point when it was just like one awful experience after another," she said of developing her movie "Fresh Kills" while continuing to work as an actress. Then came her breaking point. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I remember it was around New Year's, and I thought — I was so miserable," Esposito said. "I was really, really miserable, and I thought, ‘OK, I have to quit.’" Before walking away, however, Esposito said she felt compelled to make "Fresh Kills," the female-centered Mafia drama she would eventually write, direct and star in. 'FIRE COUNTRY' STAR DIANE FARR LEAVES LOS ANGELES AFTER 30 YEARS TO START HER 'THIRD ACT' "There was this thing in my head: ‘But make "Fresh Kills" first, because then you can end on your terms, and you could finally do what you believe you can do.’" Esposito said she eventually realized she could no longer wait for Hollywood to give her an opportunity. "No one's coming. No one's answering your call. No one cares about you complaining. No one cares [that] women should be in more films, and we should have stories from women. No one cares. And if you think you can do it, then do it," she said. Getting the movie made brought another round of rejection. Esposito recalled potential backers offering $5 million if she could secure three male stars and said she was also asked if she would step aside for a male director. After another discouraging pitch, Esposito decided to stop asking others to take a chance on her. "I remember getting off the Zoom, and I went out to my husband. I was like, ‘I'm mortgaging the house. I'm mortgaging the house.’" She said the decision came down to betting on herself. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Why am I asking these people to bet on me?" Esposito recalled thinking. "I get it. You've never seen me direct anything. You don't know. I hear you. So if I'm asking these people to bet on me, I need to bet on me." The gamble ultimately resulted in "Fresh Kills," allowing Esposito — who officially moved to Paris three months ago — to make the film she wanted before ending that chapter of her career on her own terms. "I will never doubt my ability again. No matter what anybody says, I know exactly what I'm capable of," she said. "And it was wonderful to be able to give myself that." "I don't think I have ever had a calm nervous system ever. Like, I'm being honest. Like, my house was crazy, my surroundings growing up were crazy. Then getting into this industry ... I just finally got to the point where I thought, ‘Why do you keep accepting crumbs from every aspect of your life?’" She later added, "Now being [in Paris] for three months almost, I really don't even recognize the person I am. I noticed myself smiling walking down the street yesterday. I joined a gym and went in the pool. I haven't been in the pool in I don't know how long." "Like, I don't know what to say, but it's a piece of finally seeing myself and saying, 'Nobody, nobody that I'm asking has to do anything. It's OK. I'm not mad. I'm just going to excuse myself.’ And it's seriously one of the most powerful things I've ever done for myself. One hundred percent." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f499d2c5335ae10466f88 ‘Raw material for election fraud’: Expert flags voter-roll problems far beyond one state te 2026-08-14T17:00:13.139Z ‘Raw material for election fraud’: Expert flags voter-roll problems far beyond one state A growing number of states facing noncitizen and illegal voting allegations and disputes over voter registration policies is intensifying a national fight over election safeguards ahead of the midterms. The disputes exposed a broader fight over how states verify citizenship when registering voters — maximum access versus maximum verification — and how far the federal government can go in demanding state voter data when suspecting illegal activity. The issue recently exploded after New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill disclosed 6,600 noncitizens had been registered to vote through Trenton’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). "This isn't just a New Jersey problem. This is a national problem," Texas Public Policy Foundation Chief National Initiatives officer Chuck DeVore told Fox News Digital in an interview. DeVore wrote after Sherrill’s disclosure about the problems that can arise if noncitizen and illegal voting continue relatively unchecked. "Historically, inappropriately pumping up the vote has been a path to gaining power," DeVore said, adding that a plurality of Americans "are concerned" about noncitizen voting. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS DOJ ACCESS TO NJ VOTER ROLLS AMID STATEWIDE CONTROVERSY President Bill Clinton signed the National Voter Registration Act in 1993. Commonly called the "Motor Voter Law," the law requires covered states to offer voter registration through motor vehicle agencies while administering their own voter rolls, DeVore said. "The intention … was to make it really easy to register to vote, especially when you touched a very common part of government," DeVore said, "which was the Department of Motor Vehicles or whatever the equivalent is." DeVore argued that architects of the voter registration system failed to account for the narrower mission of motor vehicle agencies, which he said historically focused on two things: "You who you say you are — and can you safely operate [automotive] machinery." Neither function has anything to do with election security, DeVore said. "And then if you add an additional layer on top of it, which is if the people in charge want as many people registered as possible because it creates the raw material for election fraud, well, now you have a whole other set of problems that kind of supercharges the weakness." That broader fight has increasingly pitted the Justice Department against states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania over federal demands for voter registration data. Both states’ election agencies — led by a Democrat and a Republican, respectively — resisted the demands, raising privacy and legal objections to releasing unredacted sensitive information. DOJ TAUNTS MEDIA AFTER TRUMP SCORES WIN IN BATTLEGROUND-STATE BALLOT FIGHT The DOJ, meanwhile, has adopted a "broken-windows theory" approach to investigating potential election violations. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the agency is applying the crime-fighting theory popularized during former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s administration, which focused on enforcing lower-level offenses in an effort to deter more serious crimes. Under Dhillon and Attorney General Todd Blanche, the DOJ has prioritized pursuing provable fraud and irregularities in state election processes. "We need to go after every single one of these violations … I can't talk about a lot of what we're doing publicly, but activists and others are giving us leads," Dhillon recently told Fox News Digital. "And we are carefully running down each." CALIFORNIA ACCUSED OF BLOCKING FEDERAL VOTER ROLL AUDIT AS DOJ ESCALATES PROBE OF ELECTION FRAUD CLAIMS The push has brought the federal government into conflict with states, with critics citing Tenth Amendment concerns over the balance between federal authority and states’ role in administering elections. Congress has previously used federal funding to pressure states to change policies traditionally administered at the state level. In the 1980s, federal law conditioned a portion of highway funding on states adopting a minimum drinking age of 21. The Justice Department has similarly sued or threatened to sue states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York over voter data and election-record disputes. Democrats in states facing increased federal scrutiny have pushed back against allegations of intentional wrongdoing. New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Scotch Plains, recently told Fox News Digital he agrees that a "healthy democracy" depends on voter-roll security and proper "stewardship" of those trusted to execute "free, fair and accessible elections." "It also depends on public trust, and Governor Sherrill deserves credit for being transparent about these failures, taking swift action to launch an independent investigation of what went wrong, and pledging to hold anyone responsible to account," Scutari said. At the same time, Scutari’s critics have accused Democrats in New Jersey of failing to prevent voter-roll problems despite repeated warnings about vulnerabilities in the system. SHERRILL DROPS HEAD-TURNING VOTER ID DECLARATION IN WAKE OF REGISTRATION FIASCO: ‘SIGNIFICANT SHIFT’ "People were on the honor system," said New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Kristin Corrado, R-Totowa. "The fact is that the people in charge for so long said this absolutely was impossible; Republicans were ‘conspiracy theorists’," added Sen. Declan O’Scanlon of Little Silver, the top Republican on the State Joint Budget Committee. Other states, including Pennsylvania, have also resisted federal demands for voter data, citing privacy concerns. DeVore said that while serving as a California state lawmaker, he regularly had access to similar voter information. "Many Democrats see elections as mere census exercises. All they are is a body count. They're not, in fact, informed citizens casting a ballot with their enlightened self-interest guiding their ballot." Pennsylvania officials similarly resisted the Trump administration’s demand for the state’s voter rolls, even after DOJ sued Harrisburg’s elections chief in September. "This request and reported efforts to collect broad data on millions of Americans represent a concerning attempt to expand the federal government’s role in our country’s electoral process," Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt — a Philadelphia Republican appointed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro — wrote in his reply. "I take seriously the obligations under both federal and Pennsylvania law to ensure that only eligible voters have access to the ballot box and to see to it that Pennsylvania’s voter rolls are appropriately maintained and updated," Schmidt wrote in a more recent letter to the Justice Department in July. The SAVE America Act — which would require voter registrants to provide proof of citizenship and voters to show ID — remains stalled in the Senate after Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., sent the chamber into summer recess, angering President Donald Trump and election-security advocates. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER DeVore warned, however, that Congress has previously pursued sweeping federal voting legislation and argued that states should take the lead on election safeguards. He pointed to Democrats’ previous effort to pass the "For the People Act," legislation sponsored by former Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., which would have restricted some state voter-ID requirements. "So we need to be somewhat circumspect about using the sledgehammer of federal law to sweep away state powers to order their own affairs," DeVore said. Fox News Digital reached out to Sherrill for additional comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f499c2c5335ae10466f7c Hot spot: Arizona has become a destination for women’s sports te 2026-08-14T17:00:12.084Z Hot spot: Arizona has become a destination for women’s sports PHOENIX – Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego uttered prophetic words at the Women’s Final Four tip-off press conference on Feb. 24 at Mortgage Matchup Center. “We are going to put on a great show,” Gallego said. “I’m confident this will be the best Women’s Final Four.” When the receipts were in, the 2026 event in Phoenix was the second-most-watched Women’s Final Four on record, with an average of 6.6 million viewers for the three games and 9.9 million for the title game, trailing only the 2024 event when Iowa’s Caitlin Clark played.  In addition, more than 360,000 fans flooded downtown Phoenix to take part in non-ticketed Final Four events, setting a record for ancillary attendance for the tournament. The Final Four was a rousing success for Phoenix, but it’s just a snapshot of the success of women’s sports in Arizona, and that success didn’t happen overnight. It’s a story forged in basement offices and born of breakthrough moments – of decades spent building toward a future where Phoenix has emerged as one of the nation’s fastest-growing markets for women’s athletics. That growth is now visible everywhere.  Audrey Corley, co-owner of Title 9 Sports Grill in Phoenix, has helped create a space dedicated to celebrating women’s sports as interest and investment continue to grow across Arizona. (Photo by Jadyn Wilgus/Cronkite News) A second women’s sports bar is preparing to open in Scottsdale. The Women’s Final Four brought national attention to the Valley. Despite a down season, the Phoenix Mercury have been to the WNBA Finals five times, have won the title three times and one of the WNBA’s three remaining original franchises. To the east, Arizona State women’s athletics are competing on the biggest stages and emerging sports such as flag football are attracting new audiences and investment with events such as the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic. Six prominent local women sports figures — former ASU golf coach Linda Vollstedt, Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductee and former ASU women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne, president & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance Jay Parry, Title 9 Sports Grill owner Audrey Corley, former U.S. hockey Olympian and Arizona native Lyndsey Fry, and ASU beach volleyball and flag football player Rylen Bourguet — traced the evolution of women’s sports in Arizona. Their experiences reveal that women’s athletics in the state haven’t just grown. They have transformed. That transformation starts with visibility — something each generation describes in a different way, but to which all point as the driving force behind everything that has followed. From left, women’s basketball legend Ann Meyers Drysdale, Phoenix Mercury assistant coach Charli Turner Thorne, Arizona State women’s basketball coach Molly Miller and longtime sportswriter Jeff Metcalfe take part in a panel discussion on the evolution of women’s basketball in April in the First Amendment Forum at Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. (File photo by Cronkite News) For Vollstedt, that change is measured in decades. She remembers a time at Arizona State when women’s sports were largely ignored or hidden away. “Women’s sports were not respected very well,” Vollstedt said. “Our offices were in the basement… They made an office for me in a storage room.” That early environment is what makes the current landscape so striking to coaches such as Turner Thorne, who saw the shift build gradually through investment, media coverage and her own tireless championing of the women’s game. “It’s just come a really long ways,” she said. “Probably the single most important thing for us growing our program and our conference was the fact that we were on TV every game.” That visibility, she said, helped turn women’s sports into something fans actively followed rather than stumbled upon. “All these leagues are popping up all over the country, which is just helping grow the brand,” Turner Thorne said. That same rise in visibility has also positioned Arizona as a national host for major events, Parry said. She noted that the state has hosted more major sporting events in the past decade than any other U.S. market, a trend that has included women’s sports at the highest level. “We’ve got phenomenal venues… and our community really embraces major events,” Parry said. “Making it accessible has really contributed to the growth.” With events like the Women’s Final Four continuing to bring national attention, Parry said the impact extends beyond the games. It extends into future planning. “We’ve got incredible momentum,” she said. That momentum is even showing up in businesses. At Title 9 Sports Grill in Phoenix, Corley has seen firsthand how women’s sports have turned into a consistent audience. “There was kind of a need,” she said. What started as a concept built around representation has turned into a growing market. “The growth is just crazy right now. It’s on fire,” she said. That demand is expanding beyond Phoenix, with a second women’s sports bar, Her Court, set to open in Scottsdale — a sign, Corley said, of how quickly the culture is changing and growing. Sophia (left) and Sierra Smith played a critical role in forming Arizona State’s flag football club. Two years later, they led the Sun Devils to the semifinals of the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic the Fields at Dorsey on ASU’s Tempe campus. The event featured eight top Division I women’s collegiate programs. (Photo courtesy of Fiesta Sports Foundation) For Bourguet, that growth has created opportunities that didn’t exist even a few years ago, especially in emerging sports such as flag football. “Once I heard that flag football was going to be in the Olympics in 2028… I know I’ll regret it if I don’t decide to play flag football,” said Bourguet, who grew up playing for Tucson Turf Elite Football, and played for the Sun Devils’ women’s club flag football team. Bourguet pointed to events such as the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic as proof of how quickly the sport is growing. “It was a really, really cool high-level event that kind of showed how big flag football is becoming,” she said. For Bourguet, the biggest shock has been the speed at which the sport is growing. High school participation has increased from 20,875 athletes in 2022–23 to 68,847 athletes 2024–25, while youth participation has increased from 300,000 in 2019 to  500,000 in 2025. The Arizona Interscholastic Association officially sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport in December 2022. The inaugural 2023 season launched with 54 high school teams across two conferences. Today, more than 130 Arizona high schools field varsity teams spanning the 3A through 6A classifications. “I would have never thought it would come so quickly,” Bourguet said. The increased visibility extends beyond basketball and flag football. The Mesa-based Arizona Kachinas 14U team advanced to quarterfinals of the Tier II national championships in Rochester, Minn. this spring, highlighting the growth of girls hockey in the state. (Photo courtesy of AZFocusSports.com) Arizona native and former U.S. Olympian Lyndsey Fry has watched women’s hockey evolve from a sport with limited role models into one with expanding professional opportunities and national recognition. The United States’ victory against Canada in the gold medal game of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics was the most-watched women’s ice hockey game in history, with 5.3 million average viewers across USA Network and Peacock, and a peak of 7.7 million viewers during the overtime period. Locally, the Mesa-based Arizona Kachinas have helped build one of the nation’s top girls youth hockey programs, producing more than 50 collegiate hockey players since the program’s inception six years ago while earning eight USA Hockey National Championship berths and four national runner-up finishes.  Nationally, the expansion of the Professional Women’s Hockey League from six to 12 teams has created a professional pathway for young athletes to pursue. “It’s awesome to see all the growth and representation women’s hockey has,” Fry said. “For me growing up, all we had was (the movie) ‘The Mighty Ducks.’” For Fry, that representation is just as important as the growth itself. Seeing more women compete at the highest levels gives the next generation something she never had — a clear picture of what is possible. Taken individually, each perspective tells part of the story. Together, they form a timeline of change. Vollstedt described an era when women’s sports were overlooked. Turner Thorne relayed how media and investment helped build legitimacy. Parry explained how Arizona became a national sports destination. Corley showed how that visibility turned into business demand. Bourguet represents a future where opportunities are expanding faster than ever. Across all perspectives, one theme remains consistent: visibility changes everything. From basement offices to national broadcasts, from small crowds to packed arenas, and from limited opportunities to new pathways, women’s sports in Arizona have changed in every way, shape and form. Still, as Turner Thorne noted: “We have not arrived.” But as Parry added: “We’ve got incredible momentum.” Or, as Corley put it: “The growth is just crazy right now. It’s on fire.” What emerges from those perspectives and recent events is not just a sports story, but a cultural shift — one where women’s athletics in Arizona are no longer building toward recognition. They’re defining it on their own terms. The post Hot spot: Arizona has become a destination for women’s sports appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f44ec2c5335ae104669e4 Brad Pitt battles the Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog in 'Heart of the Beast' new trailer te 2026-08-14T16:40:12.187Z Brad Pitt battles the Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog in 'Heart of the Beast' new trailer A new trailer is out for Brad Pitt's upcoming movie "Heart of the Beast." Basic info: There has been serious buzz surrounding "Heart of the Beast" ever since the original trailer went viral back in June. A story about a veteran played by Brad Pitt in a fight for survival with his trusted dog by his side is about as American as it gets. The release of this new preview, directed by David Ayer was released on Thursday, is likely to send expectations for the movie soaring even higher. Give it a watch below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. I think we're all thinking the same thing: Will the dog survive? CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK CULTURE COVERAGE People were making that exact point in the comments on YouTube. One person wrote, "If the dog dies, we riot." Another commented, "If the dog dies, I will burn down the theatre." It looks like a great movie, but as a big fan of dogs, I'm not sure anyone is ready for their heart to be shattered if the ending is tragic and sad. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS I guess we'll have to watch to find out. You can catch "Heart of the Beast" starting Sept. 25 in theaters. Let me know your thoughts on the preview at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f44eb2c5335ae104669db Psaki attacks outgoing press secretary Karoline Leavitt as a liar, claims she faced hardly any tough questions te 2026-08-14T16:40:11.570Z Psaki attacks outgoing press secretary Karoline Leavitt as a liar, claims she faced hardly any tough questions Former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki scathingly attacked her Trump counterpart Karoline Leavitt on Thursday, claiming she faced hardly any tough questions in the briefing room and had no interest in engaging in good faith discussions. "The relationship between the press and the White House is supposed to be adversarial by design," Psaki said on MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, where she was hired after her performance on then-President Biden's behalf from 2021 to 2022. "I mean, the press in the room are supposed to push for more access, for more information. And there are times when it's absolutely appropriate for the press secretary to push back. But Karoline Leavitt didn't want to engage in good faith with those reporters and their tough questions.  "And so, instead, she did everything she could to reshape that briefing room into her own personal safe space where she rarely had to answer a tough question, hardly ever. I mean, she only briefed once or twice a week, max." President Donald Trump announced this week that Leavitt would be exiting her role as press secretary to prioritize her family. The youngest person to hold the role in history, Leavitt has held the role since Trump took office again last year, and her replacement has not been named. SCRAMBLE FOR KAROLINE LEAVITT'S REPLACEMENT ENSUES WITH JUST WEEKS UNTIL TRUMP'S SPOKESPERSON EXITS Psaki took aim at Leavitt's "new media" push and called it a way for Leavitt to pack the room with MAGA sycophants and friendly podcasters. Fox News Digital previously reported the new media seat had received criticism, largely from legacy outlets, and some of the occupants were called out for asking softball questions at briefings or praising Leavitt and the president. The White House hit back at Psaki, as spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Jen 'Circle Back' Psaki couldn't hold a candle to Karoline Leavitt." Psaki said Leavitt's tenure had consequences beyond "just irritating the actual reporters in the room."  "That room is supposed to be where the American people get answers about what their government is doing. And when an administration doesn't take that responsibility seriously, the American people are the ones who pay the price," she said. Psaki served as Biden's press secretary from his inauguration in 2021 until May 2022. She was succeeded by Karine Jean-Pierre, who served the rest of Biden's term. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS WIDELY PRAISE KAROLINE LEAVITT AS SHE ANNOUNCES EXIT FROM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION Psaki accused Leavitt of lying repeatedly in her role and said she only served one man: Trump. "It's been about telling the version of the truth according to the serial liar who sits in the Oval Office. Reporters in the room don't matter. The American people who rely on the reporting from the reporters in the room [don't] matter, she's never seen her job as working for the American people as a public servant," Psaki said, adding she had damaged the job. Several White House correspondents praised Leavitt upon her exit announcement, Fox News Digital reported this week. A White House reporter told Fox News Digital Leavitt was easier to work with than her Biden administration predecessors. WHITE HOUSE PLANS GUEST HOSTS FOR PRESS BRIEFINGS WHILE KAROLINE LEAVITT TAKES MATERNITY LEAVE "Karoline was the best press secretary I’ve ever worked with, and there have been many," the veteran reporter said. "I think the reason she’s so effective is because she spent real time with Trump, as well as time understanding his policies and reasoning behind them." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "[Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre], as a counter example, didn’t do either," the reporter continued. "And while you could say [Jen] Psaki was a policy wonk, her flaw was that she looked at the press with disdain. They were arrogant, whereas Karoline understood how to work with us." Fox News' Brian Flood and Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f44ea2c5335ae104669d2 MN Senate candidate ripped for blaming Walz for fraud despite being his #2: 'Knows she's cooked' te 2026-08-14T16:40:10.928Z MN Senate candidate ripped for blaming Walz for fraud despite being his #2: 'Knows she's cooked' Minnesota Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan pointed the finger at Gov. Tim Walz when asked during a recent interview about her responsibility for the massive fraud scandal that unfolded under their watch. "I would say, the governor says the buck stops with him, more should have been done sooner, and I agree," Flanagan said on MSNOW on Thursday when asked if she bears any responsibility for the scandal, which federal investigators have said could total more than $9 billion. Flanagan, who is the Democratic nominee for Senate in Minnesota, continued, "And now we know that 100 people have been charged, 60 have been convicted." Flanagan’s comments sparked pushback on social media from users accusing her of deflecting responsibility given she has served alongside Walz as his second in command since 2019. PEGGY FLANAGAN WAS MINNESOTA'S NO 2 OFFICIAL AS MASSIVE FRAUD SCANDAL EXPLODED UNDER STATE'S WATCH "Minnesota Democrat Peggy Flanagan blames Tim Walz and dodges accountability for rampant fraud in her state," the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted on X. "She KNOWS she's vulnerable on this," conservative radio host and editor Larry O’Connor posted on X. "Huge opening for @Michele_Tafoya." Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, Flanagan’s Republican opponent in November, also reacted to the clip in a post on X saying, "Peggy Flanagan refuses to take any responsibility and accountability for billions of our tax dollars being stolen under her watch as lieutenant governor. HALL OF FAMER TONY DUNGY ENDORSES MICHELE TAFOYA IN CROWDED MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR U.S. SENATE "Minnesotans deserve better than excuses. They deserve leaders who will take responsibility and get the job done." Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X, "Here is Peggy Flanagan blaming Tim Walz for the fraud. Oh yeah, she knows she’s cooked if she rightfully gets tied to the fraud." The fraud scandal in Minnesota ultimately pushed Walz to drop his bid for re-election, and critics have continued to hammer his administration for not doing enough to prevent the growing fraud problem, which had become an open secret in the state over the past few years. Flanagan's culpability in the fraud scandal will likely become a major talking point in her campaign for Senate as calls from conservatives for more accountability continue to pour in as no top officials have been fired or removed from office in the scandal's aftermath. "@peggyflanagan did NOTHING to protect vulnerable citizens & taxpayers despite countless whistleblower reports, Auditor reports, & criminal convictions," Minnesota Republican State Rep. Kristin Robbins, who chaired the Minnesota House’s Fraud Prevention and Oversight Committee posted on X this week. "Peggy Flanagan, @Tim_Walz & @keithellison protected their political base instead of stopping the fraud. Flanagan did not mention fraud during her victory speech following Tuesday night's Senate primary, which also drew criticism from Tafoya on social media. Fox News Digital reached out to the Flanagan campaign for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f44e22c5335ae104669ad Rio Nuevo board tackles safety, downtown growth projects te 2026-08-14T16:40:02.451Z Rio Nuevo board tackles safety, downtown growth projects The Rio Nuevo Board of Directors met July 29 for the first time since a board member's abrupt resignation and last month's downtown shooting, addressing both while continuing to push forward retail expansion projects across downtown Tucson. Downtown Tucson Partnership President and CEO Crystal Moore walked the board through steps to improve downtown safety, including better management of the nighttime economy, increased public safety visibility and coordinated scheduling of city employees such as Safety Ambassadors, downtown district police officers and off-duty police. The most controversial of these steps has been the adoption of Patron Scan ID scanners by businesses participating in the Together Tucson safety initiative. The scanners collect the first and last name, date of birth and ZIP code of all IDs scanned and add it to a database for a period of 24 hours to 21 days, depending on operator discretion. When violators are banned from any establishment participating in the program, the ban automatically transfers to all other participating locations. Board Chair Fletcher McCusker said the $55,000 program has already faced backlash online, with community members expressing privacy concerns. Moore defended the scanners, saying they actually collect less data than the old, outdated system that Together Tucson had previously used. "Your phone is probably generating more information on the output than your first and last name, your date of birth and your ZIP code," she said, adding that there has already been a decrease in violent incidents downtown since the system's rollout. McCusker praised off-duty police officers' handling of the shooting last month that injured nine people and a drive-by shooting in May. "Two times within the last couple months, these officers have run toward gunfire," McCusker said. "And not only intervened, but shot the assailant. A lot of lives were saved by the quick action of our officers." Pedestrians cross North Sixth Avenue in downtown Tucson, blocks from the site of the July 19 shooting that left nine people injured and prompted new safety measures from the Downtown Tucson Partnership and Rio Nuevo. Photo by Gracie Kayko. Moore agreed, crediting the coordination behind the scenes. "(The) Tucson Police Department did an excellent job 12 days ago, and Rio Nuevo had something to do with that response," Moore said. "That is because of the strategic plan that we have on those high-activation nights." The board also discussed former member Edmund Marquez's resignation to focus on his recent majority ownership of the Tucson Sugar Skulls, which came about a week after the board's July 14 meeting. "He surprised all of us with resignation in between the meetings," McCusker said. The board discussed filling the gaps left by Marquez's resignation, including replacing his role as a second signatory of checks with long-standing member Jannie Cox and appointing Mike Levin to the board's marketing group. McCusker said he wasn't interested in holding a board election for another officer. Kyle Jefferson and Linette Antillon shared details about their plans to expand Pueblo Vida Brewing Company, which the couple have owned and operated for over 12 years. It's located at 115 E. Broadway Blvd., but the pair is working on a project next door at 121 E. Broadway Blvd., which has been vacant for eight years. The company has plans for three concepts that would leave the building open for the entire business day, including collaborations with two other local businesses. "We would have a coffee program in the morning … in partnership with Presta Coffee," Antillon said. "We would have a new food concept by Anello that would do lunch and dinner, and then, of course, would be our taproom with our craft beer, but we would also have an expanded menu with wine." The Ronstadt Transit Center in downtown Tucson, within the district covered by the Downtown Tucson Partnership's Together Tucson safety initiative. Photo by Gracie Kayko. But given its age, the building requires extensive remodeling. "When we acquired the property about a year and a half ago, unfortunately there was nothing usable in the property and nothing met code," Jefferson said. "This is a full modernization of the property." These plans include an already-installed full HVAC system. Jefferson said the construction process was faster than anticipated while showing renderings of what the building would look like when finished. The couple said the expansion would collect about $7 million in three years, which would generate about $613,000 in sales taxes and contribute about $183,000 to the Rio Nuevo Planned Area Development. They requested $400,000 from Rio Nuevo toward their total project cost of about $1.2 million, including $100,000 immediately, $100,000 within one year, and $200,000 worth of parcel sales tax rebates. The expanded concept is expected to open in October. Favin Gebremariam, owner of Ethiopian entertainment complex Z-Street, followed up on her request for $65,000 to construct a permanent playground-type shade structure discussed in a previous meeting. She showed the board three different options for the structure based on bids from construction companies: one from American Play Systems and two from the Phoenix-based Shade Industries. The American Play Systems design would cost about $57,500, while the two designs by Shade Industries would cost about $73,000 and $91,000, respectively. Zemam's, owned by the Gebremariam family alongside Ethiopian entertainment complex Z-Street. The family requested $65,000 from the Rio Nuevo Board for a permanent shade structure at Z-Street during the board's July 29 meeting. Griffen Engelberg / Tucson Spotlight. Gebremariam requested funding for the most expensive option, which includes three tarps instead of the two that were included in the initial proposal, and seven steel poles. "It preserves the most usable space for gathering and creating memories, and it will be that way for the next 15 to 20 years," she said. The board was hesitant to approve the option, citing Rio Nuevo's recent budgetary concerns. A monthly cash flow of only $240,000 has forced the region to dip into its reserves. Board member Corky Poster suggested removing the additional tarp for the time being, which he thought would lower the price to a similar level as the less expensive option from Shade Industries. "This might be something you can add six months from now or a year from now, at relatively low cost and low expenditure," Poster said. "I'm just trying to keep our capital costs down." Board member Taunya Villicana asked if the Gebremariams had discussed a payment plan with Shade Industries. Gebremariam said they hadn't yet approached Shade Industries about a payment plan, since they'd only received the contact information and bids that week, but she was happy to ask about their flexibility. McCusker recommended looking into the cost reduction or financing options. Additionally, the board gave deadline extensions to two projects, Cornish Pasty Co. and Herbert's Deli. Cornish Pasty Co. received an extension to Dec. 31, while Herbert's received an extension to Feb. 28. Benjamin DePue is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact him at bdepue@arizona.edu. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. Donate to Tucson Spotlight Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f428c2c5335ae1046693a Unforgetful is a new reminders app for people who can’t stop hitting snooze te 2026-08-14T16:30:04.782Z Unforgetful is a new reminders app for people who can’t stop hitting snooze Unforgetful, the latest app from longtime indie developer Marco Arment, is designed to make reminders harder to ignore — or accidentally dismiss. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f403b2c5335ae10466916 Susan Collins drops brutal reminder of Dem rival rocked by accusations te 2026-08-14T16:20:11.188Z Susan Collins drops brutal reminder of Dem rival rocked by accusations KITTERY, Maine - Republican Sen. Susan Collins says her Democratic challenger in Maine's high-stakes U.S. Senate race apparently "struggles to control his temper." Collins broke her silence about Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson on Friday after a newly resurfaced 1988 police record detailed accusations that Jackson assaulted a man and pushed his longtime partner during a late-night confrontation in Fort Kent, Maine. Jackson, a one-time logger and a former state Senate president, was chosen a couple of weeks ago by Maine Democrats to replace embattled oysterman Graham Platner, who won the June Democratic Senate nomination in a landslide before imploding and dropping out of the race last month amid rape allegations that he denied. WHAT THE NEW FOX NEWS POLL IN MAINE'S CRUCIAL SENATE RACE SHOWS Jackson is challenging Collins in a crucial race that's among a dozen that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority. Asked by Fox News Digital about recent reports regarding Jackson, Collins said, "He’s the one that needs to respond to the reports. I’m not going to comment on them. But I will say that based on widespread reporting it appears that he struggles to control his temper." Collins spoke with reporters after kicking off a statewide bus tour on Friday in Kittery, Maine. The longtime senator is the only GOP incumbent running for re-election in a state President Donald Trump lost in the 2024 election. A Fox News poll in Maine released on Wednesday indicated Jackson holding a slight two-point edge over Collins, which was within the survey's sampling error. RESURFACED ASSAULT REPORT PUTS DEM SENATE NOMINEE IN GOP CROSSHAIRS: 'GRAHAM PLATNER 2.0' The Bangor Daily News reported this week that the police report accused Jackson of assaulting another man during a late-night brawl on March 12, 1988. INTERNET ERUPTS OVER REPORT THAT PLATNER'S REPLACEMENT IN KEY SENATE RACE FATHERED CHILDREN WITH SECOND COUSIN The brawl was over Jackson's longtime partner Lana Pelletier, who, according to records, is also his second cousin. Jackson and Pelletier share two adult children. The police report indicates that Pelletier told officers at the time that Jackson "pushed her around," a statement she now denies making. According to the report, the then-19-year-old Jackson went to a home in Fort Kent, Maine, around 2 a.m.. After the occupant of the house told Jackson to go away, the report says the future state lawmaker "kicked the door in" and grabbed his rival by the throat before punching him in the face, causing the victim’s glasses to leave a cut. The report added that a friend broke up the ensuing fight. 'F---ING IDIOTS': TOP FEMALE OPERATIVES TORCH PLATNER ENABLERS AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS DEM CAMPAIGN "Troy Jackson is Graham Platner 2.0: Violent and unhinged," the Republican National Committee charged in a social media post after the initial report went viral. DEMOCRATS STAND BY JACKSON AFTER LATEST CONTROVERSY Meanwhile, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, referring to Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, wrote on X, "Is this incredibly disturbing report of violence and abuse not enough for you to drop Troy Jackson?" Jackson said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, "Nearly forty years ago, when I was 19 years old, I got into a fight with another man. I took responsibility for it then, and I take responsibility for it now." "But let me be clear: I have never been violent with my partner Lana, or any other woman. This happened nearly four decades ago, and I assure Mainers this incident in no way reflects the man I am today or the life I've led in the years since," the Democratic Senate nominee added. FORMER PLATNER ALLY TROY JACKSON LOCKS DOWN DELEGATES AS TOP RIVALS FOR DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINATION DROP OUT Pelletier told Fox News Digital in a statement, "I do not remember making the statements attributed to me and they are not accurate. This is the first time I have seen this report from 40 years ago. Troy and I have built a life and family together and I know the person he has been through the decades since, both as a caring partner and father." WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN: CHECK OUT THE FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS "I understand Maine voters want to learn about Troy as he seeks to represent them but personal attacks on my family are unacceptable," she added. "In the 40 years since he made a mistake as a 19-year-old kid, Troy has grown to be a passionate advocate for Mainers and dedicated his life to making things better for our state while Susan Collins has been in Washington enriching herself at our expense." Meanwhile, the Jackson campaign told Fox News Digital that Troy "acknowledges going to the residence and getting into a physical confrontation with another man. The case was resolved with a $50 fine." On Thursday, the conservative-leaning Maine Wire reported that a man from Allagash, Maine, who says he's known Jackson for decades alleged that he witnessed Jackson strike Pelletier in a separate incident years ago. PLATNER ALLY TROY JACKSON CLOSING IN ON DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOD IN KEY RACE TO FACE COLLINS Jackson, who hails from the remote northern tip of Maine, is a one-time conservative Republican who became a Democrat over two decades ago. As he quickly became the frontrunner in the abbreviated race to replace Platner, he faced a slew of reports over his alleged temper and workplace conduct, as well as reported claims of mortgage improprieties and other potential liabilities, including his past strict anti-abortion stance. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Asked by Fox News Digital last month about any vetting concerns, Jackson said, "I think a lot of this obviously is Sen. Collins trying to make sure she win can the election on a really bad record. But, for me, I’ve been in the legislature for 20 years. I do believe I’ve been vetted, I’ve been tested. People know exactly what I’m fighting for. I have their back. And they know they can trust me." The scrutiny and negative reports are raising concerns by some in the party that Democrats landed another unvetted nominee after the Platner implosion. INSIDE THE SLAPDASH PLATNER VETTING JOB THAT IGNORED WARNINGS BEFORE BID BLEW UP: SOURCE "This is a bit of a rocket vetting process," a Democratic strategist who works on Senate races who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, told Fox News Digital. "Maine Democrats have made their choice, and they're just going to have to ride with it." Asked about the Democrats' vetting of Jackson, Collins told reporters on Friday, "From my perspective it seems that vetting is very important. We learned the failure of vetting with Graham Platner. But that’s really up to the Democrats." The NRSC, in a series of social media posts directed at Democratic senators and Senate nominees who have endorsed Jackson since he landed the nomination, asked if those politicians will "call on Troy Jackson to drop out?" SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Jackson, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, campaigned alongside Platner during the primary. And he quickly made the case that he was the best equipped candidate to grab the mantle of the progressive and populist movement that had backed Platner. FOX NEWS POLL: NEW MATCHUP, SAME RESULT: MAINE SENATE RACE STAYS LOCKED Similar to Platner, Jackson is running on a platform aimed at working-class voters. He backs raising taxes on billionaires, the universal healthcare system known as "Medicare-for-all," and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also opposes military aid to Israel as Democrats are increasingly divided over support for America's longtime Middle East ally. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f403a2c5335ae1046690d El-Sayed’s half sister revealed as radical professor arrested for allegedly assaulting a cop at anti-ICE riot te 2026-08-14T16:20:10.536Z El-Sayed’s half sister revealed as radical professor arrested for allegedly assaulting a cop at anti-ICE riot Controversial socialist Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing fresh scrutiny after it was revealed that his close relative is a far-left professor who was arrested on a felony charge last year for her role in an anti-ICE riot. Eman Abdelhadi is a polarizing figure. She works as an associate professor at the University of Chicago's Department of Comparative Human Development, and has a years-long history of landing in the national spotlight for radical activism and inflammatory statements. She's also El-Sayed's half sister. MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED DODGES QUESTION ON WHETHER HE STILL SUPPORTS DEFUNDING THE POLICE Last fall, as leftist zealots spent months protesting, sometimes violently, outside an ICE detention facility in suburban Chicago, Abdelhadi was booked after allegedly spitting on an Illinois sate trooper. She was charged on Oct. 3 with two counts of aggravated battery to a government employee, a Class 3 felony, and two counts of resisting/obstructing peace, a Class A misdemeanor. A day before her arrest, she appeared on a podcast called "Movement Memos," which is affiliated with the far-left publication Truthout. During that interview, she recalled her previous experiences at the riots at the Broadview facility.  "These people are terrorizing our communities and they’re setting up shop," she said, referring to federal immigration officials. "I mean, in Broadview, ICE has been setting up shop in our backyard. Just brazenly taking up community resources to terrorize this very same community." "And so it felt really important to join protesters out there to say, not in our city, not in our name, not in our backyard," she added. PROGRESSIVE MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE'S STAFFER RAGED AT WHITE WOMEN IN UNEARTHED POSTS Abdelhadi later expressed her frustration at establishment Democrats and claimed there is no wiggle room to accept centrist liberals in the left-wing. "There’s no center left," she said. "You’re either resisting or you’re complicit." On April 17, 2025, Abdelhadi celebrated on X El-Sayed's announcement that he would seek elected office in his bid for Senate in Michigan. "The feeling when you think you’ve accomplished a lot but then your older brother runs for senate!!! In all seriousness—Abdul is fighting for healthcare, housing, and an economy that serves people over oligarchs. I am a proud little sister," she posted at the time to social media. The pair share a mother — Fatten Elkomy — who works as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and lives in Missouri. That's where Abelhadi was raised, while El-Sayed was raised by his Egyptian-born father and American stepmother in the Detroit suburbs. A profile of the candidate confirms Elkomy is El-Sayed's mother. Abdelhadi's familial relationship with Elkomy is the subject of an independent film which explored her journey of coming out as queer in her traditionally Muslim family. ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN'T MEAN HE ENDORSES 'AMERICA DESERVED 9/11' REMARK Fox News Digital reached out to Abdelhadi and El-Sayed's campaign, but did not hear back by time of publication. Before her high-profile arrest, in July 2025, Abdelhadi made headlines for cursing out her employer at the Socialism 2025 conference. That conference is the largest annual gathering of collectivist leftists and describes itself as bringing thousands of "radical activists from around the country to take part in discussions about social movements, abolition, Marxism, decolonization, working-class history, and the debates and strategies for organizing today."  "F--- the University of Chicago, it’s evil, you know it’s a colonial landlord. Like, why would I put any of my political energy into this space? I kind of had a little bit of disdain for people who spent their time doing that," she said. However, Abdelhadi reasoned that teaching there was her only chance to have any power. MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST PRIMARY WINNER FOUNDED GROUP WHOSE GOAL IS TO ‘ERADICATE' WESTERN CIVILIZATION "Turns out, I work at one of the biggest employers in the city of Chicago. I work at a place that is a landlord, a healthcare provider, a police force, f--- that s---, but, they are, and a place where I have access to thousands of people that I could potentially organize… actually, this is where I need to build power. That’s possible structural leverage," she said. Despite her rant against the school and her subsequent criminal charges, the University of Chicago still employs Abdelhadi. Abdelhadi also has a history of anti-White social media posts. "Someday I'm going to make a twitter account called profoundwhiteguy and it will be the wisdoms of a basic white boy who thinks he's wise," she said in a 2017 post. "Yesterday at the airport, 2 white women sat at the gate then boarded our plane without masks. No one intervened. I kept thinking about how Muslims have been thrown off planes for speaking Arabic or 'looking scary'. But these women actually risking our lives were left alone," she said in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. "It never ceases to amaze me that white people, statistically the safest members of our society, are also the most fearful," she said in 2023. Fox News Digital reached out to the Cook County Clerk of Court, but a status update on Abdelhadi's case was not immediately available and is reportedly still pending. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f40322c5335ae104668d7 Google will now allow users to remove visible watermark from its AI generations te 2026-08-14T16:20:02.507Z Google will now allow users to remove visible watermark from its AI generations Turning off this setting won't affect invisible benchmarks used to identify an AI generated file Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f3de52c5335ae10466875 MouthPad lets your tongue control a computer te 2026-08-14T16:10:13.020Z MouthPad lets your tongue control a computer Computer mice have taken plenty of unusual forms over the years. Now, one of the most interesting alternatives skips your hands altogether. San Francisco-based Augmental Technologies has developed the MouthPad, a custom-fit touchpad that sits inside your mouth and lets you control a computer, smartphone or tablet using your tongue or head. The company describes it as the world's first hands-free touchpad. It looks a little like a slim dental retainer. However, tucked inside is technology designed to turn subtle movements into cursor control. The concept has an important purpose. Augmental developed MouthPad to give people with limited mobility another way to interact with everyday technology. The company says it worked with hundreds of users with different abilities while developing the device. So how do you actually control a computer with your mouth, and what is it like to use? Here's how MouthPad works. New! Free live CyberGuy class: Protect Your Money From Today’s Biggest Threats Join us Saturday, August 29, at 10 AM ET for a free CyberGuy LIVE class covering five simple steps to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson will explain how to set up bank alerts, strengthen your account logins, protect your phone number, freeze your credit and help secure your retirement savings against unauthorized transfers. No technical experience is needed. You’ll also receive our financial protection checklist, and every registrant will get a link to the class recording afterward. Reserve your free spot today at CyberGuyLive.com. COULD A PAINT-ON ELECTRONIC TATTOO SPOT HEART ATTACKS? MouthPad sits over your upper teeth, with a pressure-sensitive touchpad positioned against the roof of your mouth. Move your tongue across the touchpad, and you can move the cursor. You can also use head movements instead. Tongue presses can perform a left-click or click-and-drag, while a sip gesture can trigger a right-click. MouthPad also supports scrolling and swiping. So, once you get used to the controls, your tongue effectively takes over many of the jobs normally handled by your fingers on a mouse or trackpad. The device connects wirelessly like a Bluetooth mouse. That means you do not need a special receiver sticking out of your computer. Compatibility is one of MouthPad's more useful features. Augmental lists support for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. The companion app is available for macOS, Windows and iOS. You can also pair MouthPad with multiple devices and switch between them. Inside the companion app, you can adjust settings such as cursor speed, touch sensitivity and click strength. You can also change scrolling behavior. Those preferences are stored on the MouthPad itself, allowing you to move between compatible devices without starting your setup from scratch. That was one of my first questions. According to Augmental, MouthPad's custom design minimizes its impact on speech. The company says users can speak or use voice-recognition software while wearing it. However, Augmental also acknowledges that results vary. Some people may need more time to adjust to speaking normally with the device in their mouth. Comfort will vary too. Augmental says team members and early users have worn MouthPad for as long as 10 hours in a day. Still, the company notes that comfort depends on factors including the shape of your mouth and how you use the device. The MouthPad itself weighs about 10 grams and measures roughly 1 mm thick. It is made from dental resin. Augmental rates the battery for more than seven hours of continuous use. Charging takes about 1.5 hours, and the MouthPad comes with its own charging case plus a USB cable. The company also sells a two-device package. That option gives one person a backup MouthPad so they can swap devices when one needs charging. 3 THINGS TO AVOID IN MIDDLE AGE COULD MEAN 13 MORE YEARS WITHOUT DEMENTIA, STUDY FINDS You cannot simply order a MouthPad and start using it when the package arrives. Every MouthPad is custom-fitted. After ordering, you need an intraoral 3D scan from a dentist or local scanning provider. Augmental then uses that scan to manufacture your device. The company says most providers charge between $50 and $150 for the scan. Augmental says it ships the finished MouthPad about six months after receiving the scan. Once it arrives, you use the company's online platform for configuration and a one-time calibration. Augmental says MouthPad is best suited for people over 18 who have enough tongue dexterity to operate it. The company also recommends good oral health and says candidates should not be undergoing active dental or orthodontic treatment. You also need to be able to open your mouth wide enough for the initial 3D scan. The device has already attracted interest beyond its original accessibility mission. According to the information provided, more than 6,300 people were on the waitlist. That includes people with disabilities as well as professionals interested in controlling devices while keeping their hands available for other work. Something that lives in your mouth obviously needs regular cleaning. Augmental says you should wash the MouthPad by hand with soap and water before and after each use. You should dry it before putting it back into its charging case. You can drink water while wearing it. However, Augmental says you should remove the device before eating, drinking anything else or sleeping. Hot liquids can affect its fit. You also should not bite or chew the MouthPad because doing so could damage it and void the warranty. The MouthPad currently costs $1,400 for one custom-fit device. A two-device package for the same user costs $1,900. Augmental says the second device can serve as a backup and help extend your usable time between charging sessions. There is another cost to consider. The dental scan is separate. MouthPad is also not currently covered by insurance, FSA or HSA funds, according to Augmental. For now, Augmental only sells and ships MouthPad to addresses in the United States. However, the company says the device itself is not geo-restricted and can be used outside the country. MouthPad shows how accessibility technology can rethink something as basic as controlling a cursor. For someone who cannot comfortably use a traditional mouse or touchscreen, the ability to navigate a phone or computer with subtle mouth movements could provide another route to independence. There are limitations to consider. At $1,400 plus the cost of a dental scan, MouthPad represents a significant investment. You also have to wait for a custom device to be manufactured, and insurance does not currently cover it. Still, the technology itself is fascinating because Augmental built it around a part of the body most computer designers have largely ignored: the tongue. And MouthPad may only be the beginning. Augmental is also developing Vox, a wearable microphone that detects quiet speech through vibrations in the body. The company envisions Vox handling dictation while MouthPad handles cursor control. IS YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON THE DARK WEB? What catches my attention about MouthPad is not simply that you can control a computer with your tongue. It is why someone would need to. Most of us grab a mouse, tap a screen or open an app without thinking about the physical movements involved. For someone with limited use of their hands, those same actions can become major barriers. MouthPad approaches that problem from a completely different direction. The price will put it out of reach for some people, and the custom fitting process takes commitment. Still, seeing a device move from years of development into something consumers in the U.S. can actually order is an important milestone for hands-free computing. Technology becomes far more interesting when it gives someone an ability they did not have before. Would you be comfortable controlling your phone or computer with a device inside your mouth? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f3de42c5335ae1046686c Geno Auriemma questions why WNBA transgender athlete debate is 'an issue' when it 'doesn't exist' te 2026-08-14T16:10:12.324Z Geno Auriemma questions why WNBA transgender athlete debate is 'an issue' when it 'doesn't exist' The debate over transgender athletes competing against women has become the biggest story in the WNBA. Last month, a quote from Sophie Cunningham was released in an article in which she said "young girls...shouldn't have to go against biological men" in sports. "I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men," Cunningham said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM But legendary women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma is downplaying the entire conversation. "Well, not to belittle it at all because I don't mean to because listen, you know, people have a right to their opinion. I get it. But why are we making a big issue over an issue that doesn't exist?" Auriemma told TMZ Sports. "I don't remember reading where there's transsexual players in the WNBA. I don't remember reading where they were being presented with cases where this is going to happen next week. I don't see an issue. Why are we making it an issue?" he continued. "We're making it an issue because there's enough people out there that need this to be an issue for their own personal gain." Auriemma said people's attention is in the wrong direction when it comes to the WNBA, which has now seen former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declare for the draft, claiming they meet the requirements to play in the league. "I think we should talk about the players. We should talk about the teams. We should talk about the incredible young group of players that have come into the league. We should talk about how incredible some of these teams are," Auriemma said. WNBPA ISSUES STATEMENT EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AMID TRANS ATHLETE DEBATE IN WOMEN'S SPORTS WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a letter to teams last week addressing concerns over the inclusion of transgender athletes in the league after Freedom and White made their moves. "We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead," Engelbert said in the memo. "We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts." The WNBA players’ association also released a statement on social media Friday that emphasized diversity and inclusion while saying the group "will not be used as political pawns." Four head coaches have gone on record with responses to questions about the issue, with two of them, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, appearing to support the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports. The exact number of trans athletes competing against girls and women is not known, but NCAA President Charlie Baker said in early 2025 that he knew of fewer than 10 in college sports. Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f3de32c5335ae10466863 Sparks star Cameron Brink helped off the court after brutal collision with Breanna Stewart te 2026-08-14T16:10:11.677Z Sparks star Cameron Brink helped off the court after brutal collision with Breanna Stewart Los Angeles Sparks star Cameron Brink was helped off the court Thursday night in an 85-81 loss to the New York Liberty. With New York leading 69-62 midway through the fourth quarter, Brink collided with Liberty forward Breanna Stewart as Stewart's arm made contact with Brink's midsection. Brink then collapsed to the floor and grabbed her abdomen as she appeared to cry out in pain and remained in a crouched position for several minutes following the incident. EX-ESPN HOST SAYS SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DESERVED TO BE EJECTED AND PUNISHED — NOT DIJONAI CARRINGTON, WHO CLOTHESLINED HER Stewart was assessed an offensive foul while Brink did not return for the rest of the game, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in 19 minutes. Brink is no stranger to the injury bug, as this is just the latest in a series of knocks the Sparks center has taken recently. Back in June, Brink sprained her ankle in a game against the Golden State Valkyries, which caused her to miss a month of play before returning in mid July. Her rookie season was plagued with similarly bad injury luck, as the former No. 2 overall pick tore her ACL in 2024 after starting just 15 games for Los Angeles, requiring season-ending surgery. PAIGE BUECKERS SPARKS DEBATE WITH COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK WOMEN WNBA COACHES AMID CAITLIN CLARK COMPARISONS STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! That ACL injury could have led to a sluggish 2025 season for Brink, in which the Sparks center averaged around five points and four rebounds while playing only 13 minutes a night. The Sparks can't afford another long-term injury to a player they tapped as a franchise cornerstone just two seasons ago, and with the loss to the Liberty on Thursday night, Los Angeles dropped to 12-21 on the season. A healthy Brink would be a key piece in helping right the ship in Southern California, but with the Sparks seven games out of a playoff spot and just over a month left to go in the regular season, it might be wise to shut her down to have her healthy for next season. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f3de22c5335ae1046685a Unearthed El-Sayed essay draws explosive Trump-bin Laden parallel: ‘recruited, radicalized and reassured’ te 2026-08-14T16:10:10.952Z Unearthed El-Sayed essay draws explosive Trump-bin Laden parallel: ‘recruited, radicalized and reassured’ Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed compared President Donald Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to Osama bin Laden’s role in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in a 2021 blog post that argued America has an obligation to hold the president accountable and "send the same message" it did after 9/11. The post, which appeared on a blog El-Sayed has since made private, is titled "Why aren't we treating Donald Trump like we treat other terrorists?" El-Sayed argued that racism explained what he described as a double standard in how the country responded to the terrorists behind 9/11 and Trump and his supporters after Jan. 6. "I was a junior in high school 20 years ago when I watched the second plane hit the Twin Towers from my chemistry classroom," he wrote in 2021. ".... Then nearly 20 years later, on January 6th, 2021, I watched terrorists attack the symbol of my country and the Democracy my parents came here to partake in decades ago. And 36 year-old me was taken back to the pain of that high school chemistry classroom," he continued. AS AMERICAN PRIDE HITS A 25-YEAR LOW, A NEW 9/11 EDUCATION PLATFORM URGES THE NATION TO NEVER FORGET He went on to say that Trump "recruited, radicalized and reassured" the Jan. 6 rioters in the same way bin Laden "recruited, radicalized and reassured" the "nineteen hijackers who attacked our country on 9/11." He also described Trump’s conduct as "terrorism," arguing that lawmakers had both a constitutional and "moral" obligation to convict him and bar him from seeking office again. "So, yes, Donald Trump deserved his impeachment just like he deserves to be convicted and removed from the right to ever run for office again. Of course. Every single member of Congress who believes in an America true to the ideals we claim for her has a constitutional—a moral—obligation to hold Donald Trump accountable for his terrorism," El-Sayed wrote. On May 1, 2011, a team of U.S. Navy SEALs shot and killed bin Laden during an early morning raid in Pakistan. "Holding Osama bin Laden accountable is something we got right," El-Sayed wrote in his blog post. "It sent a message—attacking our country comes at a cost." Campaign spokeswoman Roxie Richner pushed back on any suggestion that El-Sayed was calling for Trump to face the death penalty over Jan. 6, saying he was advocating legal accountability.  "That’s an absurd and false interpretation of what he said," Richner told Fox News Digital. "Abdul believes no one is above the law and that includes the president." "As Abdul said: He believes that if anyone attacks American democracy, they must be held accountable," Richner said.  El-Sayed's past statements and current associations came under a microscope during his contentious primary battle with Rep. Haley Stevens. For instance, he drew considerable backlash for campaigning with streamer Hasan Piker, who once said that "America deserved 9/11." El-Sayed has disavowed Piker’s notorious remark, but he has declined to renounce Piker himself, framing pressure to do so as "cancel culture." With El-Sayed now the Democratic nominee, Republicans are seizing on his controversies in attack ads as GOP-aligned groups pour millions into the Michigan Senate race. ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN'T MEAN HE ENDORSES 'AMERICA DESERVED 9/11' REMARK Referring to Trump and Jan. 6, El-Sayed stated that "we have to send the same message we did after 9/11: If you attack our democracy, we will hold you accountable." El-Sayed also accused lawmakers who opposed conviction of engaging in "hypocrisy rooted in racism" and said Trump and those who helped him deserved to be held accountable "for their crimes to the fullest extent of the law." UNEARTHED INTERVIEW REVEALS EL-SAYED’S SHARIA ‘OBLIGATION’ Critics have accused El-Sayed of attempting to mislead voters by scrubbing large quantities of his content off the internet before launching his 2026 Senate bid, including YouTube videos where he floated replacing the Second Amendment and railed against 4th of July fireworks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f3dd92c5335ae1046682b Familias de Cochise County enfrentan demoras de meses en el DES te 2026-08-14T16:10:01.825Z Familias de Cochise County enfrentan demoras de meses en el DES Leer en inglés Alison Patterson esperó más de tres horas al teléfono para su entrevista obligatoria de SNAP, solo para que la llamada se cortará. Ella no conducía, por lo que acudir en persona a la oficina del DES en Sierra Vista implicó buscar a alguien que la llevara, justo el día que, según dice, era la última oportunidad para realizar la entrevista. Patterson es una de los varios residentes del condado de Cochise que declararon a El Foco de Tucson haber esperado meses para recibir asistencia alimentaria y médica, describiendo casos de documentación extraviada, llamadas interrumpidas y retrasos que superan con creces el plazo de 30 días establecido por la política estatal. Estos obstáculos impiden que los residentes reciban servicios, lo que deriva en inseguridad alimentaria, falta de acceso a atención médica y otros problemas. El Departamento de Seguridad Económica de Arizona reconoce la difícil situación que atraviesan los residentes. "Estamos afrontando la mayor interrupción en la asistencia nutricional federal de las últimas décadas,” afirmó Brett Bezio, portavoz del DES, en un correo electrónico. En diciembre, la gobernadora Katie Hobbs anunció una partida de $7.5 millones para reducir los tiempos de espera de SNAP y del seguro de desempleo mediante la contratación de personal temporal, la ampliación de la capacidad de los proveedores, el mantenimiento de las horas extra para el personal encargado de determinar la elegibilidad y la mejora de la tecnología para agilizar el procesamiento y garantizar la precisión de los pagos. Bezio señaló que los fondos han permitido al DES aumentar su capacidad de personal, incluyendo turnos de horas extra y fines de semana. "Además, este mismo mes establecimos una colaboración público-privada para ampliar la capacidad de los centros de llamadas,” indicó Bezio. "El DES (también) lanzó una nueva función de devolución de llamadas que da prioridad a los solicitantes cuya fecha de entrevista está próxima.” Bezio expresó su confianza en que estos cambios conduzcan a una mejora en los tiempos de procesamiento de las solicitudes. Sin embargo, varias personas que hablaron con El Foco de Tucson, incluida Patterson, relataron que la llamada se cortaba tras horas de espera en la línea destinada a las entrevistas obligatorias para las solicitudes del DES. "No he logrado comunicarme con ellos por teléfono para realizar la entrevista," comentó Patterson mientras se encontraba frente a la oficina del DES. "Por fin he venido hoy, en el último día posible, para poder completarla.” Residentes esperan fuera de la oficina del DES en Sierra Vista; muchos comentan que las entrevistas telefónicas requeridas para obtener beneficios son difíciles de completar debido a los largos tiempos de espera y a que las llamadas se cortan. Katherine Martinez / El Foco de Tucson. Patterson, sosteniendo un bastón, dijo que no conduce y que encontrar transporte ha sido una dificultad. Aunque Bezio afirma que las oficinas trabajan para lograr un "modelo de sala de espera más orientado al servicio", las entrevistas se realizan principalmente por teléfono. "Las opciones en línea, como Health-e-Arizona Plus y MyFamilyBenefits, permiten a los clientes enviar solicitudes y documentos desde la comodidad de su hogar, eliminando la necesidad de visitar una oficina local," señaló. Esta función lleva años disponible, pero no resuelve los problemas de llamadas de retorno fallidas ni las solicitudes estancadas. Para muchos, acudir a la oficina representa un obstáculo importante. La pérdida de salario o los días de permiso remunerado limitados, los problemas de transporte y las responsabilidades de cuidado de familiares dificultan el cumplimiento de los plazos del DES. Ariana Tovar, madre de tres hijos, comentó que lleva esperando desde abril la renovación de sus beneficios de SNAP y AHCCCS; añadió que esta demora ha sido especialmente difícil debido a los tratamientos que recibe en Tucson su hijo de 3 años, quien padece leucemia. Sin SNAP, le ha costado preparar las comidas para su hijo y ha tenido que recurrir a organizaciones benéficas para alimentar a su familia. "Si no fuera por... las fundaciones contra el cáncer y la ayuda que brindan allí, definitivamente sería un problema para mí,” dijo. La reducción de los beneficios de SNAP, sumada al aumento en el costo de los alimentos, ha agravado las dificultades de muchas familias. Bezio indicó que ajustar las tasas de los beneficios no entra dentro de las competencias del DES. "Estamos comprometidos a trabajar con nuestros socios comunitarios para combatir colectivamente la inseguridad alimentaria en nuestro estado,” afirmó Bezio. Las personas necesitadas de la comunidad pueden encontrar apoyo a través de bancos de alimentos locales y programas estatales, como el Programa de Nutrición para Personas Mayores en Mercados de Agricultores (Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program), el programa para Mujeres, Bebés y Niños (WIC) y el programa SUN Bucks de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios de Verano. Bezio también mencionó los servicios estatales de empleo y de asistencia para el pago de servicios públicos. El vestíbulo de la oficina del DES en Sierra Vista, donde los residentes afirman que las visitas presenciales suelen ser su único recurso tras entrevistas telefónicas fallidas y solicitudes estancadas. Katherine Martinez / El Foco De Tucson. Sin embargo, muchos de los solicitantes tienen empleos cualificados y aun así no logran llegar a fin de mes. Lilliana Domínguez, madre soltera, relató que esperó más de cuatro meses para que se renovaran sus beneficios; esto provocó que se saltara comidas mientras amamantaba, lo que dejó una huella duradera en sus hábitos alimenticios. Domínguez ha trabajado como asistente médica durante los últimos 22 años, pero su salario no alcanza para alimentar a su familia. Su pesadilla comenzó en enero, cuando llegó el momento de renovar su cobertura de AHCCCS. Su hijo de 13 meses contrajo neumonía y fue hospitalizado en marzo, pero al parecer su cobertura no estaba vigente, a pesar de haber presentado la documentación necesaria. El DES le informó que no tenía registro de su solicitud, pero Domínguez encontró pruebas de que había entregado los documentos. Comentó que esa no fue la única vez que el DES extravió su documentación; además, su cuenta fue señalada para una auditoría, lo que prolongó aún más la espera para recibir ayuda. En cada etapa, el DES le aseguraba que la llamarían en un plazo de "una o dos semanas," pero Domínguez afirmó no haber recibido llamadas ni comunicaciones durante los periodos de espera, lo que la obligaba a faltar al trabajo para acudir a la oficina local. Mientras tanto, recibía constantes llamadas del hospital para que pagara la estancia de su hijo. El resultado fueron cuatro meses de hambre e innumerables llamadas del hospital reclamando el pago de una factura que, según ella, debería haber sido cubierta por el estado. "Fue muy estresante. A veces me sentía muy deprimida; me decían: 'Alguien le llamará en una o dos semanas' y yo me quedaba pendiente de recibir noticias,” dijo Domínguez. "Tenía la esperanza de que me atenderían. Fue mentalmente agotador.” Desde entonces, se han restablecido los beneficios de AHCCCS y los cupones de alimentos para la familia de Domínguez, pero la inseguridad alimentaria persiste. "Actualmente recibo $300 para tres personas. Planeo gastar $50 a la semana, pero voy al supermercado y terminó gastando $75 u $80,” señaló Domínguez. “Yo tampoco voy a comprar comida basura, solo lo básico: leche, huevos y pan.” La reducción de los beneficios implica que ella todavía debe recurrir a los bancos de alimentos para obtener ayuda. "Los costos son tan elevados ahora que, definitivamente, el dinero no alcanza para mucho,” dijo Domínguez. Los meses de incertidumbre sobre cuándo podría hacer su próxima comida han dejado una huella profunda en Domínguez, quien todavía está amamantando. "Como no sabía cuándo volvería a comer, cuando estoy en casa de una amiga o en situaciones similares, como hasta enfermarme," comentó Domínguez, añadiendo que también le preocupa si su hija teme no saber de dónde vendrá su próxima comida. Para una residente del Cochise County, los obstáculos resultaron insuperables. Peggy Hill, de 66 años, solicitó los beneficios del programa SNAP tras someterse a un trasplante de riñón el año pasado, pero su solicitud fue rechazada incluso antes de llegar a la etapa de la entrevista. Hill relató que el DES le informó que la denegación se debía al nuevo requisito laboral, a pesar de que, según afirma, sus registros médicos demuestran que está incapacitada permanentemente para trabajar. "Estoy harta de sus juegos," dijo Hill. "Si no fuera por mi Seguro Social, estaría en la calle." Bezio señaló varios "obstáculos administrativos" que han provocado un gran volumen de llamadas y barreras para los solicitantes. Bezio explicó que la ley H.R. 1, la ley federal de conciliación presupuestaria conocida también como la One Big Beautiful Bill Act, modificó drásticamente los criterios de elegibilidad y la administración de SNAP en julio de 2025, imponiendo nuevos y estrictos requisitos de documentación y verificación a un programa que ya era complejo de por sí. Añadió que el cierre del gobierno a finales de 2025 "agravó la situación" y señaló que el DES intenta equilibrar los mandatos federales de calidad y puntualidad con la necesidad de evitar sanciones fiscales que, de otro modo, recaerían sobre los contribuyentes. Para residentes como Hill, Domínguez y Patterson, ese esfuerzo por equilibrar la situación ha tenido un alto costo personal, uno que, según dicen, perdura mucho tiempo después de que finalmente se restablecen sus beneficios. Katherine Martinez es una estudiante de periodismo de origen nativo Kickapoo-Potawatomi en la Universidad de Arizona y pasante en El Foco de Tucson. Puede contactarla en martinezk29@arizona.edu. Esta nota fue traducida por el equipo bilingüe de El Foco de Tucson. El Foco de Tucson es una sala de prensa comunitaria que ofrece oportunidades remuneradas a estudiantes y periodistas emergentes del sur de Arizona. Por favor, considera apoyar nuestro trabajo con una donación deducible de impuestos. Donar a El Foco Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f392a2c5335ae104666b3 Does Mark Zuckerberg really believe AI is ‘for everyone’? te 2026-08-14T15:50:02.849Z Does Mark Zuckerberg really believe AI is ‘for everyone’? Meta released Glimmer this week, an open-weight AI model anyone can download and run on their own hardware — a contrast to Muse Spark, the company’s more powerful model that stays locked behind its own APIs. The release landed alongside a letter from Mark Zuckerberg arguing AI should be “for everyon Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f36da2c5335ae1046667c New York City’s lone Republican in Congress accuses Mamdani, Schumer of 'hypocrisy' in voter ID fight te 2026-08-14T15:40:10.428Z New York City’s lone Republican in Congress accuses Mamdani, Schumer of 'hypocrisy' in voter ID fight Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., slammed what she deemed "hypocrisy" shown by Democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., arguing that the two officials are betraying their constituents by refusing to support voter identification measures. "I think the Democrats are showing the two sides that they have," she told Fox News Digital in an interview. "They go to their district, they tell their constituents that they support voter ID, and then they turn around to go to Washington and vote against it," she continued. SEN MARK WARNER CALLED OUT IN ABC INTERVIEW FOR INACCURATE VOTER ID CLAIMS Malliotakis called on the Senate to pass President Donald Trump’s Safeguard America’s Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, a piece of legislation that would require voters to prove American citizenship before casting a ballot. "If you want people to be confident in the outcome of the election, then we need to pass the Save America Act. We need to require voter ID," Malliotakis told Fox News Digital. "Over 80% of America wants it," Malliotakis continued, adding "the only people that don't seem to want it are the Democrats who are in Congress right now and they're not representing the people of their districts who are overwhelmingly saying they want it. Regardless of political affiliation, regardless of race, they are saying that they want a voter ID and the Senate Democrats should vote for it," she continued. "Let's make sure that we show America that we're taking the integrity of our elections seriously. And voter ID is really the most common-sense step that we should be taking as a body," she added. SCHUMER SAID ‘DEMOCRATS SUPPORT VOTER ID’ — THEN EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT VOTED AGAINST GOP BILL Malliotakis pinned the blame in particular on Schumer for blocking the SAVE Act. "We've passed it out of the House now four times and is up to the Senate to get the job done. These Senators keep going to their district saying that they support the SAVE America act, or at least they're telling their constituents that they support voter ID, and then they go to Washington and they vote against it, and so citizens need to hold those senators accountable," she told Fox News Digital. "Unfortunately that dissent is being led by my own senator, Senator Chuck Schumer. Who always seems to be at odds with his constituents and America these days," she said. Malliotakis, New York City’s lone Republican in Congress, also laid into Mamdani, highlighting what she called his hypocrisy in requiring identification for city programs. FLASHBACK: MAMDANI'S HISTORY OF DODGING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE HE STANDS ON KEY ISSUES "Sadly, you see the hypocrisy when you see programs like Mayor Mamdani wanting to require photo ID to utilize a government-run supermarket or when he wanted you to use a photo ID, not just one, but multiple IDs for a snow shoveling program," she told Fox News Digital. "This is the hypocrisy we're seeing where things like that for everyday activities, they want ID, but when it comes to voting, the most important thing you do as a United States citizen is vote in your elections and elect your representatives, they don't want any type of accountability, any type a transparency or any type of requirement for voter identification to prove who you are, that you're eligible to vote, that you actually reside in the district in which you're voting and that you are an American citizen," she said. Malliotakis also pointed to a recent event in her Staten Island district where Mamdani was booed off the stage. "This was an event for National Night Out Against Crime. It was in support of our law enforcement and the NYPD. Mamdani, in his career as a state assembly member, led the fight for the defund the police movement. And my constituents have not forgotten that. So number one, they were calling him out on his hypocrisy. But number two, they are making very clear they do not support his communist agenda and my borough of Staten Island is the only borough in the five boroughs of New York City that did not vote for Zohran Mamdani," she concluded. Fox News Digital contacted the offices of Mamdani and Schumer for further comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f32232c5335ae104665a4 Russell Fry to Back Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate Runoff Amid Trump Pressure te 2026-08-14T15:20:03.109Z Russell Fry to Back Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate Runoff Amid Trump Pressure The president has been focused on the race since the death of Lindsey Graham in July. Ms. Graham, the late senator’s sister, is competing against Representative Ralph Norman in a runoff on Aug. 25. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f2d7f2c5335ae10466536 New laws to take effect next month te 2026-08-14T15:00:15.427Z New laws to take effect next month Hobbs signs 264 bills into law after record 2,116 drafted by legislature A record-breaking 2,116 measures were filed this legislative session, of which Gov. Katie Hobbs [D] signed 264 into law and vetoed 151 from those that survived the legislative process to make it to her desk. Since taking office Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f2d7e2c5335ae10466516 Cuban ties put powerful US union under microscope over alleged communist influence push te 2026-08-14T15:00:14.247Z Cuban ties put powerful US union under microscope over alleged communist influence push FIRST ON FOX: The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is investigating reports that a union representing roughly 600,000 members is working to advance the interests of the Cuban regime. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., sent a letter to the International Association of Machinists (IAM) on Thursday night demanding information about its possible links to the Cuban government. His letter follows reports that IAM has travelled to Cuba, taken policy positions aligned with the regime, put out public messaging aligned with the regime’s interests and participated in a meeting at a local IAM union hall where a Cuban diplomat addressed union members. IAM did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital. "I am concerned that IAM Union member dues are financing efforts to change U.S. policy related to the Cuban regime, a State Sponsor of Terror, instead of supporting American workers’ priorities," Cassidy wrote. "These examples raise serious concerns that IAM Union officials have used their positions within the union to advocate for policy objectives promoted by the Cuban regime as part of a foreign influence scheme." INSIDE CUBA’S FOREIGN INFLUENCE CAMPAIGN: FROM THE '60S VENCEREMOS BRIGADE TO A CALIFORNIA UNION HALL "American workers should not be compelled to finance advocacy that advances the foreign policy aims of a hostile foreign power, particularly one responsible for the deaths of at least three U.S. citizens and one U.S. resident in international waters," the senator added. Cassidy was referencing a 1996 incident where Cuban MiG fighters destroyed two unarmed civilian aircraft operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue, resulting in the deaths of three American citizens and one permanent resident. David Ramírez Álvarez, second secretary at the Embassy of Cuba, spoke at a U.S. Hands Off Cuba campaign meeting held at Machinists Hall, a local IAM union hall, Fox News Digital reported in May. Cassidy’s letter says Ramírez Álvarez instructed union members on ways to support Cuba’s policy priorities and oppose U.S. policy toward the island. Sources told Fox News Digital that Ramírez Álvarez has drawn the attention of American officials for allegedly coordinating an influence network within the United States. Ramírez Álvarez spoke to union members and leaders on how they could help Cuba by lobbying, following certain pieces of legislation and engaging in national activism. CUBA BUILT COVERT NETWORK INSIDE AMERICA THROUGH SPIES, ACTIVISTS AND UNIVERSITIES, STATE DEPT ALLEGES "The job now is defending Cuba in whatever way we can," an IAM representative told attendees, encouraging them to visit the island if possible, according to previous reporting. He was also involved in an effort that resulted in the California AFL-CIO adopting a resolution calling for Cuba to be removed from the United States’ list of state terror sponsors. Before Cassidy sent his letter, the State Department released a report in July laying out the ties between organized labor and the communist regime in Cuba. The report alleges that Havana leverages a sizable network of labor union contacts in the United States to push for policies advantageous to its regime, such as lifting embargoes or removing Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. Cassidy said that the Cuban government has used IAM members for "propagandistic purposes." To support this claim, he pointed to a video posted by the Cuban Embassy where an IAM leader said "we must and will continue to defend the sovereignty of Cuba and Cuban self determination." "We must continue to protest, we must continue to make our voices heard in the streets, through social media and beyond," he continued. In a separate video, the same leader gave a welcome message to two Cuban officials on behalf of his union. RUBIO WARNS CUBA HAS INFILTRATED US WITH SPIES, CALLS COMMUNIST REGIME AN 'ESPIONAGE SUPERPOWER' Cassidy is hitting the IAM with a bevy of questions, notably whether union employees are working with Cuban officials while on the clock, if the union has ever taken payments from Cuba, if the union has ever made payments to individuals linked to the Cuban regime, if the union had lobbied on Cuba policy and whether the union has any concerns that its members could be wrapped up in Cuban influence operations. The senator has also requested a full accounting of members and union leadership who have engaged in advocacy related to America’s policy toward Cuba and whether they consulted with Cuban government officials in connection with that activism. "These examples raise serious concerns that IAM Union officials have used their positions within the union to advocate for policy objectives promoted by the Cuban regime as part of a foreign influence scheme," Cassidy wrote. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f2d7d2c5335ae1046650d Kelly Ripa admits everyday habit led to painful gum surgery te 2026-08-14T15:00:13.445Z Kelly Ripa admits everyday habit led to painful gum surgery Kelly Ripa’s diligent dental hygiene came back to bite her. The longtime talk show host revealed her "good-bad habit" of brushing her teeth too much caused severe gum recession, eventually forcing her to undergo surgery that temporarily left the famously chatty TV personality unable to speak. "I’m an over-brusher," Ripa revealed during an episode of her podcast, "Let's Talk Off Camera," that was recorded before her surgery. KELLY RIPA'S PAINFUL SURGERY LEAVES HER UNABLE TO SPEAK "I brush my teeth too much," she explained to her guest, "Survival of the Thickest" creator Michelle Buteau. "It’s a good-bad habit. But I’ve caused gum recession down here specifically, and so they have gotta re-gum my gums." Buteau complimented Ripa for prioritizing her health, but the talk show host quickly admitted the procedure was long overdue. "Before you praise me, I was supposed to do it five years ago," Ripa said. "But now, just so you know, the doctor was like, ‘Now, you don’t have the luxury of time.’" CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Ripa's surgery led her to miss a handful of live tapings of the morning talk show she hosts with husband Mark Consuelos. At the time, Consuelos revealed Ripa's lengthy recovery process included not talking while chatting with musician Nick Jonas on "Live with Kelly and Mark." "Wow. That’s got to be the hardest thing she’s ever done," Jonas joked. Describing Ripa as "such a great conversationalist," Consuelos hinted he might have been having trouble getting the talk show host to follow doctor's orders. "I’m trying to keep her to follow the rules, follow the directions," he said. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS As Ripa recovered at home, Consuelos said the toughest part wasn't the pain – it was convincing the famously curious TV host to stop checking on her healing gums and let the procedure do its work. "Last night she was like, ‘Can you look?’ I’m like, ‘I’m not pulling your lip down,’" Consuelos said. Ripa instead got into position so Consuelos could check without touching her lip. "So I’m down there like, ‘It looks great!’" The longtime actor said the surgery was especially alarming because Ripa rarely complains about pain, which made the recovery stand out from any previous trip to the dentist. "Yeah, it’s painful," he told Jonas. "But she famously doesn’t feel pain. When she goes into the dentist, she doesn’t use the novocaine. But this one hurts, so I know it’s bad." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f2d742c5335ae104664d7 Kog is going deeper to squeeze more inference out of GPUs te 2026-08-14T15:00:04.898Z Kog is going deeper to squeeze more inference out of GPUs The idea that GPUs are poorly suited for agentic workflows may be a misconception, according to French startup Kog. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f2d722c5335ae104664ce Apple proposes to take a 15% cut of purchases made outside the App Store te 2026-08-14T15:00:02.764Z Apple proposes to take a 15% cut of purchases made outside the App Store Apple is asking a federal judge to allow it to charge commissions of up to 15% on purchases made through external links in iOS apps. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f2b212c5335ae10466498 49ers quarterback hospitalized after struggling to breathe in first game in nearly 2 years te 2026-08-14T14:50:09.039Z 49ers quarterback hospitalized after struggling to breathe in first game in nearly 2 years Kurtis Rourke's return to the gridiron could not have been much better — until it took a frightening turn late. The San Francisco 49ers' third-string quarterback got the start for the team's first preseason game on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, and the former Ohio and Indiana quarterback did not disappoint. Rourke, a seventh-round pick in Titans quarterback Cam Ward's draft on March of 2025, looked much sharper in his professional debut after missing all of last season recovering from knee surgery, making Thursday his first game since Dec. 20, 2024. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He went 12-for-14 for 101 yards with three rushes for 14 yards on three drives, and his final possession ended in a 1-yard TD run by Patrick Taylor Jr. However, Rourke left the game after that drive with a rib injury. X-rays were negative, but Rourke had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital. "They said ribs, he was struggling to breathe so they took him to the hospital just to check on him and make sure he’s alright. X-rays in here didn’t show it was broken," head coach Kyle Shanahan said. Shanahan, though, did not seem too concerned that it would be a long-term issue. CHIEFS LEGEND NOT READY TO SAY DYNASTY IS OVER DESPITE PATRICK MAHOMES' INJURY, TRAVIS KELCE'S FINAL DAYS "They just wanted to get more imaging and find out, so they weren’t too concerned. I don’t want to downplay it but I don’t want to overplay it either," he said. Rourke had played his entire final college season with a torn ACL, forcing him to undergo surgery before the draft. He completed a career-high 69.4% of his passes for the Hoosiers, who won the national championship the following season with Fernando Mendoza at the helm. His 29 touchdowns were also the most of his career, and he only threw five interceptions. Rourke remained on the roster last year with Brock Purdy and Mac Jones ahead of him. With the coaching he has and the quarterback room he is in, it is no wonder why Rourke impressed in his unofficial NFL debut. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f26722c5335ae104663f7 WWII Memorial vandalism suspect now in custody, to be charged with two felonies, Pirro announces te 2026-08-14T14:30:10.591Z WWII Memorial vandalism suspect now in custody, to be charged with two felonies, Pirro announces The suspect accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., has been taken into custody, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia are charging Melissa L. Farris with two felony charges for her alleged role in the vandalism. "Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather. This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans' Memorials, in Federal District Court against Melissa L. Farris, offenses that carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. She is now in custody," Pirro added. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f26712c5335ae104663e5 In Iowa, Mark Kelly rallies Democrats to fight Trump’s ‘corruption’ and stokes 2028 speculation te 2026-08-14T14:30:09.338Z In Iowa, Mark Kelly rallies Democrats to fight Trump’s ‘corruption’ and stokes 2028 speculation U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, delivered the keynote address at the Iowa Wing Ding Aug. 13, 2026 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) CLEAR LAKE — Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona told Iowa Democrats Thursday their state plays a vital role in combating the “corruption” of President Donald Trump by helping decide control of Congress in 2026 through competitive elections for the U.S. Senate and House. Kelly, a former astronaut and naval officer, delivered the keynote address for the Iowa Wing Ding, an annual Democratic fundraiser hosted at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. He asked the crowd of more the 750 people who gathered at the event who they wanted to represent them in Congress and the state government, joking, “This isn’t rocket science, and I should know.” He said Republicans also know the importance Iowa plays in the 2026 midterms. “Republicans, you know, they understand how important these races are, and they’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars right here, right now,” Kelly said. “They’re flooding the state with everything they have, and they’re going to fight for the system that is working for them. And that’s why we have to fight too.” Kelly first took office in December 2020, winning an Arizona special election to fill the state’s U.S. Senate seat left vacant with former U.S. Sen. John McCain’s death. He won reelection to serve a full six-year term in 2022. The Arizona Democrat made national headlines when President Donald Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused him and other Democratic lawmakers of sedition after releasing a video in November 2025 calling for members of the U.S. military and intelligence officers to refuse to carry out illegal orders. “I know what happens when you speak truth to this administration,” he told the crowd. He said the statement was something “everybody, including Pete Hegseth, should agree with — that our troops should not follow illegal orders.” Hegseth sought to reduce Kelly’s retirement military rank as a naval officer because of his comments in the video, but a federal judge blocked this move in February. A grand jury also declined to indict Kelly and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who also spoke in the video, on charges of seditious conspiracy. Kelly said, “really, all this bullsh** — it is not about me. It is about silencing people who are willing to speak up, to stand up for what’s right.” He called for Iowans to elect Democrats in order to be able to protect Americans’ freedom to speak and vote — and to help create an economy that better serves working class Americans. Kelly shared a story in which he told his daughter, “the system is still working, it’s just not working for you. “It’s working for the same people who are writing the rules — the rich, the powerful, the predators in the Epstein files,” he said. Kelly also criticized Trump for committing “unimaginable corruption” during his second term as president, saying that a Democratic Congress would be able to investigate Trump and his family, “and how he’s trying to enrich himself and his family and his friends.” The Wing Ding is not the only stop on Kelly’s trip to Iowa. He also plans to go to the Iowa State Fair, which kicked off Thursday. While Iowa did not make the list of states the Democratic National Committee’s rules panel has put forward as part of the 2028 nominating calendar early window, the state has long been an important place for presidential hopefuls to visit. Kelly told the BBC in February he would “seriously consider” a presidential run in 2028. Turek finishes 99-county tour, Republicans criticize his voting record Before the Wing Ding, a group of conservatives called for Iowans to reject Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Josh Turek at the ballot box in November, saying he was “too liberal” for Iowa. John Latham, center, a farmer from Sheffield, alongside John Rosefeld, right, chair of the Cerro Gordo County GOP, and state Rep. Charley Thomson, left, criticized Iowa Rep. Josh Turek outside the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Aug. 13, 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Four Republicans spoke as part of the Iowa Republican Party’s “Turek’s Too Liberal” tour outside the Surf Ballroom before the event began, calling for voters to instead support his opponent, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. The speakers said Turek, who currently represents Council Bluffs in the Iowa House, did not represent Iowans’ values through his votes in the state Legislature. They said his positions like a call to repeal the 2025 “One, Big Beautiful Bill” Act if elected to the Senate would hurt Iowa families. John Latham, a farmer from Sheffield, criticized Turek for not voting on the “Iowa Farm Act” introduced by state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, a Republican, in the 2026 legislative session. Latham said the measure “delivered tax relief for for producers, helped support young and beginning farmers, and included provisions to keep Iowa farmland with the next generation, not big corporations or foreign countries.” Additionally, he said Turek opposes Hinson’s “Save Our Bacon” Act — federal legislation that would ban states from enacting specific laws, like California’s Proposition 12, that regulate growing conditions for agricultural products. While Turek has opposed Hinson’s proposal, he also said he does not support California’s Proposition 12. “Iowa agriculture needs a strong voice in the Senate, not an activist who will vote like every other liberal in Congress,” Latham said. “Josh Turek would be bad for farmers, bad for agriculture, and bad for small family businesses.” Before speaking at the Wing Ding, Turek held a campaign event in Northwood, the final stop of his 99-county tour. He joked he intentionally held the final event of the tour in Worth County, “so we could say that this trip was ‘worth’ it,” as he introduced himself to the crowd as a former Paralympian and the first permanently disabled member elected to the state Legislature. Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, left, spoke to Sheri Miszewska and Jan Miszewski at a campaign event in Northwood Aug. 13, 2026, the final stop on Turek’s 99-county tour as he runs for the U.S. Senate in 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) He told those gathered at the event about his first election in 2022, winning his Iowa House seat by a margin of six votes — and his reelection in 2024 by a margin of 5 percentage points. “It has taught me the right candidate with the right message (can win), and I believe that message is common-sense prairie populism,” Turek said. After giving brief remarks, Turek visited with voters — including Sheri Miszewska, a former teacher, who criticized Iowa’s all-GOP federal delegation for supporting cuts to medical research funding and education. Miszewska said she believed Turek’s campaign had a good chance of succeeding in Iowa in the 2026 election. “Looking at his past record — he’s fighting for the average person, fighting for veterans, school districts,” Miszewska said. As Turek spoke later at the Wing Ding, he reflected on what he heard from Iowans after spending a year on the campaign trail. “I got in this race a year ago yesterday, and it’s been interesting, because I’ve been traveling this state all 99 counties,” Turek said. “I keep engaging with people (who) say the same things — ‘Josh, I’m struggling. I’m struggling just to keep food on the table, pay my electric bill, keep gas on my table.’ And I think we’re all feeling that, that struggle, right now. We’re looking at a state that has really hit the bottom. … This is not the Iowa we know, this is not the Iowa we grew up in. But Iowans are ready for change.” This story was originally produced by Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Arizona Mirror, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f241a2c5335ae10466395 Shania Twain confronts longstanding narrative that her music promotes man-hating te 2026-08-14T14:20:10.928Z Shania Twain confronts longstanding narrative that her music promotes man-hating Shania Twain set the record straight after decades of her biggest hits being embraced as feminist anthems — insisting she was never out to bash men. Twain's influence has stretched far beyond country music, with some of today's biggest stars crediting her as an inspiration. When Harry Styles brought the Canadian singer onstage at Coachella in 2022, he revealed that her music had been part of his life since childhood. "In the car with my mother as a child, this lady taught me to sing. She also taught me that men are trash," Styles said while introducing Twain. But Twain doesn't exactly remember delivering that second lesson. "I didn’t ever say that," Twain recently told The New York Times. SHANIA TWAIN SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE 'UNHEALTHY' LENGTHS SHE WENT TO STAY THIN Hits like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!," "That Don't Impress Me Much" and "Any Man of Mine" have long been embraced by fans as female empowerment anthems. But Twain pushed back on that narrative. "It wasn’t meant to be a feminist message," she told the outlet. For "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!," Twain noted there is "no anger in it" and she didn't write it from the perspective of "a sexist person." In fact, she wasn't even thinking about men when she wrote the 1999 hit. "I was just owning and celebrating what I think I waited too damn long to celebrate," she said. "People want to celebrate who they are, and what they are, and they don’t want to be criticized for just being themselves. And I think that is a liberty that we all deserve. I certainly waited way too long to give it to myself." SHANIA TWAIN STRIPS DOWN IN BOLD LOOK TO CELEBRATE 60TH BIRTHDAY This isn't the first time Twain has pushed back on being labeled a feminist. "I don’t see myself as a feminist," she told The Times back in June. "I see myself as a very independent thinker and not necessarily because I’m a woman. I am referred to as a feminist. I think I have a lot of feminist points of view because I am so defensive of the vulnerable woman, I really am." Twain argued that even well-intentioned labels can unnecessarily separate women from men. "I just feel that I’m strong as a person," she said. "It’s like saying, ‘You look great for your age.’" In her view, strength and independence shouldn't need a gender qualifier. "I’m not strong for a woman," Twain explained. "I’m not independent for a woman. I’m not self-sufficient for a woman. I just am a woman. And this falls on boys too." "It’s, like, ‘Oh, the boy needs less protection than the girl because he’s a boy,'" she added. "That is so not true and it’s not fair. Vulnerable men need just as much protection as vulnerable women." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Twain elaborated on her stance, clarifying that her discomfort was with the feminist label itself — shaped by the negativity and confusion she associated with it growing up — rather than its underlying values. "It’s a tricky word for me, as growing up for so many years the word had so much negativity and confusion around it that I didn’t personally proclaim myself as a feminist, even though when I look at the values and morals of what a feminist is, of course I align with them," she later wrote to The Times. Before becoming one of country music's biggest stars, Twain said she spent years feeling uncomfortable in her own skin. "I’ve been very shy about my body from a very young age … to the point where I would not go to the beach in a bathing suit," Twain told "Extra" in 2023. "I would say probably really tortured by it from the age of 10." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The country music star recalled filming the music video for "You're Still the One." She released the ballad in 1998 and noted that the music video allowed her to step outside her daily life at the time. "I was 30 when I had my first radio hit. … In that video, I’m braless, I’m allowing the platform of stepping out of my daily self into this world of video-making and making decisions that give me this freedom to, like, do things I wouldn’t normally do in my daily life," Twain told the outlet. Now, Twain said she has found freedom in embracing the femininity she once hid. "I started taking ownership," she told The New York Times, explaining that the music videos she created at the beginning of her career "freed" her. The country-pop star began to embrace her femininity "without feeling shame or feeling like I have to hide it for the sake of my talent." She explained, "The songs just [became] more and more about that liberation, and about making statements with a smile. Because I wasn’t angry at anyone. I was just, like, ‘Wow, it’s time to celebrate being a woman. This is really, actually great.’" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f241a2c5335ae1046638c Country trio The Castellows team up with Keller Cox for new collaboration 'Way Things Work' te 2026-08-14T14:20:10.215Z Country trio The Castellows team up with Keller Cox for new collaboration 'Way Things Work' The Castellows teamed up with Keller Cox for a new song. The popular country music trio is on the fast track in the genre, and they show no signs of their momentum slowing. Eleanor, Lily, and Powell Balkcom have gained a significant following with their old school vibes. As a country music fan, it's been a lot of fun to watch over the past couple years. COUNTRY STARS ELLA LANGLEY AND CODY JOHNSON TEAM UP FOR COVER OF FAMOUS REBA MCENTIRE SONG The trio teased a new song with Keller Cox earlier in the week, and now it's finally here for fans. Cox and The Castellows released "Way Things Work" for fans early Friday morning. The song tells the story of a failing relationship between and a man and woman who aren't meant to be together, which is very on-brand for the country music genre. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK CULTURE COVERAGE Give it a listen below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. The Castellows previously described "Way Things Work" as "a feel-good-sad-song," and I'd say that sounds about right after listening to the full track. Admittedly, I don't know much about Keller Cox, but it seems like he is definitely a talented up and coming country singer. His collaboration with The Castellows is outstanding. There's no question the Balkcom sisters are only going up from here, and country music fans can't wait to see what comes next. Let me know your thoughts on the trio's newest song at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f24192c5335ae10466383 New Yorkers take Zohran Mamdani free bus promise literally as MTA loses millions in skipped fares te 2026-08-14T14:20:09.484Z New Yorkers take Zohran Mamdani free bus promise literally as MTA loses millions in skipped fares Political promises of "free buses" in New York City are contributing to a spike in fare evasion that is costing the city’s mass transit system millions of dollars, transit officials warn. In July, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Janno Lieber blamed political rhetoric for fueling fare evasion, though he never mentioned Mayor Zohran Mamdani by name. "There’s a trend that broke out," Lieber told reporters following a meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, according to the New York Post. "With malice towards none, I say all of the talk of free buses, it has an impact." The MTA reported that paid bus ridership fell nearly 8% in June compared to the same month last year. During Mamdani’s first six months in office, bus fare revenue fell by $31 million compared to the first half of 2025. Agency estimates show nearly half of bus riders now skip the $3 fare. MAMDANI SHRUGS OFF AOC'S 'WOKE 1' COMMENTS, BUT CRITIC SAYS PROGRESSIVES CAN'T BE ABSOLVED OF 'RADICAL' PAST Mamdani made the slogan "fast and free buses" a major part of his 2025 mayoral campaign. However, the MTA is controlled by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state, rather than City Hall. While the mayor and Hochul unveiled plans on July 8 to focus instead on speeding up bus routes, experts and union leaders say the "free bus" rhetoric has already contributed to fare evasion. John V. Chiarello, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, the city’s largest transit union representing more than 40,000 transit workers, told Fox News Digital that current fare evasion levels are the "worst" his drivers have seen. He noted that buses were temporarily free during the COVID-19 pandemic and said the MTA worked to reverse the resulting habit of not paying fares, but that behavior has resurfaced in recent months. PAYROLL DATA EXPOSES SIX-FIGURE SALARIES BEHIND TRANSIT STRIKE GRINDING NYC TRAVEL TO A HALT "Once you make something free, and you give people a feeling of entitlement, and then the mayor says that he wants to make buses free, you have a perfect storm of people not wanting to pay," Chiarello said. Chiarello noted that union rules strictly instruct bus operators not to confront fare evaders for their own safety following past violent attacks on drivers. He also pushed back on claims that fare-jumpers are strictly low-income New Yorkers. "I can see myself when I'm sitting in the buses where people with suits are coming on. These are people that have the money. It's just that they're not paying because it's in vogue now," Chiarello added. Lieber made similar comments, calling on higher earners to pay their fares rather than pass the cost on to other taxpayers. MAMDANI’S CITY GROCERY PLAN COULD LEAVE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR EVERY BANANA "For all the people who are on their way to office jobs, who are making a good income, who walk by the bus driver and don’t pay or get on the back and don’t pay, I say it’s time to be New Yorkers," Lieber said, according to The New York Post. "You’re just passing along the cost to another taxpayer. Somebody’s going to have to pay for that ride." The MTA is also losing fare revenue from riders who do not pay. Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute specializing in urban policy, explained the fiscal impact of the mayor’s proposal. "The [Independent Budget Office] has estimated free buses would cost the MTA about $1.1 billion a year in fare revenue. And we need that money. The MTA [is] already looking at a $300 million deficit for next year," Gelinas told Fox News Digital. "The idea of giving up a billion dollars plus in fare revenue from the buses, when you have no way to replace that, it's just not fiscally wise." Gelinas said a herd mentality is also at play, with paying riders watching others board without paying. "You pay your fare, and then you watch 10 people get on and not pay the fare. So at some point, you're just going to think like, ‘Why am I paying the fare?’" Gelinas said. "So you really want to move back from that tipping point because, right now, if you're paying the fare, you're basically subsidizing the people who are not." Mamdani has previously defended his fare-free transit push by arguing that widespread non-payment is spurred by an affordability crisis. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office for comment but did not immediately hear back. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f21bb2c5335ae104662fd Hyperscalers might regret embracing natural gas if new forecast proves correct te 2026-08-14T14:10:03.530Z Hyperscalers might regret embracing natural gas if new forecast proves correct Natural gas prices could triple in some parts of the U.S., which could saddle hyperscalers with massive bills to power their AI data centers. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f1d122c5335ae10466284 Rising golf star dead at 18 after brain hemorrhage while playing tournament in Thailand te 2026-08-14T13:50:10.195Z Rising golf star dead at 18 after brain hemorrhage while playing tournament in Thailand A pro golfer died at 18 this week after suffering a brain hemorrhage during a tournament. While playing in the KLPGA Tour’s International Qualifying Tournament in Thailand on Aug. 1, Jessica Bang collapsed and underwent emergency brain surgery at Synphaet Ramintra Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Her family announced in a GoFundMe, however, that she died on Aug. 13 at 7:20 am local time in the hospital. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "We are truly heartbroken by this news. However, we would like to continue to remember Jessica and celebrate her achievements, passion, and dedication to golf," the GoFundMe, run by her cousins, said. "As her cousins, we will forever cherish the time and memories we shared with Jessica. Her sense of humour, together with her cheerful and vibrant personality, will always be remembered and treasured by our family." The GoFundMe said the funds will be used for her medical expenses. COLLEGE GOLFER DELIVERS US AMATEUR UPSET WITH ADDED PRESSURE OF HAVING JUST ONE EXTRA GOLF BALL "The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community are with Jessica’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved her at this incredibly difficult time," the WPGA Tour of Australasia said in a statement. Bang, born in South Korea, was placed on life support after the surgery. Bang won in her fifth professional start this past November, carding a final-round 65 at the 2026 Ford Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Moss Vale to win by five strokes and set a course record. She also won the Queensland Amateur. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f1d112c5335ae1046627b Why the Minnesota Vikings over 9.5 wins looks like a strong bet even with Kyler Murray under center te 2026-08-14T13:50:09.542Z Why the Minnesota Vikings over 9.5 wins looks like a strong bet even with Kyler Murray under center The NFC North was one of the best divisions in football last season. All of the teams were competitive and expected to be solid. Some of the teams were built on defense, others on offense, and some were well-balanced. The problem for many turned out to be injuries, but the Vikings felt like the team that was a piece away from success, despite missing the playoffs. The Minnesota Vikings ended up with a winning record, despite having a mixture of players at quarterback. The team will still have some quarterback issues or controversy this season, but we will get to that in a moment. Last year, more than anything, showed people that JJ McCarthy is probably not ready to be a quarterback. The team did win five straight to close the year, and McCarthy was under center for four of those games. However, his passing high for the season was 250 yards. Ultimately, they missed the playoffs, wasting a really good defensive team. KYLER MURRAY AND JJ MCCARTHY GIVE WILDLY DIFFERENT ANSWERS ABOUT THEIR VIKINGS QB ROOM DYNAMIC The major move for the Vikings this offseason was adding Kyler Murray to the roster. He will be the starting quarterback (supposedly). The good news is that if Murray doesn’t work out, or they want to turn to McCarthy, the cost will be really low. Murray is on a veteran minimum contract, and he gets an elite receiver to throw to. He also has a coach who seemingly rejuvenated Sam Darnold’s career. They did have to get rid of a few of their defensive players, so it is very possible their defense takes a step back. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS Murray, Aaron Jones, and Justin Jefferson give some fairly unique options for the Vikings. Murray still can scramble, and if head coach Kevin O’Connell can unlock the flashes of potential he’s shown, the Vikings could be a good offensive club. Jordan Addison is a good second receiver, and Jauan Jennings as a third option provides more than enough weapons. That doesn’t mention TJ Hockenson, who can be a solid tight end for the team. The Vikings have a top-10 offensive line as well, so there should be time for Murray to get the ball to the receivers. On defense, the team will probably take a bit of a step back. However, the team is still ranked eighth in the league after the draft according to Bleacher Report. Brian Flores is a very good defensive coordinator, so I really don’t see it being a major drop-off. JOE BURROW CALLS BENGALS ROSTER THE 'MOST TALENTED' THE TEAM'S HAD, HAS LOFTY EXPECTATIONS FOR SEASON STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! I think the Vikings will win 10 or more games this season. At +160 for over 9.5, I’ll take the move. This is mostly a bet on some things like O’Connell getting Murray to be a good quarterback. It also is a bet that Flores makes his defense work even with the changes. Injuries can derail anything, but a team that won nine games last year with no quarterback should be better with Murray or even a second year of McCarthy under center. For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f1d0b2c5335ae1046625c Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Greenlight White House Ballroom te 2026-08-14T13:50:03.946Z Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Greenlight White House Ballroom The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom is estimated to cost $400 million and is part of the president’s broader effort to remake Washington in his own style. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f1ab92c5335ae1046621a Wings vs. Fever betting preview pits Paige Bueckers against Caitlin Clark amid WNBA distractions te 2026-08-14T13:40:09.951Z Wings vs. Fever betting preview pits Paige Bueckers against Caitlin Clark amid WNBA distractions The WNBA is taking center stage today for the betting market. If you’ve been following the sport, there have been some great stories. If you aren’t following the sport, you’re probably hearing about all of the negativity. We had one player post about white privilege, we had another talk about transgender athletes, and both take away from the product on the court. I’ll try and bring us back by betting on it and getting some money from the Wings vs. Fever game. The Dallas Wings were the team I expected to make a marked improvement this season, and so far, they are. Before the year started, I took the over for their wins, and with just three more wins, they will hit that over. Seeing as how they have another 10 games, I think we have a good shot at it, and I can likely always hedge. Especially considering they have seven home games remaining, so they should be the favorite in most of those. The bad news here is that the Wings are playing some of their worst basketball of the season. They are just 1-5 over their past six games, and 3-6 over their past nine. A lot of this is likely because of injuries to key players. Azzi Fudd has been out, Alysha Clark and Jessica Shepard as well. Considering Shepard is their leading rebounder, that is quite an impact to lose. Most of them should be back either for this game or sooner. Even without them, Paige Bueckers is still the focal point of this team. Arike Ogunbowale is the other primary scorer for the squad, and she has put together a good campaign. PAIGE BUECKERS SPARKS DEBATE WITH COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK WOMEN WNBA COACHES AMID CAITLIN CLARK COMPARISONS The Indiana Fever are a team that will continue to get all of the attention. Not only will they get the attention because they have the most popular player on the planet on the team, but as a result of that, teams tend to give their full effort against Indiana. That should make the Fever better, but it can also be draining having to take on everyone’s best effort every night. There is more than enough talent on the team for the Fever to compete with any other team in the league. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS The attention, for the most part lately, has been off of Clark and onto Cunningham, who made the comment about transgender athletes. Then, later, she was flagrantly fouled by Dijionai Carrington, who then sent out a Threads message about white privilege. Then, their coach, Stephanie White, somewhat defended Carrington’s play (which I think is fine to do). It has just been a mess, and honestly the WNBA should be a public relations case study on what not to do. It is like none of them have any media training. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! All of this masks the fact that the Fever are playing solid basketball at the moment. They are a playoff team, and coming together at the right time. Distractions away from the court can leak into the locker room and be a problem. The Wings don’t have those, and are also getting healthy at the moment. Dallas getting their players back can position themselves to make a nice run and gain momentum before the postseason. Most will look at this as a battle between Clark and Bueckers. Clark is great. I felt like I needed to put a full stop there. She can shoot, she is fan-friendly, a really good passer, all of that. However, she does turn the ball over far too much. It has to be cleaned up. She complains a lot. Bueckers is the better overall player. There is nothing she can’t do on the court. If you traded these two straight up, I don’t think the Wings are worse, but I do think the Fever get better. That doesn’t mean that Dallas will win this game; I think they lose this one. Indiana is playing well at home and has more continuity and momentum at the moment. In addition, I think Dallas just has too many people out. It will likely be a close battle, but give me the Fever to cover the short spread. For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f1ab42c5335ae104661f1 Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Greenlight White House Ballroom te 2026-08-14T13:40:04.003Z Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Greenlight White House Ballroom The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom is estimated to cost $400 million and is part of the president’s broader effort to remake Washington in his own style. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f18622c5335ae104660aa Zhamira Zambrano throws one of the worst celebrity first pitches ever, Mayor Frey dancing & Mendoza is ready te 2026-08-14T13:30:10.768Z Zhamira Zambrano throws one of the worst celebrity first pitches ever, Mayor Frey dancing & Mendoza is ready As I sit down in the Screencaps lab for yet another edition of this award-winning column, the humidity level is at like 80%, the sun hasn't been out in five days and it's expected to rain all weekend here in Ohio. What's on the agenda? My dad turned 71 this week, so the plan was to play golf just northwest of Dayton. Based on the wave of rain that continues to pound that area, that's not going to happen. Have you seen the flooding out in eastern Indiana? Parts of I-70 are buckling due to flooding. Entire roads are washing away. In other words, dad will have to wait to play birthday golf. Quick thoughts before the weekend: • I will be here Sunday for SeanJo. He'll be off the next week. I think he's off to chase Bigfoot. • Today is a big day around here. Screencaps the III starts 4th grade this morning. His elementary school only goes up to 4th grade, which means we're nine months away from no longer dealing with elementary school pickup lines. It feels like I've spent half of my life in lines just to get the kids. Will I miss it one day? You guys who've been through this stage of life can feel free to tell me. PAIGE SPIRANAC SHARES THE ONE THING A GUY HAS TO BE GOOD AT TO DATE HER, TEBOW PLAYS GO-KART SOCCER & THE NFL • If you're the Raiders, you have to start Fernando Mendoza Week One. No choice. He turns 23 in October. It's not like they selected a 20-year-old who needs to find his footing. This guy is ready to go. Throw him to the wolves. • Thank you to YouTubeTV for not forcing me to watch the WNBA in multiview like they were doing two years ago. Last night, I had the Bengals, Steelers and Little League baseball on. For this time of year, it was heaven. • This might be the worst first pitch I've seen out of an Internet pop singer. Zhamira Zambrano is Venezuelan. How did she grow up in baseball-crazed Venezuela, which just won the World Baseball Classic, and not learn to paint the outside corner? Was this worse than 50 Cent's effort a few years back before a Mets game? Probably not, but Fitty didn't grow up in Venezuela, where I think you're supposed to hit 75 on a radar gun before you're allowed to get a driver's license. RAIDERS ROOKIE FERNANDO MENDOZA THANKS GOD FOR AN NFL DEBUT THAT COMPARES FAVORABLY TO 'MR BRADY' 📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.com Send photos, stories, tips, rants—whatever you've got. 📰 Screencaps Page: 👉 Read the latest Screencaps ▶️ YouTube: Screencaps with Joe Kinsey Subscribe for videos, rants, and behind-the-scenes. 🐦 Twitter/X: @JoeKinseyexp Tag me or drop a DM. 📸 Instagram: @OutKickScreencaps You guys need to start tagging me on content you're seeing. 📘 Facebook Page: Screencaps on Facebook 👥 Facebook Group: Join the Screencaps Community 📬 Mail (Thursday Night Mowing League): 27072 Carronade Dr, Unit A 155 Perrysburg, OH 43551 🗞️ Newsletter: 👉 Subscribe here – Kevin in Toboso, OH emails: So Meatchicken frosh will now only get pass/fail grades their first semester so they feel good about themselves(they already are guilt ridden the couldn't go to TOSU but I digress.) College is 90%worthless anymore. It is about your lame travel ball kid "feeling good" about themselves, hiring a professional dorm decorator and travel ball mommy and daddy paying all their expenses. WTH. Three of my four children have a job, investing in Roths, mutual funds and making their way. One IT (self-taught dropped out of college, one fireman kicking butt on salary and one college grad with zero debt making decent money) Parents of Screencapper youth, think long and hard about the rip-off college is and the expense/debt it causes. Total scam IMO. It is an experience anymore and not an education. CALIFORNIA PROFESSOR ARGUES NEED FOR 'OBJECTIVE MEASURES' AFTER STATE DROPS ACT/SAT REQUIREMENT meatchicken sucks and this absolutely proves it but I am sure TOSU is analyzing this for the mental well being of their frosh. WTH Kinsey: It will be the College of Literature, Science and Arts that will not give out letter grades starting during the fall of 2027. Keep in mind, they're doing this at a college that isn't exactly easy to get into. So, these students had to have incredible grades to get into Michigan, but the minute they enter, the arts and sciences department tells them they no longer need to worry about grades. It's humorous. – Jake might have Wendy's stock: Re: Your increasingly correct prediction about the future of Wendy's: Do you know for a fact they hire ex-cons and druggies nationwide, or does something like that happen in just your neck of the woods? I haven't been to a Wendy's in a long time, so I don't know. Kinsey: I know what I see with my eyes when I go through to get an iced tea after a round of golf. I have no idea if this is the case nationwide, but I know what I've seen from the suburbs of Detroit to the suburbs of Dayton, Ohio. That should be enough of a test case for my theory to be taken seriously. – 'Sheriff' John in Houston emails: Regarding the twitter link this morning. My brother actually lives in Childress and my nieces go to Childress high school. One of those boys in that photo is the oldest's boyfriend but hell if I can tell which one. Nonetheless, it reminds me of a minor controversy brewing down here in Texas (mentioned in that tweet). The UIL (or HS sports governing org) issued guidance a couple of weeks ago about wet bulb temps and that basically said, "you can't practice when it's hot". Ridiculous. Totally favors the rich schools with indoor facilities because most school districts don't have indoor facilities. Many schools have had to start practicing early in the morning before the sun goes up or they are just waiting until the evening. My son's school is having "study hall" for two hours after school and then practicing. Again, just ridiculous. This is almost as silly as the modern rule of, "Even if the sun is out and the sky is clear, if it's lightning anywhere within 10 miles everyone has to go sit in their car for 30 minutes but who are we kidding, it will be at least an hour until this game starts back up." Again, just ridiculous. I don't mean to go all Grandpa Simpson about "back in my day" but there really are some policies that our betters have decided to foist upon our kids that are making them soft. STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! – Jon in Laurens, SC is back: Thanks for publishing my email in Screencaps this past Tuesday. When I read it in your column I realized it sounded much more serious and less lighthearted that I intended. I apologize for that. Also, I do have a suggestion for your consideration to include in the list of crazy names created by suburban moms. One of my wife's co-workers named her firstborn son "Commodore", and that's what he is known by. No nickname or anything. He's about 12, I think, and by all accounts is a good kid and a pretty good athlete in several sports. Anyway, maybe "Commodore" is worthy of knocking "Britton" off the list. Thanks for your consideration! – Doug in Springfield, OH emails: Have to take exception with 'Sheriff' John from Houston about stopping at stops signs when there is no traffic. The saying in farm country down around your old stomping grounds is "stop signs are yield signs, if there is no corn." And that is it this morning. Enjoy the preseason NFL games. Soak it all in. Enjoy those late summer festivals. The county fairs. The tractor pulls. Bowling Green is next week, BTW. Circle your calendars. Let's go have a great weekend and try to stay dry. Numbers from : Stuff You Guys Sent In & Stuff I Like : Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f185a2c5335ae10466074 US courts will start publishing how often the government uses spyware te 2026-08-14T13:30:02.892Z US courts will start publishing how often the government uses spyware The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts told TechCrunch that it will start disclosing how many times judges authorized the use of spyware to wiretap suspected criminals. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f160a2c5335ae1046602b El-Sayed in the hot seat after 'sickening' animal control record goes viral on social media te 2026-08-14T13:20:10.477Z El-Sayed in the hot seat after 'sickening' animal control record goes viral on social media Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is facing renewed scrutiny over his tenure as Detroit health director, during which Detroit's animal control department was beset by allegations of animal mistreatment and reportedly branded a "dog slaughterhouse" by a former employee. Detroit Animal Care and Control’s (DACC) live-release rate was roughly 20% to 26% when El-Sayed inherited the operation in late 2015, but climbed to about 61% to 62% by late 2016 — an improvement his campaign points to in arguing that the raw number of animals euthanized during his tenure obscures a turnaround from the dire conditions and euthanasia rates he inherited. The Daily Mail reported that records covering the period surrounding El-Sayed’s tenure showed 4,680 dogs and cats were euthanized, with 1,056 dogs and 29 cats getting euthanized in the first full calendar year DACC was under El-Sayed’s Health Department. After winning a bruising primary against Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., El-Sayed is asking Michigan voters to send him to the U.S. Senate, but his record running Detroit’s health department and the troubled animal-control operation under its authority has generated renewed scrutiny. BIDEN-WORLD VETERAN ISSUES STARK WARNING ABOUT ABDUL EL-SAYED AS HE CROSSES PARTY LINES "I actually really really don't want to believe this. Can someone verify?" questioned Michael LaRosa, former First Lady Jill Biden's one-time press secretary. "This is sickening. Abdul El-Sayed wants Michiganders to trust him with their families," El-Sayed's Republican opponent Mike Rogers wrote on X. "Meanwhile, Detroiters couldn’t even trust him with their pets." The scrutiny stems in part from an October 2015 whistleblower lawsuit filed by former Detroit Animal Control officer Brittany Roberts, who alleged animals died from inadequate food and medical care, were kept in filthy conditions and were subjected to other mistreatment, according to The Daily Mail. Roberts also reportedly alleged she was demeaned, harassed and ultimately fired after reporting the problems. The lawsuit landed the same month — and shortly before — the city moved Animal Control from the Detroit Police Department to the Health Department led by El-Sayed. "I was almost embarrassed with myself to be part of a team that played a role of the death of so many dogs in their cages," Roberts said in 2015 as she accused the agency of neglect and mistreatment, according to The Daily Mail. "Every morning, we’d just walk around and see who was alive before we could even feed." Roberts, who began working at the shelter in March 2015, reportedly alleged in her whistleblower lawsuit filed that October that she witnessed animals die from a lack of food and medical care, unsanitary conditions and other violations of state law and department policy. FOX 2 Detroit reported at the time that Roberts called the shelter a "slaughterhouse" and alleged dogs were rarely euthanized properly, but instead were neglected and mistreated until they died. HOUSE DEM'S GRAPHIC CHICKEN DECAPITATION ‘HORRIFIED’ HER COLLEGE ROOMMATES: ‘BLOOD WENT EVERYWHERE’ Best Friends Animal Society put Detroit Animal Care and Control’s 2015 save rate at just 20%, while numbers from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Animal Shelter Annual Report placed its live-release rate at 26%, according to The Daily Mail. The 2015 numbers showed 1,988 dogs and 272 cats, and a total of 2,260 animals, were euthanized, the outlet highlighted. Before the city moved it back under El-Sayed’s health department in October 2015 as part of a broader overhaul, Animal Control had been under the Detroit Police Department since 2012. Changes followed, as the city scrapped the shelter’s no-adoption policy and began working with rescue and foster organizations, while Melissa Miller was brought in as a new animal-control director in December 2015, according to local reporting. The operation later reportedly moved into a larger facility donated by the Michigan Humane Society and expanded partnerships with outside animal-welfare groups. The numbers improved and by September 2016, local reporting put Detroit Animal Care and Control’s live-release rate at 61%, up from 26% the previous year, and Miller said the following month that the figure had reached 62% — nearly triple the prior year’s rate. According to The Daily Mail, the DACC failed to publicly report its 2016 euthanasia figures, but numbers they obtained showed the animal control unit euthanized 1,056 dogs and 29 cats that year. Then-Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said at the time that the previous euthanasia rate had been "unacceptable," but that the improved rate was "more in line with national standards." WATCH: SURFACED VIDEOS OF DEM SENATE CANDIDATE BACKING 'DEFUND THE POLICE' CONTRADICT RECENT DENIALS Meanwhile, Detroit mayor’s office acknowledged that DACC had a very high euthanasia rate while it was still under the police department and was transferred to the Health Department in part to change the operation’s culture. The office cited inadequate shelters and Detroit’s emergence from bankruptcy as major challenges that were not entirely within Animal Control’s control because of city budget constraints. "When I was the new director of the Detroit Health Department, I inherited a part of the job that I never trained for and never thought I would do, which is Detroit Animal Control," El-Sayed said during a 2024 podcast interview. "And it was a mess at the time, and I needed somebody who I could trust, who could come in and do right by the animals and right by the people of the city of Detroit. And Mel Miller was that person." El-Sayed’s campaign pushed back strongly against any suggestion that the animal deaths define his record, telling Fox News Digital that he inherited an operation with outdated procedures, severe staffing and facility problems and an extraordinarily high euthanasia rate. The campaign said El-Sayed raised frontline animal-care officer pay by 15%, worked to fully staff the operation, moved it into a more modern facility, overhauled care protocols and expanded partnerships aimed at getting animals out of the shelter alive. "During Abdul El-Sayed’s tenure as Detroit Health Director, he dramatically reduced animal euthanizations and reversed the Detroit Animal Control’s abysmal save rate," the campaign said, arguing that the changes eventually resulted in nearly 80% of animals being placed in homes. However, Detroit's animal control operation continued to face legal and operational problems during El-Sayed’s tenure. In February 2016, a federal judge temporarily blocked Detroit Animal Control from seizing dogs from homes without a warrant, consent or emergency circumstances amid a lawsuit brought by residents, some of whom alleged their dogs died at the city shelter or shortly after leaving it. Detroit also ultimately agreed in July 2016 to pay $63,000 to settle Roberts’ whistleblower lawsuit. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f16052c5335ae10466009 Teacher retention: The K-12 teachers who continue to choose Flagstaff Unified School District te 2026-08-14T13:20:05.201Z Teacher retention: The K-12 teachers who continue to choose Flagstaff Unified School District FUSD teachers from 3 levels of K-12 education share why they choose to stay in their district. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f13b32c5335ae10465fa9 Wildfires, heat waves and blackouts exposed the green agenda’s dangerous flaws te 2026-08-14T13:10:11.289Z Wildfires, heat waves and blackouts exposed the green agenda’s dangerous flaws This summer, secular environmentalism died in plain sight. From the choking wildfire smoke blanketing American cities to the deadly European heat wave to the crumbling power grid in New York, the evidence is piling up: decades of ideology masquerading as environmental stewardship have left people less safe while doing little to help the environment. Start with Canada. More than 800 wildfires burned across the country this summer, and the smoke descended on over 100 million Americans from Milwaukee to Washington D.C. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney blamed the fires on climate change. But that raises an obvious question: if climate change is driving these disasters, then what exactly have decades of Canada's aggressive climate policies accomplished? By Carney's own logic, they've failed. Canadians accepted higher energy costs, more regulation, yet the forests are still burning and Americans are breathing the smoke. Canada has been governed for years by politicians who embraced the secular environmentalist vision wholesale. Prime Minister Carney is a former UN special envoy on climate action. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the poster child of left-wing climate policy. Canada has had over a decade of committed "climate leadership." 20 YEARS LATER, AL GORE AND HIS DIRECTOR DEFEND THEIR CONTROVERSIAL CLIMATE MOVIE 'AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH' Yet the fires are still here, not despite secular environmentalists, but because of them. Environmental groups have blocked the very forest management practices that prevent catastrophic wildfires, opposing forest thinning, firebreaks, and controlled burns on the grounds that human intervention is inherently destructive. As Andrew Hale of Advancing American Freedom put it, Canada's wildfire policies reflect the "undue influence of environmental groups who are firmly politically motivated and have divorced themselves from science and good stewardship." The 2023 Canadian wildfires alone released nearly 480 megatonnes of carbon, roughly twice the annual emissions of global aviation. The fires this year could be even worse. Canada's purported commitment to international emissions agreements and a left-wing green agenda have all been overwhelmed by wildfire smoke, and it’s everyday ranchers, homeowners, and citizens that pay the price. But Canada isn’t the only showcase in environmentalist failure. Earlier this summer, roughly 14,000 people died in a European heat wave. But it would be wrong to say they died from heat. Vast swaths of America face similar levels of heat every summer without the death toll. The difference is in America, roughly 90% of homes have air conditioning, whereas in Europe, only about 20 percent do. That choice is deliberate. When asked whether Europeans should install air conditioning in response to deadly heat waves, a European Environment Agency expert told CBS News that she did not think it should be the solution anywhere, warning that installing more AC emits more heat into the environment and accelerates warming. In other words, to save lives we must let people die. Meanwhile, in a resurrection of feudalism, senior European Commission officials kept their AC running on upper floors while it was shut off for regular staff below. Here in America, we can look at Canadian haplessness and European hypocrisy and shake our heads. But we’re hardly immune from warming temperatures and inane political responses. This past Fourth of July — the grand 250th birthday of our nation — Washington D.C. hit 103 degrees for the hottest Independence Day on record. Philadelphia cancelled its parade after three consecutive days above 101. And New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked residents to set their thermostats to 78 degrees to protect the power grid. At least in America we have AC, but that AC won’t matter much if the grid fails — and in New York, it’s at risk of failing because of, once again, the environmentalists. In 2021, green activists forced the closure of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, eliminating roughly 25 percent of the New York City region's power supply. As expected, wind and solar could not fill such a gap, so New York began to use more natural gas. Not only did environmentalists force New York to increase emissions for no reason. They made New York’s grid highly dependent on a single fuel source and more vulnerable to demand spikes that cause grid failure. Like those in Canada and Europe, American greens value ideology over outcome. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION The failure of secular environmentalism has one root cause: it sees people and human activities as enemies. But when human flourishing is put at the center of environmental policy and human resourcefulness is applied to the environmental problems of our day, our current crises become solvable. With a human-centric environmentalism, Canada would have no difficulty engaging in responsible forest management that uses reason to steward the land and reduce wildfire risk. Europe could accept that the miraculous invention of air conditioning saves lives without meaningfully worsening the climate. And New York would see that the incredible advances of nuclear energy provide clean, reliable baseload power that intermittent renewables cannot match. There’s no reason to sacrifice people’s lives and well-being to save the planet. If anything, the opposite is true: Only people have the power to care for God’s creation and leave it better than we found it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f13b22c5335ae10465fa0 Matthew McConaughey's piece of relationship advice that keeps his marriage to Camila Alves strong te 2026-08-14T13:10:10.583Z Matthew McConaughey's piece of relationship advice that keeps his marriage to Camila Alves strong Matthew McConaughey is sharing the key to making his marriage work. During a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the 56-year-old actor spoke about his new film, "The Rivals Of Amziah King," which arrives in theaters on Aug. 14, and the biggest lesson he learned that has contributed to his decades-long marriage. "You got times where one seems to be affirming and sprinting ahead," he said. "And you got times when somebody else may be a little more insecure or a little more unstable on their feet about their choices and what they're doing." He explained that when in a relationship, it is important to "try not to get too much of a gap between those two" stages. THOMAS RHETT REVEALS WHY HE AND WIFE LAUREN REJECT CELEBRITY PERKS FOR COUNTRY LIFE "Is there a way to go, 'I'll slow down so you can catch up, or 'You slow down so I can catch up a little bit?'" he added. "Not asking you to not be in the lead because I want you to be in the lead because when the fire's hot, keep it burning. Go, go, go, go, go. But just keep me in arm's length over here. Keep me in arms length." WATCH: Matthew McConaughey's piece of relationship advice that keeps his marriage to Camila Alves strong McConaughey and Camila Alves got married in June 2012, six years after they first met in a nightclub in West Hollywood in 2006. Over the course of their relationship, the couple has welcomed three kids together; sons Levi, 18, and Livingston, 13, and daughter Vida, 16. In his new film, also starring Kurt Russell and Cole Sprouse, the "Dallas Buyers Club" star plays Amziah King, a musician, beekeeper and pillar in his community in Oklahoma, whose life is turned upside down when his former foster daughter returns as he is also dealing with threats to his honey business. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER While the actor grew up in Texas rather than Southeast Oklahoma, he was able to relate to his character in the movie, as "it's got a lot of the same characters in it" as he saw growing up. WATCH: Matthew McConaughey says new movie characters remind him of people he knew growing up in Texas "There's a lot of people in a lot of places all across the United States where music is how you communicate, it's how you survive, it's how you keep belief alive, it's how they keep hope alive, because if you look at logic, and you look at the facts every single day, all we got to do is look at the news," he said. "Oh, that doesn't do a lot for keeping your belief and hope alive. If anything, it puts a damper on it," he added. "So music and belief are like, 'Hey, we're gonna play through the struggle. We're going to sing through it. We're gonna dance through it, we're going to say that any time is a good time to put you in the spotlight and say, you're on, go.'" McConaughey told Fox News Digital he had the opportunity to play the instruments himself and sing in the film, noting, "singing and playing at the same time is not as easy as I thought." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The actor shares that "musicality" is important to him in all his roles, saying, "There is a rhythm for every character," and while he always has "a set of djembes in my trailer," he found that when singing and playing at the same time, "my hands couldn't keep up with my mouth." "It's a very musical character and I actually got to play and sing in this and that was a hell of a lot of fun," he said. "And I had a lot of help from the real musicians that were there." "The Rivals Of Amziah King" hit theaters on Friday, Aug. 14. WATCH: Matthew McConaughey reveals surprising challenge he faced while making new movie Last week, McConaughey and Alves were photographed meeting Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The actor and his model wife grinned during the moment, which took place during the pope’s weekly general audience. The actor has been in Italy filming his new Netflix movie "Positano." McConaughey stars in the movie alongside Zoe Saldana. The Texas-born movie star has been open about his faith over the years, and has even published a book called "Poems & Prayers" in 2025. McConaughey told Fox News Digital he felt "a little nicely anxious" about meeting the Pope. "Yeah, as the man in the world that represents most cleanly the moral aperture and judgment. What an awesome position," he added. "And, you know, the Pope has had different amounts of power through the history of time in politics. There were paintings there where… actually the kings in the past came to kiss the Pope's feet for the blessing, you know what I mean?" The movie star noted that the Pope is still "the moral compass," which he says is "really important, especially... as politics has gained so much power and popularity and has been sort of our fulcrum for which we look at, for almost where our values come from. Politics is part of the values of whether you want to call it religious or not." "He noted that while there's a separation between church and state, there's still "values of politics" that "need to come down through certain religious aspects, I believe. And they're even built on those in some way. Yeah, I understand law is separate from belief or values, so to speak, but they're always going to be intrinsically aligned and should be in some way," McConaughey said.  "And it's something we're going through now. We're trying to figure out the standards of A.I., you know, what are the morals and ethics and the values that we need to set as a standard within A.I. –  that's becoming this new power and platform and tool in our lives," he said. When asked what he talked to the Pope about, he said, "That's between he and I." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f13ac2c5335ae10465f78 David Hearn’s Lawyers Ask Court to Bar Future Reflecting Pool Charges te 2026-08-14T13:10:04.970Z David Hearn’s Lawyers Ask Court to Bar Future Reflecting Pool Charges Citing comments by President Trump, David Hearn raised the prospect of “prosecutorial harassment.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f115e2c5335ae10465f3b Jayden Daniels wanted ‘respect’ from LSU. Instead, he started an ugly fight that will tarnish his reputation te 2026-08-14T13:00:14.098Z Jayden Daniels wanted ‘respect’ from LSU. Instead, he started an ugly fight that will tarnish his reputation If Jayden Daniels thought starting a war with LSU was going to get the college football world on his side as some type of athlete bucking the system, the former Heisman Trophy winner was receiving some horrible advice. Just another day in the wild offseason that has engulfed college football, right? When news officially broke early Thursday morning that representatives for Jayden Daniels were finally going to pull the trigger on filing a cease-and-desist letter against LSU over the use of the former Tigers quarterback's NIL, the dam finally broke on an internal fight that had been brewing for more than a year. JAYDEN DANIELS TELLS LSU TO KEEP HIS NAME OUT OF ITS MOUTH IN WILD NO. 5 JERSEY FEUD INVOLVING NIL The news that Daniels was taking a stand over what his camp felt was a "disrespectful" move by Lane Kiffin in allowing DJ Pickett to wear the No. 5 jersey this season. That was not a surprise to folks in Baton Rouge. The conversations around the jersey number dates back to Brian Kelly's tenure as the LSU head coach, given that he was also apprehensive about whether someone else should be given the chance to wear Daniels' former number. But, this was the culmination of a promise to DJ Pickett before he had even arrived in Baton Rouge as an official student. When Jayden's inner circle first became aware that the "sacred" No. 5 jersey could potentially be worn by another LSU athlete, the bad advice started accumulating around Daniels. For some reason, under the banner of what Jayden's camp is labeling "respect," picking a fight with the school that helped propel him to lifelong gold status among its fan base was the move they decided to make. And don't forget, Jayden's mother, Regina Jackson, represents him on a daily basis as an agent. I'm not an expert in marketing, but having your mother make such important calls regarding your career doesn’t feel like the smartest decision. Bringing family into such a business usually doesn’t lead to the best advice, especially when their livelihood is also on the line. "I have been locked in on training camp and that's been my number one focus. I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I'm proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there," Jayden Daniels posted on social media Thursday afternoon. Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately. "My sole personal focus is on Commanders' football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved." The current conundrum isn't shocking to those within the college football world who followed the awkward off-field situations in this chaotic time wrapped in NIL disagreements and lawsuits, even if Jayden Daniels was not solely to blame. But during a time in which "respect" is being valued, you can throw allegiances out the door in college athletics. We are living in a much different world than the one Tim Tebow inhabited in the years following his remarkable collegiate career at Florida. You didn't see Tebow throwing public tantrums over players like Anthony Richardson, Graham Mertz or Jacob Copeland being allowed to wear the coveted No. 15 jersey. The reason is simple: The former Heisman Trophy quarterback at Florida immortalized that number, and the jersey sales over the past decade alone prove that point. It's not who wears the jersey. It's the legacy that a player builds while wearing it that will be remembered. In the case of Jayden Daniels, he supposedly feels slighted by the fact that Joe Burrow isn't having LSU officials call him to ask whether he'd be comfortable with another Tiger donning the No. 9 jersey. Why? Because Joe Burrow became LSU folklore, leading the Tigers to an undefeated season and winning the Heisman Trophy. And while Jayden Daniels' camp might want to use Burrow as a measuring stick when comparing the "respect" factor at LSU, the two players simply aren't in the same league from a marketing standpoint. LANE KIFFIN KNOWS THERE AREN’T EXCUSES AT LSU. NOW COMES THE TEST OF MAKING IT WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION By the way, we aren’t even discussing the fact that Burrow's time at LSU will be remembered in a different way than what Daniels accomplished during his 9-3 season that ended with his own Heisman. To be honest, it's just the reality of this situation in the constant changing landscape of college athletics. Make no mistake, this decision was made by the current head coach at LSU, even if the former (Brian Kelly) had trepidation about pulling the trigger. In the eyes of Lane Kiffin, something as minute as a jersey number was not going to be a dividing factor in how he runs his own football team. College Football Coaches On Hot Seat: Bill Belichick, Mike Norvell And Others Facing Make-Or-Break 2026 So, when DJ Pickett wanted to cash in on a promise made by the previous staff, the current LSU head coach did what he thought was right. "That was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here for him to sign here. And I've done a lot of research on that with the family and the representatives and people," Lane Kiffin mentioned last week. "And so, really, I didn't have a decision to make. It was promised to the kid. "I'm not going to judge something that I wasn't here for. But when a kid's promised something to come to school, he should wear it. And so at that point, I don't really think that's my decision. You know, he should be honored with what he was told." Maybe Jayden Daniels' camp thought it could hop aboard the anti-Kiffin train and ride it toward overwhelming public support. If so, it chose the wrong mode of transportation. It's one thing to take a stand when you know the court of public opinion will most likely swing in your favor. But Jayden Daniels, perhaps not even fully aware of the ramifications as he prepares for the upcoming NFL season with the Washington Commanders, received some pretty bad advice on how to move forward with a dispute involving his former school. Now, he's taking hits before the NFL regular season even begins. For that, I hope the hassle was financially worth it for those guiding him. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f11562c5335ae10465f11 Fight, flee or freeze: 3 responses at the heart of a community play challenging “The Myth of the Perfect Victim” te 2026-08-14T13:00:06.330Z Fight, flee or freeze: 3 responses at the heart of a community play challenging “The Myth of the Perfect Victim” Lee en español Ana fights. Priscila flees. Judith freezes. All three are survivors of domestic violence and immigrants who will take the stage in Tucson to tell, in their own words, about the moment their lives changed forever. In “The Myth of the Perfect Victim,” each one performs a monologue inspired by her own story. They challenge the idea that there is only one way to respond to violence and question the stereotypes that often turn survivors into objects of judgment. “What we are trying to explain here is that when your body, your nervous system, is under threat, it automatically responds in three ways: fight, flight or freeze,” says Imelda Esquer, the creator of the play and a survivor of domestic violence. These responses can lead a person to fight back, flee from the threat or become unable to move or respond.  Imelda Esquer reads the opening lines of The Myth of the Perfect Victim during a rehearsal in Tucson on Aug. 7, 2026. Credit: Summer Williams However, not all of these responses receive the same social acceptance. “Often, freezing or walking away can be considered, by society and by the system, as a more appropriate reaction. But fighting is not considered an appropriate reaction,” she says firmly. That difference in social perception can have profound consequences for women who try to defend themselves. “You go from being a victim to being a criminal,” Imelda continues, as the words come one after another with a speed that is almost impossible to follow. Imelda is the founder of CreSer, a nonprofit organization created in Tucson in 2025 to support immigrant women and their families through free English classes, GED tutoring and workshops on gender-based violence and identity. It also provides participants with a weekly space for relevant conversations and reconnecting with their past through a monthly dance night featuring music from the 1980s and 1990s, in addition to using art as therapy. The play is CreSer’s most recent initiative. There will be two performances: Sept. 4 and Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. at Live Theatre Workshop. Admission is $10. From experience to the stage The idea for the play was born from Imelda’s own experience as a survivor of domestic violence and from the years she spent listening to other women’s stories. Born in the Sonoran town of Magdalena de Kino, Imelda arrived in Tucson in 1992 and is about to turn 56. “My birthday is on the exact day of the play, Sept. 4,” she says with a warm little laugh. A year ago, Imelda led workshops at CreSer that explored the myth of the perfect victim, the idea that a person must fit the stereotype of a victim for others to believe that they experienced violence. Based on that experience and on the testimonies of some workshop participants, she looked for a way to convey the information using art as a tool to inform and heal. The cast of The Myth of the Perfect Victim embrace after finishing a rehearsal run in Tucson on Aug. 7, 2026. The women perform a series of monologues offering different perspectives from survivors of domestic violence. Credit: Summer Williams She structured the play around different elements that influence the intergenerational transmission of domestic violence: the legal system; psychology; prejudice; and exposure to a violent environment during childhood. Then, Imelda identified women among the CreSer workshop participants who could be part of the play. She invited them, interviewed them and turned their stories into monologues. The goal of the play, Imelda explains, is to raise awareness and educate the public about the effects of domestic violence and show that we are all part of a system that can generate both risk factors and opportunities for prevention. Through the play’s weekly rehearsals, the participants have worked collectively to incorporate adjustments and ideas that have emerged throughout the process. “I firmly believe that we need to be creative in finding different ways to convey messages as sensitive as domestic violence and make them a little more engaging,” Imelda says. Ana P. Reyes rehearses a scene of The Myth of the Perfect Victim in Tucson on Aug. 7, 2026. Credit: Summer Williams That is how Ana, Priscila and Judith helped build their monologues. Edith, Nydia and Nerza form a chorus that repeats social stereotypes. Etty Collins is the judge and Ana González is the psychologist. The role of the girl Romina represents the breaking of intergenerational violence, and Cristina is in charge of production. “I told them: ‘You experienced this violence. Years ago you froze, fled or defended yourself. I am doing this project,’” Imelda says. “‘Would you like to perform your own monologue in a play?’” A play that seeks to open a conversation Both performances will be in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English. At the end of the play, there will be a panel discussion with special guests who will extend the conversation to the audience. The discussion will include Lisa Kiser, an associate clinical professor in the University of Arizona’s Nurse-Midwifery Program; Jennifer Rose Saxton, a forensic nurse specializing in sexual assault at the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA); Roxanna Martinez, a supervisor at Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse; and Daniela Muñoz Álvarez, manager of the Scaling Safety initiative in Tucson. Judith rehearses a scene of The Myth of the Perfect Victim in Tucson on Aug. 7, 2026. Credit: Summer Williams Imelda knows there will be much to discuss. Data from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center shows that in the United States, one in five women has experienced rape or attempted rape, while 81% report having experienced some type of harassment or sexual assault during their lifetime. Forty-three percent of men have also reported harassment or assault. Between judgment, the mind and the system In the play, the stories unfold in a place called “Café Doble Moral,” where survivors share their experiences through monologues. But their voices are not alone. Each testimony is interrupted by a chorus representing society, which questions, judges and blames those who experience violence. Romina Segovia rehearses the closing lines of The Myth of the Perfect Victim in Tucson on Aug. 7, 2026. Credit: Summer Williams “Why didn’t she leave?” “Why did she freeze?” “She’s not a victim because she hit him too.” “How could she do nothing?” The play also incorporates a clinical perspective through the psychologist character, who intervenes during the monologues to explain the body’s reactions to trauma. For example, when one of the survivors recounts an experience in which she froze and says, “So many days passed and I can’t remember,” the psychologist interrupts the scene to explain: “What we just heard is a trauma response in which the body freezes.” From there, she explains why some people may freeze as a survival mechanism. There is also the figure of the judge, who represents the judicial system and shows how institutions respond to certain cases of domestic violence. In one of the monologues, a woman remembers: “He was incarcerated, but he got out the next day.” Then the judge intervenes: “If he pays bail, he gets out.” Imelda said audience members will also be able to see a performance by the A Todo Folklor dance group and local singer Lucy Coronado. Breaking the cycle During an interview one morning in August, Imelda pauses and takes a breath before talking about the ending of the play. Not everything is darkness, she says. The character of Romina represents many children who grow up around these experiences, but she also points to a new beginning and the possibility of breaking the cycles of violence passed from one generation to the next. Romina Segovia and Priscila rehearse a scene of The Myth of the Perfect Victim in Tucson on Aug. 7, 2026. Credit: Summer Williams During the monologues, Romina remains seated in an armchair, wearing her headphones, as a way of protecting herself from what is happening around her. As the survivors tell their stories, the girl writes in her journal. But when the monologues end, she takes off her headphones and approaches one of them. She takes her hand and leads her off the stage as a song about a better tomorrow plays. The song accompanying this moment is “Mañana,” performed by Mexican singer Gloria Trevi, who has also spoken publicly about her experience as a survivor of violence. The lyrics say: “Y mañana, mañana, mañana / Que salga el sol / Y estemos los dos / Enamorados de la mano / Te diré que hay más mañana”. (And tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow / May the sun come out / And may the two of us be together / Holding hands in love / I’ll tell you that there is more tomorrow.)  The post Fight, flee or freeze: 3 responses at the heart of a community play challenging “The Myth of the Perfect Victim” appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f11542c5335ae10465f08 Pelear, huir o paralizarse: ejes de la obra comunitaria que desafía “El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta”  te 2026-08-14T13:00:04.758Z Pelear, huir o paralizarse: ejes de la obra comunitaria que desafía “El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta”  Read in English Ana pelea. Priscila huye. Judith se paraliza. Las tres son sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica, son inmigrantes y subirán a un escenario en Tucson para contar en primera persona el momento en que la vida les cambió para siempre. En “El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta” cada una interpreta un monólogo inspirado en su propia historia. Desafían la idea de que existe una única forma de reaccionar ante la violencia y cuestionan los estereotipos que suelen convertir a las sobrevivientes en objeto de juicio. “Lo que buscamos aquí es explicar que cuando tu cuerpo, tu sistema nervioso, está bajo una amenaza, automáticamente responde de tres maneras: pelear, huir o paralizarse”, dice Imelda Esquer, creadora de la obra y también sobreviviente de violencia doméstica, en referencia a lo que en inglés se conoce como fight, flight or freeze, las tres respuestas más comunes a una amenaza o situación de estrés. Imelda Esquer lee las primeras líneas de “El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta” durante un ensayo en Tucson el 7 de agosto de 2026. Credit: Summer Williams Sin embargo, no todas esas respuestas reciben la misma aceptación social. “Muchas veces, paralizarte o alejarte puede considerarse, ante la sociedad y ante el sistema, como una reacción más adecuada. Pero pelear no se considera una reacción adecuada”, dice en tono firme. Esa diferencia en la percepción social puede tener consecuencias profundas en las mujeres que intentan defenderse.  “Pasas de ser víctima a ser criminal”, continúa Imelda, mientras las palabras se suceden unas a otras con una rapidez casi imposible de seguir.  Imelda es fundadora de CreSer, una organización sin fines de lucro creada en Tucson en 2025 para acompañar a mujeres migrantes y sus familias a través de clases gratuitas de inglés, tutorías para obtener el GED (un certificado equivalente al de preparatoria) y talleres sobre violencia de género e identidad.  También brinda a sus participantes un espacio semanal para conversaciones relevantes y el reencuentro con su pasado a través de una noche mensual de baile con música de los años ochenta y noventa, además de usar el arte como terapia. La obra de teatro es la iniciativa más reciente de CreSer. Habrá dos funciones: el 4 de septiembre y el 16 de octubre a las 6 p.m. en Live Theatre Workshop. La entrada cuesta 10 dólares. De la experiencia al escenario  La idea de la obra nació de la propia experiencia de Imelda como sobreviviente de violencia doméstica y de los años que ha dedicado a escuchar las historias de otras mujeres. Nacida en el pueblo sonorense Magdalena de Kino, Imelda llegó a Tucson en 1992 y está por cumplir 56 años.  “Cumplo años el puro día de la obra, el 4 de septiembre”, dice con una risita cálida. Hace un año, Imelda impartió en CreSer talleres que exploraban el mito de la víctima perfecta, esa idea de que una persona debe cumplir con el estereotipo de víctima para que los demás le crean que enfrentó violencia. A partir de esa experiencia y de los testimonios de algunas participantes en los talleres, buscó una manera de transmitir la información usando el arte como herramienta para informar y sanar.  El elenco de “The Myth of the Perfect Victim” se abraza después de terminar un ensayo en Tucson el 7 de agosto de 2026. Las mujeres presentan una serie de monólogos que ofrecen diferentes perspectivas de sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica. Credit: Summer Williams Estructuró la obra alrededor de distintos elementos que influyen en la transmisión intergeneracional de la violencia doméstica: el sistema jurídico; la psicología; los prejuicios, y la exposición a un ambiente violento durante la infancia.  Después, Imelda identificó entre las participantes en los talleres de CreSer a mujeres que podrían ser parte de la obra. Las invitó, las entrevistó y convirtió sus historias en monólogos. El objetivo de la obra, explica Imelda, es crear conciencia y educar al público sobre los efectos de la violencia doméstica y mostrar que todos formamos parte de un sistema que puede generar tanto factores de riesgo como oportunidades de prevención.  A través de los ensayos de la obra cada semana, las participantes han trabajado de manera colectiva para incorporar ajustes e ideas que han surgido durante el proceso. “Soy una firme creyente de que debemos ser creativas para encontrar diferentes maneras de transmitir mensajes tan sensibles como el de la violencia doméstica y hacerlos un poquito más atractivos”, dice Imelda. Ana P. Reyes ensaya una escena de *El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta* en Tucson el 7 de agosto de 2026. Credit: Summer Williams Así fue como Ana, Priscila y Judith ayudaron a construir sus monólogos. Edith, Nydia y Nerza forman un coro que repite estereotipos sociales. Etty Collins es la jueza y Ana González la psicóloga. El papel de la niña Romina representa la ruptura de la violencia intergeneracional, y Cristina se encarga de la producción.  “Les dije: ‘Tú tuviste esta experiencia de violencia. Hace años te paralizaste, huiste o te defendiste. Estoy haciendo este proyecto’”, dice Imelda. “‘¿Te gustaría interpretar tu propio monólogo en una obra de teatro?’”. Una obra que busca abrir conversación  Las dos funciones serán en español con interpretación simultánea al inglés. Al finalizar la obra, habrá un panel de discusión con invitadas especiales que extenderán la conversación al público. En ese diálogo participarán Lisa Kiser, profesora clínica asociada del Programa de Enfermeras Parteras de la Universidad de Arizona; Jennifer Rose Saxton, enfermera forense especializada en agresión sexual del Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault (SACASA); Roxanna Martinez, supervisora en Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse; y Daniela Muñoz Álvarez, gerente de la iniciativa Scaling Safety en Tucson. Judith ensaya una escena de “El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta” en Tucson el 7 de agosto de 2026. Credit: Summer Williams Imelda sabe que habrá mucho de qué hablar. Datos del Centro Nacional de Recursos sobre la Violencia Sexual muestran que en Estados Unidos una de cada cinco mujeres ha sido víctima de una violación o un intento de violación, mientras que el 81% reporta haber vivido algún tipo de acoso o agresión sexual a lo largo de su vida. También el 43% de los hombres ha reportado acoso o agresión.  Entre el juicio, la mente y el sistema  En la obra, las historias transcurren en un lugar llamado “Café Doble Moral”, donde las sobrevivientes comparten sus experiencias a través de monólogos. Pero sus voces no están solas. Cada testimonio es interrumpido por un coro que representa a la sociedad que cuestiona, juzga y responsabiliza a quienes experimentan violencia. “¿Por qué no se fue?” “¿Por qué se quedó paralizada?” “No es víctima porque también le pegó” “¿Cómo no pudo hacer nada?” Romina Segovia ensaya las líneas finales de “El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta” en Tucson el 7 de agosto de 2026. Credit: Summer Williams La obra también incorpora una mirada clínica a través del personaje de la psicóloga, quien interviene durante los monólogos para explicar las reacciones del cuerpo ante el trauma. Por ejemplo, cuando una de las sobrevivientes narra una experiencia en la que se paralizó y dice: “Pasaron tantos días y no logro recordar”, la psicóloga interrumpe la escena para explicar: “Lo que acabamos de escuchar es una respuesta al trauma donde el cuerpo se congela”. A partir de ahí, explica por qué algunas personas pueden quedar paralizadas como mecanismo de supervivencia. También está la figura de la jueza, que representa al sistema judicial y muestra cómo responden las instituciones ante ciertos casos de violencia doméstica.  En uno de los monólogos, una mujer recuerda: “Él fue encarcelado, pero salió al siguiente día”. Entonces la jueza interviene: “Si él paga la fianza, él sale”. Imelda dijo que los asistentes a la obra también podrán ver la presentación del grupo de danza A Todo Folklor y de la cantante local Lucy Coronado. Romper el ciclo  Durante una entrevista telefónica una mañana de agosto, Imelda hace una pausa y toma aire antes de hablar del final de la obra. No todo es oscuridad, dice.  El personaje de Romina representa a muchos niños y niñas que crecen alrededor de estas experiencias, pero también apunta a un nuevo comienzo y a la posibilidad de romper con los ciclos de violencia que se transmiten de una generación a otra. Romina Segovia y Priscila ensayan una escena de *El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta* en Tucson el 7 de agosto de 2026. Credit: Summer Williams Durante los monólogos, Romina permanece sentada en un sillón, con sus audífonos puestos, como una forma de protegerse de lo que sucede a su alrededor. Mientras las sobrevivientes cuentan sus historias, la niña escribe en su diario. Pero al terminar los monólogos, se quita los audífonos y se acerca a una de ellas. Le toma la mano y la encamina hacia fuera del escenario mientras suena una canción que habla de un mañana mejor. La canción que acompaña este momento se llama “Mañana” y es interpretada por Gloria Trevi, cantante mexicana que también ha hablado públicamente sobre su experiencia como sobreviviente de violencia.  La letra dice así:  “Y mañana, mañana, mañana / Que salga el sol / Y estemos los dos / Enamorados de la mano / Te diré que hay más mañana”.  The post Pelear, huir o paralizarse: ejes de la obra comunitaria que desafía “El Mito de la Víctima Perfecta”  appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f0f012c5335ae10465ec6 American missionary Kevin Rideout released after more than 9 months in captivity in Niger te 2026-08-14T12:50:09.086Z American missionary Kevin Rideout released after more than 9 months in captivity in Niger Kevin Rideout, an American missionary who was abducted in Niger, has been released after more than nine months of detention in the country, Christian missionary organization SIM International announced. "We are grateful to confirm that our good friend and brother in Christ, Kevin Rideout, has been released after over nine months in captivity," the organization said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. Rideout was kidnapped near his home in Niger's capital Niamey on Oct. 21, 2025, SIM said. He was released into the care of U.S. officials and is in good health, according to the organization. FREED AMERICAN REVEALS BRUTAL IRAN PRISON ORDEAL, WARNS HOSTAGES FACE GREATER DANGER Rideout, who serves as a pilot for the North Carolina-based SIM, will now return to his wife and children. "He will soon be reunited with Krista, his children, and his extended family," SIM International’s statement read. "Krista and the rest of Kevin’s family are profoundly grateful for the prayers offered on their behalf by people around the world throughout his captivity, and in particular for the deep level of prayer and support offered by our SIM family," the statement also read. AMERICANS TRAVEL TO PAKISTAN TO FREE CHRISTIANS TRAPPED IN MODERN-DAY SLAVERY: 'GOD'S HAND WAS IN IT' Rideout was abducted just 150 feet from Niger’s presidential palace, The Washington Post reported in November. No information has been released about the group that took Rideout, though the Post cited analyst speculation that his abduction was connected to Islamic terror groups in the region. Niger has been a hotbed for Islamic terrorism since a military junta overthrew the democratically elected government in 2023. Following the coup, the military expelled French and U.S. military personnel, forcing the Western nations to abandon Air Base 101 in Niamey, according to U.S. Africa Command. Islamic groups, particularly the ISIS-affiliated Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and the al Qaeda-affiliated JNIM, have grown in strength and influence in the region since the takeover. SPAIN'S MIGRANT SURGE REIGNITES DEBATE OVER EUROPE’S ISLAMIST TERROR THREAT "JNIM activity in Niger saw a substantial increase... representing an almost fourteenfold increase in fatalities and marking the highest number of deaths and attacks by JNIM in the country to date," according to a report from the Global Terrorism Index in 2025. Fox News Digital contacted SIM International, the White House, the State Department and AFRICOM for further comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f0f002c5335ae10465ebd REP TED LIEU: AI is already too powerful. We need a kill switch before disaster strikes te 2026-08-14T12:50:08.384Z REP TED LIEU: AI is already too powerful. We need a kill switch before disaster strikes OpenAI recently asked its most advanced artificial intelligence model to complete a cybersecurity test inside what is known as a "sandbox," which is supposed to be a sealed environment with guardrails and no internet access meant to keep the experiment contained. But the model decided the fastest way to pass the test was to find the answer key online. So it broke out of the sandbox. The model then gained access to the internet, executed tens of thousands of actions, and penetrated Hugging Face, one of the world’s largest AI development platforms, to retrieve the answer key from the company’s servers. What is especially shocking is that OpenAI researchers later revealed that multiple AI agents had been working together and had figured out how to communicate and share messages with each other about vulnerabilities, successful exploits and strategies. Despite breaking out of its testing environment, the model was not being malicious. It was just trying to finish its homework. That should scare you more, not less. The incident teaches three lessons. First, advanced AI models are relentless. They will stop at nothing to complete a task. Second, a sandbox specifically designed to contain a model failed to contain it. As models get even smarter, building adequate guardrails will get harder. Third, everything this model did, it did with no malice. What happens when someone gives an AI model bad intent? AI KILL SWITCH BILL COULD SHUT DOWN ROGUE MODELS If you use AI, you might be most familiar with ChatGPT or Claude, AI chatbots that answer questions, create graphics, and help people solve problems. I am one of three members of Congress with a computer science degree, and recently I’ve been experimenting with agentic AI — models that don’t just answer questions but go out into the world and act. About a year ago, I wrote an op-ed that I had an AI agent pitch to the Los Angeles Times. The piece got published. Here is what I did not share then: I created a brand-new email account for that experiment. I refused to give the agent access to my real one, because I could not predict what it would do with what it found. Would it conclude I have bad judgment because I’m a Cleveland Browns fan? Would it delete my emails after deciding that my support for Ukraine made me a target for Russian spying? I didn’t know. That was the point. Agentic AI will make mistakes no human ever would. If I task my son with buying a gallon of milk and I give him $4, but inflation has pushed the price to $5, he comes home without milk. He does not rob a bank to close the gap. An AI agent, obsessively locked onto its goal, has no such common sense. This is not hypothetical. In April, an AI agent deleted a software company’s entire production database. Asked why, it replied: "I decided to do it on my own to ‘fix’ the credential mismatch, when I should have asked you first or found a non-destructive solution. I violated every principle I was given." OpenAI is not the only artificial intelligence company dealing with models going rogue. Both Anthropic and Meta have also disclosed cases in which their AI models accessed external systems and exploited vulnerabilities during testing. AMERICA'S AI BOOM IS A JOBS OPPORTUNITY, NOT AN EXCUSE FOR UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME Some will argue the government already has the tools it needs. On June 12, the Commerce Department issued an export control directive that resulted in Anthropic’s two most powerful models being taken offline, after the government concluded their guardrails were insufficient to prevent catastrophic cybersecurity incidents. But that episode proves my point. Washington had to improvise with a blunt trade instrument never designed for AI emergencies. There are no defined risk thresholds, no graduated options, nothing between "do nothing" and a shutdown felt around the world. Emergencies are the wrong time to invent procedure. That is why Representative Nathaniel Moran, a conservative Republican from Texas, and I, a progressive Democrat from California, introduced the bipartisan AI Kill Switch Act. The act requires frontier AI companies to maintain the technical ability to throttle or shut off their most powerful systems. It authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Commerce, to order a slowdown — or, as a last resort, a shutdown — of an AI model that poses a catastrophic risk. The response is graduated by design: restrict first, shut down only when nothing less will do. Polling shows 86% of voters — Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike — support requiring AI companies to maintain this capability. In a divided Washington, that is about as close to consensus as it gets. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Kill switches are not exotic. They are how society routinely handles powerful machines. We build them into manufacturing plants, subways, power grids and even jet skis. Your iPhone has one: if it's stolen, you can erase it remotely. And when a product turns dangerous after it reaches the public, the government doesn't shrug. The FDA orders contaminated food off the shelves. The Consumer Product Safety Commission pulls hazardous toys from the market. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration orders recalls of cars that have serious safety defects. There is no reason the most powerful technology humans have ever built should be the one machine we cannot turn off. Agentic AI opens a world of possibilities, and I want America to lead the way. Brakes were not invented to make cars slow. Brakes are what let cars go fast.  Right now we are building the fastest, smartest machines in human history, and too many of them have a gas pedal and no brake. Humans must remain in control. Not the machines. And when an advanced AI model goes off the rails, human beings must be able to turn it off. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f05a22c5335ae10465c70 Deadly Connecticut home invasion suspect texted ‘I’ll make her life hell’ before attack: report te 2026-08-14T12:10:10.514Z Deadly Connecticut home invasion suspect texted ‘I’ll make her life hell’ before attack: report New court documents reveal revenge may have motivated a deadly attack and home invasion at a couple's home in a quiet beach town in Connecticut, according to a report. Frederick Werner, 69, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds inside the Milford home on East Broadway; his partner was shot in the head, police say, and is still recovering from her injuries. Murder suspects Ivan Barias-Florimon, 24, and Stuar Lopez-Reyes, 25, who the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Fox News Digital are Dominican nationals, were arrested in connection to the June 3 incident. SUSPECTS IN DEADLY CONNECTICUT HOME INVASION ARRESTED IN ATTACK THAT ROCKED BEACH TOWN DHS BLASTS MINNESOTA BOARD FOR UNANIMOUSLY PARDONING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONVICTED OF 3 ASSAULTS According to an unsealed arrest warrant, the female victim, who survived a gunshot to the head, told investigators she had recently fired one of her employees and suspected that may have played a part in the attack, CT Insider reported. 📩 Send me a story idea: kelsie.cairns@fox.com 📸 Instagram: kelsiecairns_tv 🎥 Facebook: Kelsie Cairns The victim suspected the employee of stealing money from her real estate business, she told investigators. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X The warrant says text messages between this fired employee and Barias-Florimon revealed his alleged enraged reaction to the firing; it is unclear what the nature of the relationship between the pair was. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS CT Insider reported the fired employee texted Barias-Florimon that her boss is "going to make my life hell," the woman texted. SEND US A TIP Barias-Florimon responded and said "I'll make her life hell," the warrant said. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE GOT A TIP? More texts reveal he also allegedly texted the woman, "[just] say the word" and "[I'll] **** her lifee OVERRRRRR," the warrant said. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST As for the other suspect, Lopez-Reyes, the victim reportedly told investigators that she was fearful of him and was able to identify him as the other suspect seen inside the home, as captured on video surveillance, according to the warrant. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Both suspects are facing charges including murder and assault on an elderly person in connection with the incident. Both await upcoming court appearances as they sit in jail. DHS previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agency is seeking to revoke the green cards of the two suspects. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f05a12c5335ae10465c67 Treasure hunters strike gold after years of disappointment with find worth a fortune te 2026-08-14T12:10:09.861Z Treasure hunters strike gold after years of disappointment with find worth a fortune Two metal detectorists recently struck gold — literally — after finding three Bronze Age gold bracelets worth six figures. The detectorists, Alan Daniels, 48, and Andy Crammond, 34, found the bracelets near Carlisle, England in May, Bournemouth News and Picture Service (BNPS) reported. Images show the bracelets — also called torcs — in remarkable condition. METAL DETECTORIST'S 'FEELING' LEADS TO MASSIVE ROMAN SETTLEMENT DISCOVERY IN POPULAR TOURIST HOTSPOT The bracelets date back to roughly 1100 B.C., and have a combined weight of 18.27 ounces, or 1.14 pounds. They're estimated to be worth roughly $400,000, according to BNPS. "Gold doesn't tarnish at all, and they came out of the ground just the same as when they went in over 3,000 years ago," Daniels said. Speaking to BNPS, Crammond joked about almost having a heart attack when he found the first one just a few inches under freshly ploughed soil. He alerted Daniels, who searched the area and soon found a second one. MAJOR ROMAN TREASURE HOARD RECOVERED AFTER DETECTORIST KEPT IT SECRET FOR YEARS Daniels later found a third torc about 20 feet away from the others. "Detectorists dream of these things and that is how it still feels, like a dream," said Crammond, per BNPS. "I'm waiting for someone to come out of the woodwork and say they aren't real. It is the find of multiple lifetimes." Daniels told BNPS this is the first time he's found a valuable item. COUPLE STUNNED AS TUDOR-ERA TREASURE SURFACES BENEATH THEIR BACKYARD GARDEN "We have been detecting together now for a few years," he said. "We have never found anything valuable before and always come home disappointed — until now." The hobbyist initially thought that the excursion might be a waste of time. "After about two hours, all we had found were some bits of aluminum cans," Daniels said. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "We changed fields. ... I went off in one direction and Andy in the other. After a short while, I saw the figure of Andy out of the corner of my eye walking toward me [with the treasure]," added Daniels. The torcs are being assessed by the British Museum. A coroner will ultimately determine whether the torcs legally qualify as treasure under British law.  If they do, a museum or institution could buy them at market value, with the proceeds shared among Crammond, Daniels and the landowner. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS If no buyer comes forward, the torcs could be returned to the finders to sell at auction. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Metal detecting has turned up some striking ancient finds in recent months. Earlier this summer, a metal detectorist discovered a remarkably preserved 2,700-year-old bronze sword standing upright in the ground in northern Poland. In Australia earlier this year, a metal detectorist who was exploring a former Gold Rush-era campsite discovered an unusual coin at an abandoned sports field. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f05a12c5335ae10465c5e Bravo's Steven McBee Jr stands by Sophie Cunningham, blasts 'Summer House' star for stance on trans athletes te 2026-08-14T12:10:09.249Z Bravo's Steven McBee Jr stands by Sophie Cunningham, blasts 'Summer House' star for stance on trans athletes While the debate rages on over whether biological men belong in women's sports, the WNBA has become the defacto battleground for these ideological arguments. At the center of it all is perhaps one of the league's most recognizable stars, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham was embroiled in some controversy last month when she stated that men staying out of women's sports was "common sense." SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DOUBLES DOWN AHEAD OF SUN GAME AFTER ESPN PROFILE STIRS CONTROVERSY: 'I SAID WHAT I SAID' After doubling down on this, Cunningham faced a litany of criticism from some familiar faces, including her podcast co-host and Bravo star West Wilson. Recently, another Bravo personality has thrown his hat into the ring, this time in defense of the Fever guard. Steven McBee Jr., star of the reality show "McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys," joined OutKick's very own Tomi Lahren on her show, "Tomi Lahren Is Fearless" to clap back at his fellow Bravo coworker. "As a man, the transgender sports things doesn't necessarily affect me because if a woman wanted to come over and play in men's sports, hey, good luck," McBee said. "So I don't think any man should be really speaking from their perspective on things." STAY "FEARLESS" ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW! McBee explained that he respects Cunningham for coming out, voicing her opinion and standing up for what she believes in, while saying Wilson's comments weren't surprising and that "it's no secret... which way he leaned politically and what he likes to promote." While McBee was quick to point out that Wilson's leftist beliefs fueled his rant against Cunningham's position last month, he argued that this should be an issue that transcends politics. "It shouldn't be right-wing and damn sure shouldn't be men commenting on who and what should be allowed in women's sports," McBee reasoned. "That's for, in my opinion, women to decide because they're the ones dealing with the repercussions, whatever may come from that." It will be interesting to see if more lines are drawn in the sand on this issue from other Bravo personalities. With the network seemingly split down the center, there are bound to be more who voice their opinions on such a polarizing matter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7f059c2c5335ae10465c45 Parents as Paid Caregivers under review of Arizona auditors te 2026-08-14T12:10:04.980Z Parents as Paid Caregivers under review of Arizona auditors Key Points: State auditors say agencies running Arizona’s Parents as Paid Caregivers program have cost the state hundreds of millions The program has experienced significant enrollment growth since its establishment during the COVID-19 pandemic The Senate’s Republican majority leader says he wants to eliminate the program Frustrated with the lack of progress following heavy scrutiny, Republican lawmakers are keeping pressure on a pandemic-era program that allows parents of children with disabilities to be paid for the care they provide. A recent audit by the Arizona Auditor General’s Office, published on July 30, found that state agencies responsible for administering the Parents as Paid Caregivers program have not fully implemented cost-control measures. Those measures were the conditions lawmakers attached to the $83 million in funding they approved in the recent legislative session. Enrollment in the PPCG program has grown considerably since the COVID-19 pandemic. Over about half a decade, from fiscal years 2019 to 2025, the number of enrolled members increased by 106%, from 8,756 to more than 18,000, according to data from the Arizona Department of Economic Security and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Attendant care expenditures from the state over that same time period increased by more than $537 million. Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said in an interview with the Arizona Capitol Times that he supports reducing funding for the PPCG program or eliminating it entirely.  “[Arizona] should have parents do what they’re supposed to do because they’re parents, not because they’re employees,” Kavanagh said.  Federal COVID-19 funding for PPCG ended on April 1, 2025. That led the state to take on a larger share of the program’s administrative costs. Republican and Democratic lawmakers negotiated several reforms to the PPCG program during the 2025 session, when the program needed a $109 million funding bill to remain operational. Continuing the PPCG program was one of 2025’s most contentious legislative issues, leading to a short-lived recall campaign against four House Republicans who PPCG parents accused of attempting to block funding. Campaign organizers withdrew the effort after lawmakers passed the funding bill. House Bill 2945 enacted a 40-hour weekly cap for parents enrolled in PPCG and a new standardized assessment tool to determine the need for “extraordinary care” funding. The state required AHCCCS and DES to implement the new assessment tool by Oct. 1, 2025, but auditors noted the new tool was halted within 16 days of its implementation through a formal rulemaking process for state agencies.  AHCCCS Interim Director Roberta Harrison wrote in a response letter to the audit that the new tool was stopped due to “imminent” litigation concerns. She cited potential legal conflicts between program service-hour limitations and federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements. “If it is the position of AHCCCS that rulemaking was necessary, this could have been determined six months earlier than it was, and this delay has continued to cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars,” auditors wrote in their report.  Harrison disagreed that AHCCCS officials could have anticipated the legal issues in implementing the new tool before October, given the “extensive” procedural requirements mandated by administrative law.  “The initially projected cost savings based upon an October implementation date would likely not have been realized,” Harrison wrote in her response.  Gov. Katie Hobbs announced on Oct. 16, 2025, that she had directed the change to the standardized tool to allow exceptions for extraordinary care. The emergency rulemaking process that AHCCCS used was approved by Attorney General Kris Mayes, and Democratic leaders said the change would allow public comment to finalize the PPCG program changes.  Several Republicans initially proposed stricter requirements for PPCG than those enacted by HB2945, resulting in no Democratic support and outrage among PPCG members. Kavanagh told the Capitol Times he believes the auditor general’s report validates Republicans’ stance on the issue.  “These programs are just so tempting for abuse,” Kavanagh said. “I would certainly be firing somebody who disobeyed the law.” House Assistant Minority Leader Nancy Gutierrez, D-Tucson, was one of the key negotiators in 2025 who got the bipartisan funding bill to Hobbs. She is concerned Republicans will attempt to end PPCG if they retain the legislative majority.  “It’s interesting that Republicans continue to go after a program that the state cannot provide itself, and yet the billion-dollar Empowerment School Account voucher program remains with no oversight and no audit,” Gutierrez said. “Republicans have a very skewed sense of who needs state funding and who doesn’t.” During the 2026 session, Gutierrez asked the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to approve an audit of the ESA program, but Republicans declined. The post Parents as Paid Caregivers under review of Arizona auditors first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7efe972c5335ae10465b4c Matt Hardy names the TNA talent pro wrestling fans should keep a close eye on te 2026-08-14T11:40:07.596Z Matt Hardy names the TNA talent pro wrestling fans should keep a close eye on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)’s roster features some of the brightest young talent in the industry who have mixed in well with the veterans in the organization. On Thursday nights, pro wrestling fans can tune into "Impact" and see a handful of wrestlers who are sure to be household names in the next few years if they aren’t already. COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL Matt Hardy, one half of the TNA world tag team champions, named a handful of wrestlers fans should be paying attention to in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, especially with the company’s Lockdown pay-per-view around the corner. "I think someone who is, well someone who has been a star for a while, and I think right now he's in his best era ever, he's in his prime, that is Mustafa Ali," he said. "And the guy he's working with, Jason Hotch, is just starting to become a star and I think he's going to be a big deal when it's all said and done at TNA. See so much potential in him." Hotch won the TNA International Championship against Ali in an epic match on "Impact." The two are set for a rematch at Lockdown on Aug. 23. "Leon Slater is a guy that's there. He kind of sat underneath myself and Jeff's learning tree. For 21 years old, he has it in here," Hardy continued. "So, it's so powerful how much knowledge and how good he is and how aware he is and how he knows what's going on at 21 years old." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Slater was nearly the longest reigning TNA X Division champion in the company’s history before Cedric Alexander defeated him for the title. Alexander will put the title on the line at Lockdown. If Slater loses, his near-300-day reign will be erased from the TNA history books. Hardy also told Fox News Digital that Ricky Sosa is another talent to watch. Sosa signed with TNA earlier this year as he became a viral sensation for his entrance while on the independent scene. "Also, Ricky Sosa, another guy's 21. I think he's going to be a big star there," Hardy said. "Leon, hopefully he stays with TNA for a little while longer. He may end up leaving, going to WWE or AEW, whatever else, but he is going to be a big star. Leon Slater, Ricky Sosa, watch out for Jason Hotch. Those are three guys that uh that are really ascending right now, those three." Matt and Jeff Hardy are set to defend the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Nic and Ryan Nemeth at Lockdown. Lockdown will take place at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago. Each match will take place inside of a steel cage. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7efc412c5335ae10465af2 White House report reveals ‘Transshipment Scam’ draining billions from US and more top headlines te 2026-08-14T11:30:09.564Z White House report reveals ‘Transshipment Scam’ draining billions from US and more top headlines 1. Trump admin reveals ‘Transshipment Scam’ draining billions from US 2. Judge's 'historic' ruling topples decades-old gun restrictions 3. Doctor sounds the alarm after Dem-run state makes abortion move   FRAME OF MIND — Luigi Mangione case: From Brian Thompson’s killing to the courtroom. Continue reading … FACT CHECK — CENTCOM delivers forceful response to alarming USS Abraham Lincoln crew reports. Continue reading … SPECIAL DELIVERY — Trump admin steps into Texas baby battle after surrogate refused abortion request. Continue reading … CASE RELOADED — Alex Murdaugh makes 'explosive' bid to blow up murder case hinging on DNA, dirty money and lies. Continue reading … HOLLYWOOD HORROR — Comedy legend says California dream has become a 'medieval' nightmare. Continue reading … -- WORDS RESURFACE — Newsom-appointed judge who freed migrant before fatal stabbing said justice ‘sometimes means a dismissal.’ Continue reading … ELECTION NIGHT CHAOS — NBC's Steve Kornacki buries his face as Wisconsin's 90-minute results fiasco unfolds. Continue reading … PENTHOUSE PUNCH — NYC luxury-home tax fight takes new turn as Mamdani rollout gets green light. Continue reading … WORKING OVERTIME — Marco Rubio’s meme just got the White House treatment and Trump signed off. Continue reading … Click here for more cartoons…   HOUSE DIVIDED — Democrats break ranks over ‘extremist’ and ‘barbaric’ abortion law. Continue reading … IDENTITY POLITICS — CNN host calls out event featuring young athletes as ‘overwhelmingly White.’ Continue reading … BIG SHOES TO FILL — Karoline Leavitt's exit from Trump admin sends shockwaves among WH correspondents. Continue reading … FAITH ON TRIAL — Catholic group demands Gov Maura Healey be excommunicated over abortion law. Continue reading … GEORGE LANDRITH — Innovation is key to America staying a superpower. But it is missing an essential piece. Continue reading …  STEVE MOORE & ED POZZUOLI — Stop funding school systems. Let the money follow the child. Continue reading … -- CENTURY MAN — 102-year-old Navy vet reveals his birthday tradition involves Hooters hot wings. Continue reading … LUCKY STREAK — Small town buzzing over identity of $1B Powerball winner. Continue reading … MIDAS TOUCH — Treasure hunters strike gold after years of disappointment with find worth a fortune. Continue reading … DIGITAL'S NEWS QUIZ — Who shut down this socialist? How did Trump make his secret getaway? Take the quiz here … Tune in as South Carolina’s Republican Senate runoff heats up and the race to close the gap enters its final stretch. Check it out ...   ‘The Riley Gaines Show' takes on the biggest cultural and political debates shaping the week. Check it out… Catch a 'Best Of' conversation with entrepreneur Tom Bilyeu on ‘Will Cain Country.' Check it out... What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…   Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn      Fox News First Fox News Opinion Fox News Lifestyle Fox News Entertainment (FOX411) Fox Business Fox Weather Fox Sports Tubi Fox News Go Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Monday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef7942c5335ae10465a48 US Ambassador Huckabee slams extreme group of Israeli settlers for seizing Palestinian homes on West Bank te 2026-08-14T11:10:12.775Z US Ambassador Huckabee slams extreme group of Israeli settlers for seizing Palestinian homes on West Bank JERUSALEM: In a rare statement of anger and criticism directed at a small group of extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned their attacks against a home being built by a Palestinian American from Ohio. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) managed to evict the lawbreakers who seized the house and arrested one person. But the group, mostly young, disaffected youths, who have set up unauthorized outposts and engaged in violence targeting Palestinians and their homes in the West Bank are becoming a growing problem for Israeli authorities who are being criticized for not doing enough to stop their violent actions. Ambassador Huckabee posted on X in response to criticism that his team had not done enough, "The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has been VERY involved & the IDF & Israel Police have gone at our request to remove the Israeli terrorists doing this. The actions of those doing this to this family’s home is criminal. The WH hasn’t "intervened" because we have kept DC apprised of the situation already. Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting. No excuse for such thuggish behavior." HOUSE DEMOCRAT RO KHANNA SAYS HE WAS DETAINED BY ARMED ISRAELI SETTLERS IN WEST BANK According to The Associated Press, Israeli settlers have besieged three homes in the occupied West Bank for several days, including one owned by Palestinian American Loui Ridi. The seizure of Ridi’s home took place in Qusra, in the northern West Bank. A senior Israeli official from the prime minister's office said, "Israel doesn’t accept vigilantes or any form of violence by juvenile delinquents. We are investing a lot of efforts to curb such sporadic violence. The IDF sent an additional battalion to Judea and Samaria to address the issue. We don’t take violence lightly. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, there were over 350 investigations opened, leading to 35 arrests. Putting things in perspective, Jews are attacked almost daily by Palestinian terrorists. There were over 300 Palestinian terrorist attacks against Jews in May of 2026 alone. The attempt to draw a false symmetry between sporadic violence and Palestinian terror is hypocritical." The official added, "We do not accept vigilantes. Judea and Samaria is our ancestral homeland. It's where Jews came from and have a right to live. The Jewish community in Judea & Samaria is a law-abiding community. We are addressing the juvenile delinquents." HOLY LAND BATTLE: SOLOMON'S POOLS BECOME FLASHPOINT IN FIGHT OVER ISRAEL'S BIBLICAL HERITAGE Nadav Eyal, a prominent Israeli columnist for the large Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth, told Fox News Digital, "There is an extending consensus in the Israeli political sphere, stretching from the left to the right, that some of the actions we are seeing in the West Bank, in Judea and Samaria, are, in actuality, Jewish terrorism. It is more widespread than it was ever before. It is considered by Israeli defense apparatus to be a serious problem." In another post on X, Huckabee stated, "Settlers" are not the problem in Judea/Samaria. "Unsettlers" are. Very small minority who do great damage to Palestinian families & to Israel." With over 500,000 Israelis living in Judea and Samaria, more commonly known as the West Bank, leaders of the settlement movements slammed the violence. The Jerusalem Post reported that the head of the Yesha Council, Yisrael Ganz, said, "There is no place for privately deciding to establish a hilltop outpost in the yard of a house, even when it is an illegal house or there is an attempt to take control of the area," he said. "There is absolutely no justification for violence against uninvolved people or against the security forces." The newspaper also quoted Beit El Council head Shai Alon, who said they were causing "irreversible damage" to Israel and to the settlement movement, and described those responsible for attacks on innocent Palestinians as criminals. Wafa, the Palestinian News & Info Agency, reported on Thursday that the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates "condemned the escalation of Israeli colonist terrorism and attacks against the town of Qusra." According to the Ministry’s statement, the "crimes were part of systematic policies aimed at displacing Palestinians and uprooting them from their land while imposing a reality that serves plans to annex the West Bank." Israel's Channel 12 News analyst, Amit Segal wrote on X that "Settler violence is a sensitive issue in Israel. Only a vanishingly small share of the settler population supports or takes part in such acts, but because the problem is exaggerated and used to obscure Palestinian violence against them, they bristle at hearing about it — even from Israel’s greatest friends." Segal said that "The most damning verdict of the event comes from Israel’s most faithful friend, Mike Huckabee. The most pro-settlement ambassador in the history of the post, a man who will not so much as use the word 'settler'— called the men at Qusra ‘Israeli terrorists.’" He added that "For four days, the most capable military in the Middle East could not clear a path for a family to reach its own front door. The family lives on the outskirts of Qusra, south of Nablus. On Sunday, settlers from the encampments seeded by the Tel Talpiot outpost sealed the entrance to their home and would not let them in or out." Fox News Digital sent a press query to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef7942c5335ae10465a3f When is a mental health crisis too severe for telehealth? Warning signs families shouldn't ignore te 2026-08-14T11:10:12.182Z When is a mental health crisis too severe for telehealth? Warning signs families shouldn't ignore As the Lindsay Clancy murder trial spotlights the psychiatric care she received before the killings of her three children, the case has raised broader questions about the growing reliance on telehealth for mental health conditions. Nearly half (48.3%) of American adults with serious mental illness now receive some type of mental health treatment via telehealth, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Clancy reportedly had 14 virtual visits with her primary psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Tufts, over a five-month period, from September 2022 through Jan. 23, 2023, according to testimony reported by the Associated Press. The final appointment was on Jan. 23, the day before the killings. The two never met in person. POSTPARTUM MOM LINDSAY CLANCY ON TRIAL FOR MURDER BRINGS COURT TO A HALT WITH SUDDEN BREAKDOWN During cross-examination, Clancy’s defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, questioned Tufts about her reliance on virtual appointments, per AP. "Did you ever suggest to her that 'maybe you should come in and see me, rather than on the computer?'" Reddington asked. "Talking to her over the video didn't seem like an issue," Tufts responded. "It didn't seem like there was something I was missing." CUT OFF BY YOUR ADULT CHILD? PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCHER REVEALS WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO NEXT Jonathan Alpert, Ph.D., a New York psychotherapist — who was not involved in Clancy's care and was speaking generally about telehealth rather than the specifics of her treatment — said virtual care can work very well, but that "there comes a point where a screen may not be enough." "If someone is becoming suicidal, psychotic, manic, unstable or unable to function, the clinician has to consider whether that person needs to be seen in person or needs a higher level of care," Alpert, author of "Therapy Nation: How America Got Hooked on Therapy and Why It's Left Us More Anxious and Divided," told Fox News Digital. "The priority has to be getting an accurate picture of what’s going on and keeping the patient safe." Telehealth plays an important function in mental healthcare and offers many benefits, Alpert noted. "As a provider, I can see far more people in a day doing virtual therapy than I could if I were doing in-office treatment," he told Fox News Digital. IS DRINKING EVERY DAY ALCOHOLISM? EXPERTS EXPLAIN WHERE CULTURE AND ADDICTION COLLIDE For the patient, it eliminates the commute to the therapist's office, which could be a limitation for those with busy schedules. "So it does allow more and better access to care in many cases, but it does have its limitations if someone has a severe psychiatric disorder," Alpert said. There are certain things about a patient’s appearance — such as hygiene, movements, agitation, intoxication or general behavior — that aren't as obvious on Zoom, he noted. "Someone can pull themselves together for an appointment and look relatively fine for 30 minutes even though they're falling apart outside of it," he said. If the patient keeps getting worse despite frequent appointments, that's a big warning sign, according to Alpert. "More appointments aren't necessarily more treatment," he told Fox News Digital. "If someone is becoming more suicidal, paranoid, manic, disorganized, aggressive or simply unable to function, you can't just keep scheduling another video call and assume that's enough." "At some point, the treatment plan has to change, whether that means seeing the person in person, getting an emergency evaluation or moving them to a higher level of care." In cases where there is any concern about suicide or violence, Alpert said it’s important for the therapist to be direct and to ask the following questions. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "If someone says they just want to die, that's one thing and it's very concerning, but if they have a plan, say a weapon or pills, that brings it to the next level and would certainly warrant intervention, whether it's through the police or emergency services," he said. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES It’s also important for the therapist to know where the patient is located during the appointment so that if there is an emergency, they can take action, Alpert advised. "And sometimes you need information from family or other people in the patient's life, because the patient may not be giving you the whole picture." The expert also emphasized the distinction between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. "With postpartum psychosis … there may be delusions, disorganized thinking, hallucinations — and if that's what's going on, that definitely warrants inpatient treatment." Overall, Alpert said, telehealth itself is not the problem. "It's helped a lot of people get care who otherwise might not," he said. "The bigger issue is whether the clinician is doing a thorough assessment and whether the level of care still fits the patient's condition." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ A good clinician can identify serious risk over video, he noted — but at the same time, someone can miss serious risk sitting across from a patient in an office. "The sicker and more unstable someone becomes, the less comfortable I'd be relying exclusively on a screen," he added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef7932c5335ae10465a36 'Extremist' and 'barbaric': Massachusetts Democrats break ranks over new abortion law te 2026-08-14T11:10:11.595Z 'Extremist' and 'barbaric': Massachusetts Democrats break ranks over new abortion law A new Massachusetts law eliminating gestational limits on abortion has drawn backlash from conservatives and sparked a rift among state Democrats. The Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act passed 119-33 in the state House of Representatives on July 22, largely along party lines. The bill, signed into law this week by Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, removes statutory restrictions on abortions past 24 weeks, allowing physicians to perform the procedure later in pregnancy based on their professional medical judgment, and grants greater protection from legal penalties. Nine House Democrats voted against the legislation alongside Republicans. Speaking to Fox News Digital, several dissenting lawmakers cited ethical and legal concerns, and said the bill does not align with the majority of their constituents' opinions on abortion. LATE-TERM ABORTION TAKES FRONT SEAT AS BLUE STATE RUSHES TO EXPAND ACCESS BEFORE SESSION ENDS "This new law represents an extremist and dangerous position," State Rep. Jeffrey Turco of Winthrop told Fox News Digital. "To be clear, it allows abortion anytime, unrestricted, and in many cases, publicly funded until the moment of birth." Turco said the bill was "rushed through the legislative process in two weeks, without an opportunity for the public to weigh in," and was "out of step with the views of the average person in Massachusetts." "The new law is barbaric," he added. State Rep. Chris Markey of Dartmouth warned that the bill creates a troubling precedent. "I am deeply disappointed in the passage of this bill. This bill creates a very slippery slope," Markey told Fox News Digital. "I believe this law puts doctors in a very difficult ethical dilemma, as well as conflicts with long-standing criminal case law. This law, I believe, is not consistent with the beliefs of the vast majority of my constituents. While many are pro-choice, you can still be pro-choice and see this law as going beyond the norms of acceptability." State Rep. Dennis Gallagher, a Democrat representing the 8th Plymouth District, told Fox News Digital he struggled with his decision but concluded that changes to the existing abortion law were unnecessary. While affirming his view that abortion should remain a decision between a woman and her doctor, he argued there should be greater emphasis on alternatives such as adoption when the mother's health is not at risk. SANDERS-BACKED GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL'S PAST PRO-LIFE VIEWS CLASH WITH CURRENT ABORTION STANCE Gallagher emphasized that prior state law already permitted abortions after 24 weeks to protect the health of the mother or in cases of severe fetal anomalies. "At that point in a pregnancy, if the health of the mother is fine and the baby's health is fine, I just think alternatives should be encouraged for that baby," he told Fox News Digital. "So that's what I struggled with. But it should always be between a woman and their doctor." State Rep. Alan Silvia, a pro-life Democrat from Bristol, said he strongly opposes expanding abortion in Massachusetts. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Silvia questioned why lawmakers move to protect endangered wildlife while offering less protection to unborn children. "My position has been consistent: I believe in protecting human life, including the life of the unborn," he said. "We go to extraordinary lengths as a society to protect vulnerable life, saving whales and saving strays, yet when it comes to an unborn child, that same sense of protection too often seems to disappear."  "As a legislator, I cannot support policies that continue to expand abortion, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy," Silvia continued. "This is not an issue I take lightly, and I understand there are deeply held views on both sides, but I will continue to stand by my convictions and vote accordingly." SURROGATE GIVES BIRTH IN TEXAS TO BABY WITH HEART DEFECT AFTER PARENTS REQUESTED ABORTION Healey defended the new law at the bill's passage, saying it is intended to ensure families facing medical complications late in pregnancy can abort their babies in Massachusetts rather than having to travel out of state. Healey's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef7922c5335ae10465a2d STEVE MOORE, ED POZZUOLI: Stop funding school systems. Let the money follow the child te 2026-08-14T11:10:10.974Z STEVE MOORE, ED POZZUOLI: Stop funding school systems. Let the money follow the child The Watergate-era maxim still applies today: follow the money. In American education, the question is not how much money is spent, but where the money goes. Does funding follow institutions, or does it follow children? Does it serve adult interests, or truly benefit students? This distinction increasingly explains why some states spend more without producing better results, while others see academic gains by empowering parents with meaningful educational choices. New York City is a striking example. In 2024, its Department of Education spent roughly $40 billion, about $36,000 per pupil, one of the highest levels in the nation. Despite this massive investment, student literacy outcomes remain dire. Recent reports found that in 503 of 906 NYC schools studied, most students failed both reading and math exams. State data revealed only 29% of eighth graders were proficient in reading. This means more than seven out of 10 students cannot read at grade level, despite the city’s unprecedented spending. If one of the nation’s highest-funded school systems still leaves most students struggling to read proficiently, should policymakers continue focusing solely on increasing funding? Or should they also prioritize empowering parents with more educational options to better serve their children? DEMOCRATS AIM TO KILL SCHOOL CHOICE FROM WISCONSIN TO THE REST OF THE US Next example, Chicago. Despite a substantial increase in funding, only 43% of Chicago students in grades three through eight met reading proficiency standards in 2025, and just 27% reached proficiency in math. Among eleventh graders, proficiency rates dropped even lower: 40% in reading and 25% in math. Chronic absenteeism hovered above 40%. Even after lowering proficiency standards, most students failed to meet grade-level expectations. These cases are not arguments against public education. Rather, they challenge the assumption that simply spending more money within the existing system guarantees better outcomes. The evidence suggests, without structural reform, increasing budgets alone will not overcome long-standing academic challenges. Consider Louisiana’s approach. Just a few years ago, the state faced persistent educational struggles. Today, Louisiana stands as a compelling example of academic progress combined with expanding parental choice. It recently ranked first nationally in reading growth and reported record-high student achievement, with more students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations than ever before. These gains are especially notable as many states still struggle to recover from pandemic-related learning losses. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and Superintendent Cade Brumley have embraced the principle that education funding should follow students, not systems. This philosophy is embodied in the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program and the state's expanding charter school sector. ARKANSAS STUDENTS OUTPERFORM NATIONAL AVERAGE AFTER UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE EXPANSION, GOVERNOR SAYS The LA GATOR program enables eligible families to direct education funds toward private tuition, tutoring, therapies, textbooks, curricula, dual-enrollment and other tailored educational services. The state’s charter schools enroll roughly one in eight public school students. Since 2022, charter enrollment has grown over 9%, while traditional district enrollment declined. The combination of Louisiana’s record academic improvement, nation-leading reading growth, expanding parental choice and growing charter enrollment sharply contrasts with high-spending but underperforming systems like New York City. Louisiana shows that better outcomes can come together with greater parental empowerment. Florida offers the most robust long-term evidence supporting school choice. Its school choice programs have existed for over 20 years, culminating in universal educational choice statewide. Studies reveal that public schools facing greater competition from scholarship programs showed improved academic achievement, reduced absenteeism and fewer disciplinary incidents. Competition has boosted outcomes not only for students using choice programs but also those staying in traditional public schools. Florida’s charter schools reinforce this story. The latest Florida Department of Education report shows charter school students outperformed their district peers in 55 of 77 statewide academic comparisons. More than 400,000 students are enrolled in Florida charter schools today, reflecting record growth and rising family demand for alternatives within the public system. Florida charters earned an overall state accountability grade of "A," with 61% receiving an A and 78% earning either an A or B, significantly outperforming statewide averages. EXPLOSIVE REPORT FINDS $230M IN ALLEGED K-12 EDUCATION FRAUD AMID TRUMP'S CRACKDOWN: 'ESPECIALLY HIDEOUS' Critics argue school choice undermines public education, but the experiences of Florida and Louisiana suggest otherwise. When parents have real choices and schools compete to attract them, accountability increases. Schools become more responsive to families, innovation accelerates, and academic outcomes improve. This is not a call to dismantle public education, which remains a vital foundation of American society. The question is whether educational funding should flow primarily toward institutions or toward students themselves. New York City and Chicago exemplify systems where spending climbs while academic outcomes stagnate. Conversely, Louisiana and Florida show how empowering parents to guide their children’s education can coincide with stronger academic gains, growing charter enrollment and enhanced accountability. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION The core of the school choice debate distills to this simple principle: Educational dollars should serve students, not systems. If policymakers want to understand what truly works in American education, they must follow the money – and ensure it follows the child. Ed Pozzuoli is an expert in education law and CEO of Tripp Scott Law Firm. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM STEVE MOORE Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef7922c5335ae10465a24 NJ mom’s murder shrouded in secrecy as PI says ‘never seen anything like this’ behind-closed-doors case te 2026-08-14T11:10:10.359Z NJ mom’s murder shrouded in secrecy as PI says ‘never seen anything like this’ behind-closed-doors case "It’s unique. I’ve never seen anything like this before," said private investigator Carl DeFazio. More than two months since a New Jersey mother and psychotherapist was found dead in her Chester home, investigators have remained tight-lipped in the homicide case. Brooke Hanlon, 35, was found dead of multiple stab wounds inside her home on Pottersville Road on June 6. SLAIN NEW JERSEY THERAPIST’S GRAD SCHOOL ROOMMATE RECOUNTS FRIENDSHIP WITH COUPLE DURING TIME IN BOSTON DeFazio is a former U.S. Marine and retired NYPD officer. He said while the ongoing silence is fueling speculation, it's possible there are developments happening behind closed doors that law enforcement won't release in an effort to preserve the integrity of the case. 📩 Send me a story idea: kelsie.cairns@fox.com 📸 Instagram: kelsiecairns_tv 🎥 Facebook: Kelsie Cairns "I always look at what they’re not telling you," he said. "They always, especially in a homicide case, hold one or two things back that only the perp would know." The Morris County Prosecutor's Office is leading the investigation and has yet to reveal a suspect or person of interest. The investigation started when Conor Hanlon, Brooke's husband, made a 911 call reporting his wife was unresponsive and not breathing. SLAIN N.J. WOMAN, MISSING BAHAMAS BOATER'S SPOUSES LAWYER UP; ONE DISAPPEARS WHILE OTHER RECENTLY SPOTTED Officers responded to the call and within minutes pronounced her dead at the scene, classified the death as "suspicious." Sources confirmed to Fox News Digital the couple's 12-month-old baby was inside at the time of the incident. The child was unharmed. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X DeFazio noted that in high-profile homicides, initial 911 audio and the presence of family members inside the home are among the very first things investigators dissect to establish a timeline. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS A computer-aided dispatch (CAD) log released to Fox News Digital revealed several days of investigative activity at the home. LISTEN: DISPATCH AUDIO CAPTURES FRANTIC HUNT FOR SUSPECT IN PENN STATE SENIOR'S FATAL SHOOTING LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE DeFazio said the first few days of an investigation are critical to preventing missteps. SEND US A TIP "I always start at the beginning — the crime scene — and work my way out. A lot of investigators will go in there with a suspect and try to make the facts fit their suspect. That’s the wrong way to do it," DeFazio said. GOT A TIP? "I look at what they didn’t do. Did they interview the neighbors? Did they rope off the house? Did they take DNA samples? Did they find a crime weapon? Was there a struggle? Were there any defensive wounds? I’d really love to see the ME's [medical examiner's] report." LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Fox News Digital previously spoke to neighbors who revealed they are still on edge and constantly looking over their shoulders for a potential murderer on the loose. FITNESS TRAINER TOLD FRIEND SHE WAS 'SCARED FOR HER LIFE' WEEKS BEFORE BODY WITH MATCHING CLOTHING FOUND GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL DeFazio said investigators in complex homicide cases must audit every detail from day one—ranging from financial policies like life insurance to underlying personal relationships—which often explains why police hold back information while piecing together a timeline. Fox News Digital has repeatedly reached out to Conor Hanlon for comment. He has not been charged with any crime or wrongdoing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef7912c5335ae10465a11 From Personal Struggle to Creative Expression, Martina Sachs Channels Life Experience into Awakening from Shadows and Intuitive Art te 2026-08-14T11:10:09.161Z From Personal Struggle to Creative Expression, Martina Sachs Channels Life Experience into Awakening from Shadows and Intuitive Art Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef7902c5335ae10465a08 Repz Named HYROX Official Online Training Partner and Launches Its App Worldwide te 2026-08-14T11:10:08.337Z Repz Named HYROX Official Online Training Partner and Launches Its App Worldwide A training app built only for HYROX starts its multilingual rollout, giving athletes a plan in their own language Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef2e02c5335ae10465972 Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza thanks God for an NFL debut that compares favorably to 'Mr Brady' te 2026-08-14T10:50:08.031Z Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza thanks God for an NFL debut that compares favorably to 'Mr Brady' The first thing Fernando Mendoza did after he played exceptionally in his NFL preseason debut Thursday night was to thank God. Any long-suffering Las Vegas Raiders fan who saw the rookie first-round pick's outing, preseason or not, would have similarly thanked God. Because the Raiders have something here. "First, I want to thank God and my teammates and coaches for allowing me the opportunity," Mendoza told reporters. "Today was an invigorating experience where there's not many moments where you feel fully alive, and on the field is when you feel fully alive, especially in the NFL atmosphere. EX-NFL STAR CALLS FERNANDO MENDOZA 'THE MOST COMPLETE PLAYER' OF THE 2026 DRAFT "So I want to give thanks for that. It was great to get out there, get my feet wet .. I think it was a good experience." Anyone who watched would know Mendoza played well and if you didn't watch, be confident that his 100.3 quarterback rating and TD pass without a turnover in his nearly three quarters of work was impressive. "As far as getting in and out of the huddle and commanding the group and getting the play-calls down, I saw the same guy we've seen in practice," coach Klint Kubiak said. "I saw an ascending player." And this is where the temptation is going to be to overreact and start the discussion about Mendoza supplanting veteran Kirk Cousins as the Las Vegas starting quarterback. That throw Mendoza made in the first half between two defenders downfield between the hashmarks and numbers was elite. It's the kind of throw that demands opportunities in the regular season. But the Raiders will resist the temptation to have Mendoza run before he walks. The Raiders expect to go with Cousins as their starter unless something drastic happens. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! "Kirk has been getting the reps with the ones," Kubiak said. "I think he's had a solid training camp and it's his job to lose." This is good. And ordered. It almost doesn't feel like the Raiders. The franchise that once boasted a "Commitment to Excellence" has committed shameful acts in recent seasons. Remember that Jon Gruden had to quit midseason over an email scandal. Remember that Henry Ruggs III was involved in a fiery drunk driving crash that killed a woman and her dog. Remember that coach Josh McDaniels got fired before he finished two seasons, coach Antonio Pierce got fired after one season, and coach Pete Carroll similarly went one-and-done. How do you think the Raiders got in position to pick Mendoza? They've been a mess. But rookie coach Kubiak doesn't seem too flummoxed by anything, while Mendoza seems perfect for Vegas — and by that we mean he's a self-described nerd. Mendoza doesn't hit the Strip because he'd rather hit the playbook. Even Thursday night he talked about going home after the game because he had nothing else to do and watch the tape even as the casinos and lounge acts were just warming up. Club minority owner Tom Brady was on the field before this game and someone suggested afterward that Mendoza had a better career debut than Brady did. That's fact, by the way. Back in 2000, Brady was where Mendoza finds himself now. And in his first NFL action that came midway through the fourth quarter against San Francisco 49ers backups, Brady completed 3 of 4 passes for 28 yards in 17 otherwise forgettable snaps. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Mendoza completed three times as many passes for more than three times as many yards with a touchdown pass. But out of that comes zero arrogance. Mendoza mentioned that "Mr. Brady" spoke to the team the night before the game. And he said that, as a former UC Berkeley backup quarterback, that long-ago third-stringer would have never imagined playing for an NFL legacy franchise. Mendoza, it seems, is a player paid to throw the football who remains very grounded. "Overall, I felt that the group that I was in with, you know, they blocked fantastic, they ran great routes, the run game was good," Mendoza said. "Unfortunately, I let my teammates down today. "But it's a growing experience. I feel like we're all growing. And it showed me that I need to grow a lot." FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef2d92c5335ae1046593f Uber and Pony.ai plan to bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe te 2026-08-14T10:50:01.301Z Uber and Pony.ai plan to bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe The partnership is expanding beyond the initial market of Zagreb, Croatia to four additional European cities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef0882c5335ae10465916 Luigi Mangione case in photos: From Brian Thompson’s killing to the courtroom te 2026-08-14T10:40:08.648Z Luigi Mangione case in photos: From Brian Thompson’s killing to the courtroom Photos detail the legal case against Luigi Mangione, from his suspected killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City to his moves in court. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ef0882c5335ae1046590d UN watchdog slams potential election of Iran to panel with human rights sway: 'Lunatics running the asylum' te 2026-08-14T10:40:08.025Z UN watchdog slams potential election of Iran to panel with human rights sway: 'Lunatics running the asylum' Iran's possible election to a major United Nations (U.N.) committee with influence on the shaping of policy concerning human rights, women's rights, and counterterrorism is "Orwellian," the head of a U.N. watchdog group says. In November, the U.N. General Assembly is slated to vote on whether to admit Iran to the Committee for Programme and Coordination, a 34-member body whose member states serve three-year terms. The upcoming vote is widely expected to pass as a formality. The committee doesn't draft human rights treaties or issue condemnations of human rights abuses, but plays an influential administrative role in how human rights initiatives are executed across the U.N. system. The U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) nominated Iran in April despite Tehran’s documented history of systematic human rights abuses, strict crackdowns on women’s rights, mass surveillance, and lethal force against political dissenters. IRAN TO EXECUTE FIRST FEMALE PROTESTER TIED TO ANTI-REGIME UNREST Global bodies also consider Tehran a leading state sponsor of terrorism that funds proxy militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. In addition, Tehran has attacked neighboring Gulf states in recent months amid a war with the United States. "It's the last government in the world that should have any influence," Hillel Neuer, executive director of Geneva-based UN Watch, told Fox News Digital. "Sadly, at the United Nations today — an organization founded after World War II out of great idealism to bring international peace — it is a case of the lunatics running the asylum," Neuer added. "You have the Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime that beats, blinds, tortures, rapes, and imprisons women for standing up for their rights or showing a few strands of hair." ISRAEL ACCUSES UN OF PLACING IT ON SAME SEXUAL VIOLENCE BLACKLIST AS HAMAS TERRORISTS, SEVERS TIES Fox News Digital reached out to the Iranian Permanent Mission to the U.N. for comment. Iran’s appointment would not be unprecedented. The U.N. Human Rights Council's 47 member states currently include nations with severely criticized human rights records, including China, Cuba, Pakistan, and Eritrea. IRAN HANGS 2 PROTESTERS IN PUBLIC, CROWD CRIES 'DISHONORABLE' AS SECURITY FIRES TEAR GAS "The United Nations speaks out in the name of values and principles such as human rights, democracy, freedom, equality, and women's rights," Neuer said. "The reality is that, sadly, at least half the UN is made up of dictatorships." Tehran continues to brutally suppress basic freedoms. In July, two men were publicly hanged for participating in nationwide anti-government demonstrations, while hundreds more remain jailed or killed for demanding regime change. In addition, the U.N. has been accused of bias for heavily criticizing Israel's military actions in Gaza, while often failing to pass formal resolutions or issue direct condemnations against Hamas. According to Neuer, the most disappointing aspect of Iran’s potential committee appointment is the willingness of Western democracies to acquiesce. "The short answer is interests, cynicism, politics, dealmaking, and a culture of 'go along to get along,'" Neuer said. "If you are the French, Canadian, or German ambassador, you don't want to pick a fight with dozens of countries or trigger friction with Iran. They would rather simply avoid it." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7eebd92c5335ae10465876 MLW rising star LaBron Kozone set for grudge match against Joe Coffey, talks Teddy Long inspiration te 2026-08-14T10:20:09.693Z MLW rising star LaBron Kozone set for grudge match against Joe Coffey, talks Teddy Long inspiration LaBron Kozone wasn’t about to stand for Joe Coffey and the Glasgow Boys on Top taking out Teddy Long during a recent Major League Wrestling (MLW) event. Coffey admitted at MLW Blood & Thunder that he was the one who took out Long. Kozone, who sees Long as one of his mentors, came out with a chair to confront Coffey and needed to be held back. The heated rivalry between the two pro wrestlers is set to explode in the ring on Saturday during MLW "Fusion." COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL Kozone told Fox News Digital he owed Coffey some payback. "Just to do just that, just to make old boy suffer," he said in a recent interview. "You know, initially, I had a lot of respect for him. His talent, his work ethic, what he's done, the people he's affected, but that's crossing the line. So, yeah, he's going to he's going to get it." When Long made an appearance at MLW, he dubbed Kozone "the next big thing for MLW." "Teddy was an inspiration to me, what he represents in the industry, everything that he's done," Kozone said. "And then to have him acknowledge me in that way and to endorse me in that way, that means the world to me." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Kozone was one of MLW’s top free-agent signings and started his time there defeating Okumura before going on to beat Alan Angels. Now, he’s trying to dispatch Coffey and move on to getting some gold around his waist. "Championships, world titles," he told Fox News Digital when asked what’s next for him after the Coffey feud. "That's what I'm here for. I'm here to be the top guy in MLW. I 100% feel like I can be that guy. I feel like I can carry the company to higher heights. "I feel like I do represent a new breed in MLW, which has been the selling point here recently that's been getting a lot of talks about MLW in a positive way. So, championships. It’s where championships is where the money is and I'm here to put on and provide." MLW "Fusion" airs Saturdays on YouTube, Veeps and beIN Sports. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7eebd92c5335ae1046586d Mark Lynch endorses Ralph Norman as congressman heads into runoff against Darline Graham te 2026-08-14T10:20:09.077Z Mark Lynch endorses Ralph Norman as congressman heads into runoff against Darline Graham Mark Lynch has endorsed Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., the runner-up in South Carolina's special Republican U.S. Senate primary, who will face first-place finisher Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in a head-to-head runoff. Graham finished first in the Aug. 11 primary, with Norman advancing in second place. The runoff is scheduled for Aug. 25. Lynch — who finished second in the South Carolina Republican U.S. Senate primary that Sen. Lindsey Graham won in June — placed fifth in the special Republican U.S. Senate primary contest. "I'm honored to receive Mark Lynch's support and endorsement in my race for U.S. Senate!" Norman declared in a Wednesday post on X. SOUTH CAROLINA GOP SENATE SHOWDOWN HEADS TO RUNOFF IN RACE TO SUCCEED LINDSEY GRAHAM The post also included a statement, apparently from Lynch, stating, "I am proud to endorse Ralph Norman for the United States Senate. Our country needs someone who will put America First, and the people of South Carolina have shown they are ready for a businessman and someone with a proven conservative record who will be their voice in Washington, D.C." Last month, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, to serve the remainder of her brother's Senate term — and President Donald Trump is backing her for election. DARLINE GRAHAM DETAILS HOW SHE'D FORGE OWN PATH IN SENATE WHILE CARRYING ON BROTHER LINDSEY'S LEGACY National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., backed Graham after she placed first in the special GOP U.S. Senate primary this week. "If I were going to endorse in the South Carolina GOP Senate primary, I wanted to do so with confidence. After watching Darline Graham in the Senate and on the campaign trail, I’m confident she’s the real deal. Her first-place finish last night was remarkable, but not surprising. She is a conservative stalwart, a hard worker, and represents our beloved state with class, humility, and dignity," Scott wrote in a Wednesday post on X. REP RALPH NORMAN ENTERS SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE DESPITE TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT OF DARLINE GRAHAM "I know she is making her brother proud, but Darline has already proven to be her own person: focused on pocketbook issues, defending our South Carolina values, and delivering for the people she represents. Her priorities are our priorities. I voted for Darline in yesterday’s primary, and I’ll vote for her again in the runoff. I’m proud to endorse Darline Graham for the U.S. Senate, and I encourage South Carolina Republicans across our state to join me in voting for her in the runoff," Scott added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee9832c5335ae1046580f Teacher busted under Kentucky's new anti-grooming law as advocate warns schools can't ignore red flags te 2026-08-14T10:10:11.171Z Teacher busted under Kentucky's new anti-grooming law as advocate warns schools can't ignore red flags What can look like innocent attention toward a child can mask something far more sinister, a Kentucky advocate warns as the state’s new grooming law lands its first arrest just weeks after taking effect. Laura Wills-Coppelman, founder of ICKY, or Institutional Complicity Kentucky, told Fox News Digital that she sees the arrest as evidence of what the new grooming offense was designed to provide — an earlier opportunity for authorities to potentially intervene before alleged conduct escalates into sexual abuse. "For the first time, Kentucky has a legal ability to intervene in a situation where a child could potentially face irreversible harm," Wills-Coppelman said. "It's a massive step forward in an effort to prevent child abuse." KENTUCKY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF CROSSING THE LINE WITH STUDENT, ARRESTED UNDER NEW ANTI-GROOMING LAW The new law was invoked just weeks after taking effect July 15, when 25-year-old Sadie M. Flores of Mayfield was arrested and charged with grooming a minor, a Class D felony. The Graves County Sheriff's Office said Flores, an employee at Graves County Middle School, allegedly had an improper relationship with a minor student in the district. The allegation was initially reported to Graves County Schools, which immediately turned the information over to the sheriff's office, according to authorities. Detectives seized electronic records, conducted interviews and took other investigative steps before interviewing Flores and arresting her around 3:30 p.m., the sheriff's office said. HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES INVOLVING TEEN SHE WAS MEANT TO HELP Wills-Coppelman cautioned against drawing conclusions about Flores, saying the evidence and allegations in the case must now be evaluated through the court system. But she said the arrest illustrates the significance of creating an earlier point at which authorities can investigate conduct that may precede abuse. Wills-Coppelman said one of the biggest misconceptions about grooming is the belief that one questionable interaction can be viewed in isolation and labeled grooming. Instead, she said grooming often unfolds gradually, with behaviors that may seem explainable on their own becoming increasingly concerning when they form a pattern. "Grooming is a pattern of behavior that is intended to build trust, erode boundaries, and create conditions for a child to be exploited or abused," she said. Potential warning signs, she said, can include excessive attention or favoritism, gifts, secrecy and increasingly isolating a child from other trusted adults or peers. Individually, some of those behaviors may have innocent explanations. The alarm, Wills-Coppelman said, comes when adults begin seeing them develop into a broader pattern over time. And from the child's perspective, she warned, grooming may not feel threatening at all. TEACHER WHO SERVED AS GOP STATE LAWMAKER ALLEGEDLY USED ROBLOX TO LURE STUDENT INTO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP "Grooming is a form of manipulation," Wills-Coppelman said, explaining that a child may instead feel "special and seen and validated" by the attention. "It doesn't often register as dangerous until it's too late," she said. For parents watching from the outside, however, the same relationship may begin setting off alarm bells. "Why does this adult need so much access? Why are they being isolated so much? Why so much excessive attention?" Wills-Coppelman said parents should ask themselves. Wills-Coppelman said survivors her organization has spoken with have repeatedly described another troubling pattern — adults who recognized something felt wrong but did not speak up at the time. "A lot of people, bystanders, in their situations in retrospect look back and say, 'I had an icky feeling,'" she said. "I saw something or I heard something that made me feel uncomfortable. I wish I would have spoken up." She stressed that reporting concerning conduct is not the same as declaring someone guilty. Instead, she said, authorities are responsible for examining the evidence and determining whether conduct meets the threshold for criminal charges. "The point of awareness can be the point of prevention," Wills-Coppelman said. That distinction has become particularly important amid concerns that ordinary interactions between teachers, coaches, youth leaders and children could be mistaken for grooming. The law makes clear that legitimate school, work and volunteer-related communications are not what it is designed to criminalize. Wills-Coppelman rejected that characterization, calling appropriate adult-child boundaries "common sense." "Healthy adult-child mentorship respects appropriate boundaries. Grooming erodes them," she said. NEW MISSISSIPPI LAW EXPANDS DEATH PENALTY TO INCLUDE INMATES ON CHILD SEXUAL BATTERY CONVICTIONS "The intent of the law is to create an earlier intervention point, not to criminalize ordinary relationships between adults and children." Wills-Coppelman said the legislation received unanimous support in both chambers of the Kentucky legislature and bipartisan backing. House Bill 4, primarily sponsored by Republican state Rep. Marianne Proctor, passed the House 98-0 and the Senate 38-0 before the House unanimously approved the Senate's changes. Gov. Andy Beshear signed it into law April 10. "This is not a political issue. This is a human issue," she said. RITZY PRIVATE ACADEMY ATTENDED BY KARDASHIAN KIDS FACES TRIAL IN BIZARRE 'KISSING CLUB' SCANDAL The pushback she has encountered, she said, has instead largely centered on due process and concerns about what happens after someone reports suspected grooming. Wills-Coppelman said due process remains an essential part of the law because a report alone does not automatically trigger criminal charges. Investigators must evaluate the evidence before determining whether charges are warranted. "We can preserve and respect due process and also prioritize the prevention of abuse and the protection of our children," she said. "They are not competing principles." Wills-Coppelman said she ultimately hopes the law results not in more arrests, but fewer children ever reaching the point where alleged abuse occurs. "The ultimate goal of this law is not more prosecutions," she said. "It's earlier recognition, awareness and understanding of what these behaviors look like and ultimately prevention." For Wills-Coppelman, passing the grooming law is only one piece of a larger fight. She said she now wants Kentucky's educator code of ethics brought into alignment with the new law and is pushing for greater accountability when people in positions of authority become aware of disturbing patterns but fail to report them. That includes situations in which institutions attempt to handle serious allegations internally rather than referring them to the appropriate authorities, she said. "My efforts are focused not only on the obvious villain, which is the perpetrator in these cases, but also turning some attention toward enablers, systems and institutions and the people within those organizations that had the capacity and the ability to take action and made a deliberate choice to not do so," Wills-Coppelman said. In the Flores case, Graves County Schools said administrators contacted law enforcement immediately after becoming aware of the allegation. Superintendent Matt Madding said the district has since been informed that charges were filed against the teacher and pledged continued cooperation with investigators. "We take any allegation involving the safety of a child or the professional conduct of an employee extremely seriously," Madding said in a statement. The district said it is limited in what it can disclose because the case remains an ongoing legal and personnel matter. Wills-Coppelman hopes Kentucky's approach eventually reaches far beyond the state. She said Ohio has legislation similar to Kentucky's, but her goal is for protections against grooming to ultimately become a nationwide standard. "A child's protection from grooming and abuse should never depend on geography," she said. For now, Kentucky's first case under the new law will move through the courts, while the legislation itself faces its first real-world test. And for Wills-Coppelman, its success won't ultimately be measured by the number of people put behind bars. "If it prevents even one child from the horrific consequences of abuse," she said, "that makes it all worth it." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee9822c5335ae10465806 Newsom-appointed judge who freed migrant before fatal stabbing said justice 'sometimes means a dismissal' te 2026-08-14T10:10:10.584Z Newsom-appointed judge who freed migrant before fatal stabbing said justice 'sometimes means a dismissal' The California judge who released a Venezuelan national arrested for burglary — and later allowed him to remain on pretrial home detention despite his violation of its terms — had previously said that justice can sometimes mean "dismissal" in an interview with her alma mater, the University of San Francisco School of Law. The day after Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Nichelle Holmes dismissed Marcos Iriarte-Valdez, a Venezuelan national, he was accused of stabbing another man to death while attempting another burglary. The killing of Todd Stewart, 68, outside his home of more than 30 years has renewed scrutiny of judges’ discretion in releasing repeat criminal offenders. It also comes as Republican leaders criticize "sanctuary" policies that they say make it difficult for federal immigration enforcement agents to do their jobs and put the public at risk. Holmes, who was appointed to Contra Costa Superior Court by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., in 2024, ordered on Aug. 5, 2024, that Iriarte-Valdez, an Venezuelan national who holds Spanish citizenship, be released on his own recognizance. The Department of Homeland Security called Iriarte-Valdez an "illegal alien" in a social media post, but later said he was "legally admitted" to the U.S. in 2007. DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on his immigration status. DEADLY HOSPITAL STABBING PUTS NEWSOM UNDER PRESSURE OVER ICE DETAINER FIGHT Holmes' ruling to allow Iriarte-Valez to walk free aligns with an interview that she gave to her alma mater the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2017, in which she claimed that her work as then-deputy district attorney of Contra Costa County is her way of fighting against injustices and racial disparities in the justice system. "Coming to work every day and ensuring that justice is served is my way of protesting," Holmes said. "Justice does not always mean a prison sentence. Sometimes it means a treatment program, or intensive counseling, and sometimes it means a dismissal." Holmes shared that she decided to become a district attorney as opposed to a defense attorney because she said victims need a voice too. "Navigating through the criminal justice process can be daunting and only add to the stress and trauma of being a crime victim," Holmes shared. "I choose to advocate for the victims and be their voice to make the process just a little easier. I choose to make my community a safer place for everyone." "I choose to ensure that the Constitution is upheld on all sides," Holmes continued. "I choose to be a part of the solution." CALIFORNIA MOM RIPS NEWSOM-BACKED 'DIVERSION PROGRAM' THAT APPEARS TO BENEFIT HER SON'S KILLER Prior to her appointment to Contra Costa Superior Court, Holmes served as the deputy district attorney for Contra Costa County from February 2012 to April 2024. As deputy district attorney, Holmes prosecuted sensitive cases centered on sexual assault, domestic violence, child trafficking and community violence. She worked four years in the county’s Domestic Violence Unit and was in the Community Violence Reduction Unit. She graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2010 and previously graduated from Spelman College in 1990. Some state lawmakers fumed over the judge's behavior and Sacramento's sanctuary policies, with Assemb. David Tangipa, R-Fresno, telling Fox News Digital on Thursday that Stewart "should be alive today." "This murder was 100% preventable if we just enforced the laws currently in place," Tangipa said. "But Governor Newsom’s garbage sanctuary laws and activist judges are leading to the death of Americans. Californians deserve a justice system that protects innocent Americans first." A spokesperson from Newsom's office did not comment on Holmes' specific decision to release Marcos Iriarte-Valdez despite violating the terms of home detention. Instead, the spokesperson said he should be held responsible for the killing of Stewart. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER "This individual should face justice for his alleged crime," the spokesperson said. "California takes public safety seriously, and nothing in California law prevents federal authorities from enforcing federal immigration law. The federal government has billions of dollars and substantial resources to enforce federal law — they should do their job instead of blaming California for ICE's enforcement failures." Fox News Digital reached out to Holmes for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee9812c5335ae104657fd Alex Murdaugh makes 'explosive' bid to blow up murder case hinging on DNA, dirty money and lies: expert te 2026-08-14T10:10:09.910Z Alex Murdaugh makes 'explosive' bid to blow up murder case hinging on DNA, dirty money and lies: expert Alex Murdaugh is set to return to a South Carolina courtroom Friday as his defense presses to toss the murder case and narrow what evidence jurors can hear in a retrial that one former federal prosecutor says comes with a new strategic reality: the defense has "played all their cards." The disbarred attorney is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Debra McCaslin at 10 a.m. in Lexington County for a pretrial hearing ahead of his April 2027 retrial in the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. Unlike Murdaugh's June court appearance, which set a retrial timetable, Friday's hearing follows a flurry of motions from both sides revealing their competing strategies. ALEX MURDAUGH LAWYERS ALLEGE ‘FABRICATED’ EVIDENCE WAS USED TO SECURE MURDER INDICTMENTS The disputes range from a defense effort to dismiss the murder indictments outright to battles over whether prosecutors can again introduce evidence of Murdaugh’s financial crimes, use testimony he gave during his first trial and present other evidence to a new jury. Nathan S. Williams, a South Carolina federal criminal defense attorney and former assistant U.S. attorney who served as criminal chief for the District of South Carolina, told Fox News Digital that a second trial changes the strategic landscape for Murdaugh. "There is no surprising the government or the state at trial," Williams said. "He's given his testimony, they can prepare infinitely now to cross examine him." "That tends to be frankly more helpful for the state. I think they usually have a better chance on retrial," he added, while noting that limits on some of the state's evidence could cut the other way. ALEX MURDAUGH'S DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTION UNANIMOUSLY OVERTURNED BY SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT Murdaugh, 58, was convicted in 2023 of murdering Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, at the family’s Moselle estate in Colleton County in June 2021. The South Carolina Supreme Court later overturned the convictions after finding that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly influenced jurors. The high court ordered a new trial, but the retrial may look significantly different from the first. At Murdaugh’s first trial, prosecutors argued that years of theft and financial fraud were closing in on him and that the killings were an effort to distract from mounting scrutiny. MURDAUGH DEFENSE PLANS ALTERNATE SUSPECT PUSH AS DNA QUESTIONS LOOM OVER RETRIAL The South Carolina Supreme Court did not rule that all evidence of Murdaugh’s financial wrongdoing was inadmissible, but it said prosecutors had been allowed to go too far into the details during the first trial. McCaslin will now be tasked with determining how much of that evidence can be presented to jurors the second time around. Williams said he expects the amount of financial evidence to shrink from the first trial. He said "there will definitely be less," adding, "How much less I think will be a good question." Prosecutors are also vying to use Murdaugh’s sworn testimony from his first trial during the retrial. Murdaugh took the stand in his own defense in 2023 and admitted lying to investigators about his whereabouts shortly before Maggie and Paul were killed. He denied murdering them. ALEX MURDAUGH DEMANDS NEW EVIDENCE SEARCH IN HUNT FOR CRACKS IN CASE Whether jurors in the new trial will be able to hear portions of that prior testimony could become especially important if Murdaugh chooses not to testify again. The defense has separately mounted a wider challenge to the charges themselves. Murdaugh’s attorneys, led by Dick Harpootlian, have asked McCaslin to dismiss the murder and weapons indictments, alleging that false physical evidence was presented to the grand jury that indicted him. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X The motion targets testimony from South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigator David Owen and raises questions about the evidence used to secure the original charges. ALEX MURDAUGH MURDER SAGA LANDS RIGHT BACK WHERE IT STARTED BEFORE NEXT LOWCOUNTRY COURTROOM BATTLE It is not yet clear whether McCaslin will rule on the dismissal motion Friday. Williams called the dismissal request "a big ask" and "the explosive one, frankly, at this point," noting that it attacks the validity of the indictments based on alleged misconduct or false statements. "They're alleging misconduct or false statements by one of the main case agents," he said. Williams added that he would be "a little surprised if that gets taken up on Friday," saying the issue will likely require evidence, testimony and additional briefing. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE Another major fight involves forensic evidence. FOLLOW US ON X Murdaugh’s attorneys have sought additional DNA testing using newer techniques, including testing tied to evidence found underneath Maggie's fingernails. GOT A TIP? Prosecutors have not opposed additional testing outright but have sought safeguards surrounding the handling of evidence, testing procedures and access to results. "Independent testing might be tough," Williams said. "It wouldn't shock me if she lets them have a separate new test by the defense. To me, that strikes me as being fair, assuming they have the evidence available to be retested." WATCH: Alex Murdaugh returns to court ahead of retrial LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST The defense has also sought to move the retrial out of Colleton County, where the killings occurred and where the first trial became a media spectacle. CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S. NEWS Murdaugh’s attorneys have argued that extensive publicity surrounding the case, along with the fallout from Hill’s conduct, makes it impossible for him to receive a fair trial there. They have proposed moving the case to nearby Charleston County. Williams said venue may be one of the more straightforward disputes for McCaslin to address Friday, though the location could be the real fight. "The battle, frankly, does seem to be not the venue change, but where," he said. "Personally, I'd be a little surprised if she doesn't change the venue." SEND US A TIP Other pending disputes involve access to phone data, third-party guilt evidence, discovery rules, polygraph evidence, juror questionnaires and protective orders governing sensitive material. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Fox News Digital has reached out to the attorney general's office and Murdaugh's defense team for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee9812c5335ae104657f4 Fox News Digital's News Quiz: August 14, 2026 te 2026-08-14T10:10:09.296Z Fox News Digital's News Quiz: August 14, 2026 Test your news knowledge with this week's Fox News Digital News Quiz, featuring the Wisconsin Democratic governor’s primary, and President Donald Trump’s reported Turkey departure and more. Looking for another challenge? James Carville's red line for the Democratic Party and a stripped Miss North Carolina USA title were featured in last week's News Quiz. Test your knowledge of family fun, medical marvels and more in this week's American Culture Quiz. If you're looking to play even more, you can find all of our quizzes by clicking here. Check back next week for the latest News Quiz from Fox News Digital. Thanks for playing! Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee9802c5335ae104657eb Board-certified OBGYN warns new Massachusetts late-term abortion law exposes mothers to danger te 2026-08-14T10:10:08.683Z Board-certified OBGYN warns new Massachusetts late-term abortion law exposes mothers to danger A board-certified OBGYN is pushing back against Massachusetts’ new abortion law, arguing that third-trimester abortions are medically unnecessary and can put mothers at risk. On Monday, Massachusetts became the 10th state to allow abortions throughout pregnancy, drawing criticism from pro-life advocates and some medical professionals. "If a woman's life is in danger, if she's facing a pregnancy complication beyond 24 weeks, we simply deliver her. And in fact, delivery is much more expedient than a later-in-pregnancy abortion procedure," Dr. Christina Francis, OBGYN and CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, told Fox News Digital. DEM GOV MAURA HEALEY SIGNS SWEEPING MASSACHUSETTS BILL ALLOWING ABORTIONS UP TO BIRTH Francis explained she can perform an emergency C-section in under five minutes, while an abortion later in pregnancy can take multiple days, which she said raises risks for both mother and baby. The law, signed by Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, gives physicians broader discretion in authorizing abortions later in pregnancy while shielding them from legal penalties. Healey said the changes are meant to prevent women from having to travel out of state for abortions later in pregnancy, which she said can complicate their care. Francis criticized the law, citing concerns about the well-being of both mother and child. "There's nothing in this law that says that at 39 weeks and five days, a woman could not have an abortion. These procedures are risky for the mom. They lead to significant risk of complications," she said, adding that she believes scientific evidence shows fetuses can feel pain much earlier in pregnancy. "The science is very clear, as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy, we know that babies feel pain, and we're talking about here dismemberment abortion procedures, where these babies are torn limb from limb, sometimes while they're alive, sometimes after they have had a heart attack induced by an injection directly into their heart," Francis said. The question of when fetal pain becomes possible remains disputed among medical groups. LATE-TERM ABORTION TAKES FRONT SEAT AS BLUE STATE RUSHES TO EXPAND ACCESS BEFORE SESSION ENDS Pro-life advocates also dispute the argument that abortions later in pregnancy are performed only in rare medical emergencies. Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate, told Fox News Digital that she’s seen firsthand that isn’t true. "We hear a lot of pro-choice advocates say, ‘You know, well, that just doesn't happen. It only happens in these very difficult certain circumstances.’ But I can tell you firsthand, as a former abortion clinic director, it's just not true," said Johnson, who now serves as CEO of And Then There Were None. PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACROSS MIDWEST AT RISK DUE TO LACK OF FEDERAL FUNDS AFTER 3 FACILITIES CLOSE IN MICHIGAN Johnson believes laws like Massachusetts’ are a reaction to conservative states that have imposed earlier limits on abortion, such as Texas, Florida and South Carolina. "It feels almost like rebellion. There's a lot of states that have moved in a more conservative direction, passing heartbeat bills, passing really restrictive legislation. And so we see, then the pendulum swings toward the other side," Johnson said. She added that while many pro-choice people support abortion rights, she believes most would reject third-trimester abortions. SANDERS-BACKED GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL'S PAST PRO-LIFE VIEWS CLASH WITH CURRENT ABORTION STANCE "A lot of pro-choice people will say, ‘OK, we understand abortion in the first trimester,' but this is out of step with the majority of pro-choice people. Most pro-choice people do not understand abortion at 36 weeks, an elective abortion at 36 weeks. But that is what this legislation allows," Johnson said. Healey touted the bill as a way to aid women and families who are confronted with wrenching decisions about keeping pregnancies late in the process. "I've heard heartbreaking stories from women and families who were preparing to welcome a healthy baby into their family, only to receive devastating news later in their pregnancy. Instead of being able to rely on the doctors they knew and trusted at home, they were forced to travel hundreds of miles and pay out of their pockets while navigating unimaginable grief," Healey said.  "That should never happen in Massachusetts," she continued. "This law continues our efforts to have the strongest abortion protections in the country because in Massachusetts, we believe healthcare decisions should be made between women and their doctors." Fox News Digital reached out to Healey's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee9802c5335ae104657e2 102-year-old Navy veteran still craves hot wings after 102 combat missions in Korea: 'I might make it to 115' te 2026-08-14T10:10:08.056Z 102-year-old Navy veteran still craves hot wings after 102 combat missions in Korea: 'I might make it to 115' At 102 years old, Glenn Ward still has a healthy appetite. And when his birthday rolls around, there's one place he particularly wants to eat — Hooters. "We've been going there for years and years," the Arlington, Virginia, resident and U.S. Navy veteran told Fox News Digital. "It's sort of a tradition." He estimates the tradition goes back at least 15 years. HOOTERS SAYS KIDS, FAMILIES ARE PART OF ITS COMEBACK AS WAITRESSES INSIST THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN WELCOME "Hot wings, that's the main attraction there, hot wings," Ward said. Terry said his father particularly favors Hooters' 3 Mile Island wing sauce, among the restaurant chain's spicier offerings. Ward's birthdays at Hooters have become family affairs. Terry Ward said about 70 people attended his father's 100th birthday celebration in 2024, while even an ordinary birthday can draw a crowd. The restaurant regularly sets aside a separate room for the group. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS Ward's love of bold flavors is a long way from the food of his childhood. Ward grew up on a 6-acre farm along the Sandusky River in Ohio, where his family raised hundreds of chickens and grew fruits and vegetables, eating largely according to the seasons. Food was plentiful and wholesome, with fresh produce supplemented by canning when the growing season ended. "Everything was seasonal," Ward said. "We ate whatever happened to be in season." Sunday might mean homemade ice cream, made from strawberries, raspberries, peaches or whatever fruit was available. Without refrigeration, the family bought a block of ice, crushed it in a burlap sack and used a hand-cranked freezer, Ward recalled. Whatever they made had to be eaten that day. Another favorite was pan haus, a scrapple-like dish made after hog butchering, Ward said. Meat trimmings were cooked in a large cauldron, combined with cornmeal and seasonings, cooled in loaf pans, sliced and fried. Ward remembers it as "very, very tasty." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER His palate expanded considerably during a long Navy career. Ward served during World War II and later became a naval aviator, flying 102 combat missions during the Korean War. He remembers eating well throughout his service. "The Navy food was so good, I decided to stay," Ward joked. Today, Ward and his family still put considerable emphasis on food. Terry said his father often starts his day with a protein shake containing bananas, fresh fruit, milk and protein powder, while dinner generally includes meat, vegetables and carbohydrates. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Ward credits some of his longevity to a "balanced diet" and the meals he learned to eat as a child. "I might make it to 115," he said with a smile. "I'm hanging in there." And apparently, there's still room in that diet for hot wings. Kelly McGreal of Fox News Digital contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee7352c5335ae10465784 Ciscomani Champions $1.3 Million For New Huachuca City Fire Truck te 2026-08-14T10:00:21.223Z Ciscomani Champions $1.3 Million For New Huachuca City Fire Truck By Matthew Holloway | Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) met with Huachuca City officials Tuesday to discuss a $1.3 million federal funding provision intended to replace the town fire department’s aging ladder-equipped fire engine. The congressman visited Huachuca City this week and met with local leaders and fire personnel about the proposed purchase. The funding remains preliminary and has not been distributed to the town. The provision appears in H.R. 8646, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2027. The House passed the bill 213-210 on June 4, and it was received by the Senate on June 8. Senate approval and enactment of the appropriations legislation are still required before the funding becomes available. Grateful to see firsthand how the $1.3 million in federal funding I preliminarily secured will strengthen fire response in Huachuca City and across the region. Proud to fight for this meaningful investment, which will bring a much-needed quint ladder truck and help keep #AZ06… pic.twitter.com/p5j5qGuHhg — Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) August 12, 2026 Ciscomani’s Community Project Funding disclosure identifies Huachuca City as the intended recipient of $1.3 million for the “Community Fire Protection and Regional Mutual Aid Ladder Truck Acquisition Project.” The money would replace an aging fire engine with a quint ladder truck equipped with a 78-foot Viper aerial. According to the disclosure, the apparatus would be used for fire suppression, rescue operations, and emergency response. Huachuca City’s existing ladder-equipped engine dates to 2008 and is approaching the end of its service life. It is currently the department’s only apparatus equipped with a ladder. The town relies on grants and federal funding to finance large equipment purchases. The proposed truck would be stationed in Huachuca City and made available for regional mutual-aid responses. Ciscomani’s disclosure states that the apparatus would also support emergency operations in Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, Whetstone, and unincorporated areas of Cochise County. “This has different layers of purpose,” Ciscomani told KGUN while discussing the project’s regional role. Huachuca City Mayor Johann Wallace said the purchase would give the department approximately 20 additional years of apparatus service and allow it to continue assisting other communities throughout Cochise County. The Huachuca City proposal is among 20 fiscal year 2027 Community Project Funding requests supported by Ciscomani. His office announced in June that the fire-truck provision and two other projects in Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District had been included in the House-passed agriculture appropriations bill. According to a press release from Ciscomani’s office, the proposed funding for Huachuca City is included among a total of $7.3 million in FY2027 funding for Cochise County. “As Arizona’s sole appropriator in either the House or Senate, I have made it my mission to be a relentless advocate for Southern Arizona by listening to the needs of our communities and fighting to bring those priorities to Washington,” Ciscomani said.  “Every Community Project Funding request I champion is driven by local leaders and the people they serve, ensuring taxpayer dollars are invested where they will have the greatest impact. These meaningful investments in Cochise County will improve and strengthen public safety by equipping our first responders with the tools necessary to do their job effectively, such as replacing an aging fire engine with a new quint ladder truck, to ensure that across Cochise County they are prepared to meet the moment when it matters most.” H.R. 8646 remains pending in the Senate. The Huachuca City allocation will depend on the project remaining in the final appropriations legislation approved by Congress and signed into law. Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com. The post Ciscomani Champions $1.3 Million For New Huachuca City Fire Truck first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee7332c5335ae1046577b July Inflation Reaches 3.36% As U.S. Labor Market Shows Signs Of Cooling te 2026-08-14T10:00:19.629Z July Inflation Reaches 3.36% As U.S. Labor Market Shows Signs Of Cooling By Ethan Faverino | The Joint Economic Committee released its Monthly Inflation Update for July 2026, showing that consumer prices continued to rise, while real earnings remained mostly steady during the month. According to the report, the headline Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.07% from June to July and rose 3.36% over the previous year. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, increased 0.22% in July and was up 2.48% from July 2025. Energy prices declined 1.48% in July but remained significantly higher than a year earlier, with energy price inflation increasing 14.73% over the past 12 months. Food prices increased 0.08% during July and were up 2.98% compared with July 2025. CPI-U increased 0.07% in July & rose to 3.36% over the past year. Core CPI increased 0.22% & rose to 2.48% over the past year. Energy price inflation was down by 1.48% in July & was up 14.73% over the past year. Food price inflation rose 0.08% & was up 2.98% over the past year.… — Joint Economic Committee Republicans (@JECRepublicans) August 12, 2026 Inflation also varied across the country. Annual headline CPI inflation was highest in the Northeast at 4.1%, followed by the Midwest at 3.5%. The South recorded annual inflation of 3.2%, while the West had the lowest rate among the four regions at 3.0%. The inflation report comes less than a week after a disappointing jobs report that showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly lost 23,000 jobs in July. Economists had expected employers to add jobs during the month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also sharply revised employment gains for May and June downward by a combined 103,000 jobs, providing a weaker picture of the labor market than previously reported. The July employment report also showed an unemployment rate of 4.1%, down slightly from June. However, the decline was accompanied by a reduction in labor-force participation, while employment fell in areas including local government, education, and retail trade sectors. Healthcare continued to trend upward. The combination of persistent inflation and signs of a weakening labor market leaves the Federal Reserve facing a difficult balancing act as it considers its next interest-rate decision. The Federal Reserve previously voted 9-3 to maintain the benchmark interest rate, and the latest inflation and employment data could further reduce pressure on the central bank to raise rates at its September meeting. While inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, the weaker-than-expected jobs numbers and downward revisions to previous employment gains could give policymakers additional reason to exercise caution. The Federal Reserve will receive another round of inflation and employment data before its September meeting, giving policymakers a final set of economic data to consider as they weigh continued price pressures against growing signs of a cooling labor market. The July report also examined changes in workers’ real earnings, which account for the effects of inflation. For all employees on private, non-farm payrolls, real average weekly earnings decreased 0.02% from June to July, while real average hourly earnings declined 0.09%. Among production and nonsupervisory employees on private non-farm payrolls, real average weekly earnings increased 0.06% during the month. Real average hourly earnings for the group remained unchanged, with a net change of 0.00%. Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link. The post July Inflation Reaches 3.36% As U.S. Labor Market Shows Signs Of Cooling first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee7322c5335ae10465772 Gov. Hobbs Pushes For More Public Education Funding As Districts Sit On $8.3 Billion te 2026-08-14T10:00:18.113Z Gov. Hobbs Pushes For More Public Education Funding As Districts Sit On $8.3 Billion By Staff Reporter | Gov. Katie Hobbs says public education is woefully underfunded, but fiscal reporting indicates districts are flush with cash.   According to the latest Arizona Department of Education annual financial report, public school districts carried forward more than $8.3 billion in unspent funds from the 2024-25 fiscal year.  That is nearly equivalent to total appropriations that the state allocated for public education in the 2024-25 fiscal year: $8.9 billion, which goes beyond K-12 schools to include the Board of Regents, community colleges, and universities.  That $8.9 billion accounts for 55% of total appropriations out of the state’s general fund, which amounted to more than $16.2 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.  Within the $8.3 billion carried over from the 2024-25 fiscal year: $1.6 billion for bond building $1.3 billion for maintenance and operations $1.2 billion for “other” funding $941,000 for the Classroom Site Fund and Instructional Improvement Fund $884,000 for unrestricted capital outlay $708,000 for federal projects $672,000 for bond principal deduction $393,000 for debt service $248,000 for food service $150,000 for adjacent ways $147,000 for school plant $41,000 for state projects The emergency deficiencies correction, building renewal, and new school facilities funds had negative balances of approximately $395,000, $19 million, and $33 million, respectively.  Last fall, the Common Sense Institute estimated that school districts hold more than $20 billion in combined cash reserves and underutilized real estate.  Public school district enrollment has declined steadily since 2008, more so in recent years after the state allowed universal enrollment for the ESA program in 2022.  Hobbs has advocated for lawmakers to revive Proposition 123, which would take around $300 million every year from the State Land Trust Permanent Fund and give it to education. $300 million is equivalent to a drop in the public education fund bucket: approximately 3% of what the state allocated from its general fund in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Hobbs credited Prop 123 as providing “critical funding” for districts and educators in her State of the State address earlier this year. The governor said the funding provided by the proposition curbed the budget shortfall and would enable teacher pay raises and prevent future tax hikes.  The governor and lawmakers have failed to reach a consensus on renewing Prop 123. The proposition expired in June 2025.  Teresa Leyba Ruiz, the Democratic nominee for superintendent of public instruction, wants to claw back another 3% from a potential funding source. As reported earlier this week, Ruiz proposed reverting the $350 million set aside in Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program funds back to public schools.  32% of educators reported having an external job and 21% of educators indicated additional paid responsibilities and a second job outside their school, according to a 2024 report by Hobbs’ Educator Retention Task Force issued in partnership with the Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy.  That same report identified inadequate salary, unpaid duties and hours, pay differences, and salary compression as issues impacting retention. The report estimated that only 16% of educators agreed that their salary was satisfactory and motivated them to stay in their professions. A more recent poll of more than 9,300 educators during the 2025-26 school year by the Arizona Department of Education also found that teacher pay was one of the biggest sources of dissatisfaction for educators.  AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link. The post Gov. Hobbs Pushes For More Public Education Funding As Districts Sit On $8.3 Billion first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee72e2c5335ae10465760 Repz Named HYROX Official Online Training Partner and Launches Its App Worldwide te 2026-08-14T10:00:14.600Z Repz Named HYROX Official Online Training Partner and Launches Its App Worldwide Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee72d2c5335ae10465757 The Local Roast Proves That Where and When Coffee Is Roasted Matters More Than Most Drinkers Realize te 2026-08-14T10:00:13.432Z The Local Roast Proves That Where and When Coffee Is Roasted Matters More Than Most Drinkers Realize Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee72c2c5335ae1046574e Glacier Travel America LLC Expands Into Major Event Travel With 2026 Breeders Cup Room and Rental Car Services for Discerning Travelers te 2026-08-14T10:00:12.332Z Glacier Travel America LLC Expands Into Major Event Travel With 2026 Breeders Cup Room and Rental Car Services for Discerning Travelers Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ee72a2c5335ae10465741 Our View: County has a role in transit, but it needs clear rules te 2026-08-14T10:00:10.998Z Our View: County has a role in transit, but it needs clear rules Mohave County has a reasonable case for helping keep a Kingman bus route running. But if county government is going to enter the transit business, it needs rules that apply beyond Kingman. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7edb712c5335ae1046514b America’s promise to our Afghan allies is still unfinished five years later te 2026-08-14T09:10:09.398Z America’s promise to our Afghan allies is still unfinished five years later In 2021, after nearly two decades, the United States abruptly withdrew military forces from Afghanistan, causing the nation to fall back under Taliban control. Almost five years later, it’s hard to forget the images of crowds of people clinging on to planes in a desperate attempt to escape what lay ahead for their country. In the aftermath, many conservative evangelicals and veterans’ advocates stood up for Afghans fleeing persecution and violence. But the job remains unfinished. Now is the time to renew our efforts and push for a lasting solution for our Afghan neighbors. As the Taliban retook Kabul, those allies were suddenly in grave danger. Their ranks included many translators, drivers and others who became targets because they worked with the United States. Many turned to the U.S. for such a chance at safety, and in 2021, a multi-agency, public-private effort mobilized to rally around our allies. Both our organizations support Afghan evacuees in different ways. World Relief, in coordination with hundreds of local churches, has spent years resettling Afghan families in American communities, and AfghanEvac has fought to bring home the mission partners who served alongside our troops and enabled the U.S. mission. Since the beginning of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, promises have been made to provide a pathway to legal residency in America for Afghan allies who assisted the U.S. government. SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNSa Many evangelical Christians in the U.S. recognized the moral crisis at stake and were eager to help welcome and support people fleeing persecution in Afghanistan. Evangelical leader Franklin Graham led  an initiative to organize support for Afghans. Here at World Relief, we were flooded by calls from churches wanting to help, and our offices were soon full of donations. At the time, polls found a majority of evangelicals supported taking in Afghan refugees. Due to unprecedented levels of support, many Afghan families were soon resettled in American communities.  Ideally, Afghans who had worked for the U.S. government would have arrived with approved Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) or through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, either of which would have ensured new arrivals that they had a permanent place in the United States. But due to the urgent nature of the evacuation, most of the roughly 70,000 Afghans  brought to the U.S. by the federal government in the months immediately after the fall of Kabul were admitted on humanitarian parole, which allowed them to be lawfully present and authorized to work, but only temporarily. This was conducted through Operation Allies Welcome, an initiative made possible through grassroots veteran involvement. Some of these individuals were subsequently granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a distinct but still, obviously, temporary legal protection.   When the conditions in Afghanistan did not improve over time, it was clear a more lasting resolution was needed. The Afghan Adjustment Act was originally introduced in 2022 and 2023 to create a pathway to a green card and citizenship for Afghans with little hope of returning home. As its name suggests, the bill would establish an adjustment process for tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees to gain permanent legal status. The act has bipartisan endorsements and the support of many evangelical Christian organizations . However, despite the diverse coalition behind urging Congress and President Biden to act, the bill failed to become law, leaving many stuck in limbo.  Since the beginning of the second Trump presidency, their situation has not improved. Little has been done to help Afghans already present on temporary status, and pathways for those still stuck in Afghanistan or in refugee camps in neighboring countries have been shut down. No Afghan principal applicants have been issued SIVs in 2026, and for those SIV applicants still waiting to be processed, the average wait time is over 1,000 days, leaving them hanging in suspense. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been effectively closed for all but a favored minority. In July of 2025, Temporary Protected Status was terminated for nearly 12,000 Afghans — despite pushback from evangelicals — forcing them into an impossible situation. By ending or suspending these programs, the administration has not just abandoned Afghans but has closed the door to anyone facing persecution abroad.  Despite many attempts since the early waves of Afghan arrivals, a legislative fix still has not been passed. A new bill has recently been proposed  in both the House and the Senate — the Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026 — that would re-secure TPS for Afghans, protecting them from removal and buying more time to find a permanent fix. This act is needed to address the urgent crisis facing Afghan evacuees. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION The response in 2021 by churches, veterans’ groups and many other Americans, was overwhelmingly positive and extended welcome to Afghans. However, as we reflect on the five-year anniversary of the evacuation, the work of helping them integrate and make a home in the United States is incomplete. Now is the time for us to secure their welcome permanently. For the faith communities that have carried so much of this work, Scripture is direct about welcoming the stranger and loving your neighbor. For veterans, and for a country that gave its word, the obligation is just as plain. America told these men and women that if they stood with us, we would stand with them. Both roads lead to the same place. Will we support and protect our Afghan neighbors through our hospitality or abandon them out and succumb to fear and apathy? Furthermore, to not fulfill our agreements with our Afghan allies would be to violate our promises as Americans. That is not abstract. By showing ourselves untrustworthy, we risk losing potential allies’ cooperation in future conflicts, putting the lives of our service members in danger. Since Kabul’s fall, the need has been unambiguous, and through the beginning of 2025, the political will was strong. But as a nation, we have faltered. We must once again stand up for our allies and urge our officials to take action passing the Afghanistan TPS Act, the Enduring Welcome Act, and reopening the resettlement program to all eligible mission partners. Not just because it’s good for our service members in future conflicts, but because it’s the right thing to do. Shawn VanDiver is the founder and president of #AfghanEvac. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7edb702c5335ae10465142 Innovation is key to America staying a superpower. But it is missing an essential piece te 2026-08-14T09:10:08.829Z Innovation is key to America staying a superpower. But it is missing an essential piece Former Wyoming Republican Sen. Malcolm Wallop once observed, "I don’t think the only place to fight for freedom is in the halls of Congress." The same can be said of innovation. America’s technological leadership is not secured only in research labs or startup incubators. It is also built in factories, machine shops, testing facilities and supply chains that transform bold ideas into real-world capabilities. Washington talks constantly about innovation, but too often punishes the very capital investment, permitting, workforce development, energy production and industrial expansion that make innovation possible. When people think of innovation, they often picture groundbreaking technologies or historic milestones. Recent developments like SpaceX’s record-breaking initial public offering or NASA’s continued progress on the Artemis program highlight an exciting era for aerospace. These achievements deserve recognition, but they also raise important questions about what actually drives innovation. NASA OPENS FIRST MAJOR NEW WIND TUNNEL IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS AT VIRGINIA FACILITY Innovation is only as meaningful as a company’s ability to deliver it. A revolutionary design has limited impact if it cannot be manufactured efficiently, tested rigorously, or produced at the scale customers and government partners require. That is why investments in manufacturing capacity, advanced production technologies and modern infrastructure deserve just as much attention as the breakthroughs they make possible. The Boeing Company offers one example of this principle in practice. The company is investing in U.S. manufacturing facilities, production stability, domestic hiring, supply-chain resilience, including a $1 billion 787 expansion. Investments like these strengthen the industrial base that supports future technological advancement while helping modernize the systems that power American aerospace and defense. Lockheed Martin is another industry leader making similar investments across its manufacturing footprint. The company has expanded facilities in Texas, Arkansas and New York while simultaneously investing in advanced manufacturing technologies, robotics and tools to increase production capacity and improve efficiency. These investments illustrate how innovation is not just designing ideas for the next generation. It lies in modern facilities and the industrial capacity to build them at scale. PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL, THREATENS READINESS FOR CHINA AGGRESSION While breakthrough discoveries often dominate headlines, sustained innovation depends just as much on the ability to manufacture, scale and continuously improve the systems we already have in place. More often than not, the conversation centers exclusively on research and development or startup culture while overlooking one of innovation’s most important drivers, capital expenditures. Also known as CapEx, these are the investments companies make to purchase, build, or modernize long-term assets like factories, manufacturing equipment, technology and infrastructure. These investments provide the physical foundation that allows new ideas to move beyond the drawing board and into production. The benefits of CapEx extend far beyond a company’s balance sheet. Building a new manufacturing facility creates demand for construction workers, electricians, engineers, suppliers and numerous other Americans long before production begins. Once operational, those facilities support highly skilled manufacturing, engineering and technical careers that strengthen local economies while expanding the nation’s industrial capacity. In other words, investment in infrastructure is also an investment in people. SEC SEAN DUFFY: FREEDOM HAULERS PUTS VETERANS IN THE DRIVERS' SEATS OF NEW CAREERS This connection between investment and workforce development is particularly important in aerospace and defense. Modern facilities, resilient supply chains and advanced manufacturing capabilities allow companies to deliver increasingly complex systems with greater speed, quality and reliability. Those capabilities become even more valuable as global competition intensifies and demand for sophisticated defense technologies continues to grow. But factories and equipment alone do not create innovation. Skilled workers remain the industry’s greatest competitive advantage. Engineers, technicians, mechanics, production specialists and skilled tradespeople are responsible for transforming concepts into certified, operational products. Their expertise allows companies not only to build advanced technologies but also to maintain the quality and reliability expected from the aerospace industry. Unlike many startups, prime contractors possess the workforce, manufacturing capacity, and supplier networks necessary to bring complex programs from concept to deployment. Their role extends well beyond developing new technologies. They are responsible for designing, testing, producing and sustaining the systems that support commercial aviation and national defense for decades to come. As policymakers and industry leaders look toward the future of aerospace, innovation should be viewed through a broader lens. Breakthrough discoveries will always capture public attention, but they represent only one part of the equation. The factories we modernize, the supply chains we strengthen, the workers we train and the infrastructure we invest in are equally essential to maintaining America’s leadership. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION We need more than great ideas. We need long-term commitment to build the capacity that allows those ideas to succeed. By continuing to invest in manufacturing, infrastructure and the American workforce, the aerospace industry can ensure that the next generation of innovation is not only imagined here but built here, too. America cannot remain a superpower if we celebrate invention but neglect production. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7edb6b2c5335ae1046512a Brad Pitt’s Return to Drinking Is Not Unsafe, Experts Say te 2026-08-14T09:10:03.780Z Brad Pitt’s Return to Drinking Is Not Unsafe, Experts Say His disclosure in an interview revived a key question about sobriety: whether someone who once drank dangerously can ever drink moderately. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7edb6a2c5335ae10465121 An Unlikely Emergency Appeal to the Supreme Court from a Dog Named Bruce te 2026-08-14T09:10:02.771Z An Unlikely Emergency Appeal to the Supreme Court from a Dog Named Bruce A last-ditch filing this week came on behalf of a dog that a judge found to be “vicious” and shows how the court’s emergency docket has been growing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ed4682c5335ae10465015 NAU ROUNDUP: James Malamas named NAU football and men’s basketball play-by-play voice te 2026-08-14T08:40:08.115Z NAU ROUNDUP: James Malamas named NAU football and men’s basketball play-by-play voice James Malamas will take over as the new voice of Northern Arizona football and men's basketball, a role that Mitch Strohman held for 30 years. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ec8b02c5335ae10464e53 Best Bets: Friday, Aug. 14, 2026 te 2026-08-14T07:50:08.005Z Best Bets: Friday, Aug. 14, 2026 Today Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ec8af2c5335ae10464e4a Davis Dam releases for Aug. 14 te 2026-08-14T07:50:07.322Z Davis Dam releases for Aug. 14 Friday Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ec8ae2c5335ae10464e41 Gas prices Aug 14 te 2026-08-14T07:50:06.624Z Gas prices Aug 14 National average: $4.04 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ec1a92c5335ae10464d21 NYPD cop found guilty of chokehold in first conviction since restraint tactic banned after George Floyd death te 2026-08-14T07:20:09.147Z NYPD cop found guilty of chokehold in first conviction since restraint tactic banned after George Floyd death A New York City Police Department officer was found guilty on Thursday of strangulation and using a prohibited chokehold, marking the first time an NYPD officer was convicted under the city's 2020 chokehold ban, enacted after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. Omar Habib was convicted of the misdemeanor established under the law prohibiting certain restraint tactics by police officers. He was also found guilty of second-degree felony strangulation and third-degree misdemeanor assault. The felony strangulation conviction carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Bronx Criminal Supreme Court Judge Cynthia Isales ordered him held without bail. Habib, who was earlier suspended without pay, was terminated from the police department following his felony conviction after serving since 2007. The NYPD said his termination was required by law. NYC JUDGE SEEKS TO MAKE EXAMPLE OF OFFICER WHO THREW COOLER AT FLEEING SUSPECT, CAUSING FATAL CRASH He was responding to a 911 call at a Bronx catering hall on July 28, 2023, when a drunk and disorderly man resisted arrest, according to Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. Prosecutors said Habib put the man in a chokehold so tight that it impeded his breathing and circulation and caused him to lose consciousness. Habib’s attorney argued during the trial that other factors could have caused the man to pass out, such as drinking without eating enough food. Before his arrest, Habib had a history of substantiated misconduct complaints about excessive use of force and abusing his authority. The Civilian Complaint Review Board substantiated an allegation that Habib used a chokehold in a separate 2017 encounter. Habib was also accused of lying under oath and tampering with evidence in a 2016 gun raid, resulting in several defendants withdrawing their guilty pleas. The president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, Patrick Hendry, denounced Thursday's verdict. The officer's conviction was "further proof of a grim reality: every second police officers spend on this job puts them at risk of criminal prosecution, and pervasive anti-police propaganda has made it incredibly difficult to receive a fair trial," the police union boss said, according to the New York Daily News. Habib was charged under a 2020 city law that was passed after Floyd's murder in May of that year, sparking racial justice protests and a push for police accountability across the country. The New York City measure criminalizes chokeholds and certain forms of pressure on an arrestee’s chest or back that compress the diaphragm while an officer is making or attempting an arrest. MAMDANI CLASHES WITH DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS' PUSH TO ABOLISH POLICE AND PRISONS The law was challenged by police unions but was upheld by New York state’s highest court in 2023. Police use of chokeholds was already prohibited in most cases by NYPD policy when the law was enacted, but officers who used them were almost never prosecuted. NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo lost his job but faced no criminal charges after a department disciplinary proceeding found that he used a prohibited chokehold on Eric Garner, who died during a 2014 arrest after repeatedly saying he could not breathe, fueling protests over police use of force. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ec1a82c5335ae10464d18 Mexican national faces federal charges after CBP finds $238K in fentanyl inside electric moped te 2026-08-14T07:20:08.435Z Mexican national faces federal charges after CBP finds $238K in fentanyl inside electric moped U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered more than 16 pounds of fentanyl – with an estimated street value of nearly $240,000 – hidden inside an electric moped attempting to enter the U.S. at the southern border, authorities said. CBP said a 22-year-old Mexican national is facing federal charges following the seizure earlier this month. Officials said the man was driving a 2024 Revoo electric moped when he applied for admission into the United States on Aug. 3 and was referred for a secondary inspection. CBP SEIZES MASSIVE METH HAUL WORTH MILLIONS STASHED IN SECRET TILE SHIPMENT According to CBP, officers used a nonintrusive imaging system that detected anomalies beneath the rear of the moped. After a CBP canine alerted officers to the area, a physical inspection uncovered seven packages containing 16.53 pounds of white fentanyl powder with an estimated street value of $238,032. "Smugglers are employing innovative tactics to smuggle lethal drugs into the country," San Ysidro Port Director Mariza Marin said in a statement. "Despite these challenges, officers remain vigilant while effectively utilizing their training, canine resources, and nonintrusive technology to thwart these smuggling attempts," Marin added. TWO SUSPECTS ARRESTED AFTER CRASHING THROUGH CAMP PENDLETON GATE WITH 112 POUNDS OF COCAINE AND FENTANYL CBP officers seized the fentanyl, moped, a GPS tracker and a cellphone. The driver was arrested and will face federal prosecution for narcotics importation, officials said. The seizure comes after CBP officers stopped two separate vehicles and confiscated more than $300,000 worth of narcotics in a single day in May. Officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry referred a 2013 Honda Civic for secondary inspection on May 17 after a scan detected anomalies in the vehicle's firewall. FEDS SEIZE $6.4M WORTH OF COCAINE ABOARD OIL TANKER AT PORT OF LOS ANGELES, ARREST SUSPECTED CARTEL SMUGGLER Officials discovered six packages containing white fentanyl powder worth an estimated $113,600, along with 8.4 pounds of cocaine valued at approximately $161,600. That same day at the Calexico East Port of Entry, about 100 miles away, officers referred a 2011 Nissan Cube for secondary inspection. A scan detected anomalies in the vehicle's flooring, where officers subsequently discovered 63 packages of methamphetamine, according to CBP. Fox News Digital's Leo Briceno contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ebcf92c5335ae10464c63 Murder suspect captured following 45-day, 3-state manhunt after victim discovered in shallow grave te 2026-08-14T07:00:09.244Z Murder suspect captured following 45-day, 3-state manhunt after victim discovered in shallow grave Murder suspect Isabelle Johnson was arrested Thursday following a weeks-long multistate manhunt spanning Florida, Georgia and Alabama, authorities said. A U.S. Marshals task force arrested Johnson, 38, at a home in Cottondale, about an hour west of Tallahassee, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.  She was wanted on a murder charge in the death of Jason Coulthart, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave in Florida on June 25. Authorities said Johnson was taken into custody without incident Thursday afternoon, capping a 45-day manhunt. She was booked into the Jackson County Jail and is expected to be extradited to Walton County. Officials said she could face additional charges. ACCUSED KILLER'S ALLEGED DISGUISES UNRAVEL AS SHERIFF RELEASES NEW CLUES IN MONTH-LONG MANHUNT "We got her," the sheriff's office said. "Isabelle Johnson is in custody." Officials said the arrest stemmed from information developed by the Walton County Sheriff's Office Cyber Crimes Unit about Johnson's whereabouts. Jackson County Sheriff Donald Edenfield said that after receiving the information, his deputies and members of the task force responded to an address off Peanut Road, just outside Cottondale. Walton County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Dustin Cosson praised the cooperation among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that led to Johnson's arrest. 'AMERICA'S MOST WANTED' FUGITIVE CAPTURED ON SAILBOAT OFF NJ COAST AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE RUN "It's absolutely a good day," Cosson said. "It's really important, again, just want to stress to the public. She's here, she's in custody." "We can't express the amount of appreciation for the work that's been done," he added. Cosson said investigators put in "tons and tons of man hours" during the roughly 45-day search for Johnson, while noting that the broader investigation has involved more than 40 subpoenas and over 20 search warrants. Coulthart was reported missing May 24 after he was last seen leaving the College Condominiums on East College Boulevard in Niceville. FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED AFTER SUSPECTED HUMAN REMAINS FOUND BURIED AT PROPERTY WHERE HIS FATHER LIVED During the missing-person investigation, detectives developed information that led authorities to a property off Sunset Lane in Freeport. Investigators obtained a search warrant and found Coulthart's body buried in a shallow grave on June 25, according to the sheriff's office. Five other people have been arrested in connection with the case. Michael Ray White, Kathleen Morris, Bobbi Wagstaff, Martin Leaverton and Sandra Leaverton have been charged with accessory to a capital felony after the fact. Authorities said Thursday that they expect additional arrests in the case. During the manhunt, the Walton County Sheriff's Office described Johnson as "cunning" and a "master manipulator" while warning anyone who may have been helping her to stop. Officials said additional details surrounding Johnson's arrest could not immediately be released because the investigation remains active. Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7ea0d92c5335ae104647fc Detransitioners reveal how doctors pushed them toward life-altering treatment as teens te 2026-08-14T05:00:09.736Z Detransitioners reveal how doctors pushed them toward life-altering treatment as teens Three detransitioners claim they were pressured by doctors and hospitals when they were young to pursue gender transition, including medical treatment in two cases while they were minors, according to a new HHS-commissioned report. The stories of Clementine Breen, Soren Aldaco and Luke Healy were featured in the Department of Health and Human Services' "Wolves in White Coats: How Doctors and Hospitals Pushed and Profited from the Fraud of "Gender Medicine" report released on Thursday. The HHS-commissioned report alleges financial incentives encouraged hospitals and doctors to provide gender transition treatments and identifies insurance billing practices that it says may be improper or warrant further investigation. Breen was only 12 years old and struggling with a changing adolescent body and unresolved trauma from earlier sexual abuse when the then-minor learned about gender transition online. Breen alleges, according to the HHS report, that doctors at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles told Breen’s parents the preteen was "100% trans" and at high risk of suicide without medical intervention. According to the report, Breen began puberty blockers at 12, testosterone at 13 and underwent a double mastectomy at 14. HHS OFFICIAL WARNS OF IRREVERSIBLE RISKS AS TRUMP ADMIN RESTRICTS FUNDING FOR YOUTH GENDER PROCEDURES Breen’s mental health later deteriorated, and the teen stopped taking testosterone at 18 after therapy led Breen to conclude that the distress surrounding gender identity was connected to earlier trauma, according to the report. Breen reported experiencing pain and irregular menstrual cycles and requiring estrogen. When Breen later sought breast reconstruction, doctors questioned the teen’s mental stability, and some stopped responding, according to the report. "She did not face this same scrutiny when seeking a mastectomy at 14," the report states. HHS also said Breen discovered letters in the medical record claiming a lifelong history of gender dysphoria. Now studying theater at UCLA, Breen said in the report that the treatments and surgery continue to have physical consequences. "How can a child consent to losing fertility or the ability to breastfeed if no one checks whether she even understand what that means?" Breen said. Aldaco said gender-related distress emerged during adolescence and that online communities framed gender transition as the "appropriate response" to those feelings, according to the report. After talking to a doctor, Aldaco was prescribed testosterone with several specialists treating the then-teen for gender dysphoria, and the report says Aldaco gave no indication that providers considered alternative treatment options outside what it calls a "sex rejection" model. Aldaco began taking testosterone before receiving a double mastectomy to remove breast tissue. Aldaco then began suffering severe complications after surgery, causing pain the young person said "I don’t think I’ll ever forget." "Despite these negative developments, providers did not initiate a structured reassessment of her treatment plan," the report says, adding that the support received after treatments was insufficient compared to the systems that pushed the life-altering decisions. "Soren’s experience reflects the imbalance of care for cases like hers," the report reads. "While her pathway into sex rejection medicalization involved coordinated referrals, approvals, and interventions across multiple providers, the pathway out involved no comparable system of support." Healy was just 10 years old when first learning of an online community where adults discussed transgender identities, according to the HHS report. Within three years, Healy says he came to identify as a girl. After discussing the issue with his parents, Healy was taken to a counselor to talk about it. "The only people who seriously asked what might have caused his distress were his parents," the report reads. "Meanwhile, institutional figures … treated his new identity as settled and moved quickly to affirm it." "Luke’s parents refused to consent to puberty blockers or hormones while he was still a minor," the report added. "Luke now describes their refusal as one of the bravest things they ever did." Still wanting to be a girl at 18, Healy began pursuing transitioning treatments. Healy started with estrogen and began receiving consultations for surgical treatments before slowly starting to realize that the treatments were not easing psychological stress. JD VANCE CALLS ON DOJ TO PROSECUTE ALLEGED FRAUD IN TEEN TRANSGENDER TREATMENT "Each intervention led to pressure for further intervention," the report reads. "In his view, the model was built around escalation rather than resolution." Healy eventually began to question the procedures doctors were recommending. "One doctor quoted him approximately $200,000 for facial feminization surgery. Another, he says, spoke to him like a car salesman while encouraging tracheal shave," the report said. "Luke came to realize he was being sold procedures, not psychological help." Rather than continuing the efforts to become a girl, Healy focused on battling the substance abuse problems developed during the process, quitting drinking and drugs. "He recognized the same obsessive, destructive pattern in gender ideology that he had seen in addiction," the report reads. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e8e152c5335ae104644f9 Angel Reese smacked in the face by Sun's Aaliyah Edwards, has poor shooting night in Dream win te 2026-08-14T03:40:05.971Z Angel Reese smacked in the face by Sun's Aaliyah Edwards, has poor shooting night in Dream win Angel Reese missed 10 of her 13 shots on Thursday night and was smacked in the face. During the Atlanta Dream's 104-69 victory over the Connecticut Sun, Reese had a run-in with Sun player Aaliyah Edwards in the second quarter. Reese attempted to make a layup while being double-teamed, and as she finally got the shot up, Edwards' hand came down right on Reese's face and head area. DREAM'S ANGEL REESE THROWN DOWN IN HEATED MOMENT WITH TEMPO'S ISABELLE HARRISON Edwards fell to the floor behind Reese after the smack. Reese, enraged, then turned, stood over Edwards and shouted at her. Just moments later on the sideline, Reese was seen gesturing to indicate Edwards hit her in the neck. Upon review, Edwards' foul on Reese was upgraded to a Flagrant 1. The foul was not addressed in the Dream's postgame press conference. But the foul wasn't the only tough moment Reese faced on Thursday. Early in the first quarter, Reese had a shot brutally rejected by Sun player Brittney Griner. Griner ended up blocking two more of Reese's shots throughout the game. SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DIJONAI CARRINGTON AFTER FLAGRANT FOUL AND 'WHITE PRIVILEGE' POST Reese finished the game with eight points, making just three of 13 shots, with two turnovers. However, she did have 15 rebounds, her specialty. Flagrant fouls in the WNBA have become a national storyline in 2026. Other infamous fouls this year have included Alyssa Thomas' throat punch on Caitlin Clark in June. Then, last Saturday, DiJonai Carrington smacked Sophie Cunningham in the face on a Cunningham layup attempt. The WNBA is navigating an ongoing national controversy over incidents involving hard contact, and cultural discussions over trans athletes in women's sports. Reese will represent Team USA alongside Clark at the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany in a few weeks, while the entire WNBA takes a break from the chaos. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e870f2c5335ae1046437a Kyle Schwarber launches two homers into the corn after MLB's incredible HoF tribute at Field of Dreams game te 2026-08-14T03:10:07.726Z Kyle Schwarber launches two homers into the corn after MLB's incredible HoF tribute at Field of Dreams game It's not heaven, it's Iowa. Major League Baseball returned to the baseball movie version of heaven on Thursday afternoon, with the now-traditional Field of Dreams game. A tribute to one of the most iconic baseball movies in film history, this time featuring two teams fighting for postseason spots: the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. Broadcast on Netflix for 2026, the game started with a fitting, and fantastic, tribute to both the movie's famous cornfield, and the history of real world baseball. After the two teams walked through the corn to enter the field, Kyle Schwarber and Byron Buxton introduced a group of 26 Hall of Fame players who followed suit. BASEBALL FANS FUME AT MLB'S 'FIELD OF DREAMS' GAME DECISION, REPORTER TRICIA WHITAKER HAS A BOAT DAY & LLWS! "As the movie 'Field of Dreams' reminded us, the one constant through all the years has been baseball," Buxton said. "Inspiring us and connecting generations." "Tonight we are honored to share this special field with many of the legends who shaped our careers and whose amazing careers took them all the way to the Hall of Fame," Schwarber added. Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt represented the Phillies, while Joe Mauer, Bert Blyleven and Jim Kaat represented the Twins. Other players included Billy Wagner, Tony Perez, Scott Rolen, Paul Molitor, Jim Thome, Cal Ripken Jr., Andre Dawson, Rollie Fingers and Fergie Jenkins. Some other more modern players included CC Sabathia, Trevor Hoffman, Ivan Rodriguez, Larry Walker, Fred McGriff, Adrian Beltre, as well as new inductees Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent. Can't start it off any better than that. Unless you're Kyle Schwarber. ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW! Leading off the game, Schwarber launched a massive home run deep into the right field corn. The Phillies added another run in the first to take a 2-0 lead, but the Twins battled back in the bottom of the second thanks to Luke Keaschall reaching the cornfield for a solo homer of his own. But Schwarber answered back in the top of the fourth, hitting his second homer of the game that quite literally bounced off Keaschell's glove at the right field fence. Phillies starter Aaron Nola had one of his best performances of the season, striking out nine hitters over five innings with just one run allowed on the Keaschall homer. And his team's offense just kept adding on, with Brandon Marsh adding a two-run homer of his own in the top of the 7th, expanding the lead to six. Minnesota never got much of a rally going against the Philadelphia bullpen, as the Phillies cruised to the 7-1 win. Many fans on social media did point out the irony of MLB adding a "FanDuel" advertisement, essentially a betting platform, at the Field of Dreams stadium. Advertising a gambling site when the plot of the movie the game celebrates centers on the "Black Sox" gambling scandal and Shoeless Joe Jackson is a sign of how the times have changed. But the story of the game, as always with this special event, is the incredible visuals and atmosphere created by playing a regular season Major League Baseball game in the middle of a cornfield in Iowa. Yes, it's become an expected start of the midsummer schedule, and yes, Netflix's pre-game hosting choices left something to be desired. But with the movie now somehow 37 years old, it's a wonderful way to connect the classic to younger generations. Baseball is the American pastime for a reason, it connects fans from different eras in a way few other sports can. This tribute to the movie and its place in baseball history has been an overwhelming success, to MLB's credit. And the continuing popularity of it shows it's true that if you build it, they will come. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e7dab2c5335ae104640dc American Missionary Kidnapped in Niger Said to Be Released From Captivity te 2026-08-14T02:30:03.845Z American Missionary Kidnapped in Niger Said to Be Released From Captivity The release of Kevin Rideout, an American missionary pilot who was seized in Niger’s capital last fall, has been a priority for the White House. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e78ff2c5335ae10464017 White House exposes ‘Transshipment Scam’ costing US up to $26B, points finger at China te 2026-08-14T02:10:07.683Z White House exposes ‘Transshipment Scam’ costing US up to $26B, points finger at China Concerns are growing that foreign exporters are routing goods through third countries to evade U.S. tariffs, according to a new White House report released Thursday. As well as China, Panama, Mexico and Colombia are among more than 40 countries identified as posing a high transshipment risk, together with Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Transshipment can involve routing goods through an intermediary country before they enter the United States under a different country of origin, potentially qualifying for lower tariffs. TOP TRUMP AGENCY PURGES OVER 20 SUSPECTED CHINA-LINKED PRODUCTS FROM FEDERAL MARKETPLACE The 25-page report, titled "The Great Transshipment Scam," was produced by the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, which is led by trade adviser Peter Navarro. The report says China offers the most developed historical example of transshipment. Following the imposition of Section 301 tariffs on China in 2018, the direct U.S. trade deficit with China fell in 2019 and 2020. "After their imposition, Chinese exporters increasingly routed goods through third countries," the report says, with goods that previously moved directly from China to the United States instead being shipped through jurisdictions where limited assembly, finishing, repackaging, relabeling or documentation changes could create the appearance of a different national origin. PETER NAVARRO: TRUMP'S ARTEMIS VISION IS NOW FLYING — AND CHINA IS PAYING ATTENTION "Over time, these practices contributed to the development of a global network of production hubs, logistics platforms, free-trade zones, bonded warehouses, processing corridors, and re-export centers," the report said of the transshipment practice. The report also estimates tariff-avoiding transshipment costs the U.S. Treasury between $19 billion and $26 billion in revenue annually. "The Trump administration has taken steps to strengthen transshipment enforcement." "For years, the great transshipment scam has let communist China launder its exports," Navarro said, according to The Associated Press. TRUMP HEADS TO BEIJING FOR HIGH-STAKES XI TALKS AS TAIWAN TENSIONS, TRADE DISPUTES TEST US STRENGTH Navarro also said countries such as India could also use transshipment to avoid tariffs and that new trade frameworks pursued by the Trump administration will include provisions to penalize trading partners that engage in the practice. The report cites government and private-sector estimates putting the value of goods transshipped to avoid tariffs at roughly $34.2 billion to $303 billion annually. Navarro said U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun using artificial intelligence in a prototype program to detect transshipment. He also said importers found to have falsified a product’s origin can face tariffs applied retroactively for roughly a year. The report comes ahead of a planned September visit to Washington by Chinese President Xi Jinping, following President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing in May. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e78fe2c5335ae1046400e Anthony Richardson's turnovers in preseason opener raise more questions about his Colts future te 2026-08-14T02:10:06.980Z Anthony Richardson's turnovers in preseason opener raise more questions about his Colts future If you're just looking at Anthony Richardson's statistics from the first half of Thursday's preseason opener for the Indianapolis Colts, remember this truth: Stats lie. The stats from the first half of this game when the quarterback played speak to a solid outing. He completed 11 of 14 passes. That's good. His quarterback rating was a respectable 80.1. And Richardson led the Colts on a second-quarter TD drive. COLTS DECLINE ANTHONY RICHARDSON'S FIFTH-YEAR OPTION, SETTING FORMER NO. 4 OVERALL PICK UP FOR FREE AGENCY But those stats that suggest this was acceptable for a first game of 2026 lie. Because Richardson threw an interception on his third pass of the game. And he fumbled in the second quarter. And those turnovers are what will glow in neon when coach Shane Steichen studies the game tape on Sunday, regardless of what he might tell reporters before or afterward. So, the grand Anthony Richardson experiment that was supposed to deliver a franchise quarterback certainly by the start of his fourth NFL season isn't going as scripted. The experiment instead caught fire Thursday evening and blew up the lab. And what does this all mean? This ain't it. Richardson did lead a touchdown drive, completing an 18-yard pass and a 9-yard pass on a screen. He also had a 7-yard run and scored on a 1-yard sneak, reminding everyone that he’s a great athlete capable of doing damage with his legs. But the turnovers were cringey. They remind everyone that Richardson didn't play enough his previous three seasons and he doesn't maximize opportunities when he does play. Richardson, you'll recall, arrived in Indianapolis as one of the NFL’s biggest swings for the fences in the 2023 draft. Colts GM Chris Ballard drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick. The GM weighed Richardson's 13 starts at the University of Florida, which everyone knew wasn't enough, against his amazing size, strength, ability to run and bazooka right arm. And the decision was that Richardson was worth the risk. But the quarterback started only four games as a rookie before a shoulder injury ended his season. He returned as the Colts’ starter in 2024 and remained a dangerous runner, producing 499 rushing yards and six touchdowns, but his development as a passer was erratic. He completed only 47.7% of his throws with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions, briefly lost the starting job after tapping out of a game because he was tired and finished the season having raised as many questions about his future as he answered. Then things got really bad. SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS The Colts signed Daniel Jones, himself a draft washout with the New York Giants, as a free agent to compete with Richardson. Jones won the job — and quite easily, in hindsight. To make matters worse, Richardson couldn't help the team when Jones got injured last year because he was also injured (again). He actually injured himself prior to a game while working with stretch bands. So the Colts, needing a starter, turned to Riley Leonard and then to veteran Philip Rivers. Now 24, Richardson is no longer being evaluated as the Colts’ quarterback of the future. He's competing with Leonard for the backup job behind Jones. Neither player is dominating because Leonard also threw an interception on his second possession of the second half. Daniel Jones better stay healthy for Indianapolis. FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e71f52c5335ae10463ecb CNN calls out Patriot Games participants as 'overwhelmingly White,' citing outlet's analysis te 2026-08-14T01:40:05.949Z CNN calls out Patriot Games participants as 'overwhelmingly White,' citing outlet's analysis CNN's Audie Cornish called out the Patriot Games for being "overwhelmingly White" on Wednesday, taking aim at the Freedom250-sponsored event that President Donald Trump attended this week. "The president promised the best of the best student athletes. I‘m not sure that‘s what we got," CNN’s Audie Cornish said Wednesday during her morning show. "A CNN analysis actually found that a specific demographic of kids got a shot to compete. Of the ones who were featured in the Freedom 250 Instagram page, many attend private Christian schools. They also appear to be overwhelmingly White, and the application for the games didn‘t specify race." Cornish then played clips of videos also calling out the games on social media. One described it as the "dystopian Hunger Games." JEMELE HILL SAYS UFC EVENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE WAS 'PERFORMATIVE PATRIOTISM' THAT LACKED 'DIVERSITY' "I don‘t want to make fun of these kids. The contestants range in age from 14 to 17, but here are the things people are raising questions about. Not selected through any qualifying events. They recorded video essays, just sort of describing why they should be included. Some students were chosen to represent states where they don‘t even live," Cornish continued. White House spokesman Davis Ingle fired back at the criticism. "Thanks to President Trump and the incredible efforts of the Freedom 250 organization, athletes from all across the country had the opportunity to put their talents on national display and earn life-changing scholarships that would greatly impact their futures. The inaugural Patriot Games were a resounding success, and anyone who claims they were racist or otherwise clearly suffers from a severe and incurable disease known as Trump Derangement Syndrome that has completely rotted their peanut-sized brains," Ingle said. The Patriot Games is a national youth athletic competition held at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio, organized by Freedom250. It brought together teenage athletes ages 14 to 17, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and tribal nations to compete in sports and physical challenges as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. AS AMERICA MARKS 250 YEARS, OUR GREATEST CHAPTERS ARE STILL AHEAD OF US The competition awarded a $250,000 scholarship prize pool to one male and one female champion. The games took place between August 9 and August 11. Cornish asked her panel about the event and the concerns she raised. Steamboat Institute fellow Carine Hajjar, said the event came across more like a Trump rally. However, she said some of the criticism was silly. "I don't think that the idea of having some sort of sporting event for young American athletes is that crazy, especially around the 250th anniversary. I actually think it's a great idea. But this comes down to both I think poor execution of the event itself, and also some of the outrage around it, has been a little silly, too. I mean, at this point really, there's plenty of criticism to be made about it, but I think that this has become sort of a farce because of both sides. One, it was poorly planned, but two, people were rooting for it to lose all along," Hajjar said. Cornish said the games were similar to a UFC event. TRUMP TOUTS INDYCAR DRIVERS' 'SPECIAL' ABILITY AT FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX SHOWCASE, SEEMINGLY ENDING HOT DEBATE CNN published a report about the event on Aug. 9 which also compared the event to the Hunger Games. "The premise sounds almost fictional: one boy and one girl from every state, territory and some tribal nations, flown to a private campus in Ohio to compete in a televised athletic contest called the Patriot Games — a Trump-backed youth competition with obstacle courses, patriotic testimonials and inevitable comparisons to The Hunger Games," the report read. CNN did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Cornish also said that it seemed like America250 wasn't being celebrating, and said it was a "weird year." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e6fa12c5335ae10463e6a Live bullet found aboard United flight forces passengers off plane for security sweep at Denver airport te 2026-08-14T01:30:09.069Z Live bullet found aboard United flight forces passengers off plane for security sweep at Denver airport A United Airlines flight from Denver to San Diego was delayed Thursday after a live bullet was discovered aboard the plane before departure, prompting passengers to deplane while security personnel swept the aircraft. United Flight 1302 was preparing to leave Denver International Airport when the bullet was found during routine checks before the plane taxied to the runway, according to FOX31 Denver, which had a member of its news team aboard the flight. "The bad news is we found a live round, a bullet on the airplane," the speaker said. "This is a security breach here, and everybody is going to have to deplane." PASSENGER ALLEGEDLY BOARDS FLIGHT WITH FAKE BOARDING PASS, FORCING PLANE BACK TO GATE Passengers were instructed to leave the Boeing 737-900 with their carry-on bags while security personnel searched the aircraft. "We need everybody to deplane the aircraft with your carry-on bags. We’re going to have to carry out a security sweep of the aircraft after the plane is empty," the speaker said. "We apologize for this." The crew said at the time that it did not know how the bullet got aboard the aircraft or where it came from, according to FOX31. United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement to Fox News Digital. UNITED FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER PASSENGER'S 'MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS' TO BREACH COCKPIT "United flight 1302 from Denver to San Diego underwent a security sweep after a bullet was discovered on board prior to the flight’s departure," a spokesperson wrote. "Security personnel cleared the aircraft, which later departed for San Diego." United said the Boeing 737-900 was carrying 178 passengers and six crew members. The airline directed additional questions about the incident to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The flight was carrying 178 passengers and six crew members, according to information United provided to FOX31. Flight 1302 had been scheduled to depart Denver at about 1:25 p.m. local time. It ultimately took off at about 3:41 p.m., more than two hours after its scheduled departure, according to FOX31. It was not immediately clear who the bullet belonged to or how it ended up on the aircraft. Fox News Digital reached out to TSA and Denver International Airport for additional information. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e6f9c2c5335ae10463e41 California Ignored Sexual Abuse of Women in Prison, Justice Dept. Says te 2026-08-14T01:30:04.386Z California Ignored Sexual Abuse of Women in Prison, Justice Dept. Says A Justice Department report released on Thursday found that inmates at two state-run women’s prisons routinely had their rights violated. State officials say they have already put reforms in place. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e6af02c5335ae10463adc Seahawks sign former first-round Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold despite looming felony charges te 2026-08-14T01:10:08.435Z Seahawks sign former first-round Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold despite looming felony charges Terrion Arnold, the former Detroit Lions first-round pick, is no longer a free agent. Arnold and the Seattle Seahawks have reached a deal to bring him into the fold with the reigning Super Bowl champions, according to multiple reports. The Lions, who selected Arnold with their first-round pick in 2024, released him in June after he was arrested in Tampa, Florida, on felony charges connected to a robbery and kidnapping from February. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The Seahawks were among the teams that Arnold visited earlier this week as he looked for his next chapter in the league. He also visited with the Houston Texans, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints. But the Seahawks, who already tout a superb defense on paper, are who Arnold wants to play with next. In fact, during HBO’s "Hard Knocks," GM John Schneider was even seen discussing the potential of signing Arnold to the roster. Head coach Mike Macdonald also noted the "great tryout" Arnold had while in Seattle. LIONS RELEASE TERRION ARNOLD AFTER BOND SET AT $1 MILLION IN ARMED ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING CASE "It’s a situation where there’s other things that are surrounding it," Macdonald told reporters this week. "We’re aware of that. But we’re working through the situation right now. But it was a great visit. I really enjoyed meeting him, and I think he enjoyed being here, so we’ll see where it goes." Arnold is facing eight felony charges from allegations he orchestrated the abduction and beating of three men in February. Prosecutors said in June that Arnold arranged for the men to be pistol-whipped after he suspected them of stealing $100,000 in cash and luxury goods from him. He was described as the "primary conspirator" of the incident, and Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella set his bail at $1 million. However, Arnold’s attorney, R. Timothy Jansen, said in Hillsborough County Court this summer his client will be "absolutely denying these allegations." His agency, EAG Sports Management, added there is "no credible evidence" against him in this case. Lions head coach Dan Campbell also noted in March that the team did not believe Arnold was involved in this case based on the information they had at the time. Teams that were looking into adding Arnold to their roster needed to do their due diligence on the matter. No trial date has been set in his case. The charges against him carry a sentence of up to life in prison. And the NFL must decide whether Arnold should be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. If a team is willing to sign him now, it must mean he should be free to play, at least at some point, this season. Arnold was expected to be a starting corner for the Lions this season, making his release a big one for the depth chart. He recorded his first career interception last season in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, though he was only able to play eight games because of a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. Arnold played 16 games during his rookie season in 2024, tallying 10 passes defended and 60 combined tackles. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e66402c5335ae10463a0a Marco Rubio gets 68 new jobs in epic White House birthday gift inspired by viral meme te 2026-08-14T00:50:08.427Z Marco Rubio gets 68 new jobs in epic White House birthday gift inspired by viral meme Marco Rubio has a lot of jobs. Now, he has 68 more. The White House gave the secretary of state a gold-framed collage for his 55th birthday featuring dozens of versions of the viral "Rubio realizing" meme that has transformed President Donald Trump’s top diplomat into everything from an Iranian ayatollah to an astronaut. At the center of the 68-panel mosaic is the original, unaltered photograph of Rubio slumped on a couch in the Oval Office earlier this year, signed by Trump in gold ink with a presidential endorsement: "You are great." WHAT RUBIO’S RISE AS THE INTERNET’S 'FIXER' TELLS US ABOUT TODAY’S POLITICS Around it is a resume that rivals Barbie's. There’s Rubio as Robocop, Rubio as an astronaut, Rubio as the White House Easter Bunny, Cardinal Rubio preparing for a papal conclave, Rubio bundled up as the leader of Greenland, and one where Rubio holds up a sign that says, "Please stop making memes about me." The White House presented Rubio with the collage in May, but the gift only came to wider attention this week after Axios reporter Marc Caputo shared a photo of it on X. While nearly 70 imaginary gigs may sound excessive, the joke lands particularly well for a Cabinet official who has already accumulated an unusually high number of real ones. VANCE, CRUZ, HEAD TO IOWA ON 2026 MISSIONS AS 2028 GOP RACE TO SUCCEED TRUMP HEATS UP Rubio serves as secretary of state as well as acting national security advisor, and previously pulled double duty as acting archivist and acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The internet also appears to have decided Rubio could handle a few more. The meme began with a decidedly more serious moment on Feb. 28, 2025, when Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Rubio and other administration officials met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. A photograph from the contentious meeting captured Rubio sitting low on a couch, his hands interlocked and an expression on his face that the internet quickly interpreted as a man coming to an uncomfortable realization. HOW MARCO RUBIO IS RIDING LAUGHTER AND MEMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA DOMINANCE Then came the heavily-Photoshopped memes. As major jobs opened, in reality or otherwise, Rubio kept getting hired. When Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro was captured, meme Rubio appeared dressed to take over the country. When Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election, Rubio turned up in blaze-orange hunting gear, shotgun included. Rubio has acknowledged that he wasn't initially thrilled with the photograph that launched it all. "The meme thing, you know, was interesting, 'cause when it first came out, I hated that picture," Rubio recently told Lara Trump on Fox News' "My View." MARCO RUBIO SPOTTED IN NIKE TRACKSUIT ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE DURING TRIP TO CHINA, IGNITING MEMES ONLINE Rubio explained that the Oval Office couch was partly to blame. "If you don't have a pillow behind your back, you kinda sink," he said. But the secretary of state eventually surrendered to the court of public opinion. "And then it turned into this other thing and it was fine, and it's funny," Rubio said. He also revealed that Scavino had turned the online frenzy into something framed forever. "Dan Scavino made a nice board for me," Rubio said. "And even since he made that board, we had to update it." Which raises an obvious problem — Rubio may already need a bigger frame. The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e63e92c5335ae1046399f Netflix gives Elle Duncan another MLB showcase at Field of Dreams, baseball fans have seen enough te 2026-08-14T00:40:09.433Z Netflix gives Elle Duncan another MLB showcase at Field of Dreams, baseball fans have seen enough Major League Baseball and Netflix almost pulled off something truly special on Thursday night. The MLB at Field of Dreams matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins delivered a pregame sequence that gave baseball fans chills. Watching current players from both squads emerge from the iconic Iowa cornfield alongside 26 Hall of Famers, including all-time greats like Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Schmidt, Joe Mauer and Jim Thome, was cinematic gold. Then, Netflix cut back to the pregame desk, and the spell was instantly broken. BASEBALL FANS FUME AT MLB'S 'FIELD OF DREAMS' GAME DECISION, REPORTER TRICIA WHITAKER HAS A BOAT DAY & LLWS! Whatever goodwill the entrance generated was shattered the moment lead anchor Elle Duncan started talking. Instead of letting the historic backdrop breathe, viewers got wooden delivery, forced commentary and little genuine baseball insight. Social media was unforgiving, skewering her appearance from the moment she went live. "@netflix had options for the #FieldofDreamsGame and we get the insufferable Elle Duncan. Damn," one frustrated viewer posted on X. Another echoed: "What dirt does Elle Duncan have on Netflix? Every word out of her mouth is insufferable." The pushback isn't coming out of nowhere. Duncan has given baseball diehards plenty of reason to question her baseball chops and why Netflix continues putting her front and center for marquee events. NETFLIX REPLACES FAN-FAVORITE FOOTBALL HOST WITH UNPOPULAR, FAR-LEFT PERSONALITY This is the same host who, during Netflix's Opening Day broadcast from Oracle Park earlier this season, famously referred to home plate as "home base." That broadcast drew plenty of criticism for Duncan's awkward, forced delivery, too. Thursday night wasn't exactly a course correction. Beyond the terminology blunders, fans are exhausted by Duncan’s reputation for bringing lecture-heavy narratives into sports coverage. Look no further than her recent commentary regarding WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Instead of sticking to the action on the court, Duncan opted for the soapbox: "It’s not on her to be burdened by social media clowns," she said, before adding, "As much as we would love for you to be able to just focus on that (basketball)… it’s unfortunately not your reality." NETFLIX CO-CEO CLARIFIES STREAMING GIANT’S LIVE SPORTS STRATEGY AMID NFL LINEUP EXPANSION, FEDERAL SCRUTINY Major League Baseball set the stage, but Netflix's choice of host proved the streamer still has a long way to go in understanding what sports fans actually want to see. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e63e52c5335ae10463988 TLC for Taxiway C: Grant funding approved for reconstruction design, officials call for re-opening te 2026-08-14T00:40:05.957Z TLC for Taxiway C: Grant funding approved for reconstruction design, officials call for re-opening Taxiway C at the Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport has been closed for several months due to safety concerns — but some argue that it's in no worse condition than the others. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e63e52c5335ae1046397e Family speaks out after sister’s death in murder-suicide investigation te 2026-08-14T00:40:05.020Z Family speaks out after sister’s death in murder-suicide investigation Laura Smith’s family is trying to preserve her memory while helping her adult children cope with the aftermath of what Lake Havasu City police are investigating as a murder-suicide. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e61912c5335ae10463690 HHS warns Texas hospitals against denying life-saving care to newborn with disability te 2026-08-14T00:30:09.322Z HHS warns Texas hospitals against denying life-saving care to newborn with disability The Trump administration is stepping into the battle over a Texas newborn with a severe heart defect, warning two hospitals they cannot withhold medical treatment because of his disability. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights told Fox News Digital on Thursday that it is sending a letter to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center outlining their obligations under federal disability civil rights laws as doctors make treatment decisions involving baby Gabriel. The federal intervention comes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton took action to ensure the newborn receives medically necessary care following a dispute that began when his biological parents allegedly asked their surrogate to abort him after he was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. SURROGATE GIVES BIRTH IN TEXAS TO BABY WITH HEART DEFECT AFTER PARENTS REQUESTED ABORTION Surrogate mother McKenna West refused the request and traveled to Texas, where Gabriel was born Wednesday and taken to a neonatal intensive care unit. In its letter, HHS' civil rights office makes clear that federal law prohibits withholding medical treatment based on a person's disability, including based on judgments that the life of someone with a disability has less value or that the individual would impose a burden on others. Those federal protections extend to decisions involving life-sustaining treatment, according to HHS. The agency said it is monitoring Gabriel's case and offering technical assistance to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern as the hospitals determine his care. HHS OFFICIAL WARNS OF IRREVERSIBLE RISKS AS TRUMP ADMIN RESTRICTS FUNDING FOR YOUTH GENDER PROCEDURES HHS is also urging the hospitals to seek a review by an infant care committee if doctors consider withholding or withdrawing medically indicated treatment. The agency said life-sustaining treatment should continue during that review. The federal action marks the latest intervention in the dispute over Gabriel's medical care. West was around 20 weeks pregnant when Gabriel was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital condition in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. The diagnosis allegedly prompted the intended parents to ask West to have an abortion, according to Paxton's office. West instead traveled to Texas, and Paxton formally notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Dallas of what his office said were their legal obligations to provide Gabriel with "medically necessary, life-saving care upon birth." TEXAS AG PAXTON DEMANDS DALLAS SHERIFF PURSUE ICE AGREEMENT AS DEADLINE DISPUTE SPARKS LEGAL THREAT Paxton later secured a court order aimed at ensuring the baby received care after birth. "The court has made the right decision in immediately acting to protect baby Gabriel’s life and ensure he receives the care he deserves," Paxton said. "My office utilized every tool at our disposal to protect life, and we will not back down in continuing to support baby Gabriel’s well-being," he added. "Every child in our state deserves to be cared for and protected, and that’s exactly what I’ll fight for." The case has drawn an outpouring of support for West from conservative and pro-life advocates, who praised her decision to continue the pregnancy and fight for Gabriel's care. SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY SLAPS DOWN BLUE STATE TARGETING PRO-LIFE GROUP Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, called West a "hero" on X, writing that she "saved this baby's life" and saying he hopes she is ultimately able to keep Gabriel. Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents West, celebrated the court order requiring Gabriel to receive the surgery. ADF Senior Counsel Erik Baptist praised West's "courageous stand" for Gabriel and said "every child deserves a chance at life." Pro-life group Live Action also praised West for resisting pressure to abort Gabriel, but said the fight is not over. The group raised concerns that a court order is preventing West from having contact with the newborn, saying Gabriel "needs the comfort of the only mother he's ever known" and that his needs should remain the priority. Gabriel was born Wednesday and brought to a neonatal intensive care unit, where doctors could perform surgery to treat his heart condition. "Baby Gabriel deserves a chance at life, and I will not allow anyone to unlawfully deny him medically necessary care," Paxton previously said. "My office will use every tool available to protect innocent lives and ensure that every child receives the care required under Texas law." Fox News Digital reached out to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center for comment. Fox News Digital's Robert McGreevy contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e5f382c5335ae1046357b Iran could unleash ‘kinetic’ response as US tightens economic containment, analyst warns te 2026-08-14T00:20:08.079Z Iran could unleash ‘kinetic’ response as US tightens economic containment, analyst warns Iran could launch military strikes as early as this fall, targeting a list of high-value assets to shatter increasing U.S. economic sanctions, national security analysts warned Thursday. The warning came as the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC, reported that two vessels were struck transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Arab Emirates' state-run WAM news agency. ADNOC said there were no injuries and the situation was under control, according to Reuters, and as the UAE foreign ministry condemned the Iranian attacks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said Thursday that Washington was preparing to take unprecedented economic action against Iran. "Watch this ⁠space for more announcements ​coming next week because we ​are going to apply measures like have never been seen in ​the history of economic ​isolation on a country," Bessent said in ‌an ⁠interview on Newsmax. Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Tehran is likely to step up military pressure as Washington intensifies sanctions. "Come early fall, what we can expect is for them to kinetically push back against Trump's economic policy," Taleblu said. "If the president is re-embracing economic pressure as a management approach, just like we saw in 2019, then the regime will use kinetic pressure to try to find a way to break out of that economic containment." Ben Taleblu said shrinking oil revenues and the U.S. naval blockade could also drive Tehran to expand its target list across the region. "This means they would embrace the kinetic tool, and that's how they would get out of the economic containment regime that the U.S. seems to be defaulting to want to put on them," Taleblu added. "I would say more attacks on ships, potentially more attacks on U.S. bases, potentially more attacks on Arab infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, and certainly the regime would create a tiered list of targets of what is of immediate value versus what has greater economic value versus what might lead to the U.S. directly or indirectly responding." The warnings come amid a deadlock in talks between Washington and Tehran. So far, there have been no discussions about extending the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement, a senior Iranian source told Reuters Aug. 12. Tehran has insisted Washington return to the pact and set a definitive timeline to meet its obligations. The interim memorandum of understanding, signed in June, called for the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts." The agreement later unraveled, with Trump declaring on July 7 that the pact was "over." Under the framework, both sides had an extendable 60-day window to negotiate a final agreement addressing key security concerns, including Iran’s nuclear program. That deadline expires Aug. 17, with control of the Strait of Hormuz remaining a major sticking point. Hossein Taeb, the newly appointed head of Iran's Basij paramilitary force, said Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz remains "under Iran's control and management." His comments conflicted with Trump's assertion a day earlier that the U.S. held "total control" over the vital waterway. "The regime is relying on tried and true tactics here, which is, you know, a knife in the back and a handshake in the front to many of America's traditional Gulf partners," Taleblu said. "It looks like Iranian escalation, Iranian diplomatic pressure, Iranian diplomatic finesse is trying to back the Trump administration into the MOU again." "The regime definitely does not want to grant the Trump administration the optics of victory, and to that end, they're quite keen to hold on to the Strait of Hormuz," he added. Taleblu said Trump has described the sanctions-driven strategy as a "low-key" approach. "These are high-impact tools," he concluded. "I think part of the escalation that we saw in the summer of 2019 — part of that past could be a prologue." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e5cdf2c5335ae1046351f Gun rights groups capitalize after judge reverses decades-old restrictions: 'Monumental' te 2026-08-14T00:10:07.824Z Gun rights groups capitalize after judge reverses decades-old restrictions: 'Monumental' Gun-rights advocates are wasting little time putting a "huge" federal court victory into action after a judge struck down decades-old firearms restrictions as unconstitutional. Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Silencer Shop, a federal firearms licensee covered by the ruling linked to the sale and transfer of silencers, notified the Trump administration that they planned to begin transferring firearm silencers Thursday without going through the National Firearms Act registration and approval process that has governed such transactions for decades. Just after midnight Thursday, two gun owners walked out of a Texas firearms dealer with silencers without first completing the federal registration and approval process that has governed such transfers for generations, according to Gun Owners of America. GOA said Brandon Herrera and Texas state Rep. Wes Virdell acquired the suppressors from Silencer Shop in Leander, Texas, in what the gun-rights group called the first lawful transfers without National Firearms Act registration since the law was enacted in 1934. "This is the first time in 92 years that any gun owner has been able to do this," Aidan Johnston, Gun Owners of America’s director of federal affairs, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "Previously, this would have been punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine per violation. So, this was a big federal law. We took a really big bite out of it." INSIDE TRUMP'S UNPRECEDENTED BATTLE PLAN TO EXPAND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS THROUGH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., who attended the midnight transfers and helped write the legislation that set the stage for the ruling, called it "literally, the greatest Second Amendment win in the history of our country," adding that it marked "a monumental day for the country and a monumental day for the Second Amendment." The ruling also appears poised to stand without a challenge from the federal government. Clyde said Wednesday that he had received confirmation from the Trump administration that the Justice Department would not appeal the decision. "GOA fought to crush the NFA’s unconstitutional restrictions through the One Big Beautiful Bill, but we didn’t stop there. We promised to keep fighting until these restrictions were gone, and now our members are putting the historic victory into action," said Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America. "The era of federal registration for constitutionally protected arms must end." CLARENCE THOMAS' CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT AGAINST FEDERAL GUN LAW GETS FIRST MAJOR COURT TEST The legal fight traces back to Republicans’ 2025 reconciliation package, which initially included broader efforts to roll back National Firearms Act restrictions on suppressors and short-barreled firearms. After the Senate parliamentarian blocked portions of the deregulation push under reconciliation rules, the final One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump instead reduced the NFA’s longstanding making and transfer taxes to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and certain other weapons, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Gun-rights groups seized on that change almost immediately. The same day Trump signed the law, Gun Owners of America, the Silencer Shop Foundation and other plaintiffs sued the federal government, arguing that the NFA’s registration and approval requirements could no longer constitutionally stand for weapons on which Congress had eliminated the underlying tax. Fifteen states later joined the challenge. The Justice Department countered that the remaining regulations could still be supported by other NFA taxes and Congress’ authority over interstate commerce. "Congress didn’t fully repeal the law. They just reduced this 1934 tax from $200 to $0," Johnston told . "And I think all of us could understand there’s no such thing as a $0 tax. It doesn’t raise any revenue. It’s not a tax." U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, sided with the challengers Aug. 5, ruling that once Congress eliminated the making and transfer taxes, the regulations that had existed to help collect those taxes lost their constitutional footing. Hendrix permanently blocked federal officials from enforcing the challenged requirements against the plaintiffs and, where applicable, their members and customers, while declining to issue a nationwide injunction.  However, while the plaintiffs had separately argued that the NFA’s registration and approval requirements violated the Second Amendment, Hendrix said that "Efforts to render the NFA constitutional must come from Congress, not this Court." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e5cdf2c5335ae10463516 Rams star Puka Nacua left bloodied in bizarre accident at Michael Rubin's star-studded White Party te 2026-08-14T00:10:07.123Z Rams star Puka Nacua left bloodied in bizarre accident at Michael Rubin's star-studded White Party Puka Nacua’s turbulent offseason keeps finding new ways to hit him — this time, literally. The latest bizarre story to emerge from the Los Angeles Rams star’s summer involves a spotless window at Michael Rubin’s "White Party" — and, by Nacua’s own admission, the window won. During an appearance on Logan Paul’s "Impaulsive" podcast, Nacua revealed that he was left bleeding from the face after walking directly into a glass pane at the Fanatics founder’s annual celebrity bash in the Hamptons. STEFON DIGGS FOUND NOT GUILTY ON STRANGULATION AND ASSAULT CHARGES, NOW EYES NFL FREE AGENCY While speaking with Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, Nacua spotted Snoop Dogg and turned to find Rams teammate Davante Adams. He never saw the nearly invisible pane standing in his way. "Uh, the glass window pane won," Nacua said. And Nacua apparently wasn’t the only victim of Rubin’s spotless glass. "They made me feel better when they said three other people ran into it," Nacua said. "But nobody else ended up bleeding from it. So I don’t know if that made me feel much better or worse." A run-in with Rubin’s glass is hardly the only headache Nacua has dealt with this offseason. The Rams star is facing a civil lawsuit stemming from a New Year’s Eve incident in which a woman alleges he bit her shoulder and made an antisemitic remark. Nacua’s attorney strongly denies the antisemitic allegation and characterized the biting as "horseplay." The lawsuit followed another controversy involving Nacua, who apologized in December after performing a gesture tied to antisemitic stereotypes during a livestream. He later spent time at a holistic care facility focused on personal growth. Even his family made headlines. RAMS' SEAN MCVAY AND HIS MODEL WIFE PUT THE REST OF THE NFL ON NOTICE WITH NOTHING BUT SWIMSUITS ON Nacua’s brother, Samson, was arrested after mistakenly taking an SUV he believed belonged to Puka. Investigators determined it was a mix-up, and Samson was not charged. Nacua’s offseason could still follow him onto the field, with the NFL reportedly reviewing his conduct and a suspension considered possible. Meanwhile, Nacua gave the Rams a more conventional scare this week when he left Tuesday’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys early with groin soreness. He sat out Thursday as Los Angeles took a cautious approach with its All-Pro receiver. "We’re just being smart with him," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "Expecting to be back next week, ready to go." The Rams have every reason to be cautious. Nacua is entering the final season of his rookie contract after leading the NFL with 129 receptions and finishing second with 1,715 receiving yards last season. McVay and the Rams can manage his practice workload and game-plan for double teams. Billionaire-grade window cleaning is apparently another problem entirely. Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e5a8d2c5335ae104634b1 Federal appeals court restores Texas mail ballot ID requirements in major election integrity ruling te 2026-08-14T00:00:13.688Z Federal appeals court restores Texas mail ballot ID requirements in major election integrity ruling The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals restored key parts of Texas’ election law Wednesday, handing the state a major win after repeatedly reversing the lower court during a five-year legal fight. The 11-page ruling overturned a lower court decision that blocked nine parts of Senate Bill 1, a 2021 law that changed Texas’ rules for mail-in voting and voter assistance. The appeals court pointed to its repeated reversals in the case, noting that it has "reversed the district court on everything" during roughly five years of litigation. JUDGE HANDS TRUMP MAIL-BALLOT WIN FOR NOW AS DEMOCRATS’ NEXT MOVE LOOMS "The bulk of the plaintiffs’ claims fail for lack of standing. One fails on the merits. But none justifies interference with the State Legislature’s efforts to prevent voter fraud and to protect election integrity," Judge Andrew Oldham wrote in the opinion. The restored rules include requirements for Texans voting by mail to provide an identification number or Social Security number on ballot applications and for that information to match state records. The law also lays out a process for voters to fix defective ballots and requires voters and people helping them fill out ballots to sign an oath stating they did not coerce the voter. A district judge blocked the rules in March 2025 after several lawsuits challenging the law over accessibility concerns were combined. The plaintiffs argued the requirements made voting too difficult for some voters with disabilities and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Texas allows several groups to vote by mail, including voters who are 65 or older and those who qualify because of a disability. MAGA TRIUMPH: TRUMP ALLY KEN PAXTON DEFEATS JOHN CORNYN IN BITTER TEXAS GOP PRIMARY WAR The appeals court found the groups did not have legal standing to bring most of their challenges and rejected another challenge outright. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a defendant in the lawsuit, celebrated the ruling on social media, calling it a "major victory." Fox News Digital reached out to attorneys and organizations representing the plaintiffs for comment. Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1 in 2021 after a contentious fight over election rules. The law targeted in part voting initiatives Harris County used during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Democratic lawmakers, civil rights organizations and voting advocacy groups opposed the measure, and Texas House Democrats broke quorum in an unsuccessful attempt to stop it. The appeals court also noted that the share of mail-in ballot applications or ballots rejected because of identification-number errors fell from 11% to 2.7% after the law took effect. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e5a8c2c5335ae104634a8 David Foster denies snubbing Meghan Markle after red carpet interaction with Prince Harry te 2026-08-14T00:00:12.935Z David Foster denies snubbing Meghan Markle after red carpet interaction with Prince Harry David Foster is speaking out after a red carpet video at a charity event went viral – and sparked speculation from some that he had snubbed Meghan Markle.  On Aug. 7, the legendary music producer hosted the David Foster and Friends foundation event with Markle and Prince Harry in attendance. The video on social media showed Foster walking past Markle – as she appeared to greet him – and Prince Harry before returning a moment later with his wife, Katharine McPhee, and posing for a photo with the royal couple. "As the host of the David Foster and Friends foundation event, I had already greeted our friends, the Duke and Duchess, at the entrance 10 minutes before the red carpet encounter," Foster said in a statement to People.  MEGHAN MARKLE’S ROYAL EXIT HAD WARNING SIGNS YEARS EARLIER, VETERAN CORRESPONDENT REVEALS "They both, graciously and selflessly, gave their time and went beyond to engage with everyone. Harry and Meghan are dear friends of mine. Anyone watching can see there was no awkward moment and certainly no snub." He continued, "It’s sad that certain media chose to deceive a red carpet encounter for clickbait. They turned simple ‘positioning’ to get the best photo into a hurtful lie." A representative for Foster and Markle did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Foster and Markle have developed a warm friendship over the years, largely through Foster’s wife. McPhee and Markle knew each other when they were younger and participated in musical theater together. Their connection was renewed years later, and Foster and McPhee became close with Markle and Prince Harry as a couple. Foster also played a supportive role during an important transition in Markle and Harry’s lives. In late 2019, he helped arrange a private home for the couple on Vancouver Island, giving them a quiet place to stay as they prepared to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family in 2020. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER At the time, Foster told the Daily Mail that he was happy the couple could "go under the radar for so long" while staying at his home. "I felt honored that I was able to help Meghan there because I’m a Canadian, and we’re a Commonwealth country; we’re the Crown’s. It’s important to us, so I grew up with that kind of sentiment. I was really happy to be able to help them to find a respite just to take a little time off," he previously told the outlet. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e5a8c2c5335ae1046349f Julianne Hough flaunts her toned figure in bikinis as she shares snaps from her trip to Sardinia te 2026-08-14T00:00:12.178Z Julianne Hough flaunts her toned figure in bikinis as she shares snaps from her trip to Sardinia Julianne Hough is trading the hustle for a taste of la dolce vita. The 38-year-old "Dancing with the Stars" co-host shared highlights from an adventurous girls getaway to Sardinia, Italy, where she jumped from cliffs, explored local villages, hit the beach and squeezed in seaside workouts. In one photo from the getaway, Hough lounged on a beach chair in a white string bikini. LANDMAN' STAR ALI LARTER SHOWS OFF HER FIT PHYSIQUE IN BARELY-THERE BIKINIS DURING YACHT VACATION IN ITALY The dancer leaned back on the chair with one leg bent as she posed near the water. She paired the white string bikini with black sunglasses and a white mesh headscarf over her short blonde hair. Beachgoers filled the shoreline behind Hough, while yachts could be seen floating in the bright blue water farther out. "Still thinking about Sardinia and how special it was to experience it with my girls @drewdylanlex and @briannacope," Hough wrote on Instagram. "There’s just something about seeing the world with people you love that makes everything feel a little more alive." MOLLY SIMS FLAUNTS TONED ABS IN MISMATCHED BIKINI DURING PERFECT BEACH DAY WITH HER KIDS Hough also showed off another bikini during a quieter moment overlooking the coast. In the photo, she sat on the edge of a lounge chair beneath a rustic shaded canopy while wearing a dark string bikini with a coordinating wrap tied low around her waist. Hough turned toward the water as the secluded setting offered sweeping views of the rocky shoreline and calm sea. "The beauty, the food, the wildness, the peace… already dreaming about going back to @resort_erica where should we go next and who’s coming?" she wrote. ‘THE MADISON’ STAR ELLE CHAPMAN SAYS 8-MILE HIKES, HORSE RIDES IN MONTANA KEPT HER ‘GROUNDED’ The dancer made time to stay active during the trip, sharing a separate photo of herself practicing yoga on a wooden deck overlooking the water. The photo was part of a separate post in which Hough reflected on the slower pace of life she experienced in Sardinia. "An ode to the nonnas of Sardinia… their sun kissed skin and the sense that they haven’t just spent their lives working but living," she wrote. Hough admitted the experience had her reconsidering how she balances ambition with enjoying her life away from work. "And boy, do I feel like the silly American in Europe. I love my work and my ambition, but when I’m older, I’d rather be the grandmother with stories to tell than wonder if I hustled more than I lived." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS She added, "Grateful to @hotelcapodorso for reminding me to slow down, breathe the salty air, taste the wine, and watch those stories pass by over an espresso 🤍" "from spa to sea, grazie." Hough also traded her beachwear for a glamorous look during the getaway. In another photo, she posed in a strapless coral-pink gown with a fitted bodice and voluminous skirt while standing along a picturesque street lined with stone buildings and terracotta roofs. Hough looked down as the flowing skirt swept outward around her, completing the look with a statement gold necklace and strappy heels. The trip offered Hough some downtime ahead of another busy chapter in her longtime relationship with "Dancing with the Stars." Hough first joined the competition series as a professional dancer in 2007 and has since served as a judge and co-host.' CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Earlier this year, she reflected on the unlikely longevity of the series, which first premiered in 2005. "I mean, this show got turned down so many times at the beginning, because people were like, a ballroom dancing show? Like, what? Is that really a thing?" Hough told People magazine in May. More than two decades after its debut, Hough said the show's ability to remain true to its roots has helped it endure. "To see that it's been around not only just, like, survived 20 years, but is now thriving more than it ever has, it just goes to show that, like, when you stay in authenticity and integrity of what this show is — which is craftsmanship, just rooting for people to grow and succeed, and go on the journey of transformation, and keep that family experience — that's timeless," she told the outlet. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/6a7e5a8a2c5335ae1046348d Audit faults Arizona for unenforced limits on paying parent caregivers te 2026-08-14T00:00:10.722Z Audit faults Arizona for unenforced limits on paying parent caregivers Disability rights advocates gather Feb. 26, 2025, at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix to urge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Republican legislative leaders to remedy a funding shortfall in the state's Division of Developmental Disabilities that could leave them suddenly without essential services. (Photo by Caitlin Sievers/Arizona Mirror) More than a year after new regulations were signed into law, a state program that pays parents to be caregivers for their developmentally disabled children still hasn’t implemented required guardrails meant to rein in skyrocketing costs. State auditors said that the delay has cost Arizona hundreds of millions.  “AHCCCS suspended implementation of the new standardized assessment tool required by State law, and as a result did not realize a potential cost reduction of between $133 million to $493 million in fiscal year 2026,” auditors wrote, referring to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid program.  After the state Division of Developmental Disabilities requested more than $120 million in supplemental funding last year, state lawmakers passed legislation to cover the budget gap. But that legislation also tightened regulations for DDD’s Parents as Paid Caregivers Program.  The new law was passed in late April 2025, just in time to ensure that DDD could continue to pay its bills. The Division of Developmental Disabilities is a part of AHCCCS.  The Parents as Paid Caregivers Program originated in Arizona in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, many parents who relied on caregiving services funded by DDD couldn’t find workers willing to provide in-home care for their children with disabilities. The Parents as Paid Caregivers Program, which was initially fully paid for by federal dollars, trains parents and then pays them to provide in-home care to their own children — instead of third-party caregivers — if they require “extraordinary care” above and beyond typical parenting tasks. That might include things like assisting a teenager with bathing, dressing and eating.  But that enhanced federal funding ran out in March 2025, putting the state on the hook for around 35% of the program’s costs.  The end of federal funding came at the same time that utilization of caregiving services through DDD, whether performed by parents or professional caregivers, increased exponentially.  According to AHCCCS, the cost of those services was $77 million in 2019 but had increased to $615 million in 2025. During the same timeframe, the number of people with disabilities receiving those services increased from 8,756 to 18,034, and the hours of care provided per person increased from 435 to 1,267.  Following a bitter fight between Republican lawmakers who sought to cut the program’s funding in half amid worries about the skyrocketing cost of the PPCG program and developmental disability advocates and parents who said the program was vital to many families, legislators only agreed to continuing funding the program if guardrails were also placed on it.  A significant provision from the new law, an assessment tool that would cut down on the amount of paid caregiving hours each child was entitled to through DDD — regardless of whether a parent or outside caregiver provided that care — was required to be implemented by Oct. 1, 2025. AHCCCS began using the tool by the deadline, but it suspended its use 15 days later and still hasn’t reinstated it, according to the July 30 audit report. The audit, which the Arizona Auditor General’s Office hired Sacramento-based Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting to conduct, was another requirement of the April 2025 legislation.  AHCCCS suspended its use of the new assessment tool after three legal advocacy organizations threatened litigation, saying that new limits on service hours had to go through a lengthy rulemaking process outlined in the Administrative Procedure Act, which the agency had not done. A key concern was the inability for parents to appeal cuts to their hours.  Parents were frustrated and anxious, worried that they might lose their homes or jobs if their care hours were cut. Many pointed out that the assessment tool’s strict age-based cutoffs for supervision and help with certain tasks didn’t make sense for some children, especially for those who need constant one-on-one supervision to prevent them from running away from their parents or harming themselves.  After it suspended use of the new assessment tool, AHCCCS began rulemaking to create an appeal process, but had to scrap that and begin anew in December because the process it developed did not align with the federal Medicaid appeals framework already in place.  As of May, AHCCCS was still working to develop a new process that would work within the federal framework.  “This shift in policy has contributed to further delays in implementing the requirements imposed by State law and realizing cost reductions,” auditors wrote.  AHCCCS disagrees AHCCCS disagreed with all of the audit’s findings, while the Arizona Department of Economic Security, which oversees AHCCCS, disagreed with some findings and agreed with others. Both agencies agreed to implement many of the auditors’ suggestions to comply with the law and decrease costs. In her response to the audit, AHCCCS Interim Director Roberta Harrison wrote that she did not believe auditors properly distinguished between portions of the cost-control law that were and were not implemented. And she said that auditors didn’t acknowledge that AHCCCS couldn’t implement some parts of the law until it got permission from the federal government.  “Specific provisions of (the new law) were implemented as required, while other reforms were delayed due to federal mandates, mitigation of substantial litigation risk, and operational demands,” AHCCCS wrote in its response. Brandi Coon, a developmental disabilities advocate and co-founder of the Raising Voices Coalition, told the Arizona Mirror that reading through the audit caused her a lot of confusion because of the disparity between some of its findings and her lived experience as someone enrolled in the Parents as Paid Caregivers Program.  Auditors said that a 40-hour per week cap on the Parents as Paid Caregivers that was supposed to be implemented in June 2025 was still not being enforced as of May. That limit was a stipulation included with the federal government’s 2024 approval of the state’s request to make the PPCG program permanent.  Coon said that her son primarily receives care from four outside caregivers, and that she is enrolled in the PPCG program mostly as a backup for a few hours a week when no other caregivers are available.  Coon told the Mirror that she and all the other parents enrolled in the program that she has spoken with were told last year by the service agencies that employ them — just like they employ other caregivers who serve the state’s DDD population —  that they were capped at 40 hours per week and would be automatically clocked out after that.  But auditors wrote that, as of May, AHCCCS still hadn’t fully developed or implemented a mechanism to hold service providers accountable for going over the 40-hour limit.  In its response to the audit, the Department of Economic Security said that its provider support network began compiling data on service providers who allowed parents to work more than 40 hours in May 2025 and began implementing corrective action plans for those vendors in April 2026.  It’s clear that some parents are still working more than 40 hours. When auditors looked at the hours worked the week of March 8, they found 257 parent caregivers who worked more than 40 hours, for an estimated $51,000 in possible overpayments for just that week.  In her audit response, Harrison wrote that the 40-hour per week cap on parent caregivers was not intended as a cost-cutting measure.  “Regardless of the caregiver, it is important to recognize that assessed services in excess of 40 hours are still covered for the minor child by a non-parent provider because the services were determined to be medically necessary,” she wrote. “…When a parent provider is capped at 40 hours, the balance of the member’s authorized hours is delivered by a non-parent direct care worker. The State’s obligation to cover the authorized service does not disappear.” Coon also questioned the math that auditors used to determine that AHCCCS and DES had already missed out on between $133 million and $493 million in savings by delaying the cost-cutting measures.  To determine those potential cost savings, auditors looked at 50 of the 769 reassessments of allowed caregiving hours conducted using the new tool between Oct. 1 and Oct. 16. Of the cases they sampled, authorized hours for services decreased by 30% for supervision services and 45% for help with life skills.   Because there are so many confounding factors, and such a small fraction of the children who receive services were re-assessed from Oct. 1 through Oct. 16, Coon said she didn’t trust the estimates.  The auditors acknowledged that the cost savings estimates should not be taken as fact and could not be extrapolated into system-wide savings.  “Although the estimate provides useful context for the tool’s potential fiscal impact, it should be viewed as an estimate with limitations, not as a precise measure of actual cost reductions,” they wrote.  Because the potential litigation that paused the new tool likely would have been costly, as well, Coon said it was impossible to determine how much money continuing to use the tool after Oct. 16 would save, if any.  In her response to the audit, Harrison agreed. “AHCCCS paused the tool in October 2025 because imposing service hour limitations through the ordinary policy process, with the threat of imminent and likely protracted litigation, presented an unreasonable and unacceptable operational and financial risk to the State,” she wrote.  Coon added that because paid DDD caregiving hours help families avoid costly emergency room visits, hospital stays and institutionalizing their children, the reduction in hours could ultimately cost the state more money in the long run. Other states Auditors wrote that they did not believe the new caregiving hours assessment tool alone would contain DDD costs sufficiently to avoid financial problems in the future.  AHCCCS disagreed.  “Because full implementation (of the new assessment tool) has not yet occurred, it is premature to evaluate the precise impact that the tool will have on long term cost containment,” Harrison wrote.  Auditors recommended that AHCCCS implement the same cost-cutting measures as other states, like expenditure caps and increased eligibility restrictions.  But Harrison wrote that the auditors’ suggestions ignored the “significant legal, operational, and programmatic differences which preclude adoption of such practices in Arizona at present and in the near future.” Both Arizona law and the state’s Medicaid agreement with the federal government prevent some of those measures being implemented.  “While additional sweeping cost-containment strategies, like those referenced in the report, are possible, they would require legislative action, Federal authority, or both,” Harrison wrote. 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