https://meenews.co/post/69e6dcb6059ccda1fcc0a323 Another Democrat exits California's crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election te 2026-04-21T02:11:02.740Z Another Democrat exits California's crowded gubernatorial race weeks before the June 2 primary election Another Democrat has dropped out of California’s crowded gubernatorial race as the primary election approaches in roughly six weeks. Former state Controller Betty Yee, of San Francisco, announced her withdrawal Monday after polling showed she had failed to break into the top tier of candidates, according to The Associated Press (AP). Her exit comes just a week after embattled former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell also withdrew from the race amid multiple serious sexual misconduct allegations. "Today I am announcing that my campaign for governor will be suspended," Yee said in a video announcement, Fox 11 Los Angeles reported. "This campaign has always been about something much bigger than any one candidate. It’s about building a California where opportunity is real and owned, where government regains trust by being responsible and accountable, and where no one is left behind." JOY REID BLASTS CA DEMS FOR LETTING GOP CONTENDERS TAKE LEAD IN GOVERNOR’S RACE Yee, who had been vying to become California’s first female governor as Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to leave office, consistently lagged in the polls, never rising above roughly 3% support among likely voters, according to local nonprofit outlet Cal Matters.  She attributed her inability to gain traction in part to fundraising challenges in a race known for its steep costs and heavy advertising demands. "It was becoming clear that the donors were not going to be there. Even some of my former supporters just felt like they needed to move on," Yee said, according to The AP. KEVIN MCCARTHY CALLS GAVIN NEWSOM’S LEADERSHIP A ‘FAILURE,’ WARNS CALIFORNIA IS ON ‘DOWNWARD SLOPE’ During an emotional announcement, Yee thanked her supporters who stood by her throughout her two-year campaign, which emphasized her experience managing the state budget and highlighted her family’s middle-class immigrant background. Before serving as state controller, where she audited government agencies and oversaw the allocation of state funds, Yee previously worked as a budget director under former Gov. Gray Davis before being elected to the State Board of Equalization. Yee’s exit leaves former Rep. Katie Porter as the primary woman in the race. As the June 2 primary election approaches in what is expected to be one of the nation’s most closely watched state contests, other remaining key candidates include Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer, along with Republican frontrunners Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6dca2059ccda1fcc0a31a Ex-CENTCOM commander warns against 'risky' US ground operation to seize Iran’s enriched uranium te 2026-04-21T02:10:42.994Z Ex-CENTCOM commander warns against 'risky' US ground operation to seize Iran’s enriched uranium Ret. U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus said assassinating more of Iran’s leadership will not end ongoing issues while warning against a U.S. ground operation to seize Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. "This would be a very, very tall order, it would be exceedingly risky. And the casualties could potentially be quite substantial," he said Monday on "Jesse Watters Primetime." "Assassinating a few more leaders is not going to bring this issue to a close," he added. Petraeus’ comments come as the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire Wednesday, with President Donald Trump asserting an extension is "very unlikely." US SEIZES IRANIAN SHIP AFTER OPENING FIRE; PAKISTAN TALKS IN DOUBT The former CENTCOM commander, who led troops into battle during the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, said the deployment of U.S. ground troops to Iran would be very risky. "We’re not really sure where these canisters are, of this thousand pounds of 60 percent enriched uranium," he said. "They're going to have to excavate very, very substantially. And by the way, that's what makes the idea of a forced ground operation very, very challenging."  Petraeus noted that while Iran has felt the damage of the United States’ military campaign, the regime is not hopeless. "They’ve seen lots and lots of damage that we can inflict," he said. "They know what we can do… They're also trying to figure out how much they can give on these other issues that traditionally have been very, very difficult to negotiate." IRAN REVERSES COURSE ON OPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS HARDLINERS TAKE FRONT SEAT IN TEHRAN Trump said he will enforce the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports until a deal is reached. However, Petraeus said the economic pressure has not made Iran completely hopeless. "They're not at the point of desperation," he argued. The former CIA director argued that both the U.S. and Iran want the war to end, citing economic challenges that both nations have experienced amid the 52-day conflict. "I don't think that either side really wants to return to full-on combat," Petraeus said. "There has been damage to infrastructure in the Gulf states. And we certainly don't want to see more of that." Vice President JD Vance and senior White House officials are set to depart for Pakistan on Tuesday for a new round of peace talks, though recent reports from Iranian state media cast doubt on such meetings. "I think both sides, frankly, really do want an agreement," Petraeus said. "Obviously, there are challenges domestically for us if this continues. Obviously, there are huge challenges for them [Iran] economically and financially if it continues." The former CENTCOM commander said the two main points of discussion in the talks will be Iran’s uranium enrichment and the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. "We’ll see if there is trade space," he said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6da62059ccda1fcc0a2b8 Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base te 2026-04-21T02:01:06.359Z Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base A Chinese national was arrested at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after federal authorities say he photographed sensitive military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and planned to target another installation as he prepared to leave the country. Tianrui Liang, 21, is accused of violating a federal law that restricts photographing defense installations without authorization, according to court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York. Authorities say Liang was taken into custody April 7 while attempting to board an international flight, just days after a warrant was issued in Nebraska. The case centers on activity near Offutt Air Force Base, home to U.S. Strategic Command — one of the Pentagon’s most sensitive installations. TWO CHINESE NATIONALS ARRESTED FOR SPYING ON US NAVY PERSONNEL AND BASES According to an FBI affidavit, investigators were alerted after a witness reported seeing "a male holding a camera with a telescopic lens" near the base, where aircraft are stationed on the flight line. Offutt hosts high-value reconnaissance and command aircraft, including the RC-135 surveillance plane and the E-4B "Nightwatch," often referred to as the military’s "doomsday plane." Federal agents say Liang later admitted to photographing several aircraft at the base, "including the RC-135 and the E-4B." FOREIGN NATIONALS FLYING DRONES OVER US MILITARY SITES RAISES 'ESPIONAGE' CONCERN: EXPERT Liang told investigators he used a "planespotter" website to identify photography locations and said the images were for his "personal collection," according to the affidavit. Authorities allege he knowingly photographed restricted military assets without permission. "He knew it was illegal to take pictures of the planes on the ground," the affidavit states. CHINESE NATIONAL SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR SABOTAGING EMPLOYER'S SYSTEMS WITH 'KILL SWITCH' Investigators said a subsequent review of his camera revealed "numerous photographs of planes located on the OAFB flightline," including images of military aircraft parked on the base. Liang was a student at Glasgow University in Scotland, according to investigators, and had recently traveled through Canada before entering the United States. Authorities say Liang entered the United States via Canada and was later found near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Investigators allege he planned to travel to Oklahoma to photograph additional aircraft at Tinker Air Force Base, including the E-4B. Investigators said Liang specifically sought out locations where he could view and photograph aircraft from outside military installations. The law prohibits photographing military installations without approval from a base commander. Prosecutors say there is "probable cause to believe" Liang photographed aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base without that approval. The affidavit does not allege Liang was acting on behalf of any foreign government. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6da4e059ccda1fcc0a2af NFL restricts access to draft prospects' contact info after 2025 Shedeur Sanders prank call: report te 2026-04-21T02:00:46.831Z NFL restricts access to draft prospects' contact info after 2025 Shedeur Sanders prank call: report The NFL is tightening its prospects’ contact information list for this year’s NFL Draft after the prank call to Shedeur Sanders as he slid down the draft board last April. As Sanders fell out of the first round, and even further after not being taken in the second or third rounds on Day 2 of the draft, he was prank called by Jax Ulbrich, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who wrote down Sanders’ phone number from his father’s open iPad while visiting home. Now, the NFL is limiting the access of the prospects’ contact information to one person within each franchise, according to The Athletic. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "The relevant contact information will be provided by the league to a single point of contact at the club in football operations," a league spokesman told the outlet. "This individual will be responsible for safeguarding the numbers." The moment involving Sanders ended up going viral, as he was live-streaming a draft party with his family and friends when he got the call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis before the No. 40 overall pick the team owned. SHEDEUR SANDERS STAYS PATIENT WITH BROWNS' THIRD-STRINGERS IN TRAINING CAMP: 'DOESN'T REALLY FAZE ME' The Saints were among teams who were in the quarterback market heading into the draft, and they didn’t select one in the first round. Meanwhile, other quarterback-needy teams like the Tennessee Titans (Cam Ward, No. 1) and New York Giants (Jaxson Dart, No. 25) already settled the position on day one. Instead of taking Sanders, the Saints settled on Louisville’s Tyler Shough in the second round. Sanders would have to wait until the fifth round to be taken by the Cleveland Browns, who also selected Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round the day prior. Jeff Ulbrich later apologized for his son’s actions, where he also shouldered blame for the leaked phone number in the first place. "My actions of not protecting confidential data were inexcusable," Ulbrich said at a news conference at the Falcons' facility. "My son's actions were absolutely inexcusable, and for that we are both deeply sorry." The NFL fined the Falcons $250,000 and Jeff Ulbrich was docked $100,000. "I promise my son and I will work hard to demonstrate we are better than this," Ulbrich 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/69e6d59f059ccda1fcc0a218 AIA reduced Coolidge HS's probation to warning for alleged 'behavior' during playoff game in Feb. te 2026-04-21T01:40:47.800Z AIA reduced Coolidge HS's probation to warning for alleged 'behavior' during playoff game in Feb. An incident after a playoff game caused the Coolidge basketball team to almost not participate in the semifinal game. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6d34b059ccda1fcc0a1b8 Gary Hanson: A satire: The new frontier of medical science te 2026-04-21T01:30:51.355Z Gary Hanson: A satire: The new frontier of medical science Editor: America has always been a lane of innovation, but lately our greatest medical breakthrough seem to come not laboratories, , universities or research hospital, but from conversation and grocery store products. The latest example come from reporting that diet… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6ceba059ccda1fcc0a0b1 Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects te 2026-04-21T01:11:22.457Z Mom, pregnant teen and 12-year-old found bound and murdered as police hunt multiple suspects An Alabama woman, her pregnant teenage daughter and her 12-year-old son were found brutally murdered in their home, authorities said. Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said deputies responded to a home in Wilmer just after 2:30 a.m., where they discovered the three bodies in separate rooms with their hands tied behind their backs. The victims were identified as 46-year-old Lisa Gail Fields, who was stabbed; 17-year-old Keziah Arionna Luker, who was shot; and 12-year-old Thomas Cordelle Jr., who had his throat cut and was nearly decapitated. "It was a brutal scene," Burch said. "If you've got a beef with an adult… there's nothing worth killing over, but to murder two children brutally… I hope and feel comfortable we'll have this animal or animals off the streets soon." 8 CHILDREN DEAD IN MASS SHOOTING THAT BEGAN AS DOMESTIC DISPUTE, POLICE SAY An 18-month-old child was found unharmed in the home. "At this point, we don't suspect any kind of domestic or family-type situation," Burch told reporters. Burch noted that the home was "left in disarray," suggesting the perpetrators may have been searching for something. Investigators believe more than one person was involved in the killings because the victims had been subdued. MISSOURI SUSPECT TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER DEPUTY FATALLY SHOT, ENDING MANHUNT Luker was seven or eight months pregnant, the sheriff added. "The mother was stabbed, the 17-year-old was shot, and the 12-year-old’s throat was cut as was the mom," Burch said. "It tells me that they had a plan coming in to bring zip ties or flex cuffs with them so they had a plan." The father-to-be, who works offshore, triggered the discovery after he grew concerned when he could not reach Luker after he saw her cell phone activated on Life 360, the sheriff said. Another family member went to check on her and found all three victims in separate rooms with their hands bound behind them. The Mobile County District Attorney's Office will determine whether the death of Luker's unborn child warrants an additional murder charge once a suspect is arrested. Burch said investigators currently have "positive leads" in the case. Luker's father told WALA-TV that his daughter had just received her GED. "It’s a senseless murder," he said. "She was a bubble of sunshine. A person that makes you smile; a person that’ll make you laugh whenever you’re down. She had empathy for everybody. She loved her brothers; she loved her mom; she loved all of us." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6cea6059ccda1fcc0a0a8 Nancy Sinatra slams Trump's use of father's song 'My Way' as 'sacrilege' te 2026-04-21T01:11:02.863Z Nancy Sinatra slams Trump's use of father's song 'My Way' as 'sacrilege' Singer Nancy Sinatra called President Donald Trump's reference to her father Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" a "sacrilege." On Saturday, Trump posted a video to Truth Social of Frank Sinatra singing his classic song in light of his renewed threats to destroy Iranian infrastructure for the country allegedly violating a ceasefire agreement. The song begins with the opening lines, "And now/the end is near/And so I face/the final curtain" which resemble Trump's past threats to destroy the nation. ROCK BAND FRONTMAN DECLARES TRUMP VOTERS ARE 'NOT ALLOWED' AT HIS SHOWS "Omg, @NancySinatra will not be happy about this. Trump goes against everything that Frank stood for. He was a big champion for equality and supported the Civil Rights movement," one person commented on X. The 85-year-old "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" singer later responded to this comment, adding, "This is a sacrilege." She reposted users' comments criticizing Trump's post and use of the song, insisting Frank Sinatra would not agree with Trump's politics. PAUL ANKA CONFIRMS LEGENDARY FRANK SINATRA RUMOR THAT MADE HOLLYWOOD BLUSH "Trump may love Sinatra, but Sinatra did not love Trump," one person wrote. "This is just sickening. Frank Sinatra would never have allowed that monster in the White House to use his music or put his lyrics in his mouth. Sinatra was a man of honor, a man who never had to lie about who he truly was because he WAS the greatest. trump is a loser," another wrote. Sinatra also responded to a fan asking if she could do anything to stop Trump from using the song. "Unfortunately no. The only people who can do something are the publishers," she responded. OL' BLUE EYES FRANK SINATRA: A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS AND FACTS Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. Trump previously danced with first lady Melania Trump to the song "My Way" at the Liberty Ball after his first inauguration in 2017. At the time, Sinatra joked about the news writing, "Just remember the first line of the song." She later deleted the post and denied that she was "angry" that Trump used the song. "What a rotten spin to put on a harmless joke," Sinatra tweeted. She also wrote, "I'm not sure why this became such a big deal. It was really just a joke." When asked whether she was upset over her father's song being used by Trump, Sinatra wrote at the time, "Actually I'm wishing him the best. A good president helps the entire world. I don't believe anyone tries to be a bad president." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6ce7e059ccda1fcc0a08b Who is John Ternus, the incoming Apple CEO? te 2026-04-21T01:10:22.554Z Who is John Ternus, the incoming Apple CEO? After 15 years, Tim Cook will hand off his role as Apple CEO to John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c9e7059ccda1fcc09c0a Green Party governor candidate her own party called a ‘sham’ survives two ballot challenges te 2026-04-21T00:50:47.504Z Green Party governor candidate her own party called a ‘sham’ survives two ballot challenges Photo via Getty Images The Arizona Green Party candidate for governor who used to sell MAGA merch and was a Republican Party official just days before she launched her campaign has defeated two challenges to keep her off the July primary ballot.  Last week, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled that, even though 40% of the voter signatures that Risa Lombardo gathered were invalid, she still had enough signatures to remain on the ballot.  Green Party candidates running for statewide office this year were required to collect at least 1,771 valid voter signatures. After 1,296 of the 3,250 signatures Lombardo gathered were disqualified, she was left with 1,954 valid signatures.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE Even though Lombardo will be on the July 21 primary ballot under the party’s name, that doesn’t mean the Arizona Green Party will support her. She sold MAGA merch. Now she’s running for governor as a Green Party candidate. Lombardo was listed by Maricopa County as a Republican Precinct Committeeman until Feb. 28, 2025, five days before she filed a statement of interest to run for governor as a member of the Green Party.  Two years before that, Lombardo was selling MAGA merch, including “F*** Joe Biden” shirts and “Kari Won” buttons. She also donated to and helped with the Arizona Senate campaign of Republican Josh Barnett, a Qanon follower and election denier and was married to current Republican Precinct Committeeman Michael Lombardo. Risa Lombardo told the Arizona Mirror that the two had divorced, though there are no records of a divorce in Maricopa County court.  In a previous email to the Mirror, Lombardo denied accusations that she was a sham candidate meant to draw votes from Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in order to benefit the Republican who faces her in November. Lombardo didn’t answer questions about her switch from the Republican Party to the Green Party just before deciding to run, or about her support for and ties to far-right candidates.  Democratic activist Craig Beckman and No Labels Party candidate for governor Teri Hourihan filed separate challenges to Lombardo’s candidacy.  Lombardo was represented in the challenges by Republican election attorneys Tim La Sota and Kory Langhofer, whose past clients have included Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and the Arizona Republican Party. As of the first quarter of 2026, Lombardo had received zero campaign donations, so it’s unclear how she paid the attorneys. Lombardo did not respond to a request for comment about her victory in court, or a question about who paid her attorney’s fees.  Judge Melissa Iyer Julian dismissed Hourihan’s challenge on April 13.  Julian confirmed in an April 16 ruling that 1,156 of the signatures that Beckman challenged had already been invalidated by the county recorders, but invalidated 140 more based on the evidence he provided to the court.  Julian found that Beckman didn’t provide enough evidence to invalidate the rest of the signatures he challenged, which he said were gathered by circulators who weren’t legally qualified.  In his challenge, Beckman claimed that one signature-gatherer didn’t live at the address he listed on his petitions, based on a conversation a private investigator had with a woman who lived at the address. But during a court hearing last week, the woman, the signature gatherer’s wife, admitted that she had lied to the private investigator when she said the signature gatherer didn’t live there because the investigator hadn’t provided her with identification.  Julian did invalidate 48 signatures gathered by Eduardo Sandoval after the woman who lived at the address he listed on his petitions said she barely knew him, that he’d never lived there and that he might have visited her home once more than a decade ago.  Beckman claimed that all of the signatures gathered by three circulators were invalid because they had been convicted of felonies and hadn’t restored their rights, meaning they aren’t qualified to register to vote in Arizona.  Julian found that in two instances, Beckman only showed that the circulators had the same names as the people convicted of felonies but couldn’t prove they were the same people.  But the judge invalidated all of the signatures gathered by Nelmarericjohn Marasigan after Beckman provided additional information to show that the circulator had been convicted of a felony, disqualifying him from being a circulator. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c79e059ccda1fcc09b81 Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car te 2026-04-21T00:41:02.872Z Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of young girl allegedly found dismembered, decomposing in his car Singer D4vd pleaded not guilty Monday in the murder case of a 14-year-old girl who was reportedly found dismembered and badly decomposing in the trunk of the singer’s allegedly abandoned Tesla last September. The 21-year-old alt-pop artist, identified as David Burke of Houston, was arrested in Los Angeles last Thursday following a seven-month period of public speculation surrounding the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who was first reported missing in 2024. He has since been charged with first-degree murder, with special circumstances including lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness in an investigation — allegations that could carry the death penalty, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said Monday. Additional charges include continuous sexual acts, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 years old, and mutilating human remains. SINGER D4VD ARRESTED AND HELD WITHOUT BAIL IN CASE TIED TO TEEN FOUND DEAD IN TESLA: POLICE During Burke’s arraignment Monday afternoon, his defense team entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to all counts, arguing that evidence shows Burke did not kill the girl, the Associated Press reported. "We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez," lead defense attorney Blair Berk said. "We would like to have the evidence come into the light of day." Burke was also denied bail at his arraignment, which was attended by the girl’s parents, the outlet said. According to authorities, Burke allegedly engaged in continuous abuse of the victim beginning when she was 13, spanning at least a year from September 2023 to September 2024. She later ran away from her home in Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, at 14 years old, officials said, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles. On April 23, 2025, Burke allegedly invited the victim to his home in the Hollywood Hills, where he is accused of killing her with a sharp object after she threatened to expose their relationship as his career was on the rise. 'GONE GIRL' KIDNAPPER CHARGED IN CALIFORNIA HOME INVASION CASES FROM 2009 Prosecutors alleged Burke mutilated her body about two weeks later, Fox 11 said. Four months later, on Sept. 8, 2025, the victim’s decomposed and dismembered remains were found in the trunk of a car registered to Burke that had been impounded after being reported abandoned. "Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her," Hochman said. "But Burke’s actions did not allegedly stop there. When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car. There the dismembered body sat for over four months decomposing until it was found at a tow yard on Sept. 8, 2025. This horrific and gruesome murder committed by the charged sexual predator is shocking and appalling. To Celeste’s loved ones, we will get the justice you seek and deserve." Burke was reportedly on tour in support of his album when Hernandez’s body was discovered. After allegations of his involvement surfaced, he had canceled his remaining shows. Based on the charges, Burke faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c78b059ccda1fcc09b78 Stephen A. Smith makes brutal gaffe while talking about the Golden State Warriors te 2026-04-21T00:40:43.225Z Stephen A. Smith makes brutal gaffe while talking about the Golden State Warriors For years, Stephen A. Smith's many football blunders have been easy enough to explain away. He's not an NFL guy (remember when he said the three key players for a game were three guys who weren't playing in the game?) He's definitely not a college football guy (remember when he called Jalen Milroe Jalen "Milroy" multiple times and then read the wrong stat line after a College Football Playoff game?). ESPN forces him into those conversations because First Take has to talk football, and Smith knows that football is the most popular sport in the country and he needs to be seen as an authority (even though he isn't). But Monday's latest mistake is a lot tougher to excuse, because this time Smith wasn't talking about the NFL or college football. He was talking about the Golden State Warriors, one of the defining NBA dynasties of the last decade. In other words, he was talking about the sport and the league that's supposed to be his bread and butter. JALEN BRUNSON'S SISTER BLASTS ESPN AFTER STEPHEN A SMITH KNICKS RANT: 'UTTERLY RIDICULOUS' While discussing whether Steve Kerr has coached his last game with Golden State, Smith confidently stated the Warriors "haven't been back to the playoffs since that championship in 2022." That's not even close to true. Not only did Golden State make the playoffs last season, but they also reached the postseason in 2023. Last year, the Warriors made the playoffs, beat the Rockets in seven games and advanced to the second round before losing to the Timberwolves. In 2023, they beat the Sacramento Kings in the first round and before losing to the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. So, Smith wouldn't even have been right if he said they haven't won a playoff series since 2022. But he didn't say that. He said they didn't make the playoffs in any of the past four years, except they did it twice. Yikes. This is not an obscure piece of NBA trivia that Smith could be easily forgiven for not knowing. Perhaps he was too busy playing solitaire on his phone and just missed two of the past three NBA postseasons. That's a tough look for the guy who fancies himself as the No. 1 NBA analyst in the country. And it's a terrible look for ESPN, as they keep selling Smith as one of the faces of their NBA coverage. If Smith made this kind of mistake while talking about the NFL, nobody would be shocked. At this point, sports fans practically expect him to butcher football analysis. It's almost endearing that a guy with the ego of Smith can be so consistently wrong while also delivering every "fact" with the utmost confidence. It's part of the Stephen A. experience. But this one hits differently because the NBA is where he's supposed to at least know the basics. This is where Smith prides himself as being an authority figure. And yet he couldn't keep the recent playoff history of the Warriors straight. The team whose head coach is in the news every other week. The team that has won four championships since 2014. Arguably one of the most important franchises in the NBA over the past 15 years. Yes, Golden State missed the playoffs in 2024 after getting bounced in the Play-In Tournament (although they won 46 games that season). And yes, it fell short again this season. But that's a lot different from acting like Steve Kerr has spent four years wandering the basketball wilderness since winning that 2022 title. He hasn't. In fact, the team is 175-153 in the past four regular seasons. STEVE KERR DOWNPLAYS WARRIORS OWNER'S EMAIL EXCHANGE THAT HINTED AT COACHING MISTAKES: 'NOT A BIG DEAL' The Warriors made the second round in 2023. They made the second round again in 2025. Before burying Steve Kerr on national television, maybe Stephen A. Smith could take 10 seconds to confirm whether the Warriors were actually, you know, in the playoffs. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c546059ccda1fcc09b05 Small market MLB teams are outperforming big payrolls, undermining owners' push to cancel 2027 season te 2026-04-21T00:31:02.603Z Small market MLB teams are outperforming big payrolls, undermining owners' push to cancel 2027 season We're nearly a month into the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season, and already there have been some major surprises, outstanding performances, and, most importantly, the complete and total dismantling of the "poor" small market owner trope. And hopefully it provides some positive momentum toward the ridiculous push from those owners and supportive fans to cancel the 2027 season in order to increase franchise values. In just the first few weeks of the season, we've seen several high-profile contract extensions for young prospects in small markets, including one that set a record for the largest monetary guarantee ever given out to a player who'd yet to play in the big leagues. RELATED: Konnor Griffin Signs Record Breaking Contract With Pittsburgh Pirates, Exposes How Cheap MLB Owners Are Then, the San Diego Padres, who play in one of the smallest markets in the league, sold for an astonishing $3.9 billion to the owner of Chelsea Football Club. That sale price exceeded the price that Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets just five and a half years ago by $1.4 billion. Put simply, there is no longer any reasonable debate: the business of baseball is booming. But that's the financial side, which is just one part of the "concern." The other? The supposed problem with competitive balance in baseball. Well, it's early, but the start to the season has already demonstrated why those "issues" have been wildly overstated and weaponized by owners pushing for a salary cap. And those same New York Mets have shown how absurd the hand-wringing has become. That hand-wringing, that small market teams can't possibly compete with the large payrolls of big market teams, fundamentally misunderstands the gaps between baseball teams. Yes, there are significant advantages to having more money to spend on players. But that money must be spent wisely in order for it to matter. The Mets might be the perfect example of how money can't fix everything. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the league in payroll, and caused mass outrage in the offseason by signing Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. Yes, the Dodgers are in first place...by half a game over the small market Padres. Diaz gave up three runs without getting an out on Sunday afternoon, pushing his ERA to over 10, and Kyle Tucker has been the 78th most valuable hitter in baseball thus far, behind Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. The Dodgers have still jumped out to a great start, but it's mostly been due to exceptional performances from the bottom of the lineup, players like Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, and Miguel Rojas. The Mets, who are a close second to LA with a $370 million payroll and over $500 million due in payments this year thanks to the luxury tax, have now lost 11 straight games after blowing a ninth inning lead to the Cubs on Sunday. They're tied for the worst record in baseball, have scored the second fewest runs in the league, and have now fallen a whopping eight games out of first place in the National League East already. The Mets are also 43-60 since late June 2025, one of the worst records in baseball over that timeframe. Again, this a team that will have spent nearly a billion dollars on payroll over the last two years. They missed the playoffs in 2025, and the poor start has dropped their postseason odds to just 41% this year. RELATED: New York Mets $500 Million Team Has Lost 10 Games In A Row After Zohran Mamdani Meeting Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays, who made the 2025 World Series and have the fourth highest payroll in baseball at roughly $290 million, are currently in last place in the American League East at 8-13. They've been outscored by 26 runs already. What about the Philadelphia Phillies, always one of baseball's biggest spending teams? They rank fifth in team payroll at $285 million, with a $320 million luxury tax payroll. They're in fourth place in the NL East at 8-13, and their -38 run differential is quite literally the worst in Major League Baseball. Zero BS. Just Dakich. Take the Don't @ Me podcast on the road. Download NOW! The Houston Astros rank seventh in payroll at nearly $240 million. They're in last place in the American League West, having allowed the most runs of any team in the sport. Even worse than the Rockies, who play their home games at Coors Field. What about the small market "poor" teams? Well, the Cincinnati Reds are in first place in the NL Central at 14-8 ahead of the big market Cubs, who've outspent them by over $100 million. The Athletics are tied for first in the AL West. The Cleveland Guardians are once again defying the run differential gods and sit in first place in the AL Central, despite a payroll well under $100 million. The Tampa Bay Rays are in second in the AL East, just a half game back. Miami, the team with the lowest payroll in baseball, roughly $300 million behind the Mets, sit in second and have outscored the Mets' offense by 28 runs already. Does this mean the standings will finish this way? No, not necessarily. The Blue Jays and Astros, for example, have suffered through a rash of pitching injuries and the Mets are missing Juan Soto. But therein lies the point. Injuries, underperformance, and expensive veterans declining as they age can easily derail a season for the richer teams. Yes, the Dodgers have excelled with huge payrolls, but they've done it by building up depth through minor league development and targeted small dollar value signings. Mookie Betts is out? Rojas, Alex Freeland, or Hyesong Kim can pick up the slack. Will Smith needs more time off? Dalton Rushing, a former top-35 prospect is the backup. As the extensions and franchise sales have show, there's plenty of money floating around baseball. And as the standings thus far bear out, higher payrolls don't always correlate to success. MLB already has competitive balance. We don't need to cancel an entire season, which despite their arguments, would be exclusively to enrich the league's owners, to achieve it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c51e059ccda1fcc09af7 Louisiana Killer’s Threats to Himself and Others Hinted at Future Violence te 2026-04-21T00:30:22.810Z Louisiana Killer’s Threats to Himself and Others Hinted at Future Violence Shamar Elkins had been suffering severe mental health problems, his family said. His deadly rampage, which killed eight children, has profoundly scarred a community facing rising domestic violence. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c2ef059ccda1fcc09a9d NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe te 2026-04-21T00:21:03.421Z NASA coordinating with relevant agencies in missing scientists probe NASA said on Monday that it will work with other federal agencies to investigate the deaths and disappearances of 11 nuclear and space scientists, raising concerns in Washington about whether they were targeted for their work. "NASA is coordinating and cooperating with the relevant agencies in relation to the missing scientists," NASA spokesperson Bethany Stephens wrote on X. "At this time, nothing related to NASA indicates a national security threat. The agency is committed to transparency and will provide more information as it becomes available." Hours earlier, the White House press secretary was asked by Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy about the matter. "In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential patterns," Karoline Leavitt later wrote on social media. MUSK ALLY JARED ISAACMAN MAKES COMEBACK BID FOR NASA ADMINISTRATOR ROLE AFTER MAY WITHDRAWAL: REPORT At least 11 people have either died or vanished since 2022. The vast majority were involved in nuclear science and space research, with some connected to the study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). Michael David Hicks, 59; Frank Maiwald, 61; Nuno Loureiro, 47; Jason Thomas, 45; Amy Eskridge, 34; and Carl Grillmair, 47, all died between 2023 and 2026. Each played a key role in vital scientific research, Fox News Digital previously reported. The causes of death for Hicks and Maiwald remain unknown. Grillmair was gunned down outside his home on Feb. 16, and Freddy Snyder, 29, was subsequently charged with his murder. Loureiro was also fatally shot at his Massachusetts home. SEN RICK SCOTT: THE LESSON OF ARTEMIS? PURGE WOKE POLITICS AND LET NASA DO ITS JOB The body of Jason Thomas, an associate director of chemical biology at Novartis, was discovered in Lake Quannapowitt, Mass., three months after he was last seen walking from his home late at night. Eskridge, a Huntsville, Alabama–based researcher, died June 11, 2022, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Monica Reza, 60; Melissa Casias, 53; Anthony Chavez, 79; Steven Garcia, 48; and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68, were all reported missing between 2023 and 2026. All the disappearances occurred under suspicious circumstances. On Sunday, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., warned that "something sinister" could be involved. "We've put a notice out to the Department of War, the FBI, NASA, and the Department of Energy. We want to know everything they know about what happened with these scientists, because those four agencies were predominantly the ones these 11 individuals were affiliated with," he said during an appearance on "Fox & Friends Weekend." "We want to try to piece this together." Comer said he plans to bring leaders from NASA, the FBI, and other federal agencies before Congress. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has vowed to investigate the occurrences. "I hope it's random, but we're going to know in the next week and a half," Trump told reporters last week. "I just left a meeting on that subject." Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita, Max Becall and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c2db059ccda1fcc09a94 Cher files for conservatorship again, cites son’s drug use and 'no concept of money' te 2026-04-21T00:20:43.581Z Cher files for conservatorship again, cites son’s drug use and 'no concept of money' Cher filed a petition for a temporary conservatorship over her son and claimed his life has "significantly deteriorated" since a prior request was proposed in 2023, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. The "I Got You Babe" singer claimed Elijah Blue Allman has "no concept of money" and almost exclusively spends funds on "drugs, expensive hotels, and limousine transportation." Allman is currently in custody at a "psychiatric hospital" in New Hampshire on multiple criminal charges stemming from arrests in February and March. Her request for a conservatorship over her son is the second attempt in three years to receive a court order. CHER'S SON ARRESTED TWICE IN ONE WEEKEND ON BURGLARY AND ASSAULT CHARGES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE Cher acknowledged that Elijah is entitled to regular distributions from a trust, but expressed concerns that his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues prevent her son from making reasonable decisions. "After he receives his trust distribution, he checks into a hotel, usually the Chateau Marmont, buys and does drugs until he runs out of money, ends up in the hospital, or overdoses," documents stated. "Based on this pattern, if Elijah were to receive his trust distribution, he will use it [to] buy drugs." Cher argued that in order to avoid the proposed conservatorship in 2023, Elijah conceded to an inability to responsibly manage his finances, and claimed he was hiring a business manager in addition to relying on his spouse "for his betterment and recovery." TOMMY LEE JONES FILED CONSERVATORSHIP PETITION FOR DAUGHTER VICTORIA 2 YEARS BEFORE SUSPECTED OVERDOSE His defense, Cher claimed, turned out to be "nothing more than words." "Not only did the proposed conservatee not hire a business manager, but he, as explained in detail below has lived wildly beyond his means and continued to go to expensive hotels he cannot afford," she wrote. "Frankly, those problems are just the tip of the iceberg." Allman's estranged wife, Marieangela King, is "not a viable option for support" and would  only reappear for a proceeding if it were "financially advantageous" for her, documents stated. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER King is now also a "major creditor" of Allman after a court awarded her $6,500 per month in spousal support retroactive to July 1, 2025, in addition to a $10,000 legal bill. Cher claimed the only support her son has received is from "longtime friend Kayti Pease, who by all accounts, has kept him alive." However, Elijah has "caused Kayti significant emotional and financial loss," the petition stated. "Without the financial support of Kayti and others, the proposed conservatee would not have any money to pay for any of the massive damages he has recently caused." A summer of "known problems" Elijah has caused or faced in the last year included thousands of dollars in damages to 14 Airbnb's rented for her son in Kayti's name. "The most recent Airbnb stay, Elijah caused over $50,000 in damages and landed Kayti in a lawsuit with Airbnb," according to the request. "Elijah has been thrown out of a total of 18 hotels because he has made guests feel uncomfortable, screaming obscenities, and acting erratically. "In sum, Elijah's situation has become dire on multiple fronts. His mental health has severely deteriorated, his financial situation is terrible, and his drug dependency is at its worst." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Jason Rubin petitioned as a professional fiduciary to be appointed conservator over Allman. Documents showed his license expires in January 2027 and that prior to his affiliation with the case, he had no prior relationship with the proposed conservatee, his family or friends. Cher's representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Allman, 49, was charged in March with burglary, two counts of criminal mischief and breach of bail stemming from a residential break-in involving forced entry in New Hampshire. Days before, on Feb. 27, Allman was arrested at a New Hampshire private high school and charged with four misdemeanors: two counts of simple assault, criminal trespass and criminal threatening. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c096059ccda1fcc09a35 Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats te 2026-04-21T00:11:02.848Z Soros-linked dark money network fuels Virginia redistricting push backed by national Democrats Virginians for Fair Elections, a main group fighting to get Virginia voters to approve a ballot referendum that will allow the state to redraw its congressional maps, has been pumped with millions in cash from a web of George Soros-backed dark money groups and top Democratic Party officials. The money the group has garnered ahead of Tuesday's vote, which is poised to allow Democrats in the House of Representatives to potentially take four seats from Republicans going into the midterms, also comes from leading Democratic Party figures and organizations like Nancy Pelosi and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Other left-wing juggernauts pumping money into the Democratic Party's redistricting effort in Virginia include the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Eric Holder's National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which once championed the adoption of "independent redistricting commissions," national green energy group the League of Conservation Voters, and the U.S. House of Representatives campaign arm for the Democratic Party, according to a Fox News Digital review of state campaign finance records and records from the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), which tracks public spending in Virginia. VIRGINIA DEMS ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY ‘STEAMROLLING’ STATE LAW THAT COULD UPEND REDISTRICTING CRUSADE "Dark money is flooding into Virginia," GOP strategist Matt Gorman told Fox News Digital. "Democrats talked all about the cost of living during the campaign, but all they did once in office was raise taxes and rig elections. It'll be the same elsewhere across the country in 2026 too." Fox News Digital reported in March that the left-wing group fighting to redraw Virginia's maps raised more than $38 million, according to VPAP's donation totals based on state campaign finance records. As of right before the mid-April referendum vote, just a handful of weeks later, that total ballooned to more than $64 million. In 2026, the largest giver to Virginians for Fair Elections was House Majority Forward, the nonprofit counterpart of House Democrats' House Majority PAC, which has donated over $38 million, records show. Meanwhile, entities directly tied to Soros, or that obtained significant funding which can be traced back to the billionaire Democrat megadonor, come in second and third in terms of total giving to the group, per VPAP's accounting of donation totals. One of those groups, the Fund for Policy Reform Inc, was founded by Soros. The other, titled The Fairness Project, has been funded by groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund, Hopewell Fund and the Tides Foundation, which Soros has given significant funding to. DAVID MARCUS: DESPERATE DEMS TAP OBAMA TO PITCH VIRGINIA GERRYMANDERING LIES Another one of the top donors to the left's Virginians for Fair Elections is American Opportunity Action, described as "a pure pass-through entity" by Parker Thayer, a dark money expert from the conservative Capital Research Center. The group is so new that it does not even appear to have any 990s filed with the IRS but is still one of Virginians for Fair Elections' top donors, according to VPAP and state campaign finance records. Top Democratic Party members of Congress from outside Virginia, including Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., and Katherine Clark, D-Mass., also donated tens-of-thousands of dollars, according to a review of state campaign finance records. Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine's leadership PAC donated $100,000 as well, while the Democratic Party of Virginia put up just shy of a million dollars, per VPAP's accounting. Meanwhile, a group founded by Obama wingman Eric Holder, who previously championed "independent redistricting commissions," provided a more than $10,000 in-kind contribution to the left-wing redistricting group, state election filings show. The League of Conservation Voters, and the Soros-backed MoveOn.org were also among Virginians for Fair Election's top donors. In terms of labor union support, SEIU gave half-a-million, while AFT gave $100,000. CBS HOST PRESSES FORMER AG ON DEFENDING PARTISAN REDISTRICTING EFFORTS IN VIRGINIA Fox News Digital reached out to Soros' Open Society Foundations and the other top donors pumping thousands or millions into the redistricting battle, but did not receive a response ahead of publication. "No one wanted to take this action, but in a democracy, we can’t let entire states rig their congressional maps just to bend to the will of one person," Alexis Magnan-Callaway, a spokesperson for The Fairness Project, told Fox News Digital in March.   "We have to respond. This amendment is a temporary, one-time exception that gives Virginia voters a voice and meets the needs of the current moment, while ensuring Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting process will resume after the 2030 census," she continued. "This isn’t about favoring one party over another. This is about restoring fairness across the board by temporarily changing Virginia’s congressional districts." A main group in Virginia opposing the redistricting effort led by Democrats, Virginians For Fair Maps, raised a little over $3 million at the time of Fox News Digital's late March report. However, the right-wing redistricting group in Virginia appears to have gained some ground since then as well, albeit still far behind the left's Virginians for Fair Elections funding totals. As of just before the referendum vote Tuesday, the anti-redistricting referendum group raised its fundraising total to nearly $20 million, with most of that money coming from a group by the same name that is also a significant donor to the Virginia Republican Party.  Other donations to the group come from a series of several much smaller donors, such as $50,000 from the National Shooting Sports Foundation and $100,000 from a wealthy D.C.-area real-estate investor, who donates primarily to GOP campaigns. That investor is the top individual donor at $100,000 out of just a handful of individual contributions, according to VPAP. Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, has reportedly given more than $500,000 in efforts against the redistricting measure, per reporting from the Virginia Scope. He also has been a leading voice in Virginia holding events to campaign against the measure despite no longer being in office. Wealthy tech entrepreneur and Republican donor Peter Thiel has reportedly donated to Justice for Democracy PAC, which has been part of the anti-redistricting effort alongside Virginians for Fair Maps as well. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6c083059ccda1fcc09a2c Dan Rather among 200 journalists demanding Trump be called out at White House Correspondents' Dinner te 2026-04-21T00:10:43.140Z Dan Rather among 200 journalists demanding Trump be called out at White House Correspondents' Dinner More than 200 journalists have signed an open letter urging the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) to call out President Donald Trump to his face at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD). "We, the undersigned, call upon the White House Correspondents' Association to use the occasion of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, to forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press," the open letter published Monday began. "The dinner has long served as a symbol of the vital and irreplaceable role of a free press in American democracy and a celebration of the First Amendment and the journalists who uphold it. President Trump's systematic, sustained, and unprecedented attacks on the free press... render his presence at such an event a profound contradiction of its purpose." The letter continued, "The collective weight of the administration’s actions — retaliatory access bans, coercive regulatory investigations, frivolous lawsuits against the press, defunding of public broadcasting, dismantling of international broadcasting, physical restrictions on journalists, personal verbal attacks on reporters, assaults on the media in official White House press releases and social media posts, the arrest of journalists, and the pardoning of those who committed violence against the press — represent the most systematic and comprehensive assault on freedom of the press by a sitting American president." TRUMP'S RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER MARKS A POLITICAL JOURNEY COMING FULL CIRCLE The journalists said this year's WHCD "cannot be business as usual with the press standing up to applaud the man who attacks them on a daily basis," urging WHCA leadership to condemn Trump's threats to the press from the podium. "Speak forcefully, in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press," the letter stated. "We also urge the WHCA to reaffirm, without equivocation, that freedom of the press is not a partisan issue and that the Association will not normalize this behavior but instead fight back against any officeholder who has waged systematic war against the journalists whose work the dinner celebrates." Notable signatories on the letter are former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, former ABC News White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, former NBC News anchor Ann Curry and PBS NewsHour correspondent Stephanie Sy. TRUMP ACCEPTS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION DINNER INVITATION FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PRESIDENT The letter included a lengthy list labeled the "Trump Administration's Attacks on Freedom of the Press." Among examples listed are Trump's "Gulf of America" feud with the Associated Press, the Pentagon's crackdown on press access, Trump's lawsuit settlements with ABC News and CBS News as well as the various insults he has used against individual journalists. Several journalism organizations also co-signed the letter, including the National Association of Black Journalists and the Freedom of the Press Foundation. In response to the letter, a spokesperson for the White House simply pointed to Trump's Truth Social post announcing he was attending the WHCD, claiming he accepted the invitation because the WHCA asked him "very nicely" and "admit that I am truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country, the G.O.A.T." Rather was famously fired from CBS News for airing an erroneous report in 2004 about President George W. Bush that relied on falsified documents. This year's White House Correspondents' Dinner marks Trump's first time attending as president after boycotting the annual press gala last year and during his first term. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6be56059ccda1fcc099d2 Survey: What makes a good election in the eyes of Arizonans? te 2026-04-21T00:01:26.679Z Survey: What makes a good election in the eyes of Arizonans? Dr. Sybil Francis Elections matter. Voting matters. That’s what we learn in school. But changes being proposed to how Arizonans vote at the national and state levels would make your civics teacher cry. But even more importantly, the proposed changes — most designed to make voting more difficult — fly in the face of what large majorities of Arizonans say matters to them when it comes to voting and elections. I know this from multiple public opinion surveys we have conducted over the years. For over two decades, we at the Center for the Future of Arizona have asked Arizonans across the state for their thoughts on issues critical to Arizona’s future, including education, health care, immigration and the environment. Our aim is to advance the voices of Arizonans on what matters to them and to our state’s future. We want to help leaders in our state see that Arizonans agree on many important issues, even when their voices get drowned out by partisan politics. Our most recent survey explores what Arizonans believe a good election should deliver — regardless of party, candidate or outcome.  We started with a very basic question. Do Arizonans think fair and secure elections are important to a healthy democracy? The answer is virtually unanimous: 97% of Arizonans agree. This is the highest level of agreement we have seen in two decades of public opinion research. And a significant majority of Arizonans believe that their vote makes a difference, with 79% believing that it does. The voices seeking to undermine trust in elections and claims of voter fraud have not eroded these fundamental beliefs. And what do Arizonans think about some of the proposed changes to how elections are run? Do these hot button issues resonate with Arizonans? Where do Arizonans stand on limiting or eliminating the option to cast their vote by mail, cutting off early ballot drop-off before election day, speeding up reporting of election results, or reverting to precinct voting? The disconnect between these proposals and what Arizonans actually want could not be greater. With regard to voting by mail, 81% of Arizonans want to keep their option to do so. That’s a supermajority and includes majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independent/unaffiliated Arizonans. In 2024, 81% of ballots in Arizona were cast using returned mail-in ballots. And while Arizonans certainly think receiving timely results is great, nearly seven in 10 prefer preserving their option to drop off their early ballot up to, and on, election day. We asked if they preferred this option even if it means election results take longer to report, and the answer was clear: yes. In 2024, an estimated 8% of Arizona’s votes were mail-in ballots returned in person on election day.  With regard to voting centers, 89% of Arizonans want more voting centers, including 91% of Republicans, 95% of Democrats, and 83% of independent/unaffiliated Arizonans. These and other trends in our survey results show that Arizonans want more and more convenient options to vote, not fewer. Finally, we asked Arizonans what makes a good election. What should a good election deliver regardless of your party or whether or not you like the outcome? How do you want to experience voting? Among nine core principles we asked about, three clear priorities rise to the top: accuracy, trustworthiness and transparency. Other priorities considered essential include voter access, fiscal responsibility, voter participation, preserving multiple ways to vote and the safety of voters and election workers. Only one principle fell below 50% support: speed of reporting results. Speed is important to voters, but it’s not as important as accuracy, trustworthiness, transparency or other priorities such as voter access and convenience. What does this mean for current debates about how elections are designed and run? Arizonans have spoken on these issues. Will leaders listen? What will this mean for current debates about how elections are designed and run? Will the policies advanced reflect the interests of the voters or run cross-wise with them? Listening to Arizonans and understanding their priorities doesn’t end debate, but should inform it. As changes to elections are considered, we should ask whether they align with what voters say are hallmarks of a good election. Arizonans know what matters to them, and that should matter to everyone, including our elected leaders. Sybil Francis, Ph.D. is chair, president & CEO of Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state. The post Survey: What makes a good election in the eyes of Arizonans? first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6be40059ccda1fcc099ad Juvenile charged with murdering Alabama girl, 10, leaving family with ‘only more questions’ te 2026-04-21T00:01:04.605Z Juvenile charged with murdering Alabama girl, 10, leaving family with ‘only more questions’ A 10-year-old Alabama girl remembered for her "bright and joyful" spirit was found dead inside an Alabama home late Friday night, sparking a homicide investigation that has led to one juvenile being charged with murder. Piedmont police discovered the body of Katheryn Bigbee less than an hour after she was reported missing, AL.com reported. "Officers responded immediately to the residence," Piedmont Police Chief Nathan Johnson said in a statement. "They tragically discovered a deceased juvenile inside the home." Authorities have not disclosed the location of the home or whether it was the girl’s residence. A juvenile, whose identity and relationship to Katheryn were withheld because of their age, was arrested and charged with murder. GOT A TIP? Bigbee’s cause of death also remains unclear, with police saying the investigation was still ongoing. FOLLOW US ON X "Our family has been torn to pieces, and we have lost the most amazing, sweetest little girl. She was a light in any room she walked into," Blake Trammell, who is in a relationship with Katheryn's mother, wrote in a Facebook post. "I cannot express the pain, guilt, and emptiness that has come from all of this. We don't have answers, only more questions." GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL The girl’s school also recalled her as a beloved student, remembered for her "spunky personality." "Katheryn had a joyful, spunky personality that made her truly special. She was an enthusiastic reader and will be remembered for the happiness she shared so freely," the school said in a statement. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown told AL.com on Sunday that he was unable to release a cause of death. Fox News Digital has reached out to the coroner's office and Piedmont Police Department for updated comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6be2c059ccda1fcc099a4 Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama makes NBA history with first career Defensive Player of the Year award te 2026-04-21T00:00:44.867Z Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama makes NBA history with first career Defensive Player of the Year award San Antonio Spurs star big man, Victor Wembanyama, was unanimously named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, and he did so in historic fashion. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 phenom, became the youngest player to ever win the prestigious award at just 22 years old. Even better, he is the first to ever win the award unanimously, and for good reason. Wembanyama was a problem with, and without, the ball in his hands this season. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He earned all 100 first-place votes for the award, with Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren finishing with 76 second-place votes. Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson finished in third place when the ballots were tallied. The next-closest player to getting a unanimously victory for Defensive Player of the Year was Ben Wallace during the 2001-02 season, where he finished four votes shy in the 120-person panel. ESPN'S JAY WILLIAMS SAYS 'CANCEL CULTURE' MAY BE REASON FOR THE NBA'S DROUGHT OF AMERICAN MVPS While Wembanyama is also a finalist for the league’s MVP award, this one in particular is something he’s been looking to add to his career trophy collection. Wembanyama was a rookie in 2024 when Rudy Gobert, his fellow French compatriot, won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award. However, Wembanyama, the first overall pick by the Spurs, said Gobert’s days as the best defender in the league would be coming to an end at some point. He expected it to be by his hand. And though he wasn’t able to win award last season after only playing 36 games, Wembanyama made sure to follow through on his word this year. "I know that Rudy has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved," Wembanyama said at the time, per ESPN.  "Let him win it now, because after that, it’s no longer his turn." Wembanyama’s prediction came true after he led the NBA in blocks with 197 on the season, marking the second consecutive year he’s been atop that category on the league’s stat sheet. He also notched 66 steals and finished with a 110.4 defensive rating, which was second-best in the NBA. "Everything that [he’s] achieved so far has been earned and never given," Spurs teammate Keldon Johnson said of Wembanyama. "He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. He takes his craft very seriously and I feel like this is just a small token of what’s to come for Victor. He’s a special player on the court and an even more special person off the court." Of course, defending isn’t all about forcing turnovers, as Wembanyama used his tall stature to haul in the second-most defensive rebounds in the NBA (9.5), which was only behind Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic. Jokic and Wembanyama join the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the three MVP finalist, with the latter hoping to repeat after quite the 2024-25 campaign. Wembanyama has developed into the presence on both ends of the court the Spurs always envisioned when they won the NBA Draft lottery. Spurs veteran guard De’Aaron Fox knows that players won’t even shoot the ball when they see him in front of them. "You talk about guys that change shots. He literally negates guys even shooting the ball," he said, via ESPN. "They’ll see him in there and dribble the ball out or kick out. He changes the whole dynamic of your defense, and he changes the dynamic of other team’s offense." Wembanyama and the Spurs also got off to a good start in their first trip to the NBA Playoffs since the 2018-19 season, taking down the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday to open their First Round series with a win, 111-98. Wembanyama finished the game with a team-leading 35 points (13-of-21 shooting) with five rebounds, one assist and two blocks. 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/69e6b983059ccda1fcc098c1 GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage te 2026-04-20T23:40:51.152Z GOP blasts Virginia amendment as maps could swing delegation to 10-1 Democratic advantage Ahead of a special election on Tuesday, Virginia Republicans blasted a proposed constitutional amendment in their state that could soon cost them their congressional seats, calling the effort the most "unfair" of a string of redrawn maps across the country. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., believes it’s a sentiment shared by voters. "I was with a group of Virginia Watermen this morning from across the state and they're [feeling] the same way. They say ‘no, we're not going to let them turn us into a state that's only governed by a portion of the state,’" Wittman said. The Virginia redistricting effort, which requires a statewide vote to go into effect, follows similar shakeups in Texas, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Utah. BETO O'ROURKE DROPS F-BOMB AS HE URGES DEMS TO 'MEET FIRE WITH FIRE' AGAINST GOP REDISTRICTING PLANS IN TEXAS But unlike many of those other states that already have a distinct party advantage one way or another, Virginia’s GOP blasted what they saw as a drastic power swing they say misrepresents the state’s purple voter base. If successful, the new maps would temporarily turn the current 6-5 congressional split to a 10-1 advantage for Democrats by stretching the borders of traditionally Republican areas across Democratic strongholds. The state's normal process, conducted by a nonpartisan redistricting commission, would go back into effect in 2030 at the next U.S. census. With up to four more seats, Democrats hope to recapture control of the House of Representatives, where a razor-thin majority favors Republicans — for now. The GOP holds a 217-213 advantage in the chamber. Democrats supporting the idea argue that Virginia is key to balancing out Republican-led gerrymandering efforts that began in Texas, describing the push as purely retaliatory. "Virginia’s redistricting referendum gives voters the power to respond to a president who says he’s ‘entitled’ to more GOP seats in Congress before Americans vote in the midterms [and] to efforts in other states to give those seats to him," Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said in a post after teeing up the vote last month. Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin argued that the state’s current makeup more accurately reflects Virginia’s population. AS AMERICA TURNS 250, TRUMP SHOULD RESTORE WASHINGTON DC'S ORIGINAL BORDERS "We have fair maps today that represent Virginians, and what this constitutional amendment would mean is that we go to the most unfair maps in America, and therefore, 'no' is the right vote," Youngkin said. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that politically favoring one party through the design of state’s district is constitutional, the practice, better known as gerrymandering, has been banned in Virginia since a constitutional referendum in 2020. However, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the state could temporarily amend its constitution to allow the implementation of new maps. "’Do you want to restore fairness in elections temporarily?’" Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., said, referencing the phrasing of the referendum. "It's insane how that question is worded. So wrong how it's written. But here we are. This is our chance to use our voice and our vote. And that's very powerful. But the ball is in our court.'" Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., argued that undoing that prohibition now would be a mistake — even if it's temporary in nature. FIRST TIME VOTING? HERE IS THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BALLOT BOXES, CRITICAL ISSUES ON ELECTION DAY "Virginians spoke in 2020; you know what they said? By a supermajority, they said no to gerrymandering. They said: ‘Let's have a bipartisan determination of these districts.’ And by the way, they've been shown to be the most bipartisan districts across the United States," Wittman said. Polls open in Virginia at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b78b059ccda1fcc0985f Ex-cop who killed suspect with cooler walks free as he appeals conviction that made him an example te 2026-04-20T23:32:27.415Z Ex-cop who killed suspect with cooler walks free as he appeals conviction that made him an example A former New York City police officer who was sentenced to three to nine years in prison for fatally throwing a cooler at a fleeing suspect walked out of prison Monday after being granted bail while he appeals his conviction.  Erik Duran, 38, was released from custody at the Elmira Correctional Facility Monday afternoon, according to a social media post from the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association.  "First and foremost, I want to thank my family, particularly my wife, my children and my parents for all their unconditional love and support throughout his ordeal," Duran said in a statement released by the SBA. FORMER NYPD OFFICER WHO FATALLY THREW COOLER AT FLEEING SUSPECT GRANTED BAIL DURING APPEAL OF CONVICTION "I also want to thank God for giving me strength and guiding me through the darkness," he continued. "I thank my entire legal team for never giving up in their pursuit of justice."  Duran was serving a three- to nine-year sentence for manslaughter when he was granted a $300,000 bond last week, according to FOX 5. A judge ordered him to surrender his passport to his lawyers as he waits for his appeal to be finalized.  GOT A TIP? "This is a major win for Erik and his family and for law enforcement officers around the country," Vincent Vallelong, the president of Duran’s union within the SBA, reportedly said. Duran, a married father of three, was convicted in February on charges stemming from the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey.  FOLLOW US ON X Duprey was attempting to flee on a moped as officers carried out an undercover drug bust in the Bronx when Duran hurled an Igloo cooler at him, causing him to crash and hit his head on the pavement.  Duprey later died from his injuries. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL  Duran has insisted he threw the cooler to protect his fellow officers, but Bronx Judge Guy Mitchell rejected his defense at sentencing, adding the punishment would serve as a "deterrent" to other officers from acting recklessly.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS "They had enough to investigate and catch him on a different day," Mitchell said, referring to the police. "The distinction is that the deceased will no longer be seen again by his family." Duran’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.  Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b764059ccda1fcc09853 2 Teens Killed and 5 Injured in North Carolina Shooting te 2026-04-20T23:31:48.158Z 2 Teens Killed and 5 Injured in North Carolina Shooting The young people, planning for a fight, had arranged to meet off school grounds at a park in Winston-Salem, N.C., when gunfire broke out on Monday morning. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b750059ccda1fcc0984a ‘Immediate Results’ vs. ‘The Long Game’: Iran and the U.S. Face Off te 2026-04-20T23:31:28.438Z ‘Immediate Results’ vs. ‘The Long Game’: Iran and the U.S. Face Off As the United States and Iran make a second attempt at a deal, their negotiating styles are on a collision course. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b73c059ccda1fcc09841 Louisiana Killer’s Threats to Himself and Others Hinted at Future Violence te 2026-04-20T23:31:08.858Z Louisiana Killer’s Threats to Himself and Others Hinted at Future Violence Shamar Elkins had been suffering severe mental health problems, his family said. His deadly rampage, which killed eight children, has profoundly scarred a community facing rising domestic violence. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b727059ccda1fcc09820 Tucson staff dubious on restarting bus fares; Heinz keeps Pima sheriff in his sights te 2026-04-20T23:30:47.514Z Tucson staff dubious on restarting bus fares; Heinz keeps Pima sheriff in his sights Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b585059ccda1fcc0980d Dewey te 2026-04-20T23:23:49.782Z Dewey Dewey is an adult male Chihuahua mix. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b571059ccda1fcc09804 pet - goober.png te 2026-04-20T23:23:29.753Z pet - goober.png Goober is an adult male standard schnauzer mix. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b55d059ccda1fcc097fb pet -bear.png te 2026-04-20T23:23:09.754Z pet -bear.png Bear is an adult male pit bull terrier mix. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b549059ccda1fcc097f1 Martin Schram: Peeved at his veep? te 2026-04-20T23:22:49.783Z Martin Schram: Peeved at his veep? To tell you the truth, America’s 47th president was apparently way more than just peeved at his vice president after the first round of the Iran war ceasefire talks suddenly collapsed in Islamabad, Pakistan. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b536059ccda1fcc097e8 Martin Schram te 2026-04-20T23:22:30.080Z Martin Schram Martin Schram Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b521059ccda1fcc097df Scene pkg April 20 te 2026-04-20T23:22:09.944Z Scene pkg April 20 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b50c059ccda1fcc097c7 K-9 for Arizona police department dies 'unexpectedly' te 2026-04-20T23:21:48.890Z K-9 for Arizona police department dies 'unexpectedly' Mac the K-9 had been with the Prescott Valley Police Department since 2024. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b4f3059ccda1fcc0978e Greg Olsen on Travis Kelce returning to Chiefs for 14th season: 'League is better off with him playing' te 2026-04-20T23:21:23.789Z Greg Olsen on Travis Kelce returning to Chiefs for 14th season: 'League is better off with him playing' Travis Kelce will enter year 14 in the NFL when he steps foot on the gridiron with his beloved Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, which a close friend and fellow tight end said is a good thing for the league. After recent seasons, the question of whether Kelce, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, still wants to play football has come up. Each time, including this offseason, the 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro has answered the bell with a resounding yes. Greg Olsen, whom Kelce works alongside with their Tight End University summit each offseason, spoke to the Chiefs star recently. He told Fox News Digital that he still sees that fire inside Kelce when he talked about strapping the pads on for 2026 – a season in which he will turn 37. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "I think just getting to know Travis and just how much he loves playing the game and how much he loves to compete and obviously the career that he’s had as far as first-ballot Hall of Famers – he’s as close to a lock as you’ll find – especially considering the tight end position takes some guys a little bit longer even though they’re super deserving. I think the league is great to have him," Olsen said. "I think the Chiefs are smart to want him back. "I got to spend some time with him a couple weeks ago, and he’s super excited for a fresh season, for the team, for himself." The Chiefs reached an acceptable deal with Kelce, whose contract was up after this past season. Now that he’s in place for 2026, as well as a reunion with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the Chiefs are focused on the health of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who needed ACL surgery after injuring it during a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. GREG OLSEN'S ADVICE FOR NFL DRAFT FIRST-ROUND PICKS ON HANDLING HIGH EXPECTATIONS "It’s one of the best tight end-quarterback combinations of all time," Olsen added, acknowledging one of the league’s best duos in recent memory. "So, I’m happy for [Kelce] just as a friend, as a fan of football." While it may be a nuisance for Kelce to continuously hear about retirement, Olsen also understands that Kelce has had the opportunity not many can say they do during a grueling football career – walking away on your own terms. Olsen wants that for his friend in the end, whenever that may be. "I’d love to see him go out when he wants to be done," Olsen explained. "Very few guys are able to earn that right throughout their NFL career to say, ‘You know what? I’m done when I say I’m done.’ That’s not typically how it goes. Very few guys have that swan song, perfect ending, walking off under the confetti and the Super Bowl. That’s a dream scenario everyone hopes will be them. "But if there is a guy who deserves his career to end the right way because of everything he’s stood for, everything he’s done, how hard he’s worked, the success he’s had, individually and collectively, Trav’s at the top of that list." Olsen, who serves as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, is excited for the prospect of covering more games featuring Kelce and the Chiefs, as he wants to enjoy the remainder of his career. And that’s a career defined by three Super Bowl titles, and more than enough accolades to end up with a bronze bust in Canton one day. "I never thought I’d see a day where people started saying, ‘Is anyone better than Tony Gonzalez?’ Then, Gronk comes along and that conversation. When it’s all said and done, Travis might be at the top of that list, which 10 years ago sounded crazy that anyone would surpass some of those guys. His career is second to none, and the league is better off with him playing," Olsen ended. INSIDE THE FRONT OFFICE MIND While Olsen enjoyed 14 years in the NFL, his next chapter of the game is providing keen analysis for FOX Sports broadcasts during the year. To help him do that in the offseason while looking at the NFL Draft and free agency pickups by each franchise, Olsen has been using NFL IQ, the new interactive hub created by the league and Amazon Web Services powered by Amazon Quick. Ahead of the draft, NFL IQ transformed raw data from the NFL Combine and team needs, free agency moves made and more for this hub that provides fans access to key insights and puts them in the shoes of front office decision makers. Whether it’s the casual fan or a top analyst like Olsen, NFL IQ is an easy-to-use way to deepen football knowledge, especially at a crucial roster-building time like the draft is. "This is the most educated fan base in NFL history, and I think that’s a good thing," Olsen said. "Fans actually have a way to access the exact same data, the exact same information that the teams and everyone are using for their own interest, whether it’s something casual or for people who really want to dive into the nitty gritty. "I think it’s a really fun set of tools for the wide array of people who touch the NFL space. I know firsthand as a fan, and now a professional in the industry, it’s a huge part of my interaction of the game." 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/69e6b4e0059ccda1fcc09785 South Carolina population soars, leads nation in domestic migration te 2026-04-20T23:21:04.239Z South Carolina population soars, leads nation in domestic migration South Carolina is officially the fastest-growing state in the nation, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the Palmetto State’s population surged by 1.5%, outpacing every other state in the country. State officials attribute this rapid expansion primarily to a massive influx of domestic migration—Americans choosing to leave other states in favor of South Carolina’s climate, economy, and cost of living. "From July 2024 to July 2025, South Carolina netted 66,622 domestic migrants, meaning 66,622 more people moved into the state than out of it," the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) reported. SAN FRANCISCO STILL HASNT RECOVERED SINCE PANDEMIC EXODUS: REPORT While the state has seen consistent growth over the last five years, the DEW noted that the most significant single-year spike occurred between July 2022 and July 2023, when the state added more than 100,000 new residents. Despite the statewide boom, the growth is heavily concentrated. Research indicates that more than 80% of South Carolina’s population gain since the 2020 Census has occurred in just 10 counties: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Lancaster, Lexington, Greenville, Horry, Richland, Spartanburg, and York. Economists point to a robust, diversifying economy as a major draw. Rapidly expanding healthcare and technology sectors in urban hubs like Columbia and Greenville have turned the state into a prime destination for workers seeking opportunity outside traditional high-cost coastal powerhouses. TEXAS EMERGES AS THE TOP DESTINATION FOR COMPANIES LEAVING BLUE STATES South Carolina’s growth mirrors a broader national trend where taxpayers are increasingly fleeing high-tax, high-cost states. Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson recently told FOX Business that the Sunshine State continues to lead the nation in "income migration," drawing in over $4 million in wealth every hour. "States like New York, Illinois, and California are losing over $1 million an hour of income," Wilson told FOX Business, describing the fiscal exodus from Democratic-led states as a "death spiral." NEW YORK'S HOCHUL DROVE ME TO FLORIDA — NOW SHE'S BEGGING ME TO RETURN. NOT HAPPENING New data released this month by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF), which analyzed the latest available IRS tax filing information from 2022, underscores this trend. The study found that while Texas and Florida remain top targets, the overall shift of residents from high-tax states to more tax-friendly environments—including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee—shows no signs of slowing. "As states continue to diverge on tax policy, our 'laboratories of democracy' are increasingly running noticeably different experiments," said NTUF Director of State Policy Andrew Wilford. "IRS migration data is one of the most direct and honest forms of feedback available from taxpayers." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b4b7059ccda1fcc0976c Anthropic takes $5B from Amazon and pledges $100B in cloud spending in return te 2026-04-20T23:20:23.741Z Anthropic takes $5B from Amazon and pledges $100B in cloud spending in return Amazon has made another circular AI deal: It's investing another $5 billion in Anthropic. Anthropic has agreed to spend $100 billion on AWS in return. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6b01c059ccda1fcc096cb Lawyer for American detained in Iran says hostage deal is 'easiest problem on the table' for both sides te 2026-04-20T23:00:44.481Z Lawyer for American detained in Iran says hostage deal is 'easiest problem on the table' for both sides The matter of American hostages wrongfully detained in Iran could be resolved during negotiations between Tehran and Washington as both sides navigate a fragile ceasefire amid attempts to end the conflict, one expert said. Ryan Fayhee, a lawyer for Abdolreza "Reza" Valizadeh, 49, who has been detained by Iran for more than a year, stressed the urgency of a diplomatic solution to secure his client's release as pressure on Iran remains high during the war against the United States and Israel. "It is my job as Reza's lawyer to make sure that it doesn't get lost," Fayhee told Fox News Digital. "While I have high confidence that this is part of the negotiations, even though the administration hasn't stated so publicly… it is officially my job to make sure it remains part of those conversations. And equally so — and this is the bigger challenge, because obviously, I don't have full control — it's my job to make sure Reza is safe and alive to allow for those negotiations to take place that ideally will secure his release." Iran is currently holding six Americans, though only two have been publicly identified: Valizadeh and 61-year-old Kamran Hekmati. Both hold dual Iranian and American citizenship and were being held in Iran's notorious Evin Prison. WHY TRUMP, IRAN SEEM LIGHT-YEARS APART ON ANY POSSIBLE DEAL TO END THE WAR In recent days, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued warnings on social media for residents living near the prison to evacuate the area amid continuing airstrikes. "Despite Reza and Kamran Hekmati both being American citizens, the Iranians don't recognize their American citizenship," Fayhee said. "For that reason, they don't receive traditional consular services. And even if they did, we don't have an embassy there." In February, the State Department designated Iran a "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention" for arbitrarily arresting Americans to use as bargaining chips in future negotiations. "For decades, Iran has continued to cruelly detain innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, to use as political leverage against other states," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time. "This abhorrent practice must end." IRAN THREATENS TO END CEASEFIRE OVER HEZBOLLAH'S EXCLUSION FROM TRUCE DEAL The designation adds extra layers of isolating tools, such as sanctions and travel restrictions, Fayhee noted. Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department and the White House, which has called on Iran to release every American being detained. "President Trump has been clear that he wants every American wrongfully detained to be returned home safe and sound, and that there will be dire consequences for regimes who treat Americans as political pawns," a White House spokesperson told The Associated Press. VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL 'FIND OUT' TRUMP IS 'NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND' IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART A second round of talks between Tehran and Washington has stalled as a clear path to a diplomatic resolution of the seven-week war remains uncertain. On Monday, President Donald Trump said he was under no pressure to make a deal with Iran, "although, it will all happen, relatively quickly!" he wrote on Truth Social. Valizadeh was arrested in September 2024 during a visit to see family and was sentenced after being convicted of working with a "hostile government." As a journalist, he previously reported on the 2009 pro-democracy protests in Iran and the regime's heavy-handed response. As a result, he was exiled and began working for Radio Farda, the Iranian branch of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Securing a deal to free any Americans being held in Iran could prove difficult given Tehran's proclivity for deception, Roger Carstens, the former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, previously told Fox News. "Strangely, the Russians, the Chinese, the Taliban, and the Venezuelans — when you start getting into hostage discussions, they tell the truth, and they stick to what they promise. You can do a handshake deal with the Taliban, and they're going to follow through," Carstens said. "The Iranians? Absolutely not." However, Fayhee, who also served as the lawyer for Paul Rusesabagina — the hotelier portrayed in the 2004 film "Hotel Rwanda" — said he maintains hope for Valizadeh's release. He noted that Iran is increasingly isolated following its missile strikes on its Arab neighbors and the opposition it faces from Western powers. "It is the easiest problem on the table to solve, and both sides should acknowledge that," Fayhee said. "Both sides should focus on it because clearly they're trying to build a relationship of trust in these negotiations, and this is the surest way to do that." "The easiest thing Iran can do to show they're genuinely interested in backing themselves out of this corner is to release these Americans," he added. "It is low-hanging fruit." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6ab7e059ccda1fcc09619 WATCH: Cory Booker unleashes fiery call for 'foot soldiers' at Michigan Dem conference te 2026-04-20T22:41:02.046Z WATCH: Cory Booker unleashes fiery call for 'foot soldiers' at Michigan Dem conference Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., delivered a high-energy, revival sermon-style speech at the Michigan Democratic Convention, shouting and gesturing as he urged Democrats to become "foot soldiers for democracy" and warned that "darkness and wind" are sweeping the nation. Booker was one of several out-of-state leaders, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, to participate in the Michigan Democratic Convention. All three have been floated as possible contenders for the 2028 presidential election. Booker spoke for roughly 25 minutes and at several points bellowed at the crowd, adopting a poetic cadence and word choice. "Ladies and gentlemen, there is a storm in our nation," Booker exclaimed, finishing his speech. "There is darkness and wind. People are getting hurt. What we need is not from on high. We need foot soldiers of our democracy who in times of trial, are willing to stand up." MAJOR TRUMP CRITIC HAS 'NOT DISMISSED' ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL RUN AHEAD OF 2028 ELECTION Booker then announced that it was time for Democrats to "redeem the dream of America." "Will you stand for our democracy? Will you stand to get out the vote? Will you stand for our children? Will you stand up for our elders?" Booker said. "And will you stand together, unified, strong — be the hope that people need. We are Democrats. It's time for a new deal. It's time to redeem the dream of America." Booker, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, used the speech as an opportunity to introduce himself to Michigan voters, sharing his career in politics and his family ties to the Great Lakes State. CORY BOOKER ADMITS DEMOCRATS 'FAILED IN MY GENERATION' IN SCATHING ASSESSMENT OF HIS OWN PARTY At one point, he expressed his dismay with voters who opted out of voting for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton or Vice President Kamala Harris because they disagreed "on ten percent of her views." "Well, you may disagree with her on 10% of her views, but you let someone get in office who you disagree with on everything," Booker railed. "You let somebody get in office who is locking up our children. You let somebody in office who's taking away our health care. You let somebody in office who's taken away workers rights. You let somebody in office who got rid of the Department of Education." He then suggested that Democratic voters in Michigan turn the Michigan hand — a reference to the state's shape — into the "Michigan fist." CORY BOOKER CONFRONTED WITH OLD CLIP OF HIMSELF SAYING HE LOVES DONALD TRUMP "I don't want the Michigan hand after your August primary, I want the Michigan fist," Booker shouted. "I want you all to unite. I want you to punch a hole in the wall of resistance. I want you to grab a sledgehammer and knock some stuff down. I want you to reach up and grab somebody and get them off the couch and get him on the field. We got points to put on the board. I want that Michigan fist. I want some unity." However, former MSNBC commentator Medhi Hasan took issue with Booker's assertion about Democratic voters who didn't vote for Harris in 2024. Hasan said that Booker's characterization places the blame on voters for a Democratic loss rather than the party platform. "I tried to tell people who didn’t vote Dem in 2024 ‘to teach Democrats a lesson’ that sadly Democrats will never learn that lesson," Hasan said on X, sharing a video of Booker speaking. "Here’s Booker simply attacking and mocking people who didn’t show up to vote Dem. It’s always the voters’ fault, never the Dems or their candidates." Other critics poked fun at Booker's emphatic deliverance. "Calm down, Spartacus," wrote America First Works, a non-profit group and the advocacy arm of the America First Policy Institute. Fox News Digital reached out to Booker for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6ab56059ccda1fcc0960e Mother and 6 Children Die in Explosion at Their Pennsylvania Home te 2026-04-20T22:40:22.850Z Mother and 6 Children Die in Explosion at Their Pennsylvania Home The blast on Sunday morning led to a fire that consumed the residence in a rural community northwest of Harrisburg, the authorities said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a929059ccda1fcc095b5 Dem Senate candidate ripped for Kamala Harris-style marching band theatrics at convention te 2026-04-20T22:31:05.015Z Dem Senate candidate ripped for Kamala Harris-style marching band theatrics at convention Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow is getting dragged on social media after dancing into the state Democratic Party Convention on Sunday alongside a marching band — a flashy entrance that drew parallels to viral moments from former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2019 presidential campaign. "Mallory McMorrow walked into the second half of today’s convention flanked by DrumKINGZ and a whole lot of supporters. Many are calling it McMentum," her campaign wrote in a post to X, accompanied by the video.  The entrance comes as McMorrow competes in a crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, with critics quickly portraying the moment as political theater and comparing it to Harris’ 2019 campaign optics. "Following right in the footsteps of the queen [of] losing primaries," one account wrote alongside an image of Harris. MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE RESPONDS TO BACKLASH OVER KHAMENEI COMMENTS, CALLS IRAN CONFLICT ‘WAR WE DON’T NEED’ Harris had a viral moment in 2019 when she joined a string of students who were energetically dancing to a marching band in Iowa as she looked to lock down the Democratic nomination that year. She was also spotted dancing with a marching band at another campaign event in South Carolina that same year.   "This is Mallory McMorrow. She’s running for U.S. Senate in Michigan. This is how she entered the Democratic Party Convention The theater kids are at it again…" popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok said in a post highlighting the video. "That's what you get when you don't have a message," Abdul El-Sayed, one of McMorrow's primary challengers, reportedly told local media of the scene.  Neither McMorrow's office nor Kamala Harris responded immediately to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. DEM SENATE CANDIDATE'S JOB LISTING INVITES APPLICANTS OF ANY 'CITIZENSHIP STATUS' TO APPLY FOR TOP ROLE McMorrow is fending off challengers such as El-Sayed, a former physician, and Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., a four-term member of the House of Representatives.  Stevens leads the trio in fundraising, reporting $8.8 million in contributions at the close of March. But she’s followed narrowly by McMorrow’s $8.6 million and El-Sayed’s $7.6 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings. As a former small business owner and Michigan state senator, McMorrow has tried to stake out a lane between Stevens, who is often seen as the more establishment-oriented candidate, and El-Sayed, the progressive candidate who has emphasized policies like Medicare for All. In her time at the state level, McMorrow worked to strengthen unions and raise wages, eliminated the retirement tax for seniors and repealed Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban, according to her biography page. "Mallory will bring that same determination to deliver for Michigan families in the U.S. Senate," the website reads. WATCH: DEM SENATE HOPEFUL CAUGHT PLOTTING TO SILO CONSERVATIVE MEDIA OUTLETS WITH TOP AIDE McMorrow has attracted endorsements from Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The Democratic primary is set for August 4. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a915059ccda1fcc095ac Leaked memos reveal how Supreme Court steamrolled Obama climate plan in 2016 showdown te 2026-04-20T22:30:45.597Z Leaked memos reveal how Supreme Court steamrolled Obama climate plan in 2016 showdown The Supreme Court’s emergency order blocking former President Barack Obama’s signature clean energy initiative in 2016 came after a series of leaked internal memos among the justices that revealed a fight along ideological lines about whether to intervene. The rare glimpse at the high court’s internal memos, obtained by the New York Times, showed Chief Justice John Roberts, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, urging the Supreme Court to block Obama’s effort, while liberal justices pushed back. Roberts and the court’s conservatives were concerned not just with Obama’s policy itself, but with the possibility that the Clean Power Plan could reshape the power sector before the justices could fully review whether it was lawful, the newly revealed memos show. "Absent a stay, the Clean Power Plan will cause (and is causing) substantial and irreversible reordering of the domestic power sector before this court has an opportunity to review its legality," Roberts wrote in one of the memos published by the New York Times on Friday.  JACKSON-KAVANAUGH TENSIONS SURFACE IN CANDID EXCHANGE OVER SUPREME COURT 'SHADOW DOCKET' Fox News Digital reached out to the Supreme Court's communications team Monday for comment on the leaks. The push from Roberts came as the justices were considering what was viewed at the time as an unusual request on the emergency docket, sometimes called a "shadow docket," from red states and outside groups to halt the Obama-era regulation, which aimed to cut carbon emissions over the next 25 years, before lower courts had fully weighed in, a step that the liberal justices warned would break from longstanding practice. The emergency docket allows litigants to bypass typical court proceedings and seek immediate relief from the Supreme Court if lower courts block them through restraining orders or preliminary injunctions. The Clean Power Plan would have involved the Obama Environmental Protection Agency regulating coal, oil and gas plants under the Clean Air Act. Roberts wrote that without the Supreme Court stepping in, "both the states and private industry will suffer irreparable harm from a rule that is — in my view — highly unlikely to survive." In another memo, Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, disagreed, saying "the unique nature of the relief sought in these applications gives me real pause." JONATHAN TURLEY: CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS COULD LEARN FROM BASEBALL GREAT TED WILLIAMS WHEN IT COMES TO LEAKS Justice Samuel Alito, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, circulated a memo the same day as Kagan in which he agreed with Roberts. "A failure to stay this rule threatens to render our ability to provide meaningful judicial review — and by extension, our institutional legitimacy — a nullity," Alito wrote. Within a matter of days, the justices temporarily blocked Obama's Clean Power Plan 5-4 along ideological lines, effectively dealing it a death blow because Democrats would lose the White House later that year. The New York Times noted that the Obama White House dismissed the ruling at the time as a small hurdle but that "behind closed doors, officials were astonished that the court had intervened so quickly." The back-and-forth in the memos during the short period of time, from the end of January 2016 to Feb. 9, when the brief decision was issued, showed how fast the justices moved to weigh in on a major presidential action. Jonathan Turley, law professor at George Washington University, wrote in an op-ed that the anonymous leak of the memos to the New York Times, the second leak of confidential material after the Dobbs opinion leak in 2022, was "clearly designed to wound some of its members." "For an institution that prides itself on its confidentiality and insularity, the court is looking increasingly porous and partisan in these leaks," Turley wrote. KAGAN SCREAMED SO LOUDLY AT LIBERAL ALLY AFTER DOBBS LEAK THE ‘WALL WAS SHAKING,' BOOK CLAIMS The New York Times' report highlighted that legal experts have long viewed the Clean Power Plan decision as one of the first examples of the Supreme Court using the emergency docket in a way that limits executive power over national policy. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, has been among the most vocal dissenters in emergency cases during President Donald Trump's second term as the president frequently benefits from the fast-paced docket. Jackson is sometimes joined by her two liberal colleagues, Kagan and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissents, and emergency cases have often split 6-3 in favor of Trump. Last week, Jackson aired her grievances in a different forum, blasting emergency docket decisions during a Yale Law School speech as rushed, "scratch-paper musings" that undermine the high court's purpose. "Given the real world facts that a stay request asks the court to consider, the court's stay decisions can, at times, come across utterly irrational," Jackson said. "We cannot expect the public to have faith in our judicial system if, without clear explanation, we consistently greenlight harmful acts." Legal experts have attributed the heightened activity on the emergency docket to a rise in presidents attempting to shape national policy through through executive orders. "[An increase in emergency motions] coincides with the rise of executive orders and other forms of unilateral executive action really as the primary form of lawmaking in our country with the disappearance of Congress, and that has posed enormous challenges for the court," attorney Kannon Shanmugam said during a Federalist Society panel last fall. Fox News Digital reached out to Obama's office for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a6e2059ccda1fcc0944c Man whose wife vanished years ago now cuffed in separate cold case – authorities say his past was deadly te 2026-04-20T22:21:22.764Z Man whose wife vanished years ago now cuffed in separate cold case – authorities say his past was deadly A man whose wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances years ago is now accused of a decades-old New Jersey murder that investigators say he once confessed to, according to court documents. Robert William "Bob" McCaffrey Jr., 54, was taken into custody last week in Manteo, North Carolina, and appeared Monday in a New Jersey courtroom after being extradited, where he pleaded guilty in connection with the 1990 killing of Lisa Marie McBride, according to the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. McCaffrey, wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackled at the wrists and waist, appeared largely expressionless during the brief proceeding, which lasted less than five minutes, WCIV reported. Judge Janine Allen outlined the charges against him, including murder, burglary and kidnapping. Prosecutors allege McCaffrey purposely caused McBride’s death or serious bodily injury resulting in her death on or about June 23, 1990, in Vernon Township. DNA FROM CHEWING GUM NAILS LONGTIME SEXUAL PREDATOR DECADES AFTER REIGN OF TERROR: REPORT He is also accused of entering her home to commit an offense and unlawfully removing her in order to inflict bodily injury or terrorize her. His attorney entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Prosecutors moved to detain McCaffrey ahead of trial. A detention hearing is scheduled for April 27 at 9 a.m., and he will remain in custody until then. A pre-indictment conference is tentatively set for May 18, though the judge noted that date could change. MAN SENTENCED FOR STRANGLING MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE STUDENT TO DEATH WITH TANK TOP IN COLD CASE KILLING Prosecutors described the arrest as a major breakthrough in a case that had gone unsolved for decades, crediting advances in DNA technology and years of investigative work. According to the affidavit, McBride, 27, was last seen returning to her Highland Lakes home in Vernon Township in the early morning hours of June 23, 1990. When she failed to show up for work later that day, relatives found signs of a violent struggle, including a cut telephone line, a damaged window screen and missing bedsheets. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Her disappearance prompted an extensive search involving family, volunteers and law enforcement. Four months later, her remains were discovered by a hunter in a wooded area of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Sandyston. An autopsy found she suffered an orbital fracture and had been subjected to external violence. Her death was ruled a homicide, according to court documents. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER In 2022, authorities exhumed McBride’s body for additional DNA testing, a step New Jersey State Police said was critical to isolating an unknown male DNA profile from earlier evidence. Evidence recovered from the scene, including material from the victim’s headboard, was reanalyzed, and the profile was entered into the national CODIS database. In 2026, that DNA was matched to McCaffrey, according to court documents and authorities, who said he was living in Sussex County at the time of McBride’s disappearance. SEND US A TIP HERE The affidavit also outlines a key allegation. A witness told investigators McCaffrey admitted to killing McBride in the 1990s and allegedly said he did it because she refused to go out with him. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Officials said McCaffrey lived and worked in northern New Jersey in 1990 before later moving to South Carolina and more recently North Carolina, where he was arrested. Fox News Digital reached out to New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. The case is drawing renewed attention because of a separate investigation involving McCaffrey’s wife, Marjorie "Gayle" McCaffrey, who disappeared in South Carolina in 2012 and has never been found. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Gayle McCaffrey was reported missing on March 18, 2012, from the couple’s home in West Ashley after what her husband described as a heated argument the night before. He told investigators he left the home and later returned to find her gone, claiming she had left on her own. The couple’s two children, ages 4 and 10 at the time, last saw their mother the night before she disappeared, authorities said. Investigators conducted multiple searches and interviewed friends, neighbors and co-workers, but were unable to determine her whereabouts. Detectives later determined Robert McCaffrey had lied about key details of the case, including a supposed farewell letter that was found to be fabricated. He was charged with obstruction of justice, convicted and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2023. Gayle McCaffrey’s disappearance remains under investigation, and authorities have said it is being treated as a homicide. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a6cf059ccda1fcc09443 FAA investigates Southwest near miss after air traffic control sends jets on collision course te 2026-04-20T22:21:03.306Z FAA investigates Southwest near miss after air traffic control sends jets on collision course The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a reported close call between two Southwest Airlines flights at Nashville International Airport after one aircraft was directed into the path of another during a go-around, officials said. According to the FAA, the incident happened at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday as Southwest Flight 507 was approaching the airport and initiated a go-around — a standard maneuver in which a pilot aborts a landing and climbs to make another attempt. The pilot then "received instructions from air traffic control that put the flight in the path of another airplane" that was departing from a parallel runway. The departing aircraft was identified as Southwest Flight 1152. Both flight crews responded to onboard traffic alerts, the FAA said, helping the planes avoid a potential midair conflict. FLIGHT ATTENDANT SURVIVES BEING THROWN FROM AIR CANADA FLIGHT IN DEADLY LAGUARDIA CRASH: 'TOTAL MIRACLE' The agency noted that the information is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues. Southwest Airlines described the maneuver as precautionary and said the pilots were responding to weather conditions at the time. UPS PLANE ABORTS LANDING IN NEAR MISS AT SAME AIRPORT WHERE NOVEMBER CRASH KILLED 15 "While on approach during gusty winds at Nashville International Airport, the Pilots of Southwest Flight 507 executed a precautionary go-around," the airline said in a statement. "During the go-around, the pilots complied with instructions from air traffic control and an onboard traffic alert to avoid conflicting with Southwest Flight 1152, which was departing from another runway." Flight 507 later landed uneventfully in Nashville, while Flight 1152 continued on to its destination in Knoxville, Tennessee, according to the airline. No injuries were reported. SOUTHWEST PILOT ABORTS HOLLYWOOD BURBANK LANDING BECAUSE RUNWAY 'WASN'T QUITE CLEAR': REPORT Southwest said it is working with federal authorities as part of the investigation and emphasized that safety remains its top priority. The FAA has not said how close the two aircraft came to one another or whether any separation standards were breached. However, location data appears to show the planes getting as close as 500 feet (152 meters) apart with one of them flying just over the top of the other plane, according to FlightRadar24, so that would fit the official definition of a near midair collision. The investigation comes amid continued scrutiny of near-miss incidents at U.S. airports, particularly those involving aircraft operating on parallel runways, where coordination between pilots and air traffic control is critical to maintaining safe separation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a6a4059ccda1fcc09420 Feria de la Unidad sigue tras acusaciones contra Chávez te 2026-04-20T22:20:20.849Z Feria de la Unidad sigue tras acusaciones contra Chávez Leer en inglés Miembros de la comunidad de Tucson se congregaron para reafirmar su compromiso con los derechos de los trabajadores y la solidaridad, llevando adelante una feria de unidad, rebautizada para la ocasión, después de que las acusaciones de agresión sexual contra César Chávez trastocaran lo que, durante mucho tiempo, había sido uno de los eventos laborales más emblemáticos de la ciudad. Los organizadores de la Comunidad y Labor Unity Fair, anteriormente conocida como la Marcha y Concentración de César Chávez y Dolores Huerta, siguieron adelante con la concentración del 21 de marzo en el Parque Rudy García, pero cancelaron la marcha y la exhibición de automóviles tras salir a la luz, la semana pasada, las acusaciones de agresión sexual contra Chávez. A pesar de las noticias, los miembros de la comunidad acudieron en gran número, decididos a mantener el enfoque en los trabajadores, los jóvenes y los vecinos a quienes han luchado por apoyar durante tanto tiempo. La concentración contó con la presencia de representantes de diversos grupos comunitarios, incluidos sindicatos, organizaciones escolares y funcionarios tanto de la ciudad como del condado. "Al igual que a muchos de ustedes, mi corazón no se sintió muy bien a lo largo de la semana,” expresó la organizadora Eva Carrillo Dong. "Se sentía roto, inmensamente triste. Débil, incluso. Pero comencé a buscar refugio y apoyo en mi familia, mis amigos y mis defensores, y sentí la fuerza de la comunidad.” La alcaldesa Regina Romero, hija de trabajadores agrícolas inmigrantes que hicieron piquetes en los campos para exigir mejores condiciones laborales, afirmó que los esfuerzos de estos no serían eclipsados ​​ni borrados. "Una sola persona no es el movimiento,” dijo Romero a los asistentes. "Todos nosotros somos el movimiento; y los piquetes, la organización, y la sangre, el sudor y las lágrimas en los que participaron mis padres, así como los padres de mi esposo, tantos de nuestros vecinos y tantas otras personas, no serán borrados. Ha habido tantas cosas que han intentado quebrarnos como comunidad, como movimiento, y esto no nos quebrará.”  Mohyeddin Abdulaziz, palestino-estadounidense de origen árabe y cofundador de la Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance, habla con la alcaldesa Regina Romero en la manifestación. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / El Foco de Tucson. La semana pasada, Romero solicitó al administrador de la ciudad, Tim Thomure, que considerara la posibilidad de retirar o cubrir la estatua de Chávez en el Barrio Viejo, así como la placa conmemorativa en el Jardín César Chávez, situado en la avenida South Stone. La estatua, que había sido vandalizada con pintura roja a raíz de las acusaciones, fue retirada por las autoridades municipales el 23 de marzo por la mañana. "No debemos eludir la responsabilidad de exigir rendición de cuentas a las personas por los delitos que han cometido. Aún nos queda mucho trabajo por hacer y, en este momento, más que nunca, necesitamos mantenernos unidos como comunidad, en solidaridad los unos con los otros,” afirmó Romero. Selina Barajas, concejala del Distrito 5, se sumó a este llamado a la unidad. "Estar unidos como comunidad significa... crear espacios seguros donde las personas puedan mostrarse tal como son, de manera auténtica,” señaló Barajas. "Para mí, el verdadero sentido de comunidad reside en tener siempre presentes a nuestros antepasados ​, aquellos que nos precedieron, aquellos que ya no están físicamente con nosotros y preguntarnos: ¿Cómo podemos hacer de este un lugar mejor para nuestra juventud, para nuestras familias y para las generaciones futuras?” Junto al escenario se exhibió un altar en honor al difunto congresista Raúl Grijalva y al también fallecido supervisor Richard Elias, con fotografías de ambos; durante el acto, el supervisor del condado de Pima, Andrés Cano, compartió algunas reflexiones sobre la labor de mentoría que Elias ejerció con él. "Las imágenes que aquí contemplamos de estos luchadores por la justicia social nos sirven como recordatorio de lo que debemos hacer en este momento histórico: reconocer que sus legados y sus contribuciones siguen siendo de vital importancia,” expresó Cano. "Siempre tendré presente la enseñanza que el supervisor (Richard) Elias me transmitió cuando yo tenía apenas 15 años: la importancia de retribuir a la comunidad que tanto amamos, de respetar nuestras tradiciones y nuestro patrimonio cultural, y de cumplir siempre con nuestra parte, preguntando a nuestros vecinos: '¿En qué podemos ayudar?’” An altar included photos of community members who have made a positive impact in Tucson, including late Supervisor Richard Elias and late Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Toppacio "Topaz" Servellon / El Foco de Tucson. La feria también contó con la presencia de representantes de varias organizaciones juveniles. Dacia Reyes, de 12 años, es copresidenta de la Coalición Juvenil Jobs with Justice, una rama dirigida por estudiantes de la organización nacional, creada para empoderar a los jóvenes y convertirlos en defensores de por vida de los trabajadores y de sus derechos. "Estamos intentando crear una coalición más consolidada junto con otros jóvenes a quienes les importan los problemas que ocurren en nuestra comunidad,” afirmó Dacia Reyes. "Realizamos eventos como este para invertir nuestro tiempo, darnos a conocer ante la comunidad y hacerles saber que nos importa.” La otra copresidenta de la coalición, Ximena Reyes, participó en un panel durante la Cumbre sobre el Calor de Arizona celebrada en febrero. "Es importante que participemos y formemos parte del proceso de formulación de políticas... nosotros somos el futuro,” señaló Dacia Reyes. Jessica Ramírez, copresidenta del capítulo del Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) en la Escuela Preparatoria Pueblo, asistió a su primera protesta tras la anulación de Roe v. Wade, experiencia que, según relató, la empoderó para involucrarse en la organización comunitaria. "Realmente encontré una comunidad,” comentó Ramírez. "Vi la oportunidad de involucrarme, en cierto modo, en el aspecto de la organización comunitaria. Lo he estado disfrutando mucho.” El capítulo de MEChA de la Escuela Preparatoria Pueblo está colaborando con estudiantes de otras preparatorias de los distritos TUSD y Sunnyside en recorridos por los vecindarios, realizando una labor de difusión puerta a puerta que consiste en informar a los miembros de la comunidad sobre sus derechos. La manifestación contó con oradores, comida y bailarines folclóricos. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / El Foco de Tucson. Ramírez afirmó que las respuestas positivas que ha recibido de la comunidad significan que su organización está haciendo las cosas bien. "Me gustaría expresar lo orgullosa que me siento de todos los mechistas de Pueblo,” dijo Ramírez. “Esto ha crecido hasta convertirse en algo que ni siquiera habría imaginado, y me entusiasma muchísimo verlo seguir avanzando.”  El Club de Estudios Étnicos, de Género y Transfronterizos del Pima Community College destaca y promueve los cursos impartidos en dicho departamento, además de organizar eventos para conmemorar el Día de Martin Luther King Jr., la Semana de la Concientización Transgénero y el Mes de la Historia de la Mujer. “Definitivamente abogamos por estas clases, porque si nadie las toma, desaparecerán, y no podemos permitir que eso suceda,” afirmó la vicepresidenta Isis Morales. “Nos esforzamos mucho por brindar a los estudiantes acceso a experiencias que normalmente no tendrían, y por crear ese espacio seguro donde los alumnos y la comunidad puedan reunirse, compartir opiniones, ser ellos mismos y aprender algo nuevo.”  En la manifestación también estuvieron presentes representantes de sindicatos y grupos de trabajadores, entre ellos Tony Pineda, miembro del personal del Centro de Trabajadores Josefina Ahumada. El centro ofrece servicios de empleo y defiende los derechos de los trabajadores; recientemente redactó una carta dirigida a la gobernadora Katie Hobbs solicitando la implementación de normativas de cumplimiento obligatorio para la prevención de lesiones y enfermedades causadas por el calor en el estado. “Todas las organizaciones aquí presentes tienen sus propios objetivos, pero, en última instancia, todas compartimos algo en común: la comunidad,” señaló Pineda. “Mientras la comunidad continúe respaldando a estas organizaciones... nuestra voz seguirá siendo escuchada.” Los letreros de la Línea de Vigilancia de ICE y de Sin orden Judicial, No Hay Entrada estaban disponibles para que los miembros de la comunidad los tomaran sin costo alguno. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / El Foco de Tucson. Sarah Roberts, miembro del comité, informó a los asistentes sobre casos recientes de robo de salarios que han enfrentado los trabajadores del centro, señalando que han creado un "Muro de la Vergüenza" con los nombres de personas y empresas que se han negado a pagar a sus empleados. "Recibimos denuncias de robo de salarios al menos dos veces por semana; son denuncias realizadas por trabajadores que son miembros de este centro de trabajadores, pero también acuden a nosotros otras personas diciendo: 'Hemos sido víctimas de este robo de salarios,'" comentó Roberts. "Necesitamos ayuda para determinar qué medidas tomar, por lo que intentamos asistirlos lo mejor que podemos. Trabajamos en comunidad. Podemos luchar por los derechos de nuestros vecinos si trabajamos juntos, en comunidad y unidad." El Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Alimentación y el Comercio, Local 99, representa a los trabajadores del sector comercial en el Museo del Desierto de Arizona-Sonora, en varias sucursales de Bookmans y en diversas cadenas de supermercados, entre ellas Fry's, Albertsons y Safeway. “Volver a estar con la comunidad siempre se siente como estar en casa,” dijo la representante Adriana Luna. El sindicato se ha pronunciado en contra de las tácticas antisindicales de Amazon, ha solicitado la prohibición de los precios basados ​​en vigilancia mediante inteligencia artificial en los supermercados y ha logrado mantener los contratos sindicales después de que una destilería local cambiará de propietario. “Todos estamos aquí para apoyarnos mutuamente,” afirmó Luna. “Nos mantenemos informados sobre lo que sucede dentro de nuestro sindicato. De este modo, si ustedes necesitan ayuda con algo, saldrán a hacer piquetes. Irán a la huelga. Llámennos. Allí estaremos.” Carrillo Dong clausuró el mitin con un llamado a la acción. “Seguiremos luchando por la justicia, seguiremos educándonos unos a otros, seguiremos contando nuestras historias y seguiremos trabajando juntos para combatir a aquellos que no quieren que lo hagamos,” declaró. Topacio Servellon es periodiste en El Foco de Tucson. Puede contactarle en topacioserve@gmail.com. Esta nota fue traducida por los pasantes de la preparatoria San Miguel y editada por Diana Ramos, exalumna de la Universidad de Arizona, Directora de Iniciativas Bilingües y reportera del Foco de Tucson. Contáctala en diana@tucsonspotlight.org.    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/69e6a4b6059ccda1fcc093db Nancy Mace moves to expel fellow Republican Cory Mills, setting up rare House vote this week te 2026-04-20T22:12:06.078Z Nancy Mace moves to expel fellow Republican Cory Mills, setting up rare House vote this week FIRST ON FOX: The House of Representatives will see a rare expulsion vote this week after Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said she would seek the removal of an embattled Republican from Congress.  Mace filed a motion to expel Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., on Monday evening, teeing up a chamber-wide vote later this week.  Mace’s resolution, first obtained by Fox News Digital, accuses Mills of misrepresenting his military service, sexual misconduct, campaign finance violations and illicit involvement in federal contracts as a member of Congress, among other charges.  The expulsion push comes after NOTUS reported on Monday that Mills was drafting a similar resolution to remove Mace from the chamber. NANCY MACE CALLS ON CONGRESS TO RELEASE SEXUAL HARASSMENT RECORDS, WANTS AN 'AVALANCHE OF RESIGNATIONS' A spokesperson for Mills did not immediately return a request for comment on Mace’s expulsion resolution or the status of the congressman’s measure targeting Mace. "As a survivor, I will always stand up and right the wrongs of others," Mace, who is running for governor of South Carolina, wrote on social media Monday. "He is only coming after me because he knows he’s next." Mills has faced a bevy of recent scandals, including allegedly threatening an ex-girlfriend with revenge porn after they broke up and a separate assault allegation that law enforcement responded to in Washington, D.C., last year. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged. Mills is seeking a third House term this November and President Donald Trump has endorsed his re-election campaign.  It is unclear whether Mace’s resolution could clear the two-thirds threshold required to expel a member of Congress. HOUSE LAWMAKERS EXPRESS DISGUST OVER SWALWELL NOT BEING EXPOSED SOONER: 'IT'S SHAMEFUL': Lawmakers in both parties have largely stopped short of calling for Mills’ removal, though many have voiced concern about the serious allegations against him. "If there's evidence of criminal misconduct and wrongdoing, I hold the same standard for every member of Congress, whether they're a Democrat or Republican," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital last week when asked about whether she would support expelling Mills. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., is also expected to face an expulsion vote as soon as Tuesday if she does not resign.  The House Ethics Committee is expected to recommend its suggested punishment against Cherfilus-McCormick for violating more than two dozen ethics rules during a hearing Tuesday afternoon. She is also facing a separate federal criminal indictment.  Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, resigned last week to avoid looming expulsion votes, though both scandal-plagued lawmakers were likely at higher risk of being successfully removed by their colleagues. Swalwell has been accused by at least five women of sexual misconduct, while Gonzales admitted to an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.  The looming expulsion vote is not the first time Mace and Mills are set to clash on the House floor.  Mace’s push to censure Mills and strip him of two committee assignments was overwhelmingly rejected by the House in November 2025. More than 300 lawmakers voted to send the matter to the House Ethics Committee, which is also investigating Mills for domestic violence and misrepresenting his military service, among other allegations of misconduct. House GOP leadership has continued to stand by the embattled Florida Republican. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has urged lawmakers to let Ethics Committee proceedings run their course prior to punitive measures, told reporters last week that he would be "looking into" the status of the Mills probe. The House Ethics Committee released a statement Monday stating that its investigation into Mills that began in November 2025 was still ongoing. The panel noted its inquiry involves "sexual misconduct and/or dating violence." The traditionally secretive panel did not specify a timeline for when it plans to wrap up the probe. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a4a2059ccda1fcc093d2 Tina Fey praises Matt Damon's Brett Kavanaugh parody on 'SNL,' 'played him so perfectly' te 2026-04-20T22:11:46.287Z Tina Fey praises Matt Damon's Brett Kavanaugh parody on 'SNL,' 'played him so perfectly' "Saturday Night Live" alum Tina Fey praised Matt Damon's 2018 parody of Justice Brett Kavanaugh as "perfectly" done when she looked back on the series' work in politics. Fey gave a special shout-out to the actor while appearing at History Talks, a speaker event sponsored by the History Channel in Philadelphia, when recalling iconic political parodies such as Darrell Hammond as Al Gore and Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush. She praised the actor for helping to relieve the "frustration" people had when watching Kavanaugh's 2018 Senate hearings after he was nominated by President Donald Trump. "He came in and just played him so perfectly, it helped alleviate a frustration that many viewers of those hearings had," Fey said Saturday. "It only works if it’s correct." 'SNL' MOCKS ICE IN 'WEEKEND UPDATE' AFTER CUTTING MINNEAPOLIS SEGMENT IN PREVIOUS EPISODE Damon portrayed Kavanaugh as loud and emotional in response to sexual and physical assault allegations made against him by Christine Blasey Ford. "Let me tell you this," he said. "I’m going to start at an 11. I’m going to take it to about a 15 real quick. First of all I showed this speech to almost no one — not my family, not my friends... This is my speech. There are others like it, but this is mine. I wrote it myself last night while screaming into an empty bag of Doritos." PAM BONDI RESPONDS TO 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' PARODY OF HERSELF AND KRISTI NOEM The sketch also made several references to Kavanaugh's preference for beer and his "beautiful, creepy" diary-like calendars submitted as evidence during his hearing. Fox News Digital reached out to the Supreme Court for comment. During the History Talks event, Fey also referenced her time portraying 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, which commentators have suggested swayed public opinion regarding the political figure. Fey maintained that the sketch comedy series did not influence politics as much as people believed and called her portrayal of Palin a "fair hit." TINA FEY JUDGES RICH HOLLYWOOD STARS WITH 'SIDE HUSTLES,' CLAIMS SHE HATES MONEY "We always worked really hard to make sure they were what we call a ‘fair hit.’ It only felt like it would work if it was based in something that was true," Fey said. She added, "Sometimes people will ask me, ‘Does SNL try to control the narrative of politics?’ And they really do not. You really can’t because if it’s not true, it will not be funny." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a48e059ccda1fcc093c9 Warren says her ‘kind of man’ is left-wing Senate hopeful rocked by Nazi-tattoo, Reddit controversies te 2026-04-20T22:11:26.832Z Warren says her ‘kind of man’ is left-wing Senate hopeful rocked by Nazi-tattoo, Reddit controversies Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., long a progressive force in New England, traveled to Maine over the weekend to boost left-wing Senate candidate Graham Platner ahead of the state’s pivotal Democratic primary.  "Graham is a combat veteran. He’s an oyster farmer, he is an organizer, and he is the person who is going to beat Susan Collins," said Warren at his campaign rally on Saturday in Portland.  At one point during the rally, Warren said Platner was her "kind of man," recalling that she first noticed him in an interview where he argued the system was "rigged" after the 2008 financial crash as no bankers were jailed. Warren is championing Platner as a "fighter" for Maine voters, drawing national attention to the candidate ahead of a showdown with two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has the backing of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. A series of controversies, however, trail Platner.  MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE CITES COMBAT TRAUMA WHEN CONFRONTED ON 'TERRIBLE' POSTS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT "Insiders who go along to get along are not going to hose the corruption out of Washington. We need Graham Platner to come in and get the corruption out of Washington," said Warren from the rally. ELIZABETH WARREN ENDORSES NAZI-TATTOOED GRAHAM PLATNER IN HIGH-STAKES MAINE SENATE PRIMARY  "There are people who realize that when the system is this broken, when there are this many billionaires who have this much control over our country, it is no longer time to make little change at the margins, it is time for big, structural change," Warren added. Maine’s Democratic primary is June 9, with Platner working to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November's general election.  Platner's past controversies have been political fodder for the Mills campaign, including directing voters to his decade-old Reddit posts in which he appeared to place blame on sexual assault victims and defended Hamas military moves, among other messages from the 2013 and 2014 era. Platner also came under fire for having a chest tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol, which he has since apologized for and covered.   "For those of you who have read these things and been offended, have read these things and seen someone that you don’t recognize, I am deeply sorry," Platner said in an apology video in 2025.  Warren, who is one of President Donald Trump’s most relentless critics, notably condemned Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth last year for his Christian tattoos, which include the Jerusalem Cross and the Latin phrase "Deus Vult," which translates to "God wills it."  "We cannot have a Defense Secretary whose fellow service members feel concerned enough about to report as a potential insider threat," Warren wrote in a lengthy letter to Hegseth in 2025 over her concerns with his tattoos.  The Massachusetts Democrat has downplayed Platner's past controversies since her endorsement of the Senate candidate.  "Look, he has apologized for that, and he’s out there talking to the people of Maine every single day," Warren told HuffPost when asked about Platner's controversies.  DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE LAUGHS WHEN PRESSED IF VOTERS CAN TRUST HER AFTER PUBLIC BIDEN DEFENSE WARREN WARNED HEGSETH'S TATTOO MADE HIM A POTENTIAL 'THREAT' — NOW SHE BACKS CANDIDATE WITH NAZI-LINKED INK The race has amplified divisions within the Democrat Party, with left-wing lawmakers such as Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders back Platner, while Schumer and Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have backed Mills for the Senate.  Platner, angling himself a Washington outsider, spoke Saturday about wealth being shifted to the "ruling class" through a system created by establishment politicians. "The money went somewhere, and it wasn’t down here. It was stolen from us, stolen from us in a system that was built by establishment politicians like Susan Collins," said Platner, as Democrats increasingly lean into slamming the Trump administration and GOP for its economic policies in the lead up to the midterms.  Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Warren and Planter for comment on Monday.  Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser and Bonny Chu contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a47a059ccda1fcc093c0 'Hunger Games' star was called a ‘monster’ after admitting he’s not a fan of Taylor Swift's music te 2026-04-20T22:11:06.934Z 'Hunger Games' star was called a ‘monster’ after admitting he’s not a fan of Taylor Swift's music A brief comment about Taylor Swift turned into a flood of online criticism for Josh Hutcherson. The negative experience is a key reason the "Hunger Games" star keeps his distance from the internet. "I got some heat because I did a photo shoot with Jordan, and Jordan asked me something about being a [Taylor Swift fan], and I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m definitely not a Swiftie,’" he recalled in an interview with GQ, referring to his co-star Jordan Firstman. "All of a sudden it garnered this, ‘F--k him! He’s a monster! Destroy him! He’s short! He hates her because he’s short!’ It’s just like, whoa! I think she’s great. Her music is not my kind of music. That is why I don’t want to be online." GEORGE CLOONEY SLAMS CELEBRITY DIVAS, CREDITS KENTUCKY ROOTS FOR KEEPING HIM GROUNDED Fox News Digital has reached out to a rep for Swift for comment. He added that increased visibility can be "counterintuitive" to acting, arguing that when audiences know him too well, it becomes harder to disappear into a role. "I don’t need that energy," he told the outlet about internet virality. "It’s counterintuitive to my job, because if people know you more, you can’t disappear into characters. They see you as, ‘Oh, that’s Josh.’ You know what I mean? So, if you’re a f-----g meme, people know you for the meme." Advertisement Hutcherson grew up far from Hollywood in Kentucky before breaking into the industry as a child actor. The now 33-year-old quickly gained attention in the 2007 film "Bridge to Terabithia," but it was his casting as Peeta Mellark in "The Hunger Games" franchise that cemented him as a household name. Instead of embracing social media, Hutcherson never made it a priority. Years later, he found himself thrust into the social media spotlight while promoting his latest TV show, "I Love LA." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Being thrust out again in the world and online in such a big way, doing a bunch of press and being on TikTok, all those things made me feel very exposed," Hutcherson told GQ. "I started to get a lot of anxiety about it." The "Five Nights at Freddys" star admitted even after all these years, he still struggles with "those same insecurities" he had as a young teen in the industry. The rosacea, the acne, his height, "haven’t gone away." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I think I’ve learned how to cope and accept that these are my genetics," he told the outlet. "This is what I have." As Hutcherson continues working to reintroduce himself to audiences following his "Hunger Games" fame, he's taken on darker projects, including "57 Seconds" alongside Morgan Freeman and "Future Man." Hutcherson explained he feels "really good right now, like I’m owning myself and who I am and what I look like." "That could change tomorrow," he added. "I could wake up and find out that some other guy got cast for a role that I wanted. Maybe he’s taller. That can trigger all that s---. It’s easier to keep a tiger in a cage than on a leash. So I’m trying to keep it in the cage, but it is trying to get out sometimes." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a452059ccda1fcc093a5 Google rolls out Gemini in Chrome in seven new countries te 2026-04-20T22:10:26.750Z Google rolls out Gemini in Chrome in seven new countries Google is rolling out Gemini in Chrome in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a24e059ccda1fcc09373 CHA Pet of the Week: Heart te 2026-04-20T22:01:50.268Z CHA Pet of the Week: Heart Do you have a place in your heart for a rescue dog? Well, Heart has lots of room for you. Heart is a 2-year-old spayed female who is very affectionate and loves people. She might not like some other dogs,… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a239059ccda1fcc09368 Arizona GOP plans trip to D.C., Democrats say it’s not worth the effort te 2026-04-20T22:01:29.946Z Arizona GOP plans trip to D.C., Democrats say it’s not worth the effort Key Points: Arizona Republican lawmakers plan Washington D.C. trip Trip to focus on promoting President Trump’s priorities This is occurring while Arizona lawmakers are locked in a budget stalemate with Gov. Katie Hobbs At the invitation of the Trump White House, Arizona Republican lawmakers are planning a trip to Washington D.C. in mid-June — just two weeks before the deadline to finalize a new state budget. The three-day trip will be paid out of legislative budgets, which are funded by taxpayer dollars. It is at the invitation of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and will focus on what the state can do to promote President Trump’s priorities, said state Senate Communications Director Kim Quintero. According to the formal invitation, it casts the visit as “an opportunity to hear how President Trump is ushering in the Golden Age by delivering on the America First agenda.” The half-day conference will focus on what Arizona lawmakers can do to advance that agenda, the invitation stated. Arizona House Republicans expect the meeting to focus on Arizona-centric issues such as water, fuel prices and public lands, among other things. A majority of the 48 Republicans from both chambers will attend the meeting, which is billed as a White House State Leadership Conference. There, they will meet with senior White House officials, cabinet secretaries and members of the White House Domestic Council, Quintero said. The Trump administration has previously invited Republicans from other states to Washington for similar state leadership conferences. Last year, for example, that included delegations from Kansas and Indiana. Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, extended the travel opportunity to Senate Democrats so they can use the opportunity in Washington to meet with congressional Democrats, and several are planning to go, Senate officials said. There is no word yet if House Democrats will also be invited for the June 15-17 trip. Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, D-Tucson and House assistant minority leader, said the trip is a waste of time and money. “Our job as legislators is to be in Arizona, working for the people and creating a bipartisan budget,” she said. Lawmakers can work on other key issues that involve Washington after a budget is passed, she added. That goes to the fact that GOP lawmakers are locked in a stalemate with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs over the budget that will fund state operations as of July 1. Hobbs has vowed to not sign any bills until a bipartisan agreement is in place. Despite her criticism of the June trip, Gutierrez said there could be one positive result. “If the Republicans come back with $760 million owed to the state for law enforcement, I would be OK with that,” she said. Hobbs last year invoked a provision of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act that offers reimbursement to the states for costs related to border protection.  The post Arizona GOP plans trip to D.C., Democrats say it’s not worth the effort first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a20f059ccda1fcc0933d George Ariyoshi, 100, America’s First Governor of Asian Descent, Dies te 2026-04-20T22:00:47.924Z George Ariyoshi, 100, America’s First Governor of Asian Descent, Dies A Democrat, he served three terms as Hawaii’s governor (1974-86), rising out of a tough district of Honolulu. He tried to diversify an economy heavily dependent on tourism. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6a1fc059ccda1fcc09334 Scientist Charged With Trying to Poison University Lab Colleague te 2026-04-20T22:00:28.499Z Scientist Charged With Trying to Poison University Lab Colleague The scientist, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, had built up grievances against his co-worker after five years of working together, court documents said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69fde059ccda1fcc092e7 Show me the money: Businesses line up for $166B in refunds from Trump’s illegal tariffs te 2026-04-20T21:51:26.809Z Show me the money: Businesses line up for $166B in refunds from Trump’s illegal tariffs Cans used for Lost Boy cider in Alexandria, Virginia, cost the small business more because of increased aluminum tariffs. Tristan Wright, founder and president of Lost Boy, stands near his production line on Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system went live Monday, marking what small business advocates call a “complex” first step for entrepreneurs to recoup $166 billion in import taxes accrued under President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February.  Importers and brokers can now upload a detailed list of each tariff paid under Trump’s now illegal order to charge duties under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, or IEEPA.  Customs officials estimate 330,000 importers paid the duties. Refunds are expected within 60 to 90 days, according to CBP. The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision earlier this year found Trump’s steep global tariffs exceeded his presidential powers. Following the high court’s decision, U.S. Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton ordered the government to stop charging the tariffs and establish a refund system. A handful of small businesses and Democratic state attorneys general led the legal challenge to Trump’s 2025 “Liberation Day” tariffs.  Small business owners angry, frustrated States Newsroom documented the experiences of several small businesses across the U.S. who faced increased costs following Trump’s change in international trade policy. Now many are experiencing a “confusing mix of relief,” Richard Trent, executive director of Main Street Alliance, told States Newsroom in an interview Monday. Trent, whose organization advocates on behalf of small businesses said “our entrepreneurs, many of whom were angry that they had to pay tariffs in the first place, and were frustrated by the back-and-forth over the last year, opened up the portal this morning only to see that it had crashed. It just feels like the uncertainty just keeps popping up.” Trent, who spoke to “five or six” businesses Monday morning who experienced technical issues, said the portal was up and running again by afternoon. Customs and Border Protection did not confirm for States Newsroom whether the system had crashed, but rather provided a written statement. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection has developed a new tool, the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE), to efficiently process refunds, pursuant to court order, for importers and brokers who paid IEEPA duties,” according to an agency spokesperson.  “CBP has issued guidance to the trade community to help them prepare to use the new CAPE tool. Importers and brokers can visit CBP’s website for resources and step-by-step guidance,” the statement continued.  Monday’s launch is the first part of a four-step process in refunding the taxes paid by American businesses of all sizes. Trent said the “complex” process is yet another hurdle for small operations. “This is progress, but it’s not yet justice,” Trent said in an earlier statement Monday. “Small business owners should not have to jump through hoops to get back money they never should have had to pay. We need a refund process that is simple, accessible, and fast.” Guides for refunds The Liberty Justice Center, the libertarian legal advocacy group that represented small business plaintiffs before the Supreme Court, has established the Tariff Equity Refund Resource for America. The platform offers online guides for how to properly submit documentation for the refunds. “We took this fight all the way to the Supreme Court on behalf of small businesses, and we’re not stopping now,” Sara Albrecht, chair of the Liberty Justice Center, said in a statement Monday. “We are a nonprofit law firm — our only goal is to help businesses recover every dollar they are owed, not to take a percentage of it. At a time when others are looking to profit off confusion, we are making this process clear, accessible and free.” Trump declared international trade a national emergency just over a year ago, citing a trade imbalance on imports and exports between the United States and several other countries. The president imposed a 10% blanket tariff on all global imports and steeper double-digit taxes on products from some of the top U.S. trading partners. The president delayed and changed the rates on numerous occasions.  Following his Supreme Court loss, Trump imposed a new round of universal, temporary tariffs under a separate statute. The Liberty Justice Center is again representing small businesses in court to fight the new import taxes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69fc9059ccda1fcc092c7 Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer exits Trump admin; Keith Sonderling named acting head te 2026-04-20T21:51:05.271Z Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer exits Trump admin; Keith Sonderling named acting head Labor Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer is leaving the Trump administration and will be temporarily replaced by Keith Sonderling.  Sonderling, who serves under DeRemer, will become the agencies acting secretary.  Her exit comes after a whistleblower complaint accused the labor secretary of an affair with her security guard, drinking on the job and using staff to fabricate official travel for personal trips at taxpayer expense. This story is breaking. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69fb5059ccda1fcc092be Cocaine worth over $1.1M seized from 'empty' truck at Texas border te 2026-04-20T21:50:45.742Z Cocaine worth over $1.1M seized from 'empty' truck at Texas border FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers busted a massive drug smuggling attempt in Texas, resulting in more than $1.1 million in cocaine being seized at the southern border. Fox News Digital learned that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility intercepted nearly 100 pounds of suspected cocaine in an empty commercial tractor-trailer. The trailer was stopped on April 15 while crossing into the U.S. from Reynosa, Mexico. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security continues to report that Border Patrol agents have not released a single migrant into the U.S. interior for 11 consecutive months, pointing to what officials described as historically low levels of illegal crossings. Acting CBP Deputy Commissioner Ron Vitiello remarked that, besides stopping the illegal crossings, an "effective combination of technological tools and inspections experience" is ensuring that "these narcotics will not enter the U.S. and wreak any further havoc on our communities." COAST GUARD CUTTER MUNRO RETURNS TO CALIFORNIA HOME AFTER RECORD-BREAKING 11-TON COCAINE SEIZURE According to CBP, officers flagged the empty vehicle for secondary inspection using nonintrusive inspection equipment and screening from a canine team. A physical inspection led to the discovery of 32 packages of suspected cocaine with a combined weight of over 83 pounds, concealed within the trailer floor. The agency said the cocaine has an estimated street value of $1,111,503. Officers seized the narcotics, tractor and trailer while special agents from Homeland Security Investigations initiated a criminal investigation into the seizure. After the seizure, Vitiello said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital that "under the powerful leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin, our frontline CBP officers utilized an effective combination of technological tools and inspections experience to zero-in on and interdict this significant cocaine load." Vitiello added that "these narcotics will not enter the U.S. and wreak any further havoc on our communities." FIVE MEXICAN NATIONALS INDICTED AFTER MASSIVE METH LAB BUST UNCOVERS ENORMOUS QUANTITIES OF DRUGS Earlier this month, Mullin touted eleven straight months of "zero" releases at the border. He said that "under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history," adding, "The world knows America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers." DHS said that nationwide in March, CBP seized over 65,000 pounds of drugs, including 613 pounds of fentanyl. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott credited "America First policies, real consequences, and a unified federal effort—backed by personnel, infrastructure, and technology" for "how we’ve delivered the most secure border in U.S. history." GOP ZEROS IN ON SOUTH TEXAS DEM WHO URGED TRUMP TO 'ALLOW PEOPLE TO CROSS FREELY' "Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we’re building on what works, refining our approach, and locking in real border security," he said, adding, "This isn’t temporary—it’s the new normal." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69dd8059ccda1fcc09286 Chandler man sentenced to life in prison for murdering his uncle on Easter Sunday te 2026-04-20T21:42:48.558Z Chandler man sentenced to life in prison for murdering his uncle on Easter Sunday The defendant fired shots at multiple people during a family gathering on Easter Sunday in the Gila River Indian Community. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69d87059ccda1fcc0927a JFCS offers learning opportunities te 2026-04-20T21:41:27.099Z JFCS offers learning opportunities Through its Creative Aging classes, Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) will host a variety of classes beginning in May at Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave. The monthly Wisdom & Words Book Club with ASU Professor, Duane Roen will be held May 12, June 9 and July 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost $15. Color, Texture & Story: Acrylics and Mixed Media Collage will be held May 5, 12, 19 and 26, June 2 and 9 from 1:00–3 p.m. The cost is $135 and includes supplies. Beginner’s Tai Chi by Ping Wei will be held June 11, 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16 from 11 a.m. to noon. The cost is $90. Register online at www.jfcsclasses.org or contact Jennifer Brauner at jennifer.brauner@jfcsaz.org or 480-670-8073 for more information. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69d72059ccda1fcc09270 Diversion programs are essential to a strong justice system te 2026-04-20T21:41:06.135Z Diversion programs are essential to a strong justice system Scott Bennett For nearly 25 years as a prosecutor, my job has been straightforward: stand up for victims, protect our community and enforce the law fairly. But prosecutorial discretion is also paramount. To enforce the law fairly, it is essential to assess the needs and dangers posed by any given case and craft the prosecutorial response accordingly. Serving Graham County in southeastern Arizona, I’ve witnessed that some people — unfortunately — commit acts that are truly evil and cannot be allowed to endanger our communities. I have prosecuted those who earned the life sentence they received, and I am grateful that I will never have to worry about those individuals hurting my kids, my neighbor’s kids or anyone else in the communities I serve.  However, in my role I have also seen numerous instances where good people do dumb things, and sometimes in our quest for justice, a measure of compassion is appropriate. Based on those limited but compelling situations, it is my belief that a robust diversion program is one of the most important tools to ensure that those who are deserving of compassion and a second chance are afforded that opportunity.  Diversion programs are often misunderstood, with some assuming they simply let offenders off easy. That couldn’t be further from the truth.  Diversion is not leniency. It is structured accountability, designed to hold offenders responsible while giving them a chance to correct their behavior before a criminal conviction permanently alters their lives. In a diversion program, offenders must take ownership for what they did and meet clear objectives. Participants can be required to complete therapy or anger management classes, attend substance-abuse treatment, perform community service and pay restitution.  These requirements are not optional. Participants who fail to comply or commit new offenses are immediately removed from the program and prosecuted. But if they do complete the program successfully, the charges are dismissed. The result is an opportunity to put their life back in order without a permanent criminal record — but only after facing fair consequences. This approach works particularly well for first-time offenders and those who commit relatively minor offenses such as low-level drug possession or minor disturbances.  These people are not hardened criminals. They are folks who made a bad decision and are unlikely to do it again with the right guidance and strict conditions. Without diversion as an option, the ripple effects of a criminal conviction can be devastating.  Studies show that criminal convictions increase the risk of re-offending because they make it harder to find work, qualify for housing, or support a family. Losing or being unable to find a job can trigger a downward spiral from unemployment to financial instability and sometimes deeper involvement with drugs or crime. Diversion programs help to prevent that spiral while still requiring offenders to address the behavior that brought them into the system, so they stay out of it permanently. Although diversion cases account for only about 3% of our workload in Graham County, it still makes a difference. Every person who successfully completes the program is someone who avoids becoming a repeat offender and returns as a productive member of society. These programs also save an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Criminal prosecutions lead to costs for judges, court staff, defense attorneys, probation officers, jail beds and prison stays. Diversion cuts those costs dramatically. In addition, participants are responsible for fees that pay a portion of our staff costs and must cover their own counseling or treatment. Diversion allows our already strained justice system to focus resources where they’re needed most: prosecuting the most dangerous criminals who truly threaten our community. Even though diversion programs help us save money, small counties like Graham still need assistance to fund them. A few years ago, the Arizona Legislature provided grant funding that helped communities like ours to operate diversion programs. That support made a real impact. Unfortunately, the Legislature did not renew that funding. If Arizona is serious about reducing crime, protecting victims, and using taxpayer dollars wisely, lawmakers should get back to providing financial support for diversion programs, particularly for rural county attorney offices. Diversion is not soft on crime. It’s smart on crime. Diversion allows us to seek justice for victims while enabling people to choose a better path forward. As prosecutors, our goal should always be the same: fewer victims, safer communities, and a justice system that works for everyone. Diversion programs help us achieve that. Graham County Attorney Scott Bennett was elected in 2020 and oversees 15 prosecutors and staff and averages 500+ felony prosecutions annually. He currently serves as chair of the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council and is the State of Arizona’s delegate and board member to the National District Attorneys Association. The post Diversion programs are essential to a strong justice system first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69d47059ccda1fcc09247 Labor Secretary Steps Down Amid Internal Investigation te 2026-04-20T21:40:23.857Z Labor Secretary Steps Down Amid Internal Investigation Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Trump’s labor secretary, was facing multiple scandals and an internal inquiry into charges of misconduct. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69b5e059ccda1fcc09216 Carmen Francis: It wasn't Iran te 2026-04-20T21:32:14.776Z Carmen Francis: It wasn't Iran Editor: Don't forget who broke the deal of 'no nuclear weapons', let me give you a clue. It wasn't Iran. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69b45059ccda1fcc091fb Senate Bill 1458 would make health care more expensive for Arizona te 2026-04-20T21:31:49.069Z Senate Bill 1458 would make health care more expensive for Arizona Deanna Kupcik As CEOs of Chambers of Commerce, we know firsthand that rising costs are a top concern for employers and employees alike. As Arizonans battle inflation and higher health care costs, lawmakers should focus on policies that prioritize affordability. Unfortunately, the version of Senate Bill 1458 currently moving through the Legislature would dramatically increase health care costs by limiting the tools employers use to manage benefits. Todd Sanders Employers and health plans rely on cost-effective strategies to keep pharmacy benefits affordable for employees. These include negotiating lower prescription drug costs with big pharmaceutical companies, providing access to pharmacy networks and mail-order options, and offering specialty pharmacy services for complex conditions. These approaches lower out-of-pocket costs, improve medication adherence and increase accessibility to vital medications.  Mark Stanton Senate Bill 1458 would make it harder for businesses, large and small alike, to offer their employees jobs with good health care benefits by significantly increasing the cost of high-quality coverage options. Employers rely on flexibility to design health plans that meet the needs of their workforce while staying within budget, keeping their employees healthy. Instead, Senate Bill 1458 would force employers to adopt a one-size-fits-all, government-mandated health plan, causing hardworking families to spend more of their hard-earned dollars on prescription costs. Supporters of Senate Bill 1458 know the legislation will increase costs. They exempted the State of Arizona from the bill’s harmful provisions, protecting state employees while leaving private businesses and employers to absorb the financial impact. It’s clear: if passed, Senate Bill 1458 would create a damaging domino effect. Higher prescription costs mean higher premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for employers and employees. To our elected leaders, please oppose Senate Bill 1458 and similar regulations that shift costs onto employers, health plans and, ultimately, patients. Vote NO on Senate Bill 1458. Deanna Kupcik is the CEO of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce. Todd Sanders is the CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. Mark Stanton is the CEO of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce. The post Senate Bill 1458 would make health care more expensive for Arizona first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69b2f059ccda1fcc091e1 Reporter's Notebook: House chaos sparks emergency FISA extension te 2026-04-20T21:31:27.573Z Reporter's Notebook: House chaos sparks emergency FISA extension "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today," said Ben Franklin. If sloganeering was left to Congress, the motto might read, "Never do today what you can leave till tomorrow." That is emblematic of the recent scramble on Capitol Hill to renew the key terrorism prevention program known as FISA Section 702. Congress faced a deadline to re-up the program before 11:59:59 p.m. ET on April 20. Lawmakers fretted that it was risky to let the program expire. They worried that the U.S. may be vulnerable to a terrorist attack because of the war with Iran. President Donald Trump insisted that Republicans "UNIFY, and vote together" to pass an 18-month extension of FISA without any add-ons. The president argued that the FISA program was among "the reasons we have had such tremendous SUCCESS on the battlefield." So the House GOP brass planned to pass the 18-month FISA reauthorization last Wednesday. But it’s about the math. An eclectic alliance of Democrats and Republicans both supported and opposed the bill. Either way, the measure lacked the votes to pass. "The coalitions around FISA have traditionally been kind of scrambled," said Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif. So despite the promise of a late-night vote Wednesday, the House GOP brain trust punted until Thursday as they scrambled to find the votes and prevent FISA from going offline. "FISA will not go dark. We have a little slight delay. We're working through and building consensus as we do on all difficult issues, and we'll get there. We'll get it done," promised House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. CONSERVATIVE FISA REVOLT POSES FRESH TEST FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON Some Republicans balked at the 18-month extension. "I want warrants to surveil American citizens. And the Fourth Amendment is not for sale. I don't want our federal government buying data from private companies on American citizens," said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. FISA is designed to reap foreign intelligence data, but it sometimes vacuums up the telephone communications of Americans — and even documents their locations. Tapping so much metadata is what led to the government trying to tie Trump to Russian interference during the 2016 election cycle. But despite his past opposition, the president did an about-face and demanded passage of this FISA measure. "The President of the United States has said, ‘This is what I want, this is what I need.’ And there are rank-and-file Republicans bucking him," I pointed out to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark. "Well, it's a little bit surprising," replied Crawford, since most congressional Republicans routinely line up behind Trump. "I think I think maybe the president's a little bit surprised by that, too." One Trump ally says if the bill is good enough for the president, it should be good enough for House Republicans. "This program is critical. It helped us with the operation in Venezuela. It's certainly helping us with the operation going on in Iran as we speak," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. SENATE COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON CONTROVERSIAL SURVEILLANCE TOOL SET TO EXPIRE UNLESS CONGRESS REAUTHORIZES But to some Republicans, entreaties by the president don’t matter on this bill. "Look, he's [President Trump], the executive [branch]. We're the legislative [branch], and we're going to see a little bit of conflict between those two today," said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. But as we said, support or opposition for FISA doesn’t break along party lines. Dozens of Democrats are leery about letting the program go dark. "This is our single most important collection authority," said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. "If we just go dark on that stuff, a lot of people are going to get hurt. And that's why we just can't let it expire." But even if the House passed the bill, it still needed to align with the Senate. Alarms were sounding around the Capitol as the Monday night deadline loomed. So the daylight came and went last Thursday without action on the FISA bill as the deadline approached this week. Yours truly chased down Johnson in Statuary Hall of the Capitol. "You’re going to try to move this on the floor tonight?" I asked the speaker about FISA. "I am. It will be late tonight, but we’ll get it done," replied Johnson. Fox was told that House Republicans would have an attendance problem on Friday. Some members of the Arizona delegation wanted to head to the Grand Canyon State for Trump’s speech there. Plus, waiting until this week wouldn’t give the Senate much turning radius to align with the House. JOHNSON FACES GOP REVOLT OVER WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE POWERS AHEAD OF KEY VOTE "And the concern is that you have to get it done today because you might lose some people tomorrow, and the Senate doesn’t come back until Monday and that’s right up against the deadline?" I continued. "A bird in hand is worth several in the bush. I’ve got them all here and I need to get it done," answered Johnson. A group of bipartisan lawmakers say an extension is essential to guard against terrorism. Especially as the U.S. fights with Iran. "My concerns are significant because FISA is the single most important national security asset we have in the intelligence field," said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, a member of the Intelligence Committee. "If you want to blind the United States intelligence community and the military, this is a perfect way to do it," added Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. But regardless of risks, FISA skeptics demand reforms like warrants and criminal prosecutions for alleged abuses. "We’re always threatened that there's something very bad is going to happen and people will die if we don't reauthorize (FISA Section) 702," said Boebert. CONSERVATIVE FISA REVOLT POSES FRESH TEST FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON But there was concern that even if the House passed something, the Senate wouldn’t have the availability to sync up until Monday. Most senators left Washington for the week on Thursday afternoon. Such a scenario would potentially give the Senate a few hours to align with the House when senators returned to Washington Monday, just hours before the deadline. "Is that responsible by the Senate to leave?" I asked Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. "Well, there's no reason to stay if we're not going to have votes," replied Kennedy. By nightfall, everyone watched to see if Johnson could make good on his promise of passing the 18-month extension. But not long before 11 p.m. ET, the House lurched from that plan to a five-year reauthorization. The House blocked that plan. Then backpedaled and adopted an emergency bill to salvage FISA for a scant 13 days. "What was Churchill's line? ‘Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others?’ So sometimes it gets kind of messy when you're trying to craft together an agreement," said Jordan. Democrats were appalled at the nocturnal whiplash. "Are you kidding me? Who the hell is running this place?," asked an incensed Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, on the floor. "Republicans threw it together on the back of a napkin in a back room in the middle of the night." SENATE TEMPORARILY EXTENDS NATION’S CONTROVERSIAL SPYING POWERS AFTER HOUSE FUMBLES Staunch conservatives argued for muscular spy powers. "Failing to reauthorize this statutory authority would be a massive setback, and one that our adversaries would exploit immediately," said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. And liberals worried about government overreach. "There have been so many abuses lately. And this is only going to grow with artificial intelligence," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Intelligence panel. So congressional leaders are trying to strike a balance. "What we're trying to do is thread the needle of ensuring that we have this essential tool to keep Americans safe but also safeguard constitutional rights," said Johnson. FISA skeptics insist on warrants. "We just want to make sure that the guardrails are there," said Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., who voted to block the five-year extension early Friday. So the House passed the Band-Aid bill by unanimous consent around early Friday morning. The Senate cleared the same package by unanimous consent later the same morning. Wyden came to the floor Friday morning but didn’t object. The Oregon Democrat believes it would be harder to impose reforms had FISA lapsed. So he’s willing to keep it going, for now. However, Wyden made clear that he expected to see reforms between now and the new deadline. Otherwise, he might stand in the way next time. Another punt. Another new deadline. More parliamentary procrastination. And at the rate Congress is going these days, if they didn’t delay issues, they might not have anything to show for their efforts at all. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69b1b059ccda1fcc091ce Cowboys make Brandon Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in NFL history: reports te 2026-04-20T21:31:07.454Z Cowboys make Brandon Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in NFL history: reports The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly made kicker Brandon Aubrey the richest kicker in NFL history. The Cowboys announced on Tuesday that they signed Aubrey to a four-year, $28 million contract extension, with multiple outlets reporting on the terms. The 31-year-old will become the first kicker in NFL history to earn $7 million per season. Aubrey has spent three seasons with the Cowboys, making the Pro Bowl in all of them. In his career, Aubrey has nailed 112 of 127 field goals for an 88.2% field goal percentage. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He has not only made a remarkable amount of his kicks, but has shown off impressive range, with a career long of 65 yards, which is the franchise record for the longest field goal. Aubrey’s path to NFL stardom has not been linear. He went to high school in the Dallas area and played soccer at Notre Dame before he was taken by Toronto FC in the MLS draft in 2017. POLICE REPORT DETAILS ZACHARIAH BRANCH’S ARREST DAYS BEFORE NFL DRAFT OVER SIDEWALK INCIDENT He was working as a software engineer in Arlington, where the Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium, when his wife encouraged him to pursue a kicking career. Aubrey spent two years in the USFL and signed with the Cowboys before training camp in 2023. He had as good a beginning to a career as possible, as he nailed an NFL record for most kicks made without a miss to start his career at 35. That was the first of many record he would set over his three years with the Cowboys. Aubrey became the first player to make three field goals of at least 55 yards in the same game against the Detroit Lions last year, when he was also the first with three from at least 60 yards in the same season. His six field goals of more than 60 yards are the most in NFL history. 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/69e69af3059ccda1fcc091c3 Democrats Once Loathed Gerrymandering. Now They’re Pushing for It. te 2026-04-20T21:30:27.644Z Democrats Once Loathed Gerrymandering. Now They’re Pushing for It. The party is seeking an extra edge in Virginia at a time when its thinking has changed on the partisan drawing of political maps — in large part, leaders say, because of President Trump’s tactics. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e698d7059ccda1fcc09174 Harvard reportedly investigating Republican Club over social media post about Muslim group's campus event te 2026-04-20T21:21:27.470Z Harvard reportedly investigating Republican Club over social media post about Muslim group's campus event Harvard University is investigating the Harvard Republican Club (HRC) after the student group's social media post targeting a Muslim campus event triggered backlash and accusations of harassment. The Dean of Students Office is reviewing whether the club violated Harvard's harassment and photography policies with the post after receiving a complaint, according to a report by The Harvard Crimson. On April 4, the HRC shared a post criticizing the Harvard Islamic Society's Eid al-Fitr event on campus celebrating the end of Ramadan. The post remains pinned to the top of the student group's X account. "Today, students were interrupted from their midterm studies for several hours by loud music and prayers outside their windows," it reads. "Harvard's historic Quincy Courtyard had been turned into a bazaar selling Hijabs, Burqas and Qurans for an Eid Mubarak celebration hosted by Harvard’s Islamic Society." HARVARD PRESIDENT CALLS STUDENTS ‘IGNORANT’ ON ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT The club also claimed "prayer mats" covered the grass, speakers "blasted Islamic music" and the event "attracted dozens of unvetted strangers who roamed outside student dorms." The post further alleged that Harvard campus security told one of its members he was not allowed to take pictures of the event. "Harvard has been captured," the post said. Moeen M. Razzaque, co-president of the Harvard Islamic Society, pushed back on the claims in an op-ed for the Crimson, calling the post "blatant lies" and "bigotry." UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA DISCRIMINATED AGAINST COLLEGE REPUBLICANS CHAPTER, ATTORNEY CLAIMS He defended the event as a "typical gathering of University affiliates and guests" that was planned months in advance with administrative approval, and he called on Harvard to take disciplinary action against the Republican group. "Since the HRC chose to engage in flagrant conduct with no remorse, they must face consequences. A formal university complaint has been lodged; if there is no further University action or intervention after such a public attack, then Harvard’s stated commitment to religious pluralism is only in writing," he wrote. Muslim civil rights group The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also urged Harvard to act. In a letter to Harvard President Alan M. Garber on April 14, the group demanded the university take "immediate disciplinary action" against the Harvard Republican Club for its "abusive targeting of Muslim students celebrating Eid" and "publicly condemn Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Harvard University and the Harvard Republican Club did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. The Ivy League university is currently battling the Trump administration over its crackdown on antisemitism on university campuses. Last week, the Trump administration slashed more than $2 billion in multi-year grants and contracts to Harvard after President Garber said the school would not comply with the administration's demands related to antisemitism. The dispute comes after the Justice Department sued Harvard in March, alleging it failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment and discrimination on campus after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e698c3059ccda1fcc0916b 'The View' co-host claims Caitlyn Jenner has 'special place in hell' over Trump support te 2026-04-20T21:21:07.639Z 'The View' co-host claims Caitlyn Jenner has 'special place in hell' over Trump support "The View" co-host Ana Navarro sounded off on Caitlyn Jenner during the show on Monday after the former Olympic athlete said she was having a problem changing her gender on her passport, to which Navarro responded with, that there is a "special place in hell" for people like her. "Caitlyn Jenner? Girl, cry me a river. Let me play my little violin for you," Navarro said. "Changing the marker on the passports is an executive order that he signed on day one, so if you think he didn't know what he was doing, if you think he wasn't fulfilling a campaign promise because, as you say, he absolutely exploited this issue in order to get people to the polls." "I think there's a special place in hell for people who only care about themselves and don't care about the effect on others," Navarro added. Jenner said during an episode of Tomi Lahren's podcast that she was not able to change her gender to "F" on her passport. Jenner said she sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking for help but that she has not heard back. CAITLYN JENNER BACKS IOC MOVE TO BAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM OLYMPICS AFTER REVIEW FINDS UNFAIR ADVANTAGE "I'm going to quote trans advocate Janetta Johnson, who said this in 2015: 'Jenner is a rich, White b----. She can pay for everything she needs,'" Navarro said, quoting Johnson. "'But I think she now needs to put some of that money back into the transgender community, as she has taken a lot. All these years, we've been abused and battered, yet she's used none of her power to help the community and bring about change.'" Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin called the Trump executive order "stupid policy" and said it was meant to embarrass people. "That is not an issue that in any way betters the lives of the American people," Griffin said. Trump signed the executive order, "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," on his first day in office. The order mandates the federal government recognize only two sexes — male and female — based on immutable biological characteristics, which must be reflected on official documents, like passports. TRUMP ADMIN ASKS SUPREME COURT TO ALLOW IT TO ENFORCE PASSPORT SEX DESIGNATION POLICY The State Department, responsible for passports, is no longer issuing passports with the "X" marker that’s been available since 2021 and is not honoring requests to change gender markers between "M" and "F." Jenner expressed support for Trump during the podcast despite the passport issue. The White House did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. "I haven't heard from him. He’s kind of busy right now. My gender marker is not big on the issue, OK? So, I get that, and I’m not blaming him whatsoever. I love the guy, and I love what he’s doing," Jenner said. Jenner's representation did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Hunter Schafer, a transgender actor and star of the HBO series "Euphoria," revealed in February 2025 that her new passport was issued with a male gender marker because of the executive order. Schafer, 26, posted a video on social media detailing how her passport had been stolen while she was filming in Spain. After receiving an emergency passport, she later had to apply for a new, permanent one in Los Angeles. Schafer, who transitioned to female when she was a teenager, said her original passport identified her as female, but the new one she received marked her as male. Schafer said she wasn’t posting the video to "create drama," "fearmonger" or "receive consolation," but rather because she thought it was worth noting "the reality of the situation and that it is actually happening." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e698af059ccda1fcc09162 Newest Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr talks possible Aaron Rodgers return: 'I'm hoping he's close' te 2026-04-20T21:20:47.937Z Newest Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr talks possible Aaron Rodgers return: 'I'm hoping he's close' The Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting on Aaron Rodgers’ 2026 NFL season decision — will he play, or is retirement finally calling for the four-time MVP? The Steelers and head coach Mike McCarthy, his old leader from their time with the Green Bay Packers, continue to wait patiently, and so is one of the newest in the building: wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. "I’m hoping he’s close," Pittman told Fox News Digital during a recent interview ahead of his time at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with Toyota. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Pittman arrived in Pittsburgh earlier this offseason after the Indianapolis Colts reached a trade with the Steelers to send the seven-year receiver east. As he continues to get acclimated, Pittman is already hearing the question: Is Rodgers coming back? "I don’t know anything — people think that we know something. Why would Aaron tell me anything?" he said, laughing. Pittman said he isn’t "worried about it too much" from a personal perspective, given his time in Indianapolis was riddled with quarterback turnover. Throughout his tenure with the Colts, Pittman played for 10 different starting quarterbacks, including Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, and Daniel Jones this past season. STEELERS LEGEND LOSES PATIENCE WITH LATEST CHAPTER IN AARON RODGERS SAGA: 'THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD' It even got so bad in 2025 following Jones’ injury that he was reunited with Rivers, who was signed in hopes he could help salvage the season. But while some of those guys are likely heading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day, there’s no doubting Rodgers’ Canton hopes and what he brings to a team even if he is turning 43 in December. "Obviously, Aaron is a great player — look at everything he’s done," Pittman added. "We would love to have him back. At the end of the day, he has to decide that for himself." Rodgers may not be at the Steelers’ start to voluntary offseason program, but he is working out to stay in shape in preparation for the new season if he decides to return. But there has been radio silence between both sides, according to NFL Network, and there is no expectation to hear from him before the first round of the draft begins on Thursday night. AARON RODGERS GIVES CHEEKY RESPONSE WHEN ASKED ABOUT REASONS TO WORKOUT While Pittman, the Steelers and the rest of the NFL wait to hear from Rodgers, Will Howard, the team’s sixth-round pick in last year’s draft, is the expected starting quarterback for McCarthy’s squad heading into the voluntary workouts. In the meantime, Pittman will continue to enjoy the sports-crazed city he now calls home. "Being in Pittsburgh, just the vibe of driving around, everybody is wearing something sports. It’s either the Steelers, the Pirates or the Penguins," Pittman explained. "Somebody’s wearing some black and gold, which I think is awesome. They love their football there. I mean, Indy loves football, too. I’m not taking anything away from Indy fans, but it’s just the Pittsburgh — everybody knows Pittsburgh for being Pittsburgh. The Steelers, the fans. The town is set on these rivers. The stadium is right there, the scenery. It is something crazy, and I’m excited to be there and be able to play for them." IMPACTING LOCAL FLAG FOOTBALL WITH TOYOTA Pittman is always looking to impact his community, especially being in a new city. Following his role as a coach during Toyota’s Glow Up Classic during Super Bowl week in San Francisco, Pittman is back with the automotive manufacturer for a special NFL Draft flag football training camp featuring Pittsburgh high school girls flag players on the eve of draft night. Pittman, alongside some NFL Draft prospects and members of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football team, will be putting on his coach’s hat to help coordinate drills, while giving instruction and mentorship to those girls participating. And even better, select participants will be chosen to walk the NFL Draft Red Carpet, as they get to experience and witness some of the best young players in football fulfill their dream, like Pittman, of hearing their names called in the NFL Draft. With new national data from Campus Multimedia and YouGov finding that 70% of teens (12-17) want brands supporting their school community, this is just another example of how Toyota is making an impact in communities all over the country. As an official partner of NFL FLAG league play, which has helped grow the game by reaching over 300,000 youth players nationwide with over $3 million in support, Toyota is also buying all NFL FLAG fall registration kit fees for current players in the Pittsburgh Flag Football League (PFFL) coed youth and high school girls leagues. "Our main message to these girls is to capture their spotlight, and I just know this is all for them," Pittman said. "We’re just there to pump them up and anyway we can champion them and just lift them up and let them know we’re here to support girls flag and we want to make it a renowned sport." 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/69e69400059ccda1fcc090be Deadly shooting at historic tourist site leaves one dead, several injured as motive unclear te 2026-04-20T21:00:48.879Z Deadly shooting at historic tourist site leaves one dead, several injured as motive unclear A Canadian woman was shot and killed Monday, and several others were injured, before a gunman took his own life at Mexico’s popular Teotihuacan pyramids.  Mexican officials said that four people were wounded by gunfire and two others sustained injuries from falls. Among the injured were tourists from Colombia, Russia, and Canada, according to local government reports via The Associated Press. A firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges were found at the scene, Mexico’s Security Cabinet confirmed on social media. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be thoroughly investigated and that she was in contact with the Canadian Embassy. TOURISTS TRAPPED IN PUERTO VALLARTA RECOUNT CARTEL RETALIATION AFTER EL MENCHO KILLED "What happened today in Teotihuacan deeply pains us," she wrote. "I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families." MAJOR DRUG LORD 'EL MENCHO' KILLED IN MEXICAN MILITARY OPERATION WITH U.S. INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT Sheinbaum said she has instructed the Security Cabinet to investigate the events and provide all necessary support to the victims. "Personnel from the Secretariat of the Interior and the Secretariat of Culture are already heading to the site to provide assistance and accompaniment, along with local authorities," she said. "I am closely following the situation, and we will continue to provide timely updates through the Security Cabinet." The pre-Hispanic city, located just outside Mexico City, was once one of the most significant cultural centers in Mesoamerica. Fox News Digital has reached out to Canada's foreign ministry for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69223059ccda1fcc0907b Mohave, River Valley and Desert Star track and field compete at 3rd Annual Lake Havasu Senior Showcase te 2026-04-20T20:52:51.772Z Mohave, River Valley and Desert Star track and field compete at 3rd Annual Lake Havasu Senior Showcase The Mohave, River Valley and Desert Star track and field teams traveled to Lake Havasu City on Thursday to compete in the 3rd Annual Lake Havasu Senior Showcase. The teams continue to improve on earlier results in an attempt to… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6920f059ccda1fcc09072 Senior Showcase 4-16-6477.JPG te 2026-04-20T20:52:31.955Z Senior Showcase 4-16-6477.JPG Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e691a5059ccda1fcc09024 Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO, John Ternus taking over te 2026-04-20T20:50:45.743Z Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO, John Ternus taking over Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will take over as CEO at the start of September. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e69191059ccda1fcc09011 Heinz seeks District 2 applicants to help pick judges for Pima County Superior Court te 2026-04-20T20:50:25.084Z Heinz seeks District 2 applicants to help pick judges for Pima County Superior Court Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68f78059ccda1fcc08fc9 Falwell: 'If you hold Biblical values' you will vote 'no' on Virginia redistricting te 2026-04-20T20:41:28.239Z Falwell: 'If you hold Biblical values' you will vote 'no' on Virginia redistricting Opponents of Virginia’s redistricting referendum hitting ballot boxes on Tuesday got an assist from on high after the son of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell spoke out on the "Biblical values" behind opposing the controversial measure. Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg and pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church (founded by his father), has been a prominent conservative religious voice for decades. In remarks shared by Virginia Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, Falwell told congregants that while he has never and will never advise anyone on who to vote for or against, Tuesday’s ballot measure is not to be ignored. "Tuesday is an election day here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It shouldn't be, but it is. And we have an election coming up. There's no body on the ballot. There are no individuals running for any office. It is simply a decision that was made by some people in Richmond to subvert the common way and the right way to do things," Falwell said. OBAMA URGES VIRGINIANS TO VOTE YES ON REDISTRICTING MEASURE THAT COULD GIVE DEMOCRATS 4 MORE HOUSE SEATS Falwell explained how redistricting proponents crafted the ballot language to say that a "yes" vote would "restore fairness" and that their definition of such was to change the congressional makeup of Virginia from 6-5 to 10 "leaning to the liberal [side] and one leaning to the conservative [side]." "I don't quite think the Restore Fairness is exactly what they're trying to do. I think what they are trying to do is to completely take over." Falwell underlined that he has only ever encouraged congregants to "vote your values" and described what Biblical values translate to in a political context. "Today, I'm going to do the exact same thing, but it's a little bit different because today I know that if you hold Biblical values, if you believe in the sanctity of life, if you believe in the right of having this idea that there is man and woman period. If you believe clearly in all the freedoms and the values and the principles upon which this nation was founded, there is only one way to vote on Tuesday and that is to vote no." SOROS-BACKED GROUP AMONG LIBERAL ORGS PUMPING EYE-POPPING CASH INTO VIRGINIA GERRYMANDERING EFFORT He noted that he expects blowback for speaking out on the topic, adding that he anticipates angry letters and emails. "I don’t care," Falwell said. "We cannot allow the Commonwealth of Virginia to be taken over by a simple group of people who just simply believe that their way is the only way." "If we truly believe that voting matters, if we truly believe that our values matter, if you truly believe that we have the right to let our voices be heard, then let your voice be heard and vote." Walker later praised Falwell for speaking out, calling his decision a "courageous stand." "Leadership like this matters — speak up and make your voice heard. Vote NO," Walker said. DAVID MARCUS: DESPERATE DEMS TAP OBAMA TO PITCH VIRGINIA GERRYMANDERING LIES At least one respondent to another repost of Falwell’s remarks was, however, nonplussed. "If pastors like Jonathan Falwell want to start telling people how to vote from the pulpit, then megachurches like Thomas Road Baptist Church should start paying taxes," the critic said. Falwell succeeded his father, Rev. Jerry Falwell, as senior pastor of Thomas Road in 2007, and became chancellor of Liberty University in 2023. Falwell Sr. was leader of the conservative "Moral Majority" during the Reagan era. Fox News Digital reached out to Falwell and Thomas Road for further comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68f64059ccda1fcc08fc0 Repeat offender released early from jail now charged with capital murder of pregnant woman te 2026-04-20T20:41:08.519Z Repeat offender released early from jail now charged with capital murder of pregnant woman A repeat offender in Texas released early has been arrested after allegedly murdering a pregnant woman, police confirmed to Fox News Digital Monday. Kevin Faux, 24, had been wanted on a capital murder charge in the death of 23-year-old Ashanti Allen, who was eight months pregnant when she was reported missing on April 10. He was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Service New Orleans Office, police said. REPEAT OFFENDER WITH LONG RAP SHEET ALLEGEDLY GUNS DOWN MAN WHILE FREE ON PROBATION, BONDS DESPITE VIOLATIONS Allen, 23, was last seen on April 10 after leaving her Houston home, according to FOX 26. She was eight months pregnant and experiencing a high-risk pregnancy when she disappeared, police said. GOT A TIP? The Houston Police Department said that Faux was the father of Allen's unborn child. The 23-year-old woman was found dead on April 16 and police identified Faux as the suspect in her death. FOLLOW US ON X Court records obtained by KHOU-TV show Faux had multiple prior assault-related cases, including a 2019 aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a 2021 misdemeanor assault involving another woman, and two 2025 assault charges involving Allen. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Faux was jailed in September 2025 in connection with the assaults against Allen. In February, he was sentenced to 280 days behind bars. However, the local outlet reported that he received a "two-for-one" credit, a practice commonly used to manage the jail population, which cut his sentence in half. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS Allen's mother said she never knew about Faux's history of violence. "I didn't know anything about the incidents until she went missing, because if I had known that, he would have never been around my daughter," she told KHOU-TV. Allen's cause of death is not known at this time. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service for additional information. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68f3a059ccda1fcc08fa0 Forum set this week for Oro Valley mayor and Town Council candidates te 2026-04-20T20:40:26.827Z Forum set this week for Oro Valley mayor and Town Council candidates Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68d5e059ccda1fcc08f90 New Arizona guidelines aim to protect workers from heat, but fall short of enforceable standards te 2026-04-20T20:32:30.825Z New Arizona guidelines aim to protect workers from heat, but fall short of enforceable standards PHOENIX – Arizona is implementing new workplace heat safety guidelines as summer approaches. They address shade, breaks and water access, but advocates say without enforceable standards, they fall short of protecting workers.  The state has experienced longer periods of extreme heat, putting Arizonans at greater risk for heat-related illness, emergency room visits and death, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Last May, Gov. Katie Hobbs directed the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or ADOSH, to establish a Workplace Heat Safety Task Force made up of medical experts and workers’ rights advocates and representatives across Arizona.    (Audio by Sophia Braccio/Cronkite News) The task force submitted final recommendations on Dec. 31, 2025, and the Industrial Commission of Arizona, the state agency that oversees ADOSH, voted to approve and roll out those guidelines on April 9.  The new recommendations call on employers to establish a heat illness prevention plan, which includes access to cool water and shade, rest, training and gradual exposure to intense heat. Members of the governor’s task force represented industries impacted by the heat, including construction, agriculture, first responders and hospitality.  Trina David, a crew chief for an airline at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport who spoke during public comment before ADOSH and the Industrial Commission, said during her 18 years at the airport, she has seen workers collapse from heat-related illness.  “These are lifelong illnesses for us,” she said.  According to Banner Health, pavement temperatures can be 40 to 60 degrees hotter than the air temperature, and the tarmac is no exception.  The physical demands compound the risk, David said: “You are talking about exertion levels because each back is 50 pounds or more.” If breaks are not required, she said, many workers feel they can’t take them. “If you leave it ‘as needed’ people won’t take the breaks because they feel retaliation is real,” David said.  The new guidelines build on existing workplace safety measures; they do not create protections from scratch.   ADOSH operates its own workplace safety program under a state plan approved by the federal agency OSHA, which sets baseline standards for workers protections, said Amber Pappas, an occupational safety and health consultant and facilitator on the task force. OSHA launched a National Emphasis Program specific to heat hazards in 2022, directing enforcement agencies to focus inspections on heat-related risks.  Arizona followed in 2023 by adopting a State Emphasis Program through ADOSH. However, that program includes general guidance, rather than enforceable, heat-focused rules. Pappas described the requirements as “catch all standards,” adding that the state relies on an overarching standard, often referred to as the general duty clause, for enforcement.  “All employers are legally required to provide a place of employment free from potential or recognized hazards that could cause serious injury, illness or fatality,” she said. “Currently under state emphasis, all we have is that general duty clause.”  The task force’s new recommendations will be added to the 2023 emphasis program, offering detailed guidance for employers, and are expected to be revisited regularly, Pappas said.  The guidelines have a broad reach for industries across the state, including agriculture. Heat-related mortality rates for U.S. crop workers are 20 times higher than other industries, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.  Jazmin Moreno-Dominguez, an organizer and co-founder of Agave Community Threads, surveyed agricultural workers in southern Arizona. She said she’s heard stories of workers who have to walk long distances to get to water stations and seek shade in hazardous places like behind tractor tires.  Moreno-Dominguez is part of the Arizona Heat Standards Coalition, a group of community members who called on the state to implement enforceable heat safety rules as quickly as possible.  “The task force, while it is a great start, in our opinion, is just continuing to delay actual policy on paper and put protections on the ground,” Moreno-Dominguez said.  Fifteen of the 24 task force members called on ADOSH to support binding and enforceable heat safety rules including defining hazardous temperatures and minimum rest periods. Ultimately, the final recommendation approved by the entire task force did not include enforcement provisions and the commission moved forward with the guidelines without launching a rulemaking process. According to Maxwell Ulin, staff attorney for the UNITE HERE Local 11 union, the Arizona guidelines give employers best practices for heat safety. This also aids state enforcement to “a limited degree” by helping investigators assess whether a business is doing enough to keep workers safe.  Still, Ulin believes this is not enough protection. “We will continue to be struggling to enforce what is an otherwise very broad, nonspecific standard for safety and health until workers get hurt or until there is substantial risk of injury to workers,” Ulin said. Five states currently have varying forms of heat standards, according to OSHA. Colorado’s heat standard only applies to agricultural workers, while Minnesota’s only applies to indoor places of employment. California has a Heat Illness Prevention Standard that applies across industries and is triggered when temperatures reach 80 degrees.     A Health Affairs study found that California saw an estimated 33% decrease in heat-related deaths among outdoor workers after it intensified enforcement of its heat standard in 2010, and a 51% reduction after revisions were made to the standard in 2015.  Industrial Commission Chair Dennis Kavanaugh said Arizona should study how heat standards worked elsewhere, considering more evidence and budget impacts before initiating rulemaking.  “Today’s not a once and done. This is the beginning of our process as commissioners to deal with this issue,” Kavanaugh said during an industrial commission meeting.  The commission ordered a report on the effectiveness of the new guidelines by the end of the year. The post New Arizona guidelines aim to protect workers from heat, but fall short of enforceable standards appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68d45059ccda1fcc08f5e Christina Applegate addresses health concerns after reported hospitalization te 2026-04-20T20:32:05.713Z Christina Applegate addresses health concerns after reported hospitalization Christina Applegate returned to social media Monday with gratitude for her loved ones. Applegate, 54, spoke out on Instagram after dodging speculation she was hospitalized. The "Married… With Children" actress was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021. "Thank you for the outpouring of love and well wishes," Applegate shared online. "Health issues are a constant for me, but I’m a strong chick and I’m getting stronger and better every day." CHRISTINA APPLEGATE SAYS MS HAS LEFT HER MOSTLY CONFINED TO BEDROOM, IMPACTING LIFE AS A MOM She added, "I’m taking a moment to focus on my health, but I’ll be back with more to say soon enough." Applegate revealed on her "MeSsy" podcast last year that she's been hospitalized upwards of 30 times due to her MS symptoms.  APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST "For three years, since I was diagnosed, I’ve been in the hospital upwards of 30 times from throwing up and diarrhea and pain," she said. "That is unimaginable, OK? They’ve done every test known to man on me, put so much radiation into my body from CT scans to everything else." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "One of the things with MS is that it slows down our organs, you know, not like completely, but there is a slowing of the function of your organs. I have noticed that — and I’m going to be really honest — if I have to poop, I puke." "My neuro doesn’t — God bless her — says that’s not an MS thing," Applegate added. "So, I’m sorry, there’s got to be a correlation here, and I’m not a doctor. I’m not giving medical advice. I’m just saying, just think about that, OK? Because I’m in the middle of the same exact situation, and it f------ sucks, and it’s scary." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The "Dead to Me" actress — who recently became a best-selling author with her memoir, "You With the Sad Eyes" — recently admitted that her diagnosis often impacted her ability to parent her 15-year-old daughter Sadie. "I want to take her [to school and activities]; it’s my favorite thing to do," Applegate told People magazine. "It’s the only time we have together by ourselves. I tell myself, ‘Just get her there safely and get home so you can get back into bed.’ And that’s what I do." Because of limitations, Applegate said she feels more free to be unapologetically herself. "My life isn’t wrapped up with a bow," she said. "People’s lives, sorry for lack of a better term, f---ing suck sometimes. So I’m being as honest and raw as I possibly can." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68d32059ccda1fcc08f55 Outspent but not outgunned, Republicans aim to sink Democrats' 'power grab' redistricting push te 2026-04-20T20:31:46.060Z Outspent but not outgunned, Republicans aim to sink Democrats' 'power grab' redistricting push LEESBURG, Va. — Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former state Attorney General Jason Miyares are campaigning across their home state Monday on the eve of a referendum on congressional redistricting that, if passed, could give Democrats a significant boost in this year's midterm elections. Youngkin and Miyares are taking a lead in the Republican effort to defeat the ballot measure, which, if successful, would give the Democrat-controlled legislature — rather than the current nonpartisan commission — temporary redistricting power through the 2030 election. It could result in a 10-1 advantage for Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation, up from their current 6-5 edge. That would give Democrats four additional left-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms as the party tries to win back control of the chamber from the GOP, which holds a razor-thin majority. Youngkin, in an interview Monday on Fox News' "America's Newsroom," called the Democrat-pushed map a "power grab" and claimed it is the "most gerrymandered map in America. It's wrong. Virginians should stand up and vote no tomorrow." OBAMA GOES ALL IN ON HIGH-STAKES REFERENDUM THAT MAY IMPACT MIDTERM ELECTIONS The former governor, joined by Miyares, is making four stops Monday, with hours to go until voting on the referendum begins. Democrats counter that the redrawing of the maps is a necessary step to balance out partisan gerrymandering already implemented by Republicans in other states at the urging of President Donald Trump. "By voting yes, you have the chance to do something important — not just for the Commonwealth, but for our entire country," former President Barack Obama said in a video released Friday on the eve of the final day of early voting. "By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms." BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE RUNS THROUGH VIRGINIA AS COURT OKS HIGH-STAKES REDISTRICTING VOTE "By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we're counting on you," the former president added. The video by Obama was the former president's latest effort tied to the referendum. He has previously appeared in ads released by Virginians for Fair Elections, the Democrat-aligned group working to pass the ballot initiative. But Virginians for Fair Maps, the leading Republican-aligned group opposing redistricting, used past comments by Obama against political gerrymandering in its ads opposing the referendum. "Because of things like political gerrymandering, our parties have moved further and further apart, and it’s harder and harder to find common ground," the former president said in an old clip showcased in the spot. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, a former Virginia governor and former chair of the Democratic National Committee, acknowledged this past weekend in a Fox News Sunday interview that the new maps don't represent Virginia's partisan breakdown. "Ninety percent of Virginians are not Democrats, that's true," Kaine said. But he added that "about 100% of Virginians want election results to be respected." REPUBLICANS TARGET VIRGINIA GOVERNOR IN BID TO DEFEAT DEMOCRAT-BACKED REDISTRICTING Supporters of redistricting have dramatically outraised and outspent groups opposed to the referendum. But polling suggests support for the ballot initiative is only slightly ahead of opposition amid a surge in early voting. Supporters of redistricting have dramatically outraised and outspent groups opposed to the referendum, with Virginians for Fair Elections outraising Virginians for Fair Maps by a roughly three-to-one margin. Much of the funding raised by both sides is so-called "dark money" from nonprofit public policy groups known as 501(c)(4) organizations that are not required to disclose their donors. Despite the Democrats' funding advantage, polling suggests support for the ballot initiative is only slightly ahead of opposition amid a surge in early voting. "There is a chance, and that's because it is viewed as being such a gerrymandered grab of power," Youngkin argued. "What we're seeing is not only Republicans coming together, but independents and a lot of Democrats. So this is going to be close." Virginia is the latest battleground in the high-stakes fight between Trump and the GOP and Democrats over congressional redistricting. BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE RUNS THROUGH VIRGINIA AS COURT OKS HIGH-STAKES REDISTRICTING VOTE Aiming to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House when Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2018 midterms, Trump last spring first floated the idea of rare, but not unheard of, mid-decade congressional redistricting. The mission was simple: redraw congressional district maps in red states to pad the GOP's fragile House majority to keep control of the chamber in the midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats. When asked by reporters last summer about his plan to add Republican-leaning House seats across the country, the president said, "Texas will be the biggest one. And that’ll be five." Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas called a special session of the GOP-dominated state legislature to pass the new map. But Democratic state lawmakers, who broke quorum for two weeks as they fled Texas in a bid to delay the passage of the redistricting bill, energized Democrats across the country. Among those leading the fight against Trump's redistricting was Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. REPUBLICANS TARGET VIRGINIA GOVERNOR IN BID TO DEFEAT DEMOCRAT-BACKED REDISTRICTING California voters in November overwhelmingly passed Proposition 50, a ballot initiative that temporarily sidetracked the left-leaning state's nonpartisan redistricting commission and returned the power to draw the congressional maps to the Democratic-dominated legislature. That is expected to result in five more Democratic-leaning congressional districts in California, which aimed to counter the move by Texas to redraw their maps. The fight quickly spread beyond Texas and California. Republican-controlled Missouri and Ohio and swing state North Carolina, where the GOP dominates the legislature, have drawn new maps as part of the president's push. In blows to Republicans, a Utah district judge late last year rejected a congressional district map drawn by the state's GOP-dominated legislature and instead approved an alternate that will create a Democratic-leaning district ahead of the midterms. Republicans in Indiana's Senate in December defied Trump, shooting down a redistricting bill that had passed the state House. The showdown in the Indiana statehouse grabbed plenty of national attention. Florida is next up. Two-term Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers in the GOP-dominated legislature are hoping to pick up an additional three to five right-leaning seats through a redistricting push during a special legislative session that kicks off April 28. Hovering over the redistricting wars is the Supreme Court, which is expected to rule in Louisiana v. Callais, a crucial case that may lead to the overturning of a key provision in the Voting Rights Act. If the ruling goes the way of the conservatives on the high court, it could lead to the redrawing of a slew of majority-minority districts across the county, which would greatly favor Republicans. But it is very much up in the air when the court will rule and what it will actually decide. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68d1e059ccda1fcc08f4c Deaths from one type of cancer are surging among younger adults without college degrees te 2026-04-20T20:31:26.574Z Deaths from one type of cancer are surging among younger adults without college degrees Colorectal cancer, once considered a disease of older age, is becoming a crisis for younger adults. New research shows one group getting hit the hardest – those without a college degree. A recent study from the American Cancer Society analyzed data from over 101,000 adults aged 25 to 49 who died from colorectal cancer between 1994 and 2023. While death rates remained stable for college graduates, they climbed significantly for those without a bachelor’s degree, the findings showed. WIDESPREAD HABIT MAY RAISE COLORECTAL CANCER RISK MORE THAN YOU THINK For young adults with a high school education or less, the mortality rate rose from 4.0 to 5.2 per 100,000 people, while the rate for those with at least a bachelor’s degree stayed flat, at approximately 2.7 per 100,000. This does not mean that a degree offers some kind of biological protection, researchers cautioned. The difference is likely driven by the conditions in which people live and work, which often correlate with education levels, the researchers noted. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER The study suggests that the higher death rates are likely driven by differences in the prevalence of risk factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and diet, which are "known to be elevated among children and young adults with lower [socioeconomic status]." Because the study relied on death certificates, researchers couldn't say exactly why college graduates had better outcomes. Certificates typically list the cause of death, age, race and education level, but they do not include a person’s full medical history. RED FLAGS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER THAT WARRANT SCREENINGS BEFORE 45 YEARS OF AGE Because the researchers didn't have the patients' actual medical records, they couldn't see things like frequency of screenings or treatment options, which would impact survival outcomes. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death for men under 50 and the second leading cause for women in the same age group, according to recent statistics. Because the disease is highly treatable when caught early, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the recommended screening age from 50 to 45 in 2021. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer can include a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days, according to the American Cancer Society. Other signs that warrant seeing a doctor include blood in the stool or a persistent feeling of needing to go to the bathroom but being unable to go. The research was published in JAMA Oncology. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68d0a059ccda1fcc08f43 ‘Euphoria’ slammed as ‘fetish slop’ as backlash explodes and fans call for cancellation te 2026-04-20T20:31:06.668Z ‘Euphoria’ slammed as ‘fetish slop’ as backlash explodes and fans call for cancellation "Euphoria" fans have called for the highly anticipated show to be scrapped altogether as the first two episodes left viewers stunned. The hit HBO show ignited a wave of backlash as fans labeled the first two episodes of season three as shocking and "disturbing" content. "euphoria should've just been cancelled and over with tbh it's tiring seeing sam levinson turn the girls into worthless prostitutes for every single episode just say you hate women and pack this s----y doomed show up," a user wrote on X. "i honestly think they jus [sic] didn't know what to do with euphoria and that's why the plot was lost so bad," another user wrote. "it had so much potential and so many different story lines to dive into to keep the story true to different teenage struggles. now it's just fetish SLOP." SYDNEY SWEENEY’S ‘EUPHORIA’ RETURN SPARKS BACKLASH AS FANS SLAM ‘HUMILIATING’ STORYLINE Fans specifically took aim at Sydney Sweeney's storyline for the second week in a row. Sweeney's portrayal of Cassie Howard has focused largely on the character's desire to start an OnlyFans account in order to pay for an extravagant wedding she plans to have with fiancé Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi. "I've no words for Sydney, this scene [is] actually terrible," a user wrote about the scene where Sweeney's character poses as an "adult baby" for her OnlyFans content. Fox News Digital reached out to HBO for comment. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Last week, users were quick to claim the show's creator was "humiliating" Sweeney with the OnlyFans storyline. "Sydney Sweeney in season 3 is literally just humiliating her. I don't get how they don't see that it's not about this, her role is reduced to basically HUMILIATING HER, she's not gonna win any awards like that," one user wrote on X, before referencing a future scene. "They dress her like a baby, pretending to be a baby with a pacifier for what?" "I thought it was AI but it's real, my God, what did they do to Sydney Sweeney in the third season of Euphoria?" another added. "The way the director sexualizes all these girls for this show is very disturbing to me and like I will never watch Euphoria that being one of the main reasons," another wrote. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Others defended Sweeney, pointing out the show has always been risqué. "Girl, it's called acting," one commenter wrote in response to the user who called it a humiliation ritual. "Sydney's playing a messy character on a show that's always been wild and unhinged. If it was too much for her she wouldn't have signed on. People acting shocked like they haven't seen 'Euphoria' before lol." One user acknowledged that all of the backlash may do little to dent the show’s popularity. "the sad thing about euphoria is that we're all gonna keep watching it no matter how many f----d up fantasies sam levinson injects into the show. as long as the ratings are good HBO doesn't give a F--K," the user wrote. Premiering in 2019, "Euphoria" is the show that helped launch and solidify the careers of many cast members — including Sweeney, Elordi and Zendaya. The dark suburban teen drama has also featured more established figures like Colman Domingo, who has received two Best Actor Oscar nominations in the last few years, and the late Eric Dane. And it’s given visibility and recognition to other actors: Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow and Barbie Ferreira. Angus Cloud, another of its breakout performers, died in 2023. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68ce2059ccda1fcc08f2d Google Photos adds new touch-up tools for ‘quick’ fixes te 2026-04-20T20:30:26.291Z Google Photos adds new touch-up tools for ‘quick’ fixes You can use the new tools to remove blemishes, refine skin texture, brighten eyes, or whiten teeth in photos. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68aaf059ccda1fcc08f01 Alma & Consuelo Hernandez beat legal efforts to boot them off legislative ballot te 2026-04-20T20:21:03.473Z Alma & Consuelo Hernandez beat legal efforts to boot them off legislative ballot Photo via Getty Images Sisters and state lawmakers Alma and Consuelo Hernandez can remain on the ballot for their races for the Arizona Legislature this year. Pima County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Kuhn ruled Thursday that neither candidate should be booted from the ballot over unpaid fines related to unfiled campaign finance reports. State Rep. Alma Hernandez was facing a lawsuit seeking to disqualify her from running for the Arizona Senate from Legislative District 20 over fines stemming from her failure to file timely campaign finance reports with the state. Alma Hernandez, who has hit her term limit after serving four terms in the Arizona House of Representatives, is seeking to run for the open Arizona Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Sally Ann Gonzales. As Hernandez seeks that seat, she faces fellow Democrat Rocque Perez, who was one of two LD20 voters to file suit to pull her name from the primary ballot. The two cases were consolidated, with attorney Jim Barton, who represents LD20 voter Luz Espinoza Burruel, arguing the case on April 13. Both lawsuits noted that Alma Hernandez had racked up more than $20,000 in late fees and fines related to late or missing campaign finance reports. Barton is also representing Jessica Chalberg, who filed a lawsuit to knock state Rep. Consuelo Hernandez off the ballot alleging a similar claim regarding unpaid fines related to missing campaign finance reports. Consuelo Hernandez is seeking reelection to her House seat in Legislative District 21. She also serves on the Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board. Kuhn ruled in the cases that the Arizona Attorney General’s Office never pursued action on the matter after being alerted to the late filings by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, so the Hernandez sisters would remain on the ballot. “Because the attorney general has never issued Ms. Hernandez an appealable notice of penalty in connection with any of her candidate committees, she is not ‘liable’ for campaign finance penalties,” Kuhn wrote in her ruling in the case against Alma Hernandez. Kuhn released a similar ruling in the case against Consuelo Hernandez. Barton filed notice that he intended to appeal the rulings to the Arizona Supreme Court. Consuelo Hernandez, who did not respond to emailed questions from the Sentinel, paid $24,840 in fines after filing her nominating petitions, according to Secretary of State’s Office spokesperson Calli Jones. Besides Consuelo Hernandez, three other Democratic candidates are in the LD21 Democratic primary for the two House seats: incumbent Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton and challengers Martiza Higuera, who is running on a slate with Consuelo Hernandez, and Miranda Lopez. District 21, which leans heavily Democratic, includes neighborhoods in central Tucson south of Broadway between 4th Avenue and Pantano Road. It stretches south through Sahuarita and takes in Southern Arizona communities such as Nogales and Bisbee. Alma Hernandez said after the ruling that Perez had “chosen to misuse public resources and the time of our Superior Court for a political stunt.” “My opponent wanted to make me waste my money on political games,” she said on Facebook following the ruling. “Let’s be real: This was never about a serious case. It was about trying to remove me from the primary ballot because he knows he can’t win on the merits. It’s a tired, Trump-style playbook, distract, deflect and try to rig the field.” Alma Hernandez did not reply to a Sentinel query regarding why she had failed to file or had filed late campaign finance reports. Perez said last week that he had decided to challenge Hernandez for the state Senate seat because she will often sidestep important votes or side with Republicans on issues important to Democrats. “Over the course of almost now eight years, four terms, she’s broken with Democrats on everything from public education support – she has missed numerous votes that would have held vouchers accountable – (to bills) that would have protected trans individuals,” Perez said. “I think as we’re moving to create a majority in the House and the Senate, we can’t risk having Democrats that are not aligned with the interests of our larger party.” He said he filed the court case because he wanted to see transparency in terms of who was supporting Hernandez. “We all deserve to know who our representation is beholden to,” Perez said. Last year, Perez was appointed to the Tucson City Council after Richard Fimbres, a longtime Ward 5 councilmember, stepped down to focus on his health in May. Perez left the City Council in December when Democratic Selina Barajas was sworn into office. Perez and Hernandez both filed to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Gonzales, who has reached her four-term limit and is now running for the House of Representatives in District 20. That Democratic House primary also includes incumbent Rep. Betty Vilegas and two challengers: Genoveva Diaz, who is running as part of a slate with Hernandez and Gonzales, and rookie candidate Ben Koehler. District 20, which includes precincts on Tucson’s Downtown and West Side, leans heavily Democratic, with 47 percent of voters registered with the Democratic Party, 16 percent registered as Republicans and 37 percent not registered with either major party. In related news: • State Sen. Brian Fernandez overcame a legal effort to remove him from the ballot. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John L. Blanchard ruled Thursday that plaintiff Wendy Jonessee had “failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the candidate submitted fewer than the 474 valid signatures required by law.” Fernandez represents Legislative District 23, which includes precincts in Yuma, Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties. • Ryan Slawson, who hoped to challenge Republican Gail Griffin in GOP-leaning Legislative District 19, was booted from the ballot after a lawsuit challenged his candidacy. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dewain D. Fox ruled on April 14 that a review of Slawson’s nominating petitions showed he came up short by one signature for the required 429 valid signatures. • Justice of the Peace David Miller, who was appointed to the Precinct 6 seat in 2025, failed in his effort to knock his primary challenger, Morgan Miholich, from the ballot. Pima County Superior Court Judge Brenden J. Griffin dismissed the case on technical grounds, saying the Miller had failed to properly serve Pima County Elections Director Constance Hargrove with the lawsuit. Miholich applied for the job last year but was passed over by the Pima County Board of Supervisors in favor of Miller. Miller alleged in his lawsuit that Miholich had stated at the top of her nominating petitions that the signers were residents of Legislative District 18, but the justice precinct stretches across multiple legislative districts and not all of those who signed her petitions lived in LD18. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68a99059ccda1fcc08ee0 Reporter's Notebook: House chaos sparks emergency FISA extension te 2026-04-20T20:20:41.786Z Reporter's Notebook: House chaos sparks emergency FISA extension "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today," said Ben Franklin. If sloganeering was left to Congress, the motto might read, "Never do today what you can leave till tomorrow." That is emblematic of the recent scramble on Capitol Hill to renew the key terrorism prevention program known as FISA Section 702. Congress faced a deadline to re-up the program before 11:59:59 p.m. ET on April 20. Lawmakers fretted that it was risky to let the program expire. They worried that the U.S. may be vulnerable to a terrorist attack because of the war with Iran. President Donald Trump insisted that Republicans "UNIFY, and vote together" to pass an 18-month extension of FISA without any add-ons. The president argued that the FISA program was among "the reasons we have had such tremendous SUCCESS on the battlefield." So the House GOP brass planned to pass the 18-month FISA reauthorization last Wednesday. But it’s about the math. An eclectic alliance of Democrats and Republicans both supported and opposed the bill. Either way, the measure lacked the votes to pass. "The coalitions around FISA have traditionally been kind of scrambled," said Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif. So despite the promise of a late-night vote Wednesday, the House GOP brain trust punted until Thursday as they scrambled to find the votes and prevent FISA from going offline. "FISA will not go dark. We have a little slight delay. We're working through and building consensus as we do on all difficult issues, and we'll get there. We'll get it done," promised House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. CONSERVATIVE FISA REVOLT POSES FRESH TEST FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON Some Republicans balked at the 18-month extension. "I want warrants to surveil American citizens. And the Fourth Amendment is not for sale. I don't want our federal government buying data from private companies on American citizens," said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. FISA is designed to reap foreign intelligence data, but it sometimes vacuums up the telephone communications of Americans — and even documents their locations. Tapping so much metadata is what led to the government trying to tie Trump to Russian interference during the 2016 election cycle. But despite his past opposition, the president did an about-face and demanded passage of this FISA measure. "The President of the United States has said, ‘This is what I want, this is what I need.’ And there are rank-and-file Republicans bucking him," I pointed out to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark. "Well, it's a little bit surprising," replied Crawford, since most congressional Republicans routinely line up behind Trump. "I think I think maybe the president's a little bit surprised by that, too." One Trump ally says if the bill is good enough for the president, it should be good enough for House Republicans. "This program is critical. It helped us with the operation in Venezuela. It's certainly helping us with the operation going on in Iran as we speak," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. SENATE COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON CONTROVERSIAL SURVEILLANCE TOOL SET TO EXPIRE UNLESS CONGRESS REAUTHORIZES But to some Republicans, entreaties by the president don’t matter on this bill. "Look, he's [President Trump], the executive [branch]. We're the legislative [branch], and we're going to see a little bit of conflict between those two today," said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. But as we said, support or opposition for FISA doesn’t break along party lines. Dozens of Democrats are leery about letting the program go dark. "This is our single most important collection authority," said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. "If we just go dark on that stuff, a lot of people are going to get hurt. And that's why we just can't let it expire." But even if the House passed the bill, it still needed to align with the Senate. Alarms were sounding around the Capitol as the Monday night deadline loomed. So the daylight came and went last Thursday without action on the FISA bill as the deadline approached this week. Yours truly chased down Johnson in Statuary Hall of the Capitol. "You’re going to try to move this on the floor tonight?" I asked the speaker about FISA. "I am. It will be late tonight, but we’ll get it done," replied Johnson. Fox was told that House Republicans would have an attendance problem on Friday. Some members of the Arizona delegation wanted to head to the Grand Canyon State for Trump’s speech there. Plus, waiting until this week wouldn’t give the Senate much turning radius to align with the House. JOHNSON FACES GOP REVOLT OVER WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE POWERS AHEAD OF KEY VOTE "And the concern is that you have to get it done today because you might lose some people tomorrow, and the Senate doesn’t come back until Monday and that’s right up against the deadline?" I continued. "A bird in hand is worth several in the bush. I’ve got them all here and I need to get it done," answered Johnson. A group of bipartisan lawmakers say an extension is essential to guard against terrorism. Especially as the U.S. fights with Iran. "My concerns are significant because FISA is the single most important national security asset we have in the intelligence field," said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, a member of the Intelligence Committee. "If you want to blind the United States intelligence community and the military, this is a perfect way to do it," added Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. But regardless of risks, FISA skeptics demand reforms like warrants and criminal prosecutions for alleged abuses. "We’re always threatened that there's something very bad is going to happen and people will die if we don't reauthorize (FISA Section) 702," said Boebert. CONSERVATIVE FISA REVOLT POSES FRESH TEST FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON But there was concern that even if the House passed something, the Senate wouldn’t have the availability to sync up until Monday. Most senators left Washington for the week on Thursday afternoon. Such a scenario would potentially give the Senate a few hours to align with the House when senators returned to Washington Monday, just hours before the deadline. "Is that responsible by the Senate to leave?" I asked Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. "Well, there's no reason to stay if we're not going to have votes," replied Kennedy. By nightfall, everyone watched to see if Johnson could make good on his promise of passing the 18-month extension. But not long before 11 p.m. ET, the House lurched from that plan to a five-year reauthorization. The House blocked that plan. Then backpedaled and adopted an emergency bill to salvage FISA for a scant 13 days. "What was Churchill's line? ‘Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others?’ So sometimes it gets kind of messy when you're trying to craft together an agreement," said Jordan. Democrats were appalled at the nocturnal whiplash. "Are you kidding me? Who the hell is running this place?," asked an incensed Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, on the floor. "Republicans threw it together on the back of a napkin in a back room in the middle of the night." SENATE TEMPORARILY EXTENDS NATION’S CONTROVERSIAL SPYING POWERS AFTER HOUSE FUMBLES Staunch conservatives argued for muscular spy powers. "Failing to reauthorize this statutory authority would be a massive setback, and one that our adversaries would exploit immediately," said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. And liberals worried about government overreach. "There have been so many abuses lately. And this is only going to grow with artificial intelligence," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Intelligence panel. So congressional leaders are trying to strike a balance. "What we're trying to do is thread the needle of ensuring that we have this essential tool to keep Americans safe but also safeguard constitutional rights," said Johnson. FISA skeptics insist on warrants. "We just want to make sure that the guardrails are there," said Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., who voted to block the five-year extension early Friday. So the House passed the Band-Aid bill by unanimous consent around early Friday morning. The Senate cleared the same package by unanimous consent later the same morning. Wyden came to the floor Friday morning but didn’t object. The Oregon Democrat believes it would be harder to impose reforms had FISA lapsed. So he’s willing to keep it going, for now. However, Wyden made clear that he expected to see reforms between now and the new deadline. Otherwise, he might stand in the way next time. Another punt. Another new deadline. More parliamentary procrastination. And at the rate Congress is going these days, if they didn’t delay issues, they might not have anything to show for their efforts at all. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6886f059ccda1fcc08e9b Mohave College expands youth STEM offerings with Chemistry in Action program te 2026-04-20T20:11:27.135Z Mohave College expands youth STEM offerings with Chemistry in Action program Mohave College is pitching chemistry as something students can touch, test and see. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68856059ccda1fcc08e78 Bill Maher admits he respects Trump for seeing him as rival, trying to block his award te 2026-04-20T20:11:02.804Z Bill Maher admits he respects Trump for seeing him as rival, trying to block his award Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher said on Monday that he was somewhat honored by President Donald Trump taking his rivalry with him so seriously that he made an attempt to prevent him from getting an award. Maher was selected to receive the 2026 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Trump-Kennedy Center — one of the top honors in comedy. The Trump-Kennedy Center, formerly the Kennedy Center, has generated controversy over the president's influence over the institution. Maher noted on his "Club Random" podcast that he will be accepting the award on June 28 "unless Trump f---s it up again, which is completely possible." "I loved it that they tried to block it," Maher said, referring to reports the Trump administration tried to prevent him from receiving the award. "And, of course, I think he absolutely still could if he wanted to. So, I’m just thankful." BILL MAHER CALLS OUT TRUMP'S 'BULLS---' TRUTH SOCIAL POST ATTACKING HIM He offered backhanded praise for the move, appearing to say he respected the hostility as a kind of honor. "I love that, you know, he takes the game seriously. Like no, ‘I’m going to block this guy.’ I respect the move," Maher said. "But I know that on June 28th, it's going to happen. We're going to be at the Kennedy Center, and I couldn't be more appreciative, honestly." The White House previously denied that Maher would be receiving the award, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt responding to an initial report by saying, "This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award." A Trump administration official later told Fox News Digital, "This was false reporting at the time of The Atlantic’s reporting, but the situation changed after further conversations took place between the Trump-Kennedy Center and event organizers over the past week." KENNEDY CENTER BLASTS ‘FAR-LEFT BIAS’ IN RATINGS COVERAGE, POINTS TO NO. 1 DEMOGRAPHICS TIE "Isn't it nice Trump's allowing you in? Your buddy?" Maher’s guest, Woody Harrelson, quipped sarcastically. He appeared to be acknowledging Maher and Trump’s rocky relationship. Trump had invited the liberal comedian to the White House for a dinner last year, something for which Maher took significant heat. However, in the following months, Trump blasted Maher for his occasional criticism of his policies. While Trump initially seemed friendly at their dinner together, he later criticized Maher’s manners. "Sometimes in life you waste time! T.V. Host Bill Maher asked to have dinner with me through one of his friends, also a friend of mine, and I agreed," wrote Trump. "He was extremely nervous, had ZERO confidence in himself and, to soothe his nerves, immediately, within seconds, asked for a ‘Vodka Tonic.'" CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Maher has jokingly referred to Trump's outrage since their dinner together as "Bill Maher derangement syndrome." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and did not receive immediate reply. Fox News' Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68843059ccda1fcc08e6f Bishop Barron slams ‘absurd’ Trump-Pope ‘war’ narrative te 2026-04-20T20:10:43.179Z Bishop Barron slams ‘absurd’ Trump-Pope ‘war’ narrative Bishop Robert Barron took to X on Monday to call out the media for exacerbating what he described as an "absurd" narrative of a "war" between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over disagreements related to Iran. "There is a way past the absurd and deeply divisive ‘war’ between the President and the Pope, which has been enthusiastically ginned up by the press," Barron said in a Monday post on X. "And it is indicated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2309 to be precise. After laying out the various criteria for determining a just war—proportionality, last resort, declaration by a competent authority, reasonable hope of success, etc.—the Catechism points out that ‘the evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.’" Barron added, "The assumption is that the just war principles function, to use the technical term, as heuristic devices, designed to guide the practical decision-making of those civil authorities who have to adjudicate matters of war and peace." VANCE SAYS HE'S 'GRATEFUL' FOR POPE LEO'S STATEMENT ON NOT WANTING PUBLIC DEBATE WITH TRUMP He then continued, saying that it is not the role of the Church to determine whether a war is just. "The role of the Church, therefore, is to call for peace and to urge that any conflict be strictly circumscribed by the moral constraints of the just war criteria," Barron said. "But it is not the role of the Church to evaluate whether a particular war is just or unjust. That appraisal belongs to the civil authorities, who, one presumes, have requisite knowledge of conditions on the ground." He continued by laying out a series of questions to be considered, including, "Is the war in question truly the last resort? Is there really a balance between the good to be attained and the destruction caused by the war? Are combatants and non-combatants being properly distinguished in the waging of the conflict? Do the belligerents have right intention? Is there a reasonable hope of success? The posing of those questions—indeed the insistence upon their moral relevance—belongs rightly to the Church, but the answering of them belongs to the civil authorities."  Last Sunday, Trump accused Pope Leo XIV of being "terrible" on foreign policy after the pope called out the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. POPE LEO CALLS OUT 'DELUSION OF OMNIPOTENCE' FUELING IRAN WAR IN VIGIL FOR PEACE AT ST PETER'S BASILICA "He talks about 'fear' of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.  "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon." On Saturday, Pope Leo said remarks he gave stating that the "world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants" were not targeted toward Trump. POPE LEO SAYS HE'S UNAFRAID OF THE TRUMP ADMIN AFTER PRESIDENT CALLS HIM 'TERRIBLE' ON FOREIGN POLICY Speaking on a flight to Angola for his 10-day tour of Africa, Pope Leo XIV said media coverage of remarks "has not been ‌accurate in all its aspects" and that his speech "was ⁠prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting," according to Reuters. Last week, Barron said that Trump owes Pope Leo an apology after Trump posted his scathing message about Leo in a Truth Social post.  "The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful," Barron said in an X post. "They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree." Barron concluded his Monday X post by emphasizing that popes are not politicians. "The Pope has said, on numerous occasions, that he is not a politician and that his role is not the determination of any nation's foreign policy," Barron said. "But he has just as clearly said that he will continue to speak for peace and for moral constraint. In making both of these claims, he is operating perfectly within the framework of paragraph 2309 of the Catechism. If we understand that the Pope and the President have qualitatively different roles to play in the determination of moral action in regard to war, we can, I hope, extricate ourselves from the completely unhelpful narrative of ‘Pope vs. President.’"  Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6863f059ccda1fcc08dd4 LOCAL ROUNDUP: Flagstaff girls tennis earns sweep of Raymond S. Kellis te 2026-04-20T20:02:07.673Z LOCAL ROUNDUP: Flagstaff girls tennis earns sweep of Raymond S. Kellis A look at how local teams have fared recently. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6862b059ccda1fcc08dcb NAU ROUNDUP: Lizzie Neale named golfer of year ahead of conference championships te 2026-04-20T20:01:47.705Z NAU ROUNDUP: Lizzie Neale named golfer of year ahead of conference championships A look at news and results from NAU. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68617059ccda1fcc08dc2 Testimony of petition signers keeps Aslan on the ballot for Flagstaff City Council's July primary te 2026-04-20T20:01:27.445Z Testimony of petition signers keeps Aslan on the ballot for Flagstaff City Council's July primary Two of the petition signers appeared telephonically to verify they signed the incumbent's petition. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68603059ccda1fcc08db9 HCH Pet of the Week: Delilah te 2026-04-20T20:01:07.690Z HCH Pet of the Week: Delilah Meet Delilah! This sweet pittie is having a tough time at the shelter. She would LOVE a foster or forever home! Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e685ec059ccda1fcc08d95 Mob of teens chases college student into campus dorm, unleashes violent attack as police hunt suspects te 2026-04-20T20:00:44.912Z Mob of teens chases college student into campus dorm, unleashes violent attack as police hunt suspects Pennsylvania authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying a violent mob of teens accused of chasing a college student into a campus residence hall and attacking them over the weekend.  The incident unfolded around 2:50 a.m. Sunday, when a group of juveniles allegedly chased a Temple University student into the lobby of Morgan Hall South, according to the Temple University Police Department. Once inside, the group allegedly began attacking the student, striking them while also damaging university property, authorities said.  FRAT HOUSE TURNS INTO CRIME SCENE AFTER MEMBER ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTS WOMAN, POLICE SAY "It puts the threat actually into perspective because, especially knowing as a college student, your main priority is education, not really safety, but this happening is a little bit more in the forefront," sophomore Emanuel Turner told ABC 6. GOT A TIP? The student sustained minor injuries and declined medical treatment at the scene.  Campus authorities have since released images of the suspects in hopes of tracking down those responsible for the alleged assault. FOLLOW US ON X The surveillance images show a group of nine individuals – some wearing hoodies and facial coverings – walking on a sidewalk, with some of the suspects’ faces visible to the camera.  Authorities have not revealed what led up to the alleged incident and no arrests have been made. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS Additionally, the Philadelphia Police Department and the School District of Philadelphia are assisting Temple University authorities with the search for the suspects, officials said.  Temple University boasts an enrollment of roughly 30,000 students and is located in the heart of Philadelphia, according to the school’s website. Morgan Hall houses approximately 1,200 students and serves as a key residential hall for the school. Temple University did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.  Authorities are asking anyone who believes they may have information regarding the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department by calling (215)-686-TIPS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e683cf059ccda1fcc08d2b China-linked route exposed after US seizes Iran-bound ship with suspected dual-use cargo te 2026-04-20T19:51:43.186Z China-linked route exposed after US seizes Iran-bound ship with suspected dual-use cargo An Iranian-flagged cargo ship recently seized by U.S. forces had recently traveled through Chinese ports, spotlighting a supply route now under scrutiny as officials probe suspected dual-use cargo aboard the vessel. The vessel, Touska, remains in U.S. custody as American forces continue inspecting what maritime security sources told Reuters is likely "dual-use" cargo — materials that can serve both civilian and military purposes — following a voyage from Asia. Shipping data shows the Touska made multiple recent stops in Zhuhai, a major port in southern China, before transiting through Southeast Asia and heading toward Iran — part of a pathway analysts say has helped Iran sustain trade flows despite U.S. pressure. The seizure comes as part of a broader U.S. effort to enforce a naval blockade on Iran aimed at pressuring Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. LISA DAFTARI: HORMUZ WHIPLASH PROVES TEHRAN CAN'T HONOR ANY DEAL IT SIGNS The ship had last docked in Port Klang, Malaysia, April 12 and was en route to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas when it was intercepted, a U.S. official told Fox News. The Touska was seized in the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, as it was approaching Iranian waters Sunday.  Analysts say attempting to transit amid an active U.S. naval presence suggests the cargo may have been a priority.  "It tried to run the blockade, which seems like a particularly foolish thing to do … which would seem to indicate that there was something aboard that ship that they really perhaps needed in Iran," said Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency initiative, told Fox News Digital.  Powell said the vessel’s route through Malaysia is notable, describing waters near the Singapore Strait as "infamous for ship-to-ship transfers" due to relatively weak enforcement — a tactic that can make cargo movements harder to trace. He added that the ship’s stops in China raise questions about the origin of its cargo, though what was on board remains unknown. The Touska’s port calls in China come amid prior reporting identifying shipments of dual-use materials from Chinese ports to Iran, though there is no public evidence tying this vessel’s cargo to any specific supplier. China on Monday criticized the interception, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warning the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains "sensitive and complex," signaling potential diplomatic friction as attention grows around trade routes linking Chinese ports to Iran. U.S. forces intercepted the vessel after it ignored repeated warnings to stop, according to U.S. Central Command. The Touska was warned for roughly six hours that it was violating the blockade before the guided-missile destroyer Spruance ordered the crew to evacuate the engine room and fired several rounds into that section of the ship, disabling its propulsion.  U.S. Marines then boarded the vessel and took control without reported resistance. The Strait of Hormuz blockade, announced after negotiations with Iran broke down, targets vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and is designed to cut off maritime trade while avoiding direct strikes on Iranian territory. It is part of a wider military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, launched in late February following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The operation has focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities while using economic pressure to force concessions at the negotiating table. The strategy has unfolded alongside a fragile ceasefire, brokered through talks involving Pakistan, which is set to expire later this week. U.S. officials had hoped the pressure campaign — including the blockade — would push Iran toward reopening the strait and advancing broader negotiations. But the interception of the Touska has underscored how quickly tensions can escalate, raising new questions about whether the ceasefire will hold and whether maritime enforcement actions could derail ongoing diplomatic efforts. China, which has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict and maintains deep economic ties with Iran, has already signaled concern over the seizure, warning that such actions could complicate efforts to stabilize the region and reopen key shipping routes. The Chinese embassy could not immediately be reached for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e683bb059ccda1fcc08d22 DC police lieutenant celebrated as first gay union boss accused of soliciting underage boy te 2026-04-20T19:51:23.067Z DC police lieutenant celebrated as first gay union boss accused of soliciting underage boy A veteran Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer and former head of a D.C. police union has been arrested in what authorities described as a "disturbing" child exploitation case, MPD told Fox News Digital.  Lt. Matthew Mahl, 47, who previously made history as the first openly gay chairman of the police union, allegedly exchanged text messages with an undercover Maryland detective posing as a 15-year-old boy, according to charging documents.  The allegations mark a stunning fall for the longtime law enforcement officer, a 23-year veteran who had held a prominent leadership role within the department’s labor ranks and oversaw security for major events across D.C., including presidential escort details. "The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast to the values of the Metropolitan Police Department," the department said. ATHENA STRAND’S KILLER SEARCHED ‘MISSING GIRL,’ FEDEX TRUCK CAMERAS AFTER KIDNAPPING, EXPERT TESTIFIES The Harford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) arrested Mahl last Tuesday in Maryland, MPD said. The D.C. police officer has been charged with solicitation of sex from a minor and solicitation of child pornography, according to documents filed under the District Court of Maryland for Harford County.  Mahl allegedly connected with a social media user he believed to be a 15-year-old boy in a Reddit community titled "r/GayYoungOldDating." However, the user was, in fact, an undercover detective with the HCSO, documents said.  FLORIDA TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEX WITH STUDENT WHOSE PARENTS TRACKED HIS LOCATION Over the course of several weeks, the veteran officer allegedly exchanged a series of messages that became increasingly intimate and sexually explicit.  Mahl allegedly sent inappropriate photos of himself in uniform and while inside his police office. He also allegedly requested sexually graphic photos from the purported boy. In addition, Mahl allegedly made multiple statements indicating he was aware of the age difference between himself and the user, acknowledging that the individual was a "child" and stating he could not wait until the boy turned 16 years old, the age of consent. The officer was ultimately taken into custody during an arranged after-school meetup with the boy in Harford County last week.  MPD said Mahl has since been placed on administrative leave and his police powers have been revoked as the investigation continues. The department added that it is not involved in the criminal investigation and was not aware of the probe that led to Mahl’s arrest. Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed the matter during a press conference last Wednesday, saying she was not aware of the allegations but confirmed that he has been placed on administrative leave. "We don't have any knowledge of any accusation or any investigation involving the District, his employment or any of our children, and I don't really know what else to say," she said. "We don't want anybody like that on our force if those allegations are true."  Mahl has reportedly been ordered held without bond pending his next preliminary hearing, scheduled for next month, according to NBC 4. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e683a7059ccda1fcc08d19 Spanberger faces ‘bait-and-switch’ backlash in final hours before redistricting referendum te 2026-04-20T19:51:03.507Z Spanberger faces ‘bait-and-switch’ backlash in final hours before redistricting referendum Opponents of Virginia Democrats’ redistricting referendum are accusing Gov. Abigail Spanberger of a "bait and switch," pointing to her campaign-trail pledge of "no plans" to redraw the state's congressional map ahead of Tuesday’s vote. Former Virginia Govs. George Allen and Glenn Youngkin, along with a slew of top conservatives, have opposed the effort, which would redraw the commonwealth’s 6-5 Democratic map to a 10-1 map crafted by Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and backed by Spanberger. "Behold the great bait and switch," Del. Michael Webert, R-Fauquier, said, sharing a screenshot of October reporting highlighting Spanberger’s apparent pledge not to support what she now is vocally behind. "Vote No," said Webert, whose district forms a boundary between the Washington, D.C., suburbs set to accrue political power if the referendum passes and the hundreds of miles of rural expanse south and west that are poised to lose their voice. SOROS-BACKED GROUP AMONG LIBERAL ORGS PUMPING EYE-POPPING CASH INTO VIRGINIA GERRYMANDERING EFFORT The latter is a major concern for U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, a Botetourt Republican whose district runs from Roanoke to the northernmost West Virginia line at Berryville along the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley, which Cline said stand to lose their otherwise homogenous voice in Washington. Cline told Fox News Digital how Spanberger was previously a colleague on the House Agriculture Committee and "loved to talk about her connection to Virginia agriculture." "My district is currently the most agriculture-based district in Virginia and she has chopped it into five different districts and parceled it out to Northern Virginia Democrats to use to make their numbers work," he said, adding that the referendum is offensive to Virginia farmers in particular. In separate comments to "Ruthless", Cline expounded on that point, saying the people of his current district stand to lose their voice because they will be split into five "spaghetti strands" originating from Arlington and Fairfax. "But we're optimistic we're going to be able to stop the governor in her tracks," he said. OBAMA URGES VIRGINIANS TO VOTE YES ON REDISTRICTING MEASURE THAT COULD GIVE DEMOCRATS 4 MORE HOUSE SEATS "They’ve pulled her ad from even running, yeah, because she's so unpopular," he said. Spanberger had been featured in a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign encouraging voters to support the redistricting referendum, but the Virginia Scope reported that ad was recently pulled from circulation. "[The situation] slid south for her and that’s what happens when you play bait-and-switch with the voters," Cline said. However, the Vote YES campaign denied Cline’s characterization in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This is false," the campaign said. "We’re running a strong statewide campaign featuring a range of voices — including Governor Spanberger. This election is about stopping Trump’s power grab and leveling the playing field — and that’s exactly what a YES vote does." In his remarks to "Ruthless," Cline also cited the fact several Fairfax-area Democrats are already launching bids for the yet-unconfirmed "lobster"-shaped redrawn seat that is the most prominent slice of his district. VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN SAYS SPANBERGER WANTS TO 'TURN US INTO NEW ENGLAND' "I didn’t think Dan Helmer could find Shenandoah Valley on a map, but yet he’s going to be campaigning and asking for votes [here]," he said of the far-left delegate from Fairfax who helped spearhead the redistricting effort itself. Helmer, a combat veteran, also crafted the commonwealth’s sweeping gun control bill lambasted as a "gun grab." "You have a leader in the Virginia House of Delegates, on the Democratic side, who crafts maps for his benefit… They’re enacting laws to help them get elected to Congress, not enacting laws to help Virginians get ahead" Del. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke, told the Virginia Mercury of Helmer’s position. When asked about Cline and others criticizing his decision to run in the redistricted district, Helmer told Fox News Digital that as the Virginia House Democrats’ campaign chair, he already succeeded in such rural areas. "I've campaigned in every corner of this district — from Rockingham to Louisa, Arlington to Powhatan. Because of those efforts, 14 MAGA Republicans [in the state legislature] are now unemployed and doom scrolling LinkedIn instead of harming Virginia families — and this November, we're going to add Ben Cline to that list," Helmer said. Several other Democrats including former first lady Dorothy McAuliffe and JP Cooney — an ex-aide to Jack Smith — are also running there. Turning to the new maps, only Rep. Morgan Griffith’s district stands to remain Republican. House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, represents much of that district in Richmond and has joined barnstorming efforts by Youngkin and former Attorney General Jason Miyares across his far southwestern district. Youngkin’s 2021 victory was pegged in-part to Republicans running up the score in albeit sparsely populated counties like Wise, Scott, Dickenson and Lee, and the same strategy appeared afoot in the closing weeks of early voting. DAVID MARCUS: RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND SET TO STEAL THE VOTES OF RURAL VIRGI In Dickenson County, home to late music legend Ralph Stanley, Kilgore recently joined local leaders to call for a surge to the polls. "We just want everybody to vote ‘No’," he said, as state Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Bristol, reported 500 people had already early voted in the sparse county that day. "We can win this," Kilgore said. "We do not want Fairfax County controlling our congressional districts and we want to protect rural Virginia." At the other end of the commonwealth, where another rural region is set to be sliced up and attached to Fairfax, Rep. Rob Wittman of the Northern Neck echoed concerns similar to Cline’s. "Governor Spanberger said it clearly: ‘I have no plans to redistrict Virginia’. But now, Richmond politicians are pushing a referendum to do exactly that—redraw congressional maps in the middle of the decade," Wittman said. "A 10-1 map would erase millions of voices – that's not representation; that's partisan gerrymandering," he said. Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley — who issued an injunction against the referendum until the state Supreme Court stepped in — also led criticism of the term "restore fairness" being used on the ballot as the official description of what voting yes would do. Hurley said the language was unconstitutionally misleading and that "[it] would lead a voter to believe he or she were doing something unfair by voting against the proposed amendment." While the higher court mooted whether the election could move forward, filings from plaintiffs and defendants on the merits of the case are due Thursday – when the bench will ultimately decide whether to undo any prospective passage of the referendum. Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger, Helmer and Virginians for Fair Elections for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6837d059ccda1fcc08cea Amid power struggle, Maricopa County officials hurl unsubstantiated claims of voter disenfranchisement te 2026-04-20T19:50:21.808Z Amid power struggle, Maricopa County officials hurl unsubstantiated claims of voter disenfranchisement Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e68126059ccda1fcc08c8d It’s not just one thing — it’s another thing te 2026-04-20T19:40:22.260Z It’s not just one thing — it’s another thing This sentence construction ("It's not just this — it's that") has become so common in AI-generated writing that it's no longer just a clue that a piece of writing may be synthetic — it's almost a guarantee. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67ef9059ccda1fcc08c4a PGA Tour CEO addresses LIV Golf's uncertain future, players potentially returning te 2026-04-20T19:31:05.740Z PGA Tour CEO addresses LIV Golf's uncertain future, players potentially returning PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has addressed the reports and rumors involving LIV Golf's future, or potential lack thereof, with a straightforward message about where the Tour's priorities lie amid uncertain times. Last week, it was widely reported that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) was preparing to cut off its funding of LIV Golf after announcing a five-year investment strategy focused on reprioritizing spending. With the Saudis being the sole funders of the breakaway golf circuit, a stoppage of funds would, in all likelihood, end the current iteration of LIV Golf. LIV GOLF'S END MAY BE IMMINENT AFTER REPORT SIGNALS SAUDI ARABIA IS PREPARING TO CUT OFF FUNDING LIV Golf Mexico went on as scheduled over the weekend amid the very loud rumors. Two-time major champion Jon Rahm won the event, and on Sunday, LIV formally announced it would be returning to Mexico in 2027 at a currently unspecified date. Rolapp, the former Executive Vice President of NFL Media, joined Monday's edition of 'The Pat McAfee Show' on ESPN and was transparent while sharing his thoughts about the reports and rumors involving LIV Golf. BRYSON DECHAMBEAU CALLS OUT LIV GOLF MEXICO CITY COURSE CONDITIONS AMID FUNDING CONCERNS Most notably, Rolapp admitted that the PGA Tour is thinking about potential pathways back for players who left the Tour to join the Saudi-backed league. "I think we're thinking about it," Rolapp said when asked about players potentially returning. "Listen, we're reading all the same headlines you're reading, we don't know what's going on over there [at LIV Golf]. We know that those guys are under contract, we'll respect that. "Brooks [Koepka] came back onto the Tour because he made a phone call and said, 'Look, I'm out of my contract, I'm ready to come back.' So, we're thinking about it, and we'll react when we have an opportunity to react, but right now we're focused on making the PGA Tour better. I've said it publicly, and I'll say it again, I'm interested in making whatever makes the PGA Tour better. That's what my job is, that's what I'm interested in doing, and that has no limit." Koepka, a five-time major winner, returned to the PGA Tour at the start of 2026 after joining LIV Golf in June 2022. He did so via the Tour's 'Returning Member Program,' made only accessible to previous Tour members who have won The Players or a major championship between 2022 and 2025. MATT FITZPATRICK HAS PERFECT RESPONSE TO USA RYDER CUP FANS AFTER PGA TOUR V Koepka agreed to make a $5 million charitable contribution upon his return to the Tour. He also agreed to include a five-year forfeiture of potential equity in the PGA Tour's Player Equity Program, which estimates his potential losses to be approximately $50-$85 million. Koepka will also not receive any FedEx Cup bonus payment in 2026. Patrick Reed also left LIV Golf in early 2026 to seek a return to the PGA Tour. The former Masters champion is serving a one-year suspension that will end in August and is well on his way to earning back his PGA Tour card for 2027 with a pair of wins earlier this year on the DP World Tour. Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Cameron Smith, and Rahm remain the most high-profile players competing on LIV Golf, and their return to the PGA Tour would undoubtedly fit into Rolapp's focus of making the PGA Tour better. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67ed0059ccda1fcc08c1d Employers trust them in their homes. But can immigrant nannies & cleaners trust their employers? te 2026-04-20T19:30:24.144Z Employers trust them in their homes. But can immigrant nannies & cleaners trust their employers? Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67a83059ccda1fcc08b7f Killer undone by decades-old threads — glove, towel and shirt stitch together cold case justice te 2026-04-20T19:12:03.179Z Killer undone by decades-old threads — glove, towel and shirt stitch together cold case justice A man who got away with rape and murder for nearly four decades will now spend the rest of his life behind bars after investigators used a covert DNA sample, collected with help from the FBI, to finally identify him. A Santa Barbara County judge sentenced Aloysius Winthrop James, 59, to life without the possibility of parole, the maximum sentence allowed by law.  A jury had already convicted him in February of first-degree murder in the killing of 30-year-old Ofelia Sandoval, with the special circumstance that the murder was committed during a rape. Sandoval was killed on Sept. 18, 1988, in Santa Maria. She was found strangled to death, and despite what authorities described as an extensive investigation at the time, the case went cold the following year. REALTOR'S COLD CASE MURDER FINALLY SOLVED AFTER 15 YEARS, POLICE SAY For decades, it stayed that way. "For nearly four decades, the 1988 murder of Ofelia Sandoval remained unsolved. This past week, justice was delivered," the FBI said. The break didn’t come until years later, as DNA technology advanced. In the early 2000s, investigators developed a DNA profile from evidence collected in Sandoval’s room, but it didn’t match anyone in national databases. MAN SENTENCED FOR STRANGLING MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE STUDENT TO DEATH WITH TANK TOP IN COLD CASE KILLING Investigators said DNA evidence ultimately became the key to solving the case. According to Cal Coast News, evidence collected in 1988 included DNA found on a towel and shirt near Sandoval’s body. When that evidence was tested years later, it did not match anyone in law enforcement databases at the time. That’s when the FBI partnered with Santa Maria police to obtain a covert DNA sample from James. As the case was revisited, investigators later obtained DNA linked to James, including from a glove he discarded, which ultimately matched the profile developed from the original evidence, authorities said, Cal Coast News reported. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X James was arrested in Georgia in April 2024. A jury ultimately found him guilty. "A jury in California convicted Aloysius Winthrop James of first-degree murder in this long-running cold case — a breakthrough made possible in part by the work of the FBI in Atlanta collecting a covert DNA sample," the FBI said. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER During the investigation and again after his arrest, James denied having any contact with Sandoval, according to Cal Coast News. But at trial, he admitted the two had sex, while claiming he initially lied because his father was a pastor. His attorney argued the DNA evidence did not prove he committed the murder. SEND US A TIP HERE Now, investigators believe there could be more victims. "Investigators believe there may be additional victims connected to James involving threats, sexual assault, domestic abuse, or other crimes," the FBI said, urging anyone with information to contact the Santa Maria Police Department. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch called the sentencing "the culmination of almost 38 years of work," and said it marks the beginning of "some sense of closure" for Sandoval’s family. That closure has been a long time coming. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB According to prosecutors, four generations of Sandoval’s family supported the case over the years. In court, her children spoke about the lasting impact of her death. "The bravery, dedication, and resilience of Ofelia’s three children, Marcelino, Maricela and Alex, is truly remarkable," the DA’s office said. Fox News Digital reached out to James' lawyer for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67a6f059ccda1fcc08b76 Aaron Rodgers is training but Steelers voluntary minicamp without certainty about QB te 2026-04-20T19:11:43.621Z Aaron Rodgers is training but Steelers voluntary minicamp without certainty about QB Aaron Rodgers, still deciding whether he’ll play in the 2026 season, has been working out to stay in shape likely in preparation for the season, per a source, and that seems like good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers because the NFL team is holding a spot for him as their starting quarterback. But here’s the sobering news for the club: Rodgers, who has been speaking regularly with Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, has not yet definitively committed to playing in 2026 for the Steelers. Or anyone else. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "We’ve had some great communication with Aaron and nothing’s changed, but it’s always positive and good," General manager Omar Khan said Monday. "I said this to you guys in March when we met, he knows how we feel about him and we know how he feels about us." STEELERS LEGEND LOSES PATIENCE WITH LATEST CHAPTER IN AARON RODGERS SAGA: 'THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD' Now searching for that sentence in which Khan says Rodgers is definitely playing for the Steelers .... Nope, not there. The best way to describe the affinity each party "feels" currently is a long-distance romance because Rodgers has been traveling and not in Pittsburgh, while the Steelers on Monday opened a voluntary minicamp where Rodgers was not present. Second-year quarterback Will Howard was expected to take a majority of the first-team repetitions with the offense during the camp that runs until Wednesday. And suddenly the excitement that Rodgers would possibly make his commitment to the Steelers at the NFL draft, which is being held in Pittsburgh starting on Thursday evening, is losing steam. It should be noted it was the Steelers who led everyone to believe a Rodgers decision could be made by this week. Club owner Art Rooney II told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at the NFL annual meetings that he expected certainty by now. Steelers ownership hopes for clarity on Aaron Rodgers’ future 'in the next month or so' "I expect we’ll get an answer before the draft," Rooney said. Khan, noting that Rodgers took until June to certify his decision to play the 2025 season for the Steelers, said at the NFL Combine in February that the process would not be so drawn out this year. "I think neither side wants to have this drag on like it did last year," Khan said. And yet, here we are. Rodgers, by the way, has two choices to pick from: Play for the Steelers. Or retire. There is no option C because the only NFL team that hasn’t already made other plans for its starting quarterback job is the Arizona Cardinals and joining a rebuilding program wouldn't be enticing to Rodgers. It is possible, depending on what Steelers talent evaluators and Khan decided, that the Steelers take a hard look at drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Simpson is the only QB prospect not named Fernando Mendoza with a serious hope of being selected in the first round. So it might be smart for the Steelers to take that long look at him as an investment with their No. 21 overall selection, regardless of whether they have Rodgers or not. If Rodgers takes the off ramp on playing and retires in the next couple of days, the Steelers might want a player such as Simpson as a possible addition to their quarterback room. Even if Rodgers tells the Steelers he's coming back, it might behoove the club to still consider Simpson in the draft because Rodgers is 42 years old and will turn 43 during the season. Khan said the club’s decision on a quarterback in the draft will have nothing to do with Rodgers. "Yeah, we will evaluate it," Khan said. "That doesn’t change our evaluation process. We’re still putting the guys up (on the draft board), where they need to be, and, you know, we’ll just see how it shakes out." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67a5b059ccda1fcc08b6d Knicks coach Mike Brown turns reporter's ringing phone into a funny moment during press conference te 2026-04-20T19:11:23.832Z Knicks coach Mike Brown turns reporter's ringing phone into a funny moment during press conference New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown was talking about center Mitchell Robinson’s free-throw shooting issues when another one arose: a reporter’s phone went off. Brown, 56, playfully picked up the phone and spoke into it, while giving a lecture on reporters need to keep their phones muted. "Whosever phone this is, you need to do a better job of muting when you get a text," Brown said, into the phone. "Because when you get a text, it interrupts the press conference. And people here don’t like when the press conference gets interrupted. So, I’d appreciate your help next time, whosever phone this is. Thank you. I’m sorry, was there another question?" CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM A reporter stepped up and claimed the unmuted phone as his. "I’m sorry, coach. I’m guilty," the reporter said. "Okay, no problem," Brown said while laughing. "You’re a stand-up guy. I like it." NEW YORK RADIO HOST BOYCOTTING ATLANTA RAP MUSIC AS KNICKS FACE HAWKS IN NBA PLAYOFFS Brown’s Knicks squad took a 1-0 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night, winning 113-102. Jalen Brunson (28 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (25 points) led the way in the series-opening victory. Brown is in his first season as the Knicks head coach, as the team fired Tom Thibodeau after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. There is a heightened-pressure on Brown and the Knicks to at least reach the NBA Finals, as team owner James Dolan said as much in a rare radio interview with WFAN in January. "I'd say we want to get to the Finals and we should win the Finals," Dolan said during the interview. "This is sports; anything can happen. Getting to the Finals, we absolutely have to do. Winning the Finals, we should do." The Knicks got off on the right foot with their win on Saturday night, a win Dolan hopes is the first of 16 games the team will win en route to a title. The Knicks play the Hawks in Game 2 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. 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/69e67a32059ccda1fcc08b41 U.S. military commitments go far beyond Iran: ‘Death by a thousand cuts’ in terms of readiness te 2026-04-20T19:10:42.162Z U.S. military commitments go far beyond Iran: ‘Death by a thousand cuts’ in terms of readiness Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67a1d059ccda1fcc08b34 Tucson bets on partnerships to battle climate change te 2026-04-20T19:10:21.617Z Tucson bets on partnerships to battle climate change As Earth Day approaches Wednesday, Tucson officials say public-private partnerships have never mattered more. The city spent more than $160 million on climate-related projects in 2025 and secured nearly $94 million in grants, even as federal funding continues to dry up under the Trump administration. "Whether it's expanding green infrastructure, supporting heat relief efforts, advancing water conservation or engaging residents in meaningful ways, these partnerships have been critical every step of the way," Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said during an April 2 town hall. Established in 2023, Tucson Resilient Together outlines strategies to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, identify communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and provide long-term strategies to adapt to climate change. But the city has taken additional steps beyond the plan, including pushing for summer utility cutoff moratoriums with Tucson Electric Power and Tucson Water and blocking new data center development, which can worsen heat island effects in surrounding neighborhoods. "Climate change is not a joke. Sustainability is not optional for Tucson. It's essential to our health, to our economic development and our future economic development opportunities that we have as a city," Romero said. Strategies highlighted include expanding the city's shade canopy through the Tucson Million Trees Initiative, identifying areas in need of heat relief using the Heat Action Roadmap and establishing water conservation strategies. At the county level, Senior Advisor Sarah Davis of the Pima County Administrator's Office said residents have raised concerns about air quality, emission reductions, drought and green infrastructure, and that those concerns have driven efforts to collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions. In 2023, Davis said, the city and county joined Oro Valley, South Tucson and the Tohono O'odham Nation in a regional climate coalition funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, which produced a comprehensive climate action plan setting shared emissions goals for the next five years. Sarah Davis, senior advisor for the Pima County Administrator's Office; Fatima Luna, chief resilience officer for the City of Tucson; and Xochitl Coronado Vargas, public outreach coordinator for the Storm-To-Shade Program. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. Locally, the Pima County Board of Supervisors and Tucson Mayor and Council set a goal to reduce emissions 60% from 2021 levels, using heatmap data to establish workforce heat protections and coordinate with partner organizations. Fatima Luna, the city's chief resilience officer and the plan's lead overseer, said 85% of its initiatives are now underway. "In 2025 alone, city departments invested more than $160 million in climate-related projects, and they were able to secure nearly $94 million in grants for climate-related projects," Luna said. One goal, reaching 30 megawatts of solar power across the city's 74 installations, is close to being met, Luna said. "The mayor and council invested $900,000 in the solar empowerment program. That really helps bring solar directly into low-income homes, in partnership with SARI and also Technicians for Sustainability," Luna said. "We're also working with Tucson Electric Power and the Pacific Northwest National Lab to design and install an energy battery storage system at the Donna Liggins Center, and when fully charged, it would be able to carry the center for up to three days, ensuring that a trusted community space can provide residents with immediate respite during power outages with preparedness programming." A recent agreement with TEP will direct $2 million in shareholder funds annually toward clean energy projects, workforce development and youth climate education. The progress toward the city's 2030 carbon neutrality goal is already measurable. "(We) reduced about 44% of our emissions that are now (from) renewable energy," Luna said. "We're also transitioning the (bus) fleet to a zero-emissions fleet. We have 10 (green) existing city buses and 10 more on the way." Flor Sandoval of the Sonora Environmental Research Institute and Kevin Cook of Technicians for Sustainability have partnered to provide low-income Tucson families with water harvesting infrastructure and rooftop solar systems to offset electricity costs. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. Still, officials say funding remains one of the biggest obstacles to the city's climate resilience efforts. "Since Trump won, we did know that there was going to be dismantling of a lot of the funding that had been created by the Biden-Harris administration, which the city of Tucson was very lucky to apply for, and be very successful at bringing funds to Tucson," Romero said. Though the administration has dismantled tax and EV credits, Tucson has retained some federal funding in support of urban forestry efforts through the U.S. Forest Service. Xochitl Coronado Vargas, public outreach coordinator for the Storm-To-Shade Program, said Tucson Water and the city are working together to expand the urban tree canopy while reducing municipal water use. "When it rains, stormwater runs off of any hardscape here in Tucson, be it a roof or a road," Vargas said. "Green stormwater infrastructure allows stormwater to enter that landscape in order to be able to utilize stormwater as a method of irrigation for new native plantings, rather than continuing to rely on municipal water to water these landscapes." Tucson Water customers pay about $1 a month to fund green stormwater infrastructure across parks, public property and public housing, with the program prioritizing neighborhoods with lower tree equity scores, areas with higher socioeconomic vulnerability, less tree canopy and higher surface temperatures. All spaces created by Storm-To-Shade, as well as green stormwater infrastructure that predates the program, are maintained in perpetuity. By expanding tree canopy and other green spaces to collect water, the program improves air quality, prevents flooding and supports native wildlife. Twenty projects are complete and 20 more are under construction. "There's one at Rudy Garcia Park in the parking lot. There's a project that is about to break ground at El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, a very wonderful beautification project that takes stormwater off of the roofs of those buildings, puts it in the ground and adds all of this new native vegetation," Vargas said. Storm-To-Shade is one of several programs pairing water and green infrastructure in Tucson's lower-income communities. The Sonora Environmental Research Institute's Flor Sandoval has partnered with Kevin Cook of local solar installer Technicians for Sustainability to provide low-income families with water harvesting infrastructure and solar power to offset electricity costs. "Our water conservation program promotes both rainwater harvesting and gray water reuse, helping families capture, recycle and make the most of every drop of rainwater in our desert environment," Sandoval said. "While these systems may not always reduce water bills immediately, they are critical for long-term conservation, reducing outdoor water use and increasing drought resilience." Luis Pesqueria, Iliana Islas, Thelma Magallanes and Ethan Van Alter (clockwise from left) mark houses off a map during a 2025 Red Cross and City of Tucson canvassing event. Arilynn Hyatt / Tucson Spotlight. Cook said Technicians for Sustainability launched the Solar Empowerment Program in 2022, offering grants that cover up to 60% of rooftop solar installation costs to make solar more accessible for low-income families. TFS has already installed 15 solar energy systems on low-income housing properties this year. Still, both organizations face challenges: deteriorating roof conditions, financial gaps even with partial grants, and keeping technicians safe in extreme heat. With the federal 30% residential solar tax credit gone, Cook said, some residents are being pushed into predatory leasing agreements. "We've been working with about 80 solar installers around the country to create our own lease product that we are now launching here in Tucson, that has the homeowner as the primary party," Cook said. "Last year in 2025, (we) produced 26% of the energy used in this community by renewable energy, wind and solar either owned by the utility or owned by and operated by community members. One key theme of the city's climate action plan is direct communication with the community about the impacts of climate change. Monique Vallery, interim executive director of the American Red Cross, has been canvassing and talking with residents about how heat is impacting them. "We had about 1,000 households in the community last year that got the opportunity to have face-to-face engagement," Vallery said. These heat walks, a collaboration with the Pima County Health Department, target communities with the most heat-related 911 calls, including mobile home parks and senior living communities. The outreach reflects a broader push to have extreme heat recognized at the federal level. The city has sent yearly letters to FEMA requesting that extreme heat be classified as a natural disaster. "So far, in our first five walks in these targeted zip codes, we've reached almost 800 households," Vallery said. "We have more heat deaths than all other disasters combined. If we're mobilized, the best way to be mobilized is to know your neighbor, know your partners, know those resources." Monique Vallery, interim executive director of the American Red Cross and Ojas Sanghi, representative of Amistades and co-lead of the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. Amistades representative and co-lead of the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition Ojas Sanghi talked about efforts to help develop long-term climate solutions. Amistades is a Latino-led nonprofit that promotes social justice, equity and community empowerment in Southern Arizona. Sanghi said he was inspired to pursue climate work after growing up in India and returning to Tucson for high school, where he noticed the disparities and impacts of climate change firsthand. "I didn't really remember what life was like in the U.S., and then I moved back to Tucson for high school, and I was like, 'Oh, my God, I can breathe, I can see the stars, that's crazy,'" he said. Sanghi talked about Amistades' Justicia Juntos, or Justice Together, program that uses culturally grounded outreach strategies to educate Latinos about the urban heat island effect, responses to extreme heat and access to resources to keep them safe. "That means two climate resilience hubs in those communities, a 15-member Youth Climate Coalition, a new one to implement climate resilience measures, and 10 trained Latino climate advocates engaged in regional action," Sanghi said. Raices Vivas, or Live Roots, is a program that transforms underused spaces in schools into green areas for urban forestry and environmental learning, intending to restore the native tree canopy and school gardens while engaging students and families. "One school in particular that we're working with right now is Apollo Middle School," Sanghi said. "This project inherently leans a lot into intergenerational connection. Members of AZYCC are going to be running activities and teaching classes. We believe it's easier for students to connect with and learn from peers who are just a few years older than them." Topacio “Topaz” Servellon is a reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact them at topacioserve@gmail.com. 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/69e6781c059ccda1fcc08b15 Desert Edge DB Antonio Para hopes road to NFL runs through Southern Utah te 2026-04-20T19:01:48.946Z Desert Edge DB Antonio Para hopes road to NFL runs through Southern Utah GOODYEAR – Desert Edge defensive back Antonio Para considered staying in the state and walking on at the University of Arizona, but when an offer from Southern Utah University came his way, he decided to commit to play football for the program that wanted him. Para played a huge role in the Scorpions’ 5A state championship run in 2024 and now that his high school career is complete, he is looking forward to the next part of his journey in Cedar City, Utah.  “I was thinking I was going to  get an opportunity to walk on to U of A,” Para said. “But now I’m going to college for free at a place that wants me, so I feel like that was more important and I should commit right away wherever people give me a chance.” The discussions Para had with the coaches at Southern Utah made his decision that much easier. “They were really interested in getting me down there right away,” Para said. “I had good conversations with my coaches. I think coaching is very important.”  Para formed a special connection with nickel backs coach Nate Lealao at Southern Utah almost immediately, thanks to a familiar background. Both hail from the Bay Area.  “I liked my position coach,” Para said. “I feel like when you meet someone where you’re from or born, I feel like it’s a cool connection, but I already liked him and his energy and I’m like, ‘I think I definitely would be willing to work for this coach for sure.’” Para is ready to play for a new coaching staff, but he won’t forget any of the coaches at Desert Edge and what they meant to him and his development. “Coach Henri (MacArthur) definitely had a huge impact on every offer I’ve gotten because of how he described me to coaches, and they would pick up on what I’m all about since Henri put in a good word for me,” Para said. Along with the coaching staff at Southern Utah, getting playing time was a big factor for Para and his decision to commit. With aspirations of someday reaching the NFL, he decided that playing for the Thunderbirds is the best place to start developing. Last season, Southern Utah finished 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the United Athletic Conference, ending the season on a six-game winning streak. “Film over anything is more important. So I say I’m gonna go where I think I could play pretty soon,” Para said. “I want to be wherever I can develop best to go to the NFL.” After completing the high school part of his football journey, Para is being patient. “I think taking it one step at a time and not getting too ahead of yourself is probably a priority and to really just focus on the moment,” Para said. “I don’t really worry about the next few years. I’ll be where I need to be, but right now I have to take the steps to get there.” Despite putting up elite defensive statistics in his senior year of high school – a 5A Desert West Region-high 112 tackles and 6.5 sacks – Para didn’t receive many college offers, but still the Scorpions defensive back remained positive, especially considering his unique path in football. “I’m not disappointed because I started playing football my freshman year,” Para said. “A lot of people would dream to be in the position that I have, and I did it in four years of being in high school. “I had two weeks of practice before my first game because I joined late. I felt like I would have regretted the opportunity, so I was like, ‘I’m just gonna go play’ and I fell in love.” Para appeared in two games his sophomore year, and then solidified himself on the roster his junior and senior seasons playing in every game, racking up 181 tackles and 8.5 sacks between the two seasons.  Beyond his talent, Para’s leadership and personality leaves a lasting mark at Desert Edge. “It’s gonna be missed big time. You know Para is one of those guys you can’t ever replace,” MacArthur said. “It’s gonna take a lot of guys collectively to fill that role, but nobody’s just gonna step in for him and be who he was. He brought a ton of energy and passion to the team.” Para’s leadership as a team captain helped guide the Scorpions to a 5A championship, setting the standard for future players. “He’s cemented himself in Desert Edge history as one of the best to come through here, as a person, as a player, and his work ethic,” MacArthur said. “Really happy for Antonio and looking forward to seeing what he does at the next level.” The post Desert Edge DB Antonio Para hopes road to NFL runs through Southern Utah appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67803059ccda1fcc08ae2 Texas AG Paxton sues Dem fundraising platform ActBlue, alleging 'fraudulent and foreign donations' te 2026-04-20T19:01:23.981Z Texas AG Paxton sues Dem fundraising platform ActBlue, alleging 'fraudulent and foreign donations' Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Monday against Democrat fundraising platform ActBlue, accusing them of misleading donors about safeguards meant to block fraudulent and foreign political contributions. "BREAKING: I just filed a landmark lawsuit against ActBlue for deceiving Americans by lying about its donation processes that allow fraudulent and foreign donations," Paxton wrote Monday on X. The state’s lawsuit, filed in Tarrant County district court, seeks injunctions barring ActBlue from accepting contributions made through gift cards and prepaid debit cards, along with civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and costs. "The radical left has relied on ActBlue as a way to funnel foreign donations and dark money into their political campaigns to subvert our laws and compromise the integrity of our elections," Paxton said in a statement announcing the case. "ActBlue lied to Congress and to the American people, and I will ensure justice is served. "It has blatantly ignored state law that prohibits deceptive practices, and it must pay for its illegal conduct. Fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and I will work to ensure no illegal campaign donation flies under the radar." DEM FUNDRAISING GIANT IN THE HOT SEAT AS GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS OVER DODGED SUBPOENA The state is suing under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, alleging that ActBlue engaged in false, misleading and deceptive practices by marketing its service as compliant and secure, while continuing to allow payment methods Texas says can facilitate unlawful donations. The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. In the complaint, Texas alleges that ActBlue falsely claimed it had tightened donor-vetting procedures and stopped accepting certain high-risk forms of payment while continuing to process donations that, according to the state, could mask a donor’s true identity. The lawsuit argues that gift cards and prepaid debit cards are especially vulnerable to abuse because they can be used without the same level of identification tied to traditional payment methods. REPUBLICANS RIP 4 BLUE STATES FOR KEEPING TAXES ON TIPS, OVERTIME AFTER TRUMP REPRIEVE Paxton’s office said the lawsuit grew out of an investigation opened in 2023 into whether ActBlue was enabling donor fraud in violation of Texas law. The attorney general’s office later petitioned the Federal Election Commission in 2024, arguing that suspicious actors appeared to still be using the platform to make straw donations. Paxton now says recent reporting and the office’s own investigation show ActBlue’s public claims about its compliance systems were false. The lawsuit leans heavily on allegations that ActBlue misrepresented its security practices to Congress and the public. DEMOCRATS' ACTBLUE FUNDRAISING PLATFORM FACES FEDERAL INVESTIGATION According to the filing, the platform told congressional investigators it had stopped accepting gift card donations and had implemented multilayered checks to screen for foreign or otherwise impermissible contributions. Texas alleges those assurances were untrue and says investigators were later able to make donations through ActBlue using gift cards, including donations to the Democratic National Committee and Texas candidates. "ActBlue claimed it stopped its illegal operations," Paxton's news release read. "Now, recent reporting and internal OAG investigations have shown that ActBlue lied about its donor vetting policies and its operations. As The New York Times recently reported, ActBlue’s own outside counsel acknowledged that the organization’s representations about its donation safeguards were not true." The complaint says those internal findings showed a "substantial risk" that some impermissible foreign contributions might have been processed, and alleges that ActBlue chose not to fully correct the record with Congress. NRCC REPORTING RECORD $47.1 MILLION QUARTER, RECORD $28.1 MILLION RAISED IN MARCH The issue comes as the Democratic National Committee reportedly carries more than $17.5 million in debt, according to the FEC. The House Administration, Judiciary and Oversight committees, amid an ongoing investigation, had issued a 2025 report titled "Fraud on ActBlue." "This report reveals that ActBlue made its fraud-prevention rules 'more lenient' twice in 2024 — even though there is extensive fraud on the platform, including from foreign sources," a House Judiciary Committee news release related to the report said. "Internal documents show that ActBlue executives and staff are aware that both foreign and domestic fraudulent actors are exploiting the platform but do not take the threat seriously. In fact, they attempted to hide the changes to avoid sparking discussions about fraud on the platform." ActBlue, founded in 2004, has processed more than $16 billion for Democrat and progressive candidates and causes, according to Paxton’s filing. In the lawsuit, Texas says the platform handled $1.78 billion in donations in 2025 alone. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e677f0059ccda1fcc08ad9 Texas Tech to recognize only two sexes, freezes gender programs te 2026-04-20T19:01:04.400Z Texas Tech to recognize only two sexes, freezes gender programs Texas Tech Universityh has announced it will recognize only two sexes, male and female, and freeze all gender programming related to sexual orientation and gender identity(SOGI).  An April 9 memo from Texas Tech said the Lubbock university would recognize "only two human sexes" and, following a program review, "initiate the closure of all academic credentials centered on SOGI." The announcement came after the Texas Tech University System implemented a formal review process for course content in December 2025 to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, with materials evaluated by the Board of Regents. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CELEBRATES PROGRESS AFTER A YEAR OF TRUMP ADMIN'S FIGHT TO SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS  The December memo, signed by Brandon Creighton, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System, said that the December review was part of oversight obligation under Senate Bill 37, which passed in June. It is authored by Creighton, who is also a Republican state senator, which increased state oversight of college curriculum and governance. The April announcement says that in addition to freezing all gender programming related to SOGI, there will be a "strict prohibition on SOGI content in all core and lower-level undergraduate courses, requiring alternate materials if primary texts center on or include these topics. Conversely, upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses are restricted but feature clear exemptions for strictly defined academic purposes."  According to the memo, exemptions will be considered for "carefully delineated, strictly temporary instructional frameworks for certain graduate coursework," highlighting that "certain SOGI instruction is permitted only for currently enrolled students completing formally identified teach-out programs at the graduate level."  There will also be a ban on what the memo calls "prejudiced advocacy," which it defines as "instruction that advocates for concepts of inherent racial or sexual superiority, inherent bias, or collective guilt, which include exemptions for "independent student-directed research and necessary professional licensure or patient-care requirements." SUPREME COURT CONSERVATIVES SIGNAL SUPPORT FOR STATE TRANSGENDER SPORTS BANS DURING ORAL ARGUMENTS The memo also directs that the school will recognize that there are only two sexes, male and female, and that "instructors may not teach that gender identity is a fluid spectrum, endorse the existence of more than two genders, or decouple gender from biological sex as a factual or scientific baseline." It clarifies, however, that the recognition of two human sexes will not ban discussion of objective scientific realities of anatomy, genetics, or endocrinology, such as intersex biological conditions. WASHINGTON POST RIPS CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION FOR PURSUING SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES AS STUDENTS STRUGGLE The memo notes "faculty may not use these biological conditions to advocate for or validate sociological frameworks of fluid gender identities."  Fox News Digital reached out to Texas Tech for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e677c6059ccda1fcc08aac National Guard ‘follows the Constitution,’ general says of troops possibly deployed to polls te 2026-04-20T19:00:22.738Z National Guard ‘follows the Constitution,’ general says of troops possibly deployed to polls Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67597059ccda1fcc08a5b CBS host presses former AG Eric Holder on defending partisan redistricting efforts in Virginia te 2026-04-20T18:51:03.044Z CBS host presses former AG Eric Holder on defending partisan redistricting efforts in Virginia Margaret Brennan pressed Eric Holder on Sunday over whether Democratic-backed redistricting efforts in Virginia amount to partisan "stacking the deck," as the former Barack Obama official defended the proposal as a response to Republican-led map drawing nationwide during an appearance on "Face the Nation." "So by holding this referendum and changing the maps, how do you guarantee that this is temporary and that this doesn’t keep happening?" Brennan asked, after questioning how drawing maps along partisan lines is not simply "stacking the deck." Holder, who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, framed the push as part of a broader effort to counter Republican gains in states such as Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri. "This is really a national fight. It’s not a fight only about Virginia," Holder said. "What Virginia is doing, what California did is only in response to that which Republicans started in Texas." SOROS-BACKED GROUP AMONG LIBERAL ORGS PUMPING EYE-POPPING CASH INTO VIRGINIA GERRYMANDERING EFFORT Brennan pointed to Virginia’s existing bipartisan redistricting commission, suggesting it already provided a fairer system and questioning why Democrats were seeking to alter it. "In Virginia, there already was a bipartisan commission that was set up to do these things… that sounds fair," Brennan said. Holder responded that the current proposal is limited in scope and tied directly to voter approval. "The measure itself says that it is time-limited," Holder said. "It is only for this cycle, an additional cycle, and after the census that could be changed again." BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE RUNS THROUGH VIRGINIA AS COURT OKS HIGH-STAKES REDISTRICTING VOTE Brennan further pressed whether the move signaled Democrats lacked confidence in winning under current conditions, noting historical midterm trends and political headwinds facing the president’s party. "Why do Democrats need to do this? It sounds like it’s acknowledging that the Democratic Party can’t win on its own," Brennan said. Holder rejected that characterization, framing the effort as a necessary countermeasure. "The Democrats can certainly win if it’s a fair fight," Holder said. "It wasn’t going to be a fair fight nationally if you try to steal seats in Texas, in North Carolina, and in Missouri." Brennan also cited Holder’s past statements opposing partisan gerrymandering, including warnings that it leads to governments that do not reflect voter preferences and contributes to political gridlock. GLENN YOUNGKIN ACCUSES GOV SPANBERGER OF 'ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL' GERRYMANDERING IN VIRGINIA MAP FIGHT "If we don’t respond to that which they are trying to do, we could lose our democracy," Holder said. "And not have the ability to get back to that fairness fight." Brennan also raised criticism from redistricting advocates, including concerns that proposed maps in Virginia could dilute Black political influence. "What’s in this for us?" Brennan said, referencing criticism from the National Black Nonpartisan Redistricting Organization. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "That’s simply untrue," Holder responded. "Do you think that another two years of unchecked Trump power is in the best interest of African-Americans in this nation? No." "I hope we’ll pass federal legislation that will ban partisan gerrymandering just outright and do away with this altogether," Holder said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6756e059ccda1fcc08a3c U.S. Has Turned Back 27 Ships Since Strait of Hormuz Blockade Started te 2026-04-20T18:50:22.353Z U.S. Has Turned Back 27 Ships Since Strait of Hormuz Blockade Started Marines are searching thousands of containers aboard the Touska, an Iranian cargo ship that the Navy disabled and seized on Sunday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6737a059ccda1fcc089f4 CBS host presses former AG on defending partisan redistricting efforts in Virginia te 2026-04-20T18:42:02.158Z CBS host presses former AG on defending partisan redistricting efforts in Virginia Margaret Brennan pressed Eric Holder on Sunday over whether Democratic-backed redistricting efforts in Virginia amount to partisan "stacking the deck," as the former Barack Obama official defended the proposal as a response to Republican-led map drawing nationwide during an appearance on "Face the Nation." "So by holding this referendum and changing the maps, how do you guarantee that this is temporary and that this doesn’t keep happening?" Brennan asked, after questioning how drawing maps along partisan lines is not simply "stacking the deck." Holder, who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, framed the push as part of a broader effort to counter Republican gains in states such as Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri. "This is really a national fight. It’s not a fight only about Virginia," Holder said. "What Virginia is doing, what California did is only in response to that which Republicans started in Texas." SOROS-BACKED GROUP AMONG LIBERAL ORGS PUMPING EYE-POPPING CASH INTO VIRGINIA GERRYMANDERING EFFORT Brennan pointed to Virginia’s existing bipartisan redistricting commission, suggesting it already provided a fairer system and questioning why Democrats were seeking to alter it. "In Virginia, there already was a bipartisan commission that was set up to do these things… that sounds fair," Brennan said. Holder responded that the current proposal is limited in scope and tied directly to voter approval. "The measure itself says that it is time-limited," Holder said. "It is only for this cycle, an additional cycle, and after the census that could be changed again." BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE RUNS THROUGH VIRGINIA AS COURT OKS HIGH-STAKES REDISTRICTING VOTE Brennan further pressed whether the move signaled Democrats lacked confidence in winning under current conditions, noting historical midterm trends and political headwinds facing the president’s party. "Why do Democrats need to do this? It sounds like it’s acknowledging that the Democratic Party can’t win on its own," Brennan said. Holder rejected that characterization, framing the effort as a necessary countermeasure. "The Democrats can certainly win if it’s a fair fight," Holder said. "It wasn’t going to be a fair fight nationally if you try to steal seats in Texas, in North Carolina, and in Missouri." Brennan also cited Holder’s past statements opposing partisan gerrymandering, including warnings that it leads to governments that do not reflect voter preferences and contributes to political gridlock. GLENN YOUNGKIN ACCUSES GOV SPANBERGER OF 'ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL' GERRYMANDERING IN VIRGINIA MAP FIGHT "If we don’t respond to that which they are trying to do, we could lose our democracy," Holder said. "And not have the ability to get back to that fairness fight." Brennan also raised criticism from redistricting advocates, including concerns that proposed maps in Virginia could dilute Black political influence. "What’s in this for us?" Brennan said, referencing criticism from the National Black Nonpartisan Redistricting Organization. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "That’s simply untrue," Holder responded. "Do you think that another two years of unchecked Trump power is in the best interest of African-Americans in this nation? No." "I hope we’ll pass federal legislation that will ban partisan gerrymandering just outright and do away with this altogether," Holder said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67366059ccda1fcc089eb Orange Crush beach blowout nets 26 arrests, cops seize makeshift machine gun as massive crowd tests crackdown te 2026-04-20T18:41:42.254Z Orange Crush beach blowout nets 26 arrests, cops seize makeshift machine gun as massive crowd tests crackdown Tybee Island’s controversial Orange Crush weekend ended with 26 arrests and five firearms seized, including one weapon police say had been converted into a makeshift machine gun capable of fully automatic fire. Between Friday, April 17, and Sunday, April 19, the Tybee Island Police Department and Georgia State Patrol made a total of 26 arrests during the annual beach bash, according to preliminary figures provided to Fox News Digital by Tybee Island Police Capt. Emory Randolph. Of those arrests, 19 were made by Tybee Island police and seven were made by the Georgia State Patrol. The total marks four more arrests than last year’s event, when authorities made 22 arrests over the weekend. There were 54 arrests during Orange Crush in 2024 and 26 in 2023. No other details on the arrests were immediately available. ORANGE CRUSH FESTIVAL RETURNS TO TYBEE ISLAND AS POLICE BRACE FOR 50,000 PARTIERS AFTER TEEN TAKEOVER, GUNFIRE Police also handed out 100 traffic citations over the three-day span, with 49 issued by Tybee Island officers and 51 by state troopers. During the same period, the island’s 911 center handled 297 calls for service, Randolph said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS The annual event branded this year as "Crush Reloaded," returned to Tybee Island over the weekend with organizers promoting it online as "THE BIGGEST HBCU BEACH BASH IS BACK" and saying more than 50,000 people were expected. WATCH: Tybee Island mayor says Orange Crush Reloaded is no longer 'destructive' Tybee Island Mayor Brian West told Fox News Digital the city’s security approach closely mirrored what authorities have used in recent years. "It's pretty similar to what we did last year. It looks like we might have more people this year, but we put in a safety protocol three years ago that seems to be pretty effective. And it's pretty much what we've seen for the past three years now," West told Fox News Digital. West said authorities brought in help from agencies across the region and the state, including the Georgia State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, Motor Carrier Division, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Police Department and Tybee Island’s own police force. VIDEO SHOWS PANICKED SPRING BREAK CROWDS FLEEING BEACH HOTSPOT AFTER REPORTS OF FIVE WEEKEND SHOOTINGS West said the stepped-up safety measures followed problems in 2023, when he said people who were not college students came to the event and brought "drugs and guns." "We had a really bad situation in 2023. And what happened was we had a lot of people that came to this event that weren't college students. They were older people that were trying to take advantage of the group, and they were bringing drugs and guns," West said. "And with the security that we put in place, we've been able to filter those people out. And so now we have college students that are here, and it's more of a spring break type group than it is a destructive type group." He also said city leaders have found the event runs more smoothly when students have organized entertainment. "It really works much better when we work together and have some type of activity for the students to do. In the past, when they just showed up, they kinda had to make their own fun. And sometimes that fun really wasn't the best thing to be doing," West said. "So when there's an activity, when there is a band, when there are things to keep their attention, it works much better." WATCH: CEO of Orange Crush says event is 'rebranded' with collaboration with police, city Orange Crush Reloaded CEO Steven Smalls similarly told Fox News Digital the event is intended to give college students a place to celebrate safely. "It's about the college students more than anything to come out and have a good time and focus on the graduation that's coming up in May. It's a college-based thing and hopefully in the future I'm able to give back to some student debt relief and hopefully one day help one of SSU (Savannah State University) students. Give one of these kids a scholarship if I do good out here, you know, just put back towards the college community," Smalls said. Smalls said the rebranded event and cooperation with city officials helped create a better environment for attendees. WATCH: ILLEGAL STREET RACING 'TAKEOVER' EXPLODES AS HUNDREDS SWARM STREETS AND SUSPECTS BOLT "This is the rebrand. I think that's probably the best thing that happened. I love the way the relationship is built, and I understand what they got going on, and they understand what I have going on. And working together, it became just right here what you see today," Smalls said. He also argued that the organized festival helps channel the crowds. GOT A TIP? "If I wasn't doing this, then they would just be popping out here. There wouldn't be no sound, no entertainment. It wouldn't nothing for them to do, it'd just be them being so pushed out. So me bringing the entertainment and me being here, they come out here to have fun. The police presence, that helps you be safe," Smalls said. Known for drawing massive crowds to the small Georgia beach town, Orange Crush has long stirred controversy among residents and law enforcement because of past violence, arrests and trash left behind in its wake. FOLLOW US ON X Ahead of this year’s festivities, Tybee Island officials said they were heightening enforcement and preparing for an influx of visitors, as local concerns grew over public safety and so-called "teen takeovers" that have been reported around the country and in the region. "Rest assured that we have heard you and that public safety will always be our top priority," Randolph previously told Fox News Digital when asked about residents’ concerns over the event. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Beginning Thursday before the festival weekend, residents and visitors saw an increased law enforcement presence from various local and state agencies across the island. Authorities also launched a road safety checkpoint on Highway 80, carved out emergency lanes on main roads and closed the 14th and 16th Street parking lots in an effort to maintain order. WATCH: Teen takeover in Georgia caught on camera On April 4, police said an unpermitted pop-up event near the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion was interrupted by gunfire after hundreds of teens gathered in the area. Officers said they heard a single gunshot around 6:30 p.m., sending the crowd running. Orange Crush dates back decades and earned a reputation in the early 1990s as a rowdy, crime-filled weekend. The festival later moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2021, citing issues including limited parking, lack of resources and alleged civil rights concerns, before returning to Tybee Island in 2023 for the first time since 2020. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67352059ccda1fcc089e2 Reese's family member escalates battle with Hershey over chocolate ingredients, blasts 'PR stunt' te 2026-04-20T18:41:22.750Z Reese's family member escalates battle with Hershey over chocolate ingredients, blasts 'PR stunt' The grandson of the Reese's candy founder continues to blast Hershey after the company said it will return some products to classic recipes by 2027 — as he argues the fix isn't coming fast enough. Brad Reese, grandson of founder H.B. Reese, has criticized The Hershey Company in recent months for allegedly switching real milk chocolate for cheaper ingredients. In a recent interview with NewsNation this month, Reese accused the Pennsylvania-based candy giant of swapping out "milk chocolate for compound coating." NEW ICE CREAM TREND CHURNS UP INTEREST, BUT ONE CLASSIC STILL RULES THE $7.5B INDUSTRY Compound coating is a cheaper, chocolate-like product that does not contain cocoa butter — a key requirement for real chocolate. Instead, it uses vegetable fats. "If it doesn't say milk chocolate, then it doesn't have cocoa butter — and they're using vegetable oils, and they quietly swapped that out," Reese said in the interview. His criticism appears to focus on certain seasonal or specialty items, specifically Reese's Unwrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Crème Mini Hearts. Hershey told FOX Business earlier this month that it intends to phase out certain compound coatings and transition those products to traditional milk or dark chocolate by next year — but Reese told NewsNation that response was merely "a PR stunt." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "They have the ability to switch back [to] using real milk chocolate in three days," Reese said. "This is all a stunt. They're hoping that the outrage will die down." Reese, who is based in Florida, previously told FOX Business he discarded a bag of Reese's Unwrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Crème Mini Hearts candies after sampling a few bites. "I couldn't eat it," Reese said. "It was not edible, and I looked at the packaging. … There was no milk chocolate. There was no peanut butter. It was all vegetable oils and fats." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER He added, "I can't go on representing being the grandson of Reese's when the product is total bunk. You have no idea how devastating it is." A Hershey official told Fox News Digital on Monday that the company "is committed to making products consumers love, and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences." "A series of enhancements taking effect in 2027 reflect that commitment: We're transitioning to colors from natural sources across our sweets portfolio, enhancing Kit-Kat's recipe for a creamier taste and texture, and bringing a small portion of remaining Hershey's and Reese's products in line with their classic milk and dark chocolate recipes," the statement said. "The core recipes for our Hershey's chocolate bars and Reese's peanut butter cups have not changed." CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES The official also shared a statement from the Reese family.  It stated that they "would like to make it clear that we have no involvement in, nor do we support, the recent claims made by Brad Reese regarding The Hershey Company." The comment went on, "His statements and opinions are entirely his own and do not reflect the view or position of our family. … We believe H.B. Reese would take great pride in the products produced under his name today and in the integrity with which the brand continues to be managed." Brad Reese's comments went viral earlier this year.  In an X post that drew some 26,000 likes and more than 820,000 views, thousands of commenters sounded off, with almost no positive response to the changes. "Reese's were my favorite chocolate candy as a kid. I had one recently, and it tasted gross and waxy," one user said. "Literally could not finish it." "I got roasted last Halloween at work for saying they aren't the same anymore and that I don't even eat them now," another person wrote. "They said I was crazy. Vindicated." Sophia Compton of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6732a059ccda1fcc089c6 House Ethics Panel Defends Handling of Sexual Misconduct Allegations te 2026-04-20T18:40:42.064Z House Ethics Panel Defends Handling of Sexual Misconduct Allegations In urging victims to step forward, the secretive panel in charge of investigating charges of misconduct by members of Congress acknowledged limits that could allow offenses to go unaddressed. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e67315059ccda1fcc089af As an Ohio plastic waste plant violates pollution rules, its owner makes case for an Arizona location te 2026-04-20T18:40:21.372Z As an Ohio plastic waste plant violates pollution rules, its owner makes case for an Arizona location Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e670c2059ccda1fcc0894f True Concord orchestra members holding union election te 2026-04-20T18:30:26.320Z True Concord orchestra members holding union election Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66ef1059ccda1fcc0890f Common ear conditions tied to rising dementia risk in new study: 'Strong association' te 2026-04-20T18:22:41.010Z Common ear conditions tied to rising dementia risk in new study: 'Strong association' Common and treatable ear conditions may be associated with a higher risk of dementia, according to new research. A study from Columbia University investigated how middle-ear problems that may cause conductive hearing loss are linked to the brain disorder. The research, published in the Journal of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, analyzed a large dataset from the National Institutes of Health, including more than 300,000 U.S. adults. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES The study focused on three hearing loss conditions: cholesteatoma (an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear), eardrum perforation (a hole in the eardrum), and otosclerosis (abnormal bone changes in the middle ear), according to a press release. After comparing dementia diagnoses in people with these conditions, the researchers found that cholesteatoma was linked to 1.77 times the odds of the cognitive disorder, and eardrum perforation was linked to more than twice the risk. Otosclerosis was not found to be significantly associated with dementia. Dementia risk associated with cholesteatoma and eardrum perforation slightly decreased when surgical treatment was performed, according to the study. These findings add to existing evidence that "cognition is impacted by sensory deprivation," but also suggest that some of the causes are treatable, which could reduce dementia risk, the authors wrote. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER The study was observational in design, meaning it shows an association between ear conditions and dementia, but cannot prove that one causes the other. Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that dementia is not the cause of hearing loss, but that there appears to be a "strong association the other way around." Siegel noted that these findings coincide with previous evidence revealing that the more a person is "engaged in the world" socially, the less likely they are to develop dementia. "It's almost as if the brain is a social muscle that needs to be exercised," the doctor, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "Without the ability to hear, you are more shut off from the world and more likely to develop dementia as a result." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66edc059ccda1fcc08906 Ted Danson says Bill Clinton grilled him about his 'intentions' with Mary Steenburgen using Secret Service te 2026-04-20T18:22:20.898Z Ted Danson says Bill Clinton grilled him about his 'intentions' with Mary Steenburgen using Secret Service Ted Danson's early romance with Mary Steenburgen included a high-stakes moment at the White House. Danson, 78, recalled an intense one-on-one with then-President Bill Clinton that centered around the actor's "intentions" with Steenburgen — a close, personal friend of the Clintons. "One of the first things she did was take me to meet her dear friends in the White House," Danson recalled while moderating a History Talks panel alongside Bill and Hillary Clinton, according to Variety. "Bill — Mr. President — took me around the corner, and there were three Secret Service agents behind him, all of them looking at me. The president asked me what my intentions were." "My first question is to you, Mr. President: Do you think that was fair?" the "Cheers" star quipped. TED DANSON ADMITS FILMING LOVE SCENES WITH STRANGERS MAKES HIM FEEL ‘GUILTY’ AND ‘WRONG’ "No, but it was effective," Clinton replied. "And I didn’t think I had to be fair. As it turned out, you became the best thing that ever happened to her." The couple met in 1993 while on the set of the movie "Pontiac Moon" and quickly became one of Hollywood's most-loved couples. They got married in October 1995 in a ceremony on Martha's Vineyard. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER When speaking about their relationship to People in February 2021, Danson explained he knew he had to propose to her because he "couldn't imagine not being with her at all times." "Not to sound corny, but I would sign up for 100 more lifetimes," Steenburgen told the outlet. "He makes me a better person. He's a truly beautiful human being. A great big soul. I love how he sees the world and how he cares about people, and he's deeply hilarious, which is super, super sexy to me, and he smells really nice." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS After years of leading successful careers, Danson and Steenburgen got the opportunity to work together on Netflix's "Man on the Inside." Steenburgen joined the cast for season 2 of the comedy as the love interest for Danson's character. Steenburgen told People in November 2025 when she found out she had landed the role, "there was a lot of screaming and jumping up and down ... because we were so excited to work together." "We’re both actors," Danson told the outlet. "We were trained the same way. We had some really good material to work with. We'd get up every morning giggling about what we get to do." Fox News Digital's Lori Bashian contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66ec9059ccda1fcc088fd Bill Maher, Woody Harrelson sound off on California business climate, say state deserves to be 's--- on' te 2026-04-20T18:22:01.366Z Bill Maher, Woody Harrelson sound off on California business climate, say state deserves to be 's--- on' Comedian Bill Maher and actor Woody Harrelson unloaded on the state of California over its business climate during Maher's "Club Random" podcast on Monday. Maher and Harrelson co-own a cannabis dispensary and lounge in West Hollywood called The Woods. The pair discussed the difficulties of owning a pot shop in the liberal state. "We're trying. It's not easy to make a business work in California," Maher said as he explained why he decided to record the April 20 episode at the pot store. Harrelson agreed and added, "California just messes with every business." CALIFORNIA’S LOOMING CAPITAL FLIGHT PROBLEM COULD RESHAPE STATE IN 3 KEY AREAS "I mean, I don't want to like start this off — why not? Why, just s---ing on California. But California deserves to be s--- on for a lot of this kind of stuff. And people know and this is why people flee the state," Maher continued. The comedian said it "sucks" to do any kind of business in California, but said the state still treats cannabis like it's "poison." "They treat it like you're lucky that we allow you to do this, and so we're going to tax you 35%, which is way more. It's more than double anything," Harrelson said. California has a 15% gross receipts tax on the retail sale of cannabis or any cannabis product. It briefly rose to 19% in 2025, but a bill passed in September brought it back down to 15%. LEGAL MARIJUANA GROWERS ALONG THE WEST COAST STRUGGLE WITH OVERSUPPLY, SEEK INTERSTATE SALES However, with other local taxes and the state's sales tax, the rate can exceed 30%. Later in the discussion, the pair said business at their store was picking up, and Harrelson hammered the tax rate again. "But I tell you what, there's nothing we can do when the government is charging 35%. Like they can't tax us 35%, it's not right," he said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE California metro areas have seen net losses from businesses and corporations leaving the state, led by the San Francisco Bay Area, with a net loss of 156 headquarters since 2018. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66ea1059ccda1fcc088ee The Night the Government Closed the Skies Over El Paso te 2026-04-20T18:21:21.686Z The Night the Government Closed the Skies Over El Paso A high-energy laser weapon and a power struggle between federal agencies brought a night of hassles to the city. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66e8d059ccda1fcc088db Democrat Betty Yee Leaves the California Governor’s Race te 2026-04-20T18:21:01.537Z Democrat Betty Yee Leaves the California Governor’s Race Betty Yee, the former state controller, had faced pressure to drop out after hovering near the bottom of polls for months. The move could help Democrats begin to unify behind a front-runner. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66e79059ccda1fcc088d2 Former Kansas Mayor Pleads Guilty in Noncitizen Voting Case te 2026-04-20T18:20:41.624Z Former Kansas Mayor Pleads Guilty in Noncitizen Voting Case Joe Ceballos, a green card holder who resigned as Coldwater’s mayor after being charged, said he did not know that he had to be a citizen to vote. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66e64059ccda1fcc088bb Medicaid rule targeting abortion providers set to expire te 2026-04-20T18:20:20.537Z Medicaid rule targeting abortion providers set to expire Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66c64059ccda1fcc08882 2 killed in North Carolina when 'planned' fight escalates into shooting near middle school te 2026-04-20T18:11:48.457Z 2 killed in North Carolina when 'planned' fight escalates into shooting near middle school A "planned" fight involving several young people that escalated into a shooting near a North Carolina middle school left two dead Monday and several others wounded, authorities said.  Shots rang out just after 9:50 a.m. amid a planned fight between two juveniles in Leinbach Park, near Jefferson Middle School in Winston-Salem.  STUDENT CHARGED, WEAPON RECOVERED AFTER 3 TEENS TARGETED IN INCIDENT LINKED TO HIGH SCHOOL TRADITION: POLICE "When the individuals met at the park, the situation escalated significantly, leading to multiple people exchanging gunfire," the Winston-Salem Police Department wrote on X.  Two people died and an unspecified number of people were shot, police said. Several people, both victims and suspects were located, authorities said.  "Due to the number of people involved, efforts are ongoing to account for everyone. At this time, some of those involved in the incident are juveniles," police said.  The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation stressed that the shooting did not happen at the school, but in the nearby park. TEENS' VIRAL PRANK TARGETING HOMEOWNERS COULD HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES, POLICE WARN The school was open and operating on a normal schedule, police said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66c50059ccda1fcc08879 Democratic candidate apologizes for past pro-police, pro-gun posts in key battleground race te 2026-04-20T18:11:28.989Z Democratic candidate apologizes for past pro-police, pro-gun posts in key battleground race A Pennsylvania Democrat is apologizing for Facebook posts defending police officers during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and supporting gun rights as he runs for his party's nomination in a key battleground race. Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter and former union leader, is seeking to unseat Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Penn., who was first elected in 2024 after beating Democratic incumbent Susan Wild by roughly 4,000 votes. Brooks has centered his campaign around appealing to blue-collar Americans without college degrees on a platform that includes advocating for vocational trades training and support for unions, while also embracing more liberal policies like Medicaid for All. A local blogger argued Brooks should not run on the Democratic ticket because he posted a pro-gun rights meme on his Facebook page a day after a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, in 2019, The Washington Post first reported. Twenty-three people were shot and killed by a white nationalist inside a Walmart. Brooks shared a photo of Clint Eastwood holding a rifle with the following words overlaid on the image: "The problem is not guns. It’s hearts without God, homes without discipline, schools without prayer and courtrooms without justice." The meme also included an image of a skull with the Roman numeral III across its forehead. The symbol is linked to the Three Percenters, a far-right extremist militia group rooted in anti-government ideology. INSURGENT VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT SAYS HIS PARTY IS ‘COMPLETELY WRONG’ ON GUN RIGHTS AND GERRYMANDERING Fox News Digital reached out to Brooks for comment. On his campaign page, Brooks said he respects the Second Amendment and that he has been around guns his whole life. However, he is calling for stronger gun laws. "We need common-sense laws: universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole, and enforcing waiting periods so dangerous people don’t get their hands on guns," Brooks' campaign page stated. "This wouldn’t change things for responsible gun owners, but it would for kids who are afraid to go to school." In another Facebook post from 2019, Brooks reportedly called NFL athlete Colin Kaepernick a "douchebag" amid controversy over Kaepernick kneeling during the National Anthem to protest police brutality. Kaepernick had publicly pushed for Nike to pull merchandise featuring the Betsy Ross flag from retail, prompting Brooks to share a meme of the American flag with the phrase "Colin Kaepernick doesn’t like this flag, so I’m gonna share it." Amid the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Brooks wrote that people should not forget that there are good police officers. He cited police responses to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing as examples of officers stepping up to the call of duty. APRIL SHOWDOWNS: 4 KEY RACES TO WATCH THIS MONTH THAT WILL TEST TRUMP, GOP GRIP ON POWER "I guess we have forgotten the good ones," Brooks wrote. "Wanting change within the police departments to weed out the bad cops is fine. But please remember the good ones." In response to reports on the Facebook posts, Brooks accused "a bunch of DC insiders who don’t want more working people in office are selectively digging up years-old Facebook posts." He also gave a vague apology. "I’ve shared a few stupid things over the years, and for that I am sorry," Brooks said in a statement to the Washington Post. "I believe who I’ve fought for and my values have always been clear." Brooks has received endorsements from prominent Pennsylvania Democratic leaders, including Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, as well as national Democratic figures such as Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Pennsylvania's primary is Tuesday, May 19. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66c28059ccda1fcc08861 Trump’s Fed Pick to Defend Central Bank’s Ability to Set Rates Independently te 2026-04-20T18:10:48.590Z Trump’s Fed Pick to Defend Central Bank’s Ability to Set Rates Independently Kevin M. Warsh is set to testify at the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday even as a criminal investigation into the central bank risks delaying his ascension to become the next chair. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66c0d059ccda1fcc08849 Marana, Oro Valley team up to boost cycling tourism te 2026-04-20T18:10:21.422Z Marana, Oro Valley team up to boost cycling tourism Two neighboring Pima County towns have decided that competing for cyclists makes less sense than recruiting them together, approving a regional bicycling partnership that lets their town managers collaborate without returning to their councils for every decision. The Marana and Oro Valley town councils approved the agreement earlier this year, allowing the towns to collaborate on joint branding, marketing and merchandising. Developed by both towns' economic development staffs, it authorizes the managers to determine scope of work, expenses, promotional strategies and key performance indicators. The town councils also agreed to provide up to $10,000 each and split all costs evenly, which aligns with previous shared initiatives. "We don't look at Marana as a competitor; we look at them as a partner in this," Oro Valley Community and Economic Development Director Paul Melcher said at the Feb. 4 town council meeting. "We have remarkably different assets, but we have a lot of assets in common that we'll be able to leverage." While the towns have different assets, they hope the partnership will bring more tourism to the area through miles of smooth pavement, bike-friendly infrastructure and scenic Sonoran Desert landscapes, along with mild winters that attract visiting cyclists and professional training teams when much of the country is in colder conditions. Miles of smooth pavement and scenic Sonoran Desert landscapes draw cyclists to Marana and Oro Valley, which have partnered since 2012 on major cycling events and formalized that collaboration in February. Courtesy of Town of Marana. Melcher and Discover Marana Tourism and Marketing Manager Stefanie Boe believe the partnership can help make the region a known cycling destination. In 2024, both towns received the Governor's Tourism Award for Best Tourism Partnership from the Arizona Office of Tourism. This isn't new territory either: since 2012, the towns have collaborated on major outdoor and cycling initiatives, including the Project Echelon Gran Fondo, the Tucson Bicycle Classic, which Oro Valley has hosted for four years and invited Marana to co-host in 2024, and the Marana-Oro Valley Experience (M.O.V.E.) Across 2 Ranges Hiking Challenge. "The other thing we want to do is utilize this as a framework for future initiatives," Melcher said. Biking is just the beginning. The towns plan to expand their collaboration to include golf, birding, running events and holiday celebrations, with sports tournaments in soccer, aquatics and other field sports also under discussion. Both towns say this is just the first step in what they hope will be a lasting regional partnership. "I feel like we are stronger together, and so we are very transparent with each other about what we are working on," Boe said. "At the end of the day, it's about regional strength, and both communities believe in that." Tyler Wright is a journalism student at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. 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/69e669bb059ccda1fcc087ea Chew on this: Free & discounted food around Tucson this week te 2026-04-20T18:00:27.311Z Chew on this: Free & discounted food around Tucson this week Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e667c2059ccda1fcc087b6 Amid a power struggle, Maricopa officials hurl unsubstantiated claims of voter disenfranchisement te 2026-04-20T17:52:02.977Z Amid a power struggle, Maricopa officials hurl unsubstantiated claims of voter disenfranchisement Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap testifies before the county board of supervisors on Feb. 18, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. His office has feuded with the board for nearly a year over election control, producing misleading claims of voter disenfranchisement. (Photo by Sasha Hupka/Votebeat) Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney appeared somewhat exasperated with the parties sitting before him in a drab courtroom in Phoenix on Feb. 11. He was presiding over a civil case that centered on a messy battle between mostly-GOP county leaders over election control. Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap contended that the county board of supervisors had usurped much of his power in a deal they struck with his predecessor months before he took office. Supervisors said the changes were limited in scope and argued that Heap wasn’t negotiating in good faith. After nearly nine months, the case was testing the court’s patience. Blaney acknowledged that there was “a lot of vitriol and a lot of emotion” in the dispute, but he urged the two sides to find agreement. “As I’ve stressed all the way through this case, courts don’t like stepping into political cases like this and placing themselves in between political elected officials,” he said, adding that county leaders needed to “just resolve this thing.” They never did. Heap refused to drop his legal challenge, even as the board handed him control over early, in-person voting, which was previously administered by their staff. Maricopa County recorder Justin Heap sues supervisors over election powers Meanwhile, supervisors flexed their statutory muscle, forcing Heap to testify under oath at a special meeting under the provisions of a state law that gave them the option to remove him from office if he didn’t comply. The dispute — this chapter of it, anyway — came to a close late last week when Blaney finally picked a side: Heap’s. On Friday, he issued a judgment ordering the supervisors to return control of several election-related functions and information technology staffers to the recorder’s office. But this may not be the final word. The board is considering an appeal, which could drag the feud on through the general election. As both sides seek to defend themselves amid the messy and increasingly public saga, Heap and the board have each suggested that the other has disenfranchised voters, sparking counterclaims of political gamesmanship, lies, and hypocrisy. But Votebeat examined those criticisms and found that they appeared false or lacked significant context. Two high-level staffers in the recorder’s office said during a court hearing in January that the supervisors’ refusal to purchase a ballot sorter and scanner had prevented a small number of eligible voters’ provisional ballots from being counted in the 2024 election. But county records reviewed by Votebeat showed no evidence to support those claims, which Heap has since partly walked back. Multiple supervisors have also questioned whether a new approach Heap took to verifying signatures on mail-ballot envelopes prevented eligible ballots from being counted in the 2025 election. But while a significantly higher share of ballots were indeed rejected for signature issues in that election, ballot rejection rates have generally been on the rise over the last several election cycles. The continuing fight between Heap and the supervisors raises questions about how effectively election officials will be able to administer the upcoming midterm election in the county, a key political battleground where past recorders and supervisors largely kept their disagreements under wraps and stood unified against external scrutiny. What’s more, the back-and-forth could exacerbate voters’ fears of election malfeasance, contributing to an already toxic environment as President Donald Trump’s administration attempts to relitigate the outcome of the 2020 presidential race and the state braces for another contentious election cycle. “It compounds the problem in the public’s eye when a recorder is accusing the board, and the board is accusing the recorder, of each doing things that one side of the political spectrum thinks is terrible and the other side of the political spectrum thinks is appropriate,” said Ken Bennett, a Republican who previously served as a state lawmaker and Arizona secretary of state. Tammy Patrick, a former election official in Maricopa County and chief programs officer at The Election Center, a nonprofit association of election officials, said county leaders should be “dialing down the rhetoric,” rather than “turning it up.” She added that Maricopa County was long viewed nationally as “a bellwether of how we should trust our election outcomes and their legitimacy.” “In this moment, it’s just really important that level heads prevail,” she said. Nonetheless, both Heap and the supervisors have repeatedly defended their actions. Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee, a Republican, said she and her colleagues chose to air their concerns publicly only after Heap refused to answer their questions about the voters whose ballots were rejected in the November 2025 election. Speaking before Blaney’s decision, she noted the board is charged with setting the county budget, canvassing election results, and overseeing county functions, and that it routinely asks questions of its own staff in the elections department. “We needed information about lots and lots of things,” Brophy McGee said when asked why the board chose to compel Heap to testify. “It did, in fact, work. He came, he testified.” Meanwhile, Judy Keane, a spokeswoman for Heap, said in a statement that his office “stands fully behind the testimony of its employees.” She declined to answer specific questions about the staffers’ disenfranchisement claims and Votebeat’s findings, citing pending litigation. Records suggest provisional ballot voters aren’t being disenfranchised During a court hearing on Jan. 26, two recorder’s office employees — Chief of Staff Sam Stone and Director of Voter Registration Janine Petty — testified under oath that some provisional ballot voters had been disenfranchised in Maricopa County. That type of ballot is used when there is a question about a voter’s eligibility, acting as a safeguard to ensure that no one is wrongly turned away from a polling location. Officials later research provisional voters’ eligibility to determine whether their ballot should be counted. Often, voters cast provisional ballots as a result of Arizona’s unique, bifurcated registration system. In order to vote full ballots that include state and local races, the state requires voters to provide documents proving their citizenship and residency. If they don’t, they’re allowed to vote only in federal races. In 2024, a new state law extended the period for voters to submit documentation and have their provisional ballots counted. Accordingly, Petty said many voters provided passports, birth certificates, and other documents, and her team struggled to meet the deadline to review them. As a result, she said, voters who should have been allowed to vote full ballots in the 2024 election only had their federal-race votes counted. Petty said supervisors were preventing her office from fulfilling its statutory duties by refusing to purchase a specific ballot scanning and sorting machine to address the problem. Heap has repeatedly requested that county supervisors pay for that machine, built by Runbeck Election Services, during the annual budgeting period. It would cost at least $325,000, plus about $40,000 each year to pay its mandatory licensing fee. Currently, Petty said her team has to scan provisional ballots by hand, one at a time, a process she likened to “looking for a needle in a haystack.” She said the machine that the recorder’s office is seeking to purchase could sort and scan about 18,000 ballots in an hour. Stone also testified that the machine was needed to ensure eligible voters’ ballots were counted, and framed it as a persistent issue, saying disenfranchisement was “happening now.” But Votebeat couldn’t substantiate the claims. A records request for emails and texts between Petty and leaders in the recorder’s office at the time — including former Recorder Stephen Richer, former Chief of Staff Abby Raddatz, and former Chief Deputy Recorder Darron Moffatt — didn’t turn up any that referenced issues with scanning provisional ballots. The recorder’s office’s 2025 requests to the board for funding for the machine also don’t mention voters having been disenfranchised without it. Furthermore, emails between Petty and top staffers in the recorder’s office and election department show that she confirmed that her team was done processing provisional ballots on Nov. 13, 2024 — two days before the deadline. “In other news, we have processed all conditional provisionals that can be cured,” Petty wrote. “We are done!” The share of provisional ballots rejected in the 2024 election did rise significantly. That year, Maricopa County rejected 22,411 provisional ballots in the general election — about 86% of provisional ballots cast. That’s up from a 62% rejection rate in 2022 and a 66% rejection rate in 2020. That higher rate held roughly steady in the 2025 jurisdictional election, with the county rejecting 238 ballots — about 82% of provisional ballots cast. But that doesn’t necessarily support Petty’s claim. The same law that created more work for Petty’s team also required voters to prove their address before casting their vote. Richer told Votebeat that resulted in more provisional ballots than usual, ultimately leading to higher rejection rates across the state. Pima County, the second-most populous in the state, saw a similar increase in its provisional ballot rejection rate in 2024 compared to the 2022 election, according to data tracked by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Later, in a Jan. 28 meeting, Heap partly walked back his staffers’ claims. He said that disenfranchisement was not happening under his administration, as Stone had suggested. “We didn’t say that any voters have been disenfranchised since I took office,”said Heap, whose term began in 2025. “If there were any voters disenfranchised, it was under the previous administration.” Richer pushed back on that allegation and told Votebeat that Petty never brought any such problem to his attention. “I’d certainly never heard of this before,” he said, adding that the idea that he would have ignored any disenfranchisement was “so silly.” He noted that no one at the recorder’s office had mentioned any voters getting disenfranchised until the office started feuding with the board of supervisors. Keane, the spokesperson for the recorder’s office, defended Petty’s testimony. Votebeat also reached out to Petty and Stone but did not receive a response. “Janine Petty is the leading expert in the state of Arizona on voter registration and election procedures,” Keane said. “Her professionalism and service in our office has been exemplary.” During a press gaggle in February, Votebeat asked Heap whether he had identified any specific voters who were disenfranchised in 2024. “We have looked into the issue — I can’t say specifically a number, but she identified that we have a serious problem,” Heap responded, referring to Petty’s testimony. “We will continue to look into that.” Supervisors’ concerns about new signature verification process ignore context Heap and his staff haven’t been the only ones questioning the administration of past elections in Maricopa County. Supervisors have voiced concern that a new approach Heap took to signature verification prevented eligible voters from having their mail ballots counted in an election last year. Trained staff in the recorder’s office have long compared the signature on the outside of a voter’s ballot envelope to their prior signatures as a safeguard against fraud. When a voter’s signature doesn’t match, election officials attempt to contact the voter to fix their signature, a process known as ballot curing. After taking office, Heap added additional layers of review to the signature verification process. Previously, one person reviewed a batch of ballots, then rechecked their own work before sending questionable signatures to a manager to determine whether the ballot needed to be cured. Signatures marked as good went into an audit queue, and a manager would perform a spot check on a smaller sample. Under the new process, bipartisan teams examine each signature simultaneously. A questionable signature goes to a manager, who then determines if it needs to go to a third level of examination. A low-turnout, all-mail election held on Nov. 4, 2025, was the first test of Heap’s new system. His office ultimately rejected 5,903 mail ballots over mismatched signatures — roughly 838 for every 100,000 ballots cast, more than double the rate of the 2024 general election. That prompted alarm from supervisors, who questioned the rejections during the certification of the election. Later, Brophy McGee said she was concerned that Heap had opted to test the new process in a live election, rather than running a mock one “as is normal practice.” “Our voters were your first test sample,” she wrote in a letter to Heap on Jan. 22. “It is important to ensure no qualified voters were unnecessarily rejected by your new process.” During a heated budget meeting on Jan. 28, Supervisor Tom Galvin called Heap’s new signature verification process a “looming disaster.” But it’s difficult to know whether Heap’s new process wrongly rejected any voters, and it’s unlikely that it was the sole contributing factor in the increased rejection rate. In fact, ballot rejection rates have been on the rise in Maricopa County for years. In 2020, Democratic Recorder Adrian Fontes rejected about 30 mail ballots for every 100,000 cast. When Richer, a Republican, took office, he implemented a stricter signature verification process in response to false claims of voter fraud and pressure from his own party. In the 2021 election, the county’s rejection rate increased to roughly 190 mail ballots for every 100,000 cast. Then, in 2024, a state law shortened the period for voters to cure their ballots. With Richer still at the helm, the county’s rejection rate in that year’s general election was about 400 for every 100,000 mail ballots cast. Richer told Votebeat that it was “hard to say” exactly what might be causing the increased rejection rate under Heap. He said it could have been because the new signature verification process flagged more ballots as needing to be cured, but it also could have been because fewer voters actually stepped forward to cure them. In larger elections, political parties typically assist with the curing process by contacting registered Democrats and Republicans to urge them to cure their ballot. But the parties don’t usually mount such ballot-chasing operations during smaller elections unless races are particularly tight. Patti O’Neil, chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, told Votebeat her party didn’t do any ballot-chasing in 2025. Craig Berland, chair of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, did not respond when posed the same question. The fact that the election was entirely conducted by mail may have also contributed to the higher rejection rate. Heap theorized last year that the all-mail election may have brought out voters who hadn’t voted by mail in several cycles, or even decades, and who have only one signature on file to compare. “I think it’s the nature of this type of election compared to a regular election,” he said at the time. Even if Heap’s new process did contribute to the higher rejection rate, it does not appear that it did so with any partisan bias. A Votebeat analysis of curing data from last year’s election showed the partisan breakdown of voters whose ballots were sent to curing was roughly in line with party registration numbers in the county at the time, as was the partisan breakdown of voters who confirmed or fixed the signatures on their ballots. Additionally, training materials obtained from the recorder’s office showed no indication of reviewers being incentivized to flag questionable signatures. Feud between Heap and supervisors could spill over into the 2026 election As county supervisors prepared to compel testimony from Heap in February, an unusual video appeared on two of the county’s social media platforms. It contained footage of supervisors blasting Heap for refusing to answer their questions. In one particularly spicy clip, Galvin accused Heap of playing “political games” and “lying” to the public, as dramatic music played in the background. It concluded with a taunt: “It ends on Wednesday. See you there, Justin Heap.” Heap has made similar statements about the board. In January, he accused supervisors of throwing a “juvenile temper tantrum” after a raucous budget meeting in which supervisors criticized his new signature verification process and read aloud partisan social media posts from Stone, including one which referenced picking sides in “the coming civil war.” More recently, Heap said the board was “lying to voters yet again” amid bickering over an early voting plan for the upcoming primary election. The board, though, has appeared to back off publicly criticizing Heap in recent weeks. Brophy McGee said Heap still hasn’t answered all of her questions but has provided enough information to allow county officials to “muddle through” the budget process and election preparations. These days, she said, county officials are focused on working together to prepare for the upcoming election. There’s a “disparity,” she said, between “what’s happening on the ground with staff working together and social media.” Even so, the bad-mouthing — and the apparently false and misleading remarks that it’s based on — has already caught on outside the walls of the Maricopa County Administration Building. Days after the board posted its video on social media, the Maricopa County Democratic Party accused Heap of “working hand-in-glove with the White House to steal the 2026 election.” It tagged the county board’s account in its post. Later, as supervisors forced testimony from Heap, the local party released a statement in support of the move. It said Heap’s “erratic behavior” suggested that he had succumbed to “pressures from within his own party, rather than uphold his duty to administer elections impartially and fairly,” and added that voters deserved elections free from “chicanery.” Meanwhile, dozens of people showed up to support Heap as he appeared before the board. Many wore pins or carried signs declaring, “We courageous election workers,” an apparent reference to recorder’s office staffers’ testimony in court. The swag was provided by Strong Communities Action, a nonprofit run by local conservative activist Merissa Caldwell, who is married to one of Heap’s senior staffers. During the meeting, the crowd occasionally jeered and booed county supervisors. Afterward, they gathered to shake hands, hug, and take photos with Heap. Outside observers fear the effect the heightened rhetoric could have on the 2026 midterm election. “When the recorder and the board are throwing rocks at each other, people are going to line up behind the ones that they think they’ve heard the right thing about, and join in the rock throwing,” said Bennett, the former secretary of state. He added that he’s certain the battle won’t “end pretty.” “It does not end by instilling confidence, increasing confidence, or maintaining confidence in our elections,” he said. “It ends by destroying confidence in the minds of American and Arizonan voters who are left to pick one side or the other.” This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e667ad059ccda1fcc08798 GOP strategists called to DC as Trump team confronts rising midterm headwinds te 2026-04-20T17:51:41.463Z GOP strategists called to DC as Trump team confronts rising midterm headwinds With the six-month mark until Election Day 2026 closing fast, President Donald Trump’s top political advisers are meeting behind closed doors Monday with dozens of leading Republican political consultants from across the country for a strategy session as the party defends its razor-thin House and slim Senate majorities in the midterms. The meeting, organized by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who was co-chair of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, and Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, comes as the party in power in the nation’s capital faces traditional political headwinds and is expected to lose congressional seats. Republicans are also battling a challenging political climate fueled by persistent inflation, rising gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran, and the president’s underwater approval ratings. The gathering, which was first reported by Politico, is aimed at establishing better coordination and sharing of data and strategy between the White House political team and consultants advising candidates in midterm showdowns. STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP'S TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING The meeting also comes two weeks after Trump announced that Blair would temporarily step down from his White House role to steer midterm strategy from the outside. The president said in a social media post that Blair would take "a short leave of absence to lead the charge from the outside" against Democrats, and after the midterms would "return again to the White House, so we can finish the job." This is the second major gathering ahead of the midterms. Wiles, Blair and other top Trump political advisers met in February at the party’s Capitol Hill Club with Cabinet officials and their top aides to discuss promoting the Trump agenda and other midterm messaging. Trump made a two-day swing last week to Nevada and Arizona, two crucial swing states in this year's elections, to highlight the tax cuts that congressional Republicans passed, and which he signed into law last summer. BACK ON THE TRAIL: TRUMP HITS BATTLEGROUND STATES TO TOUT TAX CUTS The president's stops were part of a full-court press last week by Republicans, around last Wednesday's tax filing deadline, to spotlight the tax cuts, which they insist will give them a political boost with voters in the midterms. The tax cuts were a key component of Republicans’ massive domestic policy measure, which passed almost entirely along party lines in the GOP-controlled House and Senate. The law, originally titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act but rebranded as the Working Families Tax Cuts, is stuffed full of Trump's 2024 campaign trail promises and second-term priorities, including extending the president's signature 2017 tax cuts and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay.  FIRST ON FOX: GOP TAKES AIM AT DEMOCRATS FOR OPPOSING TRUMP TAX CUTS But much of the GOP messaging last week was overshadowed by coverage of the war with Iran and Trump's very public spat with the pope. Republicans in Congress are are increasingly concerned about the political climate ahead of the midterms. "If we lose the midterms, it'll be because we didn't talk about what moms and dads are worried about when they lie down to sleep at night...and that's primarily the cost of living, GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said Saturday in an appearance on Fox News' "The Big Weekend Show." And pointing to the tax cuts, Kennedy said the "One Big Beautiful Bill is going to help a lot of people in terms of their taxes and a lot of small businesses. And that's what I wish the president would talk more about. If we talk about it, we'll win the midterms." Despite the Democratic Party's poll numbers hitting all-time lows over the past year, Democrats are energized heading into the midterms thanks to a slew of off-year-election and special election victories and over performances, thanks in part to their laser focus on affordability since Trump returned to the White House. The Democratic National Committee, in an email release Monday to supporters, claimed that "Republicans are in trouble ahead of the midterms — and they know it." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6679a059ccda1fcc0878f Sabres win first playoff game in 15 years in dramatic fashion, stun Bruins with epic third period comeback te 2026-04-20T17:51:22.018Z Sabres win first playoff game in 15 years in dramatic fashion, stun Bruins with epic third period comeback The Buffalo Sabres made their first playoff game in 14 years, one they would never forget. The Sabres scored four goals in the last eight minutes of the game to come back and beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in electrifying fashion to take a 1-0 series lead on Sunday night at KeyBank Center. The Bruins quieted the raucous Buffalo crowd when star center Morgan Geekie buried a slap shot into the back of the net from the high slot to give them a 1-0 lead about 11 minutes into the first period. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The Bruins, after a scoreless second period, extended their lead in the third period. With just over a minute in the third period, Elias Lindholm snuck a wrist shot behind Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for a 2-0 lead. The Sabres finally broke through against Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman when Team USA star Tage Thompson snuck around from behind the net and backhanded the puck between Swayman and the post to cut the deficit in half. Thompson, who led the Sabres with 40 goals in the regular season, wasn’t done yet. About three and a half minutes after he scored the first goal, he snagged the puck away from a Bruins defenseman in front of the net and snapped one home past Swayman to tie the game at 2-2. The Sabres took the lead just 52 seconds later, with the deafening crowd still jubilant from Thompson’s second goal. As the public address announcer was reading off the game-tying goal, Mattias Samuelsson ripped a shot from the slot past Swayman to give the team a 3-2 lead. NHL PLAYOFFS START WITH A BANG AS TEAM USA STAR BRADY TKACHUK DROPS GLOVES AT OPENING FACEOFF "It was probably the loudest I’ve ever heard in my life," Luukkonen said. "The fans are the ones who have waited so long. And so I’m really happy that we grinded out a win tonight." The Sabres scored an empty-net goal to make it 4-2, but the Bruins scored one shortly after to make it 4-3, and the Sabres held on for the win. "These are the kind of games you live for," Thompson said, via NHL.com. "You want to be in these games. It’s been a long time coming." For the Sabres, the comeback win had been a long time coming. They went 5,473 days between playoff games since losing Game 7 of a 2011 first-round series to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Sabres became the NHL’s eighth team to rally from a two-or-more-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes and win in regulation. And it marked just the second time Buffalo won a playoff game when trailing by two in the third period. "You could feel the building shaking, even upstairs I guess they said the same thing," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, according to NHL.com. "The atmosphere was unbelievable. It was great to give our fans that third period." The Sabres will look to take a 2-0 series lead when they play the Bruins on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. 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/69e66786059ccda1fcc08786 Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Iran’s new IRGC chief tied to global attacks and ‘Death to America’ ideology te 2026-04-20T17:51:02.565Z Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Iran’s new IRGC chief tied to global attacks and ‘Death to America’ ideology As President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to decide whether to extend a two-week ceasefire between the countries approaches, attention is increasingly turning not to Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, but to a shadowy Revolutionary Guard commander with a long record of terror, repression and hardline ideology. Ahmad Vahidi, recently elevated to the top of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite paramilitary force within Iran’s military, is emerging as one of the most powerful men in Iran and, according to analysts, one of the key figures likely deciding whether Tehran resumes fighting or continues talks. "By any standard, Vahidi is considered a radical even within the regime’s hardline elite, and his rise is a warning that Tehran’s war machine now calls the shots," Lisa Daftari, foreign policy analyst and journalist, told Fox News Digital. "Putting someone with such a bloody and murderous record at the top of the Revolutionary Guard Corps confirms that the regime is not moderating under pressure. On the contrary," Daftari added, "it is doubling down on men whose careers are built on hostage‑taking, assassinations, and domestic repression. By any standard, Vahidi is considered a radical even within the regime’s hardline elite, and his rise is a warning that Tehran’s war machine now calls the shots." TRUMP’S APOCALYPTIC IRAN WARNING RAISES STAKES FOR SWEEPING US STRIKE THREAT Why it matters: Analysts say Vahidi’s rise could shape whether Iran moves toward peace or deeper conflict. For the U.S., that means heightened risks to troops, allies and global stability if a hardline figure with a history tied to terror networks is now helping call the shots in Iran. Vahidi’s rise comes at a moment when Iran’s formal political institutions appear weaker than ever. Experts describe the Islamic Republic today as a system in which informal networks and personal relationships matter more than official titles. Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described Iran as "a system of men, not laws, but one whose success rested on institutionalizing their power", where decisions increasingly flow through Revolutionary Guard figures rather than the civilian government. Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, said Vahidi may now be even more influential than parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf or even Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei. "In my view, he is more dominant right now, even if they are coordinated. This is not a time for internal competition," Sabti said, adding that Vahidi is the only one who meets the new supreme leader face-to-face. VANCE EN ROUTE TO PAKISTAN FOR HIGH-STAKES IRAN TALKS AS ‘FRAGILE’ CEASEFIRE TEETERS Long before the world knew the name Qassem Soleimani, the longtime commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force who was killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike, Vahidi was one of the men who helped build the infrastructure of Iran’s overseas terror operations. He served as commander of the Quds Force in the 1990s, before Soleimani took over the elite unit responsible for foreign operations, covert action and support for proxy groups.  Analysts say Vahidi played a central role in building Iran’s network of terrorist allies across the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon. "Ahmad Vahidi is the embodiment of the Islamic Republic’s most militant wing," Daftari told Fox News Digital. "As Qassem Soleimani’s predecessor at the Quds Force, he helped build Tehran’s terror infrastructure abroad." Sabti said Vahidi was part of the original generation of Iranian operatives who forged ties with militant groups in Lebanon before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Some accounts suggest he trained in camps linked to Palestinian and Lebanese factions in southern Lebanon, helping lay the foundation for Iran’s alliance with Hezbollah, Iran-backed terror group in Lebanon.  Vahidi has been linked by analysts and Western governments to some of the deadliest attacks carried out by Iranian-backed networks over the past four decades. As the commander of the Quds Force from 1988 to 1998, he has been connected to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing that killed 241 U.S. service members, the 1996 Khobar Towers attack in Saudi Arabia, and a 2008 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL 'FIND OUT' TRUMP IS 'NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND' IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART Daftari noted that Vahidi "has been implicated by Argentine prosecutors in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA (Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina) Jewish community center in Buenos Aires." Eighty-five people were killed in the bombing.  Argentine investigators and courts have also linked Vahidi to the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, although the Interpol red notice against him is specifically for his alleged role in the 1994 AMIA bombing. In April, Argentina renewed attention on him after its President Javier Milei’s government designated the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization and singled out Vahidi by name. In announcing the move, the Argentine government said that red notices remained in place for several Iranian officials, "among them former Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, who was recently appointed to lead the IRGC." Vahidi is under multiple layers of sanctions by both the United States and the European Union. The sanctions significantly restrict his ability to travel, move money or do business internationally. Washington first sanctioned him in 2010 for links to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Vahidi was redesignated in 2022 for "being an official of the Government of Iran and being responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against persons in Iran or Iranian citizens or residents, or the family members of the foregoing, on or after June 12, 2009, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Iran." He was redesignated by the United States in 2022 under Executive Order 13553 after Mahsa Amini’s death, when he served as interior minister and oversaw the regime’s response to nationwide protests. Vahidi was sanctioned for orchestrating internet blackouts and directing Iran’s Law Enforcement Command, known as NAJA, during the crackdown, according to the U.S. Treasury.  The European Union first sanctioned him in 2008, and imposed parallel sanctions in 2022 over the use of live ammunition, arbitrary detention of protesters and journalists, and the violent suppression of demonstrations. Human rights groups accused Iranian authorities of using live fire, mass arrests and torture against protesters, which resulted in more than 30,000 deaths. Yigal Carmon, founder and president of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) warned, "Under his leadership, more such crimes are to be expected in the West against both Jews and non-Jews." PAKISTANI GENERAL SAYS IRAN DIPLOMACY STILL 'ALIVE, DESPITE US BLOCKADE, FAILED TALKS Experts say Vahidi is not merely another hardliner, but one of the most extreme figures even within Iran’s already radical ruling elite. Sabti is warning that Vahidi’s growing influence could make Tehran less likely to agree to a genuine ceasefire. "He brings even more radicalization into the system and may not want to stop the war, because it serves the interests of the Revolutionary Guards to continue," Sabti said. One of the biggest concerns surrounding Vahidi is that even if Iran agrees to a ceasefire, he may see it only as an opportunity to regroup. That concern has taken on new urgency as Trump’s deadline approaches. If Vahidi is indeed the man increasingly calling the shots in Iran, analysts say the key question is not whether Iran wants a ceasefire, but whether the Revolutionary Guard commander believes continued confrontation better serves his interests. Carmon said, "Trusting him is a grave mistake. He belongs to the hard 'DEATH TO AMERICA' corps." Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66772059ccda1fcc0877d DNA from chewing gum nails longtime sexual predator decades after reign of terror: report te 2026-04-20T17:50:42.832Z DNA from chewing gum nails longtime sexual predator decades after reign of terror: report A Washington man has pleaded guilty in connection with two decades-old cold cases after investigators reportedly linked him to both crimes using a clever ruse and just a piece of gum.   Mitchell Gaff, 68, entered the pleas Thursday in Snohomish County Superior Court, where he admitted to the rapes and murders of Judith "Judy" Weaver and Susan Vesey, according to the Everett Police Department.  Gaff – a diagnosed "sexual sadist" and self-proclaimed rapist – was linked to the two killings after investigators matched a DNA sample found on a piece of Gaff’s chewing gum to both crime scenes, according to USA Today.  The revelation reportedly came after detectives with the Everett Police Department visited his home in Olympia, claiming to be researchers working within the gum industry and inviting him to try a free sample – all while clad in shorts and T-shirts to make the tale believable. TED BUNDY UNMASKED IN DECADES-OLD TEEN MURDER AS COLD CASE FINALLY SOLVED BY DNA: REPORT Gaff agreed, and ultimately sampled a few flavors while discarding each piece of gum into small cups with lids, the outlet reported. The pieces were then sent through the federal database CODIS, where investigators ultimately linked Gaff to both murders.  Everett was initially taken into custody in May 2024 on charges stemming from Weaver’s death, police said.  Weaver’s body was discovered inside her home on Rucker Ave after first responders were called to the scene regarding a fire on June 2, 1984, according to authorities. 'TIMES SQUARE KILLER' USED FAKE POLICE BADGE TO MURDER 18-YEAR-OLD NURSING STUDENT: DEATHBED CONFESSION Once in custody, authorities linked him to Vesey’s murder, in which her husband discovered she had been murdered inside her home the day after her 21st birthday on July 12, 1980, officials said.  Gaff’s admission comes after a lifetime of terrorizing his local Washington community, in which he landed behind bars on multiple occasions and was eventually required to register as a sex offender.  In 1979, Gaff approached then-29-year-old Jackie Brown outside her home as she was putting her lawnmower away, brandished an air gun and ordered her to get on her knees, USA Today reported. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Gaff proceeded to unleash a brutal physical assault against Brown, in which he reportedly began beating her in the head with the weapon and slamming her head against the concrete floor.   In a bid to save her life, Brown reportedly waited until Gaff put his gun down to try to escape. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "I threw my body against him and caught him off guard, and he kind of stumbled against the wall," Brown told USA Today. "I stood up, and I was trapped, and he said, 'You're going to die now, you [expletive].' And I knew I was dead." Brown managed to escape, and Gaff was later convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and burglary in the case, according to the outlet. SEND US A TIP HERE Just four years later, while Gaff was on probation, he was reportedly arrested again after he attacked a pair of 14-and 16-year-old girls as they slept in their mother’s home on Aug. 28, 1984. In that case, court documents reportedly revealed he tied both girls up with an electrical cord, cut off their clothes, beat them and repeatedly raped the sisters. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST One girl managed to escape and ran for help, causing Gaff to flee the scene.  He subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and burglary, according to USA Today. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Throughout the years, Gaff reportedly confessed to attempting to attack up to 30 women and girls in one day in the 1980s and admitted to raping at least eight of them.  "I am so proud of our Everett Police Department for solving this murder case by utilizing advancements in DNA analysis techniques," Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin said in a previous statement. "We honor Susan’s memory as we bring this suspect to justice." Gaff is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13. The Everett Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.  Fox News Digital’s Jesse Watson contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66544059ccda1fcc08729 Nick Shirley confronts California Democrats over 'Stop Nick Shirley Act,' pressing on First Amendment rights te 2026-04-20T17:41:24.240Z Nick Shirley confronts California Democrats over 'Stop Nick Shirley Act,' pressing on First Amendment rights California lawmakers were confronted at the state Capitol in Sacramento as independent journalist Nick Shirley filmed a video published this week questioning Assembly Bill 2624, a proposal California Republicans have dubbed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," during interviews with Democratic and Republican legislators about the bill's scope and intent. "If this bill were to get passed, instead of going after the fraudsters, they’re trying to make it criminal to go after the people that are committing this fraud," Shirley said in the video posted to his YouTube page. The video centered on California Assembly Bill 2624, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, which seeks to restrict the public posting of personal information of individuals connected to immigration support services, including nonprofit organizations, legal clinics and health care providers. VANCE REVEALS $19B FRAUD UNCOVERED IN MINNEAPOLIS, HINTS CALIFORNIA IS NEXT TARGET "I think that that’s a misinterpretation of the bill, but I’m happy to talk with you more about it," Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Alhambra, told Shirley when pressed about whether the measure would restrict fraud investigations. The legislation also drew scrutiny in Shirley's video because Assemblymember Bonta is married to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Shirley repeatedly framed that relationship as a potential conflict of interest while questioning lawmakers about whether the bill would make it harder to expose fraud involving taxpayer-funded immigration services. "I actually don’t think that this bill violates the First Amendment," Pérez said when asked about constitutional concerns. "We have ledge [legislative] counsel and ledge attorneys that talk with us about this. Constitutionality is really important to the work." NEW EXPOSÉ CLAIMS CALIFORNIA LOST AT LEAST $180B TO FRAUD UNDER GAVIN NEWSOM Shirley’s video showed several encounters in which lawmakers declined to discuss the bill in detail, with some saying they were unfamiliar with its contents or needed to review it further. "I need to read the bill," Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, said after Shirley told him he had signed onto the measure. One of the most pointed exchanges came when Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, was approached and asked for his opinion on the legislation. "I think you’re a psycho scam artist," Wiener said on camera before closing the door on Shirley. Shirley also approached Speaker of the Assembly, Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, and asked about the legislation directly. "I don’t know anything about it," Rivas said, before also closing the door on Shirley. "That just shows you everything you need to know," Nick Shirley said, after Rivas ignored the rest of his questions. "These people won't even answer the questions." JOE ROGAN RIPS GAVIN NEWSOM FOR MOCKING NICK SHIRLEY OVER HIS 'BILLION DOLLAR' FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, who appeared in the video opposing the measure, argued the bill's language could impact independent reporting on alleged fraud. "You read the bill, and you realize that it's against the First Amendment," DeMaio said. "It criminalizes citizen investigative journalists who take video and expose fraud." "That's what the bill is designed to do," he said. "It's designed to keep secrets, to keep the public from knowing what's going on. They don't want to end their fraud racket." Fox News reached out to the California Democrats for comment, but did not immediately hear back. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66530059ccda1fcc08720 Joe Rogan reveals text to Trump that helped expedite federal review of psychedelics te 2026-04-20T17:41:04.748Z Joe Rogan reveals text to Trump that helped expedite federal review of psychedelics President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Saturday directing federal agencies to fast-track research into psychedelic drugs after a direct text message exchange with podcast host Joe Rogan, marking a rapid policy shift inside the White House. "We all respect Joe and he's a little bit more liberal than I am. That's OK. I have a lot of friends that are liberal," Trump said during the Oval Office event. "Joe is an amazing guy. He wrote me a little note about this, and I had it checked out. Everybody came back with the same answer." The directive aims to accelerate federal review of substances such as ibogaine and LSD, which remain classified as Schedule I drugs under federal law. The order directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite breakthrough therapy designations, encourages interagency data sharing, and opens the door to rapid scheduling if safety and efficacy are demonstrated. The move follows months of internal discussions led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and aides working on expanding access to alternative mental health treatments, but Rogan’s outreach appears to have accelerated the timeline. CONOR MCGREGOR SAYS HE UNDERWENT PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG PROCEDURE OFTEN USED TO TREAT BRAIN TREATMENT Rogan said he shared with Trump the information that claimed ibogaine was highly successful in treating opiate addiction. "The text message came back: ‘Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it,’" Rogan said, describing Trump’s immediate response. "It was literally that quick." Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz described the internal effort as a rapid policy sprint, with officials moving in days to translate a private exchange into a formal executive order. The administration framed the move as part of a broader push to address mental health challenges, particularly among veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and addiction. "In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans," Trump said at the signing. RFK JR UNVEILS $100M EFFORT TO TACKLE ADDICTION, HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL ILLNESS While no psychedelic has yet received FDA approval in the United States, compounds like psilocybin and MDMA are currently being studied in clinical trials. Two states, Oregon and Colorado, have already legalized supervised psilocybin therapy programs, signaling growing state-level momentum. "You’re going to save a lot of lives through it," former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell told Trump during the event. "It absolutely changed my life for the better." Ibogaine, a psychedelic derived from a West African shrub, has drawn attention from veterans groups and some Republican lawmakers as a potential treatment for PTSD and opioid addiction. However, medical experts have warned of serious risks, including heart complications and a lack of large-scale clinical trials. The drug has been linked to more than 30 deaths, according to existing medical literature. TRUMP-BACKED PLAN COULD FAST-TRACK PSYCHEDELIC THERAPIES — HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "It’s been incredibly difficult to study ibogaine in the US because of its known cardiotoxicity," said Frederick Barrett of Johns Hopkins University, according to PBS. "If the executive order can pave the way for doing objective, scientific research with this compound, it would help us understand whether it is truly a better psychedelic therapy than others." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66508059ccda1fcc08709 A Brisk Day in Boston, for the Weather and Runners Alike te 2026-04-20T17:40:24.811Z A Brisk Day in Boston, for the Weather and Runners Alike Boston held its 130th Marathon on an unseasonably chilly day that was endured by the crowd and relished by the athletes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e662c6059ccda1fcc084cc Sledgehammer murder spurs ICE manhunt for illegal immigrant suspect te 2026-04-20T17:30:46.197Z Sledgehammer murder spurs ICE manhunt for illegal immigrant suspect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has asked officials in Democratic-run Harris County not to release an illegal immigrant suspect from custody after he allegedly beat a coworker to death with a sledgehammer on a construction site in a suburb of Texas’ largest city, Houston. This comes as Texas officials feud with the City of Houston over a new policy limiting law enforcement cooperation with ICE. The confrontation mirrors the broader national debate between Democrats and Republicans over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. Disagreements over immigration enforcement have resulted in an ongoing lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security during a partial government shutdown. Now, Venezuelan national Josue Abraham Chirino-Leonice has been charged with the murder of carpenter Juan Antonio Salinas Leija at a north Houston home earlier this month, according to reporting by local outlet KHOU-11. The outlet said Salinas Leija was found dead at a home under renovation with severe wounds consistent with a sledgehammer attack. Chirino-Leonice was later arrested driving the victim’s truck in east Houston. ICE lodged a detainer — a request to hold — with the Harris County Jail last week. According to DHS, Chirino-Leonice was released into the country under Biden administration in 2023. DHS SLAMS CALIFORNIA 'SANCTUARY' COUNTY AFTER MOM ALLEGEDLY MURDERED BY 2 HONDURAN NATIONALS DHS said U.S. Border Patrol first arrested Chirino-Leonice in November 2023. The agency said the Biden administration "subsequently released him into the interior of the country." Gabriel Martinez, acting field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston, called the alleged murder a savage attack by an illegal alien "who never should have been allowed into the country." "This criminal illegal alien — who never should have been allowed into the country in the first place — is accused of savagely beating a co-worker to death with a sledgehammer and leaving him to die in a house they were renovating together," said Martinez. He said ICE officers in Houston are "working tirelessly to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system to bring an end to the carnage and unnecessary suffering in this country that’s caused by criminal illegal aliens," adding, "We won’t rest until we’ve accomplished that mission." TRUMP BLASTS BIDEN ADMIN FOR RELEASING HAITIAN IMMIGRANT NOW CHARGED IN FATAL HAMMER ATTACK ON FLORIDA MOTHER ICE has arrested thousands of illegal immigrants in the Houston area since President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office in January 2025. Those arrests have included at least 414 criminal illegal aliens who have been charged with or convicted of child sex offenses, according to DHS. At the start of the month, ICE Houston said that in the span of five days it arrested nearly 150 criminal aliens, including five child predators, two drug traffickers, 14 thieves, 62 violent offenders, one arsonist, seven hit-and-run DWIs, and nine immigrants convicted of a combined 31 DWIs. The Democratic-majority Houston City Council recently voted to end a policy requiring law enforcement to hold illegal immigrants for ICE for at least 30 minutes. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has called the policy a "breach of contract" with the state. Last week, he issued an ultimatum to the city to reverse the move or pay the state back $110 million in funding. TWO BOYS DEAD AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO ALLEGEDLY DROVE DRUNK AND HIT THEM ON A SIDEWALK Democratic Mayor John Whitmire has called the situation a "crisis" for public safety. The city council is set to reconsider the policy this Wednesday. Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris County Sheriff's Office for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66097059ccda1fcc082d9 Carnival Cruise passenger, 67, found dead while snorkeling off the coast of Australia during excursion te 2026-04-20T17:21:27.361Z Carnival Cruise passenger, 67, found dead while snorkeling off the coast of Australia during excursion A 67-year-old Carnival Cruise passenger died last week while snorkeling off the coast of mainland Australia during an excursion. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, was a passenger aboard the Carnival Splendor, which offers snorkeling excursions to the Tangalooma Wrecks. She reportedly drowned near Moreton Island on April 17, Cruise Hive reported. "Carnival Cruise Line is deeply saddened by the death of a guest on Moreton Island on Friday," the cruise line told local media. "Our Care Team is supporting the guest’s family during this difficult time." Fox News Digital has reached out to Carnival. FATAL FIRE ENGULFS CRUISE SHIP WITH HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS ABOARD: ‘I PANICKED' Local authorities said the woman, a resident of Tasmania, was found unresponsive in the water. "Attempts were made to revive the woman, however, she was pronounced deceased at the scene," a Queensland Police spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding her death." CRUISE PASSENGERS WITNESS TERRIFYING RESCUE AT SEA AS STRANDED MAN AND CAT PULLED FROM FAILING SAILBOAT The death occurred during the ship's four-night round trip cruise from Sydney, which included two days at sea and 10 hours at Moreton Island. The waters around the island, located off the coast of Brisbane, are generally calm and are known for shipwreck snorkeling sites and diverse marine life. The woman's death occurred only hours before another emergency on the same ship. On April 18, a passenger in his 70s reportedly climbed over the vessel's safety rails and went overboard. An intensive search lasted for several hours before being suspended. The two incidents are not believed to be linked. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e66083059ccda1fcc082d0 Jackson scolds colleagues in solo dissent after court jumps into routine police-stop case te 2026-04-20T17:21:07.478Z Jackson scolds colleagues in solo dissent after court jumps into routine police-stop case Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson accused the Supreme Court majority on Monday of overstepping its role to "wordsmith" a lower court in Washington, D.C., in a pointed break from her colleagues in a Fourth Amendment case about whether a police officer had reasonable suspicion to stop a man. Jackson, a Biden appointee, was the lone justice to defend the D.C. appeals court, which had found last year that the officer improperly stopped the man while he was in a vehicle. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's decision 8-2, approving the police stop. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, an Obama appointee and the high court's most senior liberal justice, also broke with the majority but declined to join Jackson's dissent, further isolating Jackson as an outlier even among the liberal justices. The Supreme Court’s decision emphasized that police officers have the broad ability to rely on a "totality of the circumstances" when making stops, noting that sometimes seemingly trivial standalone facts about a situation can be combined with more suspicious behavior to justify reasonable suspicion for a police stop or arrest. JACKSON-KAVANAUGH TENSIONS SURFACE IN CANDID EXCHANGE OVER SUPREME COURT 'SHADOW DOCKET' But Jackson argued against what she said was the high court's intervention in a lower court's routine evaluation of which facts are relevant and which are not. "I cannot fathom why that kind of factbound determination warranted correction by this Court," Jackson wrote. The case arose from a 2023 dispatch call to Washington, D.C., police at 2 a.m. reporting a suspicious vehicle. When an officer arrived on scene, two people ran from the car while the remaining passenger slowly began backing out of the parking lot with a door still open. The D.C. attorney general's office argued on behalf of police that this "totality" of facts amounted to reasonable suspicion to stop the person who remained in the car. The Supreme Court’s unsigned per curiam opinion said the lower court improperly ignored that two people fled the vehicle before the third person was stopped by an officer. Jackson said the D.C. appeals court had done basic "culling" of facts to reach its conclusion that the stop was unwarranted. JUSTICE JACKSON SPARKS ONLINE UPROAR AFTER LINKING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP TO STEALING A WALLET IN JAPAN "Under these circumstances, with only seconds to decide whether to intervene, the officer was entirely justified in detaining the driver," lawyers for the police argued. They added that "within moments of stopping the driver, the officer observed a smashed window and punched-out ignition, confirming that the vehicle had been stolen." While Jackson has become known for aggressively supporting court intervention in broader constitutional fights involving presidential power, in this case, her dissent emphasized a need for judicial restraint. Jackson argued that the lower court properly considered the Fourth Amendment, which says people have a right to be "secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." She said the case was not worthy of taking the "unusual step of summary reversal." "I am not sure why our Court sees fit to intervene in this case, let alone to do so summarily," Jackson said. "If the intervention reflects a worry that the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (DCCA) misunderstands the Fourth Amendment’s totality-of-the-circumstances analysis, that worry seems unfounded." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6605b059ccda1fcc08294 Trump Administration Takes Steps to Refund $166 Billion in Tariffs te 2026-04-20T17:20:27.545Z Trump Administration Takes Steps to Refund $166 Billion in Tariffs The government debuted a system to repay importers two months after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs at the heart of the president’s trade policy. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65e3c059ccda1fcc080f4 Sledgehammer-wielding illegal immigrant sought by ICE after alleged blue city murder te 2026-04-20T17:11:24.499Z Sledgehammer-wielding illegal immigrant sought by ICE after alleged blue city murder U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has asked officials in Democratic-run Harris County not to release a sledgehammer-wielding illegal immigrant from custody after he allegedly beat a coworker to death on a construction site in a suburb of Texas’ largest city, Houston. This comes as Texas officials feud with the City of Houston over a new policy limiting law enforcement cooperation with ICE. The confrontation mirrors the broader national debate between Democrats and Republicans over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. Disagreements over immigration enforcement have resulted in an ongoing lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security during a partial government shutdown. Now, Venezuelan national Josue Abraham Chirino-Leonice has been charged with the murder of carpenter Juan Antonio Salinas Leija at a north Houston home earlier this month, according to reporting by local outlet KHOU-11. The outlet said Salinas Leija was found dead at a home under renovation with severe wounds consistent with a sledgehammer attack. Chirino-Leonice was later arrested driving the victim’s truck in east Houston. ICE lodged a detainer — a request to hold — with the Harris County Jail last week. According to DHS, Chirino-Leonice was released into the country under Biden administration in 2023. DHS SLAMS CALIFORNIA 'SANCTUARY' COUNTY AFTER MOM ALLEGEDLY MURDERED BY 2 HONDURAN NATIONALS DHS said that U.S. Border Patrol first arrested Chirino-Leonice in November 2023. The agency said the Biden administration "subsequently released him into the interior of the country." Gabriel Martinez, acting field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston, called the alleged murder a savage attack by an illegal alien "who never should have been allowed into the country." "This criminal illegal alien — who never should have been allowed into the country in the first place — is accused of savagely beating a co-worker to death with a sledgehammer and leaving him to die in a house they were renovating together," said Martinez. He said ICE officers in Houston are "working tirelessly to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system to bring an end to the carnage and unnecessary suffering in this country that’s caused by criminal illegal aliens," adding, "We won’t rest until we’ve accomplished that mission." TRUMP BLASTS BIDEN ADMIN FOR RELEASING HAITIAN IMMIGRANT NOW CHARGED IN FATAL HAMMER ATTACK ON FLORIDA MOTHER ICE has arrested thousands of illegal immigrants in the Houston area since President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office in January 2025. Those arrests have included at least 414 criminal illegal aliens who have been charged with or convicted of child sex offenses, according to DHS. At the start of the month, ICE Houston said that in the span of five days it arrested nearly 150 criminal aliens including five child predators, two drug traffickers, 14 thieves, 62 violent offenders, one arsonist, seven hit-and-run DWIs, and nine immigrants convicted of a combined 31 DWIs. The Democratic-majority Houston City Council recently voted to end a policy requiring law enforcement to hold illegal immigrants for ICE for at least 30 minutes. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has called the policy a "breach of contract" with the state. Last week, he issued an ultimatum to the city to reverse the move or pay the state back $110 million in funding. TWO BOYS DEAD AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO ALLEGEDLY DROVE DRUNK AND HIT THEM ON A SIDEWALK Democratic Mayor John Whitmire has called the situation a "crisis" for public safety. The city council is set to reconsider the policy this Wednesday. Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris County Sheriff's Office for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65e28059ccda1fcc080eb Sen Mark Warner 'heartbroken,' announcing daughter dies of juvenile diabetes te 2026-04-20T17:11:04.824Z Sen Mark Warner 'heartbroken,' announcing daughter dies of juvenile diabetes Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., announced the loss of his adult daughter Madison Warner at age 36 after a long battle with juvenile diabetes and other health problems. "We are heartbroken beyond words by the passing of our beloved daughter, Madison, 36, after a decades-long battle with juvenile diabetes and other health issues," Warner wrote in a joint statement with his wife Lisa Collis. "She filled our lives with love and laughter, and her absence leaves an immeasurable void." "We are grateful for the loving support of friends and family during this difficult time and ask for privacy as we navigate this profound loss," the statement concluded. Madison was the eldest of Warner’s three daughters with his wife, Lisa. She is survived by sisters Gillian and Eliza. VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS DIG IN ON DHS FUNDING LINE DESPITE ISIS-LINKED SHOOTING AT ODU, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MURDER Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both chambers of Congress responded with their sincere condolences over the family's sudden loss. "Our deepest condolences," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X. "We're keeping your family in our prayers." "Please join me in praying for Senator Mark Warner and his family," Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted. "This is heartbreaking news." BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL TO CAP INSULIN FOR AMERICANS AT $35 HAS NEW MOMENTUM "We're praying for @MarkWarner," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., wrote on X. "I am incredibly sorry for your loss," Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, wrote on X. "Keeping you and your family in my prayers." Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said the "entire Virginia delegation stands with Mark and Lisa during this period of profound grief." "Suzanne and I are praying for Lisa and Mark Warner and their family today after the loss of their daughter, Madison," former Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wrote on X. "Our prayers are with them on this most difficult of all days." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65dff059ccda1fcc080c9 North Korea hackers blamed for $290M crypto theft te 2026-04-20T17:10:23.964Z North Korea hackers blamed for $290M crypto theft The hack against Kelp DAO is the largest crypto heist of the year so far. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65c25059ccda1fcc080b0 El precio más barato de la gasolina en Phoenix cae a casi $3.50 te 2026-04-20T17:02:29.271Z El precio más barato de la gasolina en Phoenix cae a casi $3.50 El precio promedio por galón en Phoenix ha bajado alrededor de 22 centavos en las últimas semanas. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65c0d059ccda1fcc0808a Swing-state Dem candidate's 'disgusting' comments about JD, Usha Vance's 'brown children' sparks outrage te 2026-04-20T17:02:05.690Z Swing-state Dem candidate's 'disgusting' comments about JD, Usha Vance's 'brown children' sparks outrage Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is running as a Democrat for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, is facing online blowback over a podcast appearance where he took several pointed shots at Vice President JD Vance’s personal life, including his relationship with Second Lady Usha Vance. "What do you think is going through Usha's head when he talks? She's like, ‘Damn, I have to sleep with him,’" El-Sayed said on The Allen Analysis Show posted on Friday. "I guess she’s pregnant so something is happening," El-Sayed continued, "Can you imagine, he’s got brown kids, at some point he’s going to have a really awkward conversation with his kids, like, you made your career hating people who are different." El-Sayed went on to explain that Vance’s political philosophy is "incoherent" because of the racial makeup of his family and that the vice president’s soul is "corrupted" by power. MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CLAIMS ISRAEL 'JUST AS EVIL' AS HAMAS "He's got to look at his kids and be like, 'Yeah, those are brown kids, they're mine,'" El-Sayed said. "'You know what I mean? And I had brown kids. I had brown kids?'" Sayed continued, "I love my brown kids, and I think my brown kids are just as American as everyone else. JD Vance has brown kids who he thinks are less American than everyone else." El-Sayed also said on the podcast appearance that Vance has the "charisma of a doorknob" and the "aura of a toad" while urging Usha Vance to "get out" of the marriage. BATTLEGROUND DEM SAYS TERRORISTS ACT FROM 'PAIN AND FRUSTRATION,' ACCUSES AMERICANS OF BEING 'HIGH AND MIGHTY' Former Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon was one of several people who took issue with El-Sayed's comments and told Fox News Digital she doesn't believe most Michigan voters will react positively to his message. "When you’re running on racial division, you have to keep stoking racism, especially if you’re the racist," Dixon said. "Imagine smugly trying to break up a family because you don’t believe a white man can love his children. Pretty pathetic, and I think Michigan voters will agree." Conservatives on social media quickly reacted to the clip, accusing El-Sayed of taking his criticism of the Vance family too far.  "This isn’t politics," Founder of Christians Against Antisemitism Institute Reverend Jordan Wells posted on X, calling the comments a "low blow." "This is personal, cruel, and straight-up disgusting." Conservative influencer Laura Loomer blasted the "derogatory sexual comments" in a post on X. "Democrats are trash," Townhall writer Amy Curtis posted on X. Fox News Digital reached out to Vance’s office and El-Sayed’s campaign for comment.  Michigan's Democratic Senate primary will be held on Aug 4 as El-Sayed squares off against Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens to advance to the general election in November against former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65bfa059ccda1fcc08081 Bartender who served missing American’s husband in Bahamas says one detail about timeline doesn't add up te 2026-04-20T17:01:46.081Z Bartender who served missing American’s husband in Bahamas says one detail about timeline doesn't add up A bartender who served the missing American woman in the Bahamas one day before she vanished revealed one detail that got his attention. A bartender at the Abaco Inn, identified as Ken, 38, told the New York Post that Brian and Lynette Hooker were at the hotel's pool during the early evening hours of April 3 drinking rum and Cokes. One day later, the couple took a small dinghy from Hope Town to a different location on Elbow Cay where their boat was, according to local police. Brian Hooker told Bahamian officials that his wife fell off the dinghy after leaving shore at around 7:30 p.m. on April 4, adding that Lynette fell off with the ignition key. Local authorities said that Brian Hooker arrived at a marina at Marsh Harbour at around 4 a.m. on April 5 after paddling to shore, roughly eight hours after Lynette Hooker went overboard. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X While Ken was serving the Hookers, he said Brian thanked him for getting their drinks quickly. "He was like, ‘Oh man, thank you for getting me served kinda quick’ … because we were crowded," Ken said. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Ken noted that he didn't see anything unusual with the couple, though he never actually saw Lynette Hooker while they were at the pool for around two and a half hours. "When I heard about it the next day, I was shocked, definitely. But then again, I didn’t see the lady, I didn’t get to talk to her or anything like that," he said. SEND US A TIP HERE Ken, who's from the Bahamas and knows the area well, said, however, one detail doesn't add up. "It’s weird … for him to be going from here to there, then ending up in Marsh Harbour and nobody sees the lady, it’s weird," Ken said. "What catches my eye is they left here at 7, 7:30 and [her going missing] supposedly happened right after they left here, and he didn’t make it over there until 4 a.m. or something like that, in 25-mph winds." LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST "It’s only four miles that way. It shouldn’t have taken eight to 10 hours to get there. Even if he was only floating, it should have been a much quicker time," he said. While Brian Hooker himself flew out of the Bahamas on Wednesday to be with his mother, who's reportedly very ill, according to his attorney, Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, flew to the island on Thursday to help with the search. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Aylesworth told NBC News she questions Brian Hooker's version of how her mother went missing, adding that she spent three hours talking with police. "I feel like this was probably preplanned, if anything, like, it doesn’t seem like just some accident," Aylesworth said. Brian Hooker hasn't been charged with a crime and was released from jail by Bahamian officials, who declined to charge him at the time, but left the investigation into Lynette open. "When I first got here, I sat up there and looked at the boat and started talking to her like she was here. I was like, ‘Hey Mom, I’m here. Wherever you are. I just want to talk to you and see you again,'" Aylesworth said. "It’s making it a little bit more real." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65be6059ccda1fcc08078 Officials urge Americans not to travel to island spot amid kidnappings, 6-figure ransom demands te 2026-04-20T17:01:26.494Z Officials urge Americans not to travel to island spot amid kidnappings, 6-figure ransom demands The U.S. State Department issued an updated warning advising Americans not to travel to Haiti — citing widespread kidnappings and ransom demands often reaching into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sharing the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, Haiti has been gripped by escalating gang violence and instability. In an April 16 travel advisory, the U.S. State Department warned that violent crime is still rampant in the Caribbean nation, particularly in its capital city of Port-au-Prince. 5 DANGEROUS CRUISE PORTS THAT TRAVELERS SHOULD RESEARCH BEFORE BOOKING EXCURSIONS "The expansion of gang, organized crime and terrorist activity has led to widespread violence," the advisory noted, citing firearm-related crimes, carjackings, robberies, sexual assaults, kidnappings and ransom demands. "Ransom demands are typically in the high tens of thousands to high hundreds of thousands of dollars," the release said. Critically, officials also said that local law enforcement "has an extremely limited ability to respond to serious crimes, particularly outside Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien." The statement warned, "When traveling to Haiti, do not engage in activity or behave in a manner that could be in violation of local law and subject you to arrest and detention. Be mindful of potential violations of law." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Level 4 is the State Department's highest level of warning, meaning that Americans may face life-threatening risks and should not travel to the country. Although the Level 4 advisory has been in place for some time, the State Department added new warnings in this month's update. The advisory also cited unrest, stating that protests and roadblocks are "common and unpredictable," and that protesters "sometimes damage or destroy infrastructure and can become violent." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The release noted that "armed, anti-gang vigilante groups attack and, in many cases, have killed individuals, including U.S. citizens, suspected of being gang members based only on rumors or incorrect information." U.S. commercial flights are not operating to or from Port-au-Prince, though Americans may still attempt to reach the country via foreign carriers or indirect routes. Americans in Haiti are urged to establish "a proof of life protocol" with family — and to choose a family member to serve as a point of contact in the case of kidnapping. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES The advisory also advises Americans to "not physically resist any robbery attempt" and to "caution when walking or driving at night." Haiti joins a list of other countries that remain on the U.S. State Department's travel advisory list. Earlier this month, U.S. officials issued a travel advisory for Albania, a cheap destination popular for its Adriatic coastline, over Iran-related tensions. On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago said that Americans should "reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to crime," citing a "heightened risk of terrorism." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65bbe059ccda1fcc08063 Democratic Senators Fault Hegseth’s Leadership on Iran te 2026-04-20T17:00:46.330Z Democratic Senators Fault Hegseth’s Leadership on Iran In a letter, the 11 senators questioned the defense secretary’s decision to gut programs intended to protect civilians and said his orders endangered U.S. troops. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65ba5059ccda1fcc0804f Mastodon says its flagship server was hit by a DDoS attack te 2026-04-20T17:00:21.602Z Mastodon says its flagship server was hit by a DDoS attack The DDoS attack against Mastodon's flagship server comes less than a week after Bluesky was targeted with junk web traffic. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65965059ccda1fcc08030 Justin Heap is undermining, not restoring, voters’ trust. It’s time for him to go. te 2026-04-20T16:50:45.028Z Justin Heap is undermining, not restoring, voters’ trust. It’s time for him to go. Justin Heap at a Young Republicans event in 2024 in Scottsdale. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0) Justin Heap is exactly the kind of person you don’t want to oversee elections if you truly want “transparency and integrity” in a system that sustains our democracy. In the 15 or so months since he became recorder in Arizona’s largest county, after ousting Republican Stephen Richer in the 2024 election, Heap has dragged the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office into a web of dizzying, hard-to-follow political and legal disputes with both Republicans and Democrats. And amid the chaos, Heap appears to be systematically laying the groundwork for federal meddling that could tilt this year’s midterms and future elections toward MAGA-aligned conspiracy theorists who refuse to accept defeat. That doesn’t restore public trust — it further erodes it. That, to me and any reasonable person, appears to be the end goal. We don’t need that. Let me tell you about why he needs to go It all leads back directly to President Donald Trump’s obsession with his 2020 loss, which he falsely insists happened only because the election in Arizona and other swing states was rigged against him.  Heap hasn’t explicitly claimed the 2020 or 2022 elections were stolen from Trump or MAGA candidates like twice-loser Kari Lake and now U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh. But he doesn’t have to say it outright. His actions are plain enough. Heap became the Maricopa County Recorder pledging to restore trust in elections, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that instead he’s weaponizing his office.  Consider what he has done since taking office in January 2025. Read more of Elvia’s work at NOTAS, where she takes on Arizona’s political power struggles, border battles, and the national consequences that start in the Southwest. First, you need to know that the recorder oversees voter registration rolls, early ballot processing and signature verification. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors manages Election Day voting, early voting site operations, tabulation, ballot printing and technology. Heap sued the county to claw back authority of in-person early ballots and IT functions, among other things. Richer made a deal with the Supervisors to turn over those duties to them shortly before Heap took office  Heap immediately clashed with the Republican-led Board of Supervisors over early in-person voting locations for the July primary and complained that his office was stripped of essential IT staff and equipment, including a mail-in ballot processing machine. In early February, the fight between the Supervisors reached such a point that they voted to compel him to testify under oath over claims of voter disenfranchisement, among other disputes. Ultimately, the county granted Heap in-person voting duties but offered to split the IT functions. On April 17, a Superior Court judge ruled that Heap must regain control of the IT team and that his office is responsible for overseeing in-person early voting. The judge also reiterated that the board is responsible for selecting Election Day voting locations, supplying polling places, and hiring poll workers, among other duties. Board Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee could still appeal the decision, according to KJZZ. In any case, the ruling creates a greater sense of urgency, as Heap will now have increased control over voting. Hard to follow all the back-and-forth fighting? That’s only part of it. Recent reports suggest Heap might be coordinating (not merely cooperating) with the feds investigating Arizona’s past elections. Emails obtained by American Oversight and reported by Votebeat show Heap met with Arizona’s top federal prosecutor just before the Justice Department told his office it was looking into past elections. To be sure, there’s nothing inherently wrong about communicating with federal officials, but Heap essentially gave them unchecked access to anything they wanted, regardless of Arizona laws strictly governing sensitive information about voters. By contrast, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, has been fighting the feds to keep that voter data confidential. Context and intent matters. Heap isn’t a neutral election administrator. He is a staunch Trump ally and is aligned with the president’s agenda to reshape voting rules in ways critics argue are designed to give MAGA the edge in this year’s midterms.  We can’t dismiss Heap’s actions as routine or believe that he’s just seeking to restore “election integrity.” For MAGA integrity only means “we win” and not actual integrity, respecting the will of voters.    Let’s dig a bit deeper and consider the timing and dizzying actions In mid-August 2025, Heap reportedly learned that county elections and IT staff planned to delete records from the 2020 and 2022 elections. He raised concerns with County Manager Jen Pokorski, according to the same Votebeat report. At the same time, staff was arranging a meeting between Heap and U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. That’s also about when Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon began threatening to sue Fontes to get unredacted copies of the state’s voter roll. The Justice Department ultimately did sue Fontes. If this is coincidence, it is an extraordinary one. And I don’t believe in coincidence. You shouldn’t either. The reality of the situation is that Heap is too willing to be the Trump administration’s useful tool to undermine confidence in Arizona elections. In early February, he joined then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to promote the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Shortly after that presser, Heap said his office had identified 137 noncitizens on the county’s voter rolls using a DHS database that experts say is unreliable.  And yet, Heap went ahead and gave the names of 207 suspected noncitizen voters to local prosecutors. All this breeds cynicism and distrust. I don’t say that based on a single decision. It’s the pattern of Heap’s actions that demands it. Heap may try to defend each of his actions, but taken together, they show a deeply troubling pattern of turning elections’ administration into a federal tool to control voting.  The recorder’s job is to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot freely, easily, and securely. His job isn’t to validate conspiracy theories or further sow doubt. And it certainly isn’t to be a partisan election administrator. He needs to go. Heap’s term runs through 2029, and there is little chance he’ll step down voluntarily, but we must collectively demand it. If restoring trust in elections actually matters, then Maricopa County can’t afford to wait. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6574a059ccda1fcc07fde Cheapest gas price in Phoenix falls to nearly $3.50 te 2026-04-20T16:41:46.845Z Cheapest gas price in Phoenix falls to nearly $3.50 The average price per gallon in Phoenix has fallen by about 22 cents over the last couple of weeks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65732059ccda1fcc07fb5 6 crypto scam scripts criminals use to steal your money te 2026-04-20T16:41:22.555Z 6 crypto scam scripts criminals use to steal your money Just about every day, we receive emails from readers who have encountered new scams. Many involve cryptocurrency. The pattern keeps repeating. Someone receives a message that feels urgent, emotional or exciting. The person on the other end sounds confident and persuasive. Before long, the victim is being asked to send money through cryptocurrency. Once the money is sent, it often disappears forever. Cryptocurrency appeals to scammers for a simple reason. Transactions move quickly, often cross international borders and usually cannot be reversed once completed. That combination makes crypto payments especially attractive to criminals. Kate recently wrote to us with a great question. Kate is absolutely right. These scripts are convincing because scammers practice them constantly. They use psychology, urgency and emotion to push people toward quick decisions. FAKE GOOGLE GEMINI AI PUSHES ‘GOOGLE COIN’ CRYPTO SCAM Let's break down some of the most common crypto scam scripts, so you know what they sound like before they reach your inbox or phone. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report This script often begins with a friendly introduction through social media, email or even a text message. Example script: "Hi, I work with a private investment group that trades cryptocurrency. We've helped many people earn steady returns. If you invest $500 today, you could earn $5,000 within weeks. I can show you proof of other investors' success." The scammer may send fake screenshots of profits. Some will even allow a small withdrawal early on to build trust. Eventually, they push the victim to send larger deposits. Once the larger transfer is sent, the account suddenly stops responding. This scam often starts with a simple message on a dating app, Facebook or Instagram. The first contact is friendly and low-pressure. Example initial script: "Hi, insert name here, I hope you don't mind me saying hello. Your profile caught my attention, and you seem like a very kind person. How has your day been?" After a few days of conversation, the scammer begins sharing details about their life. They often claim to work overseas as an engineer, doctor or business owner. Eventually, they mention cryptocurrency trading as something they do on the side. Later message in the script: "I have been doing some short-term crypto trading after work. It has helped me save a lot faster. If you are interested, I can show you the platform I use. It is very easy to start with a small amount." From there, the scammer guides the victim to a fake trading site or asks them to transfer cryptocurrency to a wallet they control. At first, the account may show fake profits. The victim believes the investment is working and sends more money. Eventually, the victim cannot withdraw any money.  MALICIOUS MAC EXTENSIONS STEAL CRYPTO WALLETS AND PASSWORDS   Scammers often pretend to represent government agencies or law enforcement. Example script: "This is an urgent notice regarding your tax account. Your Social Security number has been linked to suspicious activity. To prevent legal action, you must verify your identity and pay the outstanding balance today using cryptocurrency." Government agencies do not demand payment through cryptocurrency. The goal is to scare you into acting quickly without checking the facts.  This scam often begins with a pop-up warning or an unexpected phone call. Example script: "Your computer has been compromised by hackers. Your bank information may be at risk. To secure your system, we need you to transfer funds temporarily into a protected cryptocurrency wallet." The scammer claims the funds will be returned once the system is secure. In reality, the transfer moves the money directly to the criminal. This scam frequently appears on social media or video platforms. Example script: "We are celebrating a new crypto launch. Send 0.1 Bitcoin to this wallet, and we will immediately send back double the amount." The message may appear to come from a well-known company or public figure. The wallet address belongs to the scammer. Anyone who sends funds receives nothing in return. This scam targets people who have already lost money. Example script: "We specialize in recovering stolen cryptocurrency. Our investigators located the wallet that received your funds. To begin the recovery process, we require a small crypto payment to unlock the legal tracing tools." The victim believes they are hiring professionals to recover their money. Instead, they are being scammed again. These scams succeed because they exploit human behavior. First, they create urgency. Victims feel pressured to act quickly. Second, they create trust. The scammer may sound friendly or sympathetic. Third, they promise rewards. Investment scams offer profits that feel life-changing. Finally, cryptocurrency adds confusion. Many people are still learning how it works. Criminals take advantage of that uncertainty. Understanding these scripts is the first step to protecting yourself. Once you recognize the patterns scammers use, it becomes much easier to stop the conversation before money is involved.  Crypto scammers rely on urgency, trust and confusion to pressure victims into sending money. These practical steps can help you recognize warning signs and avoid costly mistakes.  1 CLICK COST A FATHER $4 MILLION IN BITCOIN TO VISHING SCAMMERS Scammers depend on urgency to push victims into fast decisions. If someone pressures you to send money immediately, treat it as a warning sign. Pause the conversation and verify the situation independently. Contact the company, agency or person through a known phone number or official website. Taking even a few minutes to step back can stop a scam before money leaves your account. Cryptocurrency transactions work very differently from credit cards or bank transfers. Once funds are sent, they usually cannot be reversed. Scammers prefer crypto because it moves quickly and often crosses international borders. If someone asks for payment through Bitcoin, Ethereum or another digital currency, assume the request is suspicious until proven otherwise. Many crypto scams promise fast profits or guaranteed returns. Legitimate investments never guarantee profits. Before investing, search the company name, website and contact information online. Look for warnings from regulators or consumer protection agencies. If you cannot find reliable information about the company, that is a major red flag. Scammers frequently use phishing links, fake websites and malicious downloads to trick victims. Strong antivirus software can help detect these threats before they cause damage. Strong antivirus software can warn you about suspicious websites, block malicious downloads and help stop phishing attempts that try to steal your financial information. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com. Scammers often research their targets before sending messages. They may gather details from public records, social media or data broker websites. Limiting the amount of personal information available online can make it harder for criminals to craft convincing messages. Removing your data from people search sites with a data removal service can reduce the chances of becoming a target. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com. Romance scams often begin with friendly messages on dating apps or social media. Over time, the scammer builds trust and eventually introduces a crypto investment opportunity. If someone you have never met begins discussing cryptocurrency investments or asks you to move money, take a step back. Real relationships do not require financial transfers to strangers. Crypto scammers often show screenshots of trading accounts that appear to generate large profits. These images are easy to fake or are displayed on fraudulent websites controlled by the scammer. Even if a platform shows profits, it does not mean the money exists. If you cannot withdraw funds easily through a verified exchange, the investment may be fake. Many scams begin on social media, dating apps or messaging platforms. After the first contact, scammers often ask victims to continue the conversation on WhatsApp, Telegram or another private messaging app. Moving the conversation helps them avoid detection by the original platform. If someone quickly asks you to switch apps, treat it as a warning sign.  Scammers often isolate their victims and discourage them from discussing the situation with friends or family. Before sending cryptocurrency or making a large investment, pause and talk to someone you trust. A second opinion can often spot warning signs that are easy to miss when emotions are involved.  If you believe you sent cryptocurrency to a scammer, act quickly. Contact the exchange or platform you used to send the funds and report the transaction immediately. Some exchanges may be able to flag the receiving wallet and help investigators track suspicious activity. You should also report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and notify your local law enforcement agency. If the scam began on a social media site, dating app or messaging platform, report the account there as well so it can be investigated and removed.  While recovering funds can be difficult, reporting the incident can help authorities identify larger fraud networks and potentially prevent others from becoming victims.  Cryptocurrency scams continue to grow because the scripts are polished and carefully tested. The criminals behind them understand human psychology. They know when to apply pressure, when to build trust and when to promise rewards. Recognizing these patterns is one of the most powerful ways to stop them. When you know the script, the scam becomes much easier to spot. Have you ever received a message that tried to convince you to send cryptocurrency, and did the script almost sound believable? 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/69e6571e059ccda1fcc07fac Student charged, weapon recovered after 3 teens targeted in incident linked to high school tradition: police te 2026-04-20T16:41:02.865Z Student charged, weapon recovered after 3 teens targeted in incident linked to high school tradition: police A high school game turned dangerous in Massachusetts when teens playing a viral "Senior Assassin" game allegedly opened fire with gel projectiles on unsuspecting students, leaving two minors struck and a suspect now facing charges, police said. Three high school-aged teens were running together Thursday afternoon when they were targeted and shot at with what appeared to be BB-style or gel projectiles, the Lawrence Police Department said. Two of the victims were hit, while a third avoided being struck. Authorities said none suffered serious injuries. Investigators quickly identified a local high school student as the suspect and recovered an Orbeez-style gel projectile gun believed to have been used in the incident. The teen was taken into custody and now faces two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, police said. The teen’s identity was not immediately released. TEENS' VIRAL PRANK TARGETING HOMEOWNERS COULD HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES, POLICE WARN Authorities linked the incident to "Senior Assassin," a student-run game popular among graduating seniors that involves targeting other participants, often using toy or non-lethal devices like water guns. Police said the victims in this case were not participants in the game. TEEN CHARGED IN SENIOR PRANK GONE WRONG MAKES VOW AFTER TEACHER'S DEATH Officials stressed that the activity is not sanctioned by schools and can quickly turn dangerous. "While these activities may seem harmless, they can create dangerous situations and lead to serious legal consequences," the Lawrence Police Department said. The game has drawn increasing warnings from law enforcement across the country after realistic-looking toy weapons and ambush-style tactics have triggered emergency responses and raised safety concerns in multiple states. Police in Connecticut issued warnings to local communities this week about the games, telling those participating that they should use brightly colored water guns that would not be mistaken for real weapons. Police added that the game should not be played while driving, and that players should avoid trespassing on private property and shooting at people who are not involved in the game. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e656f7059ccda1fcc07f98 Shreveport, La., Shooting: What We Know About the Killing of 8 Children te 2026-04-20T16:40:23.012Z Shreveport, La., Shooting: What We Know About the Killing of 8 Children The shooting spree on Sunday also left two adults wounded. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e654b8059ccda1fcc079b7 WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on 'sanctuary' policies te 2026-04-20T16:30:48.246Z WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on 'sanctuary' policies Houston, a major red-state city run by Democrats, is in "crisis" mode as it faces an ultimatum to repay the State of Texas approximately $110 million if it does not repeal a "sanctuary"-type ordinance limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Houston City Council recently voted to end a policy requiring police to wait at least 30 minutes for ICE to arrive if a suspect had an immigration warrant. Afterward, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, drew a line in the sand, telling the city to immediately reverse its policy or face "extraordinarily difficult financial choices." Abbott asserted that Houston is "trying to renege on their obligations" after signing onto a public safety agreement to receive state funding that required it to cooperate with immigration enforcement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "The City of Houston right now is in breach of contract," Abbott told reporters last week. "That’s going to require the City of Houston to immediately provide $110 million to the State of Texas." GOP WARNS DEMOCRATS' DHS SHUTDOWN COULD JEOPARDIZE WORLD CUP SECURITY Regardless of whether the city council cooperates, Abbott said city officials will face the consequences of their noncompliance. If officials refuse to repay Texas, Abbott said the state comptroller will withhold sales tax revenue that would otherwise go to the city. "It’s not as if they’re going to say, ‘Well, we may or may not get around to writing a check,’" he said. "Know this, the way the law works … the comptroller will withhold the sales tax revenue that otherwise will go to the City of Houston and will be retained by the State of Texas until the State of Texas is fully repaid the $110 million that is owed by Houston to the state." Abbott shot down a reporter’s question on whether his ultimatum contradicts his public safety goals. "Let’s be clear about a couple things," he said. "If the city council was serious about public safety, they would not allow illegal immigrants to roam their streets and kill people like Jocelyn Nungaray." He added that "there are other people like that in Houston who have been raped, assaulted and victimized by people who are here illegally and allowed to roam the streets." STATE TOP COP MOVES TO CRUSH ALLEGED DHS RECORDS RESTRICTION AS COUNTY DENIES ICE-OUT He further cautioned that the city council will have to find an alternate method of funding its police force, or it will be in violation of Texas law requiring cities fully fund law enforcement forces. "Houston will still be obligated to come up with the additional funds to fully fund their police," he said. He stressed to the city council that it is "in breach of contract," adding, "We’ve given the opportunity to what’s called ‘cure’ that breach." "Failure to do so will lead to extraordinarily difficult financial choices that are purposefully made by the city council of Houston," he concluded. TEXAS AG SUES HOUSTON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OVER NEW SANCTUARY CITY ORDINANCE LIMITING ICE COOPERATION In response to the ultimatum, Houston Democratic Mayor John Whitmire has called on the city council to reexamine the policy and vote on possibly repealing it. Whitmire called the situation a "crisis" that affects the Houston police and fire departments, public safety services across the city, and even preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to Whitmire, Abbott has given the city a deadline of this Wednesday before the state moves to enforce the contract. He said a special session of the Houston City Council has been called for that day, giving his office "additional time to continue productive discussions with the Governor’s office, City Council members, law enforcement, and the community." Fox News Digital reached out to the city council for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6529b059ccda1fcc0798a Las temperaturas por encima de lo normal darán paso a un descenso significativo para el viernes te 2026-04-20T16:21:47.513Z Las temperaturas por encima de lo normal darán paso a un descenso significativo para el viernes Existe una ligera probabilidad de lluvias breves en Arizona; sin embargo, el viento será el impacto más generalizado. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65283059ccda1fcc07963 Left-wing activists heckle pro-Israel Democrat Haley Stevens at Michigan convention te 2026-04-20T16:21:23.494Z Left-wing activists heckle pro-Israel Democrat Haley Stevens at Michigan convention Pro-Palestinian activists shouted down Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., as the U.S. Senate hopeful spoke at Michigan Democrats’ spring convention on Sunday. When Stevens, a pro-Israel Democrat, walked on stage with a group of union employees, the crowd erupted with party activists heckling her over her support for Israel.  "Democrats, I love you, even when we disagree," the congresswoman said, but audience members continued to drown her out with boos and jeers. DEMOCRATS TEAM UP WITH FAR-LEFT STREAMER WHO ONCE SAID ‘AMERICA DESERVED 9/11’ As Stevens departed the stage following her remarks, several attendees stood up, put their fists in the air and started to chant: "Shame on you." The tense moment underscores the Democratic Party's race to the left, and how support for Israel has become a central flashpoint in Michigan's competitive three-way Democratic primary in a state with sizable Jewish and Arab constituencies. Stevens has come under scathing criticism from progressive Democrats over her long-held pro-Israel stances and support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Her primary competitors, by contrast, have leaned further left on the issue. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow have accused Israel of genocide and sworn off AIPAC and the pro-Israel lobby. Stevens recently upset Michigan progressives by unequivocally rejecting the far-left online streamer Hasan Piker, who has a history of making antisemitic and pro-Hamas statements.  Piker has described some Orthodox Jews as "inbred," claimed the United States "deserved 9/11" and downplayed sexual violence that occurred during the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. He has denied accusations of antisemitism, but continues to maintain that Hamas is better than Israel.  BATTLEGROUND DEM SAYS TERRORISTS ACT FROM 'PAIN AND FRUSTRATION,' ACCUSES AMERICANS OF BEING 'HIGH AND MIGHTY' Stevens has warned about the political fallout for Democrats if the party embraces Piker, telling Jewish Insider, "Someone who’s campaigning with someone like that is not going to win in Michigan." McMorrow, despite disavowing the pro-Israel stance, has also hammered El-Sayed for embracing Piker and has taken a tougher line against antisemitism than her left-wing foe. Some attendees shouted "Abdul" when McMorrow exited the stage at the convention over the weekend, signaling support for the most radical Democrat candidate. The swing state contest is viewed as a top pick-up opportunity for Republicans with former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, expected to cruise to the GOP nomination. Democrats are playing defense to keep the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., in the blue column. The battleground race is one of three Senate contests rated as a "toss-up" by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Stevens, the only Democratic candidate in the race who has served in Congress, has been promoted by allies of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. TIME reported that Schumer has also opened the door to supporting McMorrow, though has continued to hold El-Sayed at arm's length. Fox News Digital reached out to Stevens’ campaign for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6525b059ccda1fcc07950 California Woman Is Arrested at LAX and Accused of Selling Weapons for Iran te 2026-04-20T16:20:43.362Z California Woman Is Arrested at LAX and Accused of Selling Weapons for Iran Prosecutors said that Shamim Mafi, a legal permanent resident of the United States, helped facilitate millions of dollars in arms transfers from Iran. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65246059ccda1fcc0793b FAA orders investigation into Blue Origin’s New Glenn mishap te 2026-04-20T16:20:22.039Z FAA orders investigation into Blue Origin’s New Glenn mishap The New Glenn rocket will have to stay grounded while the company investigates what caused the apparent failure of its upper stage. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65029059ccda1fcc0787c Eric Holder accuses GOP of 'stealing seats' while defending 'fair' Democratic redistricting push te 2026-04-20T16:11:21.623Z Eric Holder accuses GOP of 'stealing seats' while defending 'fair' Democratic redistricting push Top Virginia redistricting proponent and former Attorney General Eric Holder defended Democrats’ proposed changes to the Old Dominion’s congressional map, accusing Republicans of "stealing seats" in Missouri and Texas. Voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to "restore fairness" — in the words of the Democrat-crafted referendum itself — by essentially approving a new congressional map that would redraw Virginia's districts to favor Democrats over Republicans 10-1. In a CBS News interview, anchor Margaret Brennan pressed Holder on the need for a new map, noting that a president’s party — in this case the GOP — already historically underperforms in midterm elections. Holder denied the move is an acknowledgment that the Democratic Party can’t win "on its own" and said that they can definitely win if it is a fair fight. GLENN YOUNGKIN ACCUSES GOV SPANBERGER OF 'ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL' GERRYMANDERING IN VIRGINIA MAP FIGHT "What were we supposed to do, nothing?" Holder asked, citing Texas’ decision to redraw its districts at the behest of President Donald Trump and similar Republican-led redistricting efforts in Missouri and North Carolina. Holder did not mention that Indiana legislative Republicans balked at calls to similarly redraw their map to favor the GOP, and Maryland Democrats also rejected a push to redraw their districts, ultimately preserving House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris’ Eastern Shore seat. Holder said Democrats couldn’t allow Republicans to "stack the deck" nationally and "try to steal seats." "All we are trying to do is meet them and try to make the system as fair as it possibly can be, and that’s all this is about," he said. Holder’s comments sparked online criticism, as Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and others pushed back on the former Obama "wingman’s" logic. "It’s only partisan gerrymandering and ‘stealing seats’ when Republicans do it," Lee said on X. VA DEM REJECTS ‘POWER GRAB’ CLAIMS ON SPANBERGER REDISTRICTING AS GOP WARNS 10–1 MAP WOULD SPLIT RURAL VOTE "When it’s Democrats, it’s about ‘making the system as fair as it can be’ -- Democrat logic is exhausting." Fox News contributor and media critic Joe Concha noted that Brennan also did not bring up several recent case of Democrats doing exactly what Holder criticized Republicans for. "Margaret didn’t bother to push back and bring up the fact that several blue states have done this for years," Concha said. Critics have often pointed to the fact that the entirety of New England lacks a Republican member of congress, despite the true D-to-R population proportion. Like the proposed Virginia map, which includes several districts painstakingly drawn into Fairfax County and another intentionally drawn to connect interior cities like Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Roanoke, Democratic states like Illinois have created similar awkwardly-drawn maps. Reps. Eric Sorensen and Nikki Budzinski’s districts notably form thin, arcing lines connecting various Illinois cities that are otherwise nowhere near each other and not in a straight line or contour. Sorensen’s covers Rockford, Moline, Peoria and Bloomington, while Budzinski’s snakes from East St. Louis to Decatur and Urbana while incidentally collecting a thin line of rural areas that happen to be in between. In Maryland, until recently, the third district was in several distinct pieces connected only by waterways and tributaries — to the extent a federal judge derisively called it a "broken-winged pterodactyl" flying over Balt-Wash suburbs. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e65015059ccda1fcc07873 Trump pushes back against pundits, says Israel did not talk him into the Iran war te 2026-04-20T16:11:01.920Z Trump pushes back against pundits, says Israel did not talk him into the Iran war President Donald Trump rejected the notion that Israel convinced him to launch the war against Iran, asserting in a Monday Truth Social post that the outcome "will be amazing." The president said that the heinous October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against Israel bolstered his view that Iran must be blocked from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. "Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did," the president declared in the Truth Social post. "I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged. Just like the results in Venezuela, which the media doesn’t like talking about, the results in Iran will be amazing - And if Iran’s new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!" he added. US SEIZES IRANIAN SHIP AFTER OPENING FIRE; PAKISTAN TALKS IN DOUBT The commander-in-chief launched the U.S. into the war against Iran in conjunction with Israel earlier this year, prosecuting a punishing air campaign against the Islamic Republic for more than a month. While Trump announced a ceasefire earlier this month, tensions have remained high, and the president warned on Sunday that if Iran fails to accept deal offered by the U.S., the American military will destroy Iran's bridges and power plants. US MILITARY ANNOUNCES ANOTHER DEADLY STRIKE AGAINST 'NARCO-TERRORISTS' "Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it?" Trump said in a Sunday Truth Social post. "We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!" he declared. The U.S. opened fire on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday. "Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade," U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) noted. MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CLAIMS ISRAEL 'JUST AS EVIL' AS HAMAS "After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody," CENTCOM added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e64fec059ccda1fcc07855 NSA spies are reportedly using Anthropic’s Mythos, despite Pentagon feud te 2026-04-20T16:10:20.452Z NSA spies are reportedly using Anthropic’s Mythos, despite Pentagon feud NSA is said to be using Anthropic's restricted Mythos AI model. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e64d97059ccda1fcc07777 WhatsApp is testing a premium subscription, put it is mainly cosmetic te 2026-04-20T16:00:23.922Z WhatsApp is testing a premium subscription, put it is mainly cosmetic WhatsApp is testing a subscription after Meta debuted a similar subscription for Instagram earlier this year Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e64915059ccda1fcc0769d Honeywell expanding engine manufacturing at Phoenix campus te 2026-04-20T15:41:09.507Z Honeywell expanding engine manufacturing at Phoenix campus Honeywell is expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Arizona to support the U.S. Navy. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e648e4059ccda1fcc07661 CEO and CFO suddenly depart AI nuclear power upstart Fermi te 2026-04-20T15:40:20.913Z CEO and CFO suddenly depart AI nuclear power upstart Fermi The startup, co-founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, has faced headwinds with its AI campus in Texas. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e64690059ccda1fcc075db F.B.I. Director Sues The Atlantic Over Article Claiming Excessive Drinking te 2026-04-20T15:30:24.656Z F.B.I. Director Sues The Atlantic Over Article Claiming Excessive Drinking Mr. Patel sued the publication for defamation, asking for $250 million in damages. A spokeswoman for The Atlantic called the suit “meritless.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e64486059ccda1fcc075a0 Hawaii tourist charged with attempted murder, accused of stabbing veteran boat captain on snorkel tour te 2026-04-20T15:21:42.560Z Hawaii tourist charged with attempted murder, accused of stabbing veteran boat captain on snorkel tour A Kansas man allegedly tried to kill his boat captain mid-snorkel tour in Hawaii, police say. Hawai‘i Island police said that 21-year-old Avery Nissen of Overland Park, Kansas allegedly stabbed a 62-year-old male boat captain on Thursday during a three-hour snorkel tour. Nissen was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault. According to KHNL, the injured boat captain was identified as Stanley Lurbiecki, who is a veteran in the boating industry. Police said the 62-year-old man received numerous stab wounds to the head and hands, as well as a stab wound to the lower abdomen. The man was transported to a local hospital where he's in stable condition. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Police said officers responded to the incident at 3:21 p.m. on Thursday at the Honokōhau Harbor in Kailua-Kona. Officials said other passengers onboard the boat restrained Nissen after he allegedly began attacking the man with a filet knife. Police said a motive for the alleged attack isn't known. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB According to the report, the incident happened on a catamaran owned by Hawaii Nautical, a boat tour company. Mark Towill, owner and president of Hawaii Nautical, told the outlet that, "Stan is stable, he’s recovering. He’s a real hero and a fighter." "I’m just incredibly grateful that our team is safe and that the situation ended the way it did," Towill said. "I’ve never heard of anything like this happening in this industry before, and just really grateful to all of our team for the way that they reacted, the professionalism that was demonstrated." SEND US A TIP HERE Bail for Nissen was set at $1.57 million, and he's expected in court on Monday afternoon. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e64472059ccda1fcc07597 Give mom diamonds for less: 10 lab-grown options starting at $200 te 2026-04-20T15:21:22.915Z Give mom diamonds for less: 10 lab-grown options starting at $200 Lab-grown diamonds deliver the same sparkle as traditional diamonds for less, and we've handpicked some of the best options from brands like With Clarity, Quince and Brilliant Earth that make perfect Mother's Day gifts. Shop pieces starting at $200, including a diamond cross necklace, a chic tennis bracelet, and classic studs marked down 30%. READ MORE: 4 lab-grown diamond brands worth your money right now — and what to buy Original price: $440 These round brilliant-cut diamond studs are set in four-prong settings and come in platinum or 14K white, rose or yellow gold, catching the light from every angle. The classic design and secure screw-back closure make them a go-to choice for daily wear. Gift your mom a meaningful symbol of her faith with this cross necklace — the most affordable pick on the list. Crafted in 18K yellow gold vermeil, the 18-inch chain features a mix of round and baguette lab-grown diamonds totaling 1/5 carat for subtle sparkle. It strikes a balance between refined and understated, making it a thoughtful gift she’ll reach for often. Original price: $331 The circular design on this With Clarity necklace symbolizes lasting love, making it a meaningful Mother’s Day gift. Now 15% off, the sterling silver chain is set with 25 lab-grown diamonds for a polished, wearable finish. This refined bar necklace features seven lab-grown diamonds set in 14K gold. The adjustable chain comes in white or yellow gold, ensuring a comfortable fit whether layered with other pieces or worn on its own.  READ MORE: Save up to 53% on Swarovski jewelry — these top picks start at $43 on Amazon Show your love with this heart-shaped diamond pendant from Brilliant Earth. The adjustable chain (16 or 18 inches) comes in silver or gold for a personalized fit. It’s an understated but meaningful gift. READ MORE: Affordable jewelry that looks and feels expensive — all under $100 A gold pendant is a timeless choice that transitions easily from day to night. The single diamond is available in 0.25-, 0.5- or 1-carat sizes, so you can find the right fit for her style and your budget. These VRAI studs stand out with a distinctive marquise shape that updates traditional round earrings. Set in sterling silver, white or yellow gold, they offer a clean, minimalist look with subtle shine. A modern take on a classic huggie, these earrings are accented with a drop detail that adds movement and dimension. Crafted in 18K yellow gold vermeil, the lightweight design sits comfortably with a secure clip-on closure. Prong-set accents and an elongated silhouette add interest to her everyday style. This low-profile tennis bracelet is designed to maximize sparkle with minimal metal, letting lab-grown diamonds take center stage. Round stones reset along one-fifth of the bracelet for a refined, lightweight look, while the 14K white or yellow gold setting keeps it classic. An adjustable length and secure lobster traps ensure a comfortable, customized fit. For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals Original price: $410 When one diamond isn't enough, this duet necklace pairs an emerald-cut stone with a smaller round diamond on a chain available in sterling silver or white, yellow or rose gold. The two-stone design adds a modern touch while remaining timeless and elegant. Find more giftable jewelry pieces on sale now from brands like Swarovski, Pandora, Kendra Scott and more. Baublebar bubble heart necklace: $16 (56% off) Swarovski drop earrings: $67.99 (43% off) Swarovski Emily tennis bracelet: $89.25 (44% off) Kendra Scott Haven Heart gold chain bracelet: $46.40 (34% off) Kendra Scott Elisa pendant necklace: $45 (25% off) Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6445f059ccda1fcc0758e Expert predicts thousands of US troops would be needed to secure Iran's highly enriched uranium te 2026-04-20T15:21:03.151Z Expert predicts thousands of US troops would be needed to secure Iran's highly enriched uranium Andrew Weber, a national security expert, revealed on Sunday that removing Iran's highly enriched uranium would likely take thousands of U.S. troops and experts to evacuate the material from the country. Weber served as the assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs under former President Barack Obama and played a role in removing enriched uranium from Kazakhstan that was left behind by the Soviet Union. CBS News' Cecilia Vega asked Weber during a "60 Minutes" interview if the same sort of mission would be possible in Iran. "In Iran, we couldn't send a team in to do this unilaterally without great risk," he said. "You would need to set up in the middle of the country a secure perimeter. It would probably take thousands of U.S. troops to secure the facility while our experts excavated the HEU that's located inside deep tunnels at a place called Isfahan." NEXT MOVE ON IRAN: SEIZE KHARG ISLAND, SECURE URANIUM OR RISK GROUND WAR ESCALATION Matthew Bunn, a nuclear policy analyst and former White House adviser, said forces in the U.S. have been training for something like this. "It's not like Iran hasn't thought about the possibility that we might do this. But U.S. Special Forces have been training for deep underground facilities of one kind or another for a long, long, long time," Bunn told CBS. Vega also asked about President Donald Trump, after the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facility in 2025, saying that Iran's program had been completely obliterated. "Yeah, that statement is just not true," Bunn said. "You can't say that a program that still has enough nuclear material for a bunch of nuclear bombs is obliterated. Unfortunately. There's no doubt that the combination of the strikes in June of last year, and the ongoing war, have seriously set back Iran's capabilities. But the remaining capabilities are substantial. You can't bomb away their knowledge." TRUMP RENEWS BRIDGE, POWER PLANT THREAT AGAINST IRAN IN PUSH FOR DEAL, MOCKS 'TOUGH GUY' IRGC Trump has said the U.S. could take Iran's enriched uranium. "Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, and we're going to get the dust back. We'll get it back. Either we'll get it back from them or we'll take it," Trump said at the White House in March. The White House did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Peace talks with Iran were expected to begin in Pakistan on Tuesday, but recent reports from Iranian state media have thrown the meetings into doubt. The fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran will expire on Wednesday, and there has been no news on extending the truce. Trump has said repeatedly that his goal in going to war with Iran was to ensure that the country does not build a nuclear weapon. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6444b059ccda1fcc07585 Hidden danger at popular US national park forces trail closures as bear sightings climb te 2026-04-20T15:20:43.538Z Hidden danger at popular US national park forces trail closures as bear sightings climb One of the most visited national parks in the U.S. is closing parts of its hiking trails as officials deal with a spike in bear activity. Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee has temporarily shut down several trails and backcountry areas due to increased sightings of black bears, according to the National Park Service. Officials said closures are put in place when bears frequent specific areas or show signs of unpredictable behavior, posing a risk to both visitors and wildlife. HIDDEN HAZARD AT POPULAR NATIONAL PARK SPARKS URGENT SAFETY WARNING FOR SPRING BREAKERS The park draws more than 12 million visitors each year, meaning even a small increase in bear encounters with visitors can escalate quickly. The Smokies are home to roughly 1,900 black bears, one of the densest populations in the country, the National Park Service said. Bear activity tends to increase in the spring and summer months as the animals emerge from hibernation and search for food, often bringing them closer to hiking trails, campsites and roadways. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Park officials say human behavior is also contributing to the problem. When bears access food left out by visitors or are intentionally fed, they can start to associate humans with food, the National Park Service said. Officials warn this can lead to more aggressive behavior and increase the likelihood of dangerous encounters, and, in some cases, lead to bears being euthanized. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Last week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new law addressing the feeding of black bears in certain areas, set to take effect in July, FOX 17 reported. The measure makes it a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly feed bears where warning signs are posted, with violators facing fines of at least $250. Park officials are also urging visitors to know how to respond if they encounter a bear. The National Park Service advises keeping a safe distance of at least 50 yards and never approaching or allowing a bear to come closer.  If a bear notices you and changes its behavior, such as stopping or moving toward you, officials say you are too close and should slowly back away while facing the animal. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Fox News Digital reached out to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for further comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e64205059ccda1fcc0753f Nancy Guthrie sheriff under pressure as petition demands access for United Cajun Navy te 2026-04-20T15:11:01.351Z Nancy Guthrie sheriff under pressure as petition demands access for United Cajun Navy The United Cajun Navy, a nationally known volunteer search and rescue group, is offering to revise its planned search for Nancy Guthrie and make any changes necessary to win the approval of local authorities. Meanwhile, an independent journalist has launched a petition imploring Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos to give the group his blessing. "We want permission from the lead agency," said Josh Gill, an incident commander at UCN who was on the ground in Tucson, Arizona, in February but unable to kick off his search. "I don't think there would be any harm, I think it would be one step closer to providing some closure not just to the family or the community, but to the nation." FBI RECEIVES DNA FROM HAIR SAMPLE IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE: SOURCES Gill submitted the plan to the sheriff's department in the days after Guthrie's suspected abduction in the early hours of Feb. 1, hours after she came from dinner at her daughter's home nearby. Guthrie's other daughter is "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie. According to the 41-page document, the UCN would have no independent authority and operate under the sheriff's command. Read the plan: FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X "We have not been contacted on the plan that we provided," Gill told Fox News Digital. "I'm open to developing a new plan with law enforcement." Fragments of surveillance video show a masked man at her front door, where blood drops were found the following morning. Her back door had been propped open. No valuables were taken. Although the family offered to pay a ransom demand in the early days of the investigation, Guthrie has not been returned. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Last week, authorities revealed that a hair sample was found inside the home and has been sent from a private DNA lab in Florida to the FBI for more advanced testing. The initial plan called for the use of certified cadaver dogs over land in around local bodies of water, a tracking dog trained to find specific scents, heat-detecting drones and GPS-tracked volunteers for a grid search from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. SEND US A TIP HERE The plan even included volunteer EMTs on standby in case any searchers suffered injuries from the terrain or sun and heat. Gill said the group had also proposed deferring all media inquiries to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST "We've got some of the best and brightest, and our network is huge," he told Fox News Digital. "Let us work [with the sheriff's department] to do what's best." He proposed searching the desert outside town, many drainage ditches known as "washes" in the area, a series of "remote access areas" and abandoned structures. Searchers were preparing for harsh conditions including extreme heat, wildlife hazards, uneven terrain and dark nights due to local ordinances designed at limiting light pollution. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB According to the plan, if volunteer searchers find any evidence they would not handle it and report it to the sheriff's department. UCN has submitted similar plans for other searches to law enforcement agencies around the country. Cherise "Pebbles" Wilson, an independent journalist who focuses on missing persons and human trafficking cases, is behind a Change.org petition calling on PCSD to accept Gill's plan. "I lost my vulnerable grandmother a couple of years ago, and Nancy Guthrie's disappearance pulled at my heartstrings," she told Fox News Digital. "Knowing that somebody took advantage of a loving lady, an elderly lady like that, is really disturbing." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e641f1059ccda1fcc07536 FBI Director Kash Patel files $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic over 'defamatory hit piece' te 2026-04-20T15:10:41.571Z FBI Director Kash Patel files $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic over 'defamatory hit piece' FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million lawsuit on Monday against The Atlantic over a piece published Friday alleging he has "alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking." The Atlantic published a piece on Friday, headlined, "The FBI Director Is MIA," which quoted  The lawsuit read that The Atlantic, and its staff writer, Sarah Fitzpatrick, need to be held "accountable for a sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece published on April 17, 2026. Defendants are of course free to criticize the leadership of the FBI, but they crossed the legal line by publishing an article replete with false and obviously fabricated allegations designed to destroy Director Patel’s reputation and drive him from office."  Fitzpatrick reported, among other claims, that Patel has been difficult to wake up by his security team on multiple occasions because he was seemingly intoxicated. Patel vowed over the weekend to sue The Atlantic for the story. The suit states, "Defendants published the Article with actual malice, despite being expressly warned, hours before publication, that the central allegations were categorically false; despite having abundant publicly available information contradicting those allegations; despite obvious and fatal defects in their own sourcing; despite The Atlantic’s welldocumented, long-running editorial animus toward Director Patel; despite a request for additional time to respond that Defendants refused to honor." This is a breaking news story. Check back for more updates… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63fdb059ccda1fcc07402 Coconino County takes next step in acquisition of Gonzalez Ranch Lake property in Williams te 2026-04-20T15:01:47.216Z Coconino County takes next step in acquisition of Gonzalez Ranch Lake property in Williams Board approved a land conservation services agreement and a donation agreement. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63fc7059ccda1fcc073f9 Alvarez picked as Coconino County Teacher of the Year; Neilson wins rookie teacher award te 2026-04-20T15:01:27.414Z Alvarez picked as Coconino County Teacher of the Year; Neilson wins rookie teacher award The event recognized outstanding educators across the county, celebrating their dedication to inspire learning, foster growth and shape the future of education. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63f9c059ccda1fcc073cd Justices to Hear Case on Catholic Preschools That Reject Children of Gay Parents te 2026-04-20T15:00:44.655Z Justices to Hear Case on Catholic Preschools That Reject Children of Gay Parents Catholic preschools in Colorado that decline to enroll families with L.G.B.T.Q. children or parents sued to participate in a state-funded program. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63f84059ccda1fcc073bc Deezer says 44% of songs uploaded to its platform daily are AI-generated te 2026-04-20T15:00:20.978Z Deezer says 44% of songs uploaded to its platform daily are AI-generated Deezer says consumption of AI-generated music on the platform is still very low, between 1-3% of the total streams, and that 85% of these streams are detected as fraudulent and are demonetized. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63d7f059ccda1fcc0738e Medicaid rule targeting abortion providers set to expire te 2026-04-20T14:51:43.203Z Medicaid rule targeting abortion providers set to expire Kaitlyn Joshua, co-founder of Abortion in America and a resident of Baton Rouge, La., said she feared many patients would go without care after Planned Parenthood closed its only Louisiana health centers in response to a new federal rule included in the broad tax and spending measure President Donald Trump signed last summer. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) A controversial rule enacted last year that denies federal Medicaid funding to abortion providers is likely to expire this summer, despite anti-abortion pressure on Republicans to renew it. Leaders in Congress in recent days have insisted that a new federal spending bill needs to be as stripped down as possible and focused on funding related to immigration enforcement amid a two-month partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. They also have suggested the rule could still be revisited in future legislation, but likely not before the current budget measure expires on July 4. The legislation Congress is considering now “has to be very narrow and tight,” said Republican Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, in a statement shared by a spokesperson. “But we will be looking for, obviously, opportunities to address not only Planned Parenthood, but some of the other issues that might fit in a reconciliation bill.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana is not considering a renewal of the rule in the House version of the bill either, the Washington Examiner recently reported. The broad tax and spending measure President Donald Trump signed into law last summer strips federal Medicaid funding from organizations that provide abortions and received more than $800,000 in reimbursements in fiscal year 2023. The rule primarily affects Planned Parenthood, as well as independent health care nonprofits such as Health Imperatives in Massachusetts and Maine Family Planning. Medicaid, which provides health insurance mostly to people with lower incomes, is funded jointly by the federal government and the states, with the federal government covering roughly two-thirds of the cost. The rule included in Trump’s tax and spending law was presented by supporters as a ban on funding for abortions, but actually prevented clinics from being reimbursed under federal Medicaid for birth control, infection testing and treatment, and a wide range of other reproductive and primary care services. A federal rule already prevents federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest and life endangerment. Some states already allow state Medicaid to cover abortion services. Others, such as South Carolina, have excluded Planned Parenthood from their Medicaid programs. South Carolina’s law was upheld last year by the U.S. Supreme Court. At the anti-abortion movement’s annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., in January, Johnson spoke about the Medicaid provision as a major policy victory for Republicans. “We stand here today with one united voice to affirm the federal government should not be subsidizing any industry that profits from the elimination of human life,” Johnson said. The rule has survived multiple legal challenges, and its effects have been felt throughout the country. Planned Parenthood says more than 50 health centers across 18 states closed last year, 23 due to the Medicaid rule, according to a recent Democratic congressional report, and the rest due to the temporary loss of federal grants for family planning and preventive health care and other factors. The organization has also reported that visits for contraception and cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood clinics have dropped by double digits. “So much damage has already been done,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, in a written statement. “Since Planned Parenthood was ‘defunded,’ fewer patients went to Planned Parenthood health centers for breast exams, birth control, and IUDs and other long-acting reversible contraception compared to the same period the year before.” Planned Parenthood says more than 50 health centers across 18 states closed last year, 23 of them because of the Medicaid rule. Republican Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, a co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, called the report a “biased review.” “Planned Parenthood is probably the world‘s largest abortion provider, and abortion is in fact its main book of business,” Harris said. “A majority of Americans believe that taxpayer funding should not be used to pay for abortion. If Planned Parenthood wants to stop doing abortions, and, in fact, go into the business of providing other healthcare, that would be different.” Some clinics, such as Health Imperatives in Massachusetts, have continued seeing Medicaid patients, in some cases with states’ help. “While we are encouraged by news that Congress is unlikely to include an extension of the defunding provision in the upcoming bill, the federal government is continuing its orchestrated assault through other avenues on the rights of the people we serve, particularly women, immigrants, and trans youth,” said Health Imperatives President and CEO Julia Kehoe in a written statement. “Our focus remains on providing the highest quality health care to all, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.” Maine Family Planning had to close three of its primary care clinics due to the loss of federal reimbursements. But if its proposed budget is passed, the state is poised to become one of the first to provide a safety net for reproductive health services, including $5 million annually to support nonabortion services such as contraceptive care, infertility treatments, cancer screenings, prenatal and obstetric care, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. Other states — including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington — have committed a total of $300 million to replace the federal Medicaid money. But that amount won’t completely fill the gap left by the absence of the federal dollars, as Planned Parenthood reports its health centers provided an estimated $700 million in care annually to Medicaid patients before the new rule. McGill Johnson said more than 150 health centers are at risk of closing, and more than 1.1 million patients could lose access to care. Letting the federal Medicaid rule expire would be a blow to the anti-abortion movement, which has pushed to extend the rule to 10 years and many of whose policy demands the Trump administration has not fulfilled, such as restricting nationwide access to medication abortion. Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, one of the most outspoken abortion opponents in the Senate, posted on X earlier this month that failing to renew the rule “would be a massive betrayal. Under no circumstance can Planned Parenthood be allowed to get taxpayer money for their abortions and gender transition insanity. Period.” Hawley posted late last week that he would offer an amendment to ban federal money for Planned Parenthood. John Mize, CEO of the national lobbying group Americans United for Life, wrote in a recent op-ed in the Washington Examiner that a yearlong extension of the rule is “the minimum acceptable outcome.” “If reconciliation is not pursued, abortion providers are likely to have federal funds restored until after the 2028 elections, if not another two years,” Mize wrote. “Republicans cannot take for granted the majority they have now.” Planned Parenthood is also not taking the provision’s expected expiration for granted. “We know it’s a question of when — not if — anti-abortion lawmakers will attack Planned Parenthood and their constituents’ access to health care again,” McGill Johnson said in the statement. Stateline reporter Sofia Resnick can be reached at sresnick@stateline.org. This story was originally produced by Stateline, 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/69e63d69059ccda1fcc0736e Jonathan Turley warns Dems turning impeachment into ‘unbridled circus’ with new push to oust Hegseth te 2026-04-20T14:51:21.103Z Jonathan Turley warns Dems turning impeachment into ‘unbridled circus’ with new push to oust Hegseth Fox News contributor and legal analyst Jonathan Turley warned Democrats are turning impeachment into a circus, arguing their latest impeachment push reflects a broader pattern of revenge and retaliation that risks undermining constitutional norms. "They're making impeachment into a version of the English vote of no confidence," Turley said during "Life, Liberty & Levin" on Saturday. "That's not what it is. It is something much more serious than that. But they are turning it into an unbridled circus." He said going straight for impeachment has become a "pattern for Democrats," one he called damaging to constitutional values and American history. "It's a very destructive series of pledges that they're making," Turley said. "It's part of this age of rage. They're promising straight revenge, straight retaliation. This is injecting that rage directly into the body politic. And there are many people who believe that that can carry them back into power… I'm not sure that's true." HOUSE DEMS LAUNCH IMPEACHMENT PUSH AGAINST HEGSETH House Democrats filed formal articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing him of abusing his office and committing war crimes. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., introduced six articles of impeachment against Hegseth along with 12 other House Democrats. The first three articles accuse Hegseth of an "unauthorized war against Iran and reckless endangerment of United States service members," "violations of the Law of Armed Conflict and targeting of civilians," and "Negligence and Reckless handling of sensitive military information." HEGSETH EXCORIATES MEDIA, LIKENING THEM TO ‘PHARISEES’ IN TRUMP DEFENSE The next three accuse him of obstructing congressional oversight, abuse of power and the politicization of the armed forces, along with a broader charge of bringing "disrepute" upon the U.S. and its armed forces. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement that the impeachment push "is just another charade" by Democrats designed to distract Americans from "the major successes we have had here at the Department of War." Fox News' Stephen Sorace contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63d55059ccda1fcc07365 SEAL Team 6 member reveals epic details of Osama bin Laden raid te 2026-04-20T14:51:01.422Z SEAL Team 6 member reveals epic details of Osama bin Laden raid SEAL Team 6 veteran Alex West pulled back the curtain on the raid to kill Osama bin Laden. The al-Qaeda mastermind and chief was killed in a daring SEAL Team 6 raid deep into Pakistan in May 2011. A small commando element of DEVGRU flew into Pakistan on modified stealth helicopters to deliver justice for Americans and the world. The mission nearly went sideways when one of the helicopters crashed while attempting to get guys on the ground. Fortunately, the 160th SOAR pilots were able to pin the tail on a wall, and the men got off to get the job done. After a couple different engagements throughout the area, the SEALs found Osama bin Laden on the third floor and took him out. West, who had a distinguished career as a SEAL Team 6 operator, joined former Delta Force operator Brent Tucker on the Tier 1 podcast to break down the biggest mission of his career. "Okay, boom the [breaching] charge goes. And then from there the rest of the guys came in. At that time, there was also another element that was taking down some other buildings. One of the [SEALs]...They got in a little gunfight. Got shot in his bolt cutters and fragged his traps a little bit. Then, kind of from there, the team went in. Took out [UBL's] son. Took out the man," West explained in a podcast released Monday. The SEAL Team 6 veteran was also in the helicopter that crashed, and his adrenaline was pumping far too much for him to notice his injuries. "At the time, I didn't realize it. I had a couple herniated discs in my back, but so did a lot of guys from that. But my adrenaline was going. I had no idea," the former DEVGRU operator further explained. You can watch his comments in the video below starting around 1:40:00 in the video below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. It's fascinating that we're nearly 15 years away from the night bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and stories about it simply never get it old. Imagine the adrenaline rush the SEALs on the ground must have been feeling. The helicopters successfully evaded Pakistan's layered air defenses, there was a crash immediately at UBL's compound, guys were scrambling to get inside, Khalid bin Laden got melted in the stairwell and then the SEALs got bin Laden on the third deck. I, personally, viewed it as the coolest Special Operations mission publicly known about, prior to the Maduro raid going down. The latter now holds the number one spot, but the bin Laden raid is still beyond legendary. Major props to everyone involved in the greatest manhunt in human history, and the SEALs who took care of business when it mattered most. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63d2c059ccda1fcc0734d App host Vercel says it was hacked and customer data stolen te 2026-04-20T14:50:20.911Z App host Vercel says it was hacked and customer data stolen Vercel blamed its breach on an earlier hack at Context AI, which allowed hackers to hijack a Vercel employee's account to steal customer data. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63afd059ccda1fcc071cc Donald Trump makes odd 'hair' comment to Danica Patrick at TPUSA event te 2026-04-20T14:41:01.463Z Donald Trump makes odd 'hair' comment to Danica Patrick at TPUSA event Danica Patrick returned to the place where she was famously "red-pilled" last weekend, and Donald Trump made sure to find her in the crowd. The ex-NASCAR driver and the former president spent Saturday at the Turning Point USA event in Arizona, where Patrick resides, and both spoke at the event. OLYMPIC LEGEND WHO GAVE ORDER OF IKKOS MEDAL TO TRUMP OPENS UP ABOUT ALIGNING WITH MAGA AND POLITICAL BACKLASH For those who don't follow all things Danica, this is the event where she basically became a Republican back in 2023. She's talked about it a dozen times, so I won't rehash it. But, Patrick was mocked online for going to what trolls considered an event that was too pro-American, and she was so disgusted by the reaction that she spent the next year campaigning for Donald Trump. And that, boys and girls, is how easy it is to red-pill someone nowadays. It's amazing. Anyway, fast-forward to this past weekend, and Trump and Danica went back to where it all started, with the president letting everyone know that Patrick is still very much on his good side. Amazing. No clue what Trump was going for there, but he nailed it. The guy likes what he likes and, in this case, it was Danica Patrick's hair. More specifically, her widow's peak. Didn't have that term on my Trump Bingo card for 2026, but that's why you always have to be on your toes in this business. Anyway, good to see these two still get along nearly two years into Trump's second term. Obviously, that's not the case with everyone. If you've made it this long without getting in Trump's doghouse, you're clearly doing something right. Look at Riley Gaines. Yikes. Look at all the conservative influencers currently in the crosshairs. It's a bloodbath. RILEY GAINES ADDRESSES SPAT WITH MAGA OVER AI JESUS POST, SAYS 'HUMILITY' WOULD SERVE TRUMP But not Danica. She's been loyal since Day 1, and she's still in the inner circle. Don't forget, she helped Trump re-take the presidency back in 2024. And make no mistake about it, she played a huge part in it. The ex-NASCAR star joined the Trump camp at the tail end of the '24 campaign, and was a lightning rod from start to finish. From MAGA dresses that turned on the internet, to speeches and rallies that had attendees ready to run through a brick wall, Danica was a key part of Trump's return to the White House.  And now, they've both linked back up at the place where it all began. Beautiful. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63ae9059ccda1fcc07196 ROTC cadets say training kicked in after Old Dominion University shooter killed 'heroic' instructor te 2026-04-20T14:40:41.568Z ROTC cadets say training kicked in after Old Dominion University shooter killed 'heroic' instructor Army ROTC cadets at Old Dominion University are speaking out about the deadly campus shooting that killed their instructor, recounting how he "gave his own life" to protect them and how their training helped them respond. "The team put together and worked together to face the threat head on, and through the heroic actions of Lieutenant Colonel Shah, a lot of preventable loss was... prevented," cadet Wesley Myers told "Fox & Friends" on Monday in an exclusive interview. Myers, along with fellow cadets, Liam Clement and Oshea Bego, recounted the harrowing experience, describing how what began as a routine class turned into something sinister when gunman Mohamed Jalloh entered the classroom. Jalloh repeatedly and nervously asked if the class was ROTC, according to prior reporting and, upon confirmation, reportedly shouted "Allahu akbar" and began firing at Lt. Col. Brandon Shah. SHOOTING IN OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY HALL INJURES TWO; GUNMAN DEAD According to the cadets, Shah immediately confronted the shooter, ultimately sacrificing his life to stop the attack. "Shah closed the distance with the shooter and gave his own life to take him down," Clement recalled. The cadets said their ROTC training kicked in almost instantly, allowing them to respond both tactically and medically in the chaotic aftermath. VIRGINIA MAN CHARGED WITH SELLING WEAPON USED BY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY GUNMAN "As ROTC students, we receive training in both medical as well as defensive tactics," Clement shared. "We employed these as a team to both treat Lieutenant Colonel Shah and our wounded as we could, as well as to take the fight to the shooter." Jalloh was pronounced dead at the scene. The trio also reflected on what Shah's sacrifice and influence meant to them. "He meant a great deal to a lot of us, me specifically. I've been in the program for the last four years, so we've been very close during that whole time," Bego said. "He was a great mentor, and even played the role of a honest friend at times. Even when the truth hurt, he made sure that you were on point in everything he could to support us and our goals." "He didn’t just treat us like cadets — he treated us as a family," Myers added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63650059ccda1fcc06dbf AYSO sets soccer goals for young athletes in 2026 season te 2026-04-20T14:21:04.761Z AYSO sets soccer goals for young athletes in 2026 season Group seeks volunteers, opens registration with programs for youngest players Brandon Kent, the regional commissioner for the American Youth Soccer Organization, said learning soccer can start as simple as balancing on one foot. “This doesn’t look like it’s soccer related,” he said, holding his arms Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63444059ccda1fcc06d69 Matt Fitzpatrick has perfect response to USA Ryder Cup fans after PGA Tour victory te 2026-04-20T14:12:20.659Z Matt Fitzpatrick has perfect response to USA Ryder Cup fans after PGA Tour victory Matt Fitzpatrick thoroughly enjoyed silencing a rowdy group of American golf fans after his playoff victory over World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage on Sunday. The Englishman began the final round of the PGA Tour signature event with a three-shot cushion over Scheffler, but as is often the case, the best player in the world refused to go away. Fitzpatrick carded his lone bogey of the afternoon on the 72nd hole to fall back to 18-under and into a playoff against the American, who posted a bogey-free round of 67 on Sunday. SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER DROPS COLD-BLOODED QUOTE REMINDING EVERYONE HE'S THE BEST IN THE WORLD As Fitzpatrick's par putt from just inside 25 feet slid past the cup on the final hole, chants of "USA-USA-USA" broke out among the crowd on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The 31-year-old is no stranger to hearing it from American fans, having represented Europe in the Ryder Cup four times. Fitzpatrick drew something not only from his experiences competing in the Ryder Cup, but also from winning the biennial event in 2023 and 2025, a fact he was sure to remind folks of after defeating Scheffler on the first playoff hole on Sunday. "Americans are incredibly patriotic, and I think that was amazing," Fitzpatrick said when asked if he thought the "USA" chants were strange. "I guess the only issue is they just have shorter memories because we won in October." MATT FITZPATRICK GETS TASTE OF NEW YORK FANS WHILE BEING HECKLED DURING RYDER CUP PRACTICE ROUND While walking off the 18th green after making a birdie to win the playoff, Fitzpatrick put his finger to his ear to playfully taunt the pro-American crowd. Aside from the Europeans taking down the Americans in dramatic fashion, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black will be remembered for the fan experience getting out of hand. Fitzpatrick and his European teammates were berated by fans throughout the three-day event in New York, and while the majority agrees things crossed the line at the Ryder Cup, it certainly wasn't the case during the closing moments at the RBC Heritage. "No, it didn't get out of line in terms of no one was shouting on backswings or anything like that, which was great. I'm all for it. I love the people – they're supporting Scottie; that's great," Fitzpatrick explained. "You want golf to have an atmosphere in my opinion. I grew up watching football. I'm paid so much money to be out there in front of those crowds, having them chanting at you every week, it's a great feeling. "However, there's no better feeling than coming out on top against that. There isn't a better feeling." Fitzpatrick's victory on Sunday marked his second RBC Heritage title and his second win in his last three starts on Tour after winning the Valspar Championship in March. The Englishman won the RBC Heritage in 2023 in a playoff over Jordan Spieth. 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/69e63431059ccda1fcc06d60 Supreme Court to hear Catholic parish's challenge after Colorado barred schools from universal pre-K program te 2026-04-20T14:12:01.057Z Supreme Court to hear Catholic parish's challenge after Colorado barred schools from universal pre-K program The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Catholic parish's argument after Colorado excluded its schools from the state's program that pays for families to send their children to the preschool of their choice, public or private. The oral arguments in the case of St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy are expected to take place this fall. This is a developing news story; check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6341c059ccda1fcc06d57 Tourists could get slapped with fees as pricey getaway looks to cash in even more te 2026-04-20T14:11:40.947Z Tourists could get slapped with fees as pricey getaway looks to cash in even more Yet another country in Europe is weighing a proposal to add tourist taxes and levies to visitors in an effort to raise money. Already considered an expensive destination, Finland is now taking a closer look at how tourists pay their way. The Finnish government has started drafting legislation that would allow municipalities to introduce a tax on tourists, part of a broader effort to boost revenue while easing the strain that travel places on local communities, according to a government statement. TRAVELERS MAY BE SLAPPED WITH 'RIDICULOUS' NEW FEES AS POPULAR CITY SEEKS MILLIONS PER YEAR The Ministry of Finance confirmed that legal preparations are in progress for a system that would give cities and towns the option to charge visitors who are staying in paid accommodations. The proposed tax would apply to international tourists and Finns traveling within their own country. Finance Minister Riikka Purra said the plan is highly flexible. Rather than imposing a nationwide rule, the government would leave the final decision to local hands. "The goal is a clear model, and municipalities would decide themselves whether to introduce it," Purra said in a statement. If the proposal passes, the tax would be calculated as a percentage of the accommodation price, including hotels, holiday cottages and short-term rentals. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Any revenue raised would stay within the municipality that collects it, offering local governments a new stream of funding to manage tourism-related costs.  Those costs include maintaining infrastructure, supporting public services and handling the wear and tear that comes with an influx of visitors. Finland, if it makes this move, would not be breaking new ground.  Tourist taxes are common across Europe, with cities like Venice, Paris and Seville using similar systems to balance the benefits of tourism with its challenges. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Finnish officials say their model would draw from these examples while tailoring their approach. The move follows a study and consultations with industry stakeholders. Next, the proposal will be opened up for public feedback before entering a formal legislative process, according to a statement. If approved, the law could take effect in 2027.  Then, municipalities could choose to add the tax to their 2028 budgets. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Finland’s tourism industry hit a record high in 2025, marking a strong rebound from the pandemic-era downturn. The country welcomed 5.1 million international visitors last year — a 5% increase from 2024 — according to Business Finland and Visit Finland. It is estimated that tourists spent more than $4 billion. Officials say the surge is partly driven by the growing "cool-cation" trend, with travelers from Europe and North America heading north in search of fresh air and cooler temperatures, the "VisaHQ" blog reported. Reddit users weighed in on the proposed tax. "Finland is … one of the most expensive countries to visit because of its already sky-high taxes. … Introducing [a] tourist tax is not going to help get tourists," one commenter said. "Sounds like Las Vegas. It's like $100 in taxes to rent a car, $15+ a night in just taxes for a hotel — every little thing they can soak tourists for they do," another Reddit user said. Finland has carved out an identity as a destination for nature-driven travel, drawing visitors with its vast forests, pristine lakes and seasonal extremes. In the winter, travelers head to Lapland for Northern Lights viewing and snow activities.  In the summer, tourists love the long daylight hours, including the midnight sun. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e63409059ccda1fcc06d4e Brooke Hogan says ‘I could have saved you’ in haunting regret after Hulk Hogan’s death te 2026-04-20T14:11:21.220Z Brooke Hogan says ‘I could have saved you’ in haunting regret after Hulk Hogan’s death HGTV’s "Rock the Block" promises big builds and bigger personalities — but for Brooke Hogan, the new season is also marked by something deeply personal: life after the loss of her father, Hulk Hogan. Nine months after the death of the wrestling legend, Brooke spoke with Fox News Digital and revealed the painful regrets and unanswered questions that still haunt her. "I talk to my dad every day and … I'm like, ‘What in the heck were you doing? I just wish I was there because you would still be here today. I have this feeling in me that, like, I could have saved you,' but it's that saying … ‘if love would have saved you, you'd be alive today’ because of how much love I have for him," she said. BROOKE HOGAN SHARES EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO FATHER HULK HOGAN FOLLOWING HIS DEATH, ADDRESSES THEIR ESTRANGEMENT When Brooke was asked what she would say to her father today if she could speak to him, she said, "I'm so glad you're out of pain." "He was in so much pain, so much, pain. And I'm glad that I get to have, I hate to say this, but almost an even better relationship with him now, where I can, like, talk to him honestly." On July 24, 2025, the WWE icon, born Terry Gene Bollea, died at age 71 after suffering a cardiac event at his Florida home. Brooke was estranged from her father at the time of his death. "And the only thing that sucks is that I just will never have answers. I'll never get to ask the questions I wanted to ask," she told Fox News Digital. "I tried even when he was alive. I tried to have conversations, and he was like, ‘I'm not talking about that.’ … He didn't ever want to be soft." BROOKE HOGAN EXPLAINS DECISION TO SKIPS HULK HOGAN'S FUNERAL SERVICE: 'PEOPLE GRIEVE IN MANY WAYS' Brooke recently took to social media to upload a black-and-white illustration of her father holding her in his arms, a stark image that underscored the bond she said never faded, even in loss. Alongside it, she wrote a single line that captured the depth of her grief: "If my love could have saved you, you would have lived forever." Despite that emotional distance, Brooke said her connection to her father hasn’t disappeared. "I’m honest with him now, and I talk to him all the time, even if that seems like I’m a cuckoo bird," she told Fox News Digital. "If he showed up today, I would just be like, ‘I love you so much, and I wish you would have just let me in.’" The emotional toll of their estrangement has also surfaced in her professional life. WATCH: BROOKE HOGAN EXPRESSES REGRET AFTER HULK HOGAN'S DEATH: ‘I COULD HAVE SAVED YOU’ While filming the new season of "Rock the Block," Brooke found herself questioning whether her father truly understood the life she had built on her own. "[It's] tough because, obviously, my dad and I weren't really speaking prior to his death — not because I didn't love him … it's that he had become a little bit calloused in the direction he was going in his life and the people he was surrounding himself with," she said. "I am the daughter that wanted to save him. And it's kind of like, you can try to save somebody and if they don't want to be saved … it's a tough position to be in." WATCH: BROOKE HOGAN FIGHTS THROUGH GRIEF ON ‘ROCK THE BLOCK’ FOLLOWING FATHER'S UNEXPECTED DEATH Brooke said moments during filming forced her to confront lingering insecurities about whether her father ever fully grasped her independence and success. "I don't think he ever really understood the business that I had built … I don't really think he fully understood just how hard it was to build from the ground up with nobody's help by myself," she said. "So, getting ‘Rock the Block’ was like a huge … medal for me… in that moment I was like, ‘I wonder if he knows what a big deal this is.’" LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The "Brooke Knows Best" reality star launched her interior design firm, BB Designs by Brooke, in 2018. She’s also built a life far beyond the spotlight. She married retired NHL player Steven Oleksy in 2022, and the couple recently expanded their family, welcoming twins in January 2025. WATCH: HGTV ‘ROCK THE BLOCK'S' SCOTT MCGILLIVRAY SAYS BROOKE HOGAN BALANCED GRIEF, PRESSURE DURING COMPETITION The upcoming Las Vegas-based season of "Rock the Block" pairs Brooke with real estate expert Scott McGillivray as part of a celebrity-designer duo competing for renovation glory. McGillivray told Fox News Digital that he was acutely aware of what Brooke was carrying behind the scenes. "100% it did — absolutely," he said when asked if her personal struggles changed how he showed up as a teammate. "Being human is also a big part of what this is." He described their early days on set as "like therapy," noting that their partnership went beyond design and construction. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "There was a lot of times in our house where Brooke and I got into some pretty heavy conversations… I think people are going to see more than just the renovation — they're going to see people transformations as well in this one," he said. As the competition unfolds, Brooke is channeling both her father’s drive and her own hard-earned resilience — even as she continues to grapple with what was left unsaid. HGTV’s "Rock the Block" is doubling down on star power this season, pairing fan-favorite designers with celebrities stepping into the high-stakes world of home renovation. Brooke and McGillivray are joined by other pairs, including designer Taniya Nayak and 98 Degrees band member Drew Lachey, as well as Mina Starsiak Hawk and former NFL star Vernon Davis. Season 7 is hosted by design expert Ty Pennington. The high-pressure competition gives each duo just six weeks and a $275,000 budget to transform identical homes into standout properties. HGTV’s "Rock the Block" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e633f5059ccda1fcc06d45 Lawmakers demand answers as scientists tied to US secrets die or vanish te 2026-04-20T14:11:01.356Z Lawmakers demand answers as scientists tied to US secrets die or vanish House Republicans are pressing multiple federal agencies for answers about reports that at least 10 individuals tied to sensitive U.S. nuclear and aerospace programs have died or disappeared in recent years, with lawmakers pointing to public reporting that raises questions about a possible "sinister connection" between the cases. In letters sent Monday, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Subcommittee Chairman Eric Burlison, R-Mo., request briefings from the FBI, Department of Energy, NASA and Department of War, citing what they describe as "unconfirmed public reporting" surrounding the incidents. The lawmakers say the reports involve individuals with connections to "U.S. nuclear secrets or rocket technology" who have "died or mysteriously vanished," and are seeking to determine whether any broader national security risk exists. "If the reports are accurate, these deaths and disappearances may represent a grave threat to U.S. national security and to U.S. personnel with access to scientific secrets," Comer and Burlison wrote. MISSING RETIRED AIR FORCE GENERAL CONSULTED ON UFOS FOR BLINK-182'S TOM DELONGE In response to earlier outreach, the War Department said there are "no active national security investigations" involving any current or former personnel tied to the reported cases. The White House has acknowledged the issue but has not confirmed any connection between the incidents.  Press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently said officials are working with relevant agencies to gather more information, while President Donald Trump told reporters he had "just left a meeting" on the matter, calling it "pretty serious stuff" and indicating answers could come soon. The letters cite several individuals whose deaths or disappearances have drawn public attention, including former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Michael David Hicks, who died in 2023. COMER WARNS ‘SOMETHING SINISTER’ MAY BE BEHIND DEATHS, DISAPPEARANCES OF 11 NUCLEAR, SPACE-LINKED SCIENTISTS  Among the more recent cases, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William "Neil" McCasland disappeared from his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home in February. Authorities said he left behind personal items but took his wallet and a firearm, and he has not been located. NASA materials engineer Monica Reza, who served as director of the Materials Processing Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also remains missing after disappearing during a hike in California in June 2025. The cases cited in public reporting span a range of circumstances, including disappearances, confirmed homicides and deaths where no foul play has been identified. Authorities have not indicated that the incidents are linked. Lawmakers also referenced reports suggesting a possible professional connection between some of the individuals through past Air Force–funded research programs involving advanced materials for space and weapons systems, though no confirmed link between the cases has been established. Comer and Burlison said the situation warrants further review, requesting staff-level briefings from the agencies by April 27 on any information they have regarding the individuals, as well as the procedures in place to protect sensitive scientific personnel and classified research. The inquiry spans agencies responsible for nuclear weapons infrastructure, advanced military research, federal law enforcement and space exploration — a wide-ranging effort to determine whether any risk to U.S. national security or personnel connected to advanced research programs exists. Fox News Digital has reached out to the departments that received letters for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e633e1059ccda1fcc06d3c '60 Minutes' accused of using Catholic cardinals to push liberal agenda while ignoring abortion stance te 2026-04-20T14:10:41.469Z '60 Minutes' accused of using Catholic cardinals to push liberal agenda while ignoring abortion stance "60 Minutes" teed up a trio of progressive American cardinals to discuss how Pope Leo XIV and the church have emerged as a voice of opposition to the war with Iran and President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in a segment that aired last week. The CBS News segment prompted critics to wonder why the program hadn't peppered cardinals with questions about issues such as abortion or other areas that Democrats and the Church don’t align on.  "Liberal TV networks find organized religion useful only so much as it helps sell the liberal view. They want to add the moral authority of organized religion to their viewpoint," Media Research Center executive editor Tim Graham told Fox News Digital.  '60 MINUTES' ACCUSED OF USING LEFT-LEANING CARDINALS TO BAIT TRUMP INTO FEUD WITH VATICAN "When the Catholic Church is vigorously opposing abortion or transgenderism, then they are either mocked or ignored -- but mostly ignored," Graham continued. "In the case of ‘60 Minutes,’ they could clearly see that their trio of American cardinals had been publicly advocating against Trump's policies on immigration." The CBS News program featured Norah O’Donnell sitting down with Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago; Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, D.C.; and Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, who the "60 Minutes" correspondent said were inspired to weigh in on political issues by Pope Leo.  The trio didn’t hold back, and Cardinal Cupich objected to videos posted by the White House at the onset of the war with Iran.  "It is sickening to splice together movie cuts with actual bombing, and targeting of people for the purposes of entertainment is sickening. This is not who we are. We're better than this," Cupich said.  During the episode, the cardinals criticized other Trump administration priorities, including methods of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Cardinal McElroy admitted immigration was "getting out of control" during the Biden administration. He said he believes in strong borders but objected to Trump’s approach.  CBS DIDN'T INCLUDE WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT ABOUT ANGEL PARENTS IN CECOT SEGMENT ON '60 MINUTES' "This is a roundup of people throughout the country. People who have been living good, strong lives, been here a long time, raised their children here, many of their children born here, and are citizens. That's what our objection is," McElroy said.  McElroy also declared that under the Catholic faith, the fighting in Iran is "not a just war." When discussing immigration, Cardinal Tobin said agents act in a way to "terrify people." O’Donnell noted that Trump ran on immigration and won the Catholic vote over Kamala Harris, but the cardinals pushed back.  "I would like to know what Catholics feel about this indiscriminate mass deportation. I think that… the American people are saying, ‘We really didn’t vote for this,’" Cupich said.  McElroy added, "What we're seeing as pastors is an enormous, profound level of human suffering and that's what motivates us." Cupich has been a public critic of mass deportations, is known for LGBTQ+ inclusivity and delivered the invocation at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, while McElroy and Tobin have been critics of Trump and are known to prioritize liberal policies and attempting to modernize the church.  Father Gerald Murray and author Robert Royal also joined Raymond Arroyo on "The Prayerful Posse" to discuss whether the situation was meant to spark a conflict between Trump and Pope Leo. "The three of them are billed as so-called influential, but none of them hold offices in the U.S. bishops' conference, and they have never been elected," Royal said. He compared the group to "The Squad" in U.S. politics, calling them "a very definite and pretty left-wing group of just three." Arroyo suggested the media framed the conflict to bait the White House into a dispute with the Vatican, which he labeled "pope-a-doping." "They were trying to get Trump to overreact, and he did," Arroyo said. POPE LEO CALLS OUT TRUMP’S IRAN RHETORIC BEFORE LAST-MINUTE CEASEFIRE EMERGES After the "60 Minutes" episode aired, Trump and the pope publicly criticized each other.  "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon." Others had issues with the segment and former Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer snarked on X, "Interesting how @60Minutes never asked Catholic leaders about [Joe] Biden’s pro-abortion policies." Other conservatives had similar thoughts:  Graham, a devoted Catholic himself, noted that "60 Minutes" could have easily added Bishop Robert Barron to the conversation to balance things out.  "But he's on Trump's religious liberty commission, so he's an unpalatable choice. Leftist journalists call him a ‘MAGA Bishop.’ That's like calling the bishops CBS interviewed as the ‘Biden Bishops,’" Graham said. "It's far too imprecise, when Catholic leaders are very unified on most issues of religion and morality."  "60 Minutes" did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump later doubled down with another social media post about the pope on Tuesday, urging people to "tell Pope Leo" about the Iranian regime's killings of protesters earlier this year. Speaking with reporters, Pope Leo said he does not fear the Trump administration or view himself as political. Despite the escalating perceived tension, the pope said Saturday that it was "not in my interest at all" to debate the president and emphasized that he would continue preaching a message centered on peace, justice and brotherhood. "Much of what has been written since then has been commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said," the pope said. Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo and Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e62f1d059ccda1fcc06c93 Rivian’s factory hit by tornado ahead of R2 launch te 2026-04-20T13:50:21.103Z Rivian’s factory hit by tornado ahead of R2 launch Nobody was hurt after an EF-1 tornado hit the part of the factory where the R2 SUV is supposed to be built. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e62cda059ccda1fcc06c4c Canada's prime minister refers to US economic ties as a weakness te 2026-04-20T13:40:42.877Z Canada's prime minister refers to US economic ties as a weakness Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asserted that many of his nation's prior "strengths" stemming from its close relationship with the U.S. have turned into "weaknesses" that must be addressed. "The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression. Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become our weaknesses, weaknesses that we must correct," Carney said in a video message. "Workers in our industries most affected by U.S. tariffs, in autos, in steel, in lumber, are under threat. Businesses are holding back investments, restrained by the pall of uncertainty that's hanging over all of us. The U.S. has changed. And we must respond," the Canadian leader declared. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. CARNEY CASTS HIMSELF AS NATO DEFENDER AMID TRUMP BEEF, DESPITE CANADA MISSING KEY BENCHMARK FOR DECADES "It's about taking back control of our security, our borders, and our future. There are some who say there's no need for a comprehensive plan. They believe we should wait it out in the hope that the United States will return to normal, that the good old days will come back," Carney continued. "But hope isn't a plan. And nostalgia is not a strategy," he asserted. SEATTLE, VANCOUVER COORDINATE CROSS-BORDER PLANNING FOR 2026 WORLD CUP TOURISM FROM AUSCHWITZ, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER RISING ANTISEMITISM IN CANADA "We have to take care of ourselves because we can't rely on one foreign partner. We can't control the disruption coming from our neighbors. We can't bet our future on the hope that it will suddenly stop. But we can control what happens here. We can build a stronger country that can withstand disruptions from abroad, that creates good jobs here at home, that's a leader in this new world, with a vast network of reliable allies," Carney said. President Donald Trump has implemented an aggressive tariff policy. The Supreme Court ruled against him in February, holding that Congress -- not the president -- holds authority over such taxes. Starting Monday, businesses are able to file for tariff refunds, as the federal government starts unwinding billions of dollars in import duties. Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e62a82059ccda1fcc06c00 Kyle Busch sends Hamlin chilling threat, NASCAR wife is 'America's Most Beautiful' & 1st black female wrecked te 2026-04-20T13:30:42.355Z Kyle Busch sends Hamlin chilling threat, NASCAR wife is 'America's Most Beautiful' & 1st black female wrecked Look, I'm not sure how it would look, but ... have we ever thought about maybe giving Kansas some bigger responsibilities during the NASCAR Cup Series season? As in, the championship race? I know we're going to start rotating those bad boys moving forward. I'm thinking Kansas should be on the list. No offense to Miami. Yes, offense to Phoenix. Kansas might clear them both. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Tough to argue with THAT Tyler Reddick win, right? I know I give Tiny Tyler a hard time, and it's nothing personal, I promise. I just don't know that Tyler Reddick winning a BILLION races is great for ratings. But, Sunday's win was impressive. Any time you pass Kyle Larson on the final turn, you're doing something right. That's five wins in the first nine races for Reddick. Five. He's won over half of 'em, for those who don't do great with math. And how about this for a stat that may or may not sit well with the old-timers ... Reddick is the first driver to win five of the first nine automobile races in a season since someone named Dale Earnhardt did it back in 1987. Goodness gracious. Anyway, congrats to Tiny Tyler. Nothing negative from me today. But, we've got bigger matters to attend to ... Like, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch nearing a boiling point. That's right. I think they might kill each other soon. When I tell you that Kyle Busch is MISERABLE, this is what I mean. Head on a swivel. You'll see. What else? I've also got more #content out of the race wives, including Tara Allmendinger competing for "America's Most Beautiful," and one of the nastier wrecks you'll see down in the O'Reilly (Busch) Series. KYLE LARSON STEALS NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP, DELIVERS HEARTBREAK FOR DENNY HAMLIN And if that's not enough, I've got Jeremy Mayfield (remember him?!) taking a blowtorch to the Cup Series after Bristol. Four tires, a couple drops of Sunoco racing fuel, and maybe a full-time bodyguard for Denny Hamlin ... Monday Morning Pit-Stop — the 'Denny Stuffs Kyle In A Locker And Spits In His Face Before Slamming The Door' edition — is LIVE! With all due respect to Tiny Tyler and yesterday's wild finish, we're going to start with Denny vs. Kyle because I know drama when I see it. I can smell it. And this, folks, is DRAMA. This is what it's all about ... in 2026, at least. Kyle Busch getting PISSED at Denny Hamlin, the podcaster. Not Denny the Racer. Denny the Podcaster. Amazing. So, obviously Denny crossed a line on his show last week. Kyle is (was?) clearly a subscriber, and let his ex-teammate HAVE it before Kansas: "People don’t know what the hell they’re talking about, and in this instance, I don’t feel like Denny Hamlin even knows what the hell he’s talking about. So he can bash me all he wants — and I can certainly make his life hell. "If Denny wants to switch cars, I’ll switch cars with him any day of the week, any time. I would love for him to show me that he can carry it better than I can." Goodness gracious. There are a lot of folks in the NASCAR Cup Series garage I think I could take. Kyle Busch is so far down on that list, I'm not even sure he's on it. He's massive. He's, clearly, miserable. That's a bad combination. A dangerous one. Now, as for Denny, here's what he said: That's obviously not the full clip, but you get the picture. Here's what Kyle's former JGR pal also said during his podcast: "Kyle Busch, I can’t hold the guy’s helmet talent-wise. But this is not new. He’s struggled for five years now. We have to be honest about our expectations. If you’re expecting Kyle Busch to go just back to victory lane on a regular basis, you are kidding yourselves, and you’re going to be very disappointed. "Clearly, RCR is not good right now, but you’re a Hall of Fame, Mount Rushmore driver. Carry it better than your teammate then, OK? If you’re the greatest, carry it better than your teammate who has won (six) races. Find a way. I think that’s what he should be able to do, but it’s not happening." And, of course, Hamlin had to respond himself after Kyle threatened to beat the piss out of him (I'm paraphrasing!): I'll be honest with you ... I'm with Denny here. A) he's 100% right in what he said last week. I've said it for years now. Kyle Busch stinks. He has stunk. He will probably keep stinking in this car, and with this team. And it pains me to say it, because I love Kyle Busch. He was once on pace to break all sorts of records. Now his average finish is in the 20s. But B) what else is Denny Hamlin supposed to say here? It's a podcast. A very, very, very popular NASCAR podcast, at Dale Jr.'s company, featuring one of the most polarizing drivers in the sport. He was asked about Kyle Busch's struggles at RCR. He answered with honesty. Kyle isn't mad because Denny said any of that. He's mad because he said it all out loud. Anyway, let me know what you think! Zach.Dean@OutKick.com. Let's get back to racing and start this week off with a bang! Again, Kansas should probably (definitely) be in the mix for the championship race down the road here. Those final two laps were something. This woke Next Gen car has killed the short tracks and the big ones, but the medium ones are thriving. It's one of the very nice things Kyle Busch and I will say about it! PS: Don't forget who gave Tyler Reddick the chance to win in overtime. Cody Ware, baby! Amazing. Cody Ware is so bad, and he picks just the worst times to prove it. Denny is so defeated. Amazing #content. OK, couple quickies on the way out. Speaking of amazing NASCAR #content, we don't see 'em wreck quite like this anymore: You don't see cars flips like that in today's world, and you really don't see them flip like that at a place like Kansas. Wild. Carson walked away just fine, which is why we can bury it way down here at the bottom instead of it being a ... bigger ... story. Next? You know what was a big story last week? Bristol being half-empty in the stands, and half-empty in living rooms across the country. It didn't look great on TV. At all. Jeremy Mayfield took it .. a step further ... via a scathing Facebook post about the race: "When the biggest story is how many people are staying home to watch a golf tournament in Georgia, the sport is in a coma. Ty Gibbs gets his first win in front of 100,000 empty seats. It looked like a COVID era race out there. "If the ‘World’s Fastest Half Mile’ can’t out draw a Sunday at Augusta, then NASCAR has officially lost the south. Is it the car? Is it the drivers? Or has the "Colosseum" just become a graveyard? Tell me I'm wrong." I surely ain't telling you that, Jeremy! I wrote about it twice last week. In no world should Bristol be empty. It's OK for New Hampshire to look rough in July. I get that. But Bristol in April? Unacceptable. LOOK at these grandstands: Yikes. Not great. Two more on the way out. I promise I'll be quick, because this has been a weirdly long class. First? The ARCA Series made history this week that I'm sure all NASCAR fans will love to hear about! Dystany Spurlock became the first black female to compete in a race, and she promptly got wrecked in a pretty ... jarring ... way: Yikes. Not great! I don't know what's more shocking — the wreck, or the fact that Spurlock was a lap down in 10th. Tenth! OK, that's it for today. Again, a long class, but an important one. Not enough race WAGs, though. That's on me. I'll wear that one on the chin. Here's Tara Allmendinger throwing her hat in the ring for 'America's Most Beautiful' this July. See you at 'Dega. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6260c059ccda1fcc06b56 Cancer tied to woman's vaping habit since age 15 as she's now given just months to live te 2026-04-20T13:11:40.709Z Cancer tied to woman's vaping habit since age 15 as she's now given just months to live A young woman who started vaping at the age of 15 has been given just 18 months to live — after being diagnosed with lung cancer in her early 20s.  Kayley Boda, 22, of Manchester, in the United Kingdom, was engaging in heavy vaping on a regular basis when she started coughing up a brown substance with "grainy bits" in it in January 2025, news agency SWNS reported.  The retail assistant said doctors turned her away eight times, telling her she had a chest infection — until she began coughing up blood.     SMOKING AND VAPING MAY BE BANNED AT ONE STATE'S MOST POPULAR BEACHES AND PARKS: HERE'S WHY After seven biopsies, Boda was diagnosed with lung cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of her right lung, as well as chemotherapy — and in February 2026, got the all-clear, the same source reported. Two months later, though, doctors said the cancer had come back in the pleural lining. Now she's been given 18 months to live. The young woman has now issued a warning to others to be aware of the dangers of vaping. Boda said she smoked a bit as a young teenager. She took up vaping after that.  Then, "a few months after I switched from reusable vapes to disposable ones, I started coughing up brown, grainy mucus," as SWNS reported. TOURISTS MAY FACE STEEP FINES AND JAIL TIME FOR VAPES AT THIS VACATION HOT SPOT "Doctors turned me away eight times with a chest infection. ... Then I started coughing up blood, so they did an X-ray and found a shadow on my lung," she added. "They told me they were 99% sure, [since I was] so young, that it wasn't cancer, so not to worry about it. When I got the results back, and they told me it was lung cancer, it felt so surreal." Boda said she was "very naive" before her diagnosis and thought that "something like this would never happen to me." She said that she had surgery to remove half of her right lung. "After the surgery, I started chemo and I had a terrible reaction to it. I couldn't lift my head up. I was throwing up blood. I was urinating blood. I couldn’t eat. I couldn't sleep." VACATION HOT SPOT CRACKS DOWN ON VAPING WITH JAIL THREATS AND HEFTY FINES She said that when she got the "all clear [in Feb. 2026], it felt amazing, but just two months later I was told the cancer had come back, and I have 18 months to live." She added, "I’m 22. This isn’t meant to happen to somebody my age." She blames her cancer on vaping, she said.   "My symptoms started a few months after I started disposable vapes, and there’s no lung cancer in my family," she said. "I haven’t vaped for three months, I’ve made my partner stop, I’ve made my mom stop, I’m urging all my friends to stop. Stay off the vapes," she continued, "because they will catch up with you."   She said she'd been using reusable vapes since the age of 15 and began using disposable vapes a few months before her cancer symptoms started. DISPOSABLE VAPES MORE TOXIC AND CARCINOGENIC THAN CIGARETTES, STUDY SHOWS In November 2024, when she developed a rash all over her body, doctors said it could have been due to shingles, chicken pox or scabies, she told SWNS.     "I got treated for all three, and nothing worked," Boda said. "It got to the point where I was cutting myself from scratching so hard."  A few months after that, she began coughing up a dark brown mucus, with "grainy bits, the consistency of sugar, in it," she said. When the coughing continued, she visited the doctor's office, but was told it could be scarring from pneumonia or a chest infection, she also said.     CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER It wasn't until March 2025 that she began coughing up bright red blood. At that point, doctors gave her a chest X-ray and told her they'd found a shadow on her lower right lung.     Over the next four months, she had seven biopsies as doctors took samples from the "shadow." In August, when she went to get the results, she was told she had stage one lung cancer. In September 2025, she had surgery to remove the lower lobe of her right lung, and the surrounding lymph nodes. During the surgery, doctors upstaged her cancer from stage one to stage three after finding cancer in six surrounding lymph nodes, she said.   Following the surgery, Boda was unable to breathe properly and had to learn to walk all over again.   After finishing chemotherapy in February 2026, Kayley was given the all clear, leaving her feeling elated.  TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ However, just a month after that, she began experiencing extreme chest pains and was told by doctors she had a pleural effusion — a build-up of fluid in the lungs. She had the fluid removed, but when doctors tested it, they discovered her cancer had returned to the pleural lining of her lungs, giving her 18 months to live.   "The oncologist said this is so rare, and usually something they see in patients that are 80 years old," she said, as SWNS reported.   Boda claimed that doctors were unable to pin her cancer to a specific cause — but told her that smoking and vaping definitely didn’t help. Since her diagnosis, she has stopped and is urging others to stop, too.     She's hoping to raise the thousands of dollars needed for treatment to try to prolong her life, she said.   Last year, Fox News Digital reported on the case of a Pennsylvania woman, 26, who said she vaped for just one year before her lungs collapsed. She was 22 when she took up the habit, she said in an interview.  "Everybody warned me about it, but I didn't listen — I wish that I did," she said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH ARTICLES Dr. David Campbell, clinical director and program director at Recover Together Bend in Oregon, told Fox News Digital at that time that signs of collapsed lungs include sharp chest or shoulder pain, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Lung issues are just one of the many health issues linked to vaping, he warned. The habit can also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as exposure to harmful heavy metals. Melissa Rudy of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e625f9059ccda1fcc06b4d How Trump panic broke the Democratic Party and fueled endless crisis politics te 2026-04-20T13:11:21.018Z How Trump panic broke the Democratic Party and fueled endless crisis politics Since 2016, Democrats have increasingly asked voters to rally not around a compelling vision of America’s future, but around fear of what happens if Donald Trump returns. Every election is cast as the final firewall before catastrophe. Democracy is on the ballot. Institutions are under siege. The country cannot survive another Trump term. Some of those warnings may be sincerely felt, and some may even be justified. But when politics becomes an endless sequence of alarms, something deeper begins to erode: a political party can forget how to talk about anything beyond the emergency itself. In my work as a psychotherapist, I often see what happens when people organize their lives around preventing old pain from recurring. Their thinking narrows into vigilance, avoidance, and threat management. Instead of moving toward the life they want, they become consumed with making sure the worst thing never happens again. It’s a pattern I explore more broadly in my forthcoming book, Therapy Nation, and it offers a useful lens for understanding what has happened to Democratic politics. For a decade now, the Democratic Party’s most emotionally coherent message has often been less about what kind of country it wants to build than what catastrophe must be prevented. That urgency has been politically useful. It unified some moderates, progressives, and uneasy independents who agreed on little except the need to stop Trump. But every election framed primarily as catastrophe prevention carries a hidden psychological cost: it trains voters to experience politics as permanent emergency management. A party can sound endlessly clear about the danger it sees while remaining frustratingly vague about the future it wants to create. Alarm can drive turnout, but it is far less effective at building durable allegiance. WHEN WE CALL EVERYTHING AN 'ISM,' WE STOP HEARING WHAT VOTERS ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT Politics can fall into the same trap. For Democrats, 2016 was more than an election loss. It shattered a story many in the party had quietly internalized: that demographic momentum, elite cultural influence, and even the arc of history itself were all moving in their direction. Hillary Clinton’s defeat disrupted a sense of inevitability that had shaped elite political assumptions for years. What followed was understandable. The central strategic question became how to prevent Trump’s return. In the short term, that worked. Opposition created discipline. It supplied urgency, money, turnout, and a common emotional language for an otherwise unwieldy coalition. But fear is an unstable long-term motivator. Think of the patient who starts exercising only after his doctor warns that he is nearing a heart attack. Panic may get him into the gym, but that motivation often fades once the immediate danger recedes. By contrast, the person training for a marathon is driven by something more durable: a vision of who he wants to become. The discipline lasts because it is attached to aspiration, identity, and a meaningful future. Political parties are no different. A movement can win moments by telling voters what must be stopped, but it builds lasting identity only by telling them what future is worth creating. That is where Democrats now appear stuck. Their strongest unifying message too often remains the need to block Trump, defend institutions from him, or prevent a return to the disruption he represents. Those arguments can mobilize in the short run, but they do not answer the deeper democratic question voters eventually ask: what positive national story are you offering? You can see the problem in the way nearly every policy disagreement, court ruling, or election result is now narrated as existential collapse rather than ordinary democratic conflict. DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING A CRITICAL MISTAKE — AND VOTERS ARE LETTING THEM KNOW The long-term cost of reactive politics is identity. Fear creates short-term cohesion while postponing hard debates over class, immigration, public safety, economic aspiration, and cultural priorities. Those tensions do not disappear simply because a coalition remains emotionally united against a threat. They remain unresolved beneath the surface, only to return later with greater force. What fear suppresses, it never truly reconciles. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION That is why Democratic identity has felt unstable. When opposition becomes the organizing force, aspiration gets crowded out. Strategy turns defensive. The political imagination narrows. A movement that defines itself mainly by the threat it opposes eventually risks becoming psychologically captive to that threat. Over time, the cost is fatigue and exhaustion. When politics becomes an endless sequence of alarms, citizens begin to lose faith in the possibility of collective progress itself. Democracy starts to feel less like self-government and more like perpetual triage. Cynicism hardens. Trust erodes. Voters will rally around danger for a while, but eventually they want something more sustaining: direction, purpose, and a future they can actually see themselves living in. Fear may win elections, but vision builds governing identity. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM JONATHAN ALPERT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e625d0059ccda1fcc06b36  3 authors, 3 perspectives: Books on immigration, identity and life without documents te 2026-04-20T13:10:40.239Z  3 authors, 3 perspectives: Books on immigration, identity and life without documents Weaving together ethnography, archaeology, linguistics and forensic science, anthropologist Jason De León starkly documents the human consequences of U.S. immigration policy in “The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail.” In the book, he documents how federal strategies have pushed thousands of migrants to cross through the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, where the risk of death is constant. His work not only describes a crisis — it reveals a system that turns the landscape into a lethal border. With moving detail, De León reconstructs the journeys of those who have attempted to cross the border again and again, and reveals the stories held by objects and bodies left behind. “My dad is from México, my mom is Filipino, my whole family are immigrants,” De León said in an interview with PhillyCAM, a community media outlet. “For many years working in  México, I met many migrants who were preparing to migrate or who had been deported from the United States; those stories affected me deeply.” De León is a professor of anthropology and Chicana/o and Central American studies. He is also the director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Over the years, he developed an idea: “Maybe I can use archaeology to understand the migrant experience.” That led to initiatives such as the Undocumented Migration Project and several key books on migration, including “Soldiers and Kings,” winner of the 2024 National Book Award for nonfiction, and “The Land of Open Graves,” which is spotlighted here alongside works from two other authors. The books represent three distinct approaches to immigration: personal memoir, ethnographic research and young adult narrative. Each deepens the conversation in a different way. Jose Antonio Vargas, originally from the Philippines, came to the United States without documentation at age 12. He lived for decades in the shadows while building a notable career at outlets including the Washington Post and The New Yorker. In 2011, he disclosed his immigration status — an act that transformed his life and work. In “Dear America, Notes of an undocumented citizen,” Vargas sets aside the political debate to offer an intimate and unflinching reflection on identity, citizenship and belonging. Sara Saedi discovered at 13 that her life in the United States was shaped by a secret: her undocumented status. Having arrived from Iran as a child, she grew up as any high-achieving student would — until her sister’s inability to get a job without a Social Security number revealed the truth. In “Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card,” Saedi turns that revelation into a sharp and honest account of identity, fear and belonging in an undocumented adolescence. The human cost of the border Version 1.0.0 “The Land of Open Graves” brings together six years of ethnographic, archaeological and forensic research on migration — between Latin America and the United States — by De León between 2009 and 2015. Michael Wells‘ photographs bring the realities of life and death to the book. In the striking book, De León illuminates one of the most urgent issues of our time: the human cost of U.S. immigration policy. Through sober, penetrating narrative, the work exposes the suffering and death that repeat daily in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, where thousands of people face extreme conditions in their attempt to cross from México into the United States. De León has built a career that blends academic leadership with fieldwork in diverse settings. He is a member of the Academic Council of the Field Research Consortium and has taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Washington. Trained at UCLA and holding a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University, his early research took him to Tlaxcala, México. His experience in the desert borderlands focused on migrating people dying because of government policies. “Many of these deportees are now running scared across Arizona’s Mars-like landscape to reunite with family members or simply return to the only place they have ever called home,” De León says in his book. “My argument is quite simple. The terrible things that this mass of migrating people experience en route are neither random nor senseless, but rather part of a strategic federal plan that has rarely been publicly illuminated and exposed for what it is: a killing machine that simultaneously uses and hides behind the viciousness of the Sonoran Desert.” Identity without papers “Dear America: Notes of an undocumented citizen” is not a policy treatise but an intimate intervention in the debate over citizenship and belonging. In this provocative memoir, Vargas — a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and perhaps one of the most visible immigrants without citizenship in the United States — reconstructs a life marked by public invisibility and constant exposure. Born in the Philippines and brought to the country without documentation as a child, Vargas managed to work in some of the country’s most prestigious newsrooms while concealing the origins of his story. His decision to disclose his immigration status — accepting personal and professional risks — makes the book something more than a memoir: an act of defiance. Vargas questions conventional notions of national identity and articulates a defense of immigrants’ rights at a moment defined by mass displacement on a global scale. The work also asks what it means to call a country home that may never claim you back. His book dedication is personal and global: “To Mama in the Philippines, and to every American who has made me feel at home in the United States. To the world’s migrant population, 258 million and counting.” An undocumented youth In “Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card,” Saedi — a bright student with a spotless academic record — discovers a family secret that reconfigures her place in the world: her undocumented status in the United States. Having arrived from Iran as a small child, she does not grasp the weight of being undocumented, and the invisible limitations it carries, until her school years. Soon, constant fear of deportation coexists with the ordinary anxieties of any young person. Saedi narrates her path toward obtaining legal residency, though the immigration process is only one layer of her experience as an Iranian American teenager. Amid family revelations — including her parents’ strategic divorce — and the anxieties common to adolescence, she moves fluidly between the intimate and the political, drawing a portrait in which legal precarity and daily life intertwine with incisive candor. For Saedi, narrating her experience of growing up undocumented has been a cathartic process. “It’s so liberating to take something I was so ashamed of as a teenager and turn it into a project that has opened so many doors for me,” she said in a 2021 interview. The post  3 authors, 3 perspectives: Books on immigration, identity and life without documents appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e625bc059ccda1fcc06b2d Tres autores, tres perspectivas: libros sobre inmigración, identidad y la vida sin documentos te 2026-04-20T13:10:20.692Z Tres autores, tres perspectivas: libros sobre inmigración, identidad y la vida sin documentos A través de una investigación que entrelaza etnografía, arqueología, lingüística y ciencia forense, el antropólogo Jason De León expone con crudeza las consecuencias humanas de la política migratoria estadounidense en “La Tierra de las Tumbas Abiertas: Vivir y Morir en la Ruta Migratoria”. En su libro, documenta cómo las estrategias federales han empujado a miles de migrantes a cruzar por el Desierto de Sonora, Arizona, donde el riesgo de muerte es constante. Su trabajo no solo describe una crisis, sino que revela un sistema que convierte el paisaje en frontera letal. Con un detalle conmovedor, De León reconstruye los trayectos de quienes han intentado cruzar la frontera una y otra vez, y revela las historias que guardan los objetos y cuerpos abandonados en el desierto. “Mi papá es de México, mi mamá es filipina, toda mi familia es migrante”, dice De León en una entrevista con PhillyCAM, un canal comunitario. “Durante muchos años trabajando en México conocí muchos migrantes que se estaban preparando a migrar o que fueron deportados de los Estados Unidos; esas historias me afectaron mucho”. De León es un profesor de antropología, de estudios Chicanos/as y Centroamericanos. También es director del Instituto Cotsen de Arqueología en la Universidad de California, Los Ángeles. Con los años, se le fue formando una idea: “Quizás yo pueda usar la arqueología para entender la experiencia de los migrantes”. De ahí surgieron iniciativas como el Undocumented Migration Project y libros clave sobre migración, entre ellos “Soldados y reyes”, ganador del Premio Nacional del Libro de No Ficción 2024, y “La Tierra de las Tumbas Abiertas”, que compartimos aquí, junto con obras de otros dos autores. Los libros representan tres enfoques distintos sobre la migración: memoria personal, investigación etnográfica y narrativa juvenil. Cada uno profundiza la conversación de una manera diferente. Jose Antonio Vargas, originario de Filipinas, llegó a Estados Unidos sin documentos a los 12 años. Vivió durante décadas en las sombras, mientras construía una destacada carrera en medios como The Washington Post y The New Yorker. En 2011, reveló su estatus migratorio, un acto que transformó su vida y su trabajo. En “Querida América, Notas de un ciudadano indocumentado”, Vargas deja de lado el debate político para ofrecer una reflexión íntima y contundente sobre la identidad, la ciudadanía y el sentido de pertenencia. Sara Saedi descubrió a los 13 años que su vida en Estados Unidos estaba marcada por un secreto: su estatus migratorio irregular. Llegada desde Irán cuando era niña, creció como cualquier estudiante destacada hasta que la imposibilidad de su hermana de conseguir trabajo, por no tener número de Seguro Social, reveló la verdad. En “Americanizada: Rebelde Sin Tarjeta Verde”, Saedi convierte esa revelación en un relato agudo y honesto sobre identidad, miedo y pertenencia en la adolescencia indocumentada. El costo humano de la frontera “La Tierra de las Tumbas Abiertas” reúne seis años de investigación etnográfica, arqueológica y forense sobre la migración entre América Latina y Estados Unidos, realizada por De León entre 2009 y 2015. Las fotografías de Michael Wells aportan al libro las realidades de la vida y la muerte. En el libro, impactante, De León ilumina uno de los temas más urgentes de nuestro tiempo: el costo humano de la política migratoria estadounidense. A través de una narrativa sobria y penetrante, la obra expone el sufrimiento y la muerte que se repiten a diario en el Desierto de Sonora, en Arizona, donde miles de personas enfrentan condiciones extremas en su intento por cruzar desde México hacia Estados Unidos. De León ha forjado una trayectoria que entrelaza liderazgo académico y trabajo de campo en escenarios diversos. Integrante del Consejo Académico del Instituto de Investigación de Campo, ha enseñado en la Universidad de Michigan y en la Universidad de Washington. Formado en la UCLA y doctorado por la Universidad Estatal de Pensilvania, sus primeras investigaciones lo llevaron a Tlaxcala, México. Su experiencia en la región fronteriza del desierto se centró en las personas migrantes que mueren a consecuencia de las políticas gubernamentales. “Muchos de estos deportados corren ahora aterrorizados a través del paisaje de Arizona, similar a Marte, para reunirse con sus familiares o simplemente regresar al único lugar que han llamado hogar”, De León dice en su libro. “Mi argumento es bastante simple. Las terribles cosas que esta masa de personas migrantes padece durante el camino no son ni aleatorias ni sin sentido, sino que forman parte de un plan federal estratégico que rara vez ha sido sacado a la luz pública y expuesto por lo que es: una máquina de matar que simultáneamente utiliza y se oculta tras la ferocidad del desierto de Sonora”. Identidad sin papeles “Querida América: Notas de un ciudadano indocumentado” no se presenta como un tratado sobre política migratoria, sino como una intervención íntima en el debate sobre ciudadanía y pertenencia. En este relato provocador,  Vargas, periodista ganador del Premio Pulitzer y, quizás uno de los inmigrantes sin ciudadanía más visibles en Estados Unidos, reconstruye una vida marcada por la invisibilidad pública y la exposición constante. Nacido en Filipinas y llevado sin documentos al país siendo niño, Vargas logró integrarse en algunas de las redacciones más prestigiosas mientras ocultaba el origen de su historia. Su decisión de revelar su estatus migratorio, asumiendo riesgos personales y profesionales, convierte el libro en algo más que una memoria: en un acto de desafío. Vargas cuestiona las nociones convencionales de identidad nacional y articula una defensa de los derechos de migrantes en un momento definido por desplazamientos masivos a escala global. La obra también plantea qué significa llamar hogar a un país que quizá nunca te reconozca como propio. La dedicatoria de su libro es personal y global: “A mamá en Filipinas, y a cada estadounidense que me ha hecho sentir en casa en Estados Unidos. A la población migrante del mundo, 258 millones y en aumento.” Una juventud indocumentada En “Americanizada: Rebelde Sin Tarjeta Verde” Saedi, una estudiante brillante y de expediente impecable,  descubre un secreto familiar que reconfigura su lugar en el mundo: su vida en Estados Unidos sin estatus legal. Llegada desde Irán siendo apenas una niña, no es hasta sus años escolares que comprende el peso de ser indocumentada y las limitaciones invisibles que lo acompañan. Pronto, el temor constante a la deportación convive con las inquietudes comunes de cualquier joven. Saedi narra su camino hacia la obtención de la residencia legal, aunque el trámite migratorio es solo una de las múltiples capas de su experiencia como adolescente iraní “estadounidense”. Entre revelaciones familiares, como el divorcio estratégico de sus padres y las ansiedades propias de la edad, la autora se mueve con soltura entre lo íntimo y lo político, trazando un retrato donde la precariedad legal y la vida cotidiana se entrelazan con una franqueza incisiva. Para Sara Saedi, narrar su experiencia de crecer como indocumentada ha sido una experiencia catártica. “Es tan liberador tomar algo de lo que me avergonzaba tanto en mi adolescencia y convertirlo en un proyecto que me ha abierto tantas puertas”, dijo en una entrevista de 2021. The post Tres autores, tres perspectivas: libros sobre inmigración, identidad y la vida sin documentos appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e6237a059ccda1fcc06afa Top House Republican rips Omar as ‘complete fraud’ amid financial disclosure controversy te 2026-04-20T13:00:42.459Z Top House Republican rips Omar as ‘complete fraud’ amid financial disclosure controversy Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., sharply criticized "Squad" Rep. Ilhan Omar as a "complete fraud" on Saturday, while discussing her criticism of fraud investigations and scrutiny over a major discrepancy in her financial disclosures. "Not only should her accountant be fired, but that girl should be fired and she does not deserve to be in Congress," Emmer told "The Big Weekend Show." "Quite frankly, if she is discovered to be involved in any of this fraud personally, that she benefited from it, even by her actions of promoting it and trying to resist investigations, she should be held accountable to the fullest extent," he added. Emmer’s remarks specifically zeroed in on the controversy surrounding Omar’s financial disclosures, which recently drew scrutiny after a filing appeared to dramatically overstate her net worth. TOM EMMER CALLS FOR TIM WALZ, KEITH ELLISON TO 'SERVE JAIL TIME' IF FRAUD COVERUP ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE Omar's office has denied that she is a millionaire and blamed the discrepancy on a major accounting error after a congressional financial disclosure listed her assets as high as $30 million, prompting questions from Republicans and a congressional watchdog. An amended filing reviewed by The Wall Street Journal shows Omar and her husband’s assets were between $18,004 and $95,000, a sharp drop from an earlier disclosure that estimated their holdings between $6 million and $30 million. "The amended disclosure confirms what we’ve said all along: The congresswoman is not a millionaire," Omar spokesperson Jacklyn Rogers told the Journal, adding that the filing was corrected "as soon as the discrepancy was identified." ILHAN OMAR'S OFFICE SAYS SHE'S 'NOT A MILLIONAIRE' AFTER $30M FILING REVISED TO UNDER $100K: REPORT Fox News Digital previously reached out to Omar’s office for additional comment on the matter but did not hear back. House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., similarly criticized Omar during an appearance Sunday, telling "Fox & Friends Weekend" that he has been pushing the House Ethics Committee to investigate the matter. "We're not supposed to do that [investigate it] on the Oversight Committee, but because she's a person of interest in the Somali fraud, I've been trying to get that," Comer said. "Now that this financial disclosure form has been changed, I think the Ethics Committee has a lot of questions for her, and we're going to continue to push them to make sure that she has to answer them." Fox News' Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e62121059ccda1fcc06ab9 Patrick Muldoon, 'Days of Our Lives' and 'Melrose Place' star, dead at 57 after sudden heart attack te 2026-04-20T12:50:41.970Z Patrick Muldoon, 'Days of Our Lives' and 'Melrose Place' star, dead at 57 after sudden heart attack Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles in "Days of Our Lives" and "Melrose Place," has died. He was 57. The actor's manager confirmed the news to Variety. According to Deadline, Muldoon died on Sunday following a sudden heart attack. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Muldoon's sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ that the actor had spent Sunday morning with his partner, Miriam Rothbart, at their Beverly Hills home before taking a shower. She later found him unconscious on the bathroom floor. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Muldoon was pronounced dead on the scene after paramedics arrived, the outlet reported. Representatives for Muldoon did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. This story is developing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e61eca059ccda1fcc06a77 NFL draft has a 'special' player everyone knows about but he may not go in top 5 te 2026-04-20T12:40:42.002Z NFL draft has a 'special' player everyone knows about but he may not go in top 5 The NFL draft’s best prospect isn’t going to be selected No. 1 because that slot is reserved for quarterback Fernando Mendoza. But here’s the surprising thing: The most dynamic, versatile and complete prospect, who is no secret to anyone, isn’t even guaranteed of getting picked in the Top 5. Jeremiyah Love is that guy despite the fact he’s the guy most NFL evaluators see as "special." But because he’s a running back, a position devalued by some NFL teams the last few years, Love will be fortunate to sneak into the Top 5 even in a draft that doesn’t offer many can’t-miss prospects. "I certainly think there's a cluster of players up there that we really like," Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said. "But in particular Jeremiyah, I think he's a special player. NOTRE DAME STAR 'ALREADY OVER' PLAYOFF SNUB, DEFENDS BOWL OPT-OUT AS HE HOPES FOR HEISMAN TROPHY WIN "…The speed, he can do things out of the backfield as a receiver. But there's also a group of edge guys up there, that are really good too, so I think we'll have some really good options there at four." Borgonzi's Titans indeed hold the No. 4 overall selection, but notice he didn’t say the edge guys are "special" enough to add with that pick. Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach indeed mentioned there is no Myles Garrett or Will Anderson in this draft. But, meanwhile, the idea that Love is special is not unique. LIONS' JAHMYR GIBBS, DAVID MONTGOMERY CRUCIAL TO SUPER BOWL HOPES, NFL LEGEND SAYS It’s practically universal. "Yeah, he’s special," Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. "I think if you look, you think about some of the, let’s say, dual threat backs that the league has had.  "You know, obviously, Christian McCaffrey may be the poster child for that. Jahmyr Gibbs may be, kind of the next generation of that.  Jeremiyah certainly has a lot of those abilities and capabilities.  He’s a very dynamic prospect." The New York Giants own the No. 5 overall selection, as well as the No. 10 pick following their trade of Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals over the weekend. Would the team that traded future 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley three years ago do something of an about-face in valuing a running back such as Love with the No. 5 pick? Maybe, because he’s not merely a running back in the eyes of Giants GM Joe Schoen. "He's an offensive weapon," said Schoen, who also pointed out he thinks his running back room is well stocked. "He's not just a running back. He can play on 3rd down. You can split him out. He can catch the ball. "Certainly an offensive weapon." So we should all get it by now: Jeremiyah Love is  "special" because he makes an offense multi-dimensional by both running and catching the football at a high level.  And that ultimately makes the quarterback better. But at what cost? That's the problem NFL evaluators are asking themselves as they set their draft boards. Why take a player who doesn’t play a premium position – quarterback, offensive tackle, edge rusher – with a premium high pick? That’s the issue that might hold Love back like no defensive player could the last few years while he gained 2,498 rushing yards, averaged 6.9 yards per rush, and scored a combined 40 TDs. A few years ago, you see, NFL teams decided running backs aren’t as important as in the past. They decided it’s a pass-first league and runners lost value – as the veterans that hit free agency from 2020-2024 found out. That’s the reason Barkley has been the only running back selected in the Top 5 dating back to 2018. But something interesting began happening maybe the past couple of years as offenses devalued running backs. Defenses decided they didn’t need to deploy assets to defend against the runners. They instead put extra defensive backs and fewer run-stopping linebackers on the field in order to stop the pass. And here's the good news for Love: As a counter to address the smart aleck defenses, offenses started running the ball more against units deployed to defend the pass. The pendulum is swinging back to add value to running backs, especially dual-threat running backs like McCaffrey, Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and De’Von Achane. So a dual-threat runner such as Love can have hope his his abilities won’t be as devalued in the future as it might have been a few years ago. That's why Love might still get into the Top 5 of Thursday's first round. "Well, listen, look, all positions aren’t created equal," Berry admitted, "but ultimately you are looking for difference makers and, like, elite level talent." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e61c72059ccda1fcc06a30 Police report details Zachariah Branch’s arrest days before NFL Draft over sidewalk incident te 2026-04-20T12:30:42.031Z Police report details Zachariah Branch’s arrest days before NFL Draft over sidewalk incident New details have emerged surrounding the arrest of former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is facing two misdemeanor charges following a run-in with law enforcement just days ahead of the NFL Draft.  Branch, who is a projected second-round pick, was arrested early Sunday morning in Athens, Georgia, and charged with two counts of obstructing public sidewalks/streets – prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.  He was released after more than two hours in jail after posting $39 in bonds.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The NFL Network obtained the police report from Branch’s arrest, which described an encounter over an alleged sidewalk incident with law enforcement, in which police alleged that the former Bulldogs star failed "to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands." "A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move. I continued to give Zacharia Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk," the excerpt from the report read.  TOP NFL DRAFT PICK ZACHARIAH BRANCH ARRESTED IN GEORGIA ON TWO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES "Zacharia Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business," the report continued. "Due to those actions and Zacharia Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks." Branch transferred after two seasons at Southern California and immediately became quarterback Gunner Stockton’s favorite target. He finished the season with a team-high 811 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. His status as a projected second-round pick was bolstered after an impressive showing at the combine, where he clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. 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/69e61a19059ccda1fcc06939 US military announces another deadly strike against 'narco-terrorists' te 2026-04-20T12:20:41.582Z US military announces another deadly strike against 'narco-terrorists' The U.S. military announced another deadly strike against a vessel that it alleges was involved in "narco-trafficking" efforts. "On April 19, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," U.S. Southern Command indicated in a post on X. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the post continued. US MILITARY KILLS 2 SUSPECTED CARTEL OPERATIVES IN LATEST EASTERN PACIFIC LETHAL STRIKE, SOUTHCOM SAYS SOUTHCOM indicated that the attack killed three men. "Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed," the post noted. President Donald Trump's administration has carried out dozens of deadly strikes against vessels of alleged "narco-terrorists." US MILITARY CONDUCTS MORE DEADLY STRIKES AGAINST VESSELS OF ALLEGED 'NARCO-TERRORISTS' In a completely different part of the world, amid ongoing tensions between America and Iran, the U.S. attacked an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on April 19. "Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade," U.S. Central Command noted. US SEIZES IRANIAN SHIP AFTER OPENING FIRE; PAKISTAN TALKS IN DOUBT "After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody," CENTCOM noted. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e617e9059ccda1fcc068f9 Paleo diet leader bans 'caveman' label, says healthy eating plan widely misunderstood te 2026-04-20T12:11:21.478Z Paleo diet leader bans 'caveman' label, says healthy eating plan widely misunderstood As more and more Americans look to cut ultra-processed foods, a paleo diet leader says many are already moving in that direction. Trevor Connor, CEO of The Paleo Diet, a company founded by the diet's creator Dr. Loren Cordain, said many people who cut ultra-processed foods are effectively following a paleo-style diet. The paleo diet is an eating approach based on foods believed to have been consumed before modern agriculture. Its name is a reference to the Paleolithic era. STATE PUSHES 'FIRST IN THE NATION' GROCERY LABEL FOR HIGHLIGHTING NON-ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS It means focusing on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood, nuts and seeds — all with minimal processing. The diet discourages participants from eating grains, legumes, dairy and ultra-processed versions of food. Connor, based in Boulder, Colorado, told Fox News Digital the paleo diet is not an all-or-nothing eating plan.  "I've always said, if everybody moves toward the paleo diet, and they never use the term 'paleo diet,' I'm absolutely fine with that," he said. "And that's what is going on right now." Ultra-processed foods have been the subject of intense scrutiny for their potential negative effects, including hindering weight loss and raising the risk of chronic disease. "Dr. Cordain did an analysis and [found that] 70% of the food ... we eat now has been introduced in the last 200 years, and our bodies just haven't had time to get used to that," said Connor. The paleo diet "is basically getting a lot of these ultra-processed foods out of your diet." DR OZ BLASTS 'WHITE FOODS' AS OBESITY DRIVERS AS FEDERAL DIETARY GUIDELINES CONTINUE TO MAKE WAVES "Those are new, and our body just can't handle them," he said. Long known as the "caveman diet," the paleo diet has invited skeptics who accuse the diet of promoting a primitive, meat-heavy way of eating — but Connor strongly rejects that label. "I have one thing that I've absolutely banned at the company, and it's the term 'caveman,'" he said. "I hate the term. I think it gives the wrong connotation of some brutish guy with a club living in a cave who just eats nothing but raw meat." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Instead, Connor believes the diet is achievable and increasingly in line with how many Americans are already eating. "If you get ultra-processed foods out of your diet, and particularly if you get ultra-processed [foods] and a lot of the processed foods out of your diet, you are necessarily eating a paleo diet," he said. "So that is the direction that we're seeing everybody moving, and I'm absolutely loving it." While he welcomed the shift, he said the typical Western diet remains a major concern. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "The message I will have for everybody ... [is] the Western diet is about as unhealthy a diet as you can possibly eat," he said. "So any improvement is good improvement." Connor added, "If I hear somebody moving from a highly processed Western diet to ... [a] Mediterranean diet or a healthy plant-based diet, I'm generally going to go, ‘Good for you.'" Even if the paleo diet seems difficult, he warned against extreme dieting, recommending instead that people start with frozen produce and healthier cuts of meat — and generally keep it simple. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "I always tell everybody it is about steady improvement. It is not about [going] cold turkey. You're generally gonna fail at that," he said. Connor, a former cycling coach who has worked with Olympic-level athletes and later studied under Cordain, the paleo diet founder, said he views dietary changes in a similar way. "You don't take the brand-new athlete and say, 'Here's my Olympic athlete's plan, go do that.' It's not gonna work for them," he said. "And diet is very much the same thing. If you are moving from a Western diet to a healthier approach, get the beginner plan." Fox News Digital reached out to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for its take on the paleo diet. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e617d5059ccda1fcc068f0 Joseph Duggar’s own words could come back to haunt him in child molestation case: experts te 2026-04-20T12:11:01.873Z Joseph Duggar’s own words could come back to haunt him in child molestation case: experts Joseph Duggar may face one of the most damaging forms of evidence in court — his own admission — after investigators said he acknowledged impure intentions in discussions about alleged contact with a minor. Duggar is set to appear in court Monday in the ongoing criminal case against him. A Florida affidavit, obtained by Fox News Digital, revealed that the case against the former reality TV star may hinge not just on a victim’s account, but on his own words. According to investigators, Duggar admitted to inappropriate contact with a minor during both a confrontation with the victim’s father and a subsequent recorded call coordinated with law enforcement, acknowledging his "intentions were not pure." Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani emphasized the admission could be "highly relevant and damaging" to any defense put forth by Duggar's team. JOSEPH DUGGAR'S WIFE SOBS IN JAIL CALL AFTER LOSING CUSTODY OF FOUR KIDS FOLLOWING COUPLE'S ARRESTS "It is evidence of intent, the victim, and the timing of the alleged abuse," Rahmani told Fox News Digital. "His lawyers will try to argue that it is too vague and attenuated and try to get it excluded on that basis. I don't think they will be successful because the statement was made in the context of Duggar also admitting to inappropriate touching under a blanket. A judge is unlikely to separate the two statements, and this is why pretext calls like this can be so powerful if they lead to incriminating evidence." Duggar, who starred with his parents and siblings in TLC's "19 Kids and Counting," was arrested on March 18 in Arkansas. His arrest came after authorities interviewed a 14-year-old girl who claimed Duggar had inappropriately touched her several times on a family vacation when she was nine years old. Florida Judge Brantley Clark ordered the reality TV star held on $600,000 bond after he pleaded not guilty during his first appearance in Bay County Court on March 31. He posted bail later that day. AMY DUGGAR KING SAYS JOSEPH DUGGAR'S ARREST EXPOSES FAMILY'S 'TOXIC SYSTEM' THAT 'BREEDS SECRECY' The affidavit filed in Bay County outlined more specific allegations about the interactions during that 2020 trip. "During the vacation, the defendant asked the victim to sit on his lap, numerous times," the document read. "The victim would sit on the defendant’s lap. The defendant would cradle the victim with his arms. As the vacation continued, the defendant would ask the victim to sit on the couch beside the defendant. The defendant covered the parties with a blanket." WATCH: JOSEPH DUGGAR IS BOOKED IN JAIL AS HE FACES A CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGE According to the investigation, the alleged victim, who was nine-years-old at the time, claimed Duggar inappropriately touched her genitals and her thighs. "The victim stated the defendant’s hand was outside of her underwear when these incidents occurred," the affidavit said. "The victim stated this made her feel uncomfortable and confused. The victim stated the defendant eventually approached the victim and apologized for his actions. The incidents stopped occurring after the defendant apologized for his actions." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Legal experts explained Duggar's own words in the affidavit could become a key point of contention as the case moves forward. "‘My intentions were not pure’ is the kind of statement prosecutors love because they can frame it as a confession without the defendant ever fully confessing," criminal defense attorney Duncan Levin told Fox News Digital. "It gives them language they can put in front of a jury and say, in effect, he told you himself. But from a defense standpoint, that phrase is still frustratingly vague." WATCH: AMY DUGGAR KING REACTS TO JOSEPH DUGGAR ARREST, ALLEGES ‘TOXIC SYSTEM’ "It is not a clear admission to a criminal act," Levin, who previously defended Harvey Weinstein, added. "It could reflect shame, sinful thoughts, or inappropriate intent, but criminal cases are supposed to turn on proof of conduct, not ambiguous language. The defense strategy would be to argue that prosecutors are trying to turn a morally charged but indefinite statement into something far more specific than it actually is, and to insist that the state prove the charged conduct with concrete evidence rather than asking jurors to fill in the gaps." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS While the admission of impure intentions when it comes to a minor child might convict Duggar in the court of public opinion, one legal expert noted there's a different standard when it comes to the courtroom. "The public hears language like this and frequently forms conclusions about guilt before any evidence is presented," Tom Maronick told Fox News Digital. "However, a jury is held to a different standard. The legal system operates on facts, statutory elements, and provable evidence, not public sentiment or emotional interpretation." "A single ambiguous statement, unsupported by corroborating criminal conduct, represents a significant gap between accusation and conviction," the criminal law attorney said. "That distinction is essential in criminal defense." Duggar's defense strategy will likely focus on two things: the context in which the statement was made and how it was obtained, according to Maronick. The lawyer noted the statement could be suppressed in court if it was obtained through leading questions, a prolonged interrogation, or coercive tactics. "Beyond that, the core argument is straightforward, saying something is fundamentally different from doing something," Maronick explained. "Intent language without proof of actual criminal conduct falls short of what is required for conviction." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e617c2059ccda1fcc068e7 DOJ demands 865K Detroit ballots, threatening possible legal action te 2026-04-20T12:10:42.054Z DOJ demands 865K Detroit ballots, threatening possible legal action Michigan is among states doubling down on rejecting Trump administration investigations and oversight into elections, claiming protection of the right to vote, potentially setting up a battle that could escalate to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Justice Department is demanding roughly 865,000 ballots and hundreds of thousands of related election records from the Detroit area’s 2024 election, threatening to seek a court order if the materials are not turned over within 14 days. In an April 14 letter to Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon asked for "all ballots (including absentee and provisional), ballot receipts, and ballot envelopes" from the November 2024 federal election, saying the department was acting under federal records-retention law and investigating whether election laws were followed. Dhillon wrote that the request was based on a "history of fraud convictions and other allegations" in Wayne County and warned that failure to comply "may result in the United States seeking a court order for production of such records." FEDERAL JUDGE REJECTS TRUMP ADMIN LAWSUIT SEEKING MICHIGAN VOTER ROLLS "Here @theJusticeDept, ensuring election integrity is a paramount duty," Dhillon wrote Sunday on X, sharing the video of her appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo. "Many states fail to clean noncitizen & deceased people from their voter rolls, and under my leadership, @CivilRights will continue working to ensure that ONLY eligible American citizens vote in our elections!" Dhillon added her investigations seek to "ensure accountability for the outrageous weaponization of the deep state against President Trump and his team." "It must never be repeated!" she concluded. WITHIN MINUTES OF TRUMP SIGNING VOTER DATABASE ORDER, DEM STATES THREATEN LAWSUITS The demand marks the latest step in a broader push by the Trump administration to scrutinize election procedures in key swing states after earlier moves involving 2020 ballots in Georgia and election records in Arizona. Democrat officials in Michigan blasted the request as baseless and politically motivated. "If this administration wants to bring this circus to our state, my office is prepared to protect the people’s right to vote," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told The Washington Post. FBI SUBPOENAS 2020 ARIZONA VOTING DOCS AS FEDERAL PUSH INTO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION WIDENS The Justice Department’s request covers ballots, ballot envelopes and ballot receipts in Wayne County, which includes Detroit. Nessel wrote in a separate letter that the department is seeking about 865,000 ballots and that the request was directed to the wrong office because the ballots are held by 43 municipal clerks, not the Wayne County clerk. In her letter, Dhillon cited three voter-fraud cases and repeated allegations raised in a 2020 lawsuit against Detroit and Wayne County over absentee-ballot handling. That suit was later dismissed, with a judge finding the allegations were not credible. DOJ SUES 5 MORE STATES, DEMANDING ACCESS TO VOTER ROLLS: 'WE WILL NOT BE DETERRED' Nessel argued that Dhillon's request is a "fishing expedition" that goes too far back in state election history, and the past findings of fraud in 2020 were not widespread, claiming the "the process worked" in rooting out fraud. Further investigation will be "an unwarranted intrusion into Michigan elections," she added, and would put an undue burden on elections officials before the Aug. 2 primary, which more than three months away. "Any form of federal interference in Michigan’s elections, including any attempt to seize election records, will be closely scrutinized," she warned. GOP GOVERNORS, AGS BACK TRUMP SAVE ACT PUSH, WARN SYSTEM GIVES ‘UNDUE INFLUENCE’ TO STATES WITH ILLEGAL ALIENS Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the request a "poorly disguised attempt to justify more doubt and misinformation about our elections," while Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson described it as the administration’s "latest attempt to interfere in our elections," according to the Post. The Post report of Michigan's letter to Dhillon came hours after her appearance on Fox News, where Dhillon laid out the work of the DOJ and the obstruction it faces from Democrat-run states like Michigan. "I've requested the voter rolls from all states and the District of Columbia," Dhillon told Bartiromo. "About a third of the states have voluntarily complied with us or reached settlements with us, and we've run some of those records. FBI REVIEWING FULTON COUNTY VOTE-COUNT ‘DEFICIENCIES,’ COURT DOCS REVEAL "I'm suing 29 states and the District of Columbia for their refusal to give us the voter rolls to which the attorney general or the acting attorney general is entitled under the Civil Rights Act of 1960. We're doing that to make sure that states are in compliance," she said. "And guess what? States are not in compliance, even those ones who want to do so." Dhillon noted that in the DOJ's investigation into the states that have cooperated with transparency to her requests, "we found at least 350,000 dead people currently on the voter rolls in those jurisdictions." ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUPS PRESS SUPREME COURT TO REQUIRE BALLOTS BY ELECTION DAY "And we've referred approximately 25,000 people with no citizenship records to Homeland Security to look at, you know, dig into that further and see the extent to which people voted," she continued. "I'm in touch with voting rights activists who are showing me information about people who have voted, who are not American citizens." "So the left told us, this never happens. And it's a myth," Dhillon continued. "It definitely happened just recently, someone was indicted in Minnesota, of all places, for voting without being a citizen." Minnesota, Dhillon noted, "has a weird vouching law that allows citizens to vouch for each other's citizenship." "That's crazy and inconsistent with the Help America Vote Act, and we're not going to rest until we complete this project," Dhillon said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e610cc059ccda1fcc06811 BMW puts humanoid robots to work building EVs te 2026-04-20T11:41:00.715Z BMW puts humanoid robots to work building EVs BMW Group has spent years testing automation, but this latest move feels different. Instead of robotic arms locked in cages, the company is now using humanoid robots that move through factories more like people. After a successful pilot in Spartanburg, South Carolina, BMW is bringing that same idea into its Leipzig, Germany, factory, where it is testing robots in real production environments. This time, it is partnering with Hexagon Robotics to introduce a new generation of AI-powered machines. Unlike many robot demos you see online, this one is already being tested inside a real production environment. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join. CHINESE ROBOT BREAKS HUMAN WORLD RECORD IN BEIJING HALF-MARATHON BMW's earlier pilot used Figure 02 humanoid robots for a very specific task. They handled the precise positioning of sheet metal for welding on the BMW X3 production line. That task may seem small, but it plays a key role in keeping production moving smoothly. Precision work like this can easily slow things down or create bottlenecks. According to BMW, those robots helped contribute to building more than 30,000 vehicles. Because of that success, the company now feels confident expanding the concept. Instead of limiting testing to one plant, BMW is moving forward with its iFACTORY initiative in Leipzig, where EV production is already a major focus. The new robots, called AEON, come from Hexagon Robotics. They are designed to work inside active factory environments without constant human direction. They rely on AI-based motion control, which helps them move through complex spaces. At the same time, built-in sensors allow them to understand their surroundings in real time. Because of that, they can adjust their actions on the fly instead of following fixed instructions. Hexagon refers to this as "Physical AI." In simple terms, the robot can make decisions based on what it sees around it. As a result, the robot does not stop when something unexpected happens. Instead, it adapts and keeps working. That marks a clear shift from traditional factory automation. BMW executives have made it clear that this is not about replacing people overnight. Instead, the goal is to test what actually works in real production environments. Michael Nikolaides, who oversees BMW's production network, says these pilot programs help the company refine how AI-powered robots learn on the job. He goes on to point to a broader vision, saying: "Digitalization improves the competitiveness of our production, here in Europe and worldwide. The symbiosis of engineering expertise and artificial intelligence opens up entirely new possibilities in production." There is also a practical reason for the humanoid design. Factories are already built for human workers. Because of that, a robot that can use the same spaces and tools is much easier to integrate than one that requires a complete redesign. HUMANOID ROBOTS HIT MASS PRODUCTION IN CHINA For years, humanoid robots felt more like something you saw in those social media demo videos than something you would trust on a real factory floor. Yes, they looked impressive, but they struggled in real environments. That is starting to change. Factories are still unpredictable. Parts do not always arrive in the exact same position. Workers move around constantly, and tools and materials shift throughout the day. Because of this, traditional robots often struggle since they rely on tightly controlled conditions. AI-powered humanoid robots can handle that kind of variability. They move around people and equipment without stopping. They adjust when parts are slightly off, and they work in spaces built for human workers.  That level of flexibility is what sets this new wave of AI-powered robotics apart from earlier forms of automation. Even if you never step inside a factory, this shift still matters. For one, it could change how cars are built, whether they are electric or gas. When production speeds up, costs can come down over time, which could affect what you pay for your next vehicle. At the same time, factory jobs are likely to change. Some repetitive or physically demanding work may move to robots. In many cases, that means people shift into roles focused on oversight, maintenance or more skilled tasks. Step back for a second, and you can see this is a sign of where AI is headed next. It is no longer limited to apps on your phone or software on your computer. Now, it is starting to show up in the physical world in ways you can actually see and interact with.   Take my quiz: How safe is your online security? Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com    HOME ROBOT COOKS, CLEANS AND ORGANIZES YOUR LIFE BMW is not the only company testing humanoid robots, but it is one of the first to bring them into real production environments. That is a big shift from the testing phase most of us are used to seeing. The fact that these robots are already helping build tens of thousands of vehicles shows that this is moving beyond early trials. It is starting to become part of how factories actually run. Where this goes next is still an open question. If the technology keeps improving, you could see more of these robots show up in factories and warehouses over time. So here is the bigger question. How do you feel about humanoid robots working alongside people in factories? Would you trust them to help build the car you drive? 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/69e610b9059ccda1fcc06808 Michigan Democratic Senate candidate claims Israel 'just as evil' as Hamas te 2026-04-20T11:40:41.324Z Michigan Democratic Senate candidate claims Israel 'just as evil' as Hamas Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, insisted that Israel is "just as evil" as the terror organization Hamas on Sunday. "You said the Israeli government is evil, do you think they’re just as evil as Hamas?" CNN's Manu Raju asked El-Sayed on "Inside Politics." "Yes, killing tens of thousands of people makes you pretty damn evil," El-Sayed answered. "It’s not how evil is this one versus that one — Hamas: Evil, Israeli government: Evil. We can say both." MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE RESPONDS TO BACKLASH OVER KHAMENEI COMMENTS, CALLS IRAN CONFLICT ‘WAR WE DON’T NEED’ El-Sayed added that he "absolutely" considers Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be a war criminal for Israel's actions during its war with Hamas. "When you conduct a genocide, you’re a war criminal," El-Sayed said. Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed's campaign for comment. El-Sayed, who is currently running in the Democratic primary for Michigan's open Senate seat in the 2026 midterms, has faced controversy in recent weeks as some of his old comments have resurfaced. In July 2025, El-Sayed suggested during a town hall that political leaders need to do a better job to "understand" the motivation behind terrorists. DEM SENATOR CALLS OUT FAR-LEFT STREAMER, ASKS WHAT 'NORMAL' PERSON WOULD GO ON SUCH AN ANTAGONISTIC SHOW "I also think we need to be curious about why those things happen in the first place, like, [what] drives somebody to want to commit such a heinous act," El-Sayed said. "I have to be a student of people's pain. Like, that's, that's what I did in medicine. That's what I try to do in politics. Like, what, what happens when people are in pain?" He has also drawn backlash for campaigning with far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has made his own share of inflammatory comments over the years. Among them included Piker's claim that Hamas was "a thousand times better than the fascist settler colonial apartheid state" of Israel. He doubled down on the comparison during an episode of "Pod Save America." MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT DEFENDS APPEARING WITH HASAN PIKER, DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM PODCASTER'S CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS "I've also said I'm a harm-reduction voter," Piker said. "I'm a lesser evil voter and, therefore, I would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time because I'm looking at the situation as a paramilitary organization that has a political party as well, a political bureau as well that is entirely comprised not as an alien force but of orphaned children that have, you know, had their parents killed by an apartheid state that has been dominating the lives of Palestinians for 80 years at this point and have done a genocide at this point as well." El-Sayed has defended associating with Piker. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e60e62059ccda1fcc067bb Guardians catcher Austin Hedges pops question to girlfriend on field in heartwarming proposal after win te 2026-04-20T11:30:42.250Z Guardians catcher Austin Hedges pops question to girlfriend on field in heartwarming proposal after win What’s better than a hard fought win on the diamond? Putting one on your beloved’s finger, if you ask Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges. Hedges not only helped the Guardians defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 8-4, on Sunday – he got engaged to his girlfriend, Lexi Dickson, at Progressive Field. Hedges got down on one knee on the grass, as a message flashed across the Jumbotron at the stadium in Cleveland, while his teammates were watching. Dickson was shocked and emotional, eventually telling Hedges, "Yes!" before hearing cheers from those looking on. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Hedges told reporters that he’s had the ring for his girlfriend of almost two years since spring training, but he didn’t have this plan until "only a couple weeks ago." "I was really hoping we won the game," he told Cleveland.com. "I was going to do it regardless, but I really wanted to win that game to make it extra special." CHIEFS HEIRESS GRACIE HUNT ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT TO SON OF TEAM'S FORMER QUARTERBACK: 'IT WAS ALWAYS YOU' The message on the video board read, "Lexi, will you marry me?" which prompted Hedges to get down on one knee. "There were a lot of nerves, a lot of nerves," Hedges, 33, explained. "I’m always nervous for baseball games…and just trying to stay present, knowing that there were some activities after. But it’s a special day. Special to be able to soak it all in." Dickson, sporting a black, custom jacket with Hedges’ number and pictures of her now-fiancé on the back, flashed her ring around for Guardians players and friends and family who took pictures on the field. It wasn’t the best of days for Hedges at the plate, going 0-for-4, though he did have a run scored. But a win to move to 13-10 on the season is all that matters to him at the end of the day. As for the after party, Hedges and Dickson were planning a lowkey Sunday night to decompress after such an adrenaline-filled afternoon. "Go to dinner and then just have a night to ourselves and enjoy it," Hedges said the plan was. That’s probably the right move for Hedges, who has the Houston Astros coming to town to start a three-game series at Progressive Field on Monday night. But he and Dickson get a chance to enjoy their first night as an engaged couple in the next chapter of their baseball love story. 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/69e60a02059ccda1fcc06741 Distress call captures tanker under fire as Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz and more top headlines te 2026-04-20T11:12:02.987Z Distress call captures tanker under fire as Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz and more top headlines 1. Distress call captures tanker under fire as Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz 2. Massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake hits off Japanese coast 3. Lawmaker warns 'something sinister' may explain 11 nuclear experts gone, dead   ‘HEINOUS ACT’ — Police identify suspect who killed 8 children — including 7 of his own — in shooting. Continue reading … CHOKEPOINT CRISIS — Footage shows US Navy 'blowing hole' in Iranian cargo ship violating blockade. Continue reading … TRAGIC TOLL — Ambassador to Mexico confirms two US Embassy personnel killed in ‘accident.’ Continue reading … ICON HEALS — Hollywood rallies around beloved actress as she recovers from secret illness. Continue reading … DAD DIARIES — Mark Wahlberg admits ‘difficult’ moment visiting daughter at Clemson University. Continue reading … -- BILLIONS VANISHED — GOP Senate hopeful Michele Tafoya accuses Walz, Ellison of ignoring Minnesota fraud scheme. Continue reading … BOOM AND BUST — California regulators kill charity fireworks for America’s 250th, sparking outrage. Continue reading … OLIVE BRANCH — Vance calls Pope Leo's walk-back on Trump feud a welcome sign for diplomacy. Continue reading … LOOSE ENDS — Slain Iranian nuclear scientists raises alarm over uranium, expertise reaching black market. Continue reading … Click here for more cartoons…   STREAMING SPLIT — Barack and Michelle Obama's film production company reportedly leaving Netflix to go independent. Continue reading … ODD COUPLE — Mamdani calls his bond with Trump 'honest and direct' despite tax policy feud. Continue reading … SEE YOU IN COURT — Kash Patel doubles down on defamation suit against The Atlantic. Continue reading … TICKING CLOCK — CNN host Michael Smerconish rips Democrats for hiding behind War Powers deadline. Continue reading … HOWARD KURTZ — Trump pushes shaky deal with Iran as Hormuz is shut again, but opponents give him no credit for progress. Continue reading …  PAUL MAURO — Mamdani’s first 100+ days: Far-left mayor flunks a key leadership test. Continue reading … -- PASSING THE TORCH — Brock Lesnar retires in tears after Oba Femi pins him at WrestleMania 42. Continue reading … RED FLAG RISING — Top NFL Draft prospect busted on two misdemeanor charges days before selection. Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on fast food frenzy and aviation advantages. Take the quiz here … REMARKABLE DEPTHS — Park rangers unearth 200-year-old shipwreck on remote island dubbed ‘graveyard of the Atlantic.’ Continue reading … PHOTO BOMB — Massive whale shark catches snorkeler by surprise. See video ... REP. MIKE LAWLER — The world is safer today than it was two months ago. See video … CANDANCE CAMERON BURE — Museum of Bible's weeklong scripture reading was a beautiful thing. See video … Tune in as Virginia’s high-stakes redistricting ballot measure heads to voters, raising legal questions and potential shifts in congressional map control. 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 Tuesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e609ef059ccda1fcc06738 High salt intake linked to faster memory decline in one group, study finds te 2026-04-20T11:11:43.598Z High salt intake linked to faster memory decline in one group, study finds Excess salt intake has long been linked to higher blood pressure, but now a new study has also tied it to quicker cognitive decline in certain groups. In a six-year study of more than 1,200 older adults 60 and older, Australian researchers found that higher baseline dietary sodium intake was associated with faster decline in "episodic recall" in men, but not in women.  "Episodic recall is a type of memory used to recall personal experiences and specific events from one’s past, such as where you parked your car or your first day of school," according to study author Samantha Gardener, PhD, a research fellow in neuroscience at the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. "We did not see any relationship between the amount of sodium consumed and memory decline in females," she told Fox News Digital. The finding suggests that sodium intake may be a modifiable risk factor for memory decline in older males. POPULAR DIET TIED TO LOWER DEMENTIA RISK FOR SOME GROUPS, STUDY REVEALS While males did report consuming a greater amount of sodium than females, which could explain why the increased cognitive decline was only observed in males, it could also be due to their higher diastolic blood pressure, according to Gardener. "Elevated blood pressure is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and sodium plays a key role in blood pressure regulation," she said. The research relied on data from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging. The findings were published in the Neurobiology of Aging. COMMON VACCINE SLASHES ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RISK WHEN DOSE IS INCREASED "This study adds to the evidence that high-sodium diets may affect more than blood pressure," New Jersey-based registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.  "These study findings are a good reminder that sodium intake matters for brain and heart health, especially for adults who already eat more than recommended." "While excess sodium may impact cognition, it is important to note that this was a longitudinal observational study, meaning it can show an association but cannot rule out other potential factors like overall diet quality, physical activity or other comorbidities," Palinski-Wade noted. Also, the participants reported their sodium intake via a food frequency questionnaire, which could be subject to recall error, the researchers pointed out. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES As sodium exposure was measured only at baseline, changes in intake over time were not captured by the study. It also only included sodium content in foods and beverages, and did not include salt added during cooking or at the table. The participants were mostly Caucasian, which means the results may not apply to other populations. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "We were not able to identify why sodium intake is having this effect, and this will be researched in the future," Gardener told Fox News Digital.   "These findings are preliminary, and further investigation is required to evaluate how sodium intake could be incorporated as one modifiable lifestyle factor aimed at delaying Alzheimer’s disease onset." The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for adults, which is equivalent to roughly 1 teaspoon of table salt. Typical high-sodium foods in the U.S. diet include pizza, sandwiches and burgers, deli meats, and chips, crackers and salty snacks.  IMAGE Other high-sodium foods in the grocery store include canned foods, salad dressings, deli meats, cheeses and condiments, according to Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist in North Carolina. Up to 80% of sodium intake comes from processed foods, she noted. "Replacing one processed snack – such as beef jerky, olives, salted nuts, pretzels and bagged potato or corn chips – with an unprocessed snack is a great place to start," Freirich, who also was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. Healthier, unprocessed snacks include fruit, lightly salted nuts, carrots and hummus, or lower-sodium versions of chips, she said. "Replacing a few fast food meals with food prepared at home is also an excellent way to reduce your sodium intake by thousands of milligrams," the expert advised. Palinski-Wade echoed that the majority of sodium in the diet doesn’t come from the salt shaker, but from ultraprocessed and prepared foods.  TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "Read the labels, monitor your intake, and fill your diet with foods that promote heart health, including whole fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, and lean proteins," she advised. Successfully lowering sodium intake can reduce the risk of not only high blood pressure and cognitive decline, but also kidney and cardiovascular disease, the experts agreed. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e609db059ccda1fcc0672f After Supreme Court blow, Trump admin launches $166B tariff refund portal te 2026-04-20T11:11:23.785Z After Supreme Court blow, Trump admin launches $166B tariff refund portal The Trump administration on Monday launched a new system to begin refunding $166 billion in tariffs to U.S. importers after the Supreme Court ruled the levies unlawful earlier this year. The system, known as CAPE, will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue consolidated electronic payments to importers, streamlining what would otherwise be a complex, entry-by-entry refund process. "It’s essentially a fast track for processing refunds," said Reed Smith partner Michael Lowell, adding that importers will need to file claims, but the process should be straightforward. TRUMP'S TARIFF REVENUES HIT RECORD HIGHS AS SUPREME COURT DEALS MAJOR BLOW "Customs is estimating that refunds will be processed within 60 to 90 days after submission," he added. "If importers file as soon as the system opens, refunds could begin flowing by mid-June to mid-July." The rollout marks the first phase of the refund effort, meaning not all importers or tariff categories will be eligible right away. The refunds stem from a February Supreme Court decision that struck down the tariffs, setting the stage for what could become one of the largest repayment efforts in U.S. history. Many businesses are expected to rush to file claims to get back billions they paid under the now-invalid tariffs. Tariff revenues hit record highs after "Liberation Day" duties, underscoring the scale of payments now being returned to importers. SUPREME COURT DEALS BLOW TO TRUMP’S TRADE AGENDA IN LANDMARK TARIFF CASE Tariffs function as a tax on imports, with U.S. companies often absorbing the upfront costs and passing them along through higher prices for wholesalers, retailers and ultimately consumers. As a result, households and businesses can face increased costs on goods ranging from electronics to raw materials. Still, trade experts say the broader use of tariffs is far from over. "Tariffs are not going anywhere. That’s clear. It’s a central component of the administration’s economic and trade policy," said Reed Smith partner Michael Lowell. Lowell pointed to the administration’s swift move to impose new tariffs under a separate legal authority known as Section 122 following the Supreme Court’s ruling, noting those measures are already facing legal challenges. "The administration has tools available to it that it is actively using to impose tariffs on certain imports from certain countries," Lowell said. "Tariffs are here to stay, at least for the balance of the Trump administration." He added that tariffs imposed during Trump’s first term largely remained in place through the Biden administration, underscoring their staying power across administrations. Lowell also said companies should take steps now to prepare for continued uncertainty. "We are advising companies to deal with the issues up front in their contracts, have very explicit terms around who's responsible for the tariff, how refunds will be processed if we continue to see tariffs that are invalidated and refunds associated with them," he said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e609c8059ccda1fcc06726 Top Democrat governors are hoping to ride their records to the White House. Can they? te 2026-04-20T11:11:04.246Z Top Democrat governors are hoping to ride their records to the White House. Can they? The midterms are quickly approaching, and while political pundits are focused on the battle for the U.S. House and Senate, a handful of governors’ races could have a significant impact on 2028. Governors serve as the chief executive of their state, with broad authority to enforce laws, oversee state agencies and manage the executive branch. Those agencies shape everything from education to healthcare, business regulation, public safety, infrastructure and public health. This November, Americans in 36 states will head to the ballot box to decide who holds that power — and they should choose carefully. Although state politics is often overshadowed by Washington, D.C., nothing quite shapes American daily life like what happens at the state level — and the governor sits at the center of it all.  Voters should pay close attention to the gubernatorial races in Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Democratic Govs. J.B. Pritzker, Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro are all seeking reelection while quietly auditioning for 2028. The Democrat Party’s bench of possible contenders consists primarily of current or former governors — a notable shift from recent years of nominating candidates from Capitol Hill. TOP REPUBLICAN WITH 'ARMY' OF SUPPORTERS MAKES MAJOR CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT AS SHAPIRO LAUNCHES RE-ELECT With California Gov. Gavin Newsom widely seen as the early Democratic frontrunner for 2028, he’s not facing voters this cycle, so the races in Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania may be the most important referendum voters get on the Democratic governing model for the next two years. Their records in office offer a preview of how they might actually govern should they win the nomination. On the economic front, high taxes and a complex regulatory environment have defined these states — and delivered poor results for the people who live there. With nearly 280,000 regulatory restrictions on the books, Illinois has the fourth most burdensome regulatory code in the nation. Maryland, as the state with the fourth most burdensome income tax system, ranks among the bottom five worst states for tax competitiveness. Pennsylvania ranks third-worst for childcare freedom, behind only New York and Vermont, raising costs for working families. THE DEMOCRAT JAMES CARVILLE THINKS IS WORTH WATCHING IN 2028 WILL SURPRISE YOU Across all three states, the overall tax and regulatory burdens have made it increasingly expensive just to stay put, and residents are starting to vote with their feet. IRS data shows taxpayers in all three states are fleeing to lower-tax havens, taking billions in income with them. The candidates’ records on education fare no better. All three governors have shunned the growing support for school choice and alternative education options — choosing instead to bow to politically connected teachers’ unions over the best interests of students and their families. Pritzker's first budget proposed gutting Illinois’ only school choice program, and in 2023 lawmakers let it expire entirely — stripping nearly 10,000 low-income children, most of them Black or Hispanic, of their scholarships. In Pennsylvania, Shapiro campaigned on supporting school choice but eventually caved to union pressure and vetoed a $100 million scholarship program he had personally backed — abandoning the low-income families he had promised to help. Moore acted similarly. In 2023, he attempted to cut funding for Maryland’s BOOST Scholarship program, which helps low-income kids attend private schools. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION On energy, all three governors have pursued regressive green energy agendas that have come at a steep cost for consumers. Illinois electricity prices rose roughly 15% in a single year — more than double the national average — while Maryland residents have seen rates climb significantly since 2020. Pennsylvania tells a similar story: despite being a state blessed with abundant natural gas and coal resources, electricity rates have increased 46% since 2018, driven by green energy mandates, complex permitting and the shutdown of baseload plants — leaving the average Pennsylvanian paying $210 more annually than the national average. And Shapiro shows no signs of reversing course. If his energy agenda advances, Pennsylvania families could see their annual electricity costs nearly double from $1,717 in 2023 to $3,471 in 2035.   These records matter beyond the borders of Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Governors’ races rarely get the national attention they deserve, but this cycle is different. Names like California’s Gavin Newsom, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear are all part of the 2028 conversation, alongside Pritzker, Shapiro and Moore. For the first time in years, governors’ races offer a window into what we could see in 2028. Pritzker, Shapiro and Moore will spend the coming months making the case that their states are better off under their leadership. Their constituents — and a country sizing up the next generation of Democratic contenders — should take a close look to see whether that case holds up. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e609b4059ccda1fcc0671d Lutheran minister and House candidate under fire after recounting her part in satanist couple's wedding te 2026-04-20T11:10:44.719Z Lutheran minister and House candidate under fire after recounting her part in satanist couple's wedding Democratic House candidate Sarah Trone Garriott's campaign is on the defensive after a resurfaced video showed her recounting her role in the marriage of a pair of satanists while serving as a minister-in-training. Trone Garriott, a Lutheran minister running in a battleground House district in November’s midterm election, participated in the wedding of a satanist couple in 2006 while serving as an intern pastor in a West Virginia parish. Nearly two decades later, she delivered remarks for the Des Moines Storytellers Project, where she reflected that the marriage of two satanists in the church offered a "spiritual lesson" about love. "He asked me to pick the scriptures," Trone Garriott said on stage in 2023, referring to the senior pastor. "Irritated, I flipped through the Bible. Should I pick something with Satan in it to make them feel more at home?"  'PAGAN' OUTREACH, WICCAN PRAYER DEFENSE COULD HAUNT DEM IN BATTLEGROUND RACE "Eventually, I just put the bookmark in at 1 Corinthians 13," she continued. "If you have ever been to a Christian wedding, you’ve probably heard this scripture. All they would get from me was [a] basic Lutheran wedding." "When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, he certainly never had in mind a small town in West Virginia, two satanists and a Lutheran pastor in training," Trone Garriott said. "But Paul knew people, and people haven't changed that much over the centuries. It is hard to love one another. We often need to be reminded how." Trone Garriott is vying to unseat Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, for a "toss-up" congressional seat in the southwestern part of the state. Throughout the campaign, she has been criticized for expressing beliefs that Republicans have argued do not align with the Christian faith she represents.  "She's made it clear that the values Iowa families live by every single day are the ones she's running against," Nunn previously told Fox News Digital. At the 2023 love-themed storytelling event, Trone Garriott chose to spotlight her "first wedding" with the satanist pair.  She recounted that the couple had shown up under the mistaken belief they had to be married in a church and proceeded to interrogate their Christian beliefs. "These people could barely stand us. They didn’t believe in or really have any respect for what mattered to us," Trone Garriott said. The senior pastor went ahead and married them anyway, with Trone Garriott reading the words, "Love is patient; love is kind" over them.  Though Trone Garriott expressed initial concern about the wedding, by the end of the ceremony she spoke tenderly about the man with a pentagram tattooed on his face. "Was he getting teary?" Trone Garriott asked during her remarks. "They had a lot of baggage between the two of them, but there was no denying how they were looking at each other." At no point in her speech did Trone Garriott suggest that she or the senior pastor asked the couple to reject satanism. "So what happened to that couple? I have no idea," Trone Garriott reflected. "We never saw them again." BATTLEGROUND DEM SAYS TERRORISTS ACT FROM 'PAIN AND FRUSTRATION,' ACCUSES AMERICANS OF BEING 'HIGH AND MIGHTY' Asked for comment, a spokesperson for Trone Garriott’s campaign told Fox News Digital, "As a minister in training, Sarah followed the direction of her supervising pastor and had no control over who walked through the church’s doors — it was her job to minister to everyone, including people she does not share beliefs with. "Like so many Iowa Christians, Sarah’s faith calls her to love thy neighbor, and she follows Jesus’ example of embodying his grace for everyone," the spokesperson added. A source familiar with the campaign disputed that Trone Garriott helped marry the satanist couple, because she was not ordained until 2008.  But Trone Garriott’s own words and actions during the ceremony appeared to acknowledge her active role in the wedding.  "This was going to be my first wedding," Trone Garriott reflected in her remarks. The resurfaced video comes as Trone Garriott’s beliefs have been heavily scrutinized in the contest for the swing seat.  In a 2023 speech, she expressed discomfort with public displays of Christianity and defended seeking out non-Christian prayers at the statehouse as a member of the state Senate. Trone Garriott wrote an op-ed in 2025 calling out Christian lawmakers who protested a Wiccan-led prayer, arguing, "Jesus engaged with pagans." The National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans’ campaign arm, sharply criticized Trone Garriott’s past in a statement to Fox News Digital.  "Her record shows a clear pattern of rhetoric and decisions that contradict her own faith, raising serious questions about her judgment and values," NRCC spokeswoman Emily Tuttle said. "If she’s willing to blur those lines, Iowans can’t trust her to stand up for them." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e60516059ccda1fcc0668e A detransitioner confronted a California lawmaker on the harms of gender transition. Here's why he spoke out. te 2026-04-20T10:51:02.268Z A detransitioner confronted a California lawmaker on the harms of gender transition. Here's why he spoke out. A young man who went viral for confronting California lawmakers about harms he says he faced from childhood medical transition is speaking out against a bill he believes could make it harder for vulnerable minors to get proper counseling. Jonni Skinner, a detransitioner and ambassador for Genspect, testified at a California Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week against SB 934, a bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener that would let victims of "conversion therapy" seek damages through malpractice lawsuits, even years after the counseling occurred. Wiener’s office defines conversion therapy to include "sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts." Critics, including the California Family Council, say SB 934 is so broadly written that it could expose therapists to lawsuits for talk therapy on sexuality and gender identity. Skinner says that he grew up in a small town in Michigan in a religious family and was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at a young age. He said he struggled with feeling different from other boys and was bullied for having stereotypical feminine interests. As he reached puberty, he became increasingly uncomfortable with his body and carried shame that he might grow up to be gay or an effeminate man. After seeing online influencers he admired undergo gender transitions, he said he found the idea appealing. CHLOE COLE REVEALS INTENSE PRESSURE TO TRANSITION AS A MINOR, PARENTS WERE TOLD SHE'D 'PROBABLY DIE’ Skinner told Fox News Digital that he was referred to a gender therapist and an endocrinologist who affirmed his feelings and suggested medically transitioning would be a way he could feel "normal." "The medical and mental health providers didn't bother to ask why I felt the way I did," Skinner told Wiener at the hearing. "They poisoned my body with blockers and hormones, arresting my puberty and messing with my development. The result is I'm a 23-year-old gay man who's never had an orgasm and may never experience one. Let that sink in." Though his mother resisted the idea of making permanent changes to his body, Skinner said the medical professionals told her that his gender dysphoria originated in the womb from a hormonal imbalance, claiming he had a "girl brain in a boy body." He said they were told that transitioning with hormones was the only solution to his problems. But the drugs left him with fainting spells, painful muscle spasms and urinary problems. I WAS A CHILD AND BELIEVED GENDER TRANSITION WOULD HEAL MY PAIN. IT BECAME A NEW TRAUMA In 2023, a new endocrinologist suggested he stop taking the drugs to see whether that would resolve his problems. Around the same time, he began questioning what doctors had told him over the years after reading leaked internal reports from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or WPATH, which he said revealed doubts about the science behind the treatments. This led Skinner down "a rabbit hole of research essentially." "And I had found that there was, you know, no — low quality to no evidence to doing this to me," he told Fox News Digital. Skinner said he eventually stopped treatment, but years later still suffers from urinary problems and sexual dysfunction that he attributes to the drugs. He said those lasting effects are part of what now drives him to speak out. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS BAN ON SO-CALLED 'CONVERSION THERAPY' ON FIRST AMENDMENT GROUNDS He believes the California bill targeting "conversion therapy" as it relates to gender identity is one that would "actually end up harming gay people." "For me, it did very much act as a chemical conversion therapy," he told Fox News Digital. Skinner argued that therapists should be allowed to explore the underlying causes of a minor’s distress before steering them toward a gender identity outcome. "In all those years, if one therapist would have just talked with me about the origins of my distress, instead of just affirming me and suggesting, you know, further medical intervention is the only solution to me, perhaps I could have been spared much of what I'm suffering with today," he said. "And this bill, SB 934, would criminalize therapists for questioning that," he continued. They're not able to, under this bill, question gender identity or really delve with these patients into the underlying causes of their dysphoria. That would be considered conversion therapy under SB 934." TEXAS DETRANSITIONER SHARES HOW DOCTORS AND INTERNET ‘COSPLAY’ GROOMED HER INTO PERMANENT SURGERY DETRANSITIONER PREDICTS MASSIVE WAVE OF LAWSUITS AFTER LANDMARK $2 MILLION VERDICT Skinner believes lawmakers are not fully grappling with the permanent consequences of these treatments for minors. "They feel like they're doing it out of compassion because that's what they're being told ... but no one is thinking along the lines of, well, what is making these kids distressed in their bodies? No one is trying to delve in and understand where they're coming from or how they're arriving at these conclusions," he added. Sen. Wiener's office disputed Skinner's claims in a statement to Fox News Digital defending the bill. "Conversion therapy is psychological torture and quack science that does nothing but harm vulnerable young people," Wiener said. "SB 934 cracks down on that horrifying practice, but makes clear that therapists will not be penalized for good faith explorations of a patient’s gender identity or sexuality. They will be penalized if they attempt to intentionally change a patient from any one gender or sexual orientation to another, such as from gay to straight, straight to gay, trans to cis, or cis to trans." The bill is currently pending in the California Senate after passing one committee and is scheduled for another hearing on April 20. The California bill comes following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Chiles v. Salazar last month, where the court ruled that a Colorado law banning so-called "conversion therapy" violated the First Amendment because it discriminated against certain viewpoints. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e60502059ccda1fcc06685 NRCC reporting record $47.1 million quarter, record $28.1 million raised in March te 2026-04-20T10:50:42.364Z NRCC reporting record $47.1 million quarter, record $28.1 million raised in March The midterm elections might be historically difficult for the controlling party, but Republicans are building a war chest to break that trend, reporting smashing first quarter fundraising totals of $47.1 million, including a record $28.1 million in March alone. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was set to report the strongest first quarter fundraising haul in its history Monday, according to figures shared first with Fox News Digital, giving House Republicans a fresh sign of financial momentum as they look to defend their narrow House majority in a cycle that has often favored the party out of power. "This historic fundraising quarter proves House Republicans have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm behind our agenda to lower costs and keep Americans safe," NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson said in a statement to Fox News. "House Republicans are united, battle-tested, and building the financial firepower to protect our majority and take the fight directly to Democrats' extreme agenda." ON FILING DEADLINE, GOP BLASTS DEMOCRATS FOR OPPOSING TRUMP TAX CUTS, ‘MAKING LIFE MORE EXPENSIVE’ NRCC officials are framing the numbers as part of a broader trend they say has defined the cycle so far, with Republican incumbents and allied groups posting stronger-than-usual early fundraising numbers and narrowing, or in some cases reversing, Democrats’ traditional money advantage. The NRCC is staking claim to having outraised the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on average for five straight quarters, including snapping a long-standing trend by outraising the minority party in the first year of an election cycle for the first time in decades in 2025. The NRCC reported this week its swing-district patriots have raised an average of $1.2 million and hold $3.5 million cash on hand, compared to $919,000 raised and $2.4 million cash on hand for DCCC frontliners. MCINTOSH: MIDTERMS A CHOICE BETWEEN TRUMP’S ‘GREAT PROGRESS’ AND ‘SOCIALISTS BACK IN’ "Vulnerable House Democrats are getting outraised, outworked, and outmatched. Republicans have the momentum, and the money is following it," NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement last week. The financial windfalls do not end there. The House Speaker Mike Johnson-backed Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) and its nonprofit American Action Network (AAN) have raised a combined $192.6 million thus far in the 2025-2026 cycle. Those groups brought in a combined $56.6 million in the first quarter of 2026, which Republicans say is a record for the first quarter of a non-election year. CLF alone raised a record $38.1 million and is expected to report $91.4 million cash on hand. REPUBLICANS WIN BUT DEMOCRATS ALSO CLAIM VICTORY WITH BALLOT BOX SURGE IN TRUMP TERRITORY Top House GOP leaders have also posted eye-catching numbers, according to the NRCC: MIDTERM ALARM BELLS: DEMOCRATS FACE STEEP FAVORABILITY DEFICIT DESPITE ELECTION GAINS The committee also pointed to the wider President Donald Trump-aligned fundraising network, noting that MAGA Inc. entered 2026 with more than $300 million cash on hand. "This unprecedented momentum is part of a sustained trend that’s held this entire cycle and is now accelerating," Marinella said in a statement to Fox News. "Republicans are consistently outpacing Democrats in the money race where Democrats have traditionally dominated." "This is a fundamental shift from the traditional dynamic where Democrats build an early financial edge and force Republicans onto defense," he added. "That script has flipped." Insiders pointed out to Fox News that circumstances of the spring have combined to provide the unprecedented financial push, including Trump peacemaking in the Middle East and wildly successful military operations in Venezuela and Iran. Also, Democrats have been hurt in the fundraising coffers by House Oversight, Judiciary and Administration committee investigations into the big-ticket Democrat fundraising platform ActBlue, and the Senate Democrat-forced government shutdown of Department of Homeland Security funding. Notably, the record NRCC March came amid massive spring break delays and four- to eight-hour security line waits at crowded spring break airports, which were hamstrung by Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) agents not showing up because they were not getting paid for work. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5fe8a059ccda1fcc065cf AI’s Effect on Future Jobs te 2026-04-20T10:23:06.089Z AI’s Effect on Future Jobs (NAPS)—Economic mobility—the ability of each new generation to do as well or better as the preceding one—has declined 45 percent for Americans over the past several decades, according to the Brookings Institution. Numerous factors, including technological advances and globalization, have… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5fe76059ccda1fcc065c5 Spring Vehicle Maintenance Checklist te 2026-04-20T10:22:46.455Z Spring Vehicle Maintenance Checklist (NAPSI)—There’s no time like spring for some preventive vehicle maintenance. Seasonal inspections help address winter wear and prepare vehicles for warmer weather and summer travel. 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Mohave County officials rolled out another budget warning, pointing to a gap between what the county spends and what it brings in. They say the problem is built into the system. They say savings can cover… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5fe12059ccda1fcc06598 Robert Donofrio: An open door te 2026-04-20T10:21:06.802Z Robert Donofrio: An open door Editor: Fellow struggling Christians, we have been handed the perfect opportunity to bring people to Christ with the recent photo President Trump posted of himself in what appears to be the role of Jesus. This reaction to this disappointing post… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5fdfe059ccda1fcc0658f Today's poll: Should Mohave County reconsider new revenue options like a sales tax? te 2026-04-20T10:20:46.823Z Today's poll: Should Mohave County reconsider new revenue options like a sales tax? Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5fbc9059ccda1fcc06525 GORDON SONDLAND: Stay the course with Iran, President Trump. It's like breaking a horse te 2026-04-20T10:11:21.000Z GORDON SONDLAND: Stay the course with Iran, President Trump. It's like breaking a horse Getting Iran to capitulate is like breaking a wild horse. Anyone who’s done it — or even watched it done — knows how this goes. Calm one minute, violent the next. You get a step forward, then you lose half of it back. The horse is testing you — your patience, your resolve, your willingness to stay in the saddle when it tries to throw you. That’s Iran. And here’s the part the foreign policy commentariat still doesn’t get: Donald Trump actually understands this dynamic. WHAT COMES NEXT IN THE IRAN WAR? WHAT THIS CEASEFIRE WILL AND WON'T DO Not from theory. From instinct. Iran is not a normal negotiating partner. It’s not even a unified one. Power is fragmented across clerics, politicians, intelligence services and, most importantly, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a state within a state that answers to ideology, money and survival. And inside that system are hard-liners who don’t want a deal — period. These are people who would rather burn down the house than give up their nuclear potential, their offshore wealth and their grip on power. For them, compromise isn’t a concession. It’s extinction. IRAN’S NUCLEAR GAMBLE LEAVES AMERICA ONE CHOICE — AND IT CAN'T BE A DEAL So when I hear the usual noise — why the mixed signals, why the tough talk one day and restraint the next — I have to laugh. That critique assumes we’re dealing with rational, Western-style negotiators who respond to consistency and good-faith process. We’re not. We’re dealing with a regime that has spent 45 years perfecting delay, deception and division. Show them a straight line and they’ll run circles around it. Telegraph your endgame and they’ll stall you to death. STEVE FORBES: IRAN’S NUCLEAR INSANITY LEAVES AMERICA AND ALLIES NO ROOM TO BLINK What Trump is doing — whether people like his style or not — is exactly what this situation demands: pressure, pause, pressure again. Open a door, then make it very clear what happens if they try to game it. Keep them off balance. Keep them guessing. That’s not chaos. That’s leverage. And here’s where the leverage really comes from — and it’s something most analysts either miss or are too uncomfortable to say out loud. AMB GORDON SONDLAND: NATO BLINKED ON IRAN, AND TRUMP HAS EVERY RIGHT TO BE FURIOUS The leverage is the overwhelming military capability that’s been assembled — and the very clear willingness to use it if the horse needs a severe correction. Not as bluster. Not as background noise. As a credible, ever-present option. Tehran understands that when push comes to shove, this isn’t an academic exercise. The same apparatus that can impose sanctions can also impose consequences — rapidly and decisively — against leadership targets, command structures and critical infrastructure if the regime crosses the line or continues to play rope-a-dope. ROBERT MAGINNIS: WHY ISLAMABAD TALKS WERE ALWAYS DOOMED TO FAIL That reality changes behavior. It forces calculations inside a regime that has historically believed it could outlast, outmaneuver or simply exhaust Western resolve. It introduces doubt where there used to be confidence. It sharpens the internal debate between those who want to test limits and those who understand the cost of getting it wrong. This is, at its core, a test of wills and power, carried out to its logical conclusion. WHY TRUMP, IRAN SEEM LIGHT-YEARS APART ON ANY POSSIBLE DEAL TO END THE WAR Most leaders don’t understand that. They look for an off-ramp too early. They prioritize optics over outcomes. They confuse activity with achievement. Trump doesn’t. He understands that if you ease off before the dynamic shifts, you don’t get a better deal — you get played. He understands that credibility isn’t built on statements; it’s built on a demonstrated willingness to act. And he understands that regimes like Iran only recalibrate when the alternative becomes unacceptable. MORNING GLORY: THE US-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS IN ISLAMABAD BECAME REYKJAVÍK 2.0 That’s what’s happening now. And yes, it makes people uneasy. Turn on the TV and it’s a minute-by-minute panic cycle. Gas prices tick up — breaking news. Some leak hits the wires — six hours of speculation. Who said what at 9 a.m. versus 3 p.m. — treated like it’s dispositive. NO RETREAT AT HORMUZ — IRAN MUST NOT CONTROL THE WORLD’S ENERGY LIFELINE It’s noise. This is not a daily trading strategy. This is a generational geopolitical play. The upside, if we get this right, is enormous. A truly non-nuclear Iran changes the entire equation in the Middle East. It removes the single biggest destabilizing force in the region. PAKISTANI GENERAL SAYS IRAN DIPLOMACY STILL 'ALIVE, DESPITE US BLOCKADE, FAILED TALKS Imagine a world where Iran is not shooting at Israel, not funding proxy militias across multiple theaters and not sitting on the threshold of a nuclear weapon. Even if the regime remains clerical, its ability to wreak havoc is dramatically reduced. That opens the door to something real — trade, investment, normalization. Stronger economic ties between Israel, the Gulf states, the United States and beyond. Capital flows instead of capital flight. Stability instead of constant brinkmanship. That’s what’s on the table. STEVE FORBES: NO MORE DELUSIONS — AMERICA HAS TO FINISH THE JOB IN IRAN Now look at Europe. The Europeans, predictably, want to make the campaign contribution after the candidate has already won the election. They’ll criticize the tone, question the tactics and keep one foot in and one foot out — until the outcome is clear. Then they’ll show up and declare themselves indispensable. TRUMP PUSHED IRAN TO THE BRINK — BUT DID WE WIN ANYTHING THAT LASTS? We’ve seen this movie before. The reality is that without sustained American pressure — economic and military — there is no deal worth having. None. Iran has no incentive to move unless it believes the alternative is materially worse. That’s what Trump has restored: credibility. MORNING GLORY: PRESIDENT TRUMP LEADS THE WEST TO A BIG WIN AGAINST IRAN And credibility is everything in this kind of negotiation. What’s required now is discipline. Not second-guessing every tactical move. Not flinching every time there’s volatility. Certainly not pulling back just because the process looks messy. Of course it’s messy. It’s supposed to be. ONE MONTH AT WAR WITH IRAN — CAN WASHINGTON DEFINE VICTORY? Breaking a horse is messy. Push too hard and you get thrown. Ease off too soon and you lose control. The key is staying on long enough for the dynamic to change. That’s what’s happening here. The pressure is real. Iran’s economy is under strain. Its currency has taken repeated hits. Public dissatisfaction is not theoretical — it’s visible. And inside the regime, the debate over how far they can push — and how much they can take — is intensifying. NOT BLUFFING: STEPHEN MILLER SAYS TRUMP IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED, 'HOLDS ALL THE CARDS' IN IRAN NEGOTIATIONS That’s progress. Not a signing ceremony. Not a neat press release. Pressure. So let’s take a breath. WHY TRUMP FACES AN AGONIZING DECISION ON OBLITERATING IRAN’S OIL SUPPLY IF HE CAN’T GET A DEAL Stop obsessing over hourly gas prices. Stop parsing every headline like it’s the final chapter. This is a long game, and it’s being played at a level that requires patience and nerve. The stakes are enormous. A neutered, non-nuclear Iran removes the last major obstacle to a more stable, more prosperous Middle East — one where trade, not terror, defines its relationships. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION You don’t get there with process. You get there with pressure. And for all the noise, that’s exactly what Trump is delivering. He’s staying in the saddle. And that’s how you break the horse. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM GORDON SONDLAND Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5fbb5059ccda1fcc0651c GOP Senate hopeful Michele Tafoya accuses Walz, Ellison of ignoring Minnesota fraud scheme te 2026-04-20T10:11:01.439Z GOP Senate hopeful Michele Tafoya accuses Walz, Ellison of ignoring Minnesota fraud scheme A Senate Republican hopeful eyeing Minnesota’s open seat accused Minnesota's Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of turning a blind eye to a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Michele Tafoya, 61, is running to replace retiring Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., in a crowded race where Republicans have heavily targeted Walz and Ellison over a nearly $10 billion daycare, food aid and health clinic fraud scheme that unfolded under their noses. This widespread theft could flip a Senate seat red in Minnesota for the first time since 2008, Tafoya insisted in an interview with Fox News Digital, adding that people in her state are "angry." "Fraud is certainly at the forefront" of this election, she said. MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS REVEAL WHICH FAR-LEFT CANDIDATE THEY WANT TO CHALLENGE IN OPEN SENATE RACE "I think that Tim Walz and Keith Ellison are both to blame for this fraud," Tafoya alleged. "Look, they’re at the top. And as one very revered former United States senator told me, that amount of money cannot change hands without people knowing." "So people knew this was going on," the former sports broadcaster added, demanding someone be held accountable for the widespread fraud. Brian Evans, a spokesperson for Ellison, told Fox News Digital that the attorney general's office has gone after fraud in the state, specifically with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which has "secured over 340 convictions and regularly ranks as one of the most efficient team of fraud fighters in the nation." "Attorney General Ellison is currently leading the charge to pass a bipartisan bill to give his fraud control unit more resources and authority to go after fraudsters and protect our tax dollars," Evans said. "He has a strong record of fighting fraud and holding fraudsters accountable." Both Walz and Ellison defended their actions to address fraud in their state during a congressional hearing. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., found ahead of the hearing that Walz and Ellison were aware of fraud in the state but "repeatedly failed to act." And Tafoya claimed they "laughed it off" during their appearance before the House Oversight Committee in March. "People knew this was going on. We have seen it with the Quality 'Learing' Center," Tafoya said. "We know that there have been so many mistakes made. And when you are the governor, the buck stops with you." MINNESOTA GOP LAWMAKER URGES CONGRESS TO PRESS WALZ AT FRAUD HEARING: 'REAL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH' Tafoya, a former sports reporter seeking elected office for the first time, is aiming to flip the seat red and said Minnesotans are "ready for a change." "They are so fed up and disillusioned," she said. When asked about a noncitizen recently charged with committing voter fraud and perjury in Minnesota, Tafoya tied that issue to the multibillion-dollar fraud scandal and said, "Walz and company want us to believe there’s zero voter fraud." "Where there’s smoke, there’s fire," Tafoya said. "I’m certain that’s not the only example. And for them to say that we had perfect elections, when they have just proven that they are willing to lie through their teeth about where our money is going, is laughable." But Tafoya is not running against Walz or Ellison and despite having the most campaign coffers among her cohorts, she must first survive a crowded primary to win the Republican nomination. Only then will she advance to the general election in November against Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., or Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, both of whom she claims are trying to "out-left" each other. Specifically, Tafoya pointed to Flanagan, saying: "She got dressed in a hijab and told Minnesotans, 'Somalis built Minnesota.' That was so offensive to everyone in the state." "So that gives you an example of how much of a leftist she is." TOP 5 WILDEST MOMENTS AS GOP LAWMAKERS CLASHED WITH WALZ, ELLISON IN HEATED FRAUD HEARING: 'UNBELIEVABLE' While Tafoya has the backing of Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who chairs the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, former President Donald Trump has yet to issue a coveted endorsement that could make or break her campaign. Tafoya said it is ultimately Trump’s decision whether and when to endorse a candidate in the race. "I’m going to let him speak for himself on any endorsement," Tafoya said. "We would happily take it. But right now, we are the candidate that has raised the most money by far in the Republican senatorial race in Minnesota, and we think that speaks very highly of our chances." She has also outpaced her Republican opponents, raising just over $2 million between January and March of this year, with just under $1.9 million on hand, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. Tafoya also holds a cash advantage over Flanagan, who has raised $1.4 million and still has $1.1 million on hand. Both are surpassed by Craig, who has brought in $2.5 million and has a whopping $4.9 million on hand. Fox News Digital reached out for comment from Walz but did not immediately hear back. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5fba1059ccda1fcc06513 Park rangers unearth 200-year-old shipwreck on remote island dubbed 'graveyard of the Atlantic' te 2026-04-20T10:10:41.874Z Park rangers unearth 200-year-old shipwreck on remote island dubbed 'graveyard of the Atlantic' Park rangers in Canada have uncovered a centuries-old shipwreck in a region known for many maritime disasters. The shipwreck, which dates back more than 200 years, is believed to be the Swift, a civilian vessel that sank on Sept. 27, 1812.  En route from Bermuda to Newfoundland, the Swift sank along with the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Barbadoes and the schooner Emeline. WINTER STORMS REVEAL POSSIBLE 17TH-CENTURY SHIPWRECK TIED TO ARMED CARIBBEAN VOYAGES The discovery of the ship fragments — and the research that followed — was two years in the making.  The discovery was announced by Parks Canada officials last month. The group was first alerted to the site in February 2024 after team members found a pulley wheel with a mark of the British Royal Navy. "Another Parks Canada team member later found a piece of copper sheathing with multiple broad-arrow stamps and an Admiralty stamp dated January 1810 from Portsmouth, which supported the likelihood that we'd unearthed a small fragment of the Barbadoes — we know from historical accounts that the ship had a refit at Portsmouth in 1810," the statement said. Additional pulley wheels and copper sheathing were uncovered until officials eventually found a sloop-sized shipwreck section made of Bermudan cedar. The artifacts appeared to belong to Barbadoes — while the shipwreck section pointed to the Swift. 2,000-YEAR-OLD ROMAN SHIPWRECK DISCOVERED WITH TREASURES STILL CLUSTERED WHERE IT SANK "Initially, only three bits of wood were sticking out of the sand," the statement said. "We believe the wreck to be that of the Swift." Sable Island has a reputation as the "graveyard of the Atlantic," a Parks Canada spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The official cited over 350 recorded shipwrecks since 1583.  Many shipwreck fragments, however, can't be traced back to specific events unless they have "sufficient distinguishing features." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ The official said, "Sometimes, it takes luck." The spokesperson added that the dig was difficult due to Sable Island's windy, challenging weather and unusual terrain. Officials worked with Mi’kmaw archaeological technicians alongside both underwater and terrestrial archaeologists to excavate and document the wreck, adapting their methods to Sable Island's shifting sands. "Sable Island is an unusual site to excavate, because it's composed mostly of loose sand," said the spokesperson. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "We used sandbags to stabilize the banks and then peeled the sand back from the wreck site. We also used a skid steer to help remove the overburden of sand, then switched to hand tools to avoid damaging the wreck." When the documentation process was done, archaeologists covered the shipwreck with sand in order to protect it. What stood out most to archaeologists, the official said, was the scale of the wreck. "Most shipwreck pieces on Sable Island are usually small fragments lying on the surface or in the intertidal area," the spokesperson noted. "This wreck was unusual both in its completeness and its condition." CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES The official added, "This wreck discovery is especially exciting for us, because if we can verify it, it's one of the rare occasions that anyone has been able to correlate a physical shipwreck on Sable Island with a documented historical wreck event from before the 20th century." Parks Canada's statement noted that there are "still plenty of unknowns about the ships, how they ended up on Sable Island and what their crew’s time was like on the island while they waited to be rescued." "The shipwreck we found was quite far inland from the current shoreline, so we’re also still piecing together how it got there, as the island moves considerably over time," the announcement said. The news comes a year after another archaeological discovery was made at Sable Island — though far more modern. Last spring, officials announced that a message in a bottle from 1983 surfaced on Sable Island's shores — and still smelled of gin. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5f6f4059ccda1fcc06496 Havasu Police: Man accused of threatening juveniles with knife te 2026-04-20T09:50:44.172Z Havasu Police: Man accused of threatening juveniles with knife A Lake Havasu City man allegedly pulled a knife and threatened juveniles riding bikes in a residential street. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5edf4059ccda1fcc06375 Mamdani’s first 100-plus days: Far-left mayor flunks a key leadership test te 2026-04-20T09:12:20.308Z Mamdani’s first 100-plus days: Far-left mayor flunks a key leadership test Two men recently attempted to carry out an alleged terrorist attack in New York City, an attack that, according to investigators, was intended to kill as many as 60 people. Details are still unfolding, but the intent appears unmistakable: mass casualties and maximum fear. For many New Yorkers, the immediate question wasn’t just how the plot was stopped. It was how the city’s new leadership would respond — specifically, how Mayor Zohran Mamdani would react. The answer was not encouraging, and it’s not a reassuring sign for the next four years. After the 9/11 attacks, the city faced profound uncertainty. I was here then, working as a cop in Manhattan. No one knew what would come next or whether the city could recover. We initially didn’t even know who had attacked us. SUSPECT IN NYC TERROR PROBE PLANNED ATTACK 'BIGGER THAN THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING,' PROSECUTORS SAY What steadied New York was leadership. Mayor Rudy Giuliani projected calm and resolve, offering reassurance when it was needed most. Just as critical was the role of the NYPD, which secured Lower Manhattan, restored order and helped normalize life. There was no prolonged military presence. The police handled it. What followed was a remarkable recovery. Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, crime fell to historic lows, tourism surged and neighborhoods flourished. It worked so well that, over the ensuing years, many came to believe terrorism was no longer an immediate threat. In the Intelligence Bureau, where I served, we had a saying: "The further we get from 9/11, the closer we get to 9/10." Now, as we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and with global tensions rising — including conflict involving Iran — New York once again faces that reality. And once again, it has been the NYPD that stepped forward. When the two suspects allegedly attempted to deploy improvised explosive devices, it wasn’t rhetoric that stopped them. It was police work — officers pursuing and tackling a fleeing suspect in real time. NEW YORK'S MAYOR MAMDANI PROMISED CHANGE — NOW HE’S GUTTING THE NYPD The response from city hall, however, was less inspiring. Mamdani appeared to pivot quickly to a favored political narrative, initially focusing on "White supremacy" before grudgingly admitting the terrorist attack. It is telling that the mayor’s and other city leaders’ reflex was to immediately focus on the idiotic — but peaceful — demonstration the terrorists were targeting rather than two allegedly ISIS-inspired perpetrators. Compounding that concern was a highly publicized Ramadan event at Gracie Mansion featuring Mahmoud Khalil, who was previously taken into federal custody following his involvement in disruptive protests at Columbia University.  The optics were hard to miss, particularly coming on the heels of a near mass-casualty attack. Khalil, facing deportation for campus activism, is the hero. The police, who just days earlier apprehended two terrorists, are not. None of the cops involved got their Gracie Mansion moment. DAVID MARCUS: THE MORE AMERICA GIVES MAMDANI, KHALIL AND THE MAD BOMBERS, THE MORE THEY HATE US Mamdani represents a younger generation that did not experience 9/11 in the same formative way. For many New Yorkers, that day still defines how seriously threats are taken. Yet the mayor’s dogged ideological posture — particularly his embrace of "collectivist" themes — suggests a naive worldview that risks prioritizing theory over hard-earned lessons. In short, when it comes to public safety, he does not appear to be learning. At a time when New York is still recovering from COVID-19, that carries real-world consequences. Financial warning signs are already visible, with three different rating agencies raising concerns about the city’s fiscal outlook by downgrading New York’s bond rating. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION New York’s history makes one point clear: Everything begins with public safety. Investment, tourism, the economy and quality of life, all depend on it — and on a supported NYPD. There was a time when Wall Street could be counted on to drag us out of the doldrums. But in a remote worker economy, that cushion is gone. So, at the 100-day mark of Mamdani’s administration, residents here — and indeed, in many blue cities around the country — are forced to consider: do we have leadership that is up to handling crisis? Based on what we’ve seen so far in New York, the answer is far from reassuring. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM PAUL MAURO Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5ede0059ccda1fcc0636c Trump may claim he won the fight with Iran, but there’s a bigger war already underway te 2026-04-20T09:12:00.852Z Trump may claim he won the fight with Iran, but there’s a bigger war already underway The Iran conflict appears to be winding down. If the fragile ceasefire holds, President Donald Trump may stand before the American people in coming days and declare victory — shipping lanes reopened, deterrence restored, the ayatollahs humbled. On its face, that would be a genuine achievement. The Iran campaign wasn’t wrong. Confronting a nuclear-threshold regime that funded terrorism across three continents and threatened international shipping lanes was a legitimate strategic necessity. Trump acted where others hesitated. But every consequential action carries second- and third-order effects — and those now unfolding extend well beyond what any victory headline can contain. While Washington has been grinding down Iran’s military infrastructure, something far more consequential has been hardening in the background: a China-Russia-Iran strategic alignment accelerating the fracture of the post-Cold War world order — and that fracture now runs directly through the transatlantic alliance itself. AMB GORDON SONDLAND: NATO BLINKED ON IRAN, AND TRUMP HAS EVERY RIGHT TO BE FURIOUS Xi’s signal cannot be dismissed That is not diplomatic boilerplate. That is a geopolitical declaration. OPERATION EPIC FURY SHATTERED IRAN’S POWER, BUT EXPOSED RISKS AMERICA CAN’T IGNORE Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sharpened the message at that same Beijing meeting, declaring that Iran holds an "inalienable" right to enrich uranium — a direct, public rebuke of Trump’s core demand for zero enrichment, and proof that Moscow is not merely watching this conflict but actively shielding Tehran’s nuclear position. Xi and Putin spent the Iran war watching from the sidelines — but not standing still. According to a Ukrainian intelligence assessment reviewed by Reuters, Russia provided Iran with satellite imagery and cyber support — unconfirmed, but consistent with Moscow’s pattern of proxy warfare. Russia also publicly called on Washington to abandon "the language of ultimatums" on Tehran, proposed taking custody of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, and reaped a windfall as Brent crude surged toward $120 a barrel — a price surge that directly bankrolled Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine at the precise moment American forces were tied down in the Gulf. REP RO KHANNA: TRUMP NEEDS TO STOP HURTING AMERICAN WORKERS AND STAND UP TO CHINA China’s support stopped short of confirmed combat involvement, but its strategic weight was substantial. Beijing purchased over 80% of Iran’s exported oil at discounted prices, keeping Tehran financially viable through the bombardment. Chinese-linked tankers remained active in Iranian oil transit even amid blockade conditions. Trump acknowledged the concern directly: he exchanged letters with Xi Jinping after hearing reports that Beijing was supplying shoulder-fired and anti-aircraft missiles to Tehran. Xi’s response, in Trump’s own words, said "essentially, he’s not doing that" — and Trump threatened a 50% additional tariff if proven otherwise. In January 2026, Iran, China, and Russia formalized a comprehensive trilateral strategic pact — not a mutual defense treaty, but a framework for nuclear, economic and military alignment. The Center for Strategic and International Studies has tracked this emerging "CRINK" alignment — China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea — and the data shows it hardening, not softening, under American military pressure. MORNING GLORY: THE US-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS IN ISLAMABAD BECAME REYKJAVÍK 2.0 This is the strategic trap Washington has walked into. Pressure on Iran did not isolate Tehran — it drove the axis tighter. NATO is fracturing on Washington’s watch The Iran war has done more damage to the Western alliance than any Russian influence operation in decades. NO RETREAT AT HORMUZ — IRAN MUST NOT CONTROL THE WORLD’S ENERGY LIFELINE Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reminded the world from the official NATO lectern that NATO "is a defensive Alliance …  not threatening anyone" — an alliance built in 1949 to defend Western Europe against Soviet aggression, not to launch discretionary wars of choice in the Middle East. When Trump demanded warships from NATO allies France, Germany, Italy, and Britain — and separately from non-NATO partners Australia and Japan — to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Australia, and Japan all refused. Trump called their refusal a stain on the alliance that will "never disappear" and announced he is strongly considering withdrawing the United States from NATO — calling it a "paper tiger." The administration has since discussed pulling American troops from European soil. STOP CALLING THIS BRINKMANSHIP. TRUMP'S HORMUZ MOVE IS THE REAL PRESSURE Jim Townsend, former deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO, put it plainly: "We are closer to a break than we have ever been." Seventy-seven years of collective deterrence — the architecture that kept Soviet tanks out of Western Europe — is teetering, not because Putin outmaneuvered us, but because we fractured it ourselves in the middle of a Middle Eastern war. Both understand that a United States estranged from its democratic allies is a United States strategically weakened — regardless of how many Iranian bunkers lie in rubble. The real battlefield is bigger than Iran TRUMP PUSHED IRAN TO THE BRINK — BUT DID WE WIN ANYTHING THAT LASTS? Across three books — "Alliance of Evil" (2018), "Preparing for World War III" (2024), and "The New AI Cold War" (2026) — I have tracked the civilizational contest now underway. The Iran war is a chapter in it. China and Russia have used this conflict as a live training exercise — studying American carrier operations, missile intercept patterns and logistics flows in real time. Every signature revealed in the Gulf feeds directly into Beijing’s Taiwan invasion planning. Meanwhile, the December 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy still treats China and Russia as separate problems — a strategic blind spot that would have alarmed President Richard Nixon and his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who spent careers preventing exactly that coalition. Proverbs 11:14 states it plainly: "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." A strategy that isolates its allies and misreads its adversaries is not strength. It is the architecture of eventual defeat. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION The real question is not whether Trump can declare victory over Iran. He likely can. The question is what that victory costs: a NATO alliance pushed to its breaking point and a Sino-Russian partnership hardened by American overextension. Great-power competition is decided in the accumulation of alignments, relationships and credibility built or squandered over years. Winning in Tehran while losing in Brussels and Beijing is not a net victory. It is a strategic setback dressed in tactical success. President Trump has the instincts of a dealmaker. The moment to make the critical deals — with NATO, against the axis — is right now, before the victory speech becomes the last act rather than the opening of the next strategic chapter. Because Xi Jinping is not congratulating us. He is calculating. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ROBERT MAGINNIS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5edcd059ccda1fcc06363 MARY KATHARINE HAM: Republicans have a huge MAHA opportunity in 2026 — if they don’t blow it te 2026-04-20T09:11:41.367Z MARY KATHARINE HAM: Republicans have a huge MAHA opportunity in 2026 — if they don’t blow it It’s election year, and in a midterm year, sometimes holding a coalition together can feel as tough as getting your family through spring sports, spring musicals, spring break and spring allergies all at once. This is where Republicans can take some advice and inspiration from the very suburban parent voters whose support they need in key districts this fall. As someone who’s spent years talking to center-right women, I can tell you this: health and wellness are not niche issues. They’re not "woo-woo" or fringe. They’re kitchen-table, group-text, grocery-aisle stuff. It’s what moms are talking about while swapping tips about sleep, anxiety and the cleanest snacks they can find for their toddlers. The MAHA movement, championed by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and embraced rhetorically by President Donald Trump, taps into something real that appeals to people across income, racial and party lines: Americans are exhausted by chronic disease, ultra-processed food and rising childhood obesity. A broad spectrum of parents are also concerned about increased screen time, social media use and their effects on children’s mental health. Women — especially moms — are often the chief health officers of their households. They are looking for leaders who acknowledge that something is off and are willing to challenge entrenched interests, which moms often suspect are making their health choices harder. GOVERNMENT SAYS 'EAT BETTER' BUT MAKES IT HARDER TO FEED YOUR FAMILY That’s the opportunity. Along with them, I’ve moved from trust in institutions to skepticism. I’ve been burned by big promises and become more concerned about having options that serve my family by being preventive instead of reactive. A 2025 KFF/Washington Post poll found that more than 80% of parents, both MAHA and nonaligned, agree on the need for change and transparency on additives, highly processed foods and sugar content. A whopping 75% of parents ranked social media use as a major threat to children’s health and have led a sea change in support for practical solutions, like cellphone bans in schools. Those parental priorities are reflected in the MAHA Commission Report, released in 2025, which covers them all. It was a welcome change from the surgeon general’s report on youth mental health during the Biden administration in 2021, which managed to reduce school closures and increased screen time required by those closures to a literal footnote. Republicans who frame MAHA around these concerns — and around empowering families to solve them by giving parents better information, improving food quality, supporting maternal health, investing in metabolic health and encouraging transparency — can build a coalition that includes suburban women who may not agree with the GOP on every issue but desperately want a culture shift around health. HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY AND THE 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL': WELCOME TO THE MIDTERMS And it’s not just words, but actions. An expansion of Health Savings Accounts in the One Big Beautiful Bill allows millions more Americans to use their own money for their own decisions, tax-free, and to put it toward primary care and telehealth. Congressional Republicans also required more price transparency from benefits managers as a tool for bringing down drug prices. But here’s where the danger creeps in. When the conversation turns to limiting access to common medications like Tylenol during pregnancy, broadly casting doubt on vaccines, or heavy-handed censorship of healthcare information through avenues like drug ads, which creates speech concerns, the political calculus changes — fast. VIVEK RAMASWAMY TURNS TO CONSERVATIVE YOUTH TO SHAPE THE MOVEMENT’S NEXT PHASE, ANALYZES 2026 RACES One reason President Trump had such a strong coalition in 2024 was the response to overreach during the pandemic — with an administration that believed it knew better than I did what was good for my kids. But if MAHA means simply substituting RFK’s personal pet views on things like vaccines and pharmaceutical ads for Dr. Fauci’s, then we’re not solving the problem. Voters distinguish between "We want more transparency and safety data" and "We want to make it harder for you to access routine care." The latter sounds destabilizing, and when it comes to health issues, the Affordable Care Act gave them enough of that to last a generation. There’s also a deeper risk: conflating skepticism with cynicism. NEWT GINGRICH: REPUBLICANS GET SECOND CHANCE TO FINALLY FIX HEALTHCARE Many voters want reform because institutions have lost their trust. I’m one of them. But they don’t want to burn those institutions down. Democrats held a 20-point edge on the issue of education for generations, but long-term school closures by politically motivated school boards and unions gave Republicans a chance to peel off some of those voters with common-sense, concrete approaches as simple as opening schools and unmasking toddlers. Healthcare is another perennial Democratic strong suit, but bad pandemic policies degraded trust and gave Republicans a shot at these voters in 2024. To keep these voters, keep it common-sense and concrete. For instance, where education and health intersect — kids, school and screen time — it has become a bipartisan no-brainer, as 38 states have enacted some kind of screen limitation in schools, with Republican-led states like Florida, Indiana and Virginia under former Gov. Youngkin leading the charge. Polling shows that, even in the MAHA coalition, support for routine vaccines like MMR is high, while skepticism remains about COVID and flu vaccines, or their timing, which these voters put in a different category. Their thinking, like the coalition itself, is not simple or monolithic. They want improvements, guardrails and accountability, but get nervous about sweeping restrictions that feel like experimentation. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION And it doesn’t hurt to have the food pyramid finally catch up with common sense in a concrete and beautifully designed graphic that inverts the bad advice of yore. I knew at 12 years old that 11 carb servings wasn’t a great idea. More Eat Real Food, less RFK and Kid Rock in a cold plunge, is where you find persuadable voters. The MAHA coalition includes a range of voices — some mainstream reformers, some longtime skeptics of pharmaceutical companies and some who have made a career out of questioning vaccines and established medical consensus. Republicans heading into a midterm year have to decide which lane they’re running in. It can absolutely be a blessing. It broadens the party’s appeal, especially with women who want a healthier country for their kids. Midterms are decided in the margins, by addition, not subtraction. They’re decided by voters who may like parts of the Republican economic message but still worry about cultural turbulence or instability. If Democrats are able to run ads accusing Republicans of threatening access to vaccines, pain relievers or basic healthcare information, that errant pitch will not stay confined to cable news debates. It will land in the t-ball stands on Saturday mornings. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM MARY KATHARINE HAM Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5eda5059ccda1fcc06355 Epstein Wanted Connections at Harvard. Files Show Many Faculty Members Were Happy to Help. te 2026-04-20T09:11:01.457Z Epstein Wanted Connections at Harvard. Files Show Many Faculty Members Were Happy to Help. New documents reveal what professors did to help Jeffrey Epstein get inside Harvard’s gates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5ed91059ccda1fcc0634c Big Names Wait in the Wings as Virginians Decide Their House Maps te 2026-04-20T09:10:41.585Z Big Names Wait in the Wings as Virginians Decide Their House Maps With Virginians voting Tuesday to accept or reject redistricting, candidates from both parties await the voters’ judgment to decide whether — or where — to run for Congress. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5ed7e059ccda1fcc06343 Vance Heads to New Talks With Iran. At Stake: Peace and His Own Standing te 2026-04-20T09:10:22.131Z Vance Heads to New Talks With Iran. At Stake: Peace and His Own Standing The vice president is again center stage, after abruptly leaving the first round of high-level Iranian peace talks without an agreement. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5eb7d059ccda1fcc0631e Rep. Marshall Steps Down From Legislature After Appointment As Navajo County Recorder te 2026-04-20T09:01:49.299Z Rep. Marshall Steps Down From Legislature After Appointment As Navajo County Recorder By Matthew Holloway | Arizona State Representative David Marshall Sr. (R-LD7) announced Wednesday that he will resign from the Arizona House of Representatives effective April 17, days after questions emerged about his appointment as the next Navajo County recorder. Marshall submitted his resignation in a letter to House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) dated April 15. In the letter, Marshall said his decision was based on family considerations. “This decision was not made lightly,” Marshall wrote. “After careful consideration, I have concluded that stepping down is in the best interest of my family.” Marshall said serving in the Legislature has been “an honor and a privilege” and thanked his constituents, fellow lawmakers, staff, and House leadership. “I remain committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will cooperate fully to support continuity of representation for the residents of Legislative District 7,” Marshall wrote. Marshall’s resignation comes after the Navajo County Board of Supervisors appointed him to fill a vacancy in the county recorder’s office created by the resignation of former Recorder Timothy Jordan. The appointment has drawn scrutiny because the Arizona Constitution states that lawmakers cannot hold other state, county, or municipal offices “during the term for which he shall have been elected.” Some legalobservers have argued that Marshall can accept the recorder position if he resigns from the Legislature, while others contend he would remain ineligible until the next legislative term begins in January 2027. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told KJZZ that her office is reviewing whether the appointment violated the state constitution, though she declined to comment further while the matter is under review. According to Axios, Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon told reporters that he had forgotten the particular statute but informed Marshall that his appointment could face a legal challenge. Alongside my running mate for the Corporation Commission @DrRalphHeap, we filed more signatures than any candidate in the state of Arizona besides @andybiggs4az. We look forward to being on the ballot in July and November to offer real solutions concerning energy affordability. pic.twitter.com/2TIkgVMuWC — Representative David Marshall (@DaveMarshallAZ) March 20, 2026 Marshall is also running for the Arizona Corporation Commission. Under ARS §41-1202, Republican precinct committeemen from Legislative District 7 will nominate three qualified Republicans who live in the same district and county as Marshall. The Navajo County Board of Supervisors will then appoint one of those nominees to serve the remainder of his term. Marshall served on the House Education Committee and Judiciary Committee and was chairman of the House Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee. 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 Rep. Marshall Steps Down From Legislature After Appointment As Navajo County Recorder first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5eb68059ccda1fcc06315 Maricopa County Supervisors React To Ruling Restoring Election Powers To Recorder te 2026-04-20T09:01:28.503Z Maricopa County Supervisors React To Ruling Restoring Election Powers To Recorder By Staff Reporter | The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors are split over the court ruling ordering a restoration of election powers to the county recorder. On Friday, the Maricopa County Superior Court invalidated the board’s claim of “plenary authority” via its general supervisory powers over elections administration.  “The board’s general authority does not override specific statutory delegations to other county officers,” read the ruling.  The court found that the board had “acted unlawfully and exceeded its statutory authority” by taking the recorder’s personnel, systems, and equipment. The ruling warned the board continuing in its path of harboring the recorder’s election resources would likely result in the disenfranchisement of voters. “The evidence at trial established that the Recorder’s inability to exercise meaningful control over election systems and staff will likely cause concrete operational harms, including inability to timely process provisional ballots under A.R.S. § 16-134, resulting in voters being denied tabulation of the full ballots they had voted and to which they were entitled,” stated the ruling. “These harms will not resolve and may likely increase absent court intervention, particularly as general election cycles approach.” The ruling ordered the board to allow the recorder to take up those duties expressly given to him by state law, and to fund all necessary expenses the recorder sets forth. The board was also ordered to return all IT staff, servers, databases, software, websites, and equipment to the recorder, or to fund replacement of those personnel and items.  Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee disagreed with the court’s view that Recorder Justin Heap has authority in his own right over elections. McGee also contended with the court’s conclusion that the board had deprived the recorder of resources and staffing.  McGee said the board plans to appeal.  “The court correctly concluded that the Board oversees the county budget and makes all appropriations decisions. But I disagree with other portions of the ruling, and I will explore all options with the Board of Supervisors, including an expeditious appeal,” said McGee. “From day one, the Board of Supervisors has provided Recorder Heap the resources and staffing needed to fulfill his statutory duties. We will continue to do so because voters always come first.”  NEW: Statement from Chair @KateMcGeeAZ on ruling in Heap v. Galvin, et al. pic.twitter.com/YbOoyGYfEU — Maricopa County (@maricopacounty) April 17, 2026 Unlike the rest of the board, Supervisor Mark Stewart issued his own statement expressing support for the court ruling. Stewart challenged the idea that the entire court fight was unavoidable.  “From the beginning, I supported a more transparent, public negotiation process, an approach that could have led to a different outcome and avoided unnecessary confusion, litigation, and cost,” said Stewart. “It is now time to move forward with a unified focus and give our team the resources they need to deliver transparent, secure, and best-in-class elections that the voters of Maricopa County deserve.”  My statement on the Heap v. Galvin Ruling: pic.twitter.com/Z9DkNiO55z — Mark Stewart Maricopa County Supervisor District 1 (@MarkStewart_AZ) April 18, 2026 Recorder Heap celebrated the ruling as redress for what he called an unjust “power grab” of his office’s elections authority.  “With this ruling, we will move forward focused on delivering the secure, transparent, and accessible elections the voters of Maricopa County deserve,” said Heap. Major victory for the rule of law. The court rejected the Board’s power grab and restored the Recorder’s authority as the principal elections officer in the county. With this ruling, we will move forward focused on delivering the secure, transparent, and accessible elections the… https://t.co/8V7XYmYW7E — Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap (@azjustinheap) April 17, 2026 AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link. The post Maricopa County Supervisors React To Ruling Restoring Election Powers To Recorder first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5eb53059ccda1fcc0630c Marlene Galán-Woods Faces Questions Over Campaign Payments To Swalwell-Linked Company te 2026-04-20T09:01:07.774Z Marlene Galán-Woods Faces Questions Over Campaign Payments To Swalwell-Linked Company By Matthew Holloway | Arizona congressional candidate Marlene Galán-Woods is facing criticism from the National Republican Congressional Committee over her campaign’s past payments to a fundraising company linked to former California Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA). In a statement released Friday, NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said Galán-Woods has remained silent about her campaign’s use of Findraiser, an artificial intelligence-based fundraising company tied to Swalwell. Federal Election Commission records show Galán-Woods’ campaign committee reported multiple payments to Findraiser totaling at least $1,425 in disbursements during the 2025-2026 election cycle. Swalwell has come under increasing scrutiny in recent days following allegations of sexual misconduct and assault made by multiple women. Swalwell has denied the allegations. The controversy has also led to renewed attention on political figures and campaigns that maintained ties to Swalwell or companies connected to him. In its statement, the NRCC argued Galán-Woods should sever ties with the company and explain why her campaign continued to use the service after the allegations against Swalwell became public. “Democrat Marlene Woods owes voters an answer: Why hasn’t she dumped Eric Swalwell’s company?” Petersen said. “Her campaign’s close financial relationship with Swalwell is disgraceful.” In another statement, Petersen described Swalwell’s reputation as a “creep” as an “open secret” in the Democratic Party, and criticized Galán-Woods for her response to the scandal, saying, “Democrat Marlene Woods bragged about Eric Swalwell’s support, then refused to say a word about the rape allegations against him for nearly a week. Shame on her protecting her fellow Democrat.” Galán-Woods responded to criticism over her past ties to Swalwell in a post on X, calling the allegations against him “abhorrent and credible.” “He, or anyone else who assaults women or abuses their position of power, has absolutely no place in Congress. Full stop,” Galán-Woods wrote. Galán-Woods argued that Republican criticism centers on an endorsement she received from Swalwell during an earlier election cycle, before the allegations became public. She also accused Republican candidate Jay Feely of hypocrisy for previously accepting an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Findraiser was co-founded in early 2024 by Swalwell and Yardena Wolf, his former congressional chief of staff, as an AI-based fundraising platform aimed at Democratic candidates and committees. Swalwell and Wolf personally promoted the company to fellow Democrats and lawmakers, according to NOTUS reports. A Democratic operative reportedly told the outlet, “He is relentless in pushing [Findraiser],” adding, “He’s peddling the shit out of that thing.” Recent reporting from Politico indicated that several Democratic campaigns and committees have begun distancing themselves from Findraiser following the allegations against Swalwell and the resulting political fallout. The payments to Findraiser are relatively small in dollar amounts, but the issue could become politically significant as Republicans seek to tie Democratic candidates to Swalwell amid the fallout surrounding the allegations against him. Galán-Woods is running as a Democrat in Arizona’s First Congressional District and is facing nine other Democrats in the primary, including state Rep. Amish Shah, who led her by 21.5 points in a February HighGround poll. Shah lost to incumbent Republican Rep. David Schweikert by 16,572 votes, or 3.8 percentage points, in 2024. 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 Marlene Galán-Woods Faces Questions Over Campaign Payments To Swalwell-Linked Company first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5eb3a059ccda1fcc062e7 Massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake hits off Japanese coast, tsunami alert issued te 2026-04-20T09:00:42.544Z Massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake hits off Japanese coast, tsunami alert issued A strong earthquake took place off the northern coast of Japan Monday afternoon, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to put out a tsunami alert in the area. The quake, registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.5, occurred off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 4:53 p.m. local time, at a depth of about 10 miles below the sea surface, the agency said. NHK public television indicated that a tsunami of as high as 10 feet could impact the region soon. This is a breaking news story and will be updated The Associated Press contributed to this report Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5d171059ccda1fcc05e2a Trump pushes shaky deal with Iran as Hormuz is shut again, but opponents give him no credit for progress te 2026-04-20T07:10:41.184Z Trump pushes shaky deal with Iran as Hormuz is shut again, but opponents give him no credit for progress President Trump struck a ceasefire with Iran that didn’t seem possible. Doesn’t matter. Trump pressured Israel into halting its attacks on Lebanon. So what. TRUMP RENEWS BRIDGE, POWER PLANT THREAT AGAINST IRAN IN PUSH FOR DEAL, MOCKS 'TOUGH GUY' IRGC The stock market reached record highs as investors concluded the war is about to end. Big deal. No matter what the guy does, his opponents won’t give him credit. TRUMP PUSHED IRAN TO THE BRINK — BUT DID WE WIN ANYTHING THAT LASTS? And when the murderous mullahs again shut down the Strait of Hormuz–in retaliation, they say, for the U.S. enforcing its own blockade of Iranian ports–you could practically hear the sighs of relief that the peace deal might be crumbling.    Trump told ABC’s Jonathan Karl yesterday that Iran has committed a "serious violation" of the ceasefire, but he was still confident about a deal:  "It will happen. One way or another, The nice way or the hard way. It’s going to happen. You can quote me." VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL 'FIND OUT' TRUMP IS 'NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND' IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART On X, Karl got hammered for–get this–calling the president for comment on a significant setback in the war.   "Why compromise yourself as a journalist & post BS from a pathological liar?" one woman said. "Jon, just stop," said another female poster. "You know he doesn’t have a clue so he just feeds you guys lies." WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP’S IRAN ADDRESS After the Karl exchange, Trump tweeted: "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY1" A banner headline on Drudge read "LEAK: TRUMP GRIPPED WITH FEAR." This was tied to a Wall Street Journal piece about Trump’s frustrations with the war, sometimes losing focus, and musing about awarding himself the Medal of Honor. When Tehran fired on two Indian-flagged ships in the strait, it was a troubling sign. The speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, says the two sides are far apart on a final agreement. Maybe that’s a negotiating tactic. HEGSETH DECLARES 'DECISIVE MILITARY VICTORY' OVER IRAN The larger point is that most Democrats and many in the media won’t acknowledge it when the president does something that turns out right. Because it’s Trump.    Now some of this is rooted in Trump’s decision, under pressure from Israel, to launch his war of choice, conduct airstrikes against Iran without so much as a nod to Congress or our supposed European allies. Maybe that was a bad decision. It certainly wasn’t a popular one. IRAN WAR NEARS ‘COMPLETION’ AS TRUMP EYES DEADLINE — WHAT THE ENDGAME COULD LOOK LIKE Seven weeks later, a new Politico poll finds 38% of those surveyed support the strikes–and almost half say Trump spends too much time on global affairs rather than domestic issues. The president’s inflammatory rhetoric hasn’t helped, from "Close the F—in’ Strait" on Easter Sunday to vowing two days later that "a whole civilization will die tonight." So I understand those who have principled objections to the war, especially Trump’s former acolytes in the conservative media. STEVE FORBES: NO MORE DELUSIONS — AMERICA HAS TO FINISH THE JOB IN IRAN But whether he was lucky or just stumbled into the right situation, he certainly deserves a belated bit of recognition. Trump says his tough and sometimes erratic talk kept the Iranian leaders who survived the bombing off balance. And, of course, his latest delay in the bombing pause created the space for a tentative agreement (which theoretically expires Tuesday). Come on: If President Biden had achieved a double ceasefire–with Iran and Lebanon–Democrats would be hailing him as a great commander-in-chief and powerful peacemaker. (And most Republicans would be critical.) TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY SHOWCASES ‘DOCTRINE OF UNPREDICTABILITY’ AMID STRIKE THREATS AND SUDDEN PAUSE Trump, never one to deflect credit, posted Friday: "The Failing New York Times, FAKE NEWS CNN, and others, just don’t know what to do. They are desperately looking for a reason to criticize President Donald J. Trump on the Iran situation, but just can’t find it." Meanwhile, Trump hasn’t lost his talent for stepping on his own story. By posting that fake AI picture of himself as Jesus, and a followup of Christ comforting him, the president angered many Catholic followers who viewed the images as blasphemous. Trump had to delete the first one within 12 hours, which he almost never does. MORNING GLORY: THE US-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS IN ISLAMABAD BECAME REYKJAVÍK 2.0 I know why he did it. Trump wanted to draw attention to his war of words with Pope Leo, and this guaranteed the topic would dominate the news for days. He even had JD Vance, a converted Catholic, warn the American-born Pope to be careful about discussing theology. By the way, I don’t agree with Pete Hegseth (who delivered a biblical verse actually lifted from "Pulp Fiction") unloading on the "Trump-hating" legacy media. I don’t believe they’ve portrayed the war as a failure. But in watching show after show after Trump’s announcement, I saw a bit of straight reporting on the president’s update quickly fade into the Jesus uproar, dissing NATO, the Epstein files, RFK’s ostensible shift on vaccines, Victor Orban’s defeat–all the same stuff they would have been talking about had there been no progress on the war. WHY TRUMP, IRAN SEEM LIGHT-YEARS APART ON ANY POSSIBLE DEAL TO END THE WAR Despite the president’s repeated pronouncements of victory, we do have to ask where this would leave his main rationale for the airstrikes–to keep Iran from building nuclear weapons. Whether such an outcome was imminent or not, I haven’t seen the Iranians, who lie for a living, agree to forfeit their longtime ambitions. What I’ve watched instead is Trump saying he would strongly consider unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets if the U.S. can remove the enriched uranium–and underground nuclear "dust" – from the country. Maybe with that supposed price tag, it’s worthwhile for the world’s biggest terror state. BROADCAST BIAS: FROM SPACE TO CEASEFIRES, NETWORKS STILL PAINT TRUMP AS THE PROBLEM But as we’ve just learned again, the devil is always in the details. Let’s say the ceasefire holds, Hormuz is reopened, and a deal is made–putting aside, for the sake of argument, all the caveats about how this train could be derailed. Will the Democrats and the mainstream media even grudgingly concede that Donald Trump pulled off something quite historic?  I’m not so sure about that. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5c60c059ccda1fcc05d09 Havasu man arrested after California neighborhood lockdown te 2026-04-20T06:22:04.219Z Havasu man arrested after California neighborhood lockdown SO--SLO-neighborhood-ordered-to-shelter-in-place-after Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5c5f8059ccda1fcc05d00 Arizona lawmakers plan White House trip as budget deadline nears te 2026-04-20T06:21:44.375Z Arizona lawmakers plan White House trip as budget deadline nears PHOENIX -- At the invitation of the Trump White House, Arizona Republican lawmakers are planning a trip to Washington D.C. in mid-June -- just two weeks before the deadline for them to have a new state budget in place. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5c5e4059ccda1fcc05cf7 Mohave College: Two Havasu students named to 2026 All-Arizona Academic Team te 2026-04-20T06:21:24.333Z Mohave College: Two Havasu students named to 2026 All-Arizona Academic Team Two Lake Havasu City students will be recognized this week as members of the 2026 All-Arizona Academic Team, earning a major scholarship opportunity after graduating from Mohave College. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5c5d0059ccda1fcc05cee Man accused of attacking woman with knife during Havasu domestic violence incident te 2026-04-20T06:21:04.572Z Man accused of attacking woman with knife during Havasu domestic violence incident A domestic violence dispute escalates into a knife-related assault, leaving a woman injured and covered in blood. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5c5bc059ccda1fcc05ce5 Lake Havasu City traffic stop leads to fentanyl, meth paraphernalia arrest te 2026-04-20T06:20:44.910Z Lake Havasu City traffic stop leads to fentanyl, meth paraphernalia arrest A traffic stop uncovers fentanyl and methamphetamine paraphernalia hidden inside a vehicle. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5b7a9059ccda1fcc05b4a NYPD investigating 'reckless' drag racing street takeover in Queens te 2026-04-20T05:20:41.790Z NYPD investigating 'reckless' drag racing street takeover in Queens A drag-racing street takeover involving more than 100 vehicles in Queens over the weekend triggered a NYPD investigation, as authorities continue searching for suspects. The incident was reported on Saturday shortly before 2 a.m. near Eliot Avenue and 69th Street, according to the NYPD. When officers arrived at the scene, they activated their lights and sirens to disperse the crowd. Dozens of vehicles then fled the area. CHICAGO MAYOR WARNS OF ‘TEEN TREND’ AFTER TAKEOVER CHAOS, VIOLENCE CONCERNS GROW Police said multiple vehicles were observed driving in circles. A few people also allegedly jumped on the hood of an NYPD vehicle, causing damage and cracking the windshield before fleeing the scene in a black car. No injuries were reported in connection with the drag racing incident. NYC TEEN SHOT DEAD ON QUEENS BASKETBALL COURT AS BYSTANDERS FILMED; POLICE SEARCHING FOR GUNMAN Police said no arrests have been made, but they are asking for the public's assistance in identifying eight people and four vehicles captured in photographs. Officers canvassed surrounding streets following the incident to deter further reckless driving. As they were patrolling, one driver was issued a summons for blocking a crosswalk. The incident remains under investigation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e59b8d059ccda1fcc055ce Maricopa County man could face criminal charges in dirt bike crash; juvenile not expected to survive te 2026-04-20T03:20:45.806Z Maricopa County man could face criminal charges in dirt bike crash; juvenile not expected to survive The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office plans to seek charges against a man in a dirt bike crash that left a juvenile critically injured. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5991d059ccda1fcc0556a U.S. Military Strikes a Boat in the Caribbean, Killing 3 te 2026-04-20T03:10:21.776Z U.S. Military Strikes a Boat in the Caribbean, Killing 3 The latest attack raised the death toll to at least 180 in the campaign by the United States against people it accuses of smuggling drugs at sea. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e59229059ccda1fcc054ad Roman Reigns, CM Punk put on professional wrestling masterclass at WrestleMania 42 te 2026-04-20T02:40:41.050Z Roman Reigns, CM Punk put on professional wrestling masterclass at WrestleMania 42 CM Punk and Roman Reigns met at WrestleMania 42 in a clash between two titans of the pro wrestling industry who helped shaped WWE over the last 15 years. Punk entered as the world heavyweight champion, while Reigns was the challenger. Reigns earned the shot at Punk’s title after winning the Royal Rumble in January. The two went back-and-forth for weeks trading barbs. Punk vowing to "bury" Reigns next to his father, while the "OTC" telling Punk he’s too old. Each competitor put each other through the "Monday Night Raw" announce table on various episodes. Reigns then vowed he would walk out of WWE if he lost to Punk. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM It all led to the raucous brawl that occurred in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium to end the weekend. Reigns’ entrance music shook the stadium as he walked purposely down the ramp – for the second straight year with no "Wiseman" to back him up or guide him through what vowed to be an incredible match. Punk came out to the top of the stage and looked over the crowd. He touched the ground, and yelled with the crowd, "It’s clobbering time." The crowd sang "Cult of Personality" as it blared through the stadium. The match brought an electricity in the air that was missing from Night 1. It had a big fight feel and both Punk and Reigns brought it. CODY RHODES RETAINS UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPIONSHIP AT WRESTLEMANIA 42, BUT RANDY ORTON GETS LAST LICKS The two started grappling for control after meeting face-to-face in the middle of the ring for one final round of trash talking. They traded knockdowns and slapped each other around as Reigns gained the advantage to start the match. A Samoan drop set the stage for Reigns to go on the offensive first. The crowd acknowledged their "Tribal Chief" as he clotheslined Punk outside of the ring. Punk reversed Reigns’ attempt to bash him into the announce table. But Reigns whipped Punk into the barricade and continued his assault in the crowd. Punk sat on a chair and waited for Reigns to get him. Punk jumped on the barricade and hit a flying clothesline. Punk’s taunts didn’t last long. Reigns tossed Punk from the announce table onto the ground as the referee begged for both competitors to get back into the ring. Reigns obliged as that was the only way he was going to win the match. OBA FEMI CONQUERS ‘THE BEAST INCARNATE,’ BROCK LESNAR SIGNALS WWE RETIREMENT AT WRESTLEMANIA 42 The match wore on as they traded punches and kicks and pin attempts. Reigns was the first to attempt his finisher. He tried for a Superman punch but Punk countered. Punk went to the top rope and hit a crossbody and assaulted Reigns with a flurry of punches. Punk seemingly had the advantage. He hit Reigns with a running knee and a bulldog. He called for the GTS as Reigns laid face down on the mat. Punk went for it, but Reigns battled out of it. Once again, the match moved to the outside. Punk hit a suicide dive that pushed Reigns onto the announce table. He used it to his advantage. Then, Punk got a little dangerous. Reigns was laid out on the announce table. He went to the top rope but Reigns quickly got up and avoided the move. PENTA HANGS ON TO INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN EXHILARATING LADDER MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA 42 Reigns mocked Punk as he hung upside down on the turnbuckle. Reigns hit Punk with a Superman punch. Reigns then nailed Punk with the stairs and continued to talk trash to the camera. Punk appeared helpless as Reigns picked him up. He set up Punk for a powerbomb and blasted him through the announce table. Punk was cut open and Reigns basked in the fans’ applause. He threw Punk into the ring and set him up for a spear. However, Punk countered and picked him up over his shoulders. Punk hit the GTS and nearly pinned Reigns right there. Punk tried for another GTS, but Reigns nailed him with a spear. Again, for only a two count. Reigns, frustrated, signaled he was going to steal Punk’s finisher. Punk tried to battle back but Reigns was adamant. He put Punk on his shoulders but Punk countered. Punk kicked Reigns, knocking him down but couldn’t get the three count. Punk then resorted to mocking Reigns. He took the Ula Fala from a fan and tried to hit a spear. Reigns countered with a guillotine only for Punk to kick out of it and put Reigns into a chokehold. Reigns punched his way out of the submission hold and put Punk back in the guillotine. As the two broke out of their respective submission holds, they got back up and hit each other with a double clothesline. The fans were ecstatic, yelling "this is awesome," as the match winded down. The crowd was split in who they were rooting for. Chants for both men rang out throughout the stadium as they traded punches. RHEA RIPLEY CAPTURES WWE WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP AT WRESTLEMANIA 42 Punk was taking off the tape from his hands and threw it onto the ring, distracting the referee enough to hit Reigns with a low blow. Punk tried to pin Reigns, but Reigns kicked out again. What was it going to take to put either wrestler down? Punk got Reigns outside of the ring and back onto the announce table. He wanted one final blow. He stepped up to the top rope and nailed Reigns with a flying elbow drop. The crowd waited with bated breath for the two to get back in the ring. Punk lifted Reigns on his shoulders and hit the GTS. Reigns then fell back onto his shoulders, but Punk couldn’t muster the strength to get off one more move. Reigns got up and hit Punk with a spear. Punk looked at Reigns and crawled back to him. Reigns hit Punk with one more spear. He pinned Punk and won the World Heavyweight Championship. Reigns becomes a seven-time champion and the first time he’s held the title since he lost to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e58d79059ccda1fcc05422 Johnny Knoxville shocks suburbs with epic explosion that Southern California locals mistook for plane crash te 2026-04-20T02:20:41.936Z Johnny Knoxville shocks suburbs with epic explosion that Southern California locals mistook for plane crash Johnny Knoxville played chaos agent in Southern California over the weekend. A "double explosion" was captured on film outside of a dog park by a Simi Valley local, only for social media users to discover that Knoxville was behind the blast. "Apparently people thought a plane had crashed yesterday in Simi Valley," Knoxville said in a @joeknowsventura clip shared online. BAM MARGERA SHREDS ON SKATEBOARD, DEFIES ODDS STACKED AGAINST HIM "Little did they know it was from a monstrous explosion @jemfxpopov created for us for the final day ever of @jackass filming." A large plume of smoke was seen rising behind the hillside where Big Sky Movie Ranch operates just before the sunset in suburbia. APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST Big Sky has served as the filming location for a number of films and television shows, including, "Little House on the Prairie," "Gunsmoke," "Wild Bill," and "Quantum Leap." "We were standing near the explosion and couldn’t believe what we were seeing," Knoxville wrote online. "Immediately after the entire cast went and hugged @jemfxpopov’s neck. "Thank you to Elia, his crew and the rest of our amazing crew yesterday to make sure we went out with a bang. 26 years and that’s a wrap!!" Knoxville added, "Coming to theater June 26th, Jackass: Best and Last." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The long-running and often controversial stunt series first debuted on MTV in 2000 and ran for three seasons while amassing a cult following and six feature films. Knoxville spoke too soon last year and admitted that the fifth film would be the last. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "This will be the last one. This is the natural place to end," Knoxville told Rolling Stone at the time. "So it’s going to be absolutely awful."  His future plans included a lot of the same things he's responsible for day-to-day: "Be a dad, play with our crazy dog, hang out with my wife, work a little." He attempted to lower the standards for fans going into the fifth movie, and said he couldn't do another film where he gets "another concussion." "(I'm) way over my limit for concussions," he said. "I just can't get hit in the head anymore. But, a lot of other guys can." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e58b21059ccda1fcc053c9 Dexter Lawrence has 'fire in me that I've never had before' after Giants trade him to Bengals te 2026-04-20T02:10:41.370Z Dexter Lawrence has 'fire in me that I've never had before' after Giants trade him to Bengals Dexter Lawrence’s new chapter in the NFL has begun, and he admitted for the first time since the New York Giants traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals that he has a "fire in me that I’ve never had before." The Giants fulfilled Lawrence’s trade request on Saturday, sending the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle to the Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft — a blockbuster deal that changes things in the first round set to kick off from Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Lawrence was the 17th overall pick of the 2019 draft, and he quickly became a fan-favorite for the Giants as well as arguably the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM But, despite two more years left on his contract and a new regime with John Harbaugh in place as the Giants’ new head coach, Lawrence wanted out. In the past, players have used that as a strategic move to get a new, more lucrative extension. This wasn’t one of those times, but Lawrence is viewing this new move to Cincinnati as a fresh start that has him more motivated than ever. GIANTS TRADE STAR DEFENSIVE TACKLE DEXTER LAWRENCE TO BENGALS IN DRAFT WEEK BLOCKBUSTER "They wanted me here and they appreciate the work that I’ve put in over the last seven seasons," Lawrence told Bengals radio play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard, which was published on the official team YouTube channel. "I appreciate that and I’m going to do everything I can to show them that they didn’t waste [a top 10 pick]. I’m excited. I’ve got a fire in me that I’ve never had before, so I’m excited. I’m excited to be a Bengal." It was also about money at the end of the day, with the Bengals dishing out a one-year, $28 million extension, which keeps him with the team through the 2028 season for a total of three years and $70 million. He still had $42 million remaining on his previous deal with the Giants. Lawrence added that his offseason drama in New York was a "long process," but he felt relief and excitement when the deal was finally made between the teams. "God got me through it, and right now, I’m ready to let my light shine and go win some games." As Lawrence mentioned, he’s hoping not to be a disappointment in his new city considering the amount paid by the Bengals to acquire him. But the 340-pound defensive tackle has been quite the problem for opposing offensive lines, collecting 30.5 sacks, 15 pass breakups, and 341 combined tackles (40 for loss) in 109 career games with the Giants. TRADES COULD SAVE NFL DRAFT LACKING FRANCHISE QBS, POLARIZING PLAYERS FROM BEING A YAWNER Last season also marked the first time Lawrence played all 17 games of his career since they implemented the extra regular-season contest in 2021. "I know people are going to say [there’s] pressure, but I embrace it," Lawrence said. "I bring it in. It doesn’t affect me, the pressure. I just know who I am and I’m going to stay true to that. I’m going to be the guy to help this defense go to the next level." As Lawrence looks ahead to new beginnings, the Giants, armed with two picks in the top 10 of the first-round of this year’s draft — they also have No. 5 — Harbaugh and the rest of the team will look to hit big with these key rookie additions. The Giants have made the playoffs just twice since the 2016 season. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e58687059ccda1fcc0534d Pennsylvania man accused of stealing over 100 sets of human remains appears in court in ‘horror movie’ case te 2026-04-20T01:51:03.665Z Pennsylvania man accused of stealing over 100 sets of human remains appears in court in ‘horror movie’ case A Pennsylvania man accused of stealing more than 100 sets of human remains from a historic cemetery appeared in court Friday, where he reportedly waived his right to an evidentiary hearing. Jonathan Gerlach, 34, appeared in Delaware County court wearing a lime green prison jumpsuit. Clean-shaven with his hair tied back in a bun, he looked noticeably different from his booking photo. He spoke little during the brief proceeding, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia. Gerlach is facing nearly 500 charges — including burglary, abuse of a corpse and desecration of monuments — tied to a disturbing investigation at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Philadelphia, the outlet reported. BOYFRIEND OF WEEKSLONG MISSING GIRL ACCUSED OF DISMEMBERING HER, SENDING DISTURBING MESSAGES FROM HER PHONE During Friday’s hearing, prosecutors dropped two burglary charges but filed additional counts related to alleged cemetery break-ins in Lancaster and Luzerne counties, FOX 29 reported. The case has shocked both investigators and the public since Gerlach’s arrest in January. At the time, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse described what detectives uncovered as "a horror movie come to life." Authorities say more than 100 full or partial sets of human and skeletal remains were recovered from Gerlach’s home in Ephrata and a storage unit. FLORIDA MAN ALLEGEDLY STUFFED HUMAN REMAINS IN TWO SUITCASES FOUND IN REMOTE ‘COMPOUND’ Some of the remains are believed to be centuries old, while others belonged to infants, according to prosecutors. Police said Gerlach was initially identified after officers conducting surveillance spotted bones and skulls inside his vehicle at Mount Moriah Cemetery Investigators later observed him leaving the cemetery carrying a burlap bag, a crowbar and other tools. Authorities allege he admitted to stealing approximately 30 sets of remains. The case has been especially distressing for families with loved ones buried at Mount Moriah. SKELETAL REMAINS FOUND BY HIKERS IN WASHINGTON STATE WOODS IDENTIFIED AS WOMAN MISSING SINCE 2024 "I believe their souls are in heaven. I still think it’s disruptive," Judy Prichard McCleary, whose ancestors’ remains were disturbed, told The Associated Press. Gerlach remains behind bars in Delaware County with bail set at $1 million, according to FOX 29. Court records do not indicate whether Gerlach has entered a plea. An attorney representing him could not be immediately identified Friday. The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office could not be immediately reached by Fox News Digital for comment. Fox News Digital's Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e58673059ccda1fcc05344 Nike removes running ad in Boston for 'pace shaming' te 2026-04-20T01:50:43.889Z Nike removes running ad in Boston for 'pace shaming' If you need a quick summation of what it's like to be living in the year 2026, boy, do I have a story for you. Nike recently put up a sign ahead of the Boston Marathon on Newberry Street that may have seemed innocuous to anyone with a brain. However, you would be wise to remind yourself these are stupid times we are living in. Take a look at exactly what the sign said and figure out for yourself why people are so offended. "Runners welcome. Walkers tolerated." Clever and cute. Or, so I thought. Nike reportedly received major backlash for "pace shaming," and were forced to take it down and issue an apology. Okay, so we are just making up words now, huh? "Pace shaming?" We are seriously living in some of the softest times imaginable. Also, "major backlash?" How many people complained about this freaking sign to where a company like Nike felt compelled to take it down? Then again, this is Nike we are talking about. The same company who was allegedly involved in funding a study related to youth transgender athletes, so of course they're not exactly playing with a full deck here. Regardless, I have a hard time believing more than two or three people bitched and moaned about this sign, and I'm sure all three of them have never seen the inside of a gym, let alone run a marathon. Nike is getting crushed on every corner of the internet, so I'm guessing the backlash they're receiving from taking the sign down is far greater than any they received from the sign initially. With how bad the obesity epidemic has gotten in this country, I think we could use a "pace shamer" or two. This is just another example of a very vocal minority getting their way while the rest of us normies stand around and scratch our heads, wondering how the slope got so damn slippery. Nike bowing to the woke mob is nothing new, but it doesn't get any less disheartening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go "pace shame" my two-year-old son, because that baby weight doesn't seem to be going anywhere (I kid, I kid). Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e58425059ccda1fcc05306 Natasha Lyonne jokes her plane removal was a ‘performance art piece’ after bizarre incident te 2026-04-20T01:40:53.335Z Natasha Lyonne jokes her plane removal was a ‘performance art piece’ after bizarre incident Natasha Lyonne is taking a lighthearted approach while speaking out about the incident that led to her being removed from a flight last week. The 47-year-old actress was escorted off a plane in Los Angeles after reportedly being unresponsive to crew members' requests. Lyonne later addressed reports of her removal from the aircraft, explaining that she took the sleep medication Lunesta after boarding the red-eye flight and also claiming that she had been briefly detained by ICE. During a recent interview with Page Six, the "Euphoria" star joked when she was asked how she was doing following the mishap. "Oh, you mean my flight plans? My performance art piece?" Lyonne said on Wednesday at the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s Spring Into Action Gala. NATASHA LYONNE CLAIMS ICE "DETAINED" HER AFTER BEING ESCORTED OFF PLANE "It’s been a doozy," Lyonne admitted. The "Orange is the New Black" alum went on to tell the outlet that she was "grateful to be somewhat of a ‘Marathon Man'" and noted that she has taken three flights without issue since the incident. "I do seem to show up on time, hit those marks, despite it all," she said. "But yeah, it’s a kooky moment, kooky times." On April 7, Lyonne was removed from a Delta Air Lines plane after she reportedly appeared to be "out of it" while sitting in first class and flight attendants were unable to get a response from her during preflight checks. ACTOR AND FORMER 'SNL' STAR SLAMS MAJOR AIRLINE FOR HIS SEAT DOWNGRADE: ‘I PAID FOR FIRST CLASS’ Crew members sought assistance and the plane returned to the gate, where she was escorted off. In an X post on April 10, Lyonne later spoke out about reports of the incident, which took place after she attended the season three premiere of "Euphoria" in Los Angeles. "Indeed, I took a Lunesta once seated, to ensure some shut eye on the Delta One red-eye flight to NYC," she wrote on X. She explained that she boarded the flight with nothing more than a backpack and sneakers, "eager for a nap." Lyonne said her plan was to "be bushy tailed & beauty rested," as she was scheduled to head straight to an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" after landing. She went on to allege that she was "detained" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Was looking forward to seeing Drew & an in depth convo, but I guess ICE had other plans & I was detained instead. Sign of the times, I guess," Lyonne wrote in part. In a statement to Variety, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security denied Lyonne’s claims. "Neither ICE nor TSA escorted or detained Natasha Lyonne," the representative said. The actress also clarified that she’s had no issues with Delta or TSA in the past, and added, "Heart is with our unpaid @TSA workers. Apologies to any travelers who were delayed." Fox News Digital has reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment. While speaking with Page Six, Lyonne brushed off being described as a "survivor" by the outlet. "I don’t know if it’s been [more] wild a ride [than] anyone else," The "Russian Doll" star said. "I look down and see my own two feet, so I assume I’m where I’m meant to be." "We’re all living in wild times," she added. "And we’re all doing our best." In January, Lyonne publicly revealed that she had experienced a relapse following a decade of sobriety. "Took my relapse public more to come," Lyonne wrote in part on X. "Recovery is a lifelong process. Anyone out there struggling, remember you’re not alone. Grateful for love & smart feet." During her interview with Page Six, Lyonne reflected on her decision to speak out about relapsing. "I think, ultimately, someone who is a recovery person, we’re as sick as our secrets," she said. "I don’t feel ashamed to be a real human being. "I feel it’s important to tell the truth as best we can," Lyonne added. "It’s been an interesting journey." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The "Russian Doll" actress shared a hopeful update in an X post last month, writing, "Proud to report this kid is doing a whole lot better & back on her feet." "Want to thank our recovery communities & the fans who stood by & were so supportive," she continued. "Aiming to keep the journey somehow private, but look forward to sharing my experience, strength & hope as makes sense. My heart is with everyone ever going through it." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Lyonne also later poked fun at her plane incident while honoring Pink during the Planned Parenthood gala. "Talk about a legend," Lyonne said of Pink. "She, like me, does not put up with people telling her what to do, how to act, or what to say, or when to fly," Lyonne joked as the audience clapped and cheered. "But made three flights since then," she added. "Eat my shorts." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e57f91059ccda1fcc05288 Barack and Michelle Obama's film production company reportedly leaving Netflix to go independent te 2026-04-20T01:21:21.365Z Barack and Michelle Obama's film production company reportedly leaving Netflix to go independent Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama's film production company, Higher Ground, is reportedly moving away from Netflix later this year. Deadline reported on Sunday that the company's current first-look deal with the massive streaming giant is set to end this year. Rather than renew the deal as they've done in the past, sources allege that the Obamas will "transition to becoming independent." "According to sources, the deal with Netflix has not ended yet but Higher Ground is making plans to remain independent and not pursue a studio pact when it expires soon while continuing to collaborate with the global streamer on existing projects," the report read. BARACK OBAMA PRODUCES FIRST FICTION MOVIE FOR NETFLIX, GAVE EXTENSIVE NOTES TO DIRECTOR FOR CYBERATTACK PLOT Fox News Digital reached out to Higher Ground and Netflix for comment. The Obamas first announced their multi-year Netflix deal in 2018 after a deal brokered by then-chief content officer Ted Sarandos, who previously held a fundraiser for Obama's 2012 presidential campaign. HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR STUNNED AFTER GETTING ADVICE FROM OBAMA ON DIRECTING NEW FILM: 'SCARED THE F--- OUT OF ME' In 2024, Deadline first announced that the Obamas would be extending their first-look deal with Netflix after years of collaboration. "If there’s one thing that’s defined President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s creative ambitions since we started our partnership with Higher Ground, it is their pursuit of an exceptional story that brings the human experience to light. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Higher Ground as they continue to develop and produce more ambitious, compelling and entertaining stories," Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. NETFLIX FILM TELLS TRUE STORY OF ONLY PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND FEMALE ARMY BATTALION TO SERVE DURING WWII Obama hinted at his film company breaking from Netflix on Saturday during the History Channel’s special edition of HistoryTalks. "[W]e were in partnership with Netflix," Obama said. "We’re in a process now of transitioning to a more independent [future] where we can work with a bunch of different studios." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e57f7d059ccda1fcc0527f Distress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors te 2026-04-20T01:21:01.401Z Distress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors Hundreds of commercial tankers are stranded on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran shut the critical chokepoint on April 18, halting traffic and leaving crews trapped amid reports of gunfire and "traumatic experiences" on board. The Strait of Hormuz is considered an international waterway under international law, through which ships have the right of transit passage, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Iranian gunboats opened fire on a tanker the same day, while a projectile struck a container vessel, damaging cargo. STARMER AND MACRON ACCUSED OF ‘PLAYING AT BEING RELEVANT’ WITH STRAIT OF HORMUZ PLAN Audio released by maritime monitoring group TankerTrackers appears to capture the moment a vessel and its crew came under fire while approaching the strait, including a distress call from a crew member. "Sepah Navy! Motor tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave me clearance to go… you are firing now. Let me turn back!" the crew member can be heard saying in the recording, according to TankerTrackers. Iranian state media confirmed that shots were fired near vessels to force them to turn back, while the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India said the foreign secretary was deeply concerned. Hapag-Lloyd, the world’s fifth-largest container shipping line, told Fox News Digital that it had activated a crisis team as its crews remain stuck on board vessels in the region. "We have been working from Friday afternoon until today with the entire crisis team to bring the vessels out — in vain, unfortunately," said Nils Haupt, senior director of group communications at Hapag-Lloyd AG. "These events can easily lead to traumatic experiences. There is also a significant risk from sea mines, which has made insuring vessels for passage through the Strait nearly impossible." LISA DAFTARI: HORMUZ WHIPLASH PROVES TEHRAN CAN'T HONOR ANY DEAL IT SIGNS "The crews are well, but they are becoming increasingly impatient and frustrated. It is very unfortunate that we could not leave today," he added. "Many ships are still stuck in the Persian Gulf." "Our six ships are anchored near the port of Dubai, and all crews hope for an improvement in the situation," Haupt said. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on April 18 that the strait would remain closed until the U.S. lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, warning ships not to move from anchorage or risk being treated as "enemy" collaborators. Iran has previously argued that restrictions on its oil exports and shipping amount to "economic warfare," framing actions in the Strait of Hormuz as a response to foreign pressure on its economy, according to statements from Iranian officials and state media in past incidents. "Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and any violating vessel will be targeted," the IRGC said in a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. TRUMP ORDERS A BLOCKADE IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS TENSIONS WITH IRAN SOAR The United States imposed the blockade on Iranian ports to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait, with U.S. Central Command saying the measures are being enforced "impartially against all vessels." Hapag-Lloyd said its vessels have been stuck for weeks following the initial closure after the outbreak of war with Iran on Feb. 28. "For us, it is critical that our vessels can pass through the strait soon," Haupt said. "We offer all crew members unlimited data so they can video call loved ones and access entertainment. Crews are strong, but after weeks on board there is growing monotony and frustration." "One crew experienced a fire on board from bomb fragments. Others have seen missiles or drones near their vessels," he added. "They are resilient, but each additional day makes the situation more difficult, more monotonous, and more stressful." President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed not to close the strait again but after the closure, Trump called the situation "blackmail" and said the U.S. would not back down. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e57f69059ccda1fcc05276 Rhea Ripley captures WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 42 te 2026-04-20T01:20:41.940Z Rhea Ripley captures WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 42 Rhea Ripley’s path back to the top of the women’s division was a long one, but on Sunday night, she survived the storm and recaptured the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42. Ripley won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match back in February to earn a shot at a title. She chose to set her sights on Jade Cargill’s championship. What transpired next was a war of words between the two goddess-like figures in the pro wrestling industry. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Cargill vowed to bring the disrespect to Ripley, even turning B-Fab and Michin against Ripley in the process. The match at WrestleMania was supposed to be a one-on-one match, but Michin and B-Fab got involved in the action. Cargill had the advantage for most of the match. And just as the referee was going to throw Michin and B-Fab out, Iyo Sky came to the rescue. She hit a springboard moonsault on B-Fab and Michin. ‘DEMON’ FINN BALOR SETTLES SCORE WITH DOMINIK MYSTERIO AT WRESTLEMANIA 42 Ripley hit Cargill with a headbutt and a Riptide. But she couldn’t get the pin on Cargill. Cargill hit Ripley with a boot, but it was almost to no avail. Ripley countered Cargill’s finisher, put her in the Riptide and pinned her for the win. It marks the first WrestleMania loss for Cargill since she joined WWE. Ripley is now a two-time holder of the WWE Women’s Championship and a four-time women’s champion overall. Her last reign started on Night 2 of WrestleMania 37 when she defeated Asuka in Tampa, Florida. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e57abe059ccda1fcc0521f Suspect arrested for threatening to kill medical facility staff in northern Arizona te 2026-04-20T01:00:46.964Z Suspect arrested for threatening to kill medical facility staff in northern Arizona A person was arrested for allegedly making terroristic threats against medical staff and Native Americans in Page, according to police. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e57867059ccda1fcc051de Cardinals enter key draft with Ossenfort, LaFleur; Jacoby Brissett eyes new deal te 2026-04-20T00:50:47.002Z Cardinals enter key draft with Ossenfort, LaFleur; Jacoby Brissett eyes new deal Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said the team is comfortable with its current options at quarterback but remains open to additions following the release of Kyler Murray. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e573b2059ccda1fcc05137 ‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42 te 2026-04-20T00:30:42.234Z ‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42 Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio were once brothers in arms in the Judgment Day. The two helped the faction run "Monday Night Raw" for several years. As championships and opportunities came and went, the rift between Balor and Mysterio grew. It came to a head when Balor caused Mysterio to lose the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Balor leaving the Judgment Day left Mysterio and Liv Morgan as the leaders with JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez sticking around. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The latter four chose to ride with Mysterio and attacked Balor on one episode of Raw. The bitter war led to a match Sunday night at WrestleMania 42. To make matters more interesting, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made the match a street fight hours before the show was set to begin. Balor had vowed to bring the "Demon" out and he certainly did. JACOB FATU PUTS DREW MCINTYRE IN THE ‘REAR VIEW’ IN UNSANCTIONED MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA 42 Balor made his way to the ring in his "Demon" gear, dripping with red and black paint. Mysterio was in a mask with other Mysterio supporters. The two then proceeded to beat the crud out of each other. Mysterio wrapped Balor’s head in between a chair and hit a 619 on him. He tried to pin Balor, but to no avail. At another point, Mysterio tossed Balor through a table set up in the corner. As many have learned, it’s hard to keep your demons down. Mysterio learned the hard way. Balor would not give up. Balor clotheslined Mysterio, hit him with a chair multiple times before wrapping his head in between the chair and drop-kicking him into the corner. Balor put Mysterio onto a table and hit the Coup de Grâce for the win. Balor excised his own demons, while Mysterio is still haunted. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e57174059ccda1fcc0510d Beth El hosts fundraising art show te 2026-04-20T00:21:08.159Z Beth El hosts fundraising art show Following the success of its $95K for 95 Years fundraiser campaign, Beth El Phoenix is offering a new creative and elegant fundraiser event. Ed DuBrow The community is invited to a special art show featuring the work of Dr. Ed DuBrow, a longtime member of Beth El who has been making prints and other artworks for the past 60 years. The congregation will host his exceptional work at a special event, scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 3-5 p.m., that will support the longevity of its community. A collection of 95 original collagraph, linoleum and copper plate prints will be presented, each priced at $95. All pieces are professionally matted, framed and ready to be displayed at home. Proceeds from this event will benefit Beth El Phoenix, located at 1118 W. Glendale Ave., and help provide a spiritual home for Jews in North Central Phoenix. Guests will enjoy a wine and cheese reception, sponsored by Ed DuBrow and Cynthia Serbin-Dubrow, as they browse the work and meet the artist. Visit www.bethelphoenix.com/event/art to RSVP for free. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e5715c059ccda1fcc050e8 Caitlin Clark says she is '100% healthy' heading into Fever training camp after injury-riddled 2025 season te 2026-04-20T00:20:44.215Z Caitlin Clark says she is '100% healthy' heading into Fever training camp after injury-riddled 2025 season The Indiana Fever are back on the hardwood, as the team reported to training camp ahead of the 2026 season, and all eyes are on superstar guard Caitlin Clark once again. This time, it’s to make sure she’s healthy enough to get after it following a sophomore season in the WNBA riddled with injuries. Clark told reporters at training camp she is "100% healthy" after dealing with quad, groin and ankle injuries in 2025, which led to just 13 games played for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM But while Clark wasn’t allowed to be on the court, she learned, along with head coach Stephanie White, how to be a bit more cautious heading into year three. "I’m a person that doesn’t want to sit out a single rep, like I want to be in there every single time," Clark told reporters, per the Indianapolis Star. "But I think just being a little bit smarter with my body…whether that’s recovery, whether that’s pre-court treatment, whatever it is." White echoed Clark’s statement. CAITLIN CLARK EARNS DIANA TAURASI’S APPROVAL AFTER WEARING ICONIC NO 12 FOR TEAM USA DEBUT "She doesn’t have to be out there every rep, just being mindful," she said. "Every year that she gets older, she understands the cadence is a little bit different." Clark played just 13 games, but she made her second straight All-Star Game, averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds and 8.8 assists per game over that span. Heading into this season, Clark is obviously looking to continue her hot start to her professional career, and working out with Team USA in March ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup was an experience she said helped her prepare for this season. "You want to rise to the level of the people around you, and then you also want to beat them, get on the court and compete," she said about that experience playing and training with the best of the best in women’s basketball. So, Clark heads into training camp not pushing herself perhaps how she has in the past, including years at Iowa. The Fever can see what else they have at the guard position when she does sit out and rest, including first-round pick Raven Johnson out of South Carolina. The Fever are hoping to continue its build to a WNBA contender, losing in the semfinals last season with an injury-riddled squad. They also made it a point to bring back core players from last year’s roster, including Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull — all of whom dealt with injuries in 2025. Indiana was also looking ahead to the future, inking Aliyah Boston to a four-year, $6.3 million contract extension that marked the highest-paid deal in WNBA history following a historic CBA agreement between the league and the players’ association. 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/69e56f19059ccda1fcc050c9 Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 as reigning champion Thunder open playoffs with 119-84 win over Suns te 2026-04-20T00:11:05.069Z Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 as reigning champion Thunder open playoffs with 119-84 win over Suns Devin Booker scored 23 points and Dillon Brooks scored 18 on 6-of-22 shooting for the Suns, who shot 34.9% from the field. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e56f01059ccda1fcc050a2 Chicago Public Schools declare May 1 a 'day of civil action' for students te 2026-04-20T00:10:41.468Z Chicago Public Schools declare May 1 a 'day of civil action' for students Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) will consider May 1 a "day of civil action" for students despite classes still being in session. The CTU pushed a resolution last month to designate May 1, otherwise known as May Day or International Workers' Day, as the day of "Civic Action and Defense of Public Education" and a day off for teachers and students. "If we still want to have democracy in the midterms this November, public schools that provide our students with quality education, and unions to defend workers’ rights, then it is up to every Chicagoan to stand up for what we believe in and show the authoritarian billionaire in Washington that when he breaks every rule, we will not go along with business as usual," CTU Vice President Jackson Potter said in a statement at the time. INSIDE TEACHERS' UNION MAY DAY 'DRESS REHEARSAL' CRITICS WARN WILL 'GROOM' STUDENTS INTO DEM 'FOOT SOLDIERS' In a statement on Friday, CPS confirmed that May 1 would still be considered a full instructional day with students and staff still expected to attend. However, CPS added that schools can allow "optional participation" in "civil engagement events" for students who wish to attend protests or take part in civil activities during the school day under state laws. "Principals may exercise their existing authority to provide students the opportunity to participate in events and field trips, including civic engagement activities on May 1 during the school day. Schools wishing to participate must follow the existing CPS student travel policy and normal field trip procedures," the CPS statement read. WASHINGTON POST RIPS CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION FOR PURSUING SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES AS STUDENTS STRUGGLE According to CPS, students between grades six and 12 are allowed one excused absence per school year to attend a civic engagement event so long as they obtain parental permission and that the event is "open to the public and sponsored by a nonprofit organization or a government agency." "This agreement preserves the classroom time students deserve and respects our staff and families who must be able to trust CPS to uphold the academic school year calendar," CEO/Superintendent Dr. Macquline King said in a statement. "At the same time, the agreement honors the proud history of civic action in Chicago and beyond." CPS confirmed that future May Days could be considered professional development days, starting in 2028. MORE THAN 40% OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ABSENT AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN PAST SCHOOL YEAR: REPORT Fox News Digital reached out to CPS and the CTU for comment. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement on Friday celebrating the announcement as a way to honor the history of May Day. "Encouraging participation allows Chicagoans to honor our history while advocating for our future. We look forward to a day of meaningful solidarity and community resistance to the forces trying to tear us apart," Johnson said.  He continued, "The history of May Day in America is rooted in Chicago. It was in our city that workers organized around the simple demand of an eight-hour workday and raised the consciousness of a gilded nation through the Haymarket Strike. We continue to work with all City Agencies and Departments to ensure a safe and impactful May Day." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e56ce9059ccda1fcc05057 Parents urged to plan now for summer camp savings amid rising costs te 2026-04-20T00:01:45.652Z Parents urged to plan now for summer camp savings amid rising costs Registration is open, prices are climbing — and financial experts say a little planning now can save families hundreds of dollars. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e56cd2059ccda1fcc05032 Celtics fans give Philly fans taste of their own medicine with troll chant during NBA playoffs te 2026-04-20T00:01:22.009Z Celtics fans give Philly fans taste of their own medicine with troll chant during NBA playoffs There may not be a pettier league on the face of this planet than the NBA. Players, coaches, and even fans take great delight in the anguish of their rivals, and they will never miss an opportunity to twist the knife when given the chance. That gets ratcheted up even higher when the playoffs roll around, which is why this latest example of fan pettiness should come as no surprise. To set this up, when the Philadelphia 76ers won their play-in game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, the fans made it clear they were ready for their next opponent, the hated Boston Celtics. You gotta love the confidence here. Surely, there is no way this will backfire in any way, shape, or form, right? Getting punked in Game 1 is bad enough, but having the fans of the team that is currently punking you turn your own troll chant against you is extra brutal. You know what they say: be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. Now, for a little dose of optimism for all the Philly fans. This is only game one, and as lopsided as the score was, your Sixers are only down 0-1 at the moment. As an added bonus, this was a road loss, so you really only need to win game two and shift home court advantage back in your favor. A series doesn't start until the road team wins a game! So keep your chin up. There's still plenty of basketball left to be played. And if you do somehow, miraculously get past the Celtics, I better not hear a single one of you saying "we want New York." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e56cbe059ccda1fcc05029 'Facts of Life' star reveals cancer battle after social media hiatus te 2026-04-20T00:01:02.040Z 'Facts of Life' star reveals cancer battle after social media hiatus Mindy Cohn is out of the hospital and recovering after fighting a secret cancer battle. The "Facts of Life" actress returned to Instagram Sunday with gratitude for life and a message to her followers. "Have been off social media for awhile ‘ cuz I had to go kick cancer’s a--," Cohn shared online. AMANDA PEET SAYS PARENTS COMPARED HER ACTING DREAMS TO BEING A ‘HOOKER’ The "Palm Royale" star rested in a hospital bed and hoisted a thumbs up in an image posted on her account. "I did so with the extraordinary help of Providence Saint John’s hospital staff, especially my nurses Finja, Patty and Courtney and my hero, the phenomenal oncology surgeon @antonbilchik." 'FULL HOUSE' STAR DAVE COULIER URGES AMERICANS NOT TO IGNORE WARNING SIGNS AFTER CANCER BATTLE Cohn, who earned star status for portraying Natalie Green in the hit '80s sitcom, did not disclose any further details about her diagnosis. Cohn's representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST "Thank you to my family especially my cherished @tarakarsian @johnwstewart @gregoryzarian who have been my advocates and always on the ready to help me when it’s 'my turn,'" Cohn continued. "Recouping for another couple of weeks and then ready for my next adventure. onwards! F**K Cancer!" A number of stage and screen stars sent well-wishes to the actress, with Helen Hunt giving the approval for Dr. Blilchik. "Mindy!!!! Sending love and healing energy," Holly Robinson Peete wrote, while Octavia Spencer posted a slew of heart emojis. "U got this girl," Rosie O'Donnell added. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Love you, Mindy! Here whenevs you need us!" Jerry O'Connell noted, while Peri Gilpin wrote, "Lots of Love to you Mindy! I’m happy you are on the mend. Looking forward to coffee in the near future!" Cohn previously admitted that she never set out to pursue a career in acting when she was cast in "Facts of Life" at the age of 13. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "It’s just what I did after school — and then had to come home to four hours of homework a night," she told Vanity Fair. "I will tell you that as a 17-year-old, I felt like a 40-year-old, and a lot of it just had to do with the school workload. But that preciousness of being on a TV show didn’t really hit until then, so I think it saved me." Legendary producer Norman Lear, production supervisor Alan Horn and "Diff'rent Strokes" actress Charlotte Rae met Cohn during a visit to her high school, the exclusive Westlake School for Girls in Bel Air.  "The Facts of Life" followed four girls attending the prestigious boarding school, the Eastland School, and their relationship with their dorm mother, Mrs. Edna Garrett (Rae). The show aired for nine seasons from 1979-88. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69e56caa059ccda1fcc05020 Trick Williams wins United States Championship in WrestleMania debut te 2026-04-20T00:00:42.551Z Trick Williams wins United States Championship in WrestleMania debut Trick Williams came into his WrestleMania debut ready to make an impact. He told Fox News Digital in the days leading up to his United States Championship match against Sami Zayn that he was "hungry." On Sunday night at WrestleMania 42, he proved just how much hungrier he was and that he could eat with the best of them. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Williams hit the floor with "Whoop that trick" blaring throughout the crowd at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. His white mink coat had a tail as long as the entrance ramp. In the ring, the veteran waited for his opponent. Zayn didn’t think Williams was ready to meet the moment. But he was wrong. Despite taking out Williams’ partner Lil Yachty, he lost focus of Williams during the match. Zayn hit an apron brainbuster and nailed Williams with a Helluva Kick on the barrier. WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS 'CURSE' ISN'T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME Zayn wanted the referee to count out Williams. The referee got to nine before Williams rushed back into the ring. Yachty also got back into the match and played mind games with Zayn. Williams hit the Trick Shot on Zayn, but couldn’t get the three count. Zayn nailed Williams into the corner with a buckle bomb. He was going to hit another Helluva Kick, but Williams came back with the Trick Shot. Williams pinned Zayn and picked up the tremendous victory. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/home