https://meenews.co/post/69deb205d8d5dabda395aed3 Forest Service shake-up will boost states’ role — but even supporters have concerns te 2026-04-14T21:30:45.212Z Forest Service shake-up will boost states’ role — but even supporters have concerns Angeline Lake reflects nearby mountains in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington state. The U.S. Forest Service will be undergoing a major reorganization. (Photo by Alex Brown/Stateline) A sweeping reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service signals that the agency is planning to lean heavily on states to help manage millions of acres of federal land, foresters across the West say. State officials and timber industry leaders say they’ve been given scant details about the plan, which will move the agency’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, restructure its regional management, and close scores of research stations in dozens of states. While they wait for the dust to settle, they’re preparing for the Forest Service — with its workforce slashed by the Trump administration — to ask more of its partners under the new model. “The Forest Service itself is unable to uphold its mission and cannot alone manage the many challenges on these landscapes,” said Nick Smith, public affairs director with the American Forest Resource Council, a timber industry group. “The transition from regional offices to more state-level offices is a recognition that partnerships are the future for the Forest Service.” But many forestry veterans fear the shake-up will cause more attrition in an agency that’s already shrunk because of Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce. Some see a clear sign that moving the headquarters to Utah — a state whose leaders are often hostile to federal land ownership — is designed to undermine the Forest Service’s management of its lands. The closure of 57 research stations, some agency partners fear, will threaten critical science that states and other forest managers rely on to learn about wildfire behavior, timber production and a host of other issues. Some observers noted that the agency is required to seek congressional approval to relocate offices, which could trigger legal challenges to the plan if lawmakers do not weigh in. Meanwhile, some foresters feel the uncertainty swirling over the agency will cause chaos as the West heads into a dangerous fire season amid record temperatures and drought. The plan announced on March 31 will relocate Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and his headquarters staff to Salt Lake City. The agency will close its nine regional offices, each of which oversee national forests across multiple states. Replacing those offices will be 15 state directors, mostly in Western states. Many state leaders, from both conservative and liberal states, say they welcome the opportunity to deepen their partnerships with the Forest Service and play a greater role on federal lands. But they’re still anxious to see more details about the agency’s new structure and concerned that national forests remain deeply understaffed. “There are definitely a lot of vacancies in key positions that need to be filled,” said Jon Songster, federal lands bureau chief with the Idaho Department of Lands. “I hope that a lot of that remaining expertise is not lost, but shifted to the forest level where it’s desperately needed. Hopefully with all these changes there will be opportunities to put more people in some of those key gaps.” The U.S. Forest Service is realigning its organizational structure. An asterisk indicates a location that will serve more than one facility function. (Photo by U.S. Forest Service) Scarce details The Forest Service manages nearly 200 million acres of land, mostly in Western states. With a mandate to manage the land for multiple uses, the agency oversees timber harvests, livestock grazing, outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat. Under President Donald Trump, the Forest Service has lost about 16% of its workforce — nearly 5,900 employees — through buyouts, layoffs and early retirements. Trump’s proposed budget for 2027 would cut billions of dollars from the agency’s funding. Many observers view the reorganization plan as an effort to force out more longtime agency leaders. The moves are expected to affect about 5,000 employees across the various offices that are relocating. “If this were a stand-alone proposal where the American public and the public agency employees had trust in the administration, a lot of it makes sense,” said Mike Dombeck, who served as chief of the Forest Service under President Bill Clinton and remains a vocal conservation advocate. “But the level of trust is at rock bottom.” In its announcement, the agency said that the new state-based model will bring decision-making closer to the forest level and reduce bureaucracy. The Forest Service did not grant a Stateline interview request. State foresters, who are responsible for managing the forests in their states, say they’ve been given few details other than the new office maps released by the agency. They don’t know when the transitions will happen, which officials will be staffing the new offices or what authority they will have. “They’ve made the statement that they need to rely more on states,” said Washington State Forester George Geissler. “If you’re going to lean on us, it might help us to know what that means.” The U.S. Forest Service’s current regional divisions. (Photo by U.S. Forest Service) States’ role In recent years, the Forest Service has increasingly partnered with states, tribes, counties and nonprofits to carry out projects on federal lands. Foresters say agreements such as the Good Neighbor Authority have become a critical tool, allowing more work to happen in national forests even as the feds’ own capacity shrinks. “We’ve seen some of that institutional knowledge (at the Forest Service) dwindle a little bit,” said Utah State Forester Jamie Barnes. “Building these partnerships, if you do see a decline on one side or the other, you can bridge that loss. We’re working together, making joint decisions so we can get timber off the landscape here in Utah.” Some foresters said they welcome the chance to work more closely with the Forest Service, but they’re concerned that the agency has not recovered from Trump’s workforce cuts. Reassigning hundreds of employees to new locations could lead to more attrition. In Wyoming, state officials are excited to have Forest Service leaders working in close proximity. But State Forester Kelly Norris acknowledged that the move could be “bumpy,” given the lack of details and ongoing workforce shortages in the agency. “The logistics of this may be a lot harder implemented than said,” she said. “We see this as a positive for us, but I do think that this is going to be a real long transition.” Idaho, Utah and Wyoming are among the Western states that share the Trump administration’s goal of increasing timber production on federal lands. Trump has moved to limit environmental reviews and protections for endangered species to speed up logging projects. Some Forest Service veterans feel the move to increase states’ role will prove destructive in some parts of the West. “We’re putting the governance of the forests more subject to states’ interests,” said Kevin Hood, executive director of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, a nonprofit that advocates for civil employees. “I would be concerned that the values that don’t have strong lobbying groups, such as watershed integrity, may be subjugated to extractive values like timber, mining and grazing.” Several agency veterans stressed that the Forest Service’s state directors should be career professionals, not political appointees. HQ move By relocating its headquarters to Salt Lake City, the Forest Service said in its announcement, the agency is moving leaders closer to the forests they manage. But some are skeptical the move will bring stronger management to the West. During Trump’s first term, he moved the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Grand Junction, Colorado. Only 41 of the 328 employees subject to the transition actually relocated. “Shaking things up is going to get people to abandon their positions, and that’s the intent,” said Chandra Rosenthal, Western lands and Rocky Mountain advocate with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a group that defends whistleblowers in the federal service. “It’s a long-term dismantling of the scientific backbone and staff. The theory is that the federal government will abandon a lot of the public lands and then states will be forced to fill in those gaps.” Rosenthal and others noted that Utah’s political leaders are hostile to federal land ownership. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, led an effort last year to sell off millions of acres of federal land, which drew widespread backlash before it was withdrawn. Utah’s state government has also sued the federal government, seeking to claim control of 18.5 million acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. “Why would you move the headquarters of a public lands management agency to the state that is the most anti-public lands in the country?” said Dombeck, the former Forest Service chief. Dombeck also noted that the Forest Service chief frequently reports to the White House, testifies in congressional hearings and coordinates national policy with other agency leaders. Moving the position out of D.C., he said, makes little sense. In a webpage set up to respond to news coverage of the move, the Forest Service said it is a “myth” that the transition is designed to reduce its workforce or transfer federal lands to the states. But some agency veterans are skeptical. “It’s hard not to reach the conclusion that this is an effort to weaken federal agencies and federal management of these lands,” said Robert Bonnie, who served as undersecretary of agriculture for natural resources and environment during the Obama administration. “You’re going to lose some good staff as part of the reorganization, as they move chairs across the deck of the Titanic.” Meanwhile, some state leaders are concerned that the uncertainty caused by the reorganization and Trump’s staffing cuts could lead to chaos as wildfire season approaches. With record temperatures and drought drying out much of the West, foresters expect a challenging fire season this summer. The Forest Service remains the nation’s largest wildland firefighting agency, even as the Trump administration seeks to consolidate wildland fire operations into a separate service under the U.S. Department of the Interior. “I’ve got federal firefighters, fire managers, and all they’re talking about is what’s happening at (the Forest Service),” said Geissler, the Washington state forester. “I don’t feel like having a bunch of distracted firefighters on my hands going into a summer fire season.” Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@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/69deafd0d8d5dabda395ae51 ‘He should go’: Senate Dems turned on Swalwell ahead of resignation announcement te 2026-04-14T21:21:20.843Z ‘He should go’: Senate Dems turned on Swalwell ahead of resignation announcement News that now-former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., would abandon his California gubernatorial bid in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations on Sunday didn’t prevent Senate lawmakers on Monday from demanding that the embattled congressman go one step further and resign. "I do," Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., said plainly when asked if Swalwell should step down from the House of Representatives. "Yes," Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., answered. But even as lawmakers began weighing in, Swalwell said he had decided to yield to the pressure. He announced plans to leave office, even while pushing back on claims of abuse, harassment and even rape. ERIC SWALWELL FACES MANHATTAN SEX ASSAULT PROBE AFTER ENDING CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN AMID ALLEGATIONS "I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make," Swalwell said in a statement. To Sen. Jeane Shaheen, D-N.H., the deciding pressure point likely came from his district. "I think he must have heard from his constituents and he responded to that," Sen. Jeane Shaheen, D-N.H., said. Bombshell reporting from CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle last Friday recounted allegations from several women, providing detailed accounts of how Swalwell had pursued intoxicated women, pressured employees into intimate situations and asked for explicit images from female contacts. SWALWELL'S FALL FROM GRACE SPARKS DEMOCRAT RUSH TO RETURN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AMID SCRUTINY The story prompted several lawmakers across both chambers to demand Swalwell’s resignation. In the hours ahead of Swalwell’s resignation announcement, senators voiced alarm at the detailed accounts and their sources. "They sound extraordinarily serious and I think — I don’t know Mr. Swalwell, but I do think when you have this many people who know him well, [making accusations] he should go," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said. Ahead of his resignation, Swalwell had faced a potential expulsion resolution, a vote that, if successful, would have stripped him of his seat. Despite his ultimate decision to step away, Swalwell condemned the effort. PELOSI DISTANCES HERSELF FROM ALLY SWALWELL AMID SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS "I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress," Swalwell said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom must announce a special election to fill Swalwell’s seat within 14 days, according to California state law. Once announced, the election must be held within 140 days. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69deafbdd8d5dabda395ae48 Riley Gaines addresses spat with MAGA over AI Jesus post, says 'humility' would serve Trump te 2026-04-14T21:21:01.013Z Riley Gaines addresses spat with MAGA over AI Jesus post, says 'humility' would serve Trump OutKick’s Riley Gaines addressed her criticism of President Donald Trump that led him to respond he wasn't a "fan" of the conservative influencer, reiterating Tuesday she thought the AI image he posted of himself as a Christ-like figure was inappropriate. Gaines said she'd received "so much pushback" from the MAGA base for her opinion. "Multiple things, really, can be true here. No. 1, I do believe humility would serve President Trump, No. 2, God shall not be mocked, and blasphemy is not something to take lightly, and three, I don’t regret my vote at all," Gaines said on her show. "But this online base, the discourse that exists there, it makes you feel like you're the crazy person for saying those things." Gaines was among the conservative voices on Monday who objected to an image of Trump in robes healing a sick man, surrounded by followers and patriotic imagery. TRUMP'S MEME DEPICTING HIMSELF AS JESUS CHRIST DRAWS BACKLASH FROM ALLIES Americans on both sides of the aisle, including many Trump supporters, criticized the image as inappropriate and even blasphemous. Trump was asked Monday about the image of himself, which he later deleted. "I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross… which we support, and only the fake news could come up with that one," Trump told reporters.  "It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better," Trump continued. "And I do make people better."  POPE LEO SAYS HE'S UNAFRAID OF THE TRUMP ADMIN AFTER PRESIDENT CALLS HIM 'TERRIBLE' ON FOREIGN POLICY Later in the day, a reporter asked Trump if he deleted the image because of criticism from Gaines and other supporters.  "I didn't listen to Riley Gaines. I'm not a big fan of Riley, actually," Trump said. Gaines also asked guest and Green Beret veteran Nick Freitas about the situation on Tuesday. Freitas said he was glad Trump took the image down, adding there were three categories of people who were responding to the controversy: People who always bash Trump, MAGA supporters who thought Trump shouldn't be criticized because it made common cause with liberals, and "common sense" people like Freitas and Gaines who thought he shouldn't have posted it but still supported his presidency. POPE WARNS ESCALATING IRAN CONFLICT COULD TIP MIDDLE EAST INTO ‘IRREPARABLE ABYSS’ "Anybody that's depicting themselves in a picture where they're obviously making some sort of comparison between themselves and Christ, it is not a good idea, right?" he said. "Christ is someone to be venerated." Gaines also detailed her thoughts on social media, saying she continued to support his agenda. "I love the President and I'm so grateful he's in the Oval Office. Of course, I'll continue to support him and the America First agenda," Gaines wrote. "At the end of the day, I do nothing for the approval of man. Our purpose on this earth is to glorify [God] in all we do." Watch more content from "The Riley Gaines Show" on Gaines' YouTube page. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69deaf96d8d5dabda395ae3c Former U.C.L.A. Gynecologist Is Sentenced to 11 Years for Sexual Abuse te 2026-04-14T21:20:22.001Z Former U.C.L.A. Gynecologist Is Sentenced to 11 Years for Sexual Abuse James M. Heaps pleaded guilty on Tuesday to sexually abusing patients, sparing them from having to testify at another trial after his conviction was overturned in February. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dead9ed8d5dabda395adcf Lindsie Chrisley's boyfriend arrested for felony assault after allegedly strangling her te 2026-04-14T21:11:58.870Z Lindsie Chrisley's boyfriend arrested for felony assault after allegedly strangling her Lindsie Chrisley’s boyfriend is facing multiple charges after allegedly assaulting her. David Landsman was taken into custody on charges of misdemeanor battery and felony aggravated assault/strangulation, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital. Following his arrest on April 10, he was booked into the Cherokee County Jail and later released. According to the affidavit, Landsman put his right hand around Chrisley's neck, applied pressure and told her she was "not going anywhere." TAYLOR FRANKIE PAUL ASSAULT VIDEO SURFACES, ‘BACHELORETTE’ SEASON SCRAPPED: WHAT TO KNOW Chrisley is additionally seeking a restraining order against Landsman, detailing what she describes as a violent escalation in court documents tied to his arrest. The filing states Chrisley contacted the Cherokee Family Violence Center to obtain a temporary protective order against Landsman. It also notes they were in a relationship for approximately two years and the couple "stayed the night at each other’s houses during the course of their relationship." A brief disagreement at dinner, the petition alleges, triggered the chain of events on the night of his arrest. On April 9, Chrisley and Landsman were at dinner when he allegedly saw a photo on Chrisley's phone that he thought was a photo of another man. The filing stated that he became "verbally aggressive" before apologizing after realizing it was a photo of himself. After returning to his home, Chrisley allegedly told him she planned to step away from the relationship and leave with her belongings. The documents stated the situation escalated when she attempted to leave. Landsman allegedly "strangled" her "multiple times." He "strangled [Chrisley] with one hand and held her up so that her feet were off the ground," while she repeatedly said, "please stop," the filing reads. Chrisley claimed she punched him to break free, but that he again grabbed her by the throat and "threw her outside," causing her to hit her head on concrete. She allegedly suffered a head injury, with blood coming from the wound "due to a laceration caused by the fall." According to the affidavit, the Woodstock Police Department responded to the scene around 1 a.m. on April 10. Fox News Digital has reached out to Chrisley for comment. Chrisley, who hosts the "Southern Tea" podcast, is the daughter of Todd Chrisley. Todd and his wife, Julie, were released from prison after President Donald Trump granted them full pardons last May. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER In November 2022, the "Chrisley Knows Best" couple were found guilty of tax evasion and bank fraud and initially sentenced to 19 years combined, though each later received a roughly two-year reduction. At the time of the pardon, Trump said Todd and Julie were "given a pretty harsh treatment, based on what I'm hearing." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Last June, Lindsie appeared to lean on her faith following her father’s pardon. She shared a message to her Instagram Stories from the prayer group Blessed Is She that read, "See the story of the Lord unfolding." "When Peter is confronted in the First Reading, he responds with confidence and tells his story explaining it to them step by step, starting with, ‘I was at prayer… ’ (Acts 11:4-5)," the post read in part. "What follows is a beautiful application of his prayer and confirmation that he was indeed on the right path," it continued. "One can hear the excitement in Peter’s voice come through in his words, and feel the conversion of hearts in the listeners who give praise to God. A confrontation became an opportunity to come together and learn from Peter, to see how he was making his decisions and following the direction of the Lord." Lindsie is Todd's eldest child from a previous marriage. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dead8bd8d5dabda395adc6 Florida doctor charged after allegedly removing wrong organ during surgery te 2026-04-14T21:11:39.113Z Florida doctor charged after allegedly removing wrong organ during surgery A former Florida surgeon was indicted by a grand jury after authorities said he removed a man's liver instead of his spleen. The Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit in Florida announced in a release Monday that Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky was charged with second-degree manslaughter after he allegedly removed the liver from 70-year-old Bill Bryan of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 2024 during a procedure at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida. Prosecutors allege the surgery was scheduled to be a laparoscopic splenectomy, a minimally invasive procedure used to remove the spleen, but the removal of Bryan's liver resulted in "catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table." A Walton County grand jury said the surgeon's actions in the operating room "constituted criminal conduct under Florida law." FLORIDA SURGEON ACCUSED OF FATALLY REMOVING MAN'S LIVER INSTEAD OF SPLEEN HAS LICENSE SUSPENDED "Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor," Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a news release. "The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and their unspeakable loss." Adkinson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Available court records did not list an attorney for Shaknovsky. It is unclear whether he has retained legal representation. HAWAII DOCTOR LEARNS FATE AFTER PROSECUTORS SAY JEALOUSY DROVE HIM TO ATTACK WIFE ON CLIFFSIDE HIKE Following Bryan's death in 2024, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners filed a court order to suspend Shaknovsky's medical license, which was granted that same year. His Florida medical license was also suspended in 2024, followed by his New York license in 2025. The Florida court order to suspend Shaknovsky's license revealed he had previously made similar mistakes and lied to cover them up. In May 2023, he removed a portion of a patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland. When the surgeon was approached about the mistake, he claimed the adrenal gland had "migrated" to a different part of the body. Fox News Digital previously reported the patient in that case suffered "long-term, permanent harm." WHO IS MICHAEL DAVID MCKEE, THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING EX-WIFE AND DENTIST HUSBAND IN OHIO "Dr. Shaknovsky’s repeated egregious surgical errors resulted in significant patient harm coupled with his failure to take responsibility for these errors indicates that his reckless conduct is likely to continue," the order said. "Therefore, Dr. Shaknovsky’s continued practice as an osteopathic physician presents an immediate, serious danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the public." Shaknovsky is being held at the Walton County Jail and is awaiting his first court appearance. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, according to the State Attorney's Office. Fox News Digital's Lorraine Taylor and Stepheny Price contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dead77d8d5dabda395adbd Ilona Maher rips Quinnipiac, her alma mater, after school cuts women's rugby to club status: 'Shame on you' te 2026-04-14T21:11:19.695Z Ilona Maher rips Quinnipiac, her alma mater, after school cuts women's rugby to club status: 'Shame on you' Team USA star Ilona Maher is not happy with her alma mater, Quinnipiac University, after their recent decision regarding their women’s rugby team. The university released a statement on Tuesday, stating a realignment of their athletics program "to support long-term competitive, financial, and Title IX objectives." Within the statement, the women’s rugby team is transitioning from a varsity team to a club team "at the conclusion of the current competitive cycle." "These decisions are never easy, but they are essential to ensuring that Quinnipiac Athletics remains equitable, competitive, and sustainable for the long term," athletic director Greg Amodio said in the statement. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Quinnipiac’s transition of the women’s rugby team "follows a holistic assessment that incorporates competitive sustainability, national participation trends, resource allocation, and gender equity impacts," according to the statement. No matter the case, Maher is furious, and she went public with it on social media. "Shame on you," she posted to her Instagram Stories while tagging the school and the athletics page with a screenshot of the statement showcasing the decision. USA RUGBY TO INTRODUCE 'OPEN' GENDER CATEGORY FOR TRANS ATHLETES Then, Maher posted a text chain she had with an unknown recipient, where she asked if "girls will lose scholarships and everything." "Yes," the other line responded. "None of them can afford to stay. I have two athletes who have no parents. They have nowhere to go if they aren’t at QU. I can’t believe this happened." The statement adds the university will "redirect varsity level resources to programs with greater long-term stability and strategic alignment," which would confirm this text chain about scholarships for the women in the program. "This action is in no way meant to diminish the dedication, effort or ability of these fine student athletes, coaches and alumni," Amodio added. "They have contributed greatly to Quinnipiac Athletics and to the vitality and history of the University." The Bobcats are also adding a men’s indoor and outdoor distance running program to their existing track and field squad as part of this new realignment. The university viewed it as a "high impact opportunity" to advance "both competitive and gender equity objectives" for the athletics program. "Athletics will coordinate with Campus Recreation to ensure women’s rugby remains a well-resources and organized club program and will work closely with students to ensure a smooth and respectful transition," the statement continued. Maher, 29, was recruited to join the Bobcats’ women’s rugby team after playing at Norwich University — her first year ever playing the game. Maher’s father, Michael, encouraged her to try it after she grew tired of softball. Maher helped Quinnipiac win three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association championships, and she was named to the NIRA All-American team all three of those years. She was also given the MA Sorensen Award as the country’s top collegiate women’s player in 2017. In 2024, Maher was a key piece in helping Team USA's women's rugby team secure the country's first-ever medal in the sport, winning bronze over Australia. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dead50d8d5dabda395adb2 Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines te 2026-04-14T21:10:40.069Z Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines Hundreds of small private colleges like Hampshire have closed in recent years as financial pressures and competition for students increase. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69deab6dd8d5dabda395ad73 STEPHEN MOORE: Show Me The Money – Trump Tax Cuts Benefit Middle Class te 2026-04-14T21:02:37.624Z STEPHEN MOORE: Show Me The Money – Trump Tax Cuts Benefit Middle Class By Stephen Moore | Democrats keep attacking President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, as a tax cut for the rich. But the data show that the average family GAINED roughly $2,000 on their lower tax bill for this year.  Every Democrat in Congress voted no, even as they complained of a “middle-class affordability crisis.” Maybe that’s because $2,000 is peanuts to rich and famous limousine liberal Democrats.  But not for the rest of us. The goal of the Trump tax cut was simple: strengthen the economy with lower tax rates and let working and retired Americans keep more of what they earn. The early evidence confirms this is exactly what has happened.  Initial IRS data shows that almost HALF of filers have already taken advantage of the bill’s middle‑income tax provisions. Income taxes have become such an ingrained part of American life that many workers barely notice how much is snatched from their paychecks – payroll taxes, federal income taxes, state income taxes, etc. We see the net amount and forget the gross amount is what we actually earned. Because less is now taken out, the Trump tax cut functions like a pay raise. So who is getting a pay raise from the One Big Beautiful Bill? Three major provisions were deliberately crafted to help working‑class and middle‑class Americans keep more of their hard‑earned dollars. First, the law eliminated income tax on tipped wages, subject to certain caps. For millions of waiters, waitresses, bartenders, baristas, barbers, hairstylists, DoorDash drivers, tour guides, casino dealers, and counter staff at casual restaurants, this means a substantial share of their income is no longer taxed. In some of these occupations, tips make up more than half of total earnings, so the impact is enormous. These workers may lead rich and fulfilling lives, but none of them qualify as Trump’s “rich friends.” Second, the bill eliminated federal income tax on overtime pay, again with income limits. This provision frees hourly workers from being taxed when they put in extra hours. Put differently, eliminating tax on overtime reduces the number of hours each day that hourly workers labor not for themselves or their families, but for the government. Given how many Americans are paid hourly, this provision overwhelmingly benefits people who are not wealthy. Third, the tax bill reduces the tax RATE you pay.  This incentivizes more work because the reward for getting a job and working more hours is more money. Through March 25, more than 85 million individual tax returns had been filed. Of those, 37.5 million — 44% — saw an immediate reduction in their tax bill. The bill also created a forward‑looking benefit for children: Trump Accounts. These accounts help young Americans begin investing early, giving them a head start on saving for education, starting a business, or building long‑term financial security. Children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, are eligible for a $1,000 federal contribution, and early tax data shows strong enthusiasm. Roughly 2.6 million returns established Trump Accounts for more than 4 million children, and nearly one million qualified for the federal contribution. When we account for all of these tax benefits, what we find is that far from being “tax cuts for the rich,” the One Big Beautiful Bill’s tax provisions actually reduced the tax bill paid by the middle class by roughly 14%.  Meanwhile, the SHARE of federal income taxes paid by the richest 10% rose from 70% to 77% and the top 1% share rose from 38% to 40%. If the rich are now paying a larger share of the tax pie, how is the Trump tax cut “a giveaway to the rich?”  Maybe the left calls the Trump tax cut “One Big Ugly Tax Bill” because they want every one of us – not just the rich – to pay more taxes. Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Stephen Moore is a contributor to The Daily Caller News Foundation, a senior fellow at America First Policy Institute, and a cofounder of Unleash Prosperity. The post STEPHEN MOORE: Show Me The Money – Trump Tax Cuts Benefit Middle Class first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69deab56d8d5dabda395ad5a Ask The Vet: The costs and potential benefits of pet insurance te 2026-04-14T21:02:14.930Z Ask The Vet: The costs and potential benefits of pet insurance Q: I am so confused about pet insurance. Is it really worth it? Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69deab40d8d5dabda395ad36 80s icons Heather Locklear and Lorenzo Lamas are officially together after decades of high-profile romances te 2026-04-14T21:01:52.456Z 80s icons Heather Locklear and Lorenzo Lamas are officially together after decades of high-profile romances 80s stars Lorenzo Lamas and Heather Locklear are reportedly in love! A representative for Lamas confirmed to E! News that the pair are seeing each other. Locklear and Lamas have been a rumored couple since TMZ pushed photos of them celebrating New Year's Eve together in Las Vegas. Representatives for Locklear and Lamas did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Last May, Locklear ended her five-year relationship and engagement to Chris Heisser. In 2021, Locklear told People that a marriage to Heisser was "not so important." HEATHER LOCKLEAR OPENS UP ON FINDING LOVE AGAIN, RETURNING TO ACTING: ‘I WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING SPIRITUAL’ "We’re together, and we love each other and support each other. And really, that’s all that matters," she told the outlet at the time. Locklear and Lamas have a long history of relationships. The "Melrose Place" actress was married to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee from 1986 to 1993, a pairing that drew major media attention during the height of both of their careers. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS In 1994, she married Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, and the couple had a daughter before eventually divorcing in 2007. Over the years, Locklear has also been linked to several other figures, including an engagement to her "Melrose Place" co-star, Jack Wagner. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Lamas has had a notably eventful relationship history, including five marriages. He was first married to Victoria Hilbert in the early 1980s, followed by a marriage to publicist Michele Cathy Smith. He later married actress Kathleen Kinmont in 1989, and after their divorce, he wed Playboy Playmate Shauna Sand in 1996; the couple had three daughters before separating in the early 2000s. In 2011, Lamas married Shawna Craig, though they eventually divorced as well. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69deab2cd8d5dabda395ad2d Pittsburgh LGBTQ Pride parade in jeopardy after corporate sponsors pull funding te 2026-04-14T21:01:32.984Z Pittsburgh LGBTQ Pride parade in jeopardy after corporate sponsors pull funding Pittsburgh's annual LGBTQ Pride parade is facing financial challenges this year after major corporate sponsors withdrew their funds. The organization Pittsburgh Pride informed local news last week that it is falling short of its $500,000 fundraising goal, raising only $150,000 so far with less than two months until the event. Dena Stanley, director of Pittsburgh Pride, told Pittsburgh Magazine that organizers typically raise half of their funds by this time, but this year, a mass exodus of corporate sponsors has put the event's future in jeopardy. BIG BUSINESS PULLS BACK FROM LGBTQ CORPORATE RANKINGS IN DRAMATIC ONE-YEAR SLIDE "Last year, we were able to get to a point where we were able to pay everything that we needed to pay," Stanley said. "We didn’t have anything over or extra, but this year, I don’t know what we’re going to do." So far, six corporations, including Macy's and American Eagle Outfitters Inc., have offered financial support, while others, like Walmart and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, have not yet donated to the event despite supporting the parade in the past. In statements to WTAE, Walmart and Tito's confirmed their support for the LGBTQ community but added that they were unable to support the event at that time. "Unfortunately, we are not always able to continue sponsoring the same events in perpetuity, as we try to spread love to as many organizations as possible," a Tito's spokesperson said. CALIFORNIA-BASED COFFEE SHOP PHILZ COFFEE TO PULL LGBTQ PRIDE FLAGS DESPITE PROGRESSIVE BACKLASH Members of Pittsburgh Pride are hoping to raise at least $200,000 to pull off the event with the help of vendors and grant money and will begin to make decisions about what to cut in May. The event is still scheduled for June 5-7. "Just for stages is over $100,000. That's not including lighting, electric, insurance, security," board member Lyndsey Sickler said. "Pride is happening one way or another, but to do it the way we’ve been doing it, we need to make sure that we can pay the insurance, that we can pay the electric, we can pay for the stages, and the artists, and all that stuff, because we pay our artists." Pittsburgh Pride, Walmart and Tito's did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Pittsburgh Pride saw similar setbacks in its 2025 event after several companies pulled their sponsorship despite supporting the organization in previous years. At the time, Stanley suggested President Donald Trump's re-election and pushback on woke initiatives was a factor. SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE TAKES FINANCIAL HIT AFTER MAJOR COMPANIES PULL SPONSORSHIPS AMID DEI FALLOUT "Many of these corporations didn't want to support us, and Trump just made it easier for them to say, well, now we don't have to. That's how I feel," Stanley told Axios. "It's not just about us, what message does it send to their (LGBTQ+) employees?" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea8e5d8d5dabda395acef ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’: How the 2001 Diamondbacks’ World Series roster was built te 2026-04-14T20:51:49.296Z ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’: How the 2001 Diamondbacks’ World Series roster was built This is the next in a series of stories from Cronkite News looking back at the Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Series win. PHOENIX – Following the Arizona Diamondbacks’ debut season in 1998, owner Jerry Colangelo met with his executives to discuss the expansion team’s future.  Originally, their plan had been to follow the blueprint laid out by the Colorado Rockies a few years earlier – build through the draft and create a farm system early on. Everything was going according to plan until the demand for season tickets fell off drastically heading into Year 2.  The young franchise needed to sell tickets to compete, but it came with a caveat: In order to sell tickets, the Diamondbacks would have to be competitive. Colangelo saw only one way forward – go all in to win.  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Colangelo said. “You have to be willing to take risks. I would always say mine were calculated risks, not blind risks. But you can never be afraid to fail. Because I know ultimately, if you’re right, you win.” Despite the abrupt shift in mentality, Colangelo’s executives unanimously backed his vision. Ahead of their second season, the Diamondbacks transitioned to win-now mode. Colangelo was dubbed the “Godfather of Phoenix Sports” for a reason. He’s found lifelong success by taking risks and seizing every opportunity that has come his way.  The former owner of the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Diamondbacks, Colangelo has applied that same philosophy to every team he’s ever been a part of.  His approach was instrumental in bringing the first and only men’s major professional championship to the Valley, and he did it with an expansion team in just its fourth year. That offseason, Colangelo and general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. started laying the framework through free agency with a handful of impactful multiyear signings, including left-handed pitcher Randy Johnson and outfielder Steve Finley. Convincing Johnson to come to Arizona was a tall task, even for Colangelo. Randy Johnson tall. “When Randy became a free agent, I got a call from his agent,” Colangelo said. “He says, ‘Well, he’s ready. What do you want? What do you want?’ And I said, ‘Well, I want to be the first one to talk with him. And I also want to be the last.’ I wanted two bites of the apple.” “The Big Unit” was coming off of one of the best stretches of his career – boasting a 10-1 record with 116 total strikeouts and a 1.28 ERA with the Astros in 1998 – and he didn’t love the idea of joining a group that had just lost 97 games.  So Colangelo did what he does best. He made his pitch, and he didn’t let up until he got his guy. “So I go to Randy’s home, and he says to me, ‘I don’t even know why you’re here,’” Colangelo said. “‘With Buck Showalter, how are we going to get along?’ I said, ‘Wait a minute, Randy. If you had earrings coming out of your nose, in your ears and tattoos from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes and long hair, I’d say, ‘I pass.’ But one out of three is OK. And he just laughed. And that broke him.” Eventually, Johnson agreed to a four-year $52.4 million deal, and to this day, the move is considered among the best free-agent signings in MLB history.  Along with Johnson, the Diamondbacks also signed pitchers Todd Stottlemyre and Armando Reynoso. Together, those additions went a long way in coaxing Finley on to the roster. He came around once he saw that the Diamondbacks were serious about being contenders.  In the span of about a month, Arizona dished out just under $119 million for six free agents. By the Diamondbacks’ championship season a few years later, the team’s payroll had more than doubled, from roughly $31.5 million to just over $80 million. But early on funds weren’t endless for Colangelo and crew, and the strategy was to defer portions of player salaries until years later, which freed up more money for immediate use (although it created significant debt for the team in later years).  In total, 17 players on the Diamondbacks’ championship roster, including Johnson, Curt Schilling, Luis Gonzalez and Matt Williams had some portion of their salaries deferred. Gonzalez and Tony Womack, the two most responsible for the Diamondbacks’ winning runs in Game 7 of the World Series a few years later, were also brought in during that same offseason.  Following a postseason appearance in 1999, Arizona missed the playoffs in 2000, but the team made other strides that year. Earlier in the season, Craig Counsell came on as a utility piece, and at the trade deadline, a deal with the Phillies sparked the dangerous duo of Johnson and right-hander Curt Schilling. “The thought process was that if we had both of them, it did a lot,” Garagiola Jr. said “The notion that both starters were going to lose was not likely. In the long play, we stayed out of one of those season-crushing losing streaks. In the short term, once you get to the postseason, it’s always about pitching. The teams still playing are the ones with good pitching.” Leading up to the 2001 season, Colangelo decided that it was time for a change in management. The team moved on from Showalter in favor of Bob Brenly, who had no management experience at the time and was working as an analyst in the Diamondbacks’ broadcast booth.  “I felt that we needed one manager who could relate to veteran players, and all of a sudden we were a veteran team,” Colangelo said. “We were not a young team, and so that puts a lot of emphasis on winning now. And Brenly, with his personality and his stature, I felt was a perfect fit.” Soon after, Mark Grace was acquired to provide a strong presence on first base, and right-handed pitcher Miguel Batista offered more versatility. Reggie Sanders, who totaled a career-high 33 home runs during the team’s championship season, ended up being another key veteran addition as well. Confidence in the clubhouse couldn’t have been higher ahead of the 2001 season – everyone felt something special was brewing in the desert.  “There was definitely a lot of confidence on that team,” Gonzalez said. “Of course, when you’ve got two big, No. 1 starters that definitely helps, too. And then you’ve got boppers on your team. You’ve got professional hitters up and down that batting order. There was really no weakness in our order.” Looking back on that season, Womack still admires the architecture of the veteran roster that harmonized exactly as intended.   “Everybody knew their job and everybody did their job,” Womack said. “Everybody was brought in for a reason. Randy and Curt were brought in for a reason. I was brought in for a reason. You had Gonzo’s big bat. Reggie Sanders was brought in for his playoff experience and clubhouse demeanor. We put a bunch of pieces together, and all the pieces did their job.” Nearly 25 years later, the architects who put it all together in just four years rest easy knowing that the city’s only men’s major professional championship wouldn’t have been possible without their influence. “We had our plan,” Colangelo said. “We went ahead and accomplished what we did. The thrill of putting together people like Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Luis Gonzalez, Jay Bell, Matt Williams, Steve Finley, Tony Womack, it was fun.” The post ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’: How the 2001 Diamondbacks’ World Series roster was built appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea8cad8d5dabda395acab David Letterman speaks out on CBS replacing Colbert's show, says network doesn't want to 'spend any money' te 2026-04-14T20:51:22.410Z David Letterman speaks out on CBS replacing Colbert's show, says network doesn't want to 'spend any money' David Letterman, who hosted "The Late Show" himself for decades before Stephen Colbert's current iteration, spoke out in a new interview on CBS' decision to replace it, saying the network doesn't want to "spend any money." CBS announced in July that it had canceled Colbert's program and that it would officially go off the air next month. Liberal critics have accused CBS and Paramount of ending the show to appease President Donald Trump and receive approval for a long-planned merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. The network will lease Colbert's old time slot to Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed," a comedy talk show. "They don’t want to spend any money, so they’re going to make money," Letterman told Barbara Gaines, a former producer on his program. "They charge Byron Allen some reasonable price. He sells all the advertising for his ‘Comics Unleashed,’ and it’ll be, I think, 90 minutes or two hours of comics talking about funny stuff." STEPHEN COLBERT MOCKED BY VARIETY OVER 'EGO TRIP' AS GUESTS KISS HIS RING BEFORE MAY EXIT "The show is a pretty good idea. It’s all panel. Nobody’s doing any stand-up, except they’re seated doing stand-up," he said. The programming move by CBS is a unique one — and perhaps lucrative — since Allen Media Group is the one footing the bill for airtime, not CBS. "This is them essentially renting the time slot to these two shows," veteran entertainment industry journalist Matt Belloni said on "The Town" podcast earlier in April. Belloni, who previously reported "The Late Show" was losing CBS $40 million a year and had been running on a whopping $100 million budget per season, called Monday's announcement a "pretty sad moment for late night." BROADCAST BIAS: LATE-NIGHT COMEDY DEATH SPIRAL SHOWS HOW LEFTIST HATE KILLED THEIR HUMOR Beyond mere costs or allegedly appeasing Trump, the replacement of Colbert’s iteration of "The Late Show" appears to be a sign of the times. The sheer volume of podcasts and other alternatives to the late-night format has weakened their ratings, although the late-night stars all have large online presences. The final season of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" was recently ripped by Variety as "not very good TV" and out of touch with everyday Americans as the host has been flattered by a parade of liberal celebrities. Fox News Digital reached out to CBS and did not receive an immediate reply. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea8b6d8d5dabda395aca2 Spanberger's 'unconstitutional' push to redefine presidential elections makes voters 'NULL AND VOID': critics te 2026-04-14T20:51:02.681Z Spanberger's 'unconstitutional' push to redefine presidential elections makes voters 'NULL AND VOID': critics One of the Democratic Party’s rising star governors, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, is being slammed for signing a bill to award the state’s presidential electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The bill signed by Spanberger adds Virginia to the National Popular Vote Compact, an interstate agreement between states to award the entirety of their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. Virginia Republicans railed against the bill, arguing it makes the state’s votes "NULL AND VOID." This comes as Spanberger, who was recently selected to deliver the Democrats’ response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, has seen her approval ratings plummet. Critics have accused her of abandoning her centrist campaign message to advance far-left policies. Criticisms of Spanberger erupted anew after news broke that Spanberger had approved the bill. The Virginia Republican Party posted on X that "fake Moderate Spanberger just signed a bill to render Virginians’ vote for president NULL AND VOID!" SOROS-BACKED GROUP AMONG LIBERAL ORGS PUMPING EYE-POPPING CASH INTO VIRGINIA GERRYMANDERING EFFORT The GOP said that under the bill, "all of Virginia’s Electoral College votes will go to the winner of the national popular vote — no matter who wins the popular vote in our Commonwealth." The party called the move "an unconstitutional assault on our democracy." However, Spanberger won praise from groups that oppose the Electoral College. Stand Up America, a progressive voting rights organization, hailed the move, with Executive Director Christina Harvey calling it "an important step forward for representative democracy." "Virginia has set another powerful example for other states of how to stand up for representative democracy even as they come under increasing pressure from the Trump administration," said Harvey, adding, "The presidency should be won by the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide—not just the right combination of battleground states." She said, "this brings us one step closer to a system where Americans’ votes for President and Vice President count equally, no matter where they live." The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact operates on a conditional trigger that keeps the law dormant until it can guarantee a victory for the national popular vote winner. While member states pass the legislation individually, the compact only activates when the total electoral weight of all participating states reaches a majority of the Electoral College, at least 270 electoral votes. With Virginia officially joining, the compact currently sits at 222 electoral votes, meaning it remains 48 votes short of the threshold. SPANBERGER DENIES ‘DEAL’ WITH SWING-DISTRICT DEMOCRAT AS GERRYMANDERING CLAIMS ABOUND STATEWIDE Until that 270-vote mark is met, the law has no effect, and member states continue to award their electors based on their own internal state results. National Popular Vote, the organization advancing the compact, also celebrated Virginia being added, saying in a statement that the compact "will guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia." Patrick Rosenstiel, a spokesperson for National Popular Vote, told Fox News Digital he is "grateful" to Spanberger and the Virginia Legislature, saying "their support builds critical momentum for our movement to give 63 percent of American voters what they want, a national popular vote for President." "With Virginia’s 13 electoral votes, the National Popular Vote Compact is 48 electoral votes short of reaching the 270 required to activate it," Rosenstiel noted, adding, "We’ll continue our state-by-state work until the candidate who wins the most popular votes is elected president and every voter is treated equally in every presidential election." The group noted that similar bills have been introduced in Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada. Under the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, no voter will have their vote cancelled out at the state-level because their choice differed from plurality sentiment in their state. Instead, every voter’s vote will be added directly—without distortion—into the national count for the candidate of their choice. This will ensure that every Virginia voter is relevant in presidential elections moving forward. Spanberger has also recently been accused by former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin of "illegal and unconstitutional" gerrymandering amid her push to redraw Virginia’s congressional maps. Virginians will vote April 21 on Spanberger’s redistricting referendum, a move that Youngkin said would give Democrats 10 of the state’s 11 congressional seats. Spanberger signed hundreds of bills passed by the majority-Democratic legislature on Monday. She also vetoed a few bills relating to unregulated skill-gaming machines and a proposed Fairfax County casino and sent back dozens with proposed amendments. VIRGINIA DEM ADMITS REDISTRICTING PUSH AIMS TO 'STOP TRUMP', NOT ABOUT 'FAIRNESS' Among the bills that Spanberger signaled support for with proposed amendments was a slate of new restrictions on gun ownership, including a ban on "assault weapons," as well as restricting law enforcement from assisting with immigration enforcement. Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger's office for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea8a3d8d5dabda395ac99 Trump blasts close ally Meloni, says she’s failing US on Iran te 2026-04-14T20:50:43.267Z Trump blasts close ally Meloni, says she’s failing US on Iran Tensions between Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated Tuesday after the U.S. president publicly rebuked one of his closest European allies, accusing her of lacking "courage" and failing to support Washington’s efforts against Iran. In a phone interview with Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump called Meloni "unacceptable" and said he was "shocked" by her stance, according to the outlet’s English-language version. The dispute with Trump was further fueled by Meloni’s criticism of his recent remarks targeting Pope Leo XIV, which she called "unacceptable," prompting Trump to respond that "she is the one who is unacceptable." In a scathing rebuke of the Vatican’s call for Middle Eastern de-escalation, President Trump took to Truth Social to blast Pope Leo XIV. Labeling the Pontiff "WEAK on Crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump warned him to "focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician." The post, which quickly went viral, accused the first American Pope of "catering to the Radical Left" at the expense of global security.  MORE KEY US ALLIES BLOCK MILITARY FLIGHTS AS IRAN WAR RIFT WIDENS WITH TRUMP In the interview to Corriere della Sera Trump also reiterated criticism of Pope Leo XIV, saying the pontiff "has no idea what’s going on in Iran" and "doesn’t understand" what is at stake. She "isn’t giving us any help, I’m shocked by her," Trump said about Meloni in the six-minute conversation. He went further, accusing Meloni of relying on Washington while refusing to act. "They depend on Donald Trump to keep it open," he said, referring to global energy routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The comments mark a sharp shift in tone toward Meloni, who attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration and was praised by him as "a great leader" just weeks ago. The White House and Meloni’s office did not immediately respond. The public rift comes as Meloni has begun distancing herself from both Washington and Jerusalem amid mounting domestic and political pressure over the widening Middle East conflict. RUBIO SAYS US MAY NEED TO 'REEXAMINE' NATO MEMBERSHIP AFTER ALLIES BLOCKED BASING, AIRSPACE HELP On Tuesday, Meloni confirmed in a statement that Italy had suspended the automatic renewal of a long-standing defense cooperation agreement with Israel, signaling a significant recalibration in ties. "In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel," she said, according to Reuters. The move follows recent tensions between Rome and Jerusalem, including Israeli warning shots fired near Italian troops serving in southern Lebanon under a U.N. mandate, as well as growing Italian criticism of Israeli military operations in the region. Israel downplayed the impact of the decision, saying the agreement was largely symbolic and "has never contained any substantive content," Reuters reported. In Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the government following Italy’s move. "Italy’s decision to suspend the defense cooperation agreement with Israel is another embarrassing failure of the prime minister and the non-existent foreign minister," Lapid wrote on X. TRUMP SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING PULLING US OUT OF NATO OVER IRAN WAR STANCE "Meloni is not a left-wing progressive European leader," she added. "She belongs to the conservative right and understands the need to fight terrorism."  Meloni’s shift reflects what analysts describe as a broader political repositioning, as the war’s economic fallout, particularly rising energy costs, weighs heavily on Italy’s import-dependent economy and public opinion. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended Meloni, reaffirming Italy’s alliance with the United States while emphasizing that cooperation must be grounded in "loyalty, respect and mutual frankness." The escalating tensions highlight growing fractures within Western alliances as the U.S.-led confrontation with Iran reverberates across Europe, forcing leaders like Meloni to balance strategic partnerships with domestic political realities. The Israel Defense Ministry declined to comment. Reuters contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea675d8d5dabda395ac49 Phoenix tells AG Mayes its ban on ICE staging areas doesn’t violate state law te 2026-04-14T20:41:25.686Z Phoenix tells AG Mayes its ban on ICE staging areas doesn’t violate state law Federal agents in fatigues gather in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in February 2026. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) The City of Phoenix says it is not violating a state law barring local governments from blocking the enforcement of federal immigration law, as a Republican state lawmaker insists. Because it has constitutional protections as a charter city and the managing of municipal property is “a matter of purely local concern,” the city says that its policy banning federal agents from using city property to plan or carry out immigration raids isn’t overridden by a state law. In light of that, City Attorney Julie Kriegh wrote in response to a complaint filed earlier this month by a Republican state legislator, Attorney General Kris Mayes should conclude the city isn’t violating state law. But even if the city’s charter doesn’t exempt it from a state law that prohibits counties, cities and towns from limiting or restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws to “less than the full extent permitted by federal law,” Kriegh argued that Phoenix’s policy doesn’t do anything to restrict enforcement of federal immigration law. “Instead, it simply regulates any external law enforcement agency’s use of City property for civil law enforcement staging and operational purposes,” she wrote. “There is an important distinction between restricting the enforcement of immigration laws and managing the use of municipal property.” GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE At issue is Phoenix’s Community Transparency Initiative, which forbids federal agents from staging or basing operations on city property, such as parks or libraries, without first obtaining express permission from the city manager or police chief.  There are exceptions to that rule: The city can’t prevent federal authorities from pursuing fleeing suspects onto city property, bar them from gathering on public streets, ignore judicial warrants or stop them from setting up camp at Phoenix Municipal Court or Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, which is subject to federal regulations. But state Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott, filed a complaint arguing that Phoenix is violating state law by restricting access to the property. Legislators can force the attorney general to investigate whether policies adopted by counties and municipalities violate state law. If the AG sides with the lawmaker, then the local government could be stripped of state funding. In his complaint, Nguyen claimed that Phoenix officials are infringing on the ability of federal agents to enforce the law by narrowing their access to areas that may be strategically located and unlawfully elevating local leaders above federal authorities.  “This policy conditions federal and intergovernmental law enforcement activity on local approval, effectively placing the City Manager in a gatekeeping role over manner, timing, and feasibility of enforcement operations,” Nguyen wrote.  But Kriegh said there’s nothing in the law that Nguyen cites requiring Phoenix or any other city to “facilitate immigration enforcement or to provide resources, logistical support, or unfettered access to City property.”  “No federal law entitles federal agents to use municipal property as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for civil law enforcement purposes. Similarly, no federal law requires cities to make their properties available to federal agents to enforce federal immigration laws,” she wrote. And federal courts have held that there is a clear difference between impermissibly obstructing federal immigration enforcement and not proactively providing resources to aid that enforcement, Kriegh wrote. On top of that, the city attorney argued that Phoenix’s policy exemplifies the U.S. Constitution’s federalism and “is the kind of local property-management decision the federal structure of our government is designed to protect.” “It neither imposes obligations, penalties, or regulatory burdens on federal agencies or personnel nor dictates how federal law enforcement agencies may otherwise conduct enforcement operations. It does not ‘interfer[e] with or control[] the operations of the Federal Government,’” Kriegh wrote, quoting a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea660d8d5dabda395ac29 Trump DOJ fires prosecutors tied to FACE Act cases after report alleges bias and misconduct te 2026-04-14T20:41:04.235Z Trump DOJ fires prosecutors tied to FACE Act cases after report alleges bias and misconduct The Trump administration has fired multiple prosecutors who handled cases that resulted in prison sentences for pro-life activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, as the Justice Department moves to overhaul enforcement of the law. The Justice Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that four prosecutors tied to those cases were dismissed, following a CBS News report on the firings. The department’s rapid response account on X said the Justice Department "has terminated the employment of personnel responsible for weaponizing the FACE Act who still remained at the department." The personnel moves come after the Justice Department released a report Tuesday alleging the Biden administration "weaponized" federal law by selectively prosecuting pro-life activists under the FACE Act, which was designed to protect access to abortion clinics and pregnancy resource centers. BIDEN PUSH TO REVIVE TED KENNEDY-ERA LAW NOW HAUNTS DEMOCRATS AS CHARGES LOOM IN MINNESOTA CHURCH RIOT According to the report, based on a review of more than 700,000 internal records, prosecutors coordinated with abortion-rights groups to identify activists, sought harsher sentences for pro-life defendants and, in some cases, withheld evidence from defense attorneys. "This department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. "No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system." The report also alleged prosecutors attempted to screen out jurors based on religious beliefs and, in some cases, pursued aggressive arrest tactics rather than allowing defendants to voluntarily surrender. FINAL CHARGE DROPPED IN YEARSLONG HARRIS-ERA CASE AGAINST PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST For instance, the report cited a case involving pro-life activist Mark Houck in which prosecutors declined a request for him to self-surrender and instead authorized an FBI arrest at his home. Justice Department officials said sentencing recommendations for pro-life defendants averaged 26.8 months in prison, compared to 12.3 months for individuals accused of attacks on pro-life organizations. The report argued FACE Act enforcement under the Biden administration was uneven, with authorities prioritizing cases involving abortion clinics while failing to adequately pursue attacks on pregnancy resource centers and churches. MINNESOTA AG KEITH ELLISON DENIES DON LEMON, ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS VIOLATED FACE ACT AS DOJ MULLS CHARGES Assistant Attorney General Daniel Burrows said the findings raised serious concerns about department attorneys. "The behavior unearthed in this report is shameful," Burrows said, adding that some prosecutors "withheld evidence" and worked to exclude religious jurors. The Trump administration has already taken steps to reverse course, including issuing pardons for pro-life activists convicted under the prior administration, dismissing several civil cases and limiting future FACE Act prosecutions to "extraordinary circumstances." The FACE Act, passed in 1994, prohibits the use of force, threats or physical obstruction to interfere with access to reproductive health services. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea64cd8d5dabda395ac20 Rep. Luna warns of potential jail time for Eric Swalwell following serious criminal allegations te 2026-04-14T20:40:44.728Z Rep. Luna warns of potential jail time for Eric Swalwell following serious criminal allegations Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is not backing down from holding Rep. Eric Swalwell accountable, warning the California Democrat could face "serious criminal problems" and potential jail time following sexual misconduct allegations. Luna told "Jesse Watters Primetime" that Swalwell’s resignation was an attempt to avoid an immediate expulsion vote she was prepared to trigger. "I do think that he has serious criminal problems on his hands, and I do think that he might end up in jail," Luna said Monday. The congresswoman said she has evidence she believes could put Swalwell in legal trouble, including what she described as an authentic video. On Tuesday, one of Swalwell’s accusers held a press conference and described her allegations against him. SWALWELL FACES EXPULSION EFFORT FOLLOWING BOMBSHELL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS Lonna Drewes said she believes he "drugged" her drink on their third meeting, noting during the alleged assault she couldn’t move her arms or legs. "He raped me. And he choked me," Drewes said. She added she did not undergo a rape kit at the time but told people close to her and documented the events. Luna argued Swalwell’s behavior was well known on Capitol Hill and accused the media of not reporting on it more closely before the latest allegations. "What I will say is that many people on the Hill knew about this. Many reporters have come forward even in talking to me saying that they had heard stories about this," Luna said. ERIC SWALWELL FACES MANHATTAN SEX ASSAULT PROBE AFTER ENDING CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN AMID ALLEGATIONS She called on the Manhattan District Attorney to look into bringing criminal charges against Swalwell. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York City confirmed it is investigating allegations against Swalwell.  "We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373," an office spokesperson said. "Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner." Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell's congressional office, as well as his gubernatorial campaign, for comment on Luna's remarks. 'THE VIEW' HOST SAYS ERIC SWALWELL'S REPUTATION WITH WOMEN WAS 'OPEN SECRET' EXPLOITABLE BY ENEMIES Swalwell was originally accused by a former staffer of sexual assault while she was intoxicated. The San Francisco Chronicle first broke the story of the anonymous ex-staffer, and three additional women have since spoken to CNN with allegations of misconduct. He has dropped out of the race for governor of California and has resigned from his seat in Congress after receiving pressure to leave from both sides of the aisle. Luna noted that some Democrats had suggested he could remain in the House, but that her expulsion effort contributed to his decision to step down. "The Democrats in the Swalwell case said you can't run for governor, but you can still serve in Congress. That's why I brought up the expulsion resolution," Luna said, adding, "We're glad he's out." In a statement posted Monday, Swalwell vowed to fight the "serious, false allegations made against me." "Expelling anyone from Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But, it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress," Swalwell said. The attorney for Drewes argued Swalwell’s withdrawal from the gubernatorial race and resignation from Congress is not "enough," and said her client will file a police report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea3f5d8d5dabda395aba1 Airline sparks anger as it demands extra fees from already booked passengers as oil prices spike te 2026-04-14T20:30:45.522Z Airline sparks anger as it demands extra fees from already booked passengers as oil prices spike A Spanish budget airline named Volotea is sparking flight passengers' anger after reportedly asking them to pay extra charges for fuel after their tickets have already been purchased. At first glance, the added charge — which will be $8 to $11 per passenger, per the "Simple Flying" aviation blog — does not sound high. But travelers are concerned the fee could herald higher prices for additional airlines as fuel prices continue to skyrocket. The airline has a clause similar to clauses on some cruise lines — which allows the company to tack on charges based on the cost of oil. Volotea refers to the rule as its "Fair Travel Promise." FLIGHT PASSENGERS SLAM AIRLINES FOR PUSHING EARLY BAG CHECKS EVEN WITH EMPTY BINS ON BOARD When a traveler purchases a ticket, there is a warning that an extra charge may be imposed around seven days before departure if the price of oil has increased, according to multiple reports. "In the event of extraordinary variations in fuel prices affecting international energy markets, Volotea may apply a limited and temporary adjustment to the ticket price prior to the scheduled departure of the flight," the company's website says. "The exact amount of any such adjustment will be communicated to passengers prior to departure, once the applicable fuel cost variation has been determined," the website also says.  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Such adjustments will only apply to passengers who have been informed of this possibility during the booking process, allowing them to make an informed decision before completing their purchase," the website adds. Fox News Digital reached out to Volotea, which is headquartered in Barcelona, for comment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Since news broke of the company's extra charges, travelers have been reacting online. "Pity to see a funky airline like Volotea resort to such a gritty survival instinct. I understand the 'why' behind the fuel costs, but charging for already booked seats is a bold move that risks a lot of goodwill," one reader wrote on the blog "Simple Flying." "A loophole in the conditions of carriage allows them to do this? Who ever reads the conditions of carriage?" a second reader added. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ A third commenter disagreed, saying, "Airlines could, of course, just cancel flights, as some apparently already have. Next thing, there'll be a shortage of seats, and guess what — prices will really rise." The same person also wrote, "$10 seems a small price to keep flights operating as normally as possible." The much bigger concern is that Volotea's surcharge could be a sign of things to come. Popular travel guide The Points Guy recommended that people not wait to book flights. "If you're planning to fly this summer, go ahead and lock in your airfare now," The Points Guy wrote.  "As experts noted, prices could surge any day now. That's especially true if you're hoping to fly in June or July, which in recent years have been the busiest and most expensive months of the summer to travel." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dea19bd8d5dabda395ab17 Rachel Campos Duffy to release ‘All-American Patriotism’ book with foreword by Erika Kirk te 2026-04-14T20:20:43.819Z Rachel Campos Duffy to release ‘All-American Patriotism’ book with foreword by Erika Kirk FOX News Books will release "All-American Patriotism" by "FOX & Friends Weekend" co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy on May 19. The book includes a foreword written by Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and the widow of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in September 2025. Campos-Duffy, in her second book under Fox News' publishing arm, curated a collection of photographs capturing the nation’s natural wonders, alongside patriotic anthems and foundational documents that have defined the American spirit. Her account also features personal reflections from FOX News Media personalities. The book will give an inspirational look at the history and vision of the country. TRUMP LAUNCHES MASSIVE ‘FREEDOM 250’ PUSH TO IGNITE AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION "As America celebrates her 250th birthday, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that we’re facing an identity crisis. My hope is that this collection of stories from patriotic members of my FOX family reminds us of who we are. We are the descendants of conquistadors, pilgrims, rebels, freedom-loving revolutionaries, Indian chiefs, pioneers, outlaws, emancipated slaves, missionaries, and rugged cowboys," Campos-Duffy said in a statement about her announcement. She continued, "As we mark our 250th anniversary, may these stories serve as a celebration — of the people, the resilience, and the spirit that have made us the greatest nation in human history on the face of the Earth." 'FOX & FRIENDS' LAUNCHES CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD TRIP TO CELEBRATE AMERICA250 WHERE ONE LUCKY FAN WILL WIN RV "All American Patriotism" features stories from FOX News Media personalities, including Ainsley Earhardt, Sean Hannity, Bill Hemmer, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters and more, that capture the spirit that defines America at its semiquincentennial. Through nostalgic perspectives, the book offers readers an inspiring tribute to the nation, highlighting the values and unforgettable memories that continue to unite us. Campos-Duffy joined the network as a contributor in 2016 and currently serves as co-host of "FOX & Friends Weekend," the top-rated weekend cable news morning show. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE In 2024, she helped launch FOX News Media’s Spanish language newscast, FOX Noticias, where she interviewed figures including President Donald Trump, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, Paraguay President Santiago Peña, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and others. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9f6cd8d5dabda395aaa3 Trump swings for Moon with nuclear reactor plans as China, Russia team up in space race te 2026-04-14T20:11:24.203Z Trump swings for Moon with nuclear reactor plans as China, Russia team up in space race A memo released by the Trump administration on Tuesday detailed a goal of having a nuclear reactor on the Moon’s surface by 2030, a move that furthers the United States’ quest for supremacy in space over China and Russia. In the six-page document, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote that incorporating nuclear energy in space will be essential to advancing U.S. efforts in "space exploration, commerce, and defense applications." "Nuclear power in space will give us the sustained electricity, heating, and propulsion essential to a permanent presence on the Moon, Mars, and beyond," the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote on X. SEN CYNTHIA LUMMIS: DON’T HAND CHINA THE NUCLEAR FUTURE — BUILD IT HERE AT HOME NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman celebrated the memo, which outlined how nuclear reactors will be crucial for eventual deep-space exploration to Mars. "The time has come for America to get underway on nuclear power in space," Isaacman wrote on X. The memo cited President Donald Trump’s December 2025 executive order titled "Ensuring American Space Superiority." TRUMP WANTS A MOON LANDING BY 2028, SO WHY IS NASA ALREADY HEDGING? It was signed just months after then-acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said on "Sean Hannity" that he wanted the U.S. to build a nuclear reactor on the moon before China does. Last May, China and Russia agreed to work together to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon’s surface by 2036. The Department of War, Department of Energy, NASA and the Office of Science and Technology Policy have all been tasked with meeting the White House’s goals of deploying nuclear reactors on the Moon’s surface and in the Moon’s orbit. TRUMP UNLEASHES NUCLEAR BOOM, POWERING AMERICA BACK TO ENERGY DOMINANCE The memo outlines the Trump administration’s plan to deploy mid-power nuclear reactors in the Moon’s orbit by 2028. Each nuclear power reactor will be designed to provide 20 kilowatts of energy, roughly the same amount used by an average American household. The reactors will be designed to generate power for at least three years in orbit, and lunar surface-based nuclear reactors will provide energy for at least five years. The memo’s publication comes just two weeks after NASA launched Artemis II, the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The mission was designed to test the Orion spacecraft’s deep-space navigation, manual piloting capabilities, and life support systems. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and NASA for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9f58d8d5dabda395aa91 College football player, 20, killed in motorcycle crash while riding on interstate te 2026-04-14T20:11:04.425Z College football player, 20, killed in motorcycle crash while riding on interstate A motorcycle crash in North Carolina claimed the life of a 20-year-old college football player over the weekend. North Carolina A&T's Kelvin Level Broadhurst Jr. died in Greensboro after being ejected from his bike. Greensboro police said he was riding a Ducati motorcycle and lost control at around 5 p.m., according to The Charlotte Observer. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Broadhurst, traveling east on Interstate 40 to get onto U.S. 29 South, hit a guardrail and was ejected from his seat, and pronounced dead at the seen. "He’s just always been the most polite, most respectful young man… and everybody came in contact with loved him," Broadhurst's mother, Latoya Lyles, said to WFMY News 2. "He left a lasting impression on anyone he encountered. I loved him with everything in me… I needed him in my life because he made me a better woman from the day he was born." "I was planning his 21st birthday… and it just seemed unreal cause now I’m having to plan his funeral," she added. EMMITT SMITH GIVES ADVICE TO NFL HOPEFUL SON WHO ONCE ADMITTED TO FEELING PRESSURE OF LIVING UP TO FAMILY NAME Broadhurst was a defensive lineman who appeared in 28 games during his time at the HBCU. He recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Broadhurst was originally from Woodland, South Carolina and attended Dorman High School. The crash is still being investigated. Broadhurst was set to wrap up his junior year at the school. His best season was his sophomore year where he played in all 12 games and recorded 19 total tackles. 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/69de9f44d8d5dabda395aa88 Swalwell accusers detail experiences with lawmaker after he announces his resignation from Congress te 2026-04-14T20:10:44.759Z Swalwell accusers detail experiences with lawmaker after he announces his resignation from Congress Two women accusing Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., of sexual misconduct spoke out about their experience with the Democratic congressman who has announced his resignation amid the allegations. Ally Sammarco and Annika Albrecht opened up about their interactions with Swalwell in an interview aired on "CBS Mornings." Albrecht spoke out for the first time in the CBS interview, as Sammarco spoke to CNN about her experience previously. The bombshell allegations were reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday. Swalwell announced he would resign from Congress and ended his California gubernatorial campaign on Monday. He has denied the allegations but acknowledged past mistakes. "He thought he was untouchable," Sammarco told CBS. "He acted with total impunity. He never thought that the consequences of his actions would follow him." SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING' Albrecht told CBS that Swalwell "offered to mentor" her and stay in touch with her after meeting her student group in D.C. in 2019. She said that Swalwell created a group chat with all the students and added her on Snapchat. "Ultimately, it reached a point where he invited me to a hotel to meet him. It was very clear what the connotation was. At that point I completely stopped responding. What I keep thinking back to is how lucky I am that I didn’t go to that hotel," Albrecht said in the interview. Sammarco had a similar experience in 2021, she said, after she messaged Swalwell something supportive via Twitter. To her surprise, she said, he responded. BILLIONAIRE SUGAR DADDY KICKS SWALWELL OUT OF HIS MANSION, WANTS $1M BACK AFTER HEINOUS SEX ALLEGATIONS Swalwell asked her if she was on Snapchat as well, and detailed one of the exchanges. "It started out as professional and platonic and then slowly they became more and more explicit, asking me what I was wearing. Then one night he was on a trip, and he was laying in his hotel room bed, and then he sent me a photo of his penis," she said. CBS noted they were shown text messages she sent her friends about the Snapchats at the time. CBS reported that a few weeks ago, Albrecht had reached out to her friend, Cheyenne Hunt, a Democratic content creator who was also present during the interview, and asked her to make a video about her experience. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Hunt revealed during the CBS interview that she was inundated with direct messages from other women who had similar experiences. "I was immediately slammed with DMs from other women who said I have a story to tell. And that was when I realized that this was a lot bigger than I think any of us knew," she said during the interview. Fox News Digital has reached out to Swalwell for additional comment on the allegations. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9d15d8d5dabda395aa0e DOJ’s voter data push is a pretext for building a national voter list, Michigan official says te 2026-04-14T20:01:25.556Z DOJ’s voter data push is a pretext for building a national voter list, Michigan official says The Sugar Maple Square poll in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on primary Election Day, May 21, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) The Department of Justice’s stated reason for obtaining sensitive personal data on millions of voters masks the Trump administration’s true intention for obtaining state voter lists, Michigan’s top election official asserted in federal appeals court Monday. Attorneys for Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson made the allegation in a brief in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The argument reflects a concern broadly held among Democratic state election officials that the Trump administration wants to compile voter data in an effort to influence the upcoming midterm elections.  The Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, is suing 29 states for refusing to provide voter information. It says it needs the data to evaluate efforts to clean and maintain voter rolls, including whether noncitizens are registered to vote. But Benson’s brief says that “appears to be a pretext for improper purposes.” Michigan and other states argue the Trump administration is instead effectively building a nationwide voter registration list — a move not authorized under the 1960 Civil Rights Act, a federal law to combat voting discrimination that the Justice Department has cited in demanding states turn over voter data. “Collecting Michigan’s voter data to conduct its own list maintenance and to use Michigan’s list as part of creating a national voter file is not encompassed within the purpose stated in DOJ’s demand, which is simply ‘to ascertain Michigan’s compliance with the list maintenance requirements’” of federal election laws, Benson’s brief says. “Moreover, creating a national voter file of U.S. Citizens is beyond any purpose contemplated by the (Civil Rights Act).” After U.S. District Court Judge Hala Jarbou ruled in February that the Justice Department isn’t entitled to Michigan’s unredacted voter list containing driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers, the department appealed to the 6th Circuit. Trump priority Over the past year, Trump has attempted to exercise greater power over federal elections, which, under the U.S. Constitution, are run by the states. “Trump does not have the authority to create a Trump voter list,” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat whom the Justice Department is suing for not providing voter data, said in an interview earlier this month. Studies have shown noncitizen voting is extremely rare, though Trump has long fixated on the prospect of noncitizen voting and other forms of election fraud. Last year, Trump signed an executive order that would have unilaterally required voters to provide documents proving their citizenship. The order was struck down in court, but Trump is pressuring the U.S. Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, which would implement similar proof of citizenship rules. Michigan state officials and other critics of the Justice Department’s voter data effort point to actions by Trump and remarks by a DOJ attorney as evidence that the Trump administration is already compiling a national voter list. Trump’s recent executive order to restrict mail-in ballots directs the Department of Homeland Security to build lists of voting-age citizens in each state and then share those lists with state officials. Homeland Security operates a powerful computer system, called SAVE, that can verify citizenship by checking names against information in federal databases. And at a federal court hearing in Rhode Island in late March, Justice Department Voting Section Acting Chief Eric Neff said his department intends to share voter lists with Homeland Security, according to a transcript. He said DOJ and DHS have already entered into a use agreement to govern the sharing of data, though he didn’t detail its requirements. Mail ballot order an ‘iceberg’ to DOJ case A DOJ attorney, James Tucker, has denied any effort to create a national voter file.  “There is not going to be a national voter registration database,” Tucker said at a hearing in Maine on March 26 — less than a week before Trump signed the executive order. But David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, likened the Justice Department’s litigation strategy to a legal Titanic and the executive order to an iceberg: The order effectively creating a nationwide voter list could sink a strategy that denies such a goal exists. “The DOJ … has been trying to assure the courts that this data is not going to be used to create a national voter list,” Becker said during a press briefing this month. The Justice Department didn’t respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Civil Rights Act argued The Justice Department has so far failed to persuade any federal judges that it’s entitled to state voter data. Judges have dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuits against California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon.  At least a dozen states, all Republican led, have voluntarily provided their voter lists. The Justice Department has also reached a settlement agreement with one state, Oklahoma, to obtain its data.  When Jarbou, a Trump appointee, dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit for Michigan’s voter roll, she ruled that the Civil Rights Act doesn’t require the disclosure of the information. The law, signed by President Dwight Eisenhower, empowered federal officials to investigate state and local discrimination against Black voters. The law requires states to preserve election records for at least 22 months after a federal election, including any documents that come into the possession of an election official. Jarbou wrote in her decision that the state’s voter registration list is created by election officials but isn’t a document, such as a voter registration application, that comes into their possession. When the Justice Department filed its brief in March, it argued that Jarbou misinterpreted the Civil Rights Act. “The CRA’s text … does not exclude self-generated documents,” the department’s brief says. The Justice Department’s appeal of the Michigan loss has advanced the furthest, with state officials filing their brief on Monday. The DOJ has pushed for quick timelines in the appeals, arguing that court rulings are needed ahead of the midterms to ensure the fairness of elections. Local officials back states Regardless, 18 local election officials from across the country, including seven in Michigan, on Monday filed a brief in the case arguing that the Justice Department hasn’t provided a legitimate basis to obtain election records under the Civil Rights Act. As election misinformation has proliferated in recent years, local election officials face increasing requests for information, the group wrote. They are accustomed to providing public voter registration information, with steps in place to exclude sensitive, nonpublic data. Courts act as a “backstop” to enforce bans on disclosing sensitive information in response to records requests from the public, the local election officials argue. “Courts should perform that same function for requests for records under the CRA,” the group said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9d00d8d5dabda395a9ee Weight gain in certain decade of life may be more dangerous, study suggests te 2026-04-14T20:01:04.430Z Weight gain in certain decade of life may be more dangerous, study suggests Weight management is often treated as a "middle-age" problem, but new research suggests that the pounds you pack on in your 20s may be the most dangerous of your life. A massive study of more than 620,000 individuals found that the damage from early weight gain is disproportionately high and surprisingly permanent. According to the findings, the younger someone is when obesity sets in, the higher the risk of early mortality. The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, analyzed data from the Obesity and Disease Development Sweden project. MEN FACE HIDDEN HEART RISK YEARS EARLIER THAN WOMEN, STUDY SUGGESTS "The most consistent finding is that weight gain at a younger age is linked to a higher risk of premature death later in life, compared with people who gain less weight," Tanja Stocks, a professor at Lund University and one of the researchers behind the study, said in a press release. Developing obesity between the ages of 17 and 29 was linked to a 70% higher risk of early death compared to weight gain later in life. Weight gain later in adulthood, between ages 30 and 60, was also linked to higher death rates, but the connections were generally weaker. HERE'S THE AGE WHEN STRENGTH AND FITNESS BEGIN FADING, LONG-TERM DATA SHOWS "One possible explanation for why people with early obesity onset are at greater risk is their longer period exposed to the biological effects of excess weight," Huyen Le, a doctoral student at Lund University and first author of the study, said in the release. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES When weight gain happens in the 20s, the blood vessels, liver and metabolic systems endure obesity-related strain for decades longer than someone who gains the same weight in their 50s, experts say. The study identified type 2 diabetes as the leading cause of death associated with early-onset obesity. Other significant risks included high-blood pressure, liver cancer in men and uterine cancer in women. To reach these conclusions, researchers tracked participants’ weight paths across adulthood over more than 50 years, focusing on three specific windows: ages 17 to 29, 30 to 44, and 45 to 60. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Using a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher to define obesity, the team compared weight data against Sweden’s national death registry. After adjusting for a variety of factors, including smoking habits and marital status, the trend showed that becoming obese later in life still carried risks, but the danger compounded the longer people stayed obese. While these findings highlight the "importance of early and sustained obesity prevention strategies," the researchers noted that other factors come into play, and that increases in risk within a population can be difficult to interpret. "We shouldn’t get too hung up on exact risk figures," Stocks said. "They are rarely entirely accurate, as they are influenced, for example, by the factors taken into account in the study and the accuracy with which both risk factors and outcomes have been measured." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Because the study was conducted in Sweden, more research is needed to understand the effect of early-onset obesity in other populations, the team noted. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9cecd8d5dabda395a9e5 Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic amid Mike Vrabel controversy te 2026-04-14T20:00:44.906Z Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic amid Mike Vrabel controversy NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic on Tuesday amid mounting criticism over her relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, which came under fire last week after the two were photographed together at an exclusive resort in Arizona.  Russini announced her resignation in a letter to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg, which was obtained by The Associated Press.  "I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts," the letter read.  "Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career." This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.  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/69de9a80d8d5dabda395a94a 51 Percent of Americans Think Trump’s Military Action in Iran Has Not Been Worthwhile te 2026-04-14T19:50:24.170Z 51 Percent of Americans Think Trump’s Military Action in Iran Has Not Been Worthwhile A survey from Ipsos and Reuters, released on Tuesday, found few Americans — 24 percent — think the war in Iran has been worth the costs and benefits. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de98cbd8d5dabda395a8f0 School district addresses bus shortage at Thunderbolt te 2026-04-14T19:43:07.993Z School district addresses bus shortage at Thunderbolt Lake Havasu Unified School District officials said they addressed concerns after one school bus failed to run its regular route for three consecutive weeks, forcing some students to find other ways to get to school. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de98b7d8d5dabda395a8e5 California man drowned Monday in the Colorado River off North Beach at Davis Camp te 2026-04-14T19:42:47.731Z California man drowned Monday in the Colorado River off North Beach at Davis Camp BULLHEAD CITY — A swimmer attempted to retrieve a hat drowned Monday morning off North Beach in Davis Camp. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de98a3d8d5dabda395a8db Arizona review finds 28 potential illegal votes in 2024 election te 2026-04-14T19:42:27.757Z Arizona review finds 28 potential illegal votes in 2024 election PHOENIX -- Amid renewed suspicions of election fraud as the midterm elections near, a review of voting in Arizona's 2024 presidential election found only a sliver of the votes cast were possibly fraudulent. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de988fd8d5dabda395a8d2 Hobbs freezes bill signings until Republicans release budget plan te 2026-04-14T19:42:07.898Z Hobbs freezes bill signings until Republicans release budget plan PHOENIX -- Accusing Republicans of playing games, Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday she will veto any legislation they send her until they actually deliver their long-promised budget proposal. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de987bd8d5dabda395a8c9 Lake Havasu Boat Show returns Friday with thousands expected at Windsor 4 te 2026-04-14T19:41:47.838Z Lake Havasu Boat Show returns Friday with thousands expected at Windsor 4 Top boat manufacturers and marine industry vendors will converge at Lake Havasu State Park's Windsor 4 this weekend as the 35th annual Lake Havasu Boat Show opens Friday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9867d8d5dabda395a8c0 Mohave County supervisors to weigh letter criticizing BLM over burro population te 2026-04-14T19:41:27.860Z Mohave County supervisors to weigh letter criticizing BLM over burro population KINGMAN — Mohave County supervisors are set to consider formally rebuking federal land managers over what they describe as a “crisis level” explosion in wild burro numbers in the Black Mountains. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9853d8d5dabda395a8b7 Judge weighs challenge over governor candidate’s listed address te 2026-04-14T19:41:07.908Z Judge weighs challenge over governor candidate’s listed address PHOENIX -- A judge is set to decide Tuesday whether a gubernatorial hopeful can run for office despite the fact that he didn't list his actual home address on nominating papers and petitions. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de983ed8d5dabda395a89a Gonzales resigns in wake of renewed expulsion threat after scandal te 2026-04-14T19:40:46.013Z Gonzales resigns in wake of renewed expulsion threat after scandal Embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, made his resignation from Congress official on Tuesday as he faced the looming, rare threat of expulsion from the House.  Gonzales' brief resignation letter was read aloud on the House floor and will mark his exit from Congress amid scandal just before the stroke of midnight on Tuesday.  "It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Texas's 23rd congressional district," Gonzales wrote in his letter. It comes on the heels of calls for his resignation and others', including Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., Cory Mills, R-Fla., and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., from the House for a variety of scandals.  REP TONY GONZALES ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION AMID HOUSE ETHICS INVESTIGATION INTO AFFAIR Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., introduced an expulsion resolution against Gonzales just before his resignation letter was read aloud on the House floor after the embattled lawmaker failed to meet her deadline to resign from Congress.  Gonzales announced his plans on Monday to "file his retirement" but did not specify when he planned to step aside. The Texas Republican's plans to resign come after he admitted to an extramarital affair with a former staffer earlier this year after repeatedly denying the allegations. Gonzales suspended his re-election campaign in March after House GOP leadership called on him to exit the race.  He was also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de93a3d8d5dabda395a733 ICE lodges detainer for illegal migrant charged with strangling wife and dumping body near Oklahoma highway te 2026-04-14T19:21:07.251Z ICE lodges detainer for illegal migrant charged with strangling wife and dumping body near Oklahoma highway FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer request for an illegal migrant in Oklahoma who is charged with murder for allegedly strangling his wife to death and dumping her body near a highway.  Willie Ricardo Merida‑Escobar, 40, was charged with the first-degree murder of his wife, Karla Gramajo-Cabrera, in Tulsa County, on April 10. Merida-Escobar, a Guatemalan national, entered the country illegally in September 2016 and was issued a final order of removal in 2023, according to DHS.  "Willie Ricardo Merida‑Escobar, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, strangled his wife and dumped her body under a highway in Oklahoma. This monster should have never been in our country," Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital in a statement.  ICE ARRESTS LATIN KINGS MEMBER AFTER NYC SANCTUARY RELEASE DESPITE ASSAULT CHARGE ON FIRST RESPONDER "ICE lodged an arrest detainer with our law enforcement partners in Tulsa County to ensure this sick individual is not released from custody. 7 of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE," Bis added. "Partnerships with law enforcement are critical to having the resources we need to arrest criminal illegal aliens across the country. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are NOT welcome in the U.S." According to NewsOn6, Gramajo-Cabrera was reported missing by her sister, prompting an investigation into her disappearance.  Police noted a pattern of suspicious activity and domestic violence from her husband, Merida-Escobar, and after Escobar was taken into custody, the Guatemalan national confessed to the murder of his wife. Local police told NewsOn6 that the couple’s 17-year-old son was asleep in the home during the time when Merida-Escobar allegedly strangled his wife on April 8. FEDS CHARGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN LOYOLA STUDENT KILLING AS ATTORNEY SAYS PROSECUTORS LACK 'FAITH' IN STATE Merida-Escobar also told police he couldn’t pinpoint the location where he dumped his wife’s body, though she eventually was located under a mattress near a highway after further investigation using phone data and further questioning, according to NewsOn6. According to DHS, an argument took place between the two where Merida-Escobar’s wife insulted him before he allegedly strangled her to death. Oklahoma, unlike some "sanctuary" states and jurisdictions, has the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to work with ICE and federal immigration officers to refer illegal migrant criminals to the agency for deportation proceedings.  Fox News Digital reached out to Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on whether Merida-Escobar would be considered under the program to be processed for removal but did not receive a response in time for publication. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de937ad8d5dabda395a719 Another Woman Accuses Eric Swalwell of Sexually Assaulting Her te 2026-04-14T19:20:26.728Z Another Woman Accuses Eric Swalwell of Sexually Assaulting Her The woman said Mr. Swalwell, who resigned from Congress on Tuesday afternoon, raped her in a West Hollywood hotel room in 2018. She said she believed she was drugged. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de915dd8d5dabda395a6a0 Swalwell out amid sexual assault allegations after 13 years in Congress te 2026-04-14T19:11:25.108Z Swalwell out amid sexual assault allegations after 13 years in Congress Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., formally resigned his House seat on Tuesday amid a wave of sexual misconduct allegations that spurred calls to step aside or face expulsion.  "I have just been notified that Eric Swalwell has officially submitted his resignation to the House Clerk," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna wrote on X. "Effective immediately." The House clerk read the letter on the floor Tuesday afternoon. The announcement came after Swalwell said Monday that he planned to resign but did not lay out a clear timeline.  Swalwell's resignation appeared to thwart a potential expulsion threat from Luna, who vowed to force a vote on a measure forcibly removing him if he did not voluntarily exit Congress.  ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS Five women, including one former staffer, have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct or rape. The Manhattan District Attorney's office has opened a criminal investigation into one incident that allegedly occurred in a New York City hotel room. FBI Director Kash Patel has also invited Swalwell to have a conversation with the bureau about the allegations. Swalwell has denied any criminal wrongdoing and has promised to fight "false" accusations against him. He suspended his surging gubernatorial campaign over the weekend after nearly every prominent Democrat who had endorsed him retracted their support. This is a developing story and will be updated. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de9149d8d5dabda395a697 Illegal immigrant driver charged with DUI after car veers off road, kills two children on bikes: police te 2026-04-14T19:11:05.613Z Illegal immigrant driver charged with DUI after car veers off road, kills two children on bikes: police An illegal immigrant, allegedly so intoxicated he could not stand, is accused of driving off a roadway and killing two children riding bikes on a sidewalk, officials said. Eri Otoniel Roblero-Perez was denied bond Monday on two counts of felony DUI resulting in death. He also faces charges of driving without a license and open container. He is currently being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Facility. The crash happened around 12:20 p.m. Sunday along Asheville Highway at Brock Street, about three miles west of Spartanburg. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Roblero-Perez was driving a 2016 Honda Accord eastbound when the vehicle veered off the road and struck two boys who were riding bicycles on the sidewalk. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO FLED US AFTER KILLING SARAH ROOT SENTENCED TO 20+ YEARS BEHIND BARS The victims were identified as 12-year-old Dereon James Robins and 9-year-old Mikhail-Lee Smith, both of Spartanburg. Both boys later died from their injuries. Details from Monday’s bond hearing, first reported by WYFF News 4, described the emotional testimony and the defendant’s condition at the scene. ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT IN DEATH OF VETERAN TEXAS DEPUTY WHO DIED HELPING OTHERS Dereon’s mother, Megan, said she was walking behind the children when the car veered toward them. "I watched him almost hit me, and I then ran to my son while he bled to death," she said. Family members pleaded with the judge to keep Roblero-Perez behind bars. "Now I have to bury my own brother… on his own birthday," one of Dereon’s brothers said. GOT A TIP? Prosecutors said Roblero-Perez showed clear signs of intoxication — including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol — and was unable to complete a field sobriety test or hold himself upright. Authorities say the vehicle left the roadway at a high rate of speed before striking the children. FOLLOW US ON X Another passenger was inside the car but fled the scene and has not been located. The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Roblero-Perez is in the United States illegally. A judge also noted in court that an immigration detainer has been placed on him. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL The case has sparked outrage online and in the community, with many questioning the circumstances of the crash and calling for accountability. "Our hearts are heavy as we lift up the families of the two young boys whose lives were tragically taken in South Carolina," Sen. Tim Scott said in a statement. "We are praying for God’s comfort to surround them, and for justice to be swiftly and fully served." Family and friends said Dereon, who was just days away from his 13th birthday, "brought joy to all those around him," according to a GoFundMe message. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS Family members are urging others to think twice before drinking and driving. "If you decide to drink, stay at home. It is not a driving activity. It’s not fun. It’s not cool," a family member said. Roblero-Perez is scheduled to appear in court again on June 18. The investigation remains ongoing. Fox News Digital has reached out to the coroner’s office, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and the solicitor’s office for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de911fd8d5dabda395a66f Ramirez: Marana did everything right, now HB 2873 is taking away our last line of defense te 2026-04-14T19:10:23.926Z Ramirez: Marana did everything right, now HB 2873 is taking away our last line of defense Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8f2bd8d5dabda395a606 Residents in major DC suburb demand action over illegal aliens committing violent crimes: 'Has to change' te 2026-04-14T19:02:03.955Z Residents in major DC suburb demand action over illegal aliens committing violent crimes: 'Has to change' Residents in Fairfax County, Virginia expressed frustrations with a slew of violent crimes committed by illegal aliens in recent months while at the same time voicing skepticism over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. "I’m not team ICE, but I do agree that if you’re out here committing crimes, then you don’t want to be here," one respondent said, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency at the heart of Trump’s detention and deportation efforts. "So, I think they should leave the people that are just chilling alone, but if you’re out here committing crimes, yeah, you might have to go." In particular, residents raised alarm about cases like the murder of Stephanie Minter — a woman stabbed to death at a bus stop in February at the hands of an illegal alien from Sierra Leone — a repeat offender with a lengthy criminal history. DHS SLAMS ‘INSANE’ 5-YEAR PLEA DEAL FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO ADMITTED FATAL STABBING IN VIRGINIA Abdul Jalloh, 32, had been arrested more than 30 times, according to the Department of Homeland Security, but was still released by Virginia authorities. To some, Minter’s death is a clear indicator of a need for reform. "I’ll tell you this. Someone that’s been arrested 30 times and has been let back out and can commit a crime like this? Something has to change. Something is not working," one Fairfax resident told Fox News Digital. ICE PRESSURES SPANBERGER AS FAIRFAX MURDER SUSPECTS TRIGGER NEW DETAINERS IN ‘SANCTUARY’ CLASH "If it’s the 30th time, I don’t know what justification they have for why they’re not sent back or given some sort of harsher punishment," another said. Fairfax County has made headlines for a string of murders similar to Minter’s case. Earlier this month, authorities charged 28-year-old Guatemala native Misael Lopez Gomez with the murder of his 3-month-old daughter. His arrest comes on the heels of a separate attack by Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, 38, another Guatemalan man charged with fatally stabbing a man in his home. ANGEL MOM RIPS SANCTUARY STATE AFTER DAUGHTER'S ALLEGED KILLER WALKED FREE According to the Department of Homeland Security, three out of every four suspects charged with murder in Fairfax County are illegal aliens. Other Fairfax residents approached by Fox News Digital said they believed the state needed to coordinate its law enforcement efforts more tightly. "The new governor — she needs to do better to work with the Fairfax police department. It’s up to her too. She’s a new one," a commentator said, referring to Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who assumed office in November. DEM SENATOR WARNS DEPORTATION COULD LET VIRGINIA WOMAN'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT KILLER 'ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY' While Spanberger has repeatedly said Virginia is not a sanctuary state, a state that prevents local law enforcement from partnering with federal immigration enforcement efforts, Spanberger rescinded local-federal coordination requirements as one of her first actions as governor. She argued that Virginia’s resources would be better spent enforcing its own laws. "Virginians have been deprived of critical public safety and local law enforcement to divert their limited resources for use in enforcing federal civil immigration laws," Spanberger said in a press release. MEET THE FAIRFAX KILLERS: TOP VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIEN CRIMINALS WREAKING HAVOC ON MAJOR AMERICAN SUBURB "Federal authorities should enforce federal civil immigration laws — law enforcement in the Commonwealth should prioritize the safety and security of all residents in Virginia, the enforcement of local and state laws and coordination with federal entities on criminal matters," she added. Spanberger signed her executive order on Jan. 17 — the same day she took office. Although some residents said they had reservations about federal immigration policies, they suggested illegal aliens with criminal histories probably shouldn’t raise controversy. "I do think that’s a good place to start. People that are committing crimes actively now who are not supposed to be here? I mean, yeah. That’s reasonable," another resident said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8f18d8d5dabda395a5fd Popular vacation hot spots slap limits on tourist rentals, driving and more to protect 'stunning' spaces te 2026-04-14T19:01:44.119Z Popular vacation hot spots slap limits on tourist rentals, driving and more to protect 'stunning' spaces Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca — three of Spain's most popular Mediterranean destinations — are among the top spots in Europe dealing with overtourism issues, as officials consider introducing hard limits on visitor numbers and putting other restrictions in place. The Balearic Islands have seen a surge in tourism, with over 19 million visitors in 2025. That intensifies pressure on housing, infrastructure and the environment, Majorca Daily Bulletin reported. In response, there have been calls by politicians for a formal cap on arrivals — potentially limiting annual visitor numbers to around 17.8 million, roughly in line with 2023 levels — to stop further growth and ease the strain on locals, according to the website YorkshireLive. ISLAND CRACKS DOWN AS TOURISTS ARE SLAPPED WITH NEW FEES, FED-UP LOCALS REVOLT "Social media has made it way easier for people to discover places that used to fly under the radar," Jordi Lippe-McGraw, a New York-based travel expert and influencer, told Fox News Digital. "You used to have to read about places in a magazine or see them on a travel show. Now it’s all instant," she added. "When something looks beautiful or unique, it spreads fast — especially on Instagram or TikTok." "Places that might have been more hidden before can suddenly become must-visit spots," she added. WEALTHY SUMMER SANCTUARY LIMITS TOURISTS, HIRES PATROL 'DOCENTS' TO KEEP OUTSIDERS IN CHECK The Balearic Islands welcomed millions of visitors in 2025, with Mallorca accounting for around 13.5 million.  Ibiza draws roughly more than 3 million annually, while Menorca visitors remain under one million, according to numerous sources. Cruise ships add pressure, according to reports. They bring more than a million additional visitors each year, often not included in headline figures — with thousands arriving at once in ports like Palma and Ibiza Town, TravelPulse reported. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The clash with residents is especially noticeable in Mallorca, where thousands took to the streets in June 2025 to protest the growth of tourism on the island, as Fox News Digital reported at the time. At the time, demonstrators marched with signs saying, "One more tourist, one less resident." Authorities are maintaining strict caps on tourist accommodations and cracking down on illegal rentals, according to Majorca Daily Bulletin. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Ibiza has faced significant congestion on roads and in natural spaces.  The island started limiting the number of vehicles during peak season, Time Out reported. "Ibiza has always been well-known for music, but social media has made Ibiza mainstream. Fifteen years ago, you would rarely see Americans on the island," J.Q. Louise, a Boston-based travel influencer and writer, told Fox News Digital. The blogger, who has visited Ibiza several times, said tourists are drawn to the destination for many reasons. "Ibiza is a stunning island," Louise said.  "There are gorgeous untouched beaches, breathtaking scenery and a rich local food and wine scene." Menorca is trying to avoid the same breaking point.  Often marketed as a quieter alternative than its neighbors, the island has implemented limits on tourists, according to GOB Menorca, a nonprofit environmental organization. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "Once a place goes viral, it can get flooded with visitors really quickly. There’s kind of a fine line. It’s great that people want to explore new places, but those places aren’t always set up to handle that kind of attention," Lippe-McGraw said. "That’s when you start to see overcrowding, higher costs for locals and more pressure on the area overall." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8f04d8d5dabda395a5f4 Public transportation prices hit absurd levels for World Cup games: report te 2026-04-14T19:01:24.599Z Public transportation prices hit absurd levels for World Cup games: report As if World Cup tickets weren't costly enough, getting to those games is slated to cost plenty more than usual. NJ Transit tickets from MetLife Stadium to New York Penn Station after matches are reportedly set to cost more than $100, while prices in Boston are also set to surge. Currently, prices from East Rutherford to Penn Station are just under $13. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The Athletic also reported that there will be no price differences for seniors, children, or passengers with disabilities, and a final decision on the pricing is expected in the next few days. Last week, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced $80 tickets from Boston to Gillette Stadium, and the Boston Host Committee announced Tuesday that there will be $95 Yankee Line bus tickets to Foxborough. Tailgating has been banned at both Gillette Stadium and MetLife Stadium, while parking will also not be allowed at the New Jersey stadium, despite thousands of available spots at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The price increase comes amid a potential $48 million tab for NJ Transit that includes security and extra services for the soccer spectacle. MetLife Stadium is set to host eight matches, including the July 19 final. Penn Station is also set to have severe restrictions on game days, when only game attendees will be permitted to enter the NJ Transit portion of the Manhattan station. US SOCCER CAPTAIN'S BREAKUP WITH GOLFER GETS MESSY AFTER DATING PROFILE ALLEGATIONS New Jersey lawmakers have proposed a bill that would impose "surcharges on certain transactions to support preparations for [the] hosting of special events," according to the N.J. Legislature. The bill's primary sponsor is Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-N.J. If passed, a 3% sales tax would be added to retail goods, food and drink, and event tickets in the Meadowlands District during the dates of the World Cup, according to the bill’s text. A hotel surcharge will also be imposed — tacking 2.5% onto bills at hotels booked during the period of June 12 through July 21. The USMNT has not had much success in the World Cup. The squad reached the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2014 but failed to qualify for the tournament in 2018. It returned to the Round of 16 four years ago but couldn’t advance out of the Copa América group stage on home soil last year. After finishing in third place in the inaugural World Cup in 1930, the furthest they have made it since then is the 2002 quarterfinals. The U.S. is the highest-ranked team in its group this summer, joining Australia (26th), Paraguay (39th) and a team to be determined in a playoff. The U.S. will open the tournament June 12 in Los Angeles against Paraguay on FOX. Fox News' Ashley J. DiMelia 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/69de8ef0d8d5dabda395a5eb Reality star Dr. Pimple Popper suffered a stroke while filming her show, says part of her brain 'died' te 2026-04-14T19:01:04.859Z Reality star Dr. Pimple Popper suffered a stroke while filming her show, says part of her brain 'died' Cameras were rolling when Dr. Sandra Lee realized something was wrong. The dermatologist and "Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out" star revealed she suffered a stroke while treating patients at her California practice, after initially brushing off alarming symptoms as a simple hot flash. "It happened while I was filming the show," Lee recalled in an interview with People magazine. "I had what I thought was a hot flash. I got super sweaty and didn’t feel like myself." After work, she headed to her parents' house where she continued to feel "very restless" and described experiencing "shooting pains" in one leg. She recalled trying to sleep but not being able to. When getting up to grab a bite to eat, Lee noticed she was struggling to walk down the stairs. 'THE JEFFERSONS' STAR MARLA GIBBS REVEALS SHE BEAT BRAIN ANEURYSM THAT 'MOST PEOPLE DO NOT SURVIVE' By the next morning, her symptoms were hard to ignore. "I would hold my hand out, and it would just slowly collapse," she explained. "I noticed that I had a tough time articulating and just enunciating. I thought, ‘Am I having a stroke?’" Turns out, she was having a stroke. An MRI at an emergency room confirmed Dr. Lee's belief. She had suffered an ischemic stroke, which occurs when blood vessels supplying blood to the brain are blocked. Ischemic strokes are the most common stroke, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). DREW CAREY SAYS MISCONCEPTIONS LED HIM TO IGNORE HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS "It was just a shock," Lee said. "As a physician I couldn’t deny that I had slurred speech, that I was having weakness on one side, but I was like, ‘Well, this is a dream, right?’" "What essentially happened, is I had a part of my brain that died." Lee quickly entered a two-month recovery period where she underwent physical and occupational therapy for "very basic things," including balance and movement. She paused filming and focused on her health as she worried about her hands – a core ability needed for her job. "I don’t like that I don’t have total control of my left hand or the grip wasn’t as strong," she told the outlet. "If I feel like I’m not at my best – it’s very scary." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Beyond the immediate recovery, Lee said the experience served as a wake-up call about her overall health. "My blood pressure and my cholesterol were not under control, and I have a lot of stress in my life, dealing with my patients and the show," Lee explained. "I want to think about it as a blessing in disguise. Because it reminds you to take better care of yourself." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The dermatologist returned to work in January as "Dr. Pimple Popper" resumed filming. However, Lee worried she wouldn't be able to perform more intricate surgeries. "It was very scary for me," she said. "There’s a lot of PTSD because it happened while I was filming the show." Lee said the experience left a lasting impact and a desire to use her platform to help others. "In Asian cultures in particular, they don’t tell people they’ve had a stroke because it can be seen as a sign of weakness," the doctor explained. "I want to get the word out that if you have symptoms like I had, make sure you see your doctor. Take care of yourself." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8eddd8d5dabda395a5e2 Runaway Brazilian ex-spy chief convicted in coup reportedly detained by ICE at Florida traffic stop te 2026-04-14T19:00:45.170Z Runaway Brazilian ex-spy chief convicted in coup reportedly detained by ICE at Florida traffic stop U.S. immigration authorities reportedly detained former Brazilian intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem in Florida on Monday, months after Brazil sentenced him to prison for his role in a plot to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after the 2022 election. Brazilian authorities said Ramagem fled the country in September 2025, shortly after being sentenced to 16 years in prison. But Ramagem's supporters argue that he has an active asylum claim in the United States and should not be deported. In a statement announcing Ramagem's detention, the Brazilian Federal Police did not name him directly but referenced the crimes he was convicted of. "The detainee is considered a fugitive from Brazilian justice after convictions to crimes including participation in an armed criminal organization, a coup d’état, and the attempted violent abolition of the rule of law," the Federal Police said in a statement. ERIC SWALWELL UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OVER ALLEGED UNAUTHORIZED NANNY HIRE Brazilian Senator Jorge Seif, an ally of Bolsonaro, shared on social media that Ramagem was detained by U.S. authorities. Seif is pushing for Ramagem's release, arguing that he should be granted political asylum. "The political persecution against President Bolsonaro, his sons and his allies is now hitting an elected lawmaker in foreign soil," Seif said. "In our document (to the U.S. embassy) we showed all the reasons that justify and defend the concession of political asylum to Ramagem and his family." Brazilian authorities said the detention was the result of "international police cooperation," not directly tied to his conviction. Brazilian journalist Paulo Figueiredo, a friend of Ramagem, shared on X that he was detained after being stopped by police for a "minor traffic violation." Authorities then referred Ramagem to ICE. Figueiredo claimed that Ramagem currently has an asylum request with the United States. BOLSONARO DYNASTY EYES COMEBACK AS BRAZIL’S SOCIALIST PRESIDENT FACES CHALLENGE FROM JAILED RIVAL’S SON Figueiredo wrote that Immigrex, a visa consulting company where he is a partner, will provide full services to Ramagem. "Our expectation is that he will be released as quickly as possible, and at this time we see no risk of deportation. The ICE process is also bureaucratic and depends on formal processing within the agency’s system before the next steps can be taken," Figueiredo wrote on X. On Monday, The Associated Press reported that Ramagem was listed on ICE's online detainee database, but a Fox News Digital search on Tuesday found his name was not listed. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment. Brazilian authorities say the coup led by Bolsonaro and his supporters began months before the 2022 election, when they alleged that there was a strong chance that the election was rigged against Bolsonaro. When President Luiz Inácio de Silva won the election, Bolsonaro did not concede. He was later convicted of attempting to overthrow the government and is currently serving a 27-year sentence for his role in the coup. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8c9ed8d5dabda395a557 Gonzales hit with expulsion vote threat ahead of expected resignation te 2026-04-14T18:51:10.058Z Gonzales hit with expulsion vote threat ahead of expected resignation Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, N.M., introduced an expulsion resolution against Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, on Tuesday after the embattled lawmaker failed to meet her deadline to resign from Congress.  Gonzales announced his plans on Monday to "file his retirement" but did not specify when he planned to step aside. The Texas Republican's plans to resign come after he admitted to an extramarital affair with a former staffer earlier this year after repeatedly denying the allegations. Teresa Leger Fernandez vowed to introduce an expulsion resolution targeting Gonzales if he did not resign by Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.  REP TONY GONZALES ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION AMID HOUSE ETHICS INVESTIGATION INTO AFFAIR Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said on social media that she expected Gonzales to formally announce his resignation later on Tuesday. Gonzales suspended his re-election campaign in March after House GOP leadership called on him to exit the race.  He was also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.  This is a developing story and will be updated. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8c74d8d5dabda395a52f Arizona senators push to revamp energy aid formula they say favors cold-weather states te 2026-04-14T18:50:28.442Z Arizona senators push to revamp energy aid formula they say favors cold-weather states Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8ae3d8d5dabda395a4f2 Arizona Department of Gaming to offer free training on responsible gaming te 2026-04-14T18:43:47.882Z Arizona Department of Gaming to offer free training on responsible gaming The gaming training will touch on risks associated with gambling, as well as problems, and will provide resources for responsible gaming. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8acad8d5dabda395a4bb DC appeals court orders Judge Boasberg to halt Trump contempt probe over deportation flights te 2026-04-14T18:43:22.641Z DC appeals court orders Judge Boasberg to halt Trump contempt probe over deportation flights A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to end his contempt inquiry into senior Trump administration officials after they deported more than 130 Venezuelan migrants — capping a protracted and bitterly disputed legal fight. Judges for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that Boasberg's inquiry overstepped the court's authority and represented an "unwarranted impairment" of the executive branch. Judges Neomi Rao and Justin Walker, two Trump appointees, authored the majority, which ordered Boasberg, the chief district judge for the District of Columbia, to terminate the contempt inquiry roughly 12 months after it began.  At issue was the Trump administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last March — migrants that the administration alleged were in the U.S. illegally and in some cases had ties to the violent gang Tren de Aragua — and whether senior Trump officials had willfully defied an emergency court order issued by the district court judge in allowing the deportation flights to continue.   FEDERAL JUDGE JAMES BOASBERG FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD TRUMP IN CONTEMPT OVER DEPORTATION FLIGHTS Rao and Walker said Tuesday that the March 15 emergency order that Boasberg issued last year, which sought to halt the administration from immediately deporting the Venezuelan migrants, was too ambiguous to justify what they ruled was an "intrusive" investigation into high-level executive matters. "The district court proposes to probe high-level Executive Branch deliberations about matters of national security and diplomacy," Rao and Walker said Tuesday. "These proceedings are a clear abuse of discretion." J. Michelle Childs, a Biden appointee, authored a sharp, 80-page dissent. "Contempt of court is a public offense, and the fate of our democratic republic will depend on whether we treat it as such," she said, adding: "Without the contempt power, the rule of law is an illusion, a theory that stands upon shifting sands." TOP US COURT HANDS TRUMP A WIN ON DEPORTATIONS AS SCOTUS CHALLENGE LOOMS The ruling is a significant victory for the Justice Department, which had asked the appeals court several times to halt the contempt inquiry into the Alien Enemies Act removals. Short of that, they asked the higher court to intervene and block the scheduled testimony of key government witnesses. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the 2-1 ruling Tuesday afternoon on social media, signaling the outsize importance that the administration has placed on the inquiry, and on efforts to end the contempt probe. "Today's decision by the DC Circuit should finally end Judge Boasberg’s year-long campaign against the hardworking Department attorneys doing their jobs fighting illegal immigration," he said on X. Lawyers for the Trump administration argued last year that the contempt inquiry is an "idiosyncratic and misguided inquiry," which they said falls outside the jurisdiction of the district court. The 2-1 majority ruling from the appeals court appears to support that contention.  TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW EL SALVADOR DEPORTATION FLIGHT CASE   Boasberg, for his part, has staunchly defended his efforts. "This inquiry is not some academic exercise," he said in a ruling of his own last year.  The newly blocked contempt inquiry had been expected to bring to the fore long-simmering tension between the Trump administration and the chief judge for the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., whose oversight of the Alien Enemies Act case has put him squarely in Trump's crosshairs.  Trump's remarks about Boasberg, including calls for his impeachment, prompted Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to issue a rare, public warning last year.  It is unclear if lawyers representing the class of Alien Enemies Act plaintiffs will challenge the D.C. Circuit's ruling, though they do have options to do so. Lawyers can either seek review "en banc," or from the full bench of appeals court judges, or kick the case back to the Supreme Court for review. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8ab6d8d5dabda395a4b2 Texas teacher charged after alleged student assault 'hoax' causes lockdown te 2026-04-14T18:43:02.838Z Texas teacher charged after alleged student assault 'hoax' causes lockdown A Texas high school teacher who triggered a campus lockdown with a reported stabbing by a student was arrested after investigators determined the incident was a hoax, authorities said. More than 100 officers rushed to Splendora High School on Thursday after a teacher reported an emergency around 8:45 a.m., the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities locked down the campus as school resource officers moved to secure students and staff, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators, however, said authorities quickly determined there was no such assault. TEXAS STUDENT, 15, DIES AFTER SHOOTING TEACHER AT HIGH SCHOOL, AUTHORITIES SAY "During the course of the investigation, it was determined that no assault on a teacher had been committed by a student," the sheriff’s office said. "Detectives discovered that the injury sustained by the teacher was self-inflicted and the evidence supports that the entire incident was a hoax." The school had told parents that police were investigating a report of a "physical altercation" between a student and a staff member, FOX26 Houston reported. OKLAHOMA PRINCIPAL SHOT IN LEG IS PRAISED FOR TACKLING SCHOOL SHOOTER: 'HE IS A HERO' Detectives with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation within minutes, reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence before concluding no assault had occurred. Truelove was arrested and charged with felony tampering with evidence and false report/false alarm. She has been booked into the Montgomery County Jail. A judge set Truelove’s bond at $20,000 on Friday. She will be required to submit to GPS monitoring and stay away from all schools and Splendora school district properties if she is released on bond, according to FOX26. Truelove worked at the school for about a year, the sheriff's office said. Officials said the incident was isolated and there is no ongoing threat to students or the public. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8aa3d8d5dabda395a4a9 'DoorDash Grandma' slams paid actor rumors after delivering to President Trump at the White House te 2026-04-14T18:42:43.372Z 'DoorDash Grandma' slams paid actor rumors after delivering to President Trump at the White House Sharon Simmons, the DoorDash driver who delivered to President Donald Trump at the White House this week, is firing back at critics claiming she’s a paid actor. Simmons, a grandmother of 10, denied allegations she’s an actress, noting she’s a real driver working to support her family and her husband, who is currently battling cancer. She told "Fox & Friends" she was a worker who got the chance to deliver to one of the most recognizable addresses in the country. "I am not a paid actor. My life is just like everybody else's," Simmons said Tuesday on "Fox & Friends." The delivery event was to commemorate the anniversary of the "no tax on tips" policy, which directly impacts drivers like Simmons, allowing them to take home more of their wages. WATCH IT: SPEAKER JOHNSON HEARS FROM UBER DRIVER ON ‘NO TAX ON TIPS’ BENEFIT: ‘BIG DIFFERENCE’ She said she was nervous to take part in the moment, but after saying a prayer with her husband, she decided to head out and make a drop-off at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Still, having the public question her story has been difficult for the Arkansas resident. "I didn't want to be part of any of the decisive issues because that's just not me. I love everybody, I love people on every side of the fence about different issues because that's how my parents brought me up," Simmons said. DOORDASH DRIVER HAILS KEY TRUMP POLICY AFTER DELIVERING MCDONALD'S TO WHITE HOUSE: 'I'M GOING TO ENJOY IT' "Some of it's been hard to see and hard to read about," she added. JD VANCE TELLS POPE LEO XIV TO 'STICK TO MATTERS OF MORALITY' AND STAY OUT OF US PUBLIC POLICY Simmons, who has completed over 14,000 deliveries since 2022, said that because of the "no tax on tips" policy, she has now been able to keep more of the $11,000 she earned in tips this year. She delivered Trump's McDonald’s order outside the Oval Office, wearing a shirt reading "DoorDash Grandma." Trump handed her what appeared to be a $100 bill after a reporter asked if the White House was a good tipper. DoorDash released a statement about Simmons and the Trump policy, noting they estimate drivers have saved "hundreds of millions of dollars" since "no tax on tips" was enacted. "This moment represents something bigger than a single delivery. It’s about the millions of Dashers across the country who are now able to keep more of what they earn when filing their taxes this year," said Max Rettig, DoorDash’s Global Head of Public Policy. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8a8fd8d5dabda395a4a0 Trump-backed mega event to bring all 50 states to DC in World’s Fair-style bash te 2026-04-14T18:42:23.799Z Trump-backed mega event to bring all 50 states to DC in World’s Fair-style bash A 110-foot Ferris wheel, state pavilions and patriotic festivities are coming to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of a 16-day "Great American State Fair" marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. "As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of freedom and opportunity, the National Mall will once again serve as the stage for telling our nation’s story. Thanks to President Donald J. Trump’s leadership," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in a release. "The Great American State Fair will bring all 50 states and six territories together in one place, showcasing the people, landscapes, and traditions that define this country," he said. Organizers announced the event Tuesday, saying the fair will bring together all 50 states and six U.S. territories for a national celebration stretching from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. Freedom250, the nonpartisan group helping coordinate the broader America250 effort, said the fair will feature food, games, exhibits and themed attractions designed to showcase the country’s culture, history and innovation. INTERIOR DEPARTMENT PLANS AI THEODORE ROOSEVELT EXHIBIT FOR AMERICA250  A newly released rendering offered a bird’s-eye view of the planned fairgrounds, including the Ferris wheel, while organizers also said the refurbished Smithsonian carousel will be part of the celebration. Every state and the six territories of the U.S. were extended an invitation by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. "Bound together by a shared promise, our nation is a union of diverse states and territories — distinct in character, united in purpose, and driven by the enduring pursuit of freedom," said Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach. TRUMP TO HOST MAJOR SPORTS COMMISSIONERS IN OVAL OFFICE FOR AMERICA 250 PLANNING: REPORT Krach added, "this summer, the Great American State Fair will bring that spirit to life on the National Mall, celebrating the ingenuity, perseverance, and pride that define America as we come together to mark the nation’s 250th." The World’s Fair-scale event will have pavilions touching on five national themes: Made in America, American Heartland, American Innovates, The American Canvas, and Faith & Family. There will also be celebrations for Military Appreciation Day, Wings of Freedom, The Next 250, and more. The U.S. has hosted over two dozen variations of the World’s Fair since first hosted in Philadelphia in 1876, according to the State Department. The fair will kick off on Thursday, June 25 for "The American Canon: Opening Day" which will launch the event as a national exposition. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8a7bd8d5dabda395a497 Satellite images may have tipped off Iran before US base attack, top Republican warns te 2026-04-14T18:42:03.887Z Satellite images may have tipped off Iran before US base attack, top Republican warns FIRST ON FOX: Sensitive U.S. military positions in the Middle East may have been exposed through commercial satellite imagery ahead of an Iranian strike that wounded American troops, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar warned in a new letter raising national security concerns. In the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, Moolenaar said Airbus satellite imagery may have been the original source of images later published by a China-based company, MizarVision, which released high-resolution, annotated views of U.S. military aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Moolenaar pointed to a sequence in which the firm publicly identified U.S. aircraft at the base shortly before Iran launched a March 27 missile and drone strike on the installation. The attack wounded at least 12 U.S. service members — two critically — and damaged multiple high-value aircraft, including KC-135 refueling tankers and an E-3G Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft. RUBIO SAYS US MAY NEED TO 'REEXAMINE' NATO MEMBERSHIP AFTER ALLIES BLOCKED BASING, AIRSPACE HELP Moolenaar said the timing and level of detail in the imagery raise questions about whether publicly available satellite data could be used by adversaries to identify and target U.S. military assets, warning that such images risk becoming "targeting data for enemy forces." While commercial satellite imagery is widely available and often used for research and transparency, the letter warns that near-real-time, high-resolution images of active operations could provide adversaries with actionable intelligence. Moolenaar urged War Secretary Pete Hegseth to press Airbus to restrict the release of such imagery, noting that other companies, including Planet Labs, have voluntarily withheld images of the region at the request of the U.S. government. The push highlights a broader debate over whether limiting access to commercial satellite imagery during wartime is necessary to protect U.S. troops or risks restricting open-source intelligence. A technical analysis conducted with a satellite systems expert found Airbus satellites were the "most plausible" source of the imagery, according to the letter, identifying multiple windows in which they were positioned to capture images of the base. The letter also cites a "high likelihood" that Airbus imagery was made available prior to the conflict, though it does not establish how the images were obtained or whether Airbus provided them directly. HEGSETH ANNOUNCES PENTAGON PROBE INTO DEADLY STRIKE ON IRANIAN SCHOOL The letter also cites a satellite imagery expert who said the images were unlikely to have originated from Chinese satellites given their known capabilities, further narrowing the pool of potential providers. Commercial satellite imagery often is distributed through complex global licensing networks, meaning images captured by one company can pass through multiple intermediaries before being accessed or published by third parties. Moolenaar also pointed to Airbus’ business ties in China, including a joint venture with entities linked to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, raising concerns about how satellite imagery could flow through networks connected to Beijing. The concerns come amid broader scrutiny from the committee over Airbus’ ties to China.  In a December 2025 letter, Moolenaar warned that Airbus’ work with Chinese firms linked to military development could risk advancing Beijing’s aerospace capabilities and said the French government had limited the committee’s ability to obtain information about Airbus’ operations. The episode highlights the expanding role of open-source intelligence in modern warfare, where commercially available satellite imagery can offer near real-time insight into military operations and, in some cases, expose sensitive positions during active conflicts. At the same time, such imagery has become a key tool for journalists, researchers and governments, often used to track conflicts and verify military activity—raising questions about how to balance transparency with security during wartime. Airbus and the Pentagon could not immediately be reached for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8a68d8d5dabda395a48e Antibiotic-resistant bacteria linked to severe stomach illness across US te 2026-04-14T18:41:44.074Z Antibiotic-resistant bacteria linked to severe stomach illness across US A drug-resistant bacterial infection has been on the rise in the U.S. in recent years, according to an alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Shigella, a gram-negative bacteria, causes a diarrheal illness called shigellosis. Drug-resistant incidences of the infection have "increased substantially" in the U.S. between 2011 and 2023. Researchers analyzed over 16,000 Shigella samples, testing them for antibiotic resistance to determine how many would not respond to commonly used antibiotics. DEADLY 'SUPERBUG' IS SPREADING ACROSS US AS DRUG RESISTANCE GROWS, RESEARCHERS WARN In 2011, there were no cases of highly drug-resistant Shigella infections; by 2023, approximately 8.5% of infections met that criteria. The findings were published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on April 9. Drug resistance was defined as not responding to ampicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which are the antibiotics commonly used to treat bacterial infections like Shigella. No FDA–approved oral antimicrobial agents are available to treat drug-resistant cases, the CDC stated. The majority of patients were adult men (86%), with a median age of 41. Among patients who reported their travel history, more than 80% said they had not left the country recently, suggesting that infections were spreading within the U.S. About one in three infected patients required hospitalization, the report stated. Among the people who provided their HIV status, nearly half were infected with the virus. The study had some limitations, the researchers noted. There is the chance that the CDC’s surveillance data may not capture all U.S. cases, and there may be missing data for key variables like travel history and HIV status. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES Also, the findings may not be generalizable to all populations or settings. To combat the rise of resistant infections, the CDC researchers emphasized the need for ongoing surveillance and public health response. Most people infected with Shigella will experience diarrhea (which can be bloody and prolonged), fever and stomach pain, starting one or two days after exposure, according to the CDC. Some people do not have any signs of illness, however. Symptoms typically last for five to seven days, but some people may experience prolonged sickness for several weeks. In rare cases, infected patients may develop complications such as reactive arthritis, bloodstream infections, seizures or hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which involves damage to blood vessels in the kidneys. Shigella germs spread easily through an infected person's stool. People can become infected if they get Shigella germs on their hands and then touch their food or mouth, according to the CDC.  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER This can happen changing the diaper of an infected child or caring for someone with the illness. Touching contaminated surfaces can also increase the risk. Eating raw food or contaminated produce can also lead to infection, as can swallowing recreational water containing the germ. Young children, travelers, gay or bisexual men, and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting Shigella, the CDC cautioned. To reduce the risk of contracting Shigella, experts recommend carefully washing your hands with soap and water after activities that could cause exposure. It is also important to avoid swallowing water from lakes, ponds or pools, and to follow safe food and water habits while traveling, per the CDC. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Sexual activity should be avoided if a partner has been diagnosed. Anyone experiencing symptoms should see a doctor, and should stay home while sick. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8a3ed8d5dabda395a466 Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap discussed election records, litigation with feds te 2026-04-14T18:41:02.531Z Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap discussed election records, litigation with feds Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8a2ad8d5dabda395a45d Ruth and Steve Pollyea make a $1.375M gift commitment to U of A Eller College of Management Partnerships Office te 2026-04-14T18:40:42.541Z Ruth and Steve Pollyea make a $1.375M gift commitment to U of A Eller College of Management Partnerships Office Ruth and Steve Pollyea make a $1.375M gift commitment to U of A Eller College of Management Partnerships Office mittank Tue, 14 Apr 2026 - 11:22 Ruth and Steve Pollyea make a $1.375M gift commitment to U of A Eller College of Management Partnerships Office Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8a15d8d5dabda395a440 Someone planted backdoors in dozens of WordPress plugins used in thousands of websites te 2026-04-14T18:40:21.486Z Someone planted backdoors in dozens of WordPress plugins used in thousands of websites Dozens of WordPress plugins were allegedly hijacked to push malware after they were sold to a new corporate owner. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de87c5d8d5dabda395a3cc J.J. Hardy, UA swimming coach Frank Busch among 7 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductees te 2026-04-14T18:30:29.228Z J.J. Hardy, UA swimming coach Frank Busch among 7 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductees Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de85e7d8d5dabda395a31f Omaha police shoot and kill woman after alleged Walmart kidnapping attempt te 2026-04-14T18:22:31.984Z Omaha police shoot and kill woman after alleged Walmart kidnapping attempt Officers from the Omaha Police Department (OPD) shot and killed a woman in the parking lot of an Omaha, Nebraska Walmart after she cut a 3-year-old boy with a knife on Tuesday, police told Fox News Digital. "When officers arrived, they encountered a woman who cut an approximately 3-year-old boy with large knife. Officers shot the woman, who died at the scene. The boy was taken to the hospital," the OPD said in a statement on X. Police stressed that it was an isolated incident and that there was no threat to the public at the time. MACHETE-WIELDING SUSPECT CLAIMING TO BE 'LUCIFER' SHOT BY POLICE AFTER ALLEGEDLY STABBING 3 AT TRANSIT HUB Police arrived to the Walmart, located at 72nd St. between Pacific and Mercy Road, at approximately 9:20 a.m., according to local media reports. The woman had taken the child from his caretaker and made him walk outside, OPD Deputy Chief Scott Gray reportedly told reporters at the scene, according to WOWT. When police began to give the woman commands, she started "swiping" at the child, giving the child lacerations to the hands and face, Gray said The child was taken to a local hospital for the injuries but is expected to survive. A spokesperson for Walmart condemned the incident in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Violence like this is unacceptable. We’re working with police and supporting them in their investigation," the statement read. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de85d4d8d5dabda395a316 Bernie Sanders aims to block sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel, accusing US ally of 'genocide' te 2026-04-14T18:22:12.074Z Bernie Sanders aims to block sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel, accusing US ally of 'genocide' Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is aiming to block the sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel. "This week, I will be forcing a vote on legislation to block the sale of nearly half a billion dollars worth of bombs and bulldozers to the Israeli military," he said in a Monday post on X. The left-wing lawmaker accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of perpetrating "genocide." IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER SEVERELY DISFIGURED BY US STRIKES: REPORT "The extremist Netanyahu government that has committed genocide in Gaza does not need more military support from American taxpayers," Sanders said in the post. In a Tuesday post on another X account, Sanders asserted, "This week, I will be forcing a vote to block nearly $500 million in bombs and bulldozers to Israel.  Enough is enough." IDF UNCOVERS HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS STASH INSIDE HOSPITAL IN LEBANON "U.S. taxpayers must not keep funding the Netanyahu government’s mass killing and displacement of civilians in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon," he added. Sanders introduced joint resolutions last month to prohibit the sales of bulldozers and bombs to Israel. IRAN'S ‘GODFATHER OF PROPAGANDA’ TACTICS RESURFACE IN WAR WITH US AND ISRAEL The U.S. and Israel recently worked together to bombard the Islamic Republic of Iran for over a month. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de85c0d8d5dabda395a30d Lauren Sánchez Bezos defends risqué Trump inauguration look after backlash te 2026-04-14T18:21:52.050Z Lauren Sánchez Bezos defends risqué Trump inauguration look after backlash Lauren Sánchez Bezos didn’t blink at the backlash after turning heads — and raising eyebrows — with a risqué look at President Donald Trump’s inauguration. On Saturday, the 56-year-old told The New York Times she was "super proud" of her controversial ensemble despite receiving backlash following the historic event on Jan. 20, 2025. The wife of Jeff Bezos, Amazon chairman, wore a white Alexander McQueen pantsuit featuring a fitted satin-trimmed blazer with a plunging V-neck and wide-leg trousers. She skipped a traditional blouse and instead opted for a white lace bra. She completed the look with a fuzzy coat for the wintry day. Sánchez Bezos also paired the outfit with a smoky eye, glossy nude lips and a sleek updo. Her billionaire beau wore a suit with an oxblood tie. MELANIA TRUMP HOSTS STAR-STUDDED WHITE HOUSE SCREENING AHEAD OF HER FILM'S RELEASE "I was super proud of myself," she told the outlet. "I get it," she said. "No lace at the White House. Noted." The outlet reported that Sánchez Bezos, who thought she had dressed conservatively, wasn’t prepared for the event to move indoors. When she removed her coat, the blazer opened, revealing her lingerie-as-outerwear. Because she and her then-fiancé were seated directly behind Trump, the outfit was captured by photographers at the event. WATCH: PRESIDENT TRUMP, MELANIA TRUMP HIT THE RED CARPET FOR 'MELANIA' DOCUMENTARY At the time, many took to social media to criticize Sánchez Bezos’ style. "Jeff Bezos future wife Lauren Sanchez is incredibly inappropriately dressed for a state occasion," one critic wrote on X. "Someone should have told her that having her white lace bra out on display is not acceptable." "Good grief, Lauren Sanchez. Put them away for one day," chimed another. "Really, a bra plainly visible," another user wrote. "Today is NOT a night club event. Show some class & dignity." When one user insisted that Sánchez Bezos "forgot to put a shirt on," another replied, "Maybe she can get one from Amazon same day shipping." Meanwhile, others joked that the mother of three was "dressed by Victoria’s Secret." "Just when I was luxuriating in the beauty and class of @FLOTUS45, in walks Lauren Sanchez wearing only a bra," one user said, comparing the Emmy winner to Melania Trump. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER At the inauguration, the first lady, 55, wore a more modest navy Adam Lippes tailored silk wool coat. She completed her look with a navy silk wool pencil skirt and an ivory silk crêpe blouse, along with black leather gloves and a wide-brimmed hat. Facebook and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was seated next to Sánchez Bezos, was also called out on social media, but for a different reason. Viewers of the inauguration said he appeared to glance at her chest. "Zuckerberg was out of control ogling Jeff Bezos’ fiancée!" one X user wrote, while another noted, "This is the most normal thing I have ever seen Zuckerberg do."  "Mark Zuckerberg was caught Fact Checking," another X user commented. Summer Anne Lee, a presidential fashion historian and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), told Newsweek at the time that Sánchez Bezos’ fashion statement on the historic day left her stunned. "I gasped when I saw it," Lee admitted about the jaw-dropping number. "I imagine this revealing lingerie moment has got to be a 'first' in inauguration fashion history, even if she is just an attendee and not a part of the ceremony." Sánchez Bezos appeared to have "liked" multiple supportive comments on social media, People reported. One comment read, "THAT GIRL don’t let the haters bring you down! Only opinion that matters is your own and Jeff’s." Another "liked" comment read, "I thought your inauguration outfit was very modern & classy you looked beautiful." "Stunning!" one user chimed. "Every outfit so far is beyond the physical style but represents being true to yourself, bold, someone who takes risks, and confident in your own skin. More should embrace this." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Sánchez Bezos told the outlet that much of the criticism about her appearance "feels rooted in racial stereotypes." "It’s the shape of my body," she argued. "Is someone going to give me a gunnysack and ask me to put a belt on it and cinch it?" "I’m Latin. I’m Latin. I’m Latin," she stressed. Sánchez Bezos and Bezos married on June 27 in a lavish ceremony in Venice. Bezos, 62, shares four children with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott. Sánchez Bezos shares son Nikko, 25, with ex-boyfriend Tony Gonzalez, and son Evan, 19, and daughter Ella, 18, with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8597d8d5dabda395a2f4 Camp Mystic Hearing in Texas Weighs Reopening After Deadly Flooding te 2026-04-14T18:21:11.999Z Camp Mystic Hearing in Texas Weighs Reopening After Deadly Flooding Testimony at a hearing this week has focused on what camp leaders knew and did as floodwaters rose in July, killing at least 116 people. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8583d8d5dabda395a2df GOP states are taking up voting laws modeled after Trump’s SAVE America Act te 2026-04-14T18:20:51.570Z GOP states are taking up voting laws modeled after Trump’s SAVE America Act Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8566d8d5dabda395a2c2 Anthropic co-founder confirms the company briefed the Trump administration on Mythos te 2026-04-14T18:20:22.616Z Anthropic co-founder confirms the company briefed the Trump administration on Mythos The AI giant's co-founder confirms that Anthropic briefed the Trump administration on its latest model, Mythos, which it claims has powerful cybersecurity capabilities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8375d8d5dabda395a252 Socialist Mamdani touts government-run grocery plan as ‘grand experiment’' at grocery new site te 2026-04-14T18:12:05.466Z Socialist Mamdani touts government-run grocery plan as ‘grand experiment’' at grocery new site New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke at one of his proposed government-run grocery stores on Tuesday, touting what he described as a "grand experiment" that would reduce the cost of everyday items like bread and eggs. The socialist mayor, who has promised to open one such store in each borough, said the city will subsidize basic grocery items while a private operator runs the stores under city rules requiring lower prices. "New York City it is time for a grand experiment once again, just as LaGuardia used government to respond to the challenges of the Great Depression, we will use government to respond to rising prices and unaffordable groceries," Mamdani said at La Marqueta in East Harlem on Tuesday. STRAPPED NEW YORKERS SWARM CHAOTIC MAMDANI-INSPIRED FREE GROCERY STORE POP-UP: WE’RE 'IN PAIN’ The 9,000-square-foot store in East Harlem will be constructed from the ground up on a nearby vacant, city-owned lot and is expected to open by 2029, while the first city-owned grocery store is expected to open in late 2027. Mamdani has allocated $70 million in capital funds for the development of the five sites. The Harlem grocery store will cost $30 million to build, according to the New York Times. Mamdani invoked former Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, noting the site once housed a city-run market created during the Great Depression to lower food costs. "Now, here's how it works. The city will subsidize a core set of staples. A private operator will run the store, but the answer to the standards that the city will set these standards include requirements that at our stores, bread will be cheaper, eggs will be cheaper, grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation, and workers will be treated with dignity," Mamdani said. MAMDANI MOVES TO SIDELINE NYC POLICE WITH NEW SAFETY OFFICE UNDER SWEEPING OVERHAUL Mamdani said grocery prices in New York City have risen nearly 66% over the past decade, significantly outpacing the national average. The city-owned grocery initiative is designed to lower costs on everyday staples by using public ownership to eliminate costs that are currently passed on to consumers, he said. "The difference in this approach is that we are not hoping for affordability. We're guaranteeing affordability in the contract we will have with a private operator," Mamdani said. "Now, at its peak, La Marqueta serves 25,000 customers per day. We hope to make a similar impact here in this very neighborhood," Mamdani said. "Continuing Fiorello LaGuardia legacy. This is what we mean by a new era when New Yorkers are being priced out of their groceries. Government will step in and deliver affordability," he added. Mamdani said the city-run stores would be part of a broader "ecosystem" and would not replace existing grocers, including bodegas and neighborhood supermarkets, amid questions about their impact on small businesses. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8361d8d5dabda395a249 House Dems unveil bill to examine removing Trump using 25th Amendment te 2026-04-14T18:11:45.642Z House Dems unveil bill to examine removing Trump using 25th Amendment House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a long-shot bill in a possible attempt to remove President Trump from office using the 25th Amendment. The 10-page legislation, introduced by House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., would create a 17-member commission to assess whether the amendment could be used to boot Trump from the White House. The panel would be composed of several physicians and former high-ranking executive officials appointed by congressional leaders from both parties. "[T]he Commission shall carry out a medical examination of the President to determine whether the President is mentally or physically unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office," the bill states. TRUMP'S THREAT TO END IRANIAN 'CIVILIZATION' SPARKS UPROAR ON CAPITOL HILL Democratic and Republican leaders of each chamber of Congress would select four physicians and four psychiatrists to serve on the commission. The 16 appointed members would then vote to select an additional member to chair the body. Many House and Senate Democrats have called for Trump to be removed from office or impeached after he wrote that a "whole civilization will die tonight" in a social media post regarding the war in Iran. Raskin cited Trump's "increasingly volatile, incoherent, and alarming public statements" during the ongoing conflict. "We have a solemn duty to play our defined role under the 25th Amendment by setting up this body to act alongside the Vice President and the Cabinet," Raskin said in a statement. "Public trust in Donald Trump’s ability to meet the duties of his office has dropped to unprecedented lows as he threatens to destroy entire civilizations, unleashes chaos in the Middle East while violating Congressional war powers, aggressively insults the Pope of the Catholic Church, and sends out artistic renderings online likening himself to Jesus Christ." SENATE DEM ACCUSES TRUMP OF BEING 'UNFIT FOR OFFICE,' JOINS GROWING CALL TO IMPEACH, OUST PRESIDENT The legislation has 50 Democratic co-sponsors. The White House pushed back on Raskin's claims, asserting that Trump's cognitive ability has not deteriorated, while also criticizing Democrats over former President Joe Biden's mental lapses during his time in office. "Lightweight Jamie Raskin is a stupid person’s idea of a smart person," White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital. "President Trump’s sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the last administration, when Democrats like Raskin intentionally covered up Joe Biden’s serious mental and physical decline from the American people." Trump defended his statements, saying he did not follow through with his threats because Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. He noted that his remarks "brought [Iran] to the table, with the exception of the one thing which I believe that they’re going to give up on." "Remember, what do they say to us? For years, I’ve had to listen to them say, ‘Death to America,’ right?" Trump said on "Sunday Morning Futures," referencing Tehran's rallying cry. "They say, ‘Death to America, death to Israel, America is a Satan, we will destroy America, death to America.’ Now, does anybody ever complain to you when they say that? I think that’s a big step worse—‘Death to America.’" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8339d8d5dabda395a231 Ishmael Jaffree, Who Won Case Rejecting School Prayer, Dies at 80 te 2026-04-14T18:11:05.738Z Ishmael Jaffree, Who Won Case Rejecting School Prayer, Dies at 80 An Alabama parent, he objected to prayer in his children’s classrooms. The Supreme Court ruled for him, a high-water mark in the push for the strict separation of church and state. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8325d8d5dabda395a21e Trump administration settles suit, returns Pride flag to NYC Stonewall monument te 2026-04-14T18:10:45.258Z Trump administration settles suit, returns Pride flag to NYC Stonewall monument Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de830fd8d5dabda395a200 Anthropic co-founder confirms the company briefed the Trump adminstration on Mythos te 2026-04-14T18:10:23.579Z Anthropic co-founder confirms the company briefed the Trump adminstration on Mythos The AI giant's co-founder confirms that Anthropic briefed the Trump administration on its latest model, Mythos, which it claims has powerful cybersecurity capabilities. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de815cd8d5dabda395a1b9 Sedona housing gap widens te 2026-04-14T18:03:08.083Z Sedona housing gap widens City’s report highlights aging population, workforce shortages Nails will meet wood as 221 housing units are slated to go up in the coming years, however, it may not be enough to house Sedona’s workforce. Sedona may need as many as 775 new housing units over the next decade to meet the city’s needs, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8143d8d5dabda395a189 Anna Kepner's dad wants accused stepbrother in 'orange jumpsuit and handcuffs' after alleged cruise murder te 2026-04-14T18:02:43.737Z Anna Kepner's dad wants accused stepbrother in 'orange jumpsuit and handcuffs' after alleged cruise murder The father of an 18-year-old allegedly murdered and sexually assaulted in her cruise ship cabin says her accused stepbrother is a "danger" who belongs in "an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs." Christopher Kepner told the Daily Mail that he is outraged that the accused murderer, 16-year-old T.H., is still allowed to live with a relative despite being federally charged as an adult. "We’re upset that he’s still out. We’re six months in, and he should already have been arrested, and yet he’s free to do whatever he wants right now," Christopher Kepner told the outlet. "That’s our problem. He’s been able to do whatever he wants and go where he wants, but the family’s been sitting here unable to do anything." T.H. was initially charged as a juvenile on Feb. 2. He is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, the teen faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. ANNA KEPNER’S STEPBROTHER CHARGED AS ADULT WITH MURDER, SEXUAL ABUSE IN FLORIDA TEEN’S CRUISE SHIP DEATH The charges come months after the teen, affectionately called "Anna banana," was found dead onboard the cruise ship during a family vacation with her father, stepmother, grandparents and several siblings. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X "I want to see him in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He does not need to be free. He does not need to be in the general public, around any kids or women in general," Christopher Kepner said. "He’s a danger to himself and a danger to others." SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Kepner said that the 16-year-old has shown no remorse since the alleged murder, the Daily Mail reported. SEND US A TIP HERE "He's still saying that he can't remember and that's about it. He hasn't apologized. He hasn't shown any remorse for anything," he added.  On Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida announced that Anna's stepbrother would be charged as an adult. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST The teen is facing possible life in prison if convicted, records showed. Fox News Digital has reached out to T.H.'s attorneys for comment. "Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss," U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said. "A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care. As in every case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Anna Kepner was discovered dead around 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 7 inside her cabin aboard the cruise ship. Authorities later ruled her death a homicide caused by "mechanical asphyxiation," according to documents previously reviewed by Fox News Digital. According to investigators, she was found under the bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets. The cabin was shared with her stepbrother. In February, T.H. was seen arriving in federal court in Miami. The teenager walked into the courthouse in a camouflage hoodie, his face concealed beneath a low-pulled baseball cap and a hood wrapped tightly around it. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de8130d8d5dabda395a180 New Jersey nurse gunned down at work by estranged husband in murder-suicide: police te 2026-04-14T18:02:24.298Z New Jersey nurse gunned down at work by estranged husband in murder-suicide: police A New Jersey nurse was shot and killed inside her workplace in an apparent murder-suicide, after her estranged husband allegedly ambushed her outside and chased her into the building, authorities said. Brandon Alexander, 35, targeted his wife, Victoria Alexander, 38, a nurse at the Excelcare Rehabilitation Facility in Egg Harbor Township, around 6 a.m. Monday morning, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release. Brandon Alexander blocked his wife’s car in the parking lot as she arrived for work, got inside her vehicle and left two suicide notes on the dashboard, investigators said. Prosecutors said that when a food delivery driver asked him to move his car, Victoria Alexander seized the chance to escape and ran into the building. ARIZONA WOMAN CHARGED WITH KILLING NEWBORN CHILD 45 YEARS AFTER BODY WAS FOUND Her husband, however, followed her inside and shot her multiple times before turning the gun on himself, according to authorities. ANNA KEPNER'S STEPBROTHER CHARGED AS ADULT WITH MURDER, SEXUAL ABUSE IN FLORIDA TEEN'S CRUISE SHIP DEATH Victoria Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene. Brandon Alexander was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries, officials said. Authorities described the shooting as an isolated incident. There were no reports of other injuries. Investigators did not immediately share the contents of the two apparent suicide notes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de811cd8d5dabda395a177 Israel's spy chief says Iran mission will only end when 'extremist regime' is replaced te 2026-04-14T18:02:04.595Z Israel's spy chief says Iran mission will only end when 'extremist regime' is replaced Mossad Director Dadi Barnea declared Tuesday that Israel’s operations against Iran will end "only once the extremist regime in Iran is replaced."  Barnea made the remark during a Holocaust commemoration event, according to The Wall Street Journal.  "We meticulously planned so that our operations would continue and manifest themselves even in the period following the strikes in Tehran," Barnea reportedly said. "Our commitment will be fulfilled only once the extremist regime in Iran is replaced."  "Forty days of intense combat have led to highly significant achievements, foremost among them a blow to the enemy's central objective -- the destruction of the State of Israel," Barnea added, according to Ynetnews. "However, our mission has not yet been completed." LIVE UPDATES: FRESH IRAN TALKS COULD BEGIN THIS WEEK AS US CONTINUES BLOCKADE ON PORTS Israel began its Operation Roaring Lion against Iran on Feb. 28, the same day the U.S. military launched Operation Epic Fury.  The joint U.S.-Israel effort has decimated Iran’s military and missile infrastructure and resulted in the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei.  CHINA SLAMS US MILITARY BLOCKADE OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS A 'DANGEROUS AND IRRESPONSIBLE MOVE' Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is severely disfigured after sustaining leg and face injuries during initial airstrikes on Tehran in February, Reuters reported earlier this week. Khamenei is recovering after incurring the injuries in the Feb. 28 airstrikes that killed his father.  Fox News Digital’s Robert McGreevy contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de80f3d8d5dabda395a157 Hobbs to Republicans: Show me your budget or every bill you send me is dead te 2026-04-14T18:01:23.736Z Hobbs to Republicans: Show me your budget or every bill you send me is dead Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de80dfd8d5dabda395a14e Judge dismisses Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal te 2026-04-14T18:01:03.911Z Judge dismisses Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de80c9d8d5dabda395a130 London gets closer to its first robotaxi service as Waymo begins testing te 2026-04-14T18:00:41.943Z London gets closer to its first robotaxi service as Waymo begins testing Waymo's commercial service will eventually follow testing if the UK government approves. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de80b5d8d5dabda395a109 Tucson's first sim racing lounge opens on Broadway te 2026-04-14T18:00:21.980Z Tucson's first sim racing lounge opens on Broadway Tucson has its first simulated racing experience, and the family behind it is betting the city has been waiting for something like it. Located at 5460 E. Broadway Blvd., Ignition Sim Racing features ten purpose-built full-motion bays, each equipped with pedals, wheels and three display monitors to put drivers in the cockpit of a virtual race car. Sim racing uses high-fidelity software and hardware to replicate the experience of driving a real race car, from the resistance of the steering wheel to the feedback of the road beneath it. The family-owned business opened in February. It is operated by Isaiah Yonas, his brother and father, who have been planning the racing lounge for close to a year. They originally started with one rig they brought to car shows and recreational events, eventually expanding to a full storefront for anyone to enjoy. Simulated racing has been a longtime passion of Yonas and his brother. "We've always been into gaming, always been into cars and just kind of seeing the appreciation for the sim when we would take it out, we thought it would be a good idea to open one of these in Tucson," he said. The racing lounge at Ignition Sim Racing offers hourly sessions and memberships for drivers of all experience levels. Elias Bonilla / Tucson Spotlight. Their goal was to create something everyone in the community can enjoy. "We think that Tucson definitely needs more stuff to do overall and that's what's great about sim racing is it covers such a broad spectrum of people," Yonas said. "It's one of those things where no matter what background you have, competition is most likely in you. This is just something new and exciting that everybody can get into, at all experience levels of driving or gaming." Ignition Sim Racing has prioritized accommodating anyone, especially people with no racing experience. The business offers track and vehicle options for every skill set, from beginner-friendly layouts to advanced modes tailored to specific car classes like Formula 1 and GT3. Newcomers can work with staff to learn the basics and improve their lap times. Yonas said beginners start with five laps on an open track, which may seem short but is usually enough for things to click. "By the fourth or fifth lap they're thinking, 'How can I get faster?'" he said. Ignition Sim Racing offers hourly sessions, allowing participants to drive as much as they want during their allotted time. Memberships are also available for those who want to use the bays for personal practice. "These rigs that we have, you're not going to find them in a home setup," he said. "So this is an opportunity for you to be on the best of the best rigs." Ignition Sim Racing opened its doors at 5460 E. Broadway Blvd. in February, bringing Tucson its first full-motion simulated racing experience. Elias Bonilla / Tucson Spotlight. The lounge also hosts monthly race nights, with qualifying sessions held throughout the month. Yonas said the events draw all ages, with competitors in their last race night ranging from 14 to 60 years old. In the lounge's short history, it has already partnered with organizations like Pima Community College's men's soccer team and FC Tucson to showcase sim racing's "overlap with sports." The business is also looking to expand into flight simulators, including dogfighting and runway practice experiences, which Yonas believes will resonate with Tucsonans given the city's connection to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Yonas said the support he and his family have received since opening is more than they could have imagined. "It's been really great because Tucson's a very supportive tight knit town," he said. "We're doing our best to bring people out of the house and also introduce new people to the sport too." Ignition Sim Racing is open Tuesday through Sunday and will hold its official grand opening May 17. Elias Bonilla is a journalism and political science major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact him at ebonilla1500@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/69de7c20d8d5dabda3959fea Appeals Court Ends Contempt Inquiry Into Deportation Flights te 2026-04-14T17:40:48.691Z Appeals Court Ends Contempt Inquiry Into Deportation Flights A federal judge’s nearly yearlong effort to investigate whether the Trump administration had violated his order had become a flashpoint in the president’s battles with the courts. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de7c0bd8d5dabda3959fd8 U of A professors Elaine Romero, Erika Hamden named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows te 2026-04-14T17:40:27.695Z U of A professors Elaine Romero, Erika Hamden named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows U of A professors Elaine Romero, Erika Hamden named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows lburtchbuus Tue, 14 Apr 2026 - 08:21 U of A professors Elaine Romero, Erika Hamden named 2026 Guggenheim Fellows Today A pair of University of Arizona professors Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de77b4d8d5dabda3959f39 EPA waiver for E15 gasoline as summer arrives in Arizona rekindles air quality debate te 2026-04-14T17:21:56.377Z EPA waiver for E15 gasoline as summer arrives in Arizona rekindles air quality debate WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to allow the sale of gasoline with higher ethanol content in Arizona during May is intended to offset price hikes related to the Iran war.  But there’s a reason why the EPA has prohibited that blend in the summer months since 2011: the hotter the temperature, the more ground-level ozone is generated as cars burn that fuel. E15 is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol, much of which is produced from corn. “Because ethanol can increase gasoline volatility even at low levels, E15 can evaporate more easily in higher summer temperatures and create ozone,” J.W. Glass, senior EPA policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said by email. Typically, E15 is sold in Arizona from September to June 1, although suppliers start to transition from the winter blend in April. The rest of the year, gas that isn’t blended with ethanol is used, reducing evaporation in hotter weather and along with it, the risk of smog. In 2025, EPA issued a series of 20-day waivers allowing retail E15 sales from May 1 to Sept. 15 when they would otherwise have been banned. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin’s announcement before the initial waiver indicated that he intended to allow year-round sales.  On March 18, Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, asked the EPA to delay the mandatory annual transition to summer blends, citing rising fuel prices stemming from the war with Iran.  A week later, Zeldin issued an emergency waiver allowing E15 sales nationwide through May 20, and indicated he may issue more 20-day extensions later – the most allowed by law. “The price of gas has skyrocketed due to the war in Iran,” Hobbs posted after the EPA announcement. “This important waiver will help create supply certainty, bring prices down and help Arizonans get by.” Zeldin didn’t indicate whether he intended to make the 2026 waiver year-round. But in the same announcement, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that “year-round E-15 is essential for the farm economy, and Congress needs to find a common sense solution that provides much needed certainty to consumers and farmers.” Last year, the EPA renewed waivers repeatedly, ultimately allowing E15 sales in Arizona through Sept. 15. Health experts say the use of E15 puts air quality at risk, and warn that increases in ground-level ozone can be disastrous for people with asthma and other health conditions.  “There’s a direct relationship between ozone and fine particulate matter exposure and deaths,” said Dr. Jamie Garfield, a national medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association. “People who have chronic respiratory, chronic pulmonary or chronic cardiac diseases are more likely to have an exacerbation when they are in locations that have high air pollution and ozone pollution.” The association’s 2025 State of the Air report, which documents pollution from fine particulate matter and ozone – a combination known as smog – ranked the Phoenix metro area fourth nationwide for ozone.  According to the study, Phoenix residents endured 55 days of unhealthy air in 2025, a seven-day increase from the previous year.  State officials say the brief extension of E15 sales will have little public health impact. Shea Sorenson, deputy public information officer for air quality at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, said recent testing that compared E15 to the 10% blend usually sold in the summer found no noticeable differences as far as ozone.  “The analysis showed that switching to E15 would cause a negligible increase in ozone-forming pollutants – roughly 0.04%, or 12 pounds per day across the entire region,” she said. “Because the difference is so small and the waivers are temporary, ADEQ does not expect E15 to have a meaningful or lasting impact on Arizona’s long-term air quality goals.” Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat who has been highly critical of Trump’s attack on Iran, which disrupted global oil supplies, also praised the EPA’s move and predicted it “will help lower gas prices and bring some relief to Arizona families.” But environmentalists say they’re worried about the immediate effects on public health and the precedent. Since 1972, Arizona’s State Implementation Plan has been used to manage the state’s air pollution through revisions, ordinances and rules that are approved by the EPA. These rules are based on the Clean Air Act, and measure six air pollutants, including ozone.  While the SIP does not allow the sale of E15 blends in the summer months, the EPA has issued waivers every year since 2022 to allow the gas to be sold into the summer months in Arizona.  “Historically, EPA has not focused on smog impacts of the cumulative public health burden, despite its obligation to do so,” Glass said in an email. “Increased temperatures and increased consumption of E15 means increased smog. Increased smog means increased lung problems, but also harm to the natural environment, damage to vegetation, and even disruption of important pollinators like bees and butterflies.” The link between heat and ozone is well-established. It’s called a “climate penalty factor.” A study published in December by University of Arizona researchers found that ozone levels were twice as likely to exceed federal standards in Phoenix during a heat wave – four straight days at 111 degrees or higher – as on other days. The study looked at 11 summers from 2011 to 2022 and found exceedances on 20% of days during heat waves.  “As heat waves become more frequent and intense with climate change, ozone pollution may worsen in cities like Phoenix,” the study’s lead author, Lakshmi Parakkat, a UofA graduate student who studies climate change and aerosols, said by email.  In Arizona, 80% of ground-level ozone comes from natural sources such as wildfires, plus pollution from outside the state, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments and others.  “Yuma is heavily impacted by ozone transport from California and Mexico,” Karen Peters, director of ADEQ, testified to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in March 2023.  But local reductions in emissions do help control local air quality.  As of April 13, the average price per gallon of regular gasoline in Arizona was $4.70, up from $4.10 one month earlier, though down 4 cents from a week ago, according to data from AAA.  Nationwide, the average was $4.12 per gallon, according to AAA. Until April 2, that average hadn’t hit $4 in nearly four years.  Some economists expressed skepticism about the Trump administration’s effort to drive down prices at the pump by extending E15 availability. Kenneth Gillingham, a professor of environmental and energy economics at Yale University, agreed that keeping E15 on the market could cut gas prices by 20 cents per gallon but noted that “does not account for any impacts on the environment or human health.” “Ethanol is actually worse in terms of local air pollutants than gasoline,” he said. “It also does not account for the fact that ethanol is less energy dense, so using a blend with a higher fraction of ethanol reduces your fuel economy by a few percent. This would reduce the actual savings on fuel.” The post EPA waiver for E15 gasoline as summer arrives in Arizona rekindles air quality debate appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de779ad8d5dabda3959ee9 Eric Swalwell was cable news star for years before rapid fall from grace te 2026-04-14T17:21:30.038Z Eric Swalwell was cable news star for years before rapid fall from grace FIRST ON FOX — Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., was one of the most visible Democrats on cable news before his quick fall from grace over sexual misconduct allegations, appearing on MS NOW and CNN hundreds of times in recent years, including 50 times already in 2026. Swalwell, who suspended his California gubernatorial campaign this week and said he will resign from Congress following sexual assault allegations, developed a reputation over the last decade for being highly available to cable news producers. His ability to go on air with little notice and his positions on prominent House committees made him a point person to offer Democratic Party talking points.  A Media Research Center study found that Swalwell appeared on MS NOW 26 times and on CNN another 24 times in 2026 alone, with all the appearances coming between January 1 and April 10.  "A combined 50 cable news appearances in just the first 14 weeks of 2026 is astounding considering he’s not in party leadership. He was averaging three to four appearances per week," MRC associate editor Nicholas Fondacaro told Fox News Digital.  JIMMY KIMMEL IGNORES SWALWELL NEWS AFTER EX-LAWMAKER ANNOUNCED CAMPAIGN ON LATE-NIGHT HOST'S SHOW LAST YEAR MS NOW and CNN were giving the gubernatorial hopeful a significant amount of free airtime before he became engulfed in scandal, but Swalwell had been a fixture for years. Swalwell, who was first elected to the House in 2012, saw his star rise during President Donald Trump's first term due to his prominent role on the House Intelligence Committee and the sprawling Russia investigation, often making charges of "collusion."  From Jan. 1, 2018 to the end of Trump's first term on Jan. 20, 2021, Swalwell's name was mentioned on CNN and MSNBC — now called MS NOW — more than 2,000 times, including on reruns, according to a Grabien data search. Swalwell made a brief run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but dropped out well before the Iowa caucuses. The New York Times reported that Swalwell’s frequent media appearances helped give him credibility in the California gubernatorial race, as he had "no experience in state government" and few connections with Democratic leaders. "What he had was a media profile as a Trump antagonist, burnished by years of appearances on news shows that made him more familiar to voters than most of his competitors," the Times reported, later adding, "Mr. Swalwell’s experience combating President Trump gave him tremendous exposure — much more than a state government official can garner in today’s media ecosystem." SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING' "Swalwell was a staple for the liberal media throughout the first Trump term," Fondacaro told Fox News Digital. "Often overlooking his cartoonish antics, he swiftly became a notable figure they would lean on heavily for anti-Trump commentary during events such as the Mueller investigation and the impeachments." "The liberal media’s love affair with Swalwell allowed him to weather the Fang Fang scandal and was carried over into the second Trump term," Fondacaro continued. "As with the first term, they relied on him to be on the firebrand against Trump and his officials both on TV and in committee hearings." Swalwell was also swept up with suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang, or "Fang Fang." The suspected operative helped raise funds for Swalwell’s 2014 House re-election campaign and placed at least one intern in his office, but the ordeal did not derail the non-stop cable news appearances.   In the past week, Swalwell went from frequent cable news guest to the subject of scathing reports about a series of sexual misconduct allegations that have swiftly derailed his career. CNN even had an exclusive with women coming forward with on-camera remarks.  The Democrat, who has denied serious wrongdoing but admitted "mistakes," noted the allegations came as he was among the frontrunners in the crowded field to be the next California governor. MS NOW and CNN did not immediately respond to requests for comment. TWO DEMOCRATIC REPS CALL FOR SWALWELL TO EXIT CONGRESS AS CONTROVERSY SWIRLS AROUND HIS BID FOR CA GOVERNOR Meanwhile, members of the media have been casually noting that Swalwell’s behavior was commonly known in elite circles for years. Republicans are questioning how much top Democrats and media decision makers knew before the allegations became public.  "Ruthless" podcast host Josh Holmes believes the media simply used Swalwell until he couldn’t help them any longer.  "He’s a fall guy for a corrupt leadership and press corps that knew everything about his exploits as long as he was a useful idiot. He became a problem for their preservation of power, which is why you know about it," Holmes posted.  "The View" co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said on Monday that Swalwell’s reputation with women was reportedly an "open secret" that made him exploitable by America's enemies. Liberal pundit Matthew Yglesias posted that the situation was "widely rumored" and journalist Yashar Ali said Democrats have "all known for years." One reporter even suggested she failed to report out certain details because "MeToo stories on the Hill aren't related to my beat."  ‘THE VIEW’ HOST SAYS ERIC SWALWELL'S REPUTATION WITH WOMEN WAS ‘OPEN SECRET’ EXPLOITABLE BY ENEMIES "This should be a cautionary tale to be skeptical of those the liberal media elevate," Fondacaro said. "It’s been reported that Swalwell’s alleged misconduct was an ‘open secret’ among the media, D.C., and L.A. political circles," he added. "What else aren’t they telling voters? Who else are they covering for and will only turn against when they outlived their political usefulness?" Swalwell said Monday that he was "deeply sorry" to his family, staff and constituents, but still insisted the sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against him were "false." Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel and Adam Pack contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de7769d8d5dabda3959eb7 Max Hodak’s Science Corp. is preparing to place its first sensor in a human brain te 2026-04-14T17:20:41.834Z Max Hodak’s Science Corp. is preparing to place its first sensor in a human brain Human trials on the hybrid sensor are expected to begin in the years ahead. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de7756d8d5dabda3959eae YouTube livestreams will now hold back ads during peak engagement to protect the vibe te 2026-04-14T17:20:22.192Z YouTube livestreams will now hold back ads during peak engagement to protect the vibe Until now, the only way to avoid seeing ads was by paying for a YouTube Premium subscription. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de7556d8d5dabda3959e7f Arizona senators push to revamp energy aid formula they say favors cold-weather states te 2026-04-14T17:11:50.004Z Arizona senators push to revamp energy aid formula they say favors cold-weather states WASHINGTON – Arizona’s U.S. senators are renewing calls to revamp a decades-old federal program that helps low-income households manage energy costs, arguing that it shortchanges residents of states where extreme heat rather than frigid winters is the big problem. Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly say the formula is unfair and warn that lives are at stake. “Families are going to be cranking up the A/C already and feeling it in their power bills,” Kelly posted after Phoenix hit triple digits on March 18, the earliest date since 1988.  Arizona, which has a population of 7.6 million people, received $61 million through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program in 2023 compared to $287 million for Michigan, population 10.1 million. Fewer than 5% of eligible households in Arizona received LIHEAP assistance that year, compared with nearly 90% in Michigan. Dread of high cooling bills is an annual ritual for Arizona residents. “When you’re on one income and your utilities go up $50 or $100 a month, you don’t have much to stretch with,” said Kath Noble, a Mesa resident who serves as president of the Arizona Association of Manufactured Home Owners. “They just feel trapped. … I have talked to a number of older residents on a fixed income who only turn on the air conditioning for a few hours a day during the summer because they were so worried about paying for the bills.” LIHEAP, created by Congress in 1981, is the primary federal program to help low-income households cover energy costs, particularly heating and cooling. The program provides direct payments to utilities on behalf of eligible households – typically, those at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. LIHEAP has strong bipartisan support, though President Donald Trump has tried to eliminate it in all six budgets he has submitted to Congress, including the most recent on April 3. Ending LIHEAP would lop $4 billion in federal spending. Starting in 1984, Congress promised states they would get at least as much funding as they had under a 1981 formula. That formula was crafted by lawmakers from cold-weather states and skewed toward their constituents. When Congress doesn’t allocate enough money, the old formula is used – and states that were getting less at the time are shortchanged. Under Kelly and Gallego’s proposal, called the LIHEAP Parity Act, cold-weather states would no longer be guaranteed as much funding as they got under the old formula, ensuring a more even distribution of whatever funds Congress provides for the program each year. The senators introduced the bill last May.  The bill has stalled in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and the ranking Democrat, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, did not respond to requests for comment. “With Arizona facing record-breaking heat, affordable energy isn’t optional – it’s essential,” Gallego said in a statement. “Arizona shouldn’t be shortchanged by a federal formula that leaves hot-weather states behind.” Arizona officials in both parties support the revamp. “In Arizona, we know it’s life or death if you don’t have air conditioning in the summer,” Arizona Corporation Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson, a Republican, said in an interview. “I would like to see that LIHEAP is reconstructed to provide greater emphasis on those states that see high heat in the summer.” Peterson contacted the senators’ aides on April 6 urging them to try again to retool LIHEAP. “Reform is much needed to not only provide greater transparency in how the formula is developed and a better understanding of what data is used, but also to ensure states like Arizona have greater access to funds we all pay into,” Arizona Corporation Commissioner Kevin Thompson, a Republican, said via email. “Let’s get more of those dollars back into Arizona to help our most vulnerable.” “The federal government has long treated cold weather as dangerous and heat as an inconvenience,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Extreme heat kills, and low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities should not have to choose between paying rent and running their air conditioner during a deadly heat wave.” In 2025, there were 430 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County alone, according to the county health department’s annual report. That was down from 608 heat-related deaths in 2024, when temperatures in Phoenix hit 100 degrees for a record 113 days – the city’s hottest summer since recordkeeping began in 1896. The county recorded 645 heat deaths in 2023, the most in any year. Arizona’s worsening heat spells have meant higher cooling costs. Not everyone’s budget can absorb that. “It’s very hard to admit that you have to turn off the electricity in order to make your budget every month. That’s sad. It breaks my heart,” Noble said. Allison Hawley, a resident of a 55+ community of manufactured homes and recreational vehicles in north Phoenix, paid $359 for electricity in September. “Most of the folks in here are on fixed incomes, so they … are choosing whether they’re going to eat that month or pay that bill,” she said. “It’s really rough.” In Quartzsite, a town two hours west of Phoenix known for its large retiree population, resident Terri Newlon said she walks around her RV community and encourages seniors to keep the A/C on. But many are concerned about the cost and fear being evicted over unpaid utility bills. And some don’t qualify for LIHEAP because they don’t live year-round in the RV park. Newlon, a board member for the Association for the Education of Manufactured, Park Model, and RV Home Owners, a nonprofit focused on protecting the rights of homeowners who live on leased land, tells her neighbors their lives are more important than saving some money. “Cool your home off. … Go ahead and let the bill rack up, and we’ll find a way to negotiate,” she said. According to the National Weather Service, nine of the 10 hottest Phoenix summers on record have happened since 2000. For each of the past three years, the state’s major electricity companies, Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, broke records for peak demand. In 2025, that was on July 9, when Phoenix hit 118 degrees. APS spokesperson Marika Cooley noted the company offers various programs to help residents to hold down or cope with energy costs. “We always encourage folks to give us a call,” she said. The post Arizona senators push to revamp energy aid formula they say favors cold-weather states appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de753bd8d5dabda3959e37 Avid runner stabbed and shot in string of random attacks allegedly carried out by repeat offender te 2026-04-14T17:11:23.609Z Avid runner stabbed and shot in string of random attacks allegedly carried out by repeat offender A 40-year-old avid runner was stabbed and shot during a string of attacks allegedly carried out by a repeat offender in Georgia. Lauren Bullis, 40, was identified as one of the victims in Monday's string of attacks in DeKalb County, Georgia. Police arrested 26-year-old Olaolukitan Adon Abel on Monday following the back-to-back incidents. "It is apparent to us that this was a completely random attack," Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley said Monday. GOT A TIP? The timeline of the terror began at approximately 12:50 a.m. Monday, when DeKalb County Police discovered a woman shot multiple times on Wesley Chapel Road. She later died from her injuries, police said. Authorities have not identified her. The violence then shifted to Brookhaven, where a man was ambushed and shot several times while sleeping outside a business center on Peachtree Road. He remains in critical condition. FOLLOW US ON X The spree reached a horrific conclusion around 6:50 a.m. on Battle Forest Drive. There, 40-year-old Bullis was found both shot and stabbed in a vicious attack. Witnesses, police said, reported seeing a man standing over her before he fled the scene. Bullis did not survive her injuries. Adel was captured in Troup County after law enforcement used the license plate recognition cameras to track his silver Volkswagen Jetta, police said. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL He is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in Brookhaven, with further charges expected across the jurisdiction. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS Records reviewed by FOX 5 Atlanta show that Adel is no stranger to the legal system. He was arrested last fall for sexual battery in Chatham County and was sentenced to jail time and probation, which included a requirement for a mental health evaluation. Bullis' social media accounts showed that the 40-year-old Georgia woman was an avid runner, posting photos of participating in recent races. In a Facebook post, her cousin, Lee Renfroe, wrote that Bullis was "such a special person." "My cousin Lauren Bullis was brutally murdered in a series of violent attacks in the Decatur GA area," he wrote. "We love you and miss you Lauren. Please say a prayer for our families as well as the families of the other victims. I don’t even know how to completely put my thoughts together right now." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de7511d8d5dabda3959e04 Google adds AI Skills to Chrome to help you save favorite workflows te 2026-04-14T17:10:41.459Z Google adds AI Skills to Chrome to help you save favorite workflows Google is adding “Skills” to Chrome, letting users save and reuse AI prompts across websites. The feature builds on Gemini’s browser integration. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de74fdd8d5dabda3959df9 Tucson confronts deadly heat at community town hall te 2026-04-14T17:10:21.660Z Tucson confronts deadly heat at community town hall When Tucson recorded its first triple-digit temperature in March, the earliest such reading in Arizona history, it wasn't just a weather milestone. It was a warning. On March 31, hundreds of residents, public health officials and elected leaders gathered at the Donna Liggins Recreation Center to demand answers about what comes next. The packed room reflected the frustration many Tucsonans feel toward utility rate hikes and the fossil fuel industry's role in driving extreme heat. More than a dozen organizations sent representatives, with speakers describing how rising temperatures are hitting their communities in different ways. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Ward 1 Councilmember and Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz, Ward 6 Councilmember Miranda Schubert, Ward 3 Councilmember Kevin Dahl and Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva were among those in attendance. In 2024, the city of Tucson adopted a Heat Action Roadmap to inform and protect residents and find ways to cool neighborhoods. The city has also implemented a tree planting initiative, water harvesting program, affordable solar program and sustainability campus. "It hits first and worst to our most vulnerable communities," Romero said. "We see a world waste-free. We are really doing lots of work." Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva speaks at the extreme heat town hall, calling climate change "a call to action" for Tucson residents. Arilynn Hyatt / Tucson Spotlight. The city council has been working on setting local regulations for data centers since last summer, and is also working on land and large water use ordinances, as well as creating an energy collaboration agreement with Tucson Electric Power. "If we pass it, it would be the first in the state and only sixth in the country where we do a collaboration agreement with a private utility," Romero said. Even with these local efforts, both Romero and Grijalva stressed that federal funding cuts are undermining the city's progress on climate change. "We do not have the type of investment that the previous administration made available to cities like Tucson," Romero said. "The federal government and the Trump administration are dismantling programs that could help us move forward." Grijalva said she believes it is the federal government's job to find local solutions to climate change problems. "Tonight is not just a town hall, it is a call to action to each and every one of us," Grijalva said. "Because climate change is real." Pima County Health Director Theresa Cullen warns attendees that rising temperatures could eventually outpace the county's ability to protect residents. Arilynn Hyatt / Tucson Spotlight. Grijalva said she is working to rebuild the coalition behind the Environmental Justice For All Act, which includes consulting tribal communities and other groups on the front lines of climate change. "This is how change happens," she said. "Not from the top down, but from communities coming together, raising our voices and refusing to accept the status quo." That sentiment was felt personally by at least one person in the room. Attendee Amy Dishion lost her husband, Evan, to extreme heat a few years ago. She talked about the personal toll of climate change, saying she wants to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role. "Every heat-related death results in trauma and despair," Dishion said. "Arizona is getting hotter year over year, and it's deadly and it's insidious." In the past three years, 350 people have died from heat-related illnesses, according to Pima County Health Director Theresa Cullen. "The public health department along with the mayor and council, the city and the other jurisdictions do what we can to keep you safe," she said. "But if the temperature keeps going to 22 degrees above where it is, there will be a point that no matter what we do, we will not be able to keep you safe." Arilynn Hyatt is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at arilynndhyatt@arizona.edu. Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. Donate to Tucson Spotlight Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de72e7d8d5dabda3959dc7 Lawmaker moves to mitigate Mayes’ public nuisance powers te 2026-04-14T17:01:27.855Z Lawmaker moves to mitigate Mayes’ public nuisance powers Key Points: GOP lawmakers are taking aim at the Arizona Attorney General over her public nuisance lawsuits Mayes has been using unprecedented public nuisance laws to curb the water use of large-scale agricultural businesses  Mayes argues she is stepping up to defend rural Arizonans when legislators have failed to act Republican lawmakers are moving to clip the legal wings of Attorney General Kris Mayes, with one legislator even calling her a “bully” for how she is pursuing companies over their groundwater pumping. Legislation approved by both the House and Senate would allow those who believe they have been damaged by an improper “nuisance” or “consumer fraud” lawsuit to sue the attorney general for damages — everything from legal fees to lost profits and even a reduction in the value of the business. It would not be absolute. The action would have to have been dismissed or found to have no merit. And the person filing the suit would have to show that the attorney general knew the action lacked merit — or, at least, that she publicized the lawsuit. But Rep. Lupe Diaz, R-Benson, said it should be enough to restrain any overly anxious attorney general from going after businesses using that nuisance claim. Mayes, however, says she is acting to protect residents from corporations that take advantage of the fact that state lawmakers have failed to regulate groundwater pumping in rural areas. Those nuisance laws, she said, provide the only legal avenue for relief. HB 2167 is just one of three measures filed by Diaz that he acknowledges are aimed at Mayes — and how he contends she is acting improperly in using public nuisance laws to go after companies over the amount of groundwater they are pumping. He is also behind a second measure that would make the attorney general automatically guilty of defamation if she filed a public nuisance lawsuit that, as in the case of HB 2167, lacked merit and she knew about it and publicized it. And a third would prohibit an attorney general from filing a nuisance action unless she first had the permission of the county board of supervisors. So far, though, only HB 2167 has cleared both the House and the Senate and is now on Gov. Katie Hobbs’s desk. What started all this was that Mayes filed suit two years ago against a Saudi company to force it to stop “excessively pumping groundwater” at its western Arizona alfalfa operations and require it to set aside funds to compensate neighbors it has damaged. More to the point, she is using a largely untested legal theory that the actions of Fondomonte have created a “public nuisance” by pumping so much water it has dried up the wells of nearby neighbors and resulted in subsidence of the land around Vicksburg in La Paz County. That case is still pending. And any new legislation would not affect it. Since that time, however, Mayes used the threat of a similar lawsuit to force Riverview, LLP, a Minnesota company that owns two large dairies in the Willcox basin to take 2,000 acres of farmland out of production and set aside $11 million for well drilling and water access for affected residents in Cochise County’s Sulfur Springs Valley. More to the point, Mayes has suggested she might use the same nuisance law to go after others who are withdrawing large quantities of groundwater in rural areas where there now are few, if any, state restrictions. “People are not trusting the government today,” he said of his legislation. “This will help to be able to bring some accountability and some comfort to those that may be feeling like Big Brother is coming against them.” But he made it clear that his aim was narrow: To rein in the use of nuisance laws by Mayes and any future attorney general. “I think that will help them think twice about pursuing these and putting the public in a position of having to defend themselves in court and spend all that money doing that,” Diaz said. Rep. Teresa Martinez had a simpler explanation for her support of curbing Mayes’ power. “I hate a bully,” said the Casa Grande Republican. But Rep. Mariana Sandoval said she sees the legislation through a different lens. “This is a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate the attorney general and shield powerful foreign corporations like Fondomonte and Riverview from accountability for draining Arizona’s scarce groundwater,” said the Goodyear Democrat. Fellow Democratic Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton of Tucson said she, too, isn’t buying Diaz’s argument that he is attempting to shield common people from the abuses of large government, especially when it comes to Mayes using the public nuisance law. That is the one option the attorney general says she has to deal with excessive groundwater pumping in rural areas. “When I think about standing up for the little guy, and I think about who the little guy is in the state, I can’t discount the stories that I’ve heard of people who go to turn on their tap water and there’s no water there,” she said. “I cannot discount the stories I’ve heard of foundations cracking, thus eliminating any kind of equity in home ownership,” Stahl Hamilton said. “And I absolutely think that our attorney general is listening to the little guy in this case and is paving a way forward.” All that goes to the regulation — or lack thereof — of groundwater pumping in rural areas. Major urban areas are located within “active management areas” where pumping is monitored and regulated. There also are “irrigation non-expansion areas” with certain limits. Pumping pretty much everywhere else is ungoverned. And efforts by some local officials in rural counties to force better oversight have so far gone unheeded. Mayes noted the gap in the law when filing suit against Fondomonte, a company that came to Arizona to grow alfalfa to feed dairy cattle in Saudi Arabia, where such farming is not allowed. “Fondomonte is taking advantage of Arizona’s failure to protect its precious groundwater resources,” she said. All that goes to her decision to use the tool Mayes says she has: The public nuisance provision in the state criminal code. She said that because Fondomonte’s operations are harming its neighbors, that fits the definition. Mayes wants a court order enjoining the “excessive” pumping of groundwater. Her lawsuit does not define that in actual terms. But Mayes said that in 2023 alone, Fondomonte used about 31,196 acre-feet of water — more than 10 billion gallons — considered enough to serve about 93,000 single-family homes. She also wants Fondomonte to set up an “abatement fund” to reimburse others who have been affected. Among the issues that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Minder has to decide is whether any of this fits within nuisance laws. There really is no legal precedent for the case. The only known use of the law in a situation like this came earlier in Mayes’ tenure, when she used it to go after a company’s plan to mine rock and gravel on a 25-acre parcel it owned in a neighborhood in a rural area near Chino Valley. The site was within 100 feet of homes. When the state mine inspector said he had no authority to block the plan, Mayes cited nuisance laws and got a court to issue a preliminary injunction. The only thing is, there was never a final ruling on whether the mine was a nuisance — or whether the nuisance law applied. The lawsuit went away when someone else bought the land and mining plans were abandoned. It is the future use of those nuisance laws, Diaz said, he wants to restrain. He said Mayes — or any other attorney general — legally still could pursue nuisance claims. But Diaz said his HB 2167 sets the stage for someone to be able to fight such a claim and recover damages. That kind of law, he said, might have resulted in a different outcome in what happened with Riverview. Diaz does not dispute that there are people in the Willcox area who found their wells were drying up. But he said most went down between 100 and 300 feet; Diaz said Riverview was drawing from a different layer in the aquifer at 1,200 feet. “And then she comes in and threatens that she’s going to take them to court,” he said, without any proof. The company never admitted it was part of the problem. But Diaz said that, under threat from Mayes, it decided it was better to settle — and pay the $11 million — than risk the same kind of litigation as Fondomonte. Under his measure, he said, a company could fight the attorney general with a better chance of recovering not just its legal fees, which are typical in many civil cases, but also any other damages it might incur like lost sales, lost profits, and loss in the value of the business. “I believe she was using her position to extort,” he said. But Sen. Lauren Kuby said it’s not like Mayes was simply out looking for someone to sue. “In the Riverview case, the Willcox basin residents were faced with drying wells,” said the Tempe Democrat. “They called upon her office after years of heavy pumping by a large dairy.” And that, Kuby said, is what led to the settlement to provide $11 million and to follow 2,000 acres. “This is a concrete fix for a real, ongoing harm,” she said. Kuby said that’s precisely what’s wrong with HB 2167. “It would tie the hands of one official, our attorney general, who can act and is acting when communities raise the alarm across our state,” she said. “Riverview shows the model: When harm is real and urgent, the AG must be able to act decisively.” Diaz, however, said not everything — including wells drying up — require intervention by the attorney general. “We have been in an almost close to a 30-year drought now,” he said. “With that, comes a lot of things that we are not prepared for,” Diaz said. “But we also are a very creative people.” Consider, he said, people in his Southeast Arizona district whose wells have run dry. “They have bought tanks, they transfer their water, and they continue to move on,” Diaz said, without “everything to be the government to bail everybody out.” And he said there are government programs designed to help rural communities to build or improve drinking water systems. Diaz also brushes aside claims that Mayes intervened because rural residents want that. “We are creative people and we get around these things,” Diaz said. Consider, he said, an acquaintance who has lived in the area a long time, with water trucked into her property every week “so that she can do the laundry and shower and all that kind of stuff.” “Yeah, they have to watch a little bit of their water use,” Diaz said. “But they trade that off because they like to live in rural Arizona.” But what of those who sought intervention by Mayes? “The ones that are complaining the most are the ones that are coming in from California,” he said. Mayes, for her part, says Diaz is ignoring the reality of the situation — and why she believes that what Diaz is trying to do is harmful. “Hundreds of residents in Cochise County came out to my town hall to beg for help because their wells were going dry and the land was cracking open around their homes and no one in power was doing anything to protect them,” she said. “This year, we got them help while the Legislature has gone another session without doing anything to protect rural groundwater,” Mayes said. “It’s outrageous that instead of doing their jobs, Republican lawmakers want to punish me for doing mine.” Correction: This story has had its headline updated to reflect the story.  The post Lawmaker moves to mitigate Mayes’ public nuisance powers first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de72d1d8d5dabda3959da1 Swalwell resignation collides with China-linked scandal as critics demand file release te 2026-04-14T17:01:05.291Z Swalwell resignation collides with China-linked scandal as critics demand file release Rep. Eric Swalwell, who announced he will resign from Congress on Monday, is facing mounting criticism over a series of sexual misconduct allegations, but another, decade-old scandal over the California Democrat's ties to a suspected Chinese spy has also been revived amid reports the FBI is weighing whether to release documents on the matter. The sexual misconduct claims, including from a former Swalwell staffer, have renewed scrutiny of the congressman's past ties to suspected Chinese operative Christine Fang as critics and social media commentators demand the FBI release files related to Fang. Article III Project President Mike Davis, a vocal Trump ally, said Congress must vote to release the investigative files — similar to how it voted to release Jeffrey Epstein's case files — saying the FBI was legally barred from doing it without the legislative branch's approval. "It’s time for Congress to vote to release Eric Swalwell’s FBI file, which we must presume exists after his affair with a Chinese spy," Davis wrote on X. "His counter-intelligence risks must be staggering." CALIFORNIA REPORTER CLAIMS ERIC SWALWELL’S CONDUCT ‘WAS KNOWN,’ RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT LOCAL SUPPORT ERIC SWALWELL ACCUSED OF PAYING NANNY WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDS WHILE SHE LACKED WORK AUTHORIZATION Right-wing social media influencers with large followings have also piled on in the wake of the new misconduct claims against Swalwell. "He needs to face legal consequences," wrote Eric Daugherty. "Removal from public office is the bare minimum. And release the Fang Fang files. Don't hold back." "Release the Fang Fang Files !!!" wrote influencer Catturd. DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR 'SMEAR' OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL'S ACCUSERS: 'VERY BAD LOOK' Swalwell has denied the new sexual misconduct allegations, calling them "absolutely false" in a video statement. The claims against Swalwell, who was one of the leading Democratic California gubernatorial candidates before ending his campaign, came on the heels of The Washington Post reporting in March that the FBI was mulling releasing redacted investigative files related to Swalwell’s prior ties to Fang.  Axios reported in 2020 that Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, aimed to develop ties with California politicians, including Swalwell. Fang fled the country and never faced charges. Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel upon news that the FBI was weighing a file release, suggesting it would violate his First Amendment rights, a federal statute about records releases and a Department of Justice internal policy. In response to the legal threat, the FBI said in a statement to Fox News Digital that file reviews were normal. "This FBI, being the most transparent in history, prepares documents for numerous different reasons, including for release to different agencies and departments to further review investigations that may have been opened under previous administrations," an FBI spokesperson said. After Swalwell announced he would resign from Congress, Patel, his longtime political foe, called on the public to submit tips to the bureau about Swalwell and invited the California Democrat to meet for an interview. Erica Knight, a Patel spokeswoman, suggested Swalwell had a hypocritical view of federal investigative files, alluding to Democrats' demands for documents related to Epstein's sex trafficking cases. "Democrats said releasing files = transparency and accountability. Now Democrats say releasing files = weaponization and smear campaigns," Knight wrote on X. "The only variable that changed is whose name is in the file." SENATE DEMOCRAT AVOIDS ANSWERING WHETHER SWALWELL SHOULD RESIGN FROM CONGRESS Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI for an update on the status of the Fang files and reached out to the DOJ about Swalwell's legal threat. Swalwell has been dogged by his past ties with Fang for years despite never facing charges over the matter. Swalwell cut ties with Fang in 2015 after he was alerted by the FBI about her, he has previously said.  The DOJ brought no charges against him and the House Ethics Committee found no evidence of wrongdoing on Swalwell’s part, according to a published letter the panel wrote to Swalwell in 2023 saying it had concluded a two-year investigation. The committee announced Monday it opened a new investigation into Swalwell based on what it said were "allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision." Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday and announced he would resign from Congress on Monday following a San Francisco Chronicle report detailing allegations from a former staffer who accused him of assaulting her twice while she was allegedly too intoxicated to consent to relations with him.  When news broke of his alleged misconduct with women, some immediately raised Swalwell's ties to Fang. "Wait is this the Fang Fang guy?" asked Barstool Sports President David Portnoy. Swalwell has defended his association with Fang, saying in a CNN interview in 2020 that he was "shocked" when authorities told him about her. He said he offered to cooperate with the FBI at the time. In response to the report last month that the FBI was considering releasing the investigative files, Swalwell also put out a public statement accusing the bureau of attempting to interfere with his now-terminated gubernatorial campaign. "Through great reporting, we now know the outrageous ends the White House will go to target political opponents," Swalwell had said. "The reason Trump is so desperately trying to stop me is not because I’m running for Governor of California but because now I’m the favorite." Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell's office for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de72bdd8d5dabda3959d98 Legendary Olympic hockey coach admits he used fake COVID vaccination card for Beijing Games te 2026-04-14T17:00:45.494Z Legendary Olympic hockey coach admits he used fake COVID vaccination card for Beijing Games An Olympic hockey coach admitted to using a fake vaccination card to coach his team in the Beijing Olympics four years ago. Swiss ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer has admitted he used a certificate falsely claiming he'd been vaccinated against COVID-19 to get around China's strict travel restrictions. Swiss public broadcaster SRF said it confronted Fischer with documents showing he was fined nearly 39,000 Swiss francs ($50,000) by local authorities in 2023 for document forgery after buying the certificate on social media. SRF said he went public with his admission shortly after. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM In a statement late Monday, Fischer said he made a "serious mistake in this matter" by traveling to Beijing with the Switzerland men's team using false paperwork. "I'm very sorry if I've disappointed people with this situation," Fischer said. "I was in an extraordinary personal crisis because I didn't want to be vaccinated. At the same time I certainly didn't want to let my team down at the Olympic Games." Fischer is one of Switzerland's most successful hockey coaches ever. He's been in the post since 2015 and took the team to three Olympics as well as winning three silver medals at the world championship. OLYMPIC GOLD WINNER DISMISSES ATHLETES' NEGATIVE COMMENTS ON REPRESENTING US: 'I THINK WE'RE THE BEST COUNTRY' The team was eliminated in the quarterfinal round. Ahead of the 2022 Olympics, China had some of the strictest COVID-19 rules in the world. It insisted any athletes heading to the Games had to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or sit out a three-week quarantine in a hotel, as Swiss snowboarder Patrizia Kummer did. Switzerland hosts the world championship next month. Fischer was already due to step down after that, and the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation said it considers the matter closed. Fischer played for the Swiss national team in the 2002 and 2006 Olympics and also played for the country's 1994 World Juniors team. He spent most of his career playing for EV Zug of Switzerland's National League A, where his jersey number is retired. 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/69de708ad8d5dabda3959d17 Heat star Jaime Jaquez Jr celebrates sister's WNBA Draft selection with heartfelt message te 2026-04-14T16:51:22.732Z Heat star Jaime Jaquez Jr celebrates sister's WNBA Draft selection with heartfelt message Basketball has become the family business for the Jaquez family. The Chicago Sky selected Gabriela Jaquez with the No. 5 overall pick in the WNBA Draft on Monday, making her the second professional basketball player in the family. Gabriela’s brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr., has spent the last three seasons with the Miami Heat. Jaquez Jr. posted a message to his Instagram Stories congratulating his sister. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Mama we made it!" Jaquez Jr. wrote. Jaquez was a standout player on UCLA’s national title-winning team this season. Her performance in the championship game capped off an outstanding season, as she scored 21 points while hauling in 10 rebounds with five assists in UCLA’s 79-51 win over South Carolina. Jaquez, who spent all four years of her collegiate career with UCLA, averaged 13.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in 38 games this season. She shot an astounding 53.9% from the field and an impressive 39% from 3-point range. WNBA COMMISSIONER PLAYS GENDER CARD WHEN ASKED ABOUT FUTURE The 22-year-old was named to the 2025-26 NCAA All-Tournament team, the 2025-26 All-Big Ten team, and the 2024-25 NCAA All-Region team throughout her career. Jaquez Jr. was not able to attend his sister’s big night as he is getting ready for the Heat’s NBA Play-in Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. The 25-year-old small forward has had the best season of his young career for the Heat this year. In 75 games, with all but one of them coming off the bench, Jaquez Jr. has averaged a career-high 15.4 points per game, five rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Jaquez Jr. will hope to provide the Heat with a spark off the bench when they take on the Hornets at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday. 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/69de7062d8d5dabda3959d01 Maryland Governor and State Democrats Fail in Redistricting Effort te 2026-04-14T16:50:42.672Z Maryland Governor and State Democrats Fail in Redistricting Effort State Democrats butted heads over a gerrymandering plan that could have eliminated the state’s lone Republican seat in the U.S. House. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de704cd8d5dabda3959cdc How the rewards app Freecash scammed its way to the top of the app stores te 2026-04-14T16:50:20.782Z How the rewards app Freecash scammed its way to the top of the app stores Freecash was removed from Apple's App Store after TechCrunch reached out for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6e98d8d5dabda3959c86 Trump admin-Mamdani clash over Stonewall monument reaches final decision te 2026-04-14T16:43:04.458Z Trump admin-Mamdani clash over Stonewall monument reaches final decision A two-month legal battle over an iconic symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement has ended, with a settlement approving its restoration and New York City’s mayor hailing the decision as a "victory." The Trump administration agreed under a settlement on Monday to restore the Pride flag to Stonewall National Monument’s federal flagpole within seven days and maintain it there, removing it only for maintenance or other practical purposes. A judge approved the agreement, resolving the dispute over the flag’s removal. The Stonewall National Monument was first designated by President Barack Obama in 2016, protecting the Stonewall Inn in New York City as a historic site – becoming the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ history.  FIRED YOSEMITE WORKER SUES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AFTER HANGING MASSIVE TRANSGENDER FLAG ACROSS EL CAPITAN The ruling reins in the Trump administration’s push to eliminate diversity-related programs across national parks, after the flag’s removal in February sparked protests from Democratic leaders and activists and escalated into a broader political flashpoint. "This is a victory for the LGBTQ+ community and for our entire city," wrote Mayor Zohran Mamdani in an X on Monday. "It’s a reminder that New Yorkers won’t let our history be rewritten." He added that, "Our administration will keep working to ensure LGBTQ+ New Yorkers can live safely and with dignity in our city." Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office for comment on Tuesday.  MASSACHUSETTS DROPS CONTROVERSIAL GENDER IDEOLOGY MANDATE FOR LICENSING FOSTER CARE PARENTS At the time of the flag removal, Mamdani said he was "outraged," calling for the country to live up to the legacy the Stonewall Inn represents, while a Department of Interior spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that "city leaders seem more focused on theatrics than solutions." "Hundreds of families in New York City went without power during this year’s severe cold weather, people are being found dead on the streets, and trash has piled up so high it towers over city residents. This is Mayor Mamdani and city officials' New York City," the spokesperson said at the time. They added, "it would be a better use of their time to get the trash buildup off city streets, ensure there are no more avoidable deaths, and work to keep the power on for the people of New York City." The Washington Litigation Group (WLG), which initiated legal proceedings, announced the agreement through a press release, writing, the decision "confirms that the Pride flag falls within the law and NPS policy." JUDGE DEALS BLOW TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ORDERS SLAVERY EXHIBIT RESTORED AT ICONIC PHILLY LANDMARK "The government has acknowledged what we argued from day one: the Pride flag belongs at Stonewall," wrote WLG lead counsel Alexander Kristofcak. "The flag will be restored and it will fly officially and permanently. And we will remain vigilant to ensure that the government sticks to the deal." Fox News Digital reached out to WLG for additional comment.  "The removal of the Pride flag from Stonewall was an attempt to erase LGBTQ+ history and undermine the rule of law," said Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation. "This settlement restores both." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the decision on X, writing, "the administration was forced to settle and heed our demands that the pride flag at Stonewall National Monument will always fly freely and proudly." In December, National Park Service (NPS) units were instructed to purge gift stores at parks, removing any items that promote DEI and gender ideological extremism. Many NPS gift shops are located in visitor centers, which are common in major parks. Some can be found in smaller or remote parks. Most shops are run by nonprofit partners of the NPS, with funds benefiting visitors and the parks. Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6e84d8d5dabda3959c7d Titanic survivor life jacket set to fetch staggering price as anniversary nears te 2026-04-14T16:42:44.972Z Titanic survivor life jacket set to fetch staggering price as anniversary nears A rare life jacket worn by a Titanic survivor is set to be auctioned more than a century after the disaster. The flotation device, used by first-class passenger Laura Mabel Francatelli during the ship’s 1912 sinking, is expected to sell for roughly $339,000 to $475,000, news agency Cover Media reported. Francatelli wore the life jacket as she boarded Lifeboat No. 1 after the Titanic struck an iceberg just before midnight on April 14, 1912. She later signed the item along with seven other survivors from the same lifeboat. FAMOUS TITANIC PASSENGER’S POCKET WATCH THAT STOPPED AT MOMENT DOOMED SHIP SANK SELLS FOR RECORD AT AUCTION The life jacket remained in her family for decades before being acquired by a private collector about 20 years ago.  It is believed to be one of only a handful of Titanic life jackets still in existence — and the only one ever offered at auction, Cover Media noted. Auctioneers at Henry Aldridge & Son said the item has generated global interest ahead of the sale, which is scheduled to take place April 18. Francatelli, who was just 22 at the time, boarded the Titanic in France and was traveling as a secretary to fashion designer Lady Lucy Duff Gordon and her husband, Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER She later recalled being told not to worry as she was helped into a life preserver before making her way to the ship’s deck, where lifeboats were being lowered. The group ultimately boarded Lifeboat No. 1 — which had a capacity of about 40 people but was launched with only 12 on board. The lifeboat later became the subject of controversy after its occupants did not return to rescue others in the water. Reports at the time also raised questions about payments made by Sir Cosmo to crew members, though the circumstances were widely debated. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES The survivors were eventually picked up by the RMS Carpathia, which arrived hours after the Titanic sank and rescued more than 700 passengers. Francatelli later returned to Britain and married Swiss-born hotel manager Maximilian Haering in 1913.  The couple eventually moved to New York, where they worked in the hospitality industry and operated hotels together. After her husband’s death, she returned to the United Kingdom — where she spent the remainder of her life until her death in 1967. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ The cream-colored life jacket, made of canvas with cork-filled sections, has been displayed at museums in both the United States and Europe. "There are only a handful of life jackets worn by survivors which still exist today," auctioneer Andrew Aldridge told Cover Media, adding that most are held in museums and are unlikely to be sold. The upcoming sale is expected to draw collectors and history enthusiasts from all over the world. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6e71d8d5dabda3959c74 Why your home Wi-Fi needs more than just a strong password te 2026-04-14T16:42:25.177Z Why your home Wi-Fi needs more than just a strong password If you've locked down your home Wi-Fi with a strong password, you're already ahead of the game. But here's the reality: a password alone isn't enough to keep your online activity private. Most people think of Wi-Fi security as simply keeping strangers off their network. And while that matters, it's only part of the picture. Even with a secure password, your internet activity can still be visible to others in ways you might not expect. A Wi-Fi password keeps people out, but it does not hide what happens inside your connection. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report DO YOU NEED A VPN AT HOME? HERE ARE 10 REASONS YOU DO When you connect to the internet at home, your internet service provider (ISP) can see a surprising amount of what you do online. That can include the websites you visit, how long you spend on them and sometimes even more detailed activity. In some cases, that data can be: And it's not just your ISP. Websites, apps, big tech companies, governments and data brokers are constantly collecting information about your behavior, often without you realizing it. Think of it this way: your password locks the front door, but once your data leaves your house, it can still be exposed along the way. That's where a VPN comes in. A virtual private network (VPN) creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. That means your data is scrambled before it leaves your home network, making it much harder for anyone to see what you're doing online.  In addition, connecting to a VPN server gives you a new IP address, so your online activity can't be easily traced back to you. This makes it harder for advertisers, social networks and scammers to construct behavioral profiles, which can be used to target you with things like phishing attacks. With a VPN: SPRING CLEAN YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT: WHY RETIREES ARE SCAM TARGETS Many VPN services are popular for their speed, simplicity and overall feature sets. This becomes even more important if you ever use public Wi-Fi, where your data is far more exposed. What does this mean in practice? For starters, most VPN services are easy to use. They offer apps for nearly every device imaginable, including options that work directly with routers. These apps are straightforward to set up and configure. Once running, a single click or tap is all it takes to change your virtual location, mask your IP address and encrypt your connection. High-speed servers mean they don't fall into the trap of slowing you down. In many cases, using a VPN can even provide more consistent, reliable speeds. With a more anonymous IP address, your ISP is also less able to throttle (cap) your connection speeds, as some providers do. Setting up a VPN on your router protects every device in your home automatically, including smart TVs, gaming consoles and other connected devices. Many VPN providers now go beyond basic protection and offer additional privacy tools. These can include password managers, email protection, identity monitoring and even private AI tools designed to keep your data more secure. In short, it's no longer just about securing your connection, it's about protecting your entire digital footprint. Your home Wi-Fi is the gateway to everything you do online banking, shopping, working and staying connected. Relying on just a password is like locking your door but leaving the curtains wide open. Adding a VPN gives you an extra layer of privacy that works quietly in the background while enhancing every corner of your digital life. It's about being prepared, sure. But it's also about peace of mind. 5 SIMPLE TECH TIPS TO IMPROVE DIGITAL PRIVACY For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com. A strong password is a smart first step, but it only protects who gets onto your network, not what happens to your data after it leaves. Your internet activity still passes through systems designed to track, analyze and sometimes profit from it. Adding a VPN shifts the balance back in your favor by encrypting your connection and limiting how much others can see. It is a simple upgrade that turns basic security into real privacy, without changing how you use the internet day to day. Where should we draw the line between staying connected and staying private? 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/69de6e5dd8d5dabda3959c6b 5th accuser comes forward against Rep Eric Swalwell ahead of expected resignation te 2026-04-14T16:42:05.544Z 5th accuser comes forward against Rep Eric Swalwell ahead of expected resignation Another woman accused Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., of sexual assault on Tuesday, just hours before the embattled lawmaker is expected to resign from the House. The accuser came forward after four women alleged Swalwell committed sexual misconduct and rape, including at least one incident involving a former staffer, as reported by CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle. The announcement came during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., organized by the women’s attorney, Lisa Bloom. Swalwell has repeatedly denied any criminal wrongdoing and has promised to fight "false" accusations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said he expected Swalwell to offer his resignation letter on Tuesday. When asked whether he agreed with the decision of Swalwell and scandal-plagued Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, to resign, Jeffries replied, "Yes." This is a developing story and will be updated. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6e49d8d5dabda3959c62 Graham Platner blames Nazi tattoo on military ‘culture,’ draws backlash from GOP veterans te 2026-04-14T16:41:45.781Z Graham Platner blames Nazi tattoo on military ‘culture,’ draws backlash from GOP veterans Progressive U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner defended his past controversial statements and behavior during a Friday interview, attributing some of his prior views to the "culture" he experienced during his military service and prompting backlash from Republican lawmakers and veterans. Platner, a Democrat running in Maine's Senate primary, told host Major Garrett on CBS News' "The Takeout" podcast that his time in the U.S. Army shaped earlier beliefs he no longer holds. "I came out of a hyper-masculine, hyper-violent place," Platner said. "We have a crude sense of humor in the infantry… we certainly have a, I would say, narrow view of a lot of topics. And that colored my opinions and my beliefs." The comments came as Platner addressed scrutiny over past Reddit posts, a Nazi tattoo and other controversies tied to his earlier conduct. Platner said his evolution stemmed from exposure to different perspectives following his service. DEM PRIMARY TURNS UGLY: MILLS UNLEASHES BRUTAL ATTACK ON SANDERS-BACKED PLATNER IN CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN "Once I left and came out and interacted in the civilian world with lots of different people with very different experiences than my own," he said. "Many of those beliefs and thoughts and even just language changed significantly over time." The remarks drew criticism from Republican officials with military backgrounds, who pushed back on the suggestion that such views are reflective of American military culture. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force general, responded to the comments on X by rejecting the characterization outright. "I served nearly 30 years and never saw a Nazi tattoo on one of our servicemen or women," Bacon said. MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE CITES COMBAT TRAUMA WHEN CONFRONTED ON 'TERRIBLE' POSTS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., a former Navy SEAL, also criticized Platner’s explanation in a post on X. "I must have missed the day in basic training where they taught us to get Nazi tattoos and say women deserve to be raped," Sheehy said. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., a Marine Corps veteran, similarly dismissed the claim that military culture contributed to the behavior in question. "Blame the Marine Corps for Nazi tattoos and rape comments? Wasn’t in my training manual," Young wrote. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, argued that Platner’s comments broadly mischaracterized service members. "Democrat candidate with a Nazi SS tattoo explains why he got that tattoo — essentially, that the US military are ALL ‘narrow’ minded, ‘hyper-violent’ Nazis," Cruz wrote. "This is FALSE, and slanderous to our servicemen & women." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Platner acknowledged that not all of his past actions could be attributed solely to his military experience, while maintaining that it played a significant role in shaping earlier viewpoints. "I’ve never laid the entire fault... at the feet of only post-traumatic stress," he told Garrett. "Some of that was not because of my combat service, but much of it was because of the culture I had come out of." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6e36d8d5dabda3959c59 Trump meets US ambassador to China as tensions flare ahead of Xi showdown te 2026-04-14T16:41:26.122Z Trump meets US ambassador to China as tensions flare ahead of Xi showdown President Donald Trump is set to meet with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue Tuesday, as the administration prepares for a high-stakes summit between the U.S. president and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.  The talks are expected to focus on both escalating tensions in the Middle East and the broader U.S.–China relationship, as Washington weighs its approach to Beijing ahead of the summit. The meeting comes just after the U.S. launched a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, where China remains the largest buyer of Iranian crude amid the conflict between the U.S., Iran and Israel. The blockade risks pulling China more directly into the conflict. Any effort to enforce it against shipments bound for China could trigger a confrontation between the world’s two largest economies. US, CHINA AGREE TO OPEN DIRECT MILITARY HOTLINE AFTER XI-TRUMP SUMMIT "This will only aggravate confrontation, escalate tension, undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said of the blockade Tuesday in a daily press conference. "It is a dangerous and irresponsible move."  The meeting also comes amid reports that China supplied Iran with weapons, which Chinese officials dismissed as "completely made up." Trump has threatened China with 50% tariffs if the reports are accurate. Meanwhile, Washington and Beijing remain locked in a fragile tariff standoff.  After the 2025 escalation pushed tariffs above 100% on both sides, the two countries agreed to a temporary rollback that lowered U.S. duties on Chinese goods to around 30% and China’s tariffs on American exports to roughly 10%. That truce has held into 2026, but core disputes over technology, market access and national security remain unresolved, with both sides continuing negotiations ahead of the planned summit. The U.S. has escalated economic pressure beyond tariffs: the Trump administration has moved to eliminate a key loophole that allowed Chinese goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free, a step targeting companies like Temu and Shein and affecting millions of shipments. Despite rising economic tensions, U.S. military posture toward China remains more restrained.  The Trump administration’s national security and defense strategies prioritize defending the homeland from overseas conflicts, even as they identify China as the top long-term threat.  Recent intelligence assessments also have downplayed the likelihood of an imminent Chinese invasion of Taiwan, finding no fixed timeline for military action, suggesting Washington is focused more on deterrence than preparing for direct conflict. The White House could not immediately be reached for comment on the purpose of the meeting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6e22d8d5dabda3959c50 Three-year-old girl killed, pregnant mother injured after alleged drag racers split car in half in Arizona te 2026-04-14T16:41:06.223Z Three-year-old girl killed, pregnant mother injured after alleged drag racers split car in half in Arizona A 3-year-old girl died last week after a high-speed crash that split a car in half and left her pregnant mother injured at an intersection in Tucson, Arizona, leading to second-degree murder charges against two alleged drag racers, ages 22 and 16. Officers responded around 1 p.m. April 10 to the intersection, where a silver Toyota Camry and a white Hyundai Genesis collided in what investigators described as a violent, high-impact crash. The child, who was properly secured in a car seat, was rushed to a hospital but later died from her injuries. An adult woman driving the Camry was also seriously injured. The Genesis driver suffered minor injuries. A GoFundMe that the victims’ family created for funeral and medical expenses identified the toddler as Anna, "a bright, joyful, and loving little girl." 1-YEAR-OLD INJURED AFTER TEEN DRIVER CRASHES CAR OFF OKLAHOMA BRIDGE "In this heartbreaking moment, we lost our sweet Anna, their beloved three-year-old daughter tragically passed away from her injuries from the collision," the family said in the fundraiser post. The fundraiser identified the adult female as Anna’s mother, who it said is nine months pregnant. It said she was recovering at a hospital while "facing every parent’s worst nightmare" in the "unimaginable loss" of her youngest daughter. Investigators said the Genesis was racing another vehicle, believed to be a multicolored Dodge Charger, at speeds far above the limit when it struck the Camry as it attempted a left turn, splitting the vehicle in half. The Dodge Charger fled the scene. ILLEGAL MIGRANT CHARGED IN DEADLY 124 MPH CHASE THAT KILLED PREGNANT TEEN, UNBORN CHILD Police arrested Christian Isaiah Randall, the 22-year-old driver of the Genesis, and charged him with second-degree murder, along with multiple counts of endangerment and aggravated assault. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. The driver of the second vehicle was identified as a 16-year-old boy on Sunday after investigators said they located the Dodge Charger involved in the incident. The boy was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and multiple counts of endangerment and aggravated assault. Police said he was booked into the Pima County Juvenile Detention Center. Authorities said excessive speed was the primary cause of the crash, though the investigation remains ongoing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6df9d8d5dabda3959c3b Trump Administration Accuses Biden DOJ of Unfairly Prosecuting Anti-Abortion Activists te 2026-04-14T16:40:25.737Z Trump Administration Accuses Biden DOJ of Unfairly Prosecuting Anti-Abortion Activists The report is part of the president’s effort to claim anti-conservative and anti-Christian biases in federal law enforcement, even as he pushes to wield the legal system against his political enemies. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6bddd8d5dabda3959bc8 Critics blast Democrats after Swalwell resignation, say saga shows ‘how politics really works’ te 2026-04-14T16:31:25.747Z Critics blast Democrats after Swalwell resignation, say saga shows ‘how politics really works’ Anger over the sexual abuse allegations that led to Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., resigning from Congress is reaching a fever pitch as one critic claimed the saga exposes "how politics really works" in the United States. While maintaining his innocence, Swalwell, a seven-term congressman and former Democratic presidential candidate, announced Monday he would resign from Congress following sexual assault allegations from multiple former staffers. On the same day, Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, also announced his resignation from Congress. Their departures have prompted new calls to purge Congress of perpetrators of sexual abuse. After Swalwell announced his resignation, Dale Stark, a political pundit and veteran, reacted, "The Swalwell saga perfectly shows how politics really works in America. They’ve had this dirt on him for years and sat on it until he stepped out of line." Stark added that this "explains why no matter who you vote for, you get the same results," adding, "One nation under blackmail." ERIC SWALWELL ACCUSED OF PAYING NANNY WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDS WHILE SHE LACKED WORK AUTHORIZATION Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took a similar line, decrying the Democratic leadership for not taking action against Swalwell sooner. "The Democrat Party was aware of this guy’s behavior but never said anything until the party was threatened with getting shut out of the governor race," DeSantis wrote. Until these allegations surfaced, Swalwell was a frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. Swalwell announced he was suspending his campaign for governor on Sunday. His sudden ouster, however, has many speculating that deeper forces are at play. Conservative pundit and podcaster Michael Knowles suggested Swalwell’s ouster was the result of political maneuvering by the Democrats.   "So the Dems improve their chances in the CA gov race and also avoid putting their members on record in a vote to expel, and all it cost them was a replaceable congressman, whose seat will now be filled by another Dem," he wrote. "Gotta give the devils their due: they're good at the game." Kari Lake, a former Republican candidate for both Arizona governor and senator, reacted that she is "glad Eric Swalwell is finally on his way out of Congress," but cautioned, "He should take the rest of the creeps with him. Washington is infested with them." "The American people are fed up with this depraved, disgusting behavior from our so-called leaders," she wrote on X. "It's time to restore basic decency, respect, & real accountability in our nation's capital." SWALWELL'S 'BEST FRIEND' IN CONGRESS TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS TORPEDO HIS POLITICAL CAREER Pundit Scott Jennings reacted, "Democrats and people in the media are openly admitting something shameful and horrifying: They ALL KNEW about Eric Swalwell." "They said nothing, leaving the victims to suffer in silence. But why? The answer is obvious," he went on. "To protect this Looney Tunes Eric Swalwell because he was good at going out and attacking Donald Trump. I mean, let’s be honest, that’s why he was under their protection." Meanwhile, some suggested that there are more members of Congress who must be ousted. SWALWELL’S FORMER DEM RIVAL UNLOADS ON HIS ‘LIGHTWEIGHT’ CAREER AS SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS EMERGE Madison Cawthorn, a former Republican congressman who sparked backlash after alleging he was invited to an orgy by fellow lawmakers and had witnessed cocaine use, wrote a cryptic post that "Swalwell is not the only one." "I warned you all about what goes on in Washington. Why is everyone acting surprised?" Cawthorn wrote on X. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6bcad8d5dabda3959bbf Mike Johnson says he supports expelling Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick over dozens of ethics violations te 2026-04-14T16:31:06.089Z Mike Johnson says he supports expelling Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick over dozens of ethics violations Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, an embattled Florida lawmaker facing a pending criminal indictment, could be the next member of Congress to face expulsion. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters Tuesday that he would support expelling Cherfilus-McCormick from Congress, citing a bipartisan adjudicatory subcommittee finding her guilty of more than two dozen ethics violations in March. "The Ethics Committee has gone through all of its processes, and they found some alarming facts," Johnson said. "I think the facts are indisputable at this point, and so I believe it will be the consensus of this body that she should be expelled." The ethics panel’s guilty verdict was the culmination of a yearslong investigation during which the group interviewed hundreds of individuals and reviewed tens of thousands of documents. LAWMAKERS PUT EXPULSION THREATS ATOP HOUSE AGENDA AS RETURN SETS UP HIGH-STAKES WEEK Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., has pledged to introduce an expulsion resolution against Cherfilus-McCormick, but he said he would wait until the ethics panel releases its recommended punishment against the Florida Democrat. The group is scheduled to hold a hearing announcing its suggested sanction for Cherfilus-McCormick next week. Cherfilus-McCormick has continued to deny any wrongdoing and has not signaled that she is considering resigning. The Florida Democrat is also running for reelection ahead of the state’s August primary. It takes a two-thirds majority to expel a lawmaker, meaning a significant number of Democrats would have to support ousting Cherfilus-McCormick for Steube’s measure to be successful. Just a handful of Democrats, including Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, D-Wash., have so far voiced support for Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation if she does not step down. Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, announced plans to resign Monday after both lawmakers faced potential expulsion votes this week. Both men have been accused of sexual misconduct and are under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Johnson said Tuesday it was "the appropriate thing" for both men to resign, citing the allegations against them. JEFFRIES DECLINES TO BREAK WITH INDICTED DEMOCRAT AFTER ETHICS PANEL'S GUILTY VERDICT House Democratic leadership has largely stood by Cherfilus-McCormick despite the House Ethics Committee’s findings. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has indicated that he will not comment on Cherfilus-McCormick’s fate until the House ethics panel finishes its deliberations. If Republicans move forward with expelling Cherfilus-McCormick, Democrats could offer a retaliatory measure seeking to oust scandal-ridden Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla. Mills is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for a range of allegations, including domestic violence and campaign finance violations. He has maintained his innocence and is seeking reelection. Johnson told reporters Tuesday that he would check the status of the Mills probe. Cherfilus-McCormick is facing more than five decades in prison for allegedly stealing millions in disaster relief funds to finance her run for Congress and purchase luxury items. She is also accused of participating in a straw donor scheme and conspiring to file a false federal tax return. Fox News Digital reached out to Cherfilus-McCormick's office for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6ba2d8d5dabda3959bab Texas A&M Picks an Insider for President After Months of Conflict te 2026-04-14T16:30:26.009Z Texas A&M Picks an Insider for President After Months of Conflict Debates over how to teach about gender, sexuality and other topics have shaken the school, and lead to the ouster of the previous president at the College Station campus last summer. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de695fd8d5dabda3959b36 California homeowner confronts intruder with shovel after man allegedly breaks in asking for daughter te 2026-04-14T16:20:47.218Z California homeowner confronts intruder with shovel after man allegedly breaks in asking for daughter A man in California was caught on Ring camera trying to break into someone's home demanding to know where their daughter was, only to be confronted by the homeowner, according to police. Jason Nichols, 30, faces charges of burglary, vandalism, and making criminal threats after police said he tried to break into the Fairfield residence and identified himself as a fictional wizard. While Nichols appeared calm when he approached the home, things took a turn after he refused to leave. At the time, the homeowner's pregnant wife and 5-year-old child hid in the garage. "I just want to make sure everything is OK. There seems to be something going on," Nichols said, according to KTVU. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "What do you mean?" the homeowner responded, while asking the homeowner to leave. Nichols seemingly appeared to become agitated after talking with the homeowner on the Ring camera, shouting, "Where’s your daughter? Who’s in there with you? Open this f------ door or I’m breaking it down." SEND US A TIP HERE "I’m giving you a chance — get the f--- out of my house," the homeowner said. "My name is Harry Dresden, mother f--- !" Nichols said. "This is my neighborhood." LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Dresden is a fictional wizard from a TV series. After the suspect was taken into custody, Fairfield police said a witness came forward regarding a separate incident involving Nichols and her child, but didn't provide more details. Nichols was arrested on charges of annoying or molesting a child under 18 regarding that incident. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB At one point, Nichols removed a hanging decoration from the entryway and continued shouting, threatening to "f------ kill" the homeowner if he didn't open the door. Nichols got into the house by breaking a gate and entering through a sliding glass door, according to police. The homeowner returned as Nichols gained entry into the house and confronted Nichols with a shovel. Fairfield police said the homeowner and Nichols sustained head injuries. Police arrested Nichols and took him to a local hospital for treatment, and he was later booked at the Solano County Jail. According to NBC Bay Area, Nichols lives behind the victim's home. His bond was set at $250,000. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6753d8d5dabda3959ab6 Astros star delivers explicit message to team as downhill spiral continues amid losing streak te 2026-04-14T16:12:03.344Z Astros star delivers explicit message to team as downhill spiral continues amid losing streak The Houston Astros have lost six straight games and Carlos Correa was blunt in his profane assessment of the team’s recent play. The Astros lost 6-2 to the Seattle Mariners on Monday at T-Mobile Park, the final game of a four-game sweep by their American League West rivals. It was their eighth loss in their last nine games, and the skid has dropped them to last in the AL West. "I don’t want to attach our failures to the injuries. Our failures are because we’re playing s---ty baseball. We’re a good club playing bad baseball," Correa said via MLB.com. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM While Correa won’t attach the team’s struggles to injuries, the lineup and pitching staff have been ravaged by them in the early going of the season. The Astros placed All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain and rookie right-hander Tatsuya Imai on the 15-day injured list with right arm fatigue Monday. Since the start of the season, the team has placed starting pitcher Cristian Javier (Grade 2 right shoulder strain), outfielder Jake Meyers (Grade 2 right oblique strain), Hunter Brown (Grade 2 right shoulder strain) on the injured list. They were already without star closer Josh Hader in the bullpen, who was placed on the IL at the end of March with left biceps tendinitis. AARON JUDGE, MIKE TROUT'S HOME RUN DUEL ENTERS MLB HISTORY BOOKS Astros manager Joe Espada vowed the team will fight through their current struggles. "We’ll get through this," Espada said. "But, I’m doing well. I just don’t like when our players are injured. They work really hard in the offseason to come back in shape, and expectations are for us to go out there and perform and get back to the postseason, and this makes it tough to have our guys getting banged up. But, we’ll fight through this." Correa, a three-time All-Star, has been one of the few Astros players who has been immune to the team’s early-season struggles, hitting .291 with one home run and nine RBI while playing strong defense at both shortstop and third base. The Astros (6-11) will look to turn things around when they play the Colorado Rockies (6-10) on Tuesday at 8:10 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/69de673fd8d5dabda3959aad Trump squeezed between Israel and Turkey as Netanyahu, Erdogan escalate feud te 2026-04-14T16:11:43.421Z Trump squeezed between Israel and Turkey as Netanyahu, Erdogan escalate feud Tensions between Israel and Turkey are escalating sharply, with a war of words between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaching new heights and placing President Donald Trump in an increasingly delicate position between the two sides as tension escalates.  The latest flare-up underscores a broader geopolitical clash about Iran, Gaza and regional influence, even as Washington attempts to maintain cooperation with both sides. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of deliberately seeking a new adversary following its confrontation with Iran, saying the Israeli government is attempting to portray Ankara as its next enemy. "After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy," Fidan said in a televised interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency. "We see that not only Netanyahu’s administration but also some figures in the opposition — though not all — are seeking to declare Turkey the new enemy," he said. TURKEY’S NATO ROLE UNDER SCRUTINY AMID NEW REPORT ON HAMAS, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD TIES The rhetoric reflects a sharp deterioration in relations that have been strained since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack and the war in Gaza, but have now escalated into direct confrontation between the two leaders. Netanyahu, in remarks posted on X Saturday, accused Erdogan of siding with Iran and its proxies, writing that Israel "will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime… unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens." Erdogan has intensified his criticism of Israel’s military campaign, accusing its leadership of war crimes and backing international legal action against Israeli officials. In one of the most incendiary exchanges, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming, "Netanyahu, who has been described as the Hitler of our time due to the crimes he has committed, is a well-known figure with a clear track record. An arrest warrant has been issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Under Netanyahu’s administration, Israel is facing proceedings before the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide." The escalation has not been limited to rhetoric. Erdogan previously has suggested Turkey could take more assertive military action in the region, referencing past interventions, remarks that have raised alarms in Israel. Israeli officials have responded forcefully.  Defense Minister Israel Katz has dismissed Erdogan’s threats as bluster, while officials warn that Turkey’s regional posture, particularly its engagement in Syria, is being closely monitored. For both leaders, analysts say, the escalation also serves domestic goals. For Trump, the situation presents a growing challenge. The administration relies on Israel as a central partner in confronting Iran, while also depending on Turkey, a NATO ally, for regional diplomacy and mediation efforts tied to ceasefire negotiations and broader Middle East strategy. That balancing act has become increasingly difficult as tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara intensify. ISRAEL UNMASKS IRAN-DIRECTED HAMAS CASH NETWORK IN TURKEY AS ANKARA PUSHES FOR GAZA ROLE Gönül Tol, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and author of "Erdogan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria," told Fox News Digital, "The Trump administration has played a role in making sure the two countries do not clash in Syria. How Turkey and Israel are managing their differences in Syria, where stakes are high for Erdogan, is telling. But this doesn't mean the two will try to undermine each other's interests from the eastern Mediterranean to Levant to Horn of Africa." "I think for both leaders, Netanyahu and Erdogan, escalating rhetoric serves a domestic purpose," Gönül added, "Anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian sentiment in Turkey is very strong. At a time when Erdogan is struggling to resolve the country's growing economic problems, responding to Netanyahu's statements harshly scores points domestically and burnishes his strong leader image. But I do not think this rhetoric will turn into direct military clashes between the countries. Despite their military presence and clashing interests, Turkey and Israel have a quiet understanding where each accepts the other's sphere of influence in the country and try to deconflict." In a policy webinar hosted by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, Turkish academic Hüseyin Bağcı argued Turkey's ties with Washington limit the likelihood of direct conflict. "The Turkish state is not interested in fighting with Israel because the Turkish government has very good relations with the United States of America," he said. "You cannot be good with America and then be in conflict with Israel." TRUMP FACES MIDDLE EAST TEST AS NETANYAHU BALKS AT ERDOGAN’S GAZA TROOP HOPES From the Israeli perspective, however, concerns center on actions rather than rhetoric. Retired Israeli strategist Gabi Siboni said Turkey's behavior in Syria is shaping threat perceptions.  "I don’t know what Erdogan thinks. I know what he does, and I see what we see in our area," Siboni said in the webinar, adding, "There are true security concerns when we’re talking about what is happening in Syria. … Israel is not going to accept any type of military entrenchment of foreign actors." Bağcı maintained that the tensions are largely political.  "There is no structural conflict between Israel and Turkey," he said. "The rhetoric is political … but the geography and the interests remain." The tensions are also being fueled by renewed friction over Gaza-bound aid flotillas, a long-standing flashpoint in Israel–Turkey relations. A new Turkish-linked flotilla departed from Barcelona Monday, raising concerns in Israel about a repeat of past confrontations. The issue carries deep historical weight: in 2010, Israeli commandos boarded the Gaza flotilla raid, in which 10 were killed, triggering a years-long diplomatic rupture between the two countries. Recent reports that Turkish prosecutors are seeking prison sentences for Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu, over flotilla-related incidents have further escalated tensions, reinforcing how unresolved grievances continue to inflame the current crisis. While the confrontation remains largely rhetorical for now, the sharp escalation in language, and the competing interests driving it, highlight the fragility of the regional landscape and the limits of Washington’s ability to keep both sides aligned. Fox News Digital reached out to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, and the White House but did not receive a response in time for publication. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6717d8d5dabda3959a9a House Republicans Step Up Scrutiny of ActBlue Over Foreign Donations te 2026-04-14T16:11:03.944Z House Republicans Step Up Scrutiny of ActBlue Over Foreign Donations Three Republican-led committees, responding to a New York Times report this month, accused the Democratic fund-raising organization of withholding documents from a subpoena request. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de6701d8d5dabda3959a73 Financial risk management platform Pillar raises $20M seed in round led by a16z te 2026-04-14T16:10:41.929Z Financial risk management platform Pillar raises $20M seed in round led by a16z Pillar's investors include a16z, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Crucible Capital and Gallery Ventures. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de66edd8d5dabda3959a68 Arranca obra de $200M en Tucson House te 2026-04-14T16:10:21.208Z Arranca obra de $200M en Tucson House Leer en inglés Con 40,000 personas en la lista de espera para vivienda pública de Tucson, la ciudad inició la semana pasada las obras de su proyecto de vivienda asequible más ambicioso en décadas: una renovación de $200 millones del histórico rascacielos Tucson House, ubicado en Miracle Mile. Una vez renovado, el edificio Tucson House, de 17 pisos, ofrecerá 358 unidades que irán desde estudios hasta apartamentos de dos dormitorios. Las mejoras incluirán espacios comunes interiores y salas comunitarias, una zona al aire libre para juegos de jardín y una piscina, además de contar con trabajadores sociales en el lugar para brindar servicios de apoyo a los residentes. Tucson House proporcionará vivienda a residentes de 55 años o más que perciban ingresos de hasta el 60% de la mediana de ingresos del área, lo que lo convierte en una de las pocas opciones de vivienda asequible para personas mayores de bajos ingresos en la región. Se espera que el proyecto esté terminado para el verano de 2028. Anteriormente destacado en la revista TIME y en TV Guide, el edificio Tucson House se completó en 1963; estaba compuesto por 407 unidades y se consideraba un complejo de apartamentos de lujo en altura, habiendo alojado a huéspedes notables como John Wayne y Lee Marvin. En 1970, la construcción de la Interestatal 10 desvió el tráfico fuera de Miracle Mile, lo que provocó un declive económico en los vecindarios circundantes. En 1979, el edificio fue embargado y adquirido por el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos, organismo que posteriormente transfirió la propiedad a la ciudad de Tucson. El edificio fue reconvertido para su uso como vivienda pública en la década de 1980. Un miembro de la comunidad lee los paneles informativos sobre el proyecto de renovación de la Tucson House. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / El Foco de Tucson. En 2017, Miracle Mile fue incluido en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos, reconociendo a Tucson House como una estructura que contribuye a dicho valor histórico. Esta designación ayudó a allanar el camino para la elaboración de un plan de preservación destinado a abordar la infraestructura envejecida del edificio, los problemas de accesibilidad y el deterioro de sus sistemas. El proyecto constituye una asociación público-privada liderada por la Ciudad de Tucson y el Departamento de Vivienda de Arizona, con el apoyo de El Pueblo Housing Development y la Autoridad de Desarrollo Industrial de Tucson. Gorman & Company ejerce como firma de arquitectura, contando con financiamiento de Fannie Mae, JP Morgan Chase, Hudson Housing Capital y Practice Consulting Group. Funcionarios municipales, del condado y estatales se reunieron el pasado 10 de marzo, junto con arquitectos y promotores, para dar inicio oficial a las obras del proyecto, compartiendo detalles sobre los planes y el alcance de los trabajos en curso. "Estamos reemplazando por completo todos los sistemas: los ascensores, la fontanería, la calefacción y la refrigeración,"  declaró Ann Chanecka, directora de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario. "Estamos habilitando un amplio espacio para los servicios a los residentes y para los gestores de casos. Estamos reubicando la administración de la propiedad dentro del propio edificio, lo cual fue una solicitud específica de los residentes. Asimismo, estamos creando instalaciones recreativas y mejorando el servicio de lavandería." Johanna Hernández, subdirectora de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario, calificó el proyecto como "absolutamente único" mientras recorría una de las plantas programadas para su renovación. “No solo porque se trata de la rehabilitación de una torre y de preservación histórica, sino porque estamos llevando a cabo una rehabilitación in situ”, dijo. “Todos los residentes, la mayoría de ellos, permanecen en el edificio mientras realizamos la rehabilitación.” El mes pasado, la ciudad anunció que, una vez concluidas las renovaciones, Tucson House dejará de funcionar como vivienda pública tradicional para integrarse al Housing Choice Voucher Program, también conocido como "Sección 8." Según las autoridades, este cambio permitirá mantener la asequibilidad de las unidades, atender las necesidades a largo plazo del edificio y contribuir a la financiación de la propiedad. Los residentes han ocupado un lugar central en este proceso y se les ha ofrecido la opción de permanecer en Tucson House durante las obras de renovación o de reubicarse de forma permanente, contando para ello con el apoyo financiero de una subvención de implementación del programa Choice Neighborhoods por valor de $50 millones. La alcaldesa Regina Romero abordó la necesidad de financiamiento público y privado en un momento en que el apoyo federal es incierto. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / El Foco de Tucson. Se ha solicitado a los residentes que decidieron quedarse que brinden sus comentarios sobre las unidades y los espacios compartidos de la Tucson House. "Realizamos muchas mejoras en torno a ello, incluyendo unidades más accesibles para ayudarles a envejecer en su propio hogar, más espacios comunitarios y más servicios económicos," señaló Hernández. "Realmente queríamos construir esto con ellos, y no simplemente para ellos." La gobernadora Katie Hobbs estuvo presente en la ocasión y comentó a los asistentes que recorrió la Tucson House durante su primer año de mandato. "Cuando la visité, comprendí que convertir estas unidades en viviendas públicas fue una decisión inteligente y responsable, y que tendrá un impacto enorme," afirmó Hobbs. Hobbs ha invertido 9 millones de dólares provenientes del Fondo Fiduciario de Vivienda para preservar las viviendas destinadas a los adultos mayores, como parte de la Iniciativa Thrive de la 05; un esfuerzo unificado que congrega estrategias comunitarias de reducción de la delincuencia, así como iniciativas de vivienda, desarrollo laboral y económico en el código postal 85705. "Como gobernadora, me he propuesto transformar la manera en que abordamos la crisis de vivienda en Arizona, centrando las políticas en las personas en lugar de en los beneficios económicos, y priorizando a aquellas comunidades que han sido marginadas," declaró. "Cada dólar invertido directamente en nuestras comunidades vale la pena." Durante su discurso sobre el Estado del Estado, pronunciado en enero, Hobbs anunció la creación del Housing Acceleration Fund, una herramienta diseñada para agilizar y abaratar la construcción de viviendas asequibles en todo el estado de Arizona. Las renovaciones previstas para Tucson House incluyen un refuerzo de las vigas, la ampliación de los espacios comunes y comodidades modernas. Topacio “Topaz” Servellon / El Foco de Tucson. El Housing Acceleration Fund ayuda a los promotores de vivienda asequible a acceder a financiación de bajo costo para construir más unidades. Combina fondos públicos y privados con el objetivo de generar hasta $10 en inversión en vivienda por cada dólar aportado. "Este proyecto no se trata sólo de preservar la vivienda, se trata de transformar la vivienda pública en algo que sea sostenible, digno y construido para el futuro. Este desarrollo modernizará los sistemas de los edificios, mejorará la eficiencia energética, ampliará los espacios comunes donde los residentes pueden reunirse para acceder a programas y servicios, y mejorará la calidad de vida general de las personas que viven aquí; todo ello manteniendo la asequibilidad de la vivienda," declaró la alcaldesa de Tucson, Regina Romero. "En un momento en que la financiación federal puede ser impredecible y la incertidumbre económica genera inestabilidad, las alianzas sólidas con nuestros líderes estatales y del condado son hoy más importantes que nunca. " En febrero, el Concejo Municipal de Tucson declaró una emergencia de vivienda y de personas sin hogar. La declaración se produjo después de que la ciudad cerrará su lista de espera para vivienda pública, la cual había crecido hasta alcanzar los 40,000 solicitantes. El supervisor del condado de Pima, Andrés Cano, destacó los esfuerzos del condado para abordar la brecha habitacional, incluida una contribución de $1 millón al proyecto Tucson House. "Tuve la oportunidad única de poder dar el visto bueno a muchas inversiones, pero de la que me siento más orgulloso es de la inversión de $50 millones en el Housing Acceleration Fund de Arizona en 2023; la mayor inversión jamás realizada en el Fondo Fiduciario de Vivienda Asequible," afirmó Cano. "Durante la próxima década, invertiremos $250 millones para respaldar este crecimiento y esta demanda. Necesitamos construir 6,000 unidades al año para poder sostener el crecimiento de nuestra región; por lo tanto, esto significa que debemos seguir pensando a lo grande, actuando con urgencia e invirtiendo en el tipo de vivienda que nuestra comunidad necesita." Además de la vivienda asequible, Tucson House también continuará ampliando los servicios sociales para sus residentes. "Una de esas personas que se mudó, quien tenía un hijo pequeño, gracias al asesoramiento, la atención, la coordinación y el acceso a oportunidades de educación y empleo, ha completado ya su GED; recientemente compró su propio vehículo y tiene un trabajo a tiempo completo al que asiste todos los días," comentó Chanecka. Romero cerró la ceremonia con un llamado a la acción de mayor alcance.  “Al colocar hoy la primera piedra, no solo estamos construyendo edificios. Estamos construyendo un Tucson más justo, compasivo y resiliente.” dijo. Topacio “Topaz” 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/69de6253d8d5dabda3959994 'Not on our watch': Global law enforcement leaders unite in Poland against hate te 2026-04-14T15:50:43.729Z 'Not on our watch': Global law enforcement leaders unite in Poland against hate AUSCHWITZ: Some 130 police leaders from across the globe converged on Kraków, Poland this week for a first-of-its-kind initiative amid rampant antisemitism.  The event is aligned with the March of the Living, which brings thousands of participants to Germany and Poland each year to provide a first-hand look at the Nazi death camps and to teach the lessons of the Holocaust through engagement with survivors. Paul Goldenberg, a law enforcement veteran of 37-years, deputy director of the Rutgers Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience, which organized the initiative alongside the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice, spoke of the importance of the trip. "Being here is a testament to who these officers are and to the oath they have taken to protect all communities, regardless of identity," he told Fox News Digital. "It is a commitment not only to ourselves, but to the people we serve. These are very challenging times, and the police, in all their forms, can play a significant role in sustaining democratic values. UK COUNTERTERRORISM POLICE PROBE ANTISEMITIC ARSON ATTACK AS IRAN-LINKED GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY "This initiative is about learning, professional development and remembrance. It is also about reminding ourselves who we are, why we hold these positions and what we must do to ensure people are kept safe — no matter who they are or where they are," he said. The three-day program included a walking tour of Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter in Kraków, a guided tour of Auschwitz on Monday; a press conference and testimonies by a Holocaust survivor and survivors of antisemitic shootings, culminating on Tuesday's participation in the March of the Living and a tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Goldenberg said the Holocaust was unique in that it was a state-directed campaign in which police forces played a role, and that a central lesson is how the Nazis’ dehumanization of Jews and other targeted groups enabled the system to function. He added that the goal of the initiative is for participants to return to their departments with a deeper understanding that will help them better train officers, support victims of hate crimes and appreciate the importance and critical nature of their responsibilities. He pointed to the urgency of the situation, noting that armed military units are now guarding synagogues in Western countries and that both the United States and Canada have deployed specialized police forces to protect Jewish institutions. NETANYAHU SOUNDS ALARM ON ANTISEMITISM AT HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY GATHERING "What is striking is that these are not foreign entities — they are integral parts of the societies in which they exist. A synagogue in Belgium is Belgian. A synagogue in London belongs to London. A synagogue in New York City is part of the fabric of that city," he told Fox News Digital. "From a policing perspective, what is deeply concerning is the erosion of safety and security for vulnerable communities. It is a deeply alarming scenario — one that, in some respects, echoes patterns seen in the 1930s," he added. The theme of this year's March is combating antisemitism, which has surged to unprecedented levels since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. SIGN UP FOR ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED NEWSLETTER Abbie Talmoud, director for Jewish Community Affairs at the Embassy of Israel to the United States, survived a terror attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., in May 2025, in which two Israeli embassy staff members, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were killed. Speaking to Fox News Digital in Auschwitz, Talmoud said that amid rising antisemitism, feeling safe in the United States "is really difficult" and would require "systematic change," adding that she has stopped attending some events where she does not feel adequate security precautions are in place. "There needs to be an understanding that the way we don’t allow racism for other races and ethnicities, we can’t allow antisemitism. It needs to come from the top — the school system, parents, governments," Talmoud said. Catherine Szkop, director of public affairs at the Embassy of Israel to the United States, who focuses on interfaith relations and engagement, carpooled with Talmoud, Lischinsky and Milgrim to the event that evening and also survived. "I have a family history tied to the Holocaust. In the Book of Names, I looked up ‘Szkop’ and saw a page taller than me filled with that name, along with dates and locations of those who were murdered. I realized my own name could have appeared there, with ‘murdered in Washington, D.C.’ written next to it," she told Fox News Digital at Auschwitz. Szkop said she has never been this vigilant or fearful of potential attacks. RABBI ATTACKED ON NYC STREET ON INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY "I wear headphones less; it makes me more aware of my surroundings. It’s a mix of fear and wanting some peace of mind after what happened. I don’t let it stop me from living, but it’s made me a little more afraid," she said. Jeanne Hengemuhle, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, told Fox News Digital in Kraków that her agency, which includes 3,500 sworn members and 1,500 civilian staff, works closely with community leaders across the state to address hate-related concerns before they escalate into crises, emphasizing that early engagement, information-sharing and collaboration are key to preventing issues before they arise. "We are law enforcement, but we are also part of the communities we serve, and we must recognize that role as the first line of defense," she said. Hengemuhle said that, as human beings, there is a responsibility to do everything possible to combat hate, which requires understanding and educating one another, as well as drawing on different policing and professional backgrounds. "This is my first year, and I am very humbled to have been invited to take part in the march and learn more. To me, it is about coming together and learning from what happened in the past so we do not allow it to happen again in the future," she said. "The Holocaust did not happen overnight," she continued. "There were small, incremental changes that ultimately led to what took place. I think it is important that, by coming together and having these discussions, we ask whether we are seeing the kinds of early indicators that could lead us down a dangerous path — and how we intervene before it goes too far." JEWISH SUMMER CAMPS RAMPING UP SECURITY MEASURES AMID RISING ANTISEMITISM — AND PARENTS ARE FOOTING THE BILL To this end, senior police officials and associations from Europe and North America signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Berlin earlier this month, formally launching a new transnational initiative titled "Not on Our Watch – The Democratic Policing Initiative." The agreement brings together the German Police Union (GdP), the European Federation of Police Unions (EU.Pol), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), the Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA) and the International Police Delegation, in collaboration with leading academic institutions. The MOU formalizes a shared commitment among participating organizations to strengthen early threat detection and intelligence-sharing across borders, including establishing coordinated operational responses to emerging extremist threats, among other things. Jim Skinner, sheriff of Collin County, Texas, and incoming vice president of the National Sheriffs’ Association, told Fox News Digital in Kraków that as a law enforcement leader, his responsibility is to serve everyone equally, noting that while there is significant partisanship and political division in the United States, law enforcement must serve and protect all communities equally. "We all have an obligation to dig deep and make sure hate doesn’t happen on our watch, and to recognize that we have a fundamental responsibility to think critically about how to keep our communities safe," he said. Skinner noted that North Texas is home to a large and vibrant Jewish community, which he said he is fortunate to serve. He added that he traveled to Israel shortly after the Oct. 7 attack with two other sheriffs and visited Kibbutz Be’eri, an experience he said he will never forget. "I came away with important, practical lessons for my organization, but also with a deeper understanding of a world filled with hate. It reinforced for me that the authority entrusted to me by the people who elected me must be used wisely in how I approach my job each day — to ensure that something like that does not happen to the citizens where I live, and that if it ever did, we would have a proper and effective response," he said. "I think about the march," he continued, "it honors Holocaust victims and serves as a reminder of the consequences of hate and the importance of standing against violence and intolerance. That’s the message I want everyone I have influence over to understand." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5fe5d8d5dabda39598d3 In just a couple weeks, StrictlyVC San Francisco brings leaders from TDK Ventures, Replit, and more together te 2026-04-14T15:40:21.300Z In just a couple weeks, StrictlyVC San Francisco brings leaders from TDK Ventures, Replit, and more together The first StrictlyVC of the year will be coming to San Francisco before you know it. There are still a few tickets available to join us and our stacked speaker lineup April 30, so register today! Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5df6d8d5dabda3959876 House to vote on aviation safety bill after deadly DC midair crash te 2026-04-14T15:32:06.702Z House to vote on aviation safety bill after deadly DC midair crash House lawmakers are set to vote Tuesday on an aviation safety bill aimed at preventing another deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C. The legislation, known as the ALERT Act, would require aircraft operating in busy or controlled airspace to use systems that help pilots track nearby planes and helicopters more precisely — a capability federal safety officials have long said could prevent catastrophic collisions. The measure would also require new collision-prevention technology across much of the U.S. aircraft fleet, overhaul helicopter routes near major airports and require the Federal Aviation Administration to update air traffic control procedures and training. The push for reform follows the Jan. 29, 2025, crash involving an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport that killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft. The disaster marked the deadliest U.S. plane crash in more than two decades. FORMER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: OUR AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM IS BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH EBAY PARTS Lawmakers revised the bill in recent weeks after federal safety officials criticized an earlier version. It is now headed to the House floor after unanimous approval in two key committees. "The bipartisan ALERT Act is a comprehensive package that addresses the probable cause, contributing factors and responds to all 50 safety recommendations that were issued by the NTSB," Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., said during a March 26 House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup, per Roll Call. Graves and Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., co-sponsored the bill. Graves said lawmakers "worked diligently with the NTSB to refine and improve the legislation" after earlier concerns that the bill did not go far enough. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SHOULD HAVE WARNED PLANE OF ARMY HELICOPTER'S PATH AHEAD OF FATAL DC CRASH: FAA Federal investigators said safety concernssafety concerns went unaddressed for years before the collision. The National Transportation Safety Board has said longstanding safety concerns went unaddressed in the years leading up to the crash. The agency has recommended expanded aircraft-tracking technology since at least 2008, warning that gaps in how planes and helicopters detect one another in crowded airspace posed a serious risk. Investigators said such systems could have prevented the collision if both aircraft had them installed and activated. The collision exposed broader weaknesses in how military and civilian aircraft operate in shared airspace, especially near major airports with heavy traffic. At the time of the crash, the Army helicopter was not broadcasting its location data, in line with military policies designed to limit visibility during some operations. But the flight was a routine training mission, not a sensitive operation, raising questions about whether those exemptions should apply more broadly. The House bill seeks to address some of those concerns by requiring aircraft to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In, or ADS-B In, technology, which allows pilots to receive real-time location data on nearby aircraft. Most aircraft already use ADS-B Out systems that broadcast their own position. HOLLYWOOD AIRPORT FAVORED BY CELEBRITIES COULD BE SITE OF NEXT PLANE DISASTER: OFFICIALS Still, critics say the legislation may not go far enough. In a joint statement, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said the House bill "falls short on a strong and clear requirement for common-sense situational awareness technology recommended by the NTSB 18 times." The senators pointed to a separate proposal known as the ROTOR Act, which would impose stricter requirements by mandating ADS-B In technology across aircraft, including military flights. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in December but fell short of the threshold needed to advance in the House. "Any legislation that is expected to pass both the House and the Senate will have to apply the strongest ADS-B n safety standards to all aircraft, civil and military," Cruz and Cantwell said. Families of the victims have also pushed lawmakers to strengthen the bill, including by setting firm deadlines for new safety measures and requiring all aircraft — including military helicopters on routine flights — to broadcast their positions. "Recommendations without firm deadlines and clear mandates become recommendations without results," the Families of Flight 5342 said in a statement. The group added that "a clear ADS-B In mandate that fully meets the NTSB’s own recommendations must be part of any bill that becomes law." Fox News Digital has reached out to Graves and Larsen for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5de3d8d5dabda395986d Swalwell's fall from grace sparks Democrat rush to return campaign contributions amid scrutiny te 2026-04-14T15:31:47.252Z Swalwell's fall from grace sparks Democrat rush to return campaign contributions amid scrutiny Democratic incumbents and candidates in the House and Senate are facing calls from Republicans to return money they received from disgraced Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, and many of them have rushed to do so, in light of the allegations of sexual assault that caused him to drop out of the California governor race and resign from Congress.  Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign was derailed on Friday evening after several allegations of sexual misconduct against him were published around the same time prompting several high-profile Democrats, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Adam Schiff to denounce his campaign. Over a dozen Democrats have returned money received from Swalwell, Politico reported on Monday, including many running in critical battleground races in the House and Senate. Some of the names who have returned money include North Carolina Senate candidate Roy Cooper, Minnesota Senate candidate Angie Craig, and incumbent House Reps. Dan Goldman and Dave Min. Swalwell's Remedy PAC has given over $20,000 to Democratic candidates in the 2024 cycle and over $170,000 to current Democrats in Congress, and it appears most, if not all, of that money will ultimately be returned, with many announcing the funds will be donated to charities benefiting sexual assault victims. CALIFORNIA REPORTER CLAIMS ERIC SWALWELL’S CONDUCT ‘WAS KNOWN,’ RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT LOCAL SUPPORT Rep. Josh Riley, D-N.Y., considered one of the more vulnerable Democrat incumbents running in November, is returning the $3,000 he received from Swalwell by donating $1,000 to three different local charitable organizations that support women, survivors and their families, a spokesperson from his office told Fox News Digital Tuesday morning, adding that the checks were sent on Monday. Republicans have taken issue with the Democrats who have yet to return the money from Swalwell. "If Democrats had any standards left, this would be an easy call," National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital. "But when it’s one of their own, accountability gets buried faster than the story. Every single vulnerable House Democrat must return the filthy creep cash or own the rot they’re protecting." Additionally, some Republicans have pointed to the amount of time it took for the money to be returned given rumors that have been circulating around the disgraced congressman for weeks. "I find it appalling that Rebecca Cooke would wait to renounce the endorsement from the disgraced Rep. Eric Swalwell until she received tremendous heat from the media," Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Republican running in a hotly contested primary, told Politico in reference to his Democratic opponent. "This is not leadership, this is political convenience for her." Democrats have pushed back, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), who in recent weeks has been calling out Republicans who took money from Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who on Monday announced his intention to resign from Congress after he admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. SWALWELL'S FORMER FEMALE STAFFER DROPS BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, EXPOSING HIMSELF: REPORT "The hacks at the NRCC who are currently defending Cory Mills and spent six-figures just last month to protect Tony Gonzales should sit this one out," DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton told Fox News Digital in a statement. "It’s Democrats who are actually standing up and calling for accountability in Congress — consistently and independent of party." Fox News Digital reached out to several Democrats who, as of Tuesday morning, did not appear to have publicly commented on receiving Swalwell money, including Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who received a total of $2,000 from Swalwell’s Remedy PAC since 2023. Suozzi is currently running for re-election in one of the most closely watched House races in the country in New York's 3rd District which Cook Political report ranks as "Lean D." Fox News Digital reached out to Suozzi's campaign for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication. Alaska’s Mary Peltola, who is running for Senate as a Democrat in a race the Cook Political Report ranks as "Lean R," which could end up deciding the balance of power in the Senate, received a total of $8,000 from Remedy PAC in the past: $2,000 in October 2023, another $2,000 reported in her 2023 year-end filing, and $4,000 more in her amended 2024 post-general report. 'THE VIEW' HOST SAYS ERIC SWALWELL'S REPUTATION WITH WOMEN WAS 'OPEN SECRET' EXPLOITABLE BY ENEMIES "Peltola has been absolutely SILENT," Senate Leadership Fund, the top super PAC supporting Republican incumbents and candidates in the Senate, posted on X on Monday. "When will she call for his resignation and return the money?" On Tuesday morning, a Peltola spokesperson said she has not accepted money from Swalwell during the current cycle and that she will return the money she received from previous campaign cycles in the form of a donation to a charity benefitting victims of domestic violence. "Alaskans for Mary has not accepted any contributions or endorsement from Swalwell this cycle, and will be donating $8,000 – equivalent to contributions from previous cycles – to the Tundra Women’s Coalition," the spokesperson said. "Mary was disturbed to learn of these allegations and takes all reports of sexual assault and harassment very seriously. She believes these claims should be thoroughly investigated, and the legal system should hold responsible parties accountable." An up-and-coming progressive candidate in the Democratic Party, Ammar Campa-Najjar, is running for Congress in California’s 48th Congressional District and records show he has taken $6,000 from Remedy PAC since 2020. Campa-Najjar disavowed Swalwell's endorsement but did not appear to have publicly commented on the funds until Tuesday morning when a spokesperson said the campaign intends to donate the funds to a charitable cause. Swalwell announced Monday he will officially resign from office after his sexual misconduct allegations triggered a surge of lawmakers calling for his expulsion over the weekend.  The California lawmaker said he is still firmly denying the serious allegations against him as "false," but added that his resignation reflects him taking "responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make." The House Ethics Committee announced Monday it is investigating Swalwell amid "allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5dcfd8d5dabda3959864 Pelosi distances herself from ally Swalwell amid sexual misconduct allegations te 2026-04-14T15:31:27.385Z Pelosi distances herself from ally Swalwell amid sexual misconduct allegations Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied having any knowledge of sexual misconduct and rape accusations against Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., after four women came forward. Swalwell announced on Monday his plans to resign from the House amid a looming expulsion vote threat. When asked by journalist Frank Sesno whether she knew about the allegations before bombshell stories came out from CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle over the weekend, Pelosi replied: "I had none whatsoever." DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR 'SMEAR' OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL'S ACCUSERS: 'VERY BAD LOOK' Pelosi, a longtime ally of Swalwell’s who pushed for his ascension up party ranks, distanced herself from the fellow Bay Area Democrat during an event at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She admitted Swalwell’s resignation announcement Monday was a "smart decision" and the "right thing to do" after a wave of sexual harassment allegations threatened to force his ouster in Congress. Four women have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including one former staffer who alleges the congressman raped her when she was too intoxicated to consent.  Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., planned to introduce an expulsion resolution against Swalwell on Tuesday prior to his resignation announcement. The measure would have needed a two-thirds majority to pass and some Democrats had already pledged to support it. Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday after major labor unions and congressional endorsers pulled their support, citing the accusations against him. Pelosi, who still wields considerable influence among California Democrats, dodged when asked if she personally advised Swalwell to resign from Congress. SWALWELL'S 'BEST FRIEND' IN CONGRESS TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS TORPEDO HIS POLITICAL CAREER "Oh, I think that was his decision," she replied. "That's the right thing to do …  not to subject members to have to take a vote on something like that, and not to subject your family." "If you have a challenge that you have to address, it’s best addressed not as a candidate for governor and not as a member of Congress," Pelosi added. She called on him to exit the race following the wave of sexual harassment allegations, and had not yet endorsed his campaign to be next governor of California. Pelosi is not the only Democratic lawmaker to profess ignorance about the accusations against Swalwell. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., on Monday accused his close congressional ally and longtime friend of living a double life. "I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell," Gallego said in a statement. Gallego's statement came after Swalwell had dropped out of California's 2026 gubernatorial race amid the wave of sexual harassment allegations. In 2025, Pelosi announced her plans to not run for reelection after a decades-long career in the House. A spokesperson for Swalwell did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5dbbd8d5dabda395985b Jaguars' Travis Hunter pushes back on report of positional usage: 'Who told you that?' te 2026-04-14T15:31:07.563Z Jaguars' Travis Hunter pushes back on report of positional usage: 'Who told you that?' Travis Hunter apparently has not gotten the memo about his reported future position usage. Earlier this offseason, there were rumblings that last year's second overall pick, a two-way star who won the 2024 Heisman Trophy, would become a full-time corner while occasionally playing wide receiver, a switch from his role this past season. The NFL Network reported as such this past Friday. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "(The Jacksonville Jaguars) expect him to be a full-time corner, part-time receiver, which when you talk to teams last year, that probably was where they thought the value was and really where they thought the production would lie," NFL insider Ian Rapoport said. Hunter apparently caught wind of what Rapoport said and decided to take matters into his own hands. "Now who told you this?" Hunter posted on X earlier this week. Hunter, prior to sustaining a season-ending injury in practice heading into Week 9, played 67% of the team’s offensive snaps compared to 36% of defensive snaps. According to the report, Hunter is recovering well from the LCL tear. COWBOYS LEGEND DIGS DEEP INTO THE TEAM'S MISSING 'FIBER' THAT'S RESULTED IN SUPER BOWL DROUGHT In seven games last season, Hunter caught 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he had 15 tackles and three pass breakups. Hunter’s best offensive game was his last one, when he caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London. The Jaguars went 13-4 and won the AFC South last year before losing to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Game. They hope Hunter’s return to the lineup will help them build on last season’s success. Greg Newsome II, one of the Jaguars' cornerbacks last season, departed for the New York Giants in free agency, leaving a starting spot for Hunter to fill. Jacksonville traded up last year from the fifth spot in the draft to select Hunter. Fox News' Ryan Canfield 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/69de5d93d8d5dabda3959849 Virginia Governor Ends Tax Breaks for Confederate Groups te 2026-04-14T15:30:27.885Z Virginia Governor Ends Tax Breaks for Confederate Groups The new law signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger is the culmination of a long, Democrat-led push to distance Virginia from its Confederate past. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5b4dd8d5dabda39597ee Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap discussed election records, litigation with feds te 2026-04-14T15:20:45.677Z Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap discussed election records, litigation with feds Justin Heap speaking at a rally for Donald Trump in Glendale on Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0) New records show a top Maricopa County official directly corresponded with the U.S. Department of Justice last year about election records and litigation as the department sought to obtain Arizona’s voter roll and probe the county’s past elections. The emails, obtained by watchdog group American Oversight and shared exclusively with Votebeat, show Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap signaling support for the Trump administration’s investigation into his own county’s elections. The county, home to Phoenix, is a key election battleground. The records also suggest that Heap, a Republican, met with Arizona’s top federal prosecutor just before the DOJ informed the county it was looking into its past elections, raising questions about his level of coordination with federal law enforcement officials. In addition, the documents suggest that the recorder’s office withheld records from Votebeat. In March, Votebeat filed a public records request for copies of emails between Heap and the DOJ during the time period in question, but his office did not provide them. Under state law, public officials cannot withhold requested records without any basis, and doing so could lead to civil penalties. Liz Hempowicz, deputy executive director of American Oversight, said Heap’s engagement with federal law enforcement officials amid the ongoing investigations, along with a recent push by his office to question certain voters’ eligibility, should “set off alarm bells.” “Election officials have a duty to administer elections fairly, based on facts and evidence — not to blur the line between election administration and politicized law enforcement,” she said. “This pattern risks turning baseless suspicion into policy and sweeping eligible voters into investigations they should never be part of.” Heap did not respond to a request for comment. Judy Keane, a spokesperson for his office, also did not respond to questions from Votebeat. Records: Heap voiced support for Department of Justice efforts In one of the newly revealed messages, Heap says he learned in mid-August 2025 that Maricopa County’s elections and information technology staff was planning to delete certain records from the 2020 and 2022 elections. In response, he sent a letter to Maricopa County Manager Jen Pokorski raising concerns about the county’s email retention policies. Then, the records show Heap’s executive assistant coordinating a meeting between Heap and U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine on Aug. 27. Around the same time, Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon began threatening legal action against Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, questioning the state’s voter registration and list maintenance procedures and his refusal to share unredacted copies of the state voter roll. Records separately obtained by Votebeat show that Dhillon had reached out to Fontes on Aug. 12 to warn of litigation. Then, on Sept. 4, Dhillon sent a letter to the state and Maricopa County instructing them to preserve all election records from 2020 to the present. “It has come to our attention that the Maricopa Elections Department and Recorder intend to destroy election records from the 2020 and 2022 federal elections, including staff emails,” she wrote, adding that her office had “received complaints concerning errors and malfeasance in the conduct of the Maricopa County elections.” “Please be advised that any attempt to destroy these and any other records will be construed by the Civil Rights Division as evidence of intentional spoliation of evidence,” she continued. The next day, Heap wrote back to Dhillon and voiced support for her efforts. “Please be assured that my office is committed to full cooperation with the Department of Justice as it conducts its investigation,” he wrote. “We share your goal of safeguarding election integrity and transparency, and we will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that no records are lost, compromised, or destroyed.” He added that his predecessor, GOP Recorder Stephen Richer, had transferred control of all election records to the county’s elections and information technology departments. Heap has repeatedly lamented that the county’s board of supervisors usurped his office’s power through that agreement with Richer, and he told Dhillon that he was no longer in charge of any documents she might seek from prior elections. However, he noted he was engaged in a legal battle with the supervisors, who have refuted his characterization of the dispute and the agreement, to regain control of the documents. That caught the attention of Maureen Riordan, who was then acting chief of the Voting Section of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. She emailed Heap to ask him to forward the docket number for the litigation, which remains unresolved. “If you can send the court documents and the next court date, that would be really helpful as well,” she wrote. “Thanks in advance.” Heap, Department of Justice continue to scrutinize Maricopa elections Heap was first elected recorder in 2024 with the support of President Donald Trump’s allies who questioned the integrity of the 2020 election, and he has spent much of his term in office promoting election security — sometimes alongside Trump administration officials. In February, Heap joined then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a hastily arranged press conference to promote federal legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Hours after that event, he claimed that his office had identified 137 noncitizens on the county’s voter roll via a digital database maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. Experts have long warned that the database — called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE — is unreliable. Kristi Noem was unable to cite single election fraud case during secretive Arizona visit Since then, Heap has said that he intends to change the registration status of those voters through a process that several election experts and lawyers called legally dubious. He also formally referred 207 voters to local prosecutors for investigation — significantly more than the 137 people that he previously flagged. Meanwhile, the federal government continues to investigate the 2020 election in Maricopa County — even though several prior reviews have found no evidence of widespread fraud or a stolen presidential race. Last month, the FBI subpoenaed election records from the Arizona Senate, which conducted a controversial review of the county’s election results in 2021. Courchaine’s office issued the subpoena and is overseeing a grand jury impaneled in Phoenix. Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of DHS that typically focuses on transnational narcotics and trafficking investigations, has also been probing past elections in recent months. Records previously obtained by Votebeat show that the agency asked the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for records from its 2020 election investigation. In January, the DOJ officially filed its lawsuit against Fontes over the state’s voter roll. That case is still pending in federal court. 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/69de591bd8d5dabda3959750 Mamdani's government-run grocery stores will fail 'like every socialist experiment': economist te 2026-04-14T15:11:23.569Z Mamdani's government-run grocery stores will fail 'like every socialist experiment': economist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans to open the city’s first government-run supermarket in East Harlem next year, a move critics warn could cost taxpayers millions and undercut nearby private grocers. Mamdani vowed during an address celebrating his first 100 days in office Sunday that the city will have five government-run grocery stores by the end of his first term on Jan. 1, 2030, falling in line with promises made during his campaign. "I was elected as a Democratic Socialist, and I will govern as a Democratic Socialist," Mamdani said. But Daniel Di Martino, a Venezuelan-born fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said Mamdani's plans for government-run grocery stores will fail "like every other socialist experiment" does. MAMDANI MOVES TO SIDELINE NYC POLICE WITH NEW SAFETY OFFICE UNDER SWEEPING OVERHAUL "The city is going to spend a very large amount of money, and they are not going to cater to the needs of the local consumers, because they have no profit incentive," Di Martino said. "Why does the grocery store have the items you want? Because they can make money from things you want. The government grocery store does not care about what you want because they don't care about profits." In February, Mamdani pushed for $70 million in funding for the Economic Development Corporation to select sites and build five city-run grocery stores — one in each borough. Construction costs for the city's first government grocery store at La Marqueta are estimated at $30 million — half of the project's proposed budget. "Mamdani says the city is not going to have to pay rent because the place is already owned by the city," Di Martino said. "But there is a cost. It's called an opportunity cost. The city could have rented or sold that location to a private actor, and instead we're going to miss that revenue." MAMDANI TOUTS LANDMARK COURT VICTORY AGAINST REPEAT OFFENDER LANDLORD IN HOUSING ENFORCEMENT PUSH Di Martino noted that in a mile radius of La Marqueta there is an Aldi and a Costco Wholesale. In addition, there are at least three other grocery stores located within a mile of the proposed grocery store's location. "If they actually open, they're going to take business away from private businesses," Di Martino said. "So the real cost to the city is going to be even higher." While government-run grocery stores are new to New York City, they've been introduced in other cities such as Atlanta, which opened in September 2025. But months earlier, a city-run grocery store in Kansas City folded. The store first opened in 2018 but closed after struggling to keep food on shelves amid crime, according to NPR. Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office for comment but did not receive a response. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5907d8d5dabda3959747 Kash Patel taunts Swalwell with FBI sit-down as resignation fallout grows te 2026-04-14T15:11:03.852Z Kash Patel taunts Swalwell with FBI sit-down as resignation fallout grows FBI Director Kash Patel on Monday invited Rep. Eric Swalwell to sit down with the bureau for an interview after the California Democrat resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations, escalating the pair’s long-running feud. Patel’s offer came as Swalwell said he planned to resign from Congress while facing mounting scrutiny following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, including a claim from a former aide who said he assaulted her. Swalwell has denied the allegations, while separate ethics and criminal probes are underway. Patel also urged anyone with relevant information to come forward. "@EricSwalwell has maintained that none of the allegations against him are true, and now that he’s resigned, we would welcome him to sit down with the FBI and share any information he has," Patel wrote on X. "We also encourage and welcome any person with relevant information to any of these matters to speak with us. Door is open to all." 'SMART DECISION': SWALWELL'S RESIGNATION SPURS PRAISE FROM BOTH PARTIES AFTER BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS EMERGE Patel introducing potential federal exposure for Swalwell, a seven-term congressman and a leading California gubernatorial candidate before he dropped out of the race, comes after the pair served on opposite sides of the House Intelligence Committee during the height of the probes into whether President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with Russia. ERIC SWALWELL FACES MANHATTAN SEX ASSAULT PROBE AFTER ENDING CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN AMID ALLEGATIONS Patel, formerly a senior aide on the committee, wrote a book titled "Government Gangsters" in which he listed out dozens of members of the so-called deep state. He noted in the book that the list was not exhaustive and omitted "corrupt actors of the first order such as Congressmen Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell." Patel spokeswoman Erica Knight revived remarks from a viral spat between Swalwell and Patel last year during a congressional hearing. "Director Patel: 'I'm gonna borrow your terminology and call bull---- on your entire career in Congress. It has been a disgrace to the American people.' [2013-2026]," Knight wrote, quoting Patel's exchange with Swalwell. SWALWELL ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS TORPEDOED GUBERNATORIAL BID Patel last month ordered a review of decade-old FBI files concerning Swalwell’s past association with accused Chinese spy Christine Fang, a move Swalwell’s lawyers characterized in a letter as an "extraordinary use of FBI resources to target a political enemy." Swalwell has had hostile relationships with many Republicans. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy stripped Swalwell of his intel committee seat in 2023, saying at the time that he was untrustworthy and so "we’re not going to provide him with the secrets to America." Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign over the weekend following a San Francisco Chronicle report detailing allegations from a former staffer who accused him of assaulting her on two occasions while she was allegedly too intoxicated to consent to relations with him.  The House Ethics Committee announced Monday it opened an investigation into Swalwell, while the Manhattan District Attorney's office confirmed it had opened a criminal investigation into him. Swalwell has denied what he said are the "serious, false allegations" against him but has still also apologized in recent statements for unspecified "mistakes" he has made. Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell's office and the FBI for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de58e0d8d5dabda395973a How Stephen Miller Is Adjusting Trump’s Immigration Agenda te 2026-04-14T15:10:24.240Z How Stephen Miller Is Adjusting Trump’s Immigration Agenda After the chaos and death that ensued during the deportation raids in Minneapolis, Stephen Miller, the architect of President Trump’s mass deportation campaign, is changing course on immigration. Our White House correspondent Zolan Kanno-Youngs explains how the administration’s strategy is shifting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de56c9d8d5dabda39596ed Sedona Red Rock High School junior chosen as Sister Cities representative te 2026-04-14T15:01:29.269Z Sedona Red Rock High School junior chosen as Sister Cities representative Sedona Red Rock High School junior Fernando Quisumbing reached into his back on Thursday, March 26, which had the words “Bag of Holding” embroidered on the side, and pulled out a small notebook and flipped through the filled pages in the first half. In it, he had a bunch of drawings he’s worked on w Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de56b1d8d5dabda39596bb Jimmy Kimmel ignores Swalwell news after ex-lawmaker announced campaign on late-night host's show last year te 2026-04-14T15:01:05.076Z Jimmy Kimmel ignores Swalwell news after ex-lawmaker announced campaign on late-night host's show last year Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel ignored news regarding Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., during his Monday night show after the former congressman and candidate for California governor announced his campaign on the late-night host's show in November. Swalwell broke the news that he would be running for governor on Kimmel's show on November 20, 2025. At the end of the interview, Kimmel thanked Swalwell and referred to him as a possible future governor of California. During Monday night's show, Kimmel focused on President Donald Trump's social media posts, specifically the AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus which has since been deleted, his "No Tax on Tips" event at the White House, the Iran negotiations, as well as first lady Melania Trump's recent remarks about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING' Swalwell announced Monday that he would be suspending his campaign and resigning from his congressional seat as well. During his appearance on Kimmel's show last November, Swalwell said, "And our state, this great state, needs a fighter and a protector. Someone who will bring prices down, lift wages up. And we can say that we're the fourth-largest economy in the world. And we are, and I love to brag about that. But what does that mean if you can't afford to live here? So, I've been in these fights as a city council member up in Dublin, my hometown, as a prosecutor in Oakland, and taking on the most corrupt president ever in the US Congress." After announcing his bid on the show, Kimmel's audience erupted in applause and gave Swalwell a standing ovation. SENATE DEMOCRAT AVOIDS ANSWERING WHETHER SWALWELL SHOULD RESIGN FROM CONGRESS The ex-lawmaker was also a big supporter of Kimmel's after his suspension in September 2025. He donned a "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" hat during an interview with CNN the day after Kimmel's show was pulled. During the November interview with Swalwell, Kimmel thanked the now-former lawmaker for his support, displaying a photo of several lawmakers wearing a "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" hat. A representative for Kimmel's show did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, another congressman who admitted to sexual misconduct with a staffer earlier this year, announced his decision to resign from Congress Monday as well. Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show" also did not appear to mention the Swalwell allegations or his decision to resign from congress after ending his campaign. The other late night shows, Seth Meyers' and Jimmy Fallon's, were re-runs on Monday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de569dd8d5dabda39596b2 Zelenskyy announces 'the future is here' after war's first all-robot capture te 2026-04-14T15:00:45.355Z Zelenskyy announces 'the future is here' after war's first all-robot capture Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday that Ukraine had captured a Russian position using an entirely unmanned robot ground force. "For the first time in the history of this war, Ukrainian warriors captured an enemy position using exclusively unmanned platforms," he said during a speech to weapons manufacturers on Ukraine's Arms Makers' Day. "The future is here, on the battlefield, and Ukraine is creating it," he said in a video posted to X by a Ukrainian journalist. The offensive, which took place in an unspecified location, was operated through drones and a grid-based robotic system (GRS) platform, an unmanned defense system. ZELENSKYY OFFERS CUTTING-EDGE DRONE DEFENSE TO GULF ALLIES AS UKRAINE SEEKS MISSILE SUPPORT Zelenskyy claimed that such autonomous systems have participated in over 22,000 frontline missions in just three months. Machines used included the TerMIT, a multifunctional ground robotic system designed to lay mines, and provide fire support; the Zmiy, a next-generation armored robotic platform developed for cargo transport; and the Protector, a heavy unmanned ground system. Zelenskyy also touted his country's use of drones, an integral cog in Ukraine's war plan. SEN WICKER: ENDING CHINA’S DRONE DOMINANCE WITH A MADE-IN-AMERICA REVIVAL "Our missiles, our unmanned systems, our interceptors, attack and naval drones, reconnaissance systems, artillery, our ammunition, armored vehicles, robotic platforms, and much more. All that today is truly proudly called – the weapons of Ukraine," the president added. "They defend our skies, our cities and villages, save lives, and prove that 'Made in Ukraine' is synonymous with effectiveness and strength," he concluded. Experts and commentators pointed to the growing use of unmanned technology as a turning point in the way wars are fought. "So, if this starts happening at scale - which is the logical conclusion - would this change the nature, rather than the character, of war folks?" Dr. Patrick Bury, a senior professor of warfare and counter-terrorism at the University of Bath, wrote on X. "I’m not sure the world is fully ready for when ground invasions can be accomplished by Black Mirror robot dogs," wrote Mike Benz, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. State Department. "'Boots on the ground' will no longer carry the political risk of sending 'our boys' out to fight. The temptation for robot-only ground invasions could be… enormous," he finished. Benz reference to robot dogs highlights Ukraine's previous use of autonomous dog-like drones in their ongoing war with Russia. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de547ed8d5dabda3959626 Billionaire sugar daddy kicks Swalwell out of his mansion, wants $1M back after heinous sex allegations te 2026-04-14T14:51:42.230Z Billionaire sugar daddy kicks Swalwell out of his mansion, wants $1M back after heinous sex allegations The billionaire founder of Diamond Resorts, Stephen Cloobeck, is cutting ties with Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and forcing him out of his California mansion after sexual misconduct allegations derailed Swalwell's bid to become the next governor of California. Cloobeck, who has backed Swalwell since 2017, broke dramatically with Swalwell in interviews with the New York Post and Fox 11 Los Angeles just hours after Swalwell announced he would abandon his campaign. "I am no longer supporting Eric. F---ing tell everyone I’m a libertarian. F--- you, Democrat Party. I’m a libertarian now," Cloobeck told the Post.  "I am now a Republican," he added to Fox 11 LA. He confirmed Swalwell would no longer be welcome at his California residence. SWALWELL FACES HOUSE ETHICS PROBE OVER ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AS EXPULSION THREAT LOOMS "I have a lot of people who stay at my house. I built a gorgeous place, my dream home, I relish it, and I’m a very generous man. I’m very thoughtful and I’m very kind," Cloobeck said. Cloobeck has donated to Swalwell’s primary and general campaigns, contributing $23,400 from 2017 to 2023. He has also given the Democratic congressman gifts, including a $39,900 flight to Nice, France, according to congressional disclosures. The billionaire hinted that he would cut ties with more of the party than just Swalwell. SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING' "I’m going to change my Godd--- party affiliation, because I cannot stand this Democratic Party at all," he said. "I am done. Finito." Cloobeck did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital if he would consider backing a Republican candidate in the California race for governor. His about-face toward Swalwell follows a bombshell report on Friday from the San Francisco Chronicle, detailing alleged accounts of Swalwell’s pursuit of intoxicated women, pressuring employees into intimate situations and asking for explicit images from female contacts. DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR 'SMEAR' OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL'S ACCUSERS: 'VERY BAD LOOK' Rumblings of misconduct from Swalwell first emerged earlier this month when Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer and a political media personality, began circulating testimony from women who said they had been sexually assaulted by the congressman. "The Democratic candidate currently leading in the California governor’s race has a known history of being predatory towards women," Hunt claimed in a post to social media. Swalwell announced his decision to step down after a series of Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., demanded that Swalwell exit the race. "I am suspending my campaign for governor. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not the campaign’s," Swalwell said in a post to X. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de546ad8d5dabda395961d Cop who killed drug suspect with Igloo cooler appeals conviction that made him an example te 2026-04-14T14:51:22.550Z Cop who killed drug suspect with Igloo cooler appeals conviction that made him an example The New York defense attorney for former NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran, sentenced last week to years in prison for the death of a fleeing suspect, says he's been "completely overwhelmed" by the public support for his client following his controversial trial. Duran was convicted of manslaughter in February after a bench trial in the death of Eric Duprey. "It’s rare when you’re in my position to get such support from the community, when you’re a criminal defense attorney," Duran's lawyer Arthur Aidala told Fox News Digital. "So it’s been pretty amazing and...unique how many people have reached out complaining about the verdict, complaining about the sentence, and their desires to help Sgt. Duran any way they can." GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE VOWS TO PARDON COP CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER IN DEATH OF FLEEING SUSPECT Duprey was driving a motorized scooter in the direction of multiple civilians and police officers while fleeing a drug sting when Duran threw a bystander's Igloo cooler at him in an attempt to stop him, according to his defense team. He was going close to 30 mph and put the pedestrians at risk of severe injury and possibly death, a defense expert testified at trial. Duran threw the cooler to prevent anyone else from being hurt, according to the defense. It knocked Duprey to the ground. He wasn't wearing a helmet. And he suffered a fatal head injury. Duran's supporters allege that Duprey was a known member of the Trinitarios gang — which has been blamed for machete attacks in the Bronx in the past. Prosecutors from New York Attorney General Letitia James's office had requested a five-to 15-year sentence. SEND US A TIP HERE Judge Guy Mitchell sentenced him to three to nine years in prison last week, drawing political attention and prompting New York's Republican candidate for governor, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, to vow to pardon him on his first day in office if he defeats Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in November. "I back the blue — that’s why Nassau County is the safest county in the nation," Blakeman told Fox News Digital. "Meanwhile, in Kathy Hochul’s New York, a police officer is headed to prison while criminals get second chances. That’s backwards, and it will change when I’m governor." Mitchell rejected Duran's argument that the cooler throwing was justified in order to protect other people from harm and said the sentence would serve as a "general deterrent" for other officers. NYC JUDGE SEEKS TO MAKE EXAMPLE OF OFFICER WHO THREW COOLER AT FLEEING SUSPECT, CAUSING FATAL CRASH "It is such a unique set of circumstances, I don't know what example it could set except to deter cops from doing the best they can," Aidala told Fox News Digital. "This wasn't a routine traffic stop or they were chasing someone and this is gonna deter them from handling a stop a certain way." Duran didn't intend to use lethal force, he said, arguing that's why he improvised with the cooler rather than drawing his gun. "They're telling cops don't throw a cooler at a guy on a motorcycle on the sidewalk in the middle of the afternoon next to a park going 30 miles an hour after they just committed a felony or a drug sale," he said. "I don't know who it's setting an example to." Duran is seeking an appeal, and Aidala said he asked an appellate judge on Friday to release his client on bail while that proceeds. Oral arguments are expected later this week. Vincent Vallelong is the president on the NYPD's Sergeant's Benevolent Association, and the union continues to support Duran, he said. "The SBA’s focus at this time is to get this horrific injustice overturned before the November elections," he said. "The silence from many of our elected officials is just as disturbing as the message the judge handed down last week." The union and the National Police Defense Foundation have teamed up to raise money for Duran's appeal through a Kindful campaign, he added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5457d8d5dabda3959614 JD Vance tells Pope Leo XIV to 'stick to matters of morality' and stay out of US public policy te 2026-04-14T14:51:03.048Z JD Vance tells Pope Leo XIV to 'stick to matters of morality' and stay out of US public policy Vice President JD Vance fired back at Vatican criticism of the administration on, telling Pope Leo XIV to "stick to matters of morality" and stay out of American public policy. Vance joined "Special Report" to defend the president, defining a firm line between the pope’s religious authority and the president’s role in protecting the United States. "I certainly think that in some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality," Vance told Fox News’s Bret Baier Monday. "And let the President of the United States stick to dictating American public policy." The first American pope has been critical of the Trump administration’s stances on issues like immigration and the conflict in Iran. Over the weekend, President Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing the religious leader. POPE LEO CALLS OUT TRUMP’S IRAN RHETORIC BEFORE LAST-MINUTE CEASEFIRE EMERGES "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," he wrote, adding, "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon." Speaking with reporters, Pope Leo denied fearing the Trump administration or trying to be a politician. "The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician," he added. Vance, who has been vocal about his conversion to Catholicism, said he’s not concerned the president and pope are arguing, and that it’s natural for them to clash with opposing views. TRUMP ACCUSES POPE LEO OF BEING 'TERRIBLE' ON FOREIGN POLICY OVER PONTIFF'S ANTI-WAR COMMENTS "When they're in conflict, they're in conflict. I don't worry about it too much, Bret. I think it's a natural thing," he said. "I'm sure it will happen in the future, and it's not that big of a deal that it happened in the past." Vance added that while this is not the first time the two leaders have had disagreements, he does not expect it to be the last. Still, he said the White House respects the religious authority of Pope Leo and affirmed they have a strong relationship with the Vatican. POPE LEO CALLS OUT 'DELUSION OF OMNIPOTENCE' FUELING IRAN WAR IN VIGIL FOR PEACE AT ST. PETER'S BASILICA "We certainly have a good relationship with the Vatican, but we're also [going to] disagree on substantive questions from time to time. I think that's a totally reasonable thing. It isn't particularly newsworthy," Vance said. He also addressed the backlash over an AI-generated image Trump shared, and later deleted, which critics said depicted the president as Jesus. The vice president dismissed the controversy as a misunderstood "joke." "The president was posting a joke, and of course, he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people weren't understanding his humor in that case," Vance said. "The President of the United States likes to mix it up on social media, and I actually think that's one of the good things about this president is that he's not filtered," he added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de542cd8d5dabda39595e5 Google brings its Gemini Personal Intelligence feature to India te 2026-04-14T14:50:20.979Z Google brings its Gemini Personal Intelligence feature to India The feature lets users connect Google accounts like Gmail and Photos to get personalized answers Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5278d8d5dabda395958c Hawley urges DOJ probe into abortion pill maker over safety concerns te 2026-04-14T14:43:04.305Z Hawley urges DOJ probe into abortion pill maker over safety concerns FIRST ON FOX— Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is calling on the Department of Justice to investigate Danco Laboratories, which produces and distributes the abortion drug mifepristone. "Women are being harmed by this chemical abortion drug at far higher rates than advertised on the drug label," Hawley said in a letter sent to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche Tuesday that was obtained by Fox News Digital. "As you may know, this drug is now responsible for over 70 percent of abortions in the United States—a number which has risen in just the last four years. Large, secretive pharmaceutical corporations like Danco must be held accountable for these serious safety risks to women and the Department should take immediate action."  Mifepristone, an abortion pill originally made by Danco Laboratories, blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to sustain pregnancy, and is followed by misoprostol to complete the abortion.  HAWLEY BLASTS FDA APPROVAL OF NEW ABORTION DRUG, CITES SAFETY AND TRUST CONCERNS "Very little information is publicly available about Danco Laboratories," Hawley wrote in his letter. "The company first introduced mifepristone in the United States in 2000 and, in doing so, appears to have taken unusual and extreme measures to protect itself from liability. It was incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Its board of directors and investors remain secret." In a 2023 article headlined "Why you’ve never heard of the company behind the abortion pill," the Los Angeles Times reported, "As far as drug companies go, abortion pill maker Danco Laboratories is all but anonymous. It has fewer than 20 employees, uses a P.O. Box to avoid sharing its headquarters address and isn’t listed on any public exchanges." Hawley wrote that Danco Laboratories' corporate structure "remains largely shielded from public view. Early backers appear to have included George Soros and other far-left activists who favor population control. We do know, however, that chemical abortion is a lucrative enterprise for Danco—so lucrative, in fact, that mifepristone is the only drug the company makes, with investors’ returns reportedly topping 450%."  In his letter, Hawley referenced a study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center, authored by Ryan T. Anderson, the organization’s president, and Jamie Bryan Hall, its director of data analysis, which reviewed a claims database that included 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023. MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKES NEW LEGAL AIM AT MAIL-ORDER ABORTION PILLS OVER SAFETY CONCERNS It found that 10.93% of women "experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following a mifepristone abortion."  On its website, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calls mifepristone safe but adds, "The FDA has received reports of serious adverse events in patients who took mifepristone. As of December 31, 2024, there were 36 reports of deaths in patients associated with mifepristone since the product was approved in September 2000, including two cases of ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy located outside the womb, such as in the fallopian tubes) resulting in death, and several fatal cases of severe systemic infection (also called sepsis)."  "You and the Department of Justice are tasked with upholding the rule of law and protecting every American—including women that companies like Danco prey on and lie to," Hawley wrote to Blanche. PRO-LIFE GROUP FINDS BIDEN-ERA FDA POLICY IS DRIVING 500 ABORTIONS PER DAY, SAYS TRUMP HAS POWER TO END IT  "This mandate includes ensuring Danco’s prompt, fulsome, and transparent compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and ongoing regulatory obligations," he added. "My Subcommittee has opened an investigation into Danco and its business practices. I request that you also open an investigation into Danco, including but not limited to its original FDA approval, ongoing regulatory compliance, manufacture and distribution pipeline, potentially deceptive marketing practices, and disclosure of safety risks pertaining to the drug."  Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice and Danco Laboratories for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5264d8d5dabda3959583 Mom from viral Ro Khanna debate says Dems can't claim to support both secure borders and sanctuary policies te 2026-04-14T14:42:44.746Z Mom from viral Ro Khanna debate says Dems can't claim to support both secure borders and sanctuary policies Marien Richardson, a mother who challenged Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., during a viral debate over border security, told Fox News Monday that Democratic leaders cannot claim to support secure borders while backing policies she argued are failing Americans and putting children at risk. Richardson characterized the now-viral debate posted on Jubilee's YouTube channel as "respectful," but said she couldn't allow Khanna to dismiss the link between human trafficking and illegal immigration by redirecting the conversation toward topics like the Epstein files or ICE's treatment of detainees. DHS SLAMS CALIFORNIA 'SANCTUARY' COUNTY AFTER MOM ALLEGEDLY MURDERED BY 2 HONDURAN NATIONALS "I'm glad I was strong enough to bring him back to the point, which is simply, you are in a sanctuary city. You are pro-making things easier for illegal migrants, which then turns into supporting and even promoting illegal immigration," Richardson said on "The Will Cain Show." She added that it was frustrating that the left uses talking points, even when they surround legitimate concerns, to obscure "the huge problems going on because of their policies." RO KHANNA WEIGHS IN ON THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SWALWELL Khanna spoke in "politicianese," Richardson claimed. She said she respected his debate skills but didn't fall for any tricks "where he just tried to rope me back into what he wanted to talk about rather than the facts that were on the table." On February 10, the Department of Homeland Security claimed in a press release that 4,561 criminal illegal aliens have had detainers not honored and been released from jails into California communities since January 20, 2025. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports on its website that in 2025, ICE placed 1,641 detainers and picked up 1,453 prisoners. In 2026 so far, it says 435 detainers were placed and 387 have been picked up. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5251d8d5dabda395957a Dax Shepard slammed for exposing late Eric Dane's private AA struggles after death te 2026-04-14T14:42:25.290Z Dax Shepard slammed for exposing late Eric Dane's private AA struggles after death Dax Shepard is catching heat for sharing an intimate story about the late Eric Dane nearly two months after his death. During a recent appearance on the "All There Is with Anderson Cooper" podcast, Shepard detailed his past with Dane, admitting that he once "hated" him after crossing paths at an AA meeting. "Eric Dane, I can now say I met in recovery, and we hated each other. I hated him!" Shepard told Cooper. "I thought he was a bit of a bully. And we were in a meeting … he threatened a younger member of the group, and this had been simmering for a long time, and I said, ‘Let’s go. Outside. Right now.’ It was on. And we walked outside to fist fight in the driveway of an AA meeting." ERIC DANE'S WIFE REBECCA GAYHEART BREAKS SILENCE DAYS AFTER ACTOR'S DEATH Shepard said the two kept returning to the same meeting and eventually began to understand one another. "God bless both of us," Shepard said. "We kept coming back to the same meeting, like neither was going to not show up. Over the course of the next two years, I found myself starting to kind of relate to him … I heard his story." "His father shot himself in his house when he was a little boy," Shepard continued. "And his mom came upstairs and said, ‘I’ll tell you what happened if you promise that you won’t cry.’ So that little boy held onto that. And then that little boy grew up without a dad, like I grew up without a dad, and he was so in search of masculine validation, and it took all these shapes that I hated. That I’m sure he hated in me." He said that during one meeting, it was Dane's turn to share, and while his group had a rule that members weren't allowed to reference other members' stories or give them advice, he broke it to say, "I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but that’s one of my favorite shares I’ve ever heard." Shepard continued, "Maybe a week or two later, one of his shares, he said, ‘I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think I’ve come to fall in love with Dax.’ … And then we became friends." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Shepard said he related to the late actor in more ways than one. "I came to fall in love with a very scared man trying and hoping he had become a man, and I related," Shepard said. "I ended up loving him so much." The story didn't hit well with some fans online, who quickly called out Shepard for sharing such personal details. "Is this a helpful story to share, Dax? What purpose does it serve to share this story now?," one person wrote on X. "Telling these stories once the person is dead is so disgusting to me," another wrote. "I don’t care if he’s saying he understood him afterwards. Keep it to yourself." "All he ever does is make everything about himself lol," one user quipped. "Biggest narcissist I’ve ever seen. Used to like his podcast until it just became too much." Others defended Shepard, with one person noting, "People are going to overreact to this not knowing he spoke about this with eric on his podcast before eric was even diagnosed." A representative for Shepard did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Dane had been open about his struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol in the years before his death. "If you take the whole eight years I was on 'Grey's Anatomy,' I was f---ed up longer than I was sober and that was when things started going sideways for me," he admitted to Shepard during an appearance on the "Armchair Expert" podcast in 2024.  Before his departure from the show in 2012, Dane went to rehab for an addiction to painkillers.  "I didn't leave ['Grey's Anatomy'] so much as I think I was let go," he told Shepard. "I was struggling. They didn't let me go because of that, although it definitely didn't help." ERIC DANE'S FINAL HEARTBREAKING WORDS TO HIS DAUGHTERS REVEALED IN LAST INTERVIEW BEFORE ALS DEATH During his run as Capt. Tom Chandler on the TNT series "The Last Ship" from its premiere in June 2014 through its final season in 2018, Dane took another break from production for personal reasons: he was battling depression.  "That was a scary thing, when you wake up, and you’re like: ‘I don’t want to get out of bed,’" he said during an appearance on the "Today" show in 2017.  "I was seeing these doctors thinking that there was something physically wrong with me, because I’d never felt like that." "I mean, I’d dealt with depression throughout my life, but it was always manageable," he said. "I just felt like, you know, everybody kind of feels a little blue. But this just hit me like a truck. I had to take some time off — I went away, I took care of it, and I’m feeling great." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Dane died in February after a battle with ALS. He was 53. "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," Dane's family said in a statement to Fox News Digital at the time. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time." WATCH: ERIC DANE CELEBRATES THE WINS FOLLOWING ALS DIAGNOSIS Dane left his daughters with heartbreaking advice in a pre-taped interview for Netflix's "Famous Last Words" series. "Billie and Georgia, these words are for you," Dane said to his daughters in the November 2025 interview that was released the day after his death. "I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried. Overall, we had a blast, didn’t we?" he said before getting choked up while recounting all the moments they shared together. "I see you now playing in the ocean for hours, my water babies. Those days, pun intended, were heaven." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de523dd8d5dabda3959571 Gunman opens fire at high school in Turkey, wounding at least 16 te 2026-04-14T14:42:05.874Z Gunman opens fire at high school in Turkey, wounding at least 16 A former student injured at least 16 people Tuesday after opening fire with a shotgun inside a high school in Turkey before turning the weapon on himself, officials said.  The 18-year-old who targeted the vocational high school in Siverek, located in southeastern Turkey, took his own life with the shotgun after he was "cornered by police," Gov. Hasan Sildak said.  Video taken at the scene showed students sprinting out of a building as law enforcement and first responders arrived.  The attack left 10 students, four teachers, a school canteen employee and a police officer hurt, according to Sildak, who added that five of the teachers and students were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital because their conditions were more serious. OKLAHOMA PRINCIPAL SHOT IN LEG IS PRAISED FOR TACKLING SCHOOL SHOOTER: 'HE IS A HERO' The motive for the shooting was unclear. The attacker did not have a criminal record, Sildak said.   The school had been declared safe and no permanent police officer was assigned to protect it, he added, calling the shooting an "isolated incident."  Sildak told NTV that the attacker started firing indiscriminately, beginning in the school yard before entering the building, Reuters reported. TEXAS STUDENT, 15, DIES AFTER SHOOTING TEACHER AT HIGH SCHOOL, AUTHORITIES SAY One student told the state-run Anadolu Agency that he and a friend jumped out of their classroom window to flee the gunman.  "He suddenly entered the classroom and fired. He fired four or five times. Two people were hit. He then went into the next classroom," Anadolu quoted Omer Furkan Sayar as saying. "We first threw ourselves to the ground and then two of us jumped out of the window."  "He didn't say anything, he entered and started to shoot directly," Sayar added. "The individual was cornered inside the building through police intervention and died after shooting himself," Sildak told reporters, adding that a "comprehensive" investigation into the shooting would be carried out.  The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de522ad8d5dabda3959568 Affordable jewelry that looks and feels expensive — all under $100 te 2026-04-14T14:41:46.417Z Affordable jewelry that looks and feels expensive — all under $100 Get a head start on Mother's Day shopping or refresh your jewelry collection with affordable picks from Swarovski, Pandora and Brilliant Earth. Standout deals include a Swarovski pendant necklace for more than 40% off on Amazon and lab-grown diamond studs under $100. If you’re shopping for mom, this family roots charm makes a thoughtful, budget-friendly addition to her Pandora bracelet. Swarovski is known for its genuine crystal jewelry and tons of styles are on sale right now on Amazon. Emily tennis bracelet: $89.25 (44% off) Crystal hoop earrings: $42.88 (38% off) Stilla Attract Trilogy drop earrings: $73.98 (38% off) Constella crystal pendant necklace: $77.86 (35% off) Una Angelic stud earrings: $59.50 (30% off) Original price: $119 Save $50 on the Bella pendant necklace, a versatile piece that pairs easily with everyday or dressier looks. The soft pink stone adds a subtle pop of color, while an elegant V of white crystals gives it a refined, light-catching finish. READ MORE: Save up to 53% on Swarovski jewelry — these top picks start at $43 on Amazon Original price: $99 Add a romantic touch with these Idyllia drop earrings, a modern take on classic studs. Crystal-studded hearts and arrows create a playful yet polished look, while the drop design helps catch the light for subtle shine. They’re an easy statement piece for dressing up.  Swarovski’s Lifelong Heart bracelet elevates a classic bangle with a more detailed design. Crystals line the band, while a rose-gold heart charm adds a pop of color. READ MORE: 14 luxury gift ideas for Mother's Day Add silver jewelry to your collection with picks from Kate Spade, Baublebar and Alex and Ani. Senteria 925 twisted hoops: $9.90 (42% off) Large silver hoop earrings: $9.28 (38% off) Sterling silver cuff bangle: $9.98 (29% off) Infinity birthstone heart necklace: $39.99 (20% off) Silver moon pendant necklace: $41.57 (10% off) This Kate Spade plated metal bangle features delicate crystal accents that add interest without being overly flashy. It layers easily with other jewelry and includes a hinged clasp for secure, everyday wear.  A classic pair of silver hoops is an easy addition to any jewelry collection. Lightweight and available in sterling silver, they’re designed for comfortable, daily wear. Add a single pair to your stack or mix sizes for a more layered look. This Alex and Ani heart chain bracelet has a simple, meaningful design with a polished finish. The adjustable pull chain expands from 5.5 to 9.5 inches for a customizable fit, while the nickel-free construction makes it a good option for sensitive skin. Brands like Brilliant Earth and Quince offer lab-grown diamonds and ethically sourced jewelry for a more affordable, sustainable option. Horn-sculpted bangle: $8.75 (76% off) Dangle earrings with turquoise gemstone: $14.99 (25% off)  Brass and moon stone earrings: $4.99 (25% off) These 14K gold lab-grown diamond studs have a delicate, understated look with subtle shimmer. Wear them alone or pair them with other earrings for a layered look. Priced under $100, they’re an accessible way to gift diamond studs. READ MORE: 4 lab-grown diamond brands worth your money right now — and what to buy This diamond bar bracelet offers a contemporary look that works for both casual and dressier outfits. The adjustable clasp extends up to 7 inches for a comfortable, secure fit. Inspired by the night sky, this North Star pendant features an ethically-sourced diamond at its center for a timeless, celestial look. It’s crafted with repurposed precious metals, offering a more sustainable take on fine jewelry.  Pandora is known for its charm bracelets, a staple in many jewelry collections. Rose gold linked sister hearts charm: $36.99 (50% off)  Sterling silver celestial heart clasp bangle: $41.99 (50% off)  Sterling silver barrel clasp bangle: $61.60 (30% off)  Silver tiara ring: $62.99 (30% off) Infinity Stones ring: $80.50 (30% off) Disney skull glow-in-the-dark charm: $63 (30% off) Pandora’s heart bracelet is a polished update to a classic chain, complete with a built-in pendant. Wear it on its own for a simple look or customize it with additional charms to create a more personal piece. For added convenience, these three Pandora pieces are available on Amazon and are Prime delivery-eligible. This cross dangle charm adds a refined accent to any Pandora bracelet. A silver setting and crystal details create a clean, understated look.  For more Deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals This family roots charm features a bold tree motif on a bead-style pendant that slides easily onto any Pandora Moments bracelet. It’s a simple way to represent family ties within your collection. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de5216d8d5dabda395955f China slams US military blockade of Strait of Hormuz as a 'dangerous and irresponsible move' te 2026-04-14T14:41:26.958Z China slams US military blockade of Strait of Hormuz as a 'dangerous and irresponsible move' China slammed the ongoing U.S. military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday as a "dangerous and irresponsible move."  The remark from Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun came after the U.S. began enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in key waterway at 10 a.m. ET on Monday. President Donald Trump ordered the blockade after peace talks with Tehran collapsed this weekend.  "With the temporary ceasefire agreement still in place, the United States ramped up military deployment and resorted to a targeted blockade. This will only aggravate confrontation, escalate tension, undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Guo said. "It is a dangerous and irresponsible move."  "China believes that only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation. We urge relevant parties to honor the ceasefire agreement, stick to the direction of peace talks and take concrete actions to deescalate the situation so that normal traffic via the Strait will be able to resume as soon as possible," he added. LIVE UPDATES: FRESH IRAN TALKS COULD BEGIN THIS WEEK AS US CONTINUES BLOCKADE ON PORTS The White House did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.  The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s most critical energy choke points. It carries roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day, along with about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas.  TRUMP ORDERS A BLOCKADE IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS TENSIONS WITH IRAN SOAR US Central Command announced plans to enforce the blockade earlier Monday in a notice to seafarers.  "Any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture," the note said. Iran has condemned the blockade as "piracy" and vowed to respond with force, potentially ending the fragile ceasefire with the U.S.  Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Amanda Macias contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de51e9d8d5dabda3959531 Tesla adds ‘streaks’ and other stats to track how often drivers use Full Self-Driving software te 2026-04-14T14:40:41.834Z Tesla adds ‘streaks’ and other stats to track how often drivers use Full Self-Driving software Tesla has also made it easy to subscribe to the advanced driver assistance system. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de51d6d8d5dabda3959528 Adobe fixes PDF zero-day security bug that hackers have exploited for months te 2026-04-14T14:40:22.188Z Adobe fixes PDF zero-day security bug that hackers have exploited for months It's not clear how many people were compromised by this hacking campaign, but a security researcher said the hackers were targeting victims since at least November 2025. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4ffcd8d5dabda39594cd Hormuz chaos sparks warning: China could strangle Taiwan without firing a shot te 2026-04-14T14:32:28.121Z Hormuz chaos sparks warning: China could strangle Taiwan without firing a shot China may not need to launch a military invasion of Taiwan to trigger a global economic crisis, according to a new analysis that draws lessons from recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. As Iran showed earlier in 2026, even limited interference with a key shipping choke point can rattle global markets: spiking prices, disrupting supply chains and shaking investor confidence.  Analysts warn Beijing could apply a similar strategy to Taiwan, the world’s most critical hub for advanced semiconductors. If China moved to choke off Taiwan tomorrow, "Americans with 401(k)s would feel it right away," Stanford Hoover Institution fellow Eyck Freymann told Fox News Digital.  TAIWAN OPPOSITION LEADER MEETS XI IN BEIJING AS TAIWAN DEFENSE FIGHT INTENSIFIES A disruption to Taiwan’s semiconductor supply could trigger a sharp sell-off in global markets, hitting major U.S. technology stocks that make up a significant share of retirement portfolios. While much of Washington’s focus has long centered on deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Freymann argues the greater risk may be a more ambiguous strategy — using economic pressure, military signaling and market panic to isolate the island without triggering a full-scale war. He expands on that argument in his new book, "Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China," published Tuesday, warning Beijing could "squeeze, isolate, and coerce Taiwan into submission without firing a shot." China significantly has increased military activity around Taiwan in recent years, conducting large-scale exercises that simulate encirclement and blockade scenarios. Analysts say those drills reflect a growing emphasis on options short of invasion. That analysis comes as a new Annual Threat Assessment released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that Chinese leaders "do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan" and "do not have a fixed timeline for achieving unification." The finding has fueled debate in Washington over whether the United States is too focused on deterring a traditional amphibious assault while overlooking more gradual forms of coercion. Chinese military doctrine has long included what it calls a "joint blockade campaign," and analysts note Beijing has increasingly signaled its ability to isolate Taiwan through a combination of naval, air and coast guard operations. China has significantly increased military activity around Taiwan in recent years, conducting large-scale exercises that simulate encirclement and blockade scenarios. Analysts say those drills reflect a growing emphasis on options short of invasion. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institute have similarly warned that China is actively rehearsing elements of a blockade, with recent exercises simulating efforts to cut off Taiwan’s major ports and restrict access to energy and trade routes. Freymann said the intelligence assessment aligns with his view that Beijing’s preferred strategy may fall short of outright war. "China’s Plan A is to take Taiwan without a fight," he said. US LAWMAKERS WARN TAIWAN TO ‘MEET THE MOMENT’ AS CHINA STAGES INVASION-STYLE DRILLS Analysts say China would not necessarily need to impose a full blockade. Instead, Beijing could rely on military drills, maritime inspections and restricted zones to raise the risk of operating in the Taiwan Strait.  That uncertainty alone could be enough to drive insurers and shipping companies out of the region, effectively cutting off Taiwan’s trade. With roughly half of the world’s container ships passing through the strait, even limited disruption could ripple across global supply chains. A recent Center for Strategic and International Studies report, based on 26 war game simulations, examined scenarios in which Chinese forces board and interdict commercial ships bound for Taiwan, triggering widespread disruption to global trade and raising the risk of escalation. The same analysis found that while China could inflict serious economic harm, a blockade would not be a low-risk option and could quickly spiral into a broader military conflict involving the United States and its allies. Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz temporarily disrupted roughly 20% of global oil supply, triggering immediate volatility in energy and financial markets. A similar disruption in Taiwan, he argued, would have even broader consequences. Taiwan produces roughly 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, including the cutting-edge chips that power artificial intelligence systems, consumer electronics and U.S. military technology. CHINA SAYS IT WILL RESUME SOME TIES WITH TAIWAN AFTER VISIT BY OPPOSITION LEADER The stakes extend far beyond Taiwan itself.  A disruption in semiconductor supply could ripple across the global economy, affecting everything from artificial intelligence development and U.S. defense systems to consumer electronics and automotive manufacturing. Analysts warn that even a temporary shutdown of Taiwan’s chip industry could trigger widespread economic disruption, given the lack of viable alternatives at the most advanced level. That concentration has long been referred to as Taiwan’s "silicon shield," the idea that the island’s central role in the global economy helps deter conflict by raising the stakes for any disruption. But that same dominance also creates a vulnerability. Unlike oil, there is no strategic reserve to offset a sudden semiconductor supply shock. "If you take away the United States’ access to advanced compute, there goes the whole AI trade," Freymann said. "It risks the possibility of a Lehman Brothers-style cascading event." Such a shock could ripple through financial markets, hit major U.S. technology companies and push the global economy toward recession, he said. Freymann also warned that China may not even need to impose a full blockade to achieve its goals, instead relying on incremental "gray zone" tactics already in use. CHINESE FISHING 'MILITIA' FORMATIONS SIGNAL RISING GRAY-ZONE PRESSURE ON TAIWAN "The danger is that they’re already doing it," he said. Those tactics could include harassment of commercial shipping and air traffic, regulatory pressure on companies operating in the region, and other measures designed to increase risk without triggering a direct military response. Over time, he argued, such pressure could force private companies, particularly insurers, shipping firms and airlines, to scale back operations around Taiwan. That dynamic could allow Beijing to effectively isolate the island without firing a shot, as market actors move to avoid risk. Still, analysts caution that the Taiwan Strait presents a more complex and heavily militarized environment than the Strait of Hormuz, where U.S. naval operations and regional dynamics differ significantly. Taiwan is also taking the threat seriously.  Officials have begun planning exercises aimed at maintaining access to critical supplies, including energy, in the event of a blockade scenario, underscoring growing concern that such a disruption is plausible. Freymann said the United States must adapt its strategy to account for these risks, warning that traditional military deterrence alone may not be sufficient as tensions with China continue to play out at the highest levels of diplomacy. The issue is expected to loom over a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping  scheduled for May in Beijing, where Taiwan, trade tensions and U.S. arms sales to the island are likely to be key points of discussion. At the same time, he cautioned that any shift in strategy must be paired with a steady diplomatic posture to avoid signaling weakness or escalation. Freymann urged U.S. leaders to maintain a consistent and measured approach, warning that even subtle shifts in language or policy could be interpreted as weakness.  "We have a long-standing one-China policy. It shows that we are resolved if our principal position is tested, but that we’re also restrained," he said. "We want China and Taiwan to resolve their disputes through negotiation without force or coercion." The Chinese embassy and Taiwan foreign ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4fe8d8d5dabda39594c4 'Pagan' outreach, Wiccan prayer defense could haunt Dem in battleground race te 2026-04-14T14:32:08.367Z 'Pagan' outreach, Wiccan prayer defense could haunt Dem in battleground race Republicans are escalating attacks on Iowa Democratic candidate Sarah Trone Garriott by pointing to her past op-eds — including her defense of a Wiccan-led statehouse prayer in which she argued "Jesus engaged with pagans" — in a high-stakes race for a GOP-held district. Democratic congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran minister who is vying for the battleground seat held by Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, penned an op-ed in The Des Moines Register in 2015 criticizing Christian lawmakers who boycotted a Wiccan-led statehouse prayer. This writing and others, including another op-ed in which she shared how the 9/11 terrorist attacks made her "more aware of the rising anti-Muslim bigotry and its harm," have become the target of GOP attacks as the Republicans ramp up efforts to defend their House majority. "Sarah Trone Garriott is once again wagging her finger at Iowans for not being woke enough and embracing her coastal elite Harvard values," RNC spokesman Zachary Kraft said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Trone Garriott better hope those spells and potions work if her campaign strategy is to oppose men in women's sports and embrace neopagan witchcraft."  Garriott's 2015 opinion piece titled, 'Look closely at scripture before acting in faith,' blasted Iowa lawmakers for skipping the prayer led by a self-described "cabot witch," saying they didn't "look closely and honestly" at Christian Holy Scriptures when deciding to boycott. CBS NEWS' MARGARET BRENNAN ACCUSED OF MOCKING PEOPLE OF FAITH AFTER PETE HEGSETH'S PRAYER REMARKS A spokesperson for Garriott shared in a statement to Fox News Digital that the message behind her opinion piece was to call on her fellow Christians to love everyone, including pagans. "As Sarah said, her faith in God calls her to follow Jesus’ example of loving one’s neighbor and spreading His grace to everyone, including those whose belief systems are fundamentally different from her own Christianity," a spokesperson for Garriott said. "Scripture teaches Jesus’ unconditional grace, and that’s the belief that grounds Sarah’s life and ministry."  Wicca is a modern pagan tradition in which members worship a Goddess and God and engage in witchcraft and rituals. One Iowa House member who boycotted told The Des Moines Register at the time that he felt uncomfortable "seeking guidance from the occult." Another lawmaker told The Des Moines Register he attended the invocation but turned his back in protest, saying he asked himself what Jesus would do and felt compelled to act in that way. "Clearly, Christian elected officials should be asking, 'What would Jesus do?' when it comes to matters of budget and public safety," Garriott wrote. "But at the least, as a Christian, I would appreciate it if they would actually consult the recorded witness of Jesus' life and teaching before claiming to act in his name." WARNOCK LIKENS PRO-TRUMP CHRISTIAN LEADERS TO THOSE WHO USED SCRIPTURE TO DEFEND SLAVERY Garriott wrote that "Christians specifically" should be aware that Jesus interacted with pagans throughout the New Testament, noting that Jesus always acted from "a place of kindness and compassion," and that he "did not turn his back" on the pagans he met. She listed Mark 7:24-30, Luke 8:26-39, Matthew 15:21-28 and John 4:5-38 as examples of Jesus interacting with pagans. In those passages, Jesus is depicted interacting with non-Jews but not participating in their religious practices. Garriott next suggested that Jesus Christ was more concerned with the behavior of Christians than with pagans. "Instead, it was the hypocrisy of those of his own religious community that Jesus protested — and not silently," Garriott wrote. TEXAS DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINEE JAMES TALARICO DOUBLES DOWN ON GOD BEING "BEYOND GENDER" COMMENTS Nunn's spokesperson Mark Matava weighed in, arguing the opinion piece is just another example of Garriott's "preachy" radical views. "Sarah Trone Garriott has been lecturing Iowans for over a decade," Matava said. "Choose a Christian school for your kids and she calls it segregation. Stand up for your daughter in sports and she calls it sexism. Walk out of a witchcraft invocation and she calls it bigotry." Garriott has previously criticized the display of Christian symbols in political spaces, arguing America is "not a Christian nation," but "it’s a nation for all of us," in remarks before her congregation. In early April, RNC Research posted on X a clip of Garriott speaking in which she shared the "uncomfortable ways" in which Christianity was showing up in politics. She argued that the conflation of the American flag and cross is an example of how Christianity has become "threatening." In another clip posted by RNC Research, Garriott talked about how Iowa has "a long way to go" to ensure that Iowans are truly represented. "It's mostly white, mostly Christian, mostly older men," Garriott said. "We have tremendous opportunities to get different kinds of people who represent our community into those leadership positions." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4fd4d8d5dabda39594bb Husband of missing American woman will remain in Bahamas after jail release, attorney says te 2026-04-14T14:31:48.699Z Husband of missing American woman will remain in Bahamas after jail release, attorney says FREEPORT, Bahamas — The husband of a missing American woman who was held in a Bahamian jail for five days before his Monday night release will remain in the Bahamas, according to his attorney.  Brian Hooker was behind bars at the Central Police Station in Freeport from Wednesday to Monday evening as the Rohal Bahamian Police Force (RBPF), in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard, investigated the disappearance of his wife off the coast of Elbow Cay in Great Abaco Island on Saturday, April 4.  MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN’S HUSBAND BRIAN HOOKER RELEASED AFTER ARREST IN BAHAMAS DISAPPEARANCE "He wants to continue with the search for his wife, because that is his main focus," Terrel Butler told Fox News Digital. "So as long as he can remain in the Bahamas, you remain in the Bahamas." She said that on Tuesday, Hooker will meet with Bahamian police in an attempt to recover electronics, including his phone and computer, that were confiscated during the investigation.  It is unclear whether Hooker is in possession of his passport. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4fc1d8d5dabda39594b2 Tax extension filers beware: Payments are still due to the IRS by April 15 te 2026-04-14T14:31:29.174Z Tax extension filers beware: Payments are still due to the IRS by April 15 Each year, roughly 20 million Americans file for tax extensions, but many may not realize that any taxes owed are still due to the IRS by April 15. While an extension gives taxpayers until October to file, it does not delay their obligation to pay what they owe — and missing the deadline this week can trigger penalties and interest. "The federal tax extension and most state extensions that piggyback on that simply give you six months to finalize your paperwork," Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, told Fox News Digital. TAX DAY IS THIS WEEK: AVOID THESE 5 COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN COST YOU MONEY "It in no way extends the amount of time that you have to pay the tax that you owe. Those are due on April 15 by midnight," he said. The IRS offers several ways for taxpayers to pay what they owe or set up payment plans, including short-term options and longer-term installment agreements. Missing the deadline altogether, however, can increase penalties and interest. THE SIMPLE TAX HABIT THAT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OVER YOUR LIFETIME Experts say taxpayers who can’t pay their full bill should still file and pay as much as they can by the deadline to limit added costs. The agency can impose multiple penalties, including a failure-to-pay penalty and interest that compounds daily, which can cause balances to grow over time. Even taxpayers who can’t pay in full are generally better off filing on time or requesting an extension, as the penalty for failing to file is typically higher than the penalty for failing to pay. "The worst thing you can do is ignore the deadline," Steber said. "Many people think they’ll deal with it later, but that can lead to multiple penalties and interest that quickly add up." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4f93d8d5dabda3959485 How vibe coding app Anything is rebuilding after getting booted from the App Store twice te 2026-04-14T14:30:43.162Z How vibe coding app Anything is rebuilding after getting booted from the App Store twice Anything is planning to launch a desktop companion app to aid mobile app development after its App Store removal. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4f7fd8d5dabda395947c Instacart acquires Instaleap to expand its enterprise platform internationally te 2026-04-14T14:30:23.199Z Instacart acquires Instaleap to expand its enterprise platform internationally The acquisition will allow the company to expand its business into international markets without needing to launch a delivery network in those regions. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4d7ad8d5dabda395941f New Artemis II video shows moment Navy medical team opened hatch, welcomed astronauts te 2026-04-14T14:21:46.447Z New Artemis II video shows moment Navy medical team opened hatch, welcomed astronauts New video shows the moment that the Artemis II astronauts were welcomed back to Earth as a Navy medical team opened the hatch to their Orion module after the crew splashed down safely in the Pacific following their historic journey around the moon. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen returned from their 10-day lunar mission on Friday, flying farther from Earth than any human has before. On Monday, Wiseman shared new video on X showing the perspective of a Navy medical team opening the module’s hatch in the waters off the coast of San Diego. "Jesse, Steve, Laddy, and Vlad…. such an incredible feeling to welcome you aboard Integrity after a nearly 700,000-mile journey. Forever thankful for your service to our crew and the nation," Wiseman wrote in the X post. ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUT TELLS TRUMP WHAT COMMUNICATION BLACKOUT WAS LIKE: 'I SAID A LITTLE PRAYER' After opening the hatch, the Navy team is heard greeting the returning astronauts. Two members of the team are seen entering the module and exchanging fist bumps with the Artemis II crew. After being helped out of the Orion crew module, the four astronauts were taken aboard the USS John P. Murtha for medical evaluation after the mission. The Orion spacecraft traveled 252,000 miles from Earth in its journey. ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS NEARLY HALFWAY TO THE MOON AS NASA SHARES STUNNING PHOTOS FROM ORION SPACECRAFT The spacecraft reentered the Earth’s atmosphere Friday at around 25,000 mph, slowing to about 20 mph using an 11-parachute sequence before landing in the ocean about 60 miles off the coast at 5:07 p.m. local time. During its reentry, the temperatures outside the spacecraft reached as high as 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. In the next high-stakes mission set to launch next year, Artemis III astronauts will remain in Earth’s orbit and practice docking their Orion capsule with a commercial lunar lander, a critical step before any return to the moon. The Artemis IV is planned to follow in 2028, a mission that could carry astronauts in the first planned moon landing of the program. Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4d66d8d5dabda3959416 John Solomon reveals government officials' warning of 'incredible political dirty trick' against Trump te 2026-04-14T14:21:26.840Z John Solomon reveals government officials' warning of 'incredible political dirty trick' against Trump Just the News founder John Solomon said he was approached by unidentified government officials in 2017 who told him he was uncovering what he now alleges is an 11-year conspiracy to undermine President Trump. "We want to tell you that you’re at the tip of a very large iceberg and you need to keep drilling down," Solomon said, recalling the officials’ warning on the newest episode of the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast. Solomon said the encounter happened shortly after he appeared on Hannity’s television show, where he had been discussing what he described as a sharp rise in the unmasking of Americans’ communications. He pulled into his driveway where he saw a government vehicle with its flashers on parked in front of his mailbox. Two men got out of the car, leading him to initially fear he was about to be arrested. SUSIE WILES’ LAWYER DENIES APPROVING FBI RECORDING, SAYS HE’D LOSE LICENSE OVER ‘STUNT’ "Well, that thing you were talking about tonight on television... it’s far deeper," Solomon recalled one of the men telling him. "And [the man] said, 'There is an incredible political dirty trick that's being carried out using the most awesome powers of the Intelligence Committee." HANNITY TELLS SEN FETTERMAN 'I HAD YOU ALL WRONG' IN CANDID APOLOGY ON NEW PODCAST Solomon, who said he was confused by the matter, continued describing the exchange. "We don't know half the things that we knew. We didn't even know the FISA warrants existed," he said. "[They told me], 'You have to keep digging, John. You have keep looking.'" The men did not identify themselves, Solomon said, and told him the information they had was classified, but urged him to continue reporting. Hannity previewed Tuesday’s episode during his Fox News program Monday night, posing the question of whether those involved will be held accountable. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4d53d8d5dabda395940d BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: The war on Christians is real and the world can no longer stay silent te 2026-04-14T14:21:07.095Z BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: The war on Christians is real and the world can no longer stay silent Christianity is, by an order of magnitude, the most persecuted religion in the world. Between 360,000,000 and 380,000,000 Christians face high degrees of hostility. Conservative estimates are that tens of thousands of Christians are killed annually for their faith, especially in places such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, North Korea and China. But the murder, torture and imprisonment are taking place across the globe.  In many Western countries, a less lethal but still severe form of persecution is visited upon Christians by ideological secularists, who see Christianity as their principal intellectual and cultural opponent. In many ways, contemporary attacks on the faithful are a continuation of the anti-Christian violence of the 20th century, which produced more Christian martyrs than all previous centuries combined. However, the source of the animosity has shifted considerably. Whereas in the last century, hostility to Christianity came largely from depraved totalitarianism, largely secularist and materialist in orientation, today’s opposition comes, to a considerable degree, from militant forms of Islam in the Middle East, in Asia, but especially in Africa. Why should Christianity in particular be the object of such opprobrium and violent opposition? We could certainly identify sociological, economic and political factors, but it mostly has to do with the Founder and his manner of death.  JOHN CLEESE BLASTS WORLD'S SILENCE ON EASTER MASSACRE OF NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS BY ISLAMIST TERRORISTS It is instructive to remark upon the difference between the way Jesus died and the way many of the other great religious founders did. The Buddha passed away in old age, surrounded by his disciples, convinced that his spiritual movement had found success. Mohammed died in his bed after a brief illness, sure that his religion had spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Confucius died of old age peacefully in his bed. His many followers resolved to carry on his ethical teachings. The Bible says that Moses expired at the age of 120, having successfully led his people from slavery to the borders of the Promised Land. And then there is Jesus. The founder of Christianity died at the age of 30 on a brutal instrument of torture with an animal cry of abandonment on his lips. All of his disciples, save one, denied, betrayed or abandoned him. And by all appearances, his religious revolution had proved a shipwreck. Why did this young rabbi die the way he did?  The simple answer is that he declared himself divine: some of the startling things he said include, "I and the Father are one;" "He who sees me sees the Father;" "Unless you love me more than your mother and your father, you are not worthy of me;" and "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."  AFRICA’S CHRISTIAN CRISIS: HOW 2025’S DEADLY ATTACKS FINALLY DREW GLOBAL ATTENTION AFTER TRUMP’S INTERVENTION One might be tempted to say, "Well, he was obviously deluded and got what he deserved." But what makes his story surpassingly strange is that the first proclaimers of the Christian faith didn't cover up the shame of the cross; on the contrary, they shouted it from the rooftops. St. Paul says, "I know one thing, Christ and him crucified!" They could have found such confidence only because God raised from death the one who had claimed to speak in his name and act in his person.  If he is who he said he is, then you should give your whole life to him; if he's not, you should oppose him. In a word, Jesus compels a choice in a way no other religious founder does. Didn't he himself say, "You are either with me or against me?" It is precisely the unnerving and radical claim about Jesus that has excited opposition up and down the centuries and that continues to animate resistance today. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION So, what can we do about the scandal of anti-Christian persecution?  I know that it is fashionable today to mock "thoughts and prayers," but believers understand that authentic prayer is incomparably powerful. St. John of Damascus defined prayer as "the raising of the mind and heart to God," which means that prayer is the way we link ourselves to the creative source of the world's existence. In the Bible, nothing of real moment is ever accomplished apart from this explicit connecting of the soul to God. I remember vividly the night when Bishop Alfred Abramowicz, an auxiliary bishop of Chicago and a friend of John Paul II, told a room full of seminarians about the death of a heroic young Polish priest at the hands of the Communists. His gripping narrative was my first awakening to the fact of anti-Catholic persecution in my own time. So, subscribe to a trusted source such as Aid to the Church in Need, consult the web for updates and information, or perhaps invite a victim of persecution to address your church.  Support charities that rebuild churches and schools, provide food and medicine to the persecuted, and give funds to educate seminarians in countries experiencing anti-Christian hostility.  Believe me when I tell you that people undergoing persecution for their religion look to our political system as a model and a source of hope. If religious freedom can flourish in the most powerful nation in the world, then it can flourish anywhere. But if we allow it to be compromised here, we deeply discourage those who long for it abroad. The persecution of Christians represents one of the greatest violations of human rights today. Those who hold freedom and human dignity dear cannot remain silent. Editor's note: Bishop Robert Barron's latest book is "What Do Their Deaths Demand? Christian Persecution Today" (Word on Fire, April 13, 2026). CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM BISHOP ROBERT BARRON Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4d3fd8d5dabda3959404 Callaway launches limited-edition USA 250 golf collection honoring America's 250th anniversary te 2026-04-14T14:20:47.347Z Callaway launches limited-edition USA 250 golf collection honoring America's 250th anniversary EXCLUSIVE: Callaway is bringing America 250 to the golf course. Callaway is releasing a limited-edition USA 250 collection that honors the spirit, craftsmanship, and performance that has defined the United States since 1776. Callaway’s vice president of product strategy and category management, Jacob Davidson, spoke to Fox News Digital about the process of creating the USA 250 collection. Davidson said the American-based golf company has done military-themed collections before as they connect with veterans, and with America 250, they wanted to continue with that theme. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "As an American-based company you know really doing something that kind of connected with the veterans and the current military we felt like was just really cool to have the crossover between golf and military service with so many people that that play the game. and then leaning into this year, we kind of wanted to keep that theme of honoring the military," Davidson said. Davidson said with America 250 coming this year, it was a natural fit for a collection. Callaway has worked on the collection for 15 months, with a lot of attention to the details of the clubs. Throughout Callaway’s lineup of precision-engineered drivers, putters, golf balls, wedges, headcovers, and hats, patriotic details are at the center of it all. "I think what's what's really cool is some of the details that really we were able to do in this on  the driver, there's a little call out of the address, Chestnut Street, where the Declaration of Independence was signed," Davidson said. "If you look at the head cover on the driver it says ‘we the people.’ There’s a lot of detail there. We worked with True Temper, one of our partners, on the shafts. They made a specific shaft in USA colors. They added the eagle onto the shaft that matches it on the driver." TRUMP CONGRATULATES RORY MCILROY ON BACK-TO-BACK MASTERS WINS: 'BECOMING MORE AND MORE A LEGEND' Callaway even reimagined their Odyssey Jailbird putter to "Free Bird," with an assist from the legal team. "We actually changed the name on the Jailbird putter to Free Bird. Jailbird’s been this iconic putter for us. Its one of our top models in play this week at Augusta. It has this big personality called Jailbird because of the stripes. Every head cover has this figure that looks like a Jailbird," Davidson said. "And so we really took that and ran with it. We went to the legal team. We actually secured the name Free Bird. Ironically enough, it was open, which is very difficult to get names now. On the head cover, there's a new character of the Jailbird that has a USA bandana." Callaway’s wedges in the USA 250 are debuting color laser etching for the first time, while commemorative golf balls and a modern flying flag design pay tribute to the enduring American spirit. "We just we really looked at every detail and we said, ‘Hey, how can we make this special? How can we really give the consumer a product that really showcases, you know, patriotism, showcases the craftsmanship and everything that we've been able to do as a country in 250 years?’" Davidson said. "Callaway is a US-based company and that’s something that I think we're really proud of." 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/69de4af8d8d5dabda395936c Rick Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' reveals what's keeping Las Vegas alive as poker rooms close te 2026-04-14T14:11:04.076Z Rick Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' reveals what's keeping Las Vegas alive as poker rooms close → Rick Harrison revealed what is keeping Las Vegas alive as poker rooms close and visitor numbers decline. → Skiers are wearing swimsuits as record warmth leaves some resorts with fewer than 20% of trails open. → A brick kiln from the early 1770s was found at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. → A cruise line is testing a new free lunch menu, but passengers remain divided over the change. → A baby born midair on a flight sparked debate over citizenship and how birth location is determined. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER → Ancient skeletons buried in a seated position were found beneath a school site. → A student found a rare Crusader-era sword after spotting suspected looters and alerting authorities. → Ancient papyrus scrolls dating back about 3,000 years were found and remain unread amid restoration efforts. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRAVEL NEWS A long-sealed Cold War bunker was found beneath an English castle, with researchers planning to reopen it once conditions allow. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4acfd8d5dabda395934f Water conservation works, but climate change is outpacing it: Desert cities offer a glimpse of the future te 2026-04-14T14:10:23.795Z Water conservation works, but climate change is outpacing it: Desert cities offer a glimpse of the future Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de48a3d8d5dabda39592c5 SCOOP: House Republicans target dozens of vulnerable Democrats on eve of tax filing deadline te 2026-04-14T14:01:07.921Z SCOOP: House Republicans target dozens of vulnerable Democrats on eve of tax filing deadline FIRST ON FOX: On the eve of the deadline for Americans to file their taxes, House Republicans are taking aim at Democrats for voting against the tax cuts the GOP passed and President Donald Trump signed into law last summer. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the House GOP's campaign arm, on Tuesday launched ads targeting 28 potentially vulnerable Democrats in this year's midterms for "voting for the largest tax hike since World War II and making working families' lives harder." The digital ads, released on the eve of Tax Day 2026, come as the GOP works to protect its fragile House majority in the midterms, when the party in power faces traditional political headwinds and usually loses congressional seats. Republicans for weeks have been spotlighting the cuts, which they insist will give them a political bounce with voters. "This Tax Day, remember who made it worse," the narrator in the ads says. SCOOP: HOUSE SPEAKER JOHNSON'S ALLIES UNLEASH $10 MILLION CAMPAIGN TO SPOTLIGHT TRUMP TAX CUTS The narrator touted that "Republicans fought to protect your hard-earned paychecks," and argued that the Democrats targeted in the spots "sided with Bernie and AOC to vote against critical tax relief for you. Higher costs, less freedom, more pressure on you.... This Tax Day, don't forget." The tax cuts were a key component of the Republicans' massive domestic policy measure, which was passed nearly entirely along party lines by the GOP-controlled House and Senate. FIRST ON FOX: HOUSE REPUBLICANS LAUNCH MAGA MAJORITY PROGRAM IN MIDTERM BATTLE  The law 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.  "Vulnerable Democrats made a choice: higher taxes, tighter budgets, and more pain for working families. Voters will make theirs," NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella argued in a statement. TRUMP BOOSTS HOUSE GOP'S WARCHEST AS MIDTERMS IN BATTLE FOR CHAMBER'S MAJORITY But the rival Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) charges that the GOP's tax polices are unpopular. "The American people overwhelmingly hate the Republican Tax Scam," DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton told Fox News Digital. "No amount of political Tax Day spin will change the reality that hardworking families are getting more and more pissed at House Republicans for jacking up the price of gas, groceries, and health care while billionaires get to cash in on massive tax breaks." A record 70% of voters questioned in a Fox News national poll conducted late last month said the taxes they pay are "too high," marking an 11-point increase from a year earlier, and the highest level of dissatisfaction since the question was first asked in 2004. The NRCC digital ads, backed by a modest buy, take aim at Democratic Reps. Adam Gray, Derek Tran and Dave Min of California, Darren Soto and Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Frank Mrvan of Indiana, Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan, Don Davis of North Carolina, Nellie Pou of New Jersey, Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, and Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford of Nevada. Also targeted are Reps. Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, and Josh Riley of New York, Greg Landsman, Marcy Kaptur, and Emilia Sykes of Ohio, Henry Cuellar and Vicente González of Texas, Eugene Vindman of Virginia, and Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez of Washington State. The ads will also run in Democratic-controlled open seats in Maine's 2nd District, New Hampshire's 1st District, New Jersey's 11th District, and the 9th District and 35th District in Texas. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4877d8d5dabda395929a Amazon to buy Globalstar for $11.57B in bid to flesh out its satellite biz te 2026-04-14T14:00:23.097Z Amazon to buy Globalstar for $11.57B in bid to flesh out its satellite biz Amazon on Tuesday agreed to buy satellite company Globalstar, known for powering Apple's "Emergency SOS" feature, for $11.57 billion in cash. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4636d8d5dabda3959250 Prosecutors do not believe Terrell Storey shot DPS helicopter in Flagstaff te 2026-04-14T13:50:46.489Z Prosecutors do not believe Terrell Storey shot DPS helicopter in Flagstaff The filing also contained a more precise timeline of events from Feb. 4 than was previously available. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de43f1d8d5dabda39591cc Flagstaff City Council approves 1st reading of updated Mill Town site plan te 2026-04-14T13:41:05.551Z Flagstaff City Council approves 1st reading of updated Mill Town site plan Affordable housing was a point of discussion brought up by multiple councilmembers. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de43dbd8d5dabda39591a3 Ilhan Omar encourages Dems to show grace to for former Trump supporters like Marjorie Taylor Greene te 2026-04-14T13:40:43.118Z Ilhan Omar encourages Dems to show grace to for former Trump supporters like Marjorie Taylor Greene Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., suggested Sunday on a podcast that Democrats should act with grace toward former supporters of President Donald Trump who have broken with him on key issues. Tommy Vietor, one of the co-hosts of "Pod Save America" played a clip of former Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was once one of Trump’s staunch allies, but has now become one of his most outspoken conservative critics to the point she suggested he be removed from office via the 25th Amendment after his viral threat to end Iranian civilization. "The American people have to open their eyes and deal with reality and deal with truth. And the truth is, look, you may have supported President Trump for 10 years, like I did and like you have, but this is not the same man. This is not the same man that we supported," Greene said earlier this month. TRUMP'S BACKING OF H-1B VISA PROGRAM EXPOSES CRACKS WITHIN MAGA MOVEMENT Vietor noted that she is "far from the only die-hard MAGA supporter" who has broken with Trump over the war in Iran and the handling of the Epstein files, citing a variety of other famous political figures. He then proceeded to ask Omar things of what her reaction is to Greene’s comments and how Democrats overall should respond to such defections from the MAGA movement. The answer to the latter part of his question, Omar said, is that "I think as Americans, it is really important for us to work together for the preservation of everything that is good in our country. and to support leaders that we can trust to safeguard what is good about our country." The fascinating part of such defectors like Greene, Omar suggested, is that "they are not just coming out like other ones that you'd mentioned where they're saying, ‘This action is wrong,’ right? They're saying, ‘I am done with you.’" TRUMP TRASHES MTG AFTER REPUBLICAN WINS CONTEST TO FILL HER OLD SEAT 'DESPITE THE STENCH LEFT BY GREENE' Vietor agreed, noting it is a "values-based" judgment "like ‘this guy is bad,’ not like ‘this policy is bad.’" "Right, and I think that we should give them credit for that, the fact that they've had this wake-up call to finally seeing this con man, this corrupt, chaotic man, for what he is," Omar said. "The fact that they understand that he never really had any principles outside of uplifting his ego." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.   5 TAKEAWAYS AS MTG UNLOADS TO NYT MAGAZINE, DISHING SCATHING CRITICISM OF TRUMP She went on to say that instead, it was about Trump enriching himself and boosting his ego after having been mocked by people like former President Barack Obama in the past. "It was never about putting America first. It was never about having coherent policies," she said. Omar went on to marvel at "The fact that they have gotten off the sycophant train and are saying you know ‘We trusted the wrong person we are sorry for that and need all of you to wake up to the fact that you've also trusted the wrong person.’" OMAR, MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR ACCUSE TRUMP ADMIN OF UNLEASHING 'POLITICAL RETRIBUTION,' 'INVASION' WITH ICE ACTIVITY She added that this is something that "I think is an important thing for us to put our arms around and say ‘Yes, then now let's figure out how do we save our country from the disaster that this man is creating." "I think it's pretty important and meaningful that you feel that way, because you are someone who's personally dealt with some abuse from a lot of these folks," Vietor responded. "All of them," Omar joked. ROGAN SAYS VOTERS FEEL 'BETRAYED' BY TRUMP'S IRAN CAMPAIGN AFTER HE PLEDGED 'NO MORE WARS' FOR YEARS When she was asked whether she had ever called Greene to extend this olive branch, she said she hasn’t yet, but recalled "I did, before she left, I found her on the House floor and thanked her for, you know, her support in ending the genocide, her willingness to speak up about what the people in Gaza have experienced and what our tax dollars have allowed to take place." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE She concluded, "We have a responsibility to end this genocide and to end our financial and political support for Israel and the impunity that we have constantly provided for them as, you know, they have tried to destroy a group of people." When Greene was in Congress, she and Omar often exchanged barbs towards on another. ILHAN OMAR SPRAYED BY UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE AFTER MAN CHARGES HER AT MINNEAPOLIS TOWN HALL In early 2024, Greene had pushed to censure Omar, accusing her of being a "foreign agent" for Somalia. In 2021, Omar voted with the Democratic majority to strip Greene of her committee assignments. Omar spoke up in favor of penalizing Greene in personal terms. She mentioned how Greene tried to previously force her and Rashida Tlaib, two Muslim members of Congress, to retake their congressional oaths on the Bible. She recalled when Greene posted a picture of herself holding a gun alongside images of Omar, Tlaib and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, titled the "Squad's worst nightmare." "This is about whether it is okay to hold an assault rifle next to Members’ heads in a campaign ad and incite death threats against them," Omar said in response at the time. "This is about whether it is okay to encourage the murder of the Speaker of the House." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de4187d8d5dabda395911e Dems unload on Trump’s latest DC update with ‘Christian Nationalist’ broadside, legal push te 2026-04-14T13:30:47.666Z Dems unload on Trump’s latest DC update with ‘Christian Nationalist’ broadside, legal push Democrats are ramping up their battle against President Donald Trump’s planned installation of the Memorial Circle arch, pairing heated attacks with a legal push to stop the project in court. "Democrats are opposed to anything that celebrates the greatness of our Country because they are America last losers," said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle in a statement to Fox News Digital on Monday. "The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world." Democratic lawmakers are ramping up opposition to President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch, questioning its cost and symbolism after the design’s unveiling Friday, as legal challenges to presidential authority continue to play out.  "While you worry about healthcare and the price of gas [because] of Trump’s war, he’s busy designing a 250-foot arch he's calling the ‘Arc d'Trump’ #allabouthim," Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed posted on X. WHITE HOUSE FIRES BACK AT CRITICS CALLING TRUMP’S MASSIVE ARCH ‘TOO BIG’ "Your taxes might be going up. But don't worry — at least $15 million of it is going toward Trump's arch project," posted California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Press Office on X.  Meanwhile, California’s long-troubled high-speed rail project was approved in 2008 at an initial $33 billion price tag before ballooning to $126 billion in expected costs this year. The Department of Transportation canceled billions of dollars in federal grants for the project in the summer of 2025, citing it did not have a viable path forward for completion.  "A gold inscription reading ‘One Nation Under God’? That phrase came from Cold War propaganda, not our Founders," California representative Jared Huffman wrote on X. "They built this country on freedom FROM religious tyranny. They wrote the First Amendment to keep religion out of the government." He added, "Trump stamping it in gold on his vanity arch tells you everything about what this project is: a Christian Nationalist monument, paid for with your tax dollars." FEDERAL JUDGE QUESTIONS TRUMP AUTHORITY ON WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT Huffman, along with other Democrat lawmakers, filed a court brief challenging the project last month, arguing that the president cannot erect the monument on federal land without congressional approval.  Fox News Digital reached out to Huffman's office for comment. "Permitting that Arch to be built without appropriate congressional authorization and review could lead to the unchecked proliferation of monuments, the erosion of public space, and serious constraints on future generations’ ability to memorialize their own losses and achievements," the amicus brief reads. TRUMP SAYS IT 'IS TOO LATE' TO STOP THE WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION AMID LAWSUIT President Trump has been on a mission to fulfill last year’s Executive Order titled, "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful." "I will take care of our cherished Capital, and we will make it, truly, GREAT AGAIN! Before the tents, squalor, filth, and crime, it was the most beautiful Capital in the world. It will soon be that again," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post in August. The released designs show a golden, winged Lady Liberty-style figure atop the arch flanked by two bald eagles crowning the monument. Underneath the sculptures across the top of the arch, "ONE NATION UNDER GOD  is written in gold. The back of the arch has a matching emblem, saying "LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." The arch is proposed to sit near the Lincoln Memorial at a roundabout between Memorial Bridge and Memorial Avenue near the Arlington Cemetery Metro Stop. "It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today," Ingle continued in his comment to Fox News Digital.   The legal threats and fiery rhetoric aimed at the upcoming arch echos a broader wave of Democratic backlash to recent Trump-linked cultural and construction moves. In December, Democrats erupted in outrage over the renaming of the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Ohio representative Joyce Beatty, along with other plaintiffs, filed a lawsuit to reverse the rebranding of "The Trump-Kennedy Center" and prevent the planned two-year closure. The $400 million White House ballroom is navigating a legal battle after the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December claiming Trump exceeded his authority when he demolished the dated East Wing.  An appeals court ruled on Saturday that the renovation can continue until Friday, giving the President time to seek a Supreme Court review. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3f5bd8d5dabda39590eb The American Red Cross Blood Donations Help Bridge Health Gaps for Minority Communities te 2026-04-14T13:21:31.704Z The American Red Cross Blood Donations Help Bridge Health Gaps for Minority Communities (NAPSI)­–April marks National Minority Health Month, a time to recognize the health disparities that affect diverse communities across the country, including conditions that impact women and have historically been understudied. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3f47d8d5dabda39590e2 The American Red Cross Blood Donations Help Bridge Health Gaps for Minority Communities te 2026-04-14T13:21:11.567Z The American Red Cross Blood Donations Help Bridge Health Gaps for Minority Communities After months of seeking medical care without clear answers, Monique Gamboa faced a medical crisis that required multiple transfusions—an experience that left her deeply grateful to her donors and inspired her to donate blood. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3f33d8d5dabda39590d3 Gas prices April 15 te 2026-04-14T13:20:51.187Z Gas prices April 15 Arizona average: $4.70 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3d39d8d5dabda395901a Flagstaff Event Almanac for April 14 te 2026-04-14T13:12:25.840Z Flagstaff Event Almanac for April 14 Apr 14 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3d22d8d5dabda3958ff7 Unearthed emails expose how Obama-era EPA plotted 'massive' energy regulations from day one: watchdog te 2026-04-14T13:12:02.807Z Unearthed emails expose how Obama-era EPA plotted 'massive' energy regulations from day one: watchdog A government watchdog is accusing the Obama administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of pre-determining the legal basis for its climate framework. In an amicus filing before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Government Accountability and Oversight (GAO), a nonpartisan nonprofit, unearthed communications from inside the EPA in 2009.  Those communications, the GAO argued, show that climate-minded officials treated Obama’s Endangerment Finding as a foregone conclusion and later used it as the foundation for vehicle emission standards, power plant regulations and permitting restrictions. In particular, GAO pointed to communications from Lisa Heinzerling, who served as the climate policy counsel at the EPA at the time. In a 2009 email, she claimed the right findings would create a legal mandate for regulation. HOUSE GOP LAUNCHES PROBE INTO ALLEGED CLIMATE GROUP INFLUENCE ON FEDERAL JUDGES "We expect to be able to issue a proposed finding of endangerment for greenhouse gases within the next 100 days," Heinzerling wrote on Feb. 8. "Within the same document, we expect to find that certain major categories of greenhouse gases — in particular motor vehicles — cause or contribute to air pollution which endangers public health and welfare." "An endangerment finding … will trigger regulatory obligations under the Clean Air Act," Heinzerling added. Her email was sent just two weeks after President Barack Obama's inauguration. Michael Chamberlain, the director of Protect the Public’s Trust, another government accountability group, said the communications appear to telegraph a pre-determined outcome. "The records from that time period merely confirm what many had suspected. The Obama administration’s Endangerment Finding was flawed from the start. It is clear that the new EPA appointees entered office determined to enact this massive bureaucratic overreach," Chamberlain said. The unearthed communications come as the Trump administration has made moves to end Obama-era energy regulations. In February, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency would be rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding. JIM JORDAN PRESSED TO SUBPOENA CLIMATE GROUP ACCUSED OF 'JUDICIAL MANIPULATION' "[It] has been the source of 16 years of consumer choice restrictions and trillions of dollars in hidden costs for Americans," Zeldin said in a February press release. However, the Trump administration’s effort ran into legal challenges from a handful of organizations, including the American Public Health Association, the American Lung Association and the Environmental Law & Policy Center.  They argued that Trump is arbitrarily trying to suspend scientific findings. The matter is currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Despite the ongoing debate over the Trump administration’s efforts, the GAO believes the origins of the Endangerment Finding itself should be enough to decide the matter. In its amicus brief, GAO continued to highlight what it saw as a process inconsistent with deliberative requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). GAO highlighted another memo from Heinzerling — this time to President Obama. "We have a political fraught but scientifically and legally straightforward decision ready to go: that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare and that mobile sources contribute to the pollution that is dangerous," Heinzerling wrote in March 2009. In a separate memo to the White House, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson urged the president to issue the Endangerment Finding for political reasons. "If Earth Day passed without a finding, the domestic and foreign criticism would begin immediately and mount steadily. When, eventually, your administration [makes] the finding — something that, I will be so bold to say, is a near-certainty — it would be described as more the result of criticism than of leadership," Jackson wrote. EPA SCRAPS BIDEN COAL RESTRICTIONS AS ADVOCATES SAY MOVE WILL RESTORE AMERICAN DOMINANCE The GAO’s filing blasted the phrasing. "There is no evidence that at any time it was an open question whether the Endangerment Finding would be issued," the GAO wrote. Neither Heinzerling nor Jackson responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3d0ed8d5dabda3958feb *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone nearly went bankrupt after boy band fame, had electricity shut off on Christmas te 2026-04-14T13:11:42.873Z *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone nearly went bankrupt after boy band fame, had electricity shut off on Christmas After *NSYNC went on an indefinite hiatus in 2002, Joey Fatone had no idea he would be saying "Bye, Bye, Bye" to his finances. The entertainer is now the executive producer of ID’s new docuseries, "Boy Band Confidential," premiering April 13 and April 14. Featuring new interviews with fellow *NSYNC member Lance Bass, as well as Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean, among others, it explores the dark side of boy band fame at the height of the 1990s pop boom. Fatone, 49, told Fox News Digital he was completely blindsided by his financial troubles. HOW THE NELSON TWINS WENT FROM PACKING ARENAS TO BEING 'F---ING BROKE' DESPITE MAKING MILLIONS "... I started talking to the accountant who I had at the moment, and I thought that person was looking out for my best interests," he said. "... I started watching the numbers deplete quicker and quicker than normal. I’m going, ‘This is not right.’ And then it was almost like a snowball effect." "When you’re starting to do things, and you’re in the heat of it, you don’t really realize it," he said. "... I’m like, Wait a minute. I have all this stuff, and now it’s like your mortgage, your loan and everything — you’re not able to pay it anymore." "I wasn’t paying attention to what exactly was going on," Fatone admitted. "You start digging into it, and you go, ‘I’m 20 years old, buying a couch, and I wanted each sofa cushion to be different. And that’s going to cost $5,000 to $7,000. I mean, what was I thinking?’" WATCH: JOEY FATONE REFLECTS ON *NSYNC FAME, MONEY STRUGGLES AND COMEBACK "[But] we all do it. Everybody who comes into money does the same thing. I don’t care who you are. The first thing you probably buy is a car or a house. And then it just trickles away if you’re able to get that money. And let’s be real, certain people in their lives [are] never really taught how to manage or handle money." Essentially out of a job and concerned about his finances, Fatone sought out a second accountant. He delivered a blunt warning: sell the sprawling lakefront home he bought at the height of his fame or face bankruptcy. The property stretched across four acres and spanned 10,000 square feet. In the docuseries, Fatone recalls just how dire things became. "During Christmas, they shut off the lights because I didn't pay the bill," he said. His then-wife and their two children moved into his parents’ home. He lived in Las Vegas for about a year, seeking work. "I had to live away for a while because I had to bust my a-- and work, and we were on a tight budget," said Fatone. "... I was working in Las Vegas, doing the live show of ‘The Price Is Right’ at Bally’s. At that moment in time, you’ve got to say yes to everything. I was buying $2 tacos at Bally’s because I just tried to save money." "Was I making a little bit of money? Yes, of course, but it wasn’t enough to even take care of some of the bills of my monstrosity house that I had," said Fatone. "So many people go bankrupt. So many people have downfalls. It’s just that mine’s in the spotlight." "When you have a normal job, people have 401(k)s," Fatone explained. "In my field, you don’t have a 401(k) if you don’t have your own business and your own LLC. You’ve got to figure out your own business and retirement plan." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Before relocating to Las Vegas for work while his family stayed behind, Fatone turned to friends for help. He was met with a response that stunned him. "I swallowed my pride and said, ‘I need a little bit of help,’" Fatone recalled. "'This is the navigation I need. I don’t need anything astronomical, but I need a little bit of guidance.’ It was interesting to see where certain people were like, ‘Sure, I’d love to help you.’ And certain people were like, ‘Nope.’ And they’re close friends. "You just go, ‘OK, now I know who my real friends are and what they really wanted out of me. Was it because I was famous, and that’s why they hung out with me? Now that I didn’t have a pot to p--- in, now they don’t care about me." "I just nodded and did what I had to do," said Fatone. "I moved on and pretty much never talked to those people again." Fatone’s manager and executive producer, Joe Mulvihill, who was previously *NSYNC’s assistant, told Fox News Digital that fans don’t always understand what really happens to boy band wealth behind the scenes. "The biggest myth about boy band wealth? I think people think it’s ridiculous how somebody like Joey could have financial problems after all the success that he’s had," said Mulvihill. "You have people behind you saying, ‘Spend it. You have it, you’re making it, you’re earning it.’ And Joey got bad guidance." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I have younger clients who I’m very protective of because of the stuff I’ve learned with Joey and with some of the other boy bands," Mulvihill shared. "Maybe a little overprotective at times, but we’re still getting good results. ... In this business, everybody tells you that you’re great, you’re going to be a star. [But] don’t get caught up in the glitz and glamour. Understand you’re given an opportunity ... but don’t be too naive. Nothing is for free. You’ve got to earn it. You’ve got to work for it." In 1999, *NSYNC filed a lawsuit against their manager, Lou Pearlman, accusing him of financial misrepresentation and exploitative contracts that left the group earning far less than expected. The bitter legal battle ended in a settlement. Pearlman, credited with starting the boy band craze and launching the careers of both Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, died in 2016 behind bars. His $300 million Ponzi scheme through his Trans Continental companies was uncovered in 2006. The 62-year-old was convicted of fraud in 2008. Hundreds of lawsuits were filed in the mogul’s case, including one by the Backstreet Boys, The Associated Press reported. Fatone and his wife, high school sweetheart Kelly Baldwin, finalized their divorce in May 2019 after years of separation. Their split was described as amicable and largely the result of the couple growing apart.  Over the years, the singer managed to get back on his feet and never had to file for bankruptcy. He just kept doing what he knows best — working. Under new management and a trusty accountant, Fatone became wiser about his finances. "I never let anything get to me," said Fatone. "I just kept working. Joe’s a testament in the sense of saying, ‘Work leads to work.’ And that’s what my mentality was, just keep working, no matter what it is. My mentality was that I worked and started at Universal and Disney back in the day. If I need to go back and do it again, I’ll do it again because I do love performing." Today, Fatone urges everyone to get educated on their finances, no matter their income. "... Funny enough, Joe one time used to say to me, ‘Dude, you’re going on all these vacations, what are you doing?’" Fatone said. "He wasn’t wrong. I was going on vacation, just to go, ‘Where’s this money?’ After the money’s spent, you’ve got to replenish it. You can’t just keep spending and not have a life or have some sort of roof over your head." "Maybe certain people were born or raised to invest money or learn how to deal with it," he reflected. "I did not. I learned the hard way, but it was a good learning lesson. And I would never change it." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3cfbd8d5dabda3958fe2 The Chicago Bulls did not cut conduct. They cut conviction and conscience te 2026-04-14T13:11:23.153Z The Chicago Bulls did not cut conduct. They cut conviction and conscience Freedom of speech is not a feeling. It is not a courtesy. It is not something a corporation grants you when your opinions are convenient and punishes you when they are not. Free speech is a main guarantor of the individual, and it is the oxygen of a free society. And right now, brothers and sisters, we are that frog being slow-boiled. I want you to understand that I am not talking about abstract constitutional theory. I’m talking about what happens to a man when he opens his mouth and speaks the truth, and the world comes crashing down on him for it. I’m talking about what it costs to say an unpopular thing in a country that was founded on the right to say unpopular things. I’m talking about what happened to Jaden Ivey. You probably already saw the news. The first thing I saw was the Chicago Bulls’ post on X: "The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Jaden Ivey due to conduct detrimental to the team." EXCLUSIVE: KENTUCKY BARISTA TAKES LEGAL ACTION AFTER TERMINATION, CLAIMS SHE WAS FIRED FOR SHARING HER FAITH Ivey’s crime? He posted a video saying that the NBA’s Pride Month celebrations are "unrighteousness." On his Instagram post, you can hear the genuine bewilderment in his voice: "How is my conduct detrimental to the team? Because I believe in the truth? Because I know Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? How?" That question should stop every one of us cold. What Ivey focused on was the NBA’s institutional promotion of Pride Month. He stated: "The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month, and the NBA does too. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month,’ to celebrate unrighteousness. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Unrighteousness." OUTKICK: RIGHT OR WRONG, JADEN IVEY WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO CHALLENGE THE NBA'S PRIDE He did not say anything derogatory about gay people. There were no slurs, personal attacks or hate directed at anyone. The key word here is "unrighteousness," and Ivey was criticizing the NBA, a basketball organization, for choosing to promote select values and morals that clashed with his own. In his streams, Ivey talks about Jesus as "the way, the truth, and the life," and he speaks of judgment day. In this light, "unrighteousness" is a scriptural term. This is the bedrock Christian conviction that it is sin that separates people from God and that it is only Jesus who can offer forgiveness and transformation to anyone who repents. For the record, Ivey extended this standard not only to Pride Month but to other players’ behaviors and even to Catholicism as a "false religion." SOMETHING HAS SHIFTED IN THE NFL, AND IT’S NOT ABOUT THE GAME In short, he wasn’t hurling insults. He was making a public, faith-based moral judgment that the celebration of Pride Month is itself "unrighteousness," just as the NBA was making its own moral judgment. The difference is that the NBA had the power. But just how clean is this power? Ivey is a young man who can play basketball. He put the work in. He showed up. He conducted himself with goodness. His team did not cut him for missing shots or missing practice. They cut him for missing the script, for refusing to perform a belief he does not hold or celebrate something that his Bible calls unrighteous. JONATHAN TURLEY: AFROMAN TURNS COURT INTO FIRST AMENDMENT RAP LESSON ON RIGHTS Meanwhile, we have watched players survive far worse: domestic violence against women, weapons charges, drug use and more. Somehow, they keep their jerseys. Somehow, they’re allowed redemption. But speak a biblical conviction out loud? This censorship has been slow-boiling America for too long. It does not come with a government seal. It does not announce itself. It comes dressed in the language of inclusion and belonging, and it quietly tells you: You are welcome here, as long as you think like us. The moment you do not, you are not just wrong. You are dangerous. You are detrimental. You are gone. The slow-boil got Ivey good. I know this road personally. JONATHAN TURLEY: THIS BLUE STATE'S LATEST ATTACK ON FREE SPEECH IS AWFUL AND SNEAKY, TOO I remember being a young pastor when you had to watch every word that came out of your mouth, especially being Black in a Chicago that was run by Rev. Jesse Jackson. Step outside the approved script on race, on culture, or on faith, and you risked everything: your platform, your reputation, your safety. Then one day I found the courage to say what I actually believed, and the death threats rolled in. I had to ask myself the same question Jaden Ivey is asking today: Why does one side get to speak freely while the other gets punished simply for having a conscience? I want to be clear about something. I am not asking for the pendulum to swing back the other way and crush a different set of voices. I have been on the receiving end of that, and I would not wish it on anyone. What I am asking for is something simpler and far more radical in today’s climate: the same standard for everyone. Free speech for all, or free speech for none. There is no third option that preserves liberty. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION That is exactly why I am out here walking across America, to finish building a community center on the South Side of Chicago. Not a place that tells young people what to think. A place that teaches them how to think. A place that produces free men and free women who know the difference between pressure and truth, who fear God more than they fear the mob, and who understand that the greatest power a human being possesses is the courage to speak what they believe regardless of the cost. Jaden Ivey did not lose his job because he played poorly. He lost it because he played by the wrong rules — the rules of a kingdom that is not of this world. And to him I say: Brother, keep walking in that truth. The God who gave you the courage to speak will open a door that no front office can close. Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." No waiver wire reaches that high. And to the rest of us, let this be our Rooftop Revelation: Free speech is not just a constitutional right. It is a spiritual necessity. Without it, we cannot preach the Gospel. Without it, we cannot challenge a culture that is drifting from its moorings. Without it, we cannot raise up the generation this country desperately needs, young men and women who speak truth not because it is popular, but because it is true. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM COREY BROOKS Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3ce7d8d5dabda3958fd9 Kim Jong Un oversees cruise missile launches from prized new North Korean warship te 2026-04-14T13:11:03.697Z Kim Jong Un oversees cruise missile launches from prized new North Korean warship North Korea’s Kim Jong Un observed launches of two cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles from his prized new warship, the 5,000-ton-class destroyer Choe Hyon, state media claimed Tuesday.  The cruise missiles flew for more than two hours and the anti-ship missiles for more than 30 minutes along pre-set trajectories over the country’s western seas before accurately striking their targets on Sunday, according to North Korea’s official newspaper Rodong Sinmun.  One image released by the Korean Central News Agency showed Kim standing next to North Korean officials while watching a projectile fly away from the ship.   Kim has hailed the development of the Choe Hyon, which was first unveiled in April 2025, as a major step toward expanding the operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities of his military. NORTH KOREA FIRES MISSILES TOWARD SEA AFTER RIDICULING SOUTH'S HOPES FOR BETTER TIES State media claim the warship is designed to carry a range of systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. South Korean officials and experts say the vessel was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties, but some experts question whether it’s ready for active service, The Associated Press reported.  After Sunday’s tests, Kim said his government remained focused on the "limitless expansion" of its nuclear forces and issued unspecified new tasks to sharpen the country’s nuclear attack and rapid-response capabilities. He also reviewed plans for the weapons systems for his third and fourth destroyers currently being built, Rodong Sinmun claimed.  NORTH KOREA RELAUNCHES WARSHIP THAT SUFFERED EMBARRASSING FAILURE DURING INITIAL LAUNCH North Korea unveiled a second destroyer of the same class in May last year – the Kang Kon -- but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin. It later was relaunched in June following repairs.  State media says a third destroyer under construction at the Nampo shipyard on the country’s western coast is expected to be completed by the ruling Workers’ Party’s founding anniversary in October, according to the AP. North Korea also conducted a series of tests last week that state media said involved various new weapons systems, including ballistic missiles armed with cluster-bomb warheads, while its senior officials issued statements ridiculing South Korean hopes for warmer relations.  The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3cbed8d5dabda3958fbb Federal grants can save lives of abuse victims, but $200 million is sitting unspent te 2026-04-14T13:10:22.740Z Federal grants can save lives of abuse victims, but $200 million is sitting unspent Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3807d8d5dabda3958e1e Arizona woman charged with killing newborn child 45 years after body was found te 2026-04-14T12:50:15.728Z Arizona woman charged with killing newborn child 45 years after body was found More than four decades after a newborn girl was found suffocated and abandoned on a North Dakota college campus, authorities say DNA technology has finally led to a murder charge against a 65-year-old Arizona woman. Nancy Jean Trottier, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, appeared in court Monday in Barnes County after investigators linked her through DNA to the infant known for decades only as "Rebecca," Valley News Live in North Dakota reported. The newborn’s body was discovered on April 16, 1981, in a wooded area behind a dorm on the Valley City State College campus. The baby still had her umbilical cord attached, and a plastic covering had been placed over her face. An autopsy determined the infant had been born alive about three days before her body was discovered, and that she died from acute asphyxia, consistent with suffocation, the outlet reported. MAN SENTENCED FOR STRANGLING MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE STUDENT TO DEATH WITH TANK TOP IN COLD CASE KILLING For years, investigators had no suspect and no identity for the child. Police gave the baby the name "Rebecca" before she was buried. The case was reopened in 2019 after advances in DNA technology. Authorities exhumed the child’s remains and used genetic genealogy to track down possible relatives. The investigation eventually led to Trottier, who attended the college from 1978 to 1982. TED BUNDY UNMASKED IN DECADES-OLD TEEN MURDER AS COLD CASE FINALLY SOLVED BY DNA: REPORT During a 2021 interview, Trottier reportedly became emotional and told investigators, "maybe it was me" and "It could be, maybe it was me," according to court documents obtained by Valley News Live and KVLY-TV. DNA results returned in 2023 provided a breakthrough. Investigators said it is 3.481 quadrillion times more likely that Trottier and her husband are the biological parents of the infant than unrelated individuals, the outlets reported. DNA consistent with Trottier was also found on tissue paper recovered at the scene. Trottier now faces a Class AA felony murder charge. She was being held on $750,000 bond, according to online court records. She is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing and arraignment on May 21. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3807d8d5dabda3958e15 Aaron Judge, Mike Trout's home run duel enters MLB history books te 2026-04-14T12:50:15.009Z Aaron Judge, Mike Trout's home run duel enters MLB history books MLB’s biggest stars showcased their slugging abilities in a tremendous game on Monday night. The New York Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge and the Los Angeles Angels’ three-time MVP Mike Trout teed off on opposing pitchers during their matchup in the Bronx. Judge and Trout each hit two home runs in the duel, which ended with a Yankees 11-10 victory. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM MLB researcher Sarah Langs relayed the history the two players made. She wrote on X that it was the fourth time in MLB history in which two players, who have won multiple MVPs at the time of the game, hit at least two home runs each. She added that Judge and Trout joined Roy Campanella and Stan Musial, who did it in June 1956, and Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, who did it twice in July 1962. It was also the second time a pair of already three-time MVPs homered twice in the same game, according to STATS Perform. Judge hit his first home run in the first inning off Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi. His second home run came in the sixth inning off reliever Shaun Anderson. He finished the game 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. He has six home runs on the year. CODY BELLINGER’S ACROBATIC CATCH STUNS FANS AS YANKEES WIN HOME OPENER OVER MARLINS Trout’s first dinger didn’t come until the sixth inning – off Yankees reliever Jake Bird. The second came in the eighth inning off Camilo Doval. The eighth inning dinger put the Angels out in front 10-8 at the time. New York stormed back in the ninth when Trent Grisham hit a two-run home run to tie the game. Jose Caballero later scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch. Trout and Judge both marveled at their accomplishments after the game. "It was great. That’s baseball for you," Trout said. "It’s what fans want, and to be able to see something like that, pretty cool." Judge joked he was going to trash talk Trout when he hit one to the warning track earlier in the game, but couldn’t say nothing after Trout smacked two homers later. "I was going to talk some smack to him after the one he hit all the way to the warning track," Judge said, "but I didn’t get a chance to and then he answers right back with two big homers for him. You put that guy in a clutch situation, a big moment and he’s going to show up every single time, so it’s fun going back and forth with a guy like that, especially in New York and the Bronx." Judge had high praise for Trout, who has been at the top of baseball since he entered the league, though he has dealt with injuries for much of his career. "He’s the greatest of all time. It’s been fun to watch his whole career, coming up at such a young age and instantly just putting yourself at the top of the list. It's special," Judge said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de35aad8d5dabda3958dca Suspect dead, man seriously injured, after barricade situation and shooting involving officers in Queen Creek te 2026-04-14T12:40:10.428Z Suspect dead, man seriously injured, after barricade situation and shooting involving officers in Queen Creek The deadly shooting occurred near Sossaman Road and San Tan Boulevard on Monday night. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de3354d8d5dabda3958cf7 Lucid Motors names new CEO, lands more money from Uber and Saudis te 2026-04-14T12:30:12.800Z Lucid Motors names new CEO, lands more money from Uber and Saudis The search for a new CEO, which lasted over a year following the sudden resignation of Peter Rawlinson, is finally over. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de30f7d8d5dabda3958ca2 Senate Republican pushes crackdown on California-style 'bureaucrat tax' adding $100K to new homes te 2026-04-14T12:20:07.909Z Senate Republican pushes crackdown on California-style 'bureaucrat tax' adding $100K to new homes FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to slash six figures from the cost of a new home by rooting out cumbersome regulations at the state and local level, which he said will make homeownership more affordable for Americans. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., wants to gut the so-called "bureaucrat tax," which piles on regulations that amount to nearly $100,000 in added costs when building single-family homes, in order to expand the housing supply in the country and lower the barrier to entry for buying a home. He’s introducing the Freedom to Build Act, which would create a designation of the same name that would open up a flow of federal grants to builders and communities that would offset construction costs and incentivize deregulation along the way. TRUMP-BACKED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERHAUL CLEARS SENATE, WHILE HOUSE GOP RAISES RED FLAGS But it’s not a federal mandate to spur deregulation. Instead, communities could opt into the Freedom to Build designation, which would, in turn, put those locales at the front of the line for federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. "For many Americans, the dream of owning a home is increasingly out of reach, and excessive regulations have made new homes too costly for many American families," Hagerty said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "My Freedom to Build Act streamlines costly and often redundant regulations to reduce the cost of a new home in our country." Hagerty’s legislation follows the newly released Economic Report of the President, which lamented the so-called bureaucrat tax and its effect on the construction of single-family homes. It described the bureaucrat tax as a barrier to building and homeownership because of the addition of "California-style fees, mandates, regulations, and red tape in many states and localities." BIPARTISAN HOUSING PUSH ADVANCES, BUT TRUMP-BACKED INVESTOR BAN FACES RESISTANCE The report contended that home prices rose sharply during a period of low interest rates between 2012 and 2021 because of "strong demand running up against a wall of tight supply due to bureaucratic costs and delays that function like a six-figure ‘bureaucrat tax’ on the cost of building a new home." The report also found that the bureaucrat tax constituted between 24% and 29% of the cost of a new home, and that the cumbersome regulations not only add to the cost of building a new home but also slow down the construction of a single-family home. HOUSE PASSES BIPARTISAN HOUSING BILL AS TRUMP ZEROES IN ON AFFORDABILITY CRISIS "Put even more concretely, the bureaucrat tax adds over $100,000 to the cost of a new single-family home," according to the Economic Report of the President. "Reform at the state and local levels to tackle the sources of the six-figure bureaucrat tax would greatly enhance the ability of supply to keep up with stronger demand," the report continued. Meanwhile, the Senate passed a massive affordable housing package backed by President Donald Trump last month. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which easily sailed through the upper chamber on a bipartisan vote, is geared toward helping first-time homebuyers and lower-income Americans enter the housing market or gain access to more affordable housing options. It also includes Trump’s push for a ban on institutional investors buying up homes. Still, the bill has not moved in the lower chamber, where lawmakers are frustrated with some of the tweaks made in the Senate, including the institutional investor ban. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de30f7d8d5dabda3958c99 Teen takeover spirals into chaos—gunfire reported as police rush in day after leaders call for calm te 2026-04-14T12:20:07.569Z Teen takeover spirals into chaos—gunfire reported as police rush in day after leaders call for calm A chaotic "teen takeover" in downtown Detroit unfolded Saturday, just one day after city leaders and youth organizers publicly called for safer spaces for teens — highlighting growing concerns about a nationwide trend of youth mayhem. Videos circulating on social media show dozens of teens flooding downtown streets, with crowds running through the area and prompting a police response. Authorities told FOX 2 Detroit that a gun was fired during the chaos, though no injuries were reported. Police also detained multiple teens as they worked to regain control, with some individuals placed on buses due to the situation. VIDEO SHOWS LATEST LOS ANGELES STREET TAKEOVER AS MOB WREAKS HAVOC, VANDALIZES OCCUPIED CITY BUS The mob scene was reportedly organized on social media, part of a growing trend known as "teen takeovers," where groups of young people coordinate meetups in public spaces. Similar incidents have been reported in cities including Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C., raising concerns among law enforcement and city leaders about safety and supervision. As cities grapple with how to respond to these gatherings, community groups have offered a different perspective. VIDEO SHOWS TEENS TAKE OVER CHICAGO STREETS AS MAYOR WARNS OF ‘TRENDS’ THAT CAN TURN ‘DEADLY’ Ceasefire Detroit has previously urged calm around similar gatherings, emphasizing that most teens are not involved in violence. In a past statement about "teen takeovers," the group said that while large crowds may appear chaotic, only a small number of individuals are typically responsible for disruptions. "From the sidewalk, it looked like chaos… but… it was only about 40 kids actually causing trouble," the group said, adding that "most of these kids aren’t out there to do wrong; they are out there trying to be seen." Ceasefire Detroit has also stressed that prevention efforts should focus on engagement, saying "safety isn’t just about patrols, it’s about connection." VIOLENT DC TEEN TAKEOVER IN UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD ESCALATES TO GUNFIRE Still, the events in Detroit have raised concerns about how quickly these gatherings can escalate. The incident came one day after Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield stood alongside teen organizers during a Friday news conference, emphasizing the need for more spaces where young people can gather safely. "Last week we all saw what has been called as teen takeovers happen not only in Detroit, but around the nation," Sheffield said. "What is happening here in our city is something different… something powerful." She said many teens are simply looking for places where they feel welcome. GOT A TIP? "They want to be a part of a city and a place downtown where they feel welcome. Because Detroit and downtown is for everyone," Sheffield said, adding that "enforcement alone is not the answer." Teen organizers echoed that message, saying the goal was not to cause harm. FOLLOW US ON X "My intentions… wasn’t bad. I just wanted to get out the house… have fun," one teen said. "I just want to see somewhere safe for everybody." Another teen acknowledged concerns about how the gatherings can escalate. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL "The vandalism and the violence… was harmful and very unacceptable," the teen said. "These actions put people at risk… and created an unsafe environment." City leaders say they are working to expand youth programming, extend recreation center hours and create designated spaces for teens, particularly as summer approaches. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS But the rapid escalation of Saturday’s gathering underscores the challenge cities face as these events can quickly grow and spiral out of control. Police said the gathering was not random and had been advertised on social media, according to FOX 2, adding that authorities had been tracking groups of teens throughout the night. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, including who fired the weapon. Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office, police, and Ceasefire Detroit for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de30f5d8d5dabda3958c90 New ice cream trends churn up interest, but one classic still rules the $7.5B industry te 2026-04-14T12:20:05.789Z New ice cream trends churn up interest, but one classic still rules the $7.5B industry As ice cream season ramps up across the country, data shows that Americans are still reaching for familiar favorites, but some adventurous flavors are beginning to churn up interest, too. Vanilla remains the most popular ice cream flavor in the United States, according to purchasing data from Instacart, which analyzed orders from summer 2024. Chocolate, plus cookies and cream followed closely behind, rounding out the top three flavors nationwide. AMERICA'S UFO-INSPIRED ICE-CREAM TREAT TURNS 75 — AND IT'S STILL FLYING OFF SHELVES Other favorites included strawberry, mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, coffee and butter pecan, according to the report. The findings align with a 2024 survey of more than 2,200 U.S. adults conducted by the International Dairy Foods Association, which found vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ranked as the top three favorite flavors among Americans. The same survey found that nearly all Americans scream for ice cream.  Overall, 97% said they either "like" or "love" the frozen treat. STEAK 'N SHAKE'S $2.50 STATUE OF LIBERTY MILKSHAKE GOES VIRAL: 'ROLLING THE DICE ON DAIRY' And while the top picks may appear predictable, they're just the tip of the iceberg, the data suggests. More people are willing to expand their palates with more unique flavors, which have seen notable growth in recent years. Orders for green tea-flavored ice cream increased by 24% year over year, while pistachio rose 25% and pineapple coconut jumped 37%, according to the Instacart data. FANS ARE DEMANDING THESE 10 VANISHED ’80S AND ’90S SNACKS RETURN TO STORE SHELVES Brands are also pivoting to meet consumer preferences for healthier and lighter options. While major names like Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry’s and Tillamook continue to rank among the fastest-growing ice cream brands in the country, smaller companies offering "better-for-you" options are also gaining traction. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Brands like Halo Top and Arctic Zero now offer lower-calorie, reduced-sugar ice cream options, while Yasso uses a Greek yogurt base to deliver more protein, and So Delicious produces dairy-free varieties made from plant-based milks such as coconut, almond and oat. The non-dairy alternatives are so popular, they're even shifting the frozen dessert category, according to data from research firm Circana, as reported by Dairy Foods Magazine. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Ice cream sales actually dipped slightly in 2025, while lighter alternatives saw sales jump 29%. Sherbet and sorbet products also posted gains, the data showed. Fans are also scooping up more artisanal, small-batch ice creams made with high-quality and locally sourced ingredients, according to a recent report from Toast POS, which also found that international flavors like ube, chai and dulce de leche are on the rise. The restaurant tech company also found that social media platforms are helping fueling demand for visually interesting and inventive ice cream flavors, particularly among younger consumers. The enduring popularity of traditional flavors, however, may ultimately come down to their familiarity and versatility. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Vanilla, for example, is often used as a base for desserts and pairs well with other foods and toppings, helping maintain its widespread appeal. Whatever the preference, Americans’ appetite continues to fuel the multibillion-dollar industry, according to Circana, with ice cream generating roughly $7.5 billion in sales. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de2c48d8d5dabda3958ba1 Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton talks shingles battle as he recovers from torn Achilles te 2026-04-14T12:00:08.553Z Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton talks shingles battle as he recovers from torn Achilles The Indiana Pacers' run to the NBA Finals last year came to a screeching halt when the team lost Tyrese Haliburton with a torn Achilles in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season as he watched Indiana only win 19 games and fall to 14th in the Eastern Conference. But as he revs up to play in 2026-27, Haliburton admitted that it’s not the physical injury that he’s worried about going into next year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM It’s an illness he’s been battling. He said Monday he has been dealing with shingles, which has caused him to gain weight, lose part of his right eyebrow and forced him to wear glasses to avoid scratching his swollen eye. "First of all, I'd tell anybody over 50 years old to get the shot," Haliburton said. "It's been miserable. I have good days and bad days, but for the most part it's been bad days. "I've been taking unbelievable amounts of medication to try to get rid of it. It hasn't worked. It's not been fun and hopefully it goes away soon. It's hard to really tell with nerve pain, but I've been dealing now with nerve pain for two months and in the world of nerve pain, that's not very long. Hopefully, it goes away soon." MIKE BREEN SAYS FANS 'DESERVE TO BE THROWN A BONE' AS NBA CUTS ALL LOCAL BROADCASTS FROM THE PLAYOFFS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 1 in 3 Americans will get shingles. The illness, if severe enough, can cause vision loss and nerve pain. Haliburton said he was on a similar recovery timeline as Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who also suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs last year. Tatum returned to the Celtics in March and has provided the boost Boston needed to be seen as championship contenders. Haliburton said he has "no worries" about getting back into playing shape once he’s off the medication. "I'm out of shape like crazy, like I never have been before," Haliburton said. "I've changed my medication a bunch of times. I've gotten a Botox injection I thought would help, it hasn't really helped. I've done everything, it just hasn't worked yet. But I'm confident it goes away soon." The Pacers will likely have a top lottery pick in the draft. Adding another young superstar to the Haliburton-led team would be a blessing in disguise for Indiana as they look to get back on top of the conference next season. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de29eed8d5dabda3958b1a Man accused of smuggling child into Disney park as venue's ticket prices explode te 2026-04-14T11:50:06.018Z Man accused of smuggling child into Disney park as venue's ticket prices explode As Disney ticket prices skyrocket, families are apparently trying creative and — in some cases — highly questionable ways to try to save a buck. Recently, a father was caught on video at Disneyland in California seemingly trying to smuggle an older child into the park in the back of a stroller.  In a viral video that circulated on TikTok last week, a child can be seen sitting squeezed in the back of a stroller, barely visibile, as the father waits in line to pay the entry fee. "Disney [is] so expensive they['re] smuggling kids in," the TikTok video is captioned. DISNEY FANS SAY THEY'RE OUTRAGED AFTER THEME PARK ELIMINATES THEIR BELOVED SNACKS The video was taken by a blogger who posted it on his account.  A little girl was seen sitting in front of the stroller, the blogger said — while the older child was pushed up against the stroller's mesh in the back, munching on crackers, according to the post. Fox News Digital reached out to Disneyland and Disney World for comment. Disney was unable to confirm the incident. Commenters online quickly erupted — weighing in with a surprising amount of support for the illegal cost-cutting hack. "Disney doesn't realize how much money they could make by lowering prices," one person wrote.  DISNEY SHUTS DOWN WIDELY USED FREE PARKING HACK AS SPRING CROWDS SURGE "Sad. Disney [should] do better and lower the prices so kids can enjoy the park!" another said.  This is not the first time a Mickey enthusiast has tried to smuggle a child into the park with the stroller method. Over the past few years, several viral incidents have circulated of families apparently trying to smuggle older children into Disney parks by hiding them in strollers, according to the "Inside the Magic" blog.  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER One incident garnered a lot of attention in 2022 when a TikTok video showed a child being wheeled in a car seat. The child was lifted out once inside the park — and walked on her own once inside the park, numerous outlets reported.  Some travelers believe these incidents may be attempts to bypass ticket costs. Despite the attention, these incidents appear to be rare in practice, yet they continue to spark strong reactions online. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Disney fans on Reddit strongly disagreed with the praise as voiced on TikTok. "I understand that prices for gas, parking, hotels are crazy, but if you don't have the money, don't go. The entitlement is astounding!" one Reddit user said after a different incident. "Agree. If you can’t afford it, then you don’t belong," another said. In October 2025, Disney raised the prices at both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. For the first time, single-day tickets crossed the $200 mark during peak times. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ At the time, Disneyland topped out at $224 for a one-day, one-park ticket on its busiest days. At Walt Disney World, that same ticket now runs as high as $209 during peak demand in the 2026 season. Not long ago, FastPass let park visitors skip the lines for free.  Today, that perk comes at a premium. Disney now offers three tiers of paid Lightning Lane passes, with the priciest option climbing to $449 per person, per day, according to the company's website. "I have attempted to plan a Disney trip on three occasions. … I truly can’t understand how families afford it without going into massive [credit card] debt," a Reddit user wrote on April 12. Another traveler retorted, "Most people I know decide to go and then spend over a year saving toward it." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de29edd8d5dabda3958b11 JD Vance says the ball is 'in Iran’s court' on potential agreement and more top headlines te 2026-04-14T11:50:05.454Z JD Vance says the ball is 'in Iran’s court' on potential agreement and more top headlines 1. JD Vance says the ball is 'in Iran’s court' after Pakistan peace talks stall  2. Fresh Iran-US talks could happen Thursday before ceasefire expires 3. Reps Swalwell, Gonzales announce resignations from Congress STEPPING DOWN — Biden DOJ weaponized FACE Act against pro-life Americans, 882-report alleges. Continue reading … CAUGHT ON CAMERA — Savanah Hernandez shoved to concrete by Minneapolis protesters in violent scene. Continue reading … STREETS OVERTAKEN — Waterfront overrun by massive crowd as viral takeover pattern worsens. Continue reading … COPYCAT RISK — Molotov cocktail attack on Sam Altman's home sparks fears of similar strikes against tech executives. Continue reading … WAVES OF DOUBT — EXCLUSIVE: Photos capture missing American’s husband in first sighting since lockup. Continue reading … -- RED FLAGS — Far-left Senate hopeful's radical ties to 'Maduro cronies' could torpedo campaign. Continue reading … THIN MARGINS — Johnson gets reinforcements as GOP swears in new member. Continue reading … DIPLOMATIC GAMBIT — Macron under fire over Iran, Hezbollah actions as Trump admin brokers historic talks with Israel, Lebanon. Continue reading … GILDED AMBITIONS — Appeals court lets Trump keep building $400M White House ballroom for now. Continue reading … Click here for more cartoons…   SECOND FIDDLE — Biden 'had to choose' Harris for VP but 'wanted it to be' Gretchen Whitmer: report. Continue reading … CANDID CONFESSION — NYT columnist 'torn' about rooting for Iranian regime's downfall since it would give a win to Trump, Netanyahu. Continue reading … HOLY STANDOFF — President doubles down on feud with Catholic Church over nuclear Iran stance. Continue reading … HAT IN THE RING — ‘The View’ host unsure if president is right position for Kamala Harris as she weighs run. Continue reading … HUGH HEWITT — Morning Glory: The US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad became Reykjavík 2.0. Continue reading …  LIZ PEEK — Do Democrats hate President Trump more then they love America? Continue reading … -- SILENT STIGMA — Common blood-related condition is ‘strong marker’ for cancer, research reveals. Continue reading … BACKGROUND RISKS — Researchers uncover overlooked side effects tied to weight-loss shots. Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on presidential proposals and astronaut appetites. Take the quiz here … DUGOUT DANGER — Grand slam redemption follows terrifying moment when batter nails his own boss. Continue reading … TASTY TREAT — Cancer doctor recalls first taste of "miracle fruit" to help patients. See video ... TOM HOMAN — The Left doesn't want to hear the truth. See video … REP. ANNA PAULINA LUNA — Swalwell has serious criminal problems on his hands. See video … Tune in as rising oil prices follow U.S. military action abroad, examining how disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could impact everyday costs for Americans at home. 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 Wednesday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de2540d8d5dabda3958a2f Curators at Library of Congress discover lost film by legendary cinema pioneer after spotting 'subtle clue' te 2026-04-14T11:30:08.667Z Curators at Library of Congress discover lost film by legendary cinema pioneer after spotting 'subtle clue' What began as a routine day for Library of Congress librarians turned into a major find when they discovered a lost 1897 film featuring one of cinema's earliest robots. The film, called "Gugusse and the Automaton," was made by legendary French filmmaker Georges Méliès in 1897.  Méliès was a pioneer of special effects and directed the famous 1902 film "A Trip to the Moon." The newly discovered film shows a magician battling a mischievous automaton in a brief slapstick sequence. ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER MYSTERIOUS CHRISTIAN ARTIFACT NEAR WATERS TIED TO JESUS' MINISTRY: ‘NO KNOWN PARALLEL’ The Library of Congress described the film as "the first appearance of what might be called a robot." It was uncovered by librarians who had been examining a collection of deteriorating film reels. They identified the film in September, though officials kept the discovery under wraps until late February. "It had not been seen by anyone in likely more than a century," the release said. The curators didn't immediately know what they were looking at, said Jason Evans Groth, a curator of the Moving Image Section at the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Groth told Fox News Digital that the team noticed a "subtle clue" in a frame that made them wonder if it was a Méliès film. "After looking closely at the film on their inspection table, they saw a star painted on one of the props," he said. "Knowing that Méliès’ film production company was called Star Film, and that he often used that iconography in his movies, they contacted a colleague who is a Méliès expert with a photo of the frame," Groth said.  The colleague responded, "Congratulations! You’ve discovered a lost Méliès!" Groth added, "They also identified the title for us — which cinema and Méliès historians knew had existed, but which had been lost for decades." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The reel was sent to the Library of Congress by Bill McFarland, a Michigan man whose family had preserved the films for decades, storing them in basements, barns and garages. Groth described the film as a "copy of a copy of a copy," indicating it had likely been widely duplicated and shared. "We don’t know exactly how [McFarland's great-grandfather] William DeLyle Frisbee got this one, or if it was one of his favorites, but having a French magic trick film to show to folks in Pennsylvania — especially one with a robot! — must have been something to see," he said. For those unfamiliar with Méliès' work, Groth said his influence spans from the earliest days of filmmaking to the 2011 Martin Scorsese film "Hugo," in which he is portrayed as a character. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Méliès "made hundreds of movies, and rather than just documenting what he was seeing, he managed to weave imaginative stories into the shorts he created, conjuring atmospheres and moods that were rooted in fantasy, early science fiction and illusion," said Groth. "He created new worlds and mystified audiences, leaning on narrative storytelling to capture the audience’s minds and imaginations rather than just showing them the world on screen." Groth noted that a "very large percentage" of early silent films have been lost to history — making the discovery particularly special. "Luckily, more and more presumed lost films are coming to light," he said. "Some are buried in larger collections," he said. "Some are, like in this case, passed down from generation to generation but are not able to easily be projected and, thus, sit fallow until they get into the right hands." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de253fd8d5dabda3958a19 Phone-free restaurants are trending across the US te 2026-04-14T11:30:07.439Z Phone-free restaurants are trending across the US You sit down for dinner. The menus arrive. And instead of everyone reaching for their phones, something different happens. People actually start talking. That is the whole point. Across the U.S., a growing number of bars and restaurants are asking customers to put their phones away. Some offer incentives. Others go further and lock devices in pouches. The goal stays the same. Create a space where people actually connect. This is not happening by accident. It reflects a broader shift in how people think about screens, attention and time together. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report COWBOY CHEF SAYS PHONES AND SCREENS AT DINNER ARE TEARING AMERICAN FAMILIES APART The push toward phone-free spaces reflects a bigger change in how people think about technology. Research continues to link heavy smartphone use with lower attention spans, weaker memory and reduced social connection. As a result, schools, governments and businesses are rethinking when phones belong in the room. At the same time, daily habits show just how attached people have become. Recent data from Consumer Affairs shows Americans check their phones about 144 times a day and spend roughly 4.5 hours on them. That kind of constant interruption adds up. It changes how we experience meals, conversations and even live events. So people are starting to push back. You might expect older generations to lead this shift. The opposite is happening. Gen Z is driving much of the change. A December 2025 survey from Talker Research found 63% of Gen Z say they intentionally disconnect from devices. Millennials follow at 57%. Generation X comes in at 42%, while baby boomers trail at 29%. That matters because Gen Z shapes culture, especially when it comes to social habits. When they decide something feels better offline, businesses notice. And businesses are adapting quickly. Phone-free policies are no longer rare. At least 11 states now have restaurants or bars experimenting with restrictions or incentives. Washington, D.C., leads with several venues, while others appear in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York and Texas. Some places keep it simple. Put your phone away and enjoy the meal. Others take a stronger approach. At a Charlotte cocktail bar called Antagonist, guests place their phones in locked pouches for about two hours. The idea is to remove the option entirely so people can focus on each other. Meanwhile, upscale chain Delilah enforces a strict no phones, no posting policy across locations in cities like Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami. The goal is privacy and atmosphere. Even fast food is testing the concept. A Chick-fil-A location in Towson Place, Maryland, offers free ice cream to families who keep their phones off the table. Different approaches, same idea. Less screen time, more presence.  SOLO DINING SURGES 52% AS AMERICANS EMBRACE 'ME-ME-ME ECONOMY' OVER SHARED MEALS Something subtle shifts when phones are out of reach. People stay in conversations longer. Meals feel more intentional. Even simple activities like playing a game or sharing a story take on more weight. One diner described the experience as rare. No notifications, no pressure to document the moment, no distraction. Just time with another person. Food experts say phones can pull attention away from the dining experience itself. When that distraction disappears, people often leave feeling like something meaningful actually happened. That feeling is what keeps customers coming back. You do not need to visit a phone-free bar to feel what this shift is about. It is already showing up in our everyday lives. Think about the last time you sat down for dinner. You check your phone for a second. Then a message pops up. Before you know it, the conversation pauses and the moment slips away. That is exactly what many people are starting to notice and question. Try putting your phone away for a meal, even at home. You may find the conversation lasts longer. Things feel a little slower in a good way. You walk away feeling like you were actually there, not half distracted. This is likely just the beginning. More places may start limiting phone use, especially where the experience matters most. 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. AI DATING CAFES ARE NOW A REAL THING For years, phones have quietly taken over shared spaces. Restaurants, concerts and even small gatherings started to revolve around screens. Now the pendulum is swinging back. People are realizing that putting the phone down can change how a moment feels. It does not require a full digital detox. Sometimes it is just one meal, one conversation, one evening without distractions. That small shift can feel bigger than expected. So here is the real question. When was the last time you had a meal where no one reached for their phone? 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/69de22ead8d5dabda395899f Far-left Senate hopeful's radical ties to 'Maduro cronies' could torpedo campaign: 'Tired of the chaos' te 2026-04-14T11:20:10.041Z Far-left Senate hopeful's radical ties to 'Maduro cronies' could torpedo campaign: 'Tired of the chaos' Abdul El-Sayed’s refusal to distance himself from controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has intensified claims that the Michigan Senate candidate is an extremist. As El-Sayed's campaign continues, Fox News Digital uncovered even more ties to radical socialist activists, such as a pro-Maduro organizer and other far-left figures, whose support is now becoming a political liability.  For example, El-Sayed recently touted an endorsement from Tom Burke, the longtime executive leader of a group that hopes to build a new Communist Party in America and a publicly pro-Nicolas Maduro activist who regularly travels to Venezuela. He was just in New York protesting Maduro's imprisonment on narco-terroism charges, visited Caracas in 2022 to attend the party convention of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the ruling party of Venezuela at the time led by Maduro, and, in 2020, he met with top officials from the country's elections agency that has been accused of rigging elections under Maduro.  Meanwhile, El-Sayed just held a fundraiser with Anas ‘Andy’ Shallal as well. Shallal has publicly praised Cuba's Fidel Castro and Assata Shakur, of the Black Liberation Movement, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey State Trooper during a shootout with fellow activists. El-Sayed has also received donations from Marxisim expert Robert Meister and Brooklyn professor, Nancy Romer, who has lambasted the United States' "savage capitalism."  MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED TAKES HEAT FOR KHAMENEI COMMENTS, HASAN PIKER EVENT Fox News Digital reported last month that El-Sayed was among a slew of Michigan candidates and politicians who had received donations and were pictured with a radical Michigan-based Imam on his social media pages who eulogized and held formal events honoring the death of Ayatollah Khamenei after he was taken out by U.S. forces in February. "Abdul El-Sayed cannot win a general election in Michigan, full stop," a longtime Democratic strategist told Fox News Digital in response to this reporting. "This is a candidate who spent years calling police 'standing armies we deploy against our own people,' posted more than a dozen times in support of defunding the police, and then deleted his entire social media history the moment he decided to run statewide, hoping Michigan voters wouldn't notice. They will notice. And so will Mike Rogers." As a gubernatorial candidate in Michigan in 2018, El-Sayed said that he "share[s] a lot of ideals" with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and, since 2019, El-Sayed has spoken at, or attended, at least five DSA-organized or sponsored events, according to public reporting and social media posts. El-Sayed's remarks came after he was asked whether he had sought out any endorsements from the country's national socialist movement – DSA – while running for governor. El-Sayed responded that he doesn't like labels but shares a lot of "ideals" with the group. "We’ve had great conversations, and we share a lot of ideals, [but] I don’t like labels," El-Sayed responded to the question. "I come from that world, where we pick our words very carefully and very thoughtfully. And I think that the term ‘socialism’ is too slippery of a word right now, and it evokes too many different things to too many different people." "I think for a millennial the word ‘socialism’ is spelled with a lower-case ‘s,’ and it implies an engagement of government in some of the most important aspects of our lives to ensure and address a level of equity that we have not had," he continued. "And then, I think for people who are over the age of sixty, it implies a history that was some of the most fearful in their lives. And I think because it evokes different meanings politically, it’s just not a useful term." Last month, El-Sayed touted an endorsement from IATSE Local 26, with Burke quoted as the union president. Burke, a decades-long socialist leader, is the organizational secretary at the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, which describes itself as aiming to start a new Communist Party in the United States. Burke has also proven himself to be a loyal supporter of Venezuela's Maduro and his political party. Maduro was recently captured by the Trump administration and sent to court on narco-terrorism charges, which Burke has described as "disgraceful" acts by the military at Trump's direction.  Burke has slammed the U.S. efforts in Venezuela as amounting to the same sort of regime change efforts seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. SQUAD MEMBER SUMMER LEE CALLS 'UPPER CLASS' THE 'ENEMY' AT EL-SAYED RALLY  Meanwhile, Burke travels to Venezuela frequently, according to publicly posted summaries and photos of his trips, including in 2022 when he attended the political convention for Maduro's ruling party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, and in 2020, when he met with the president of Venezuela's elections agency, which has been accused of interfering in the country's elections.  Burke can be seen in photos alongside other individuals who met with the Maduro-backing Bolivarian Militia, and photos Fox News could not independently verify showed Burke at a 2020 protest in Caracas next to Bolivarian militiamen that involved both pro-government and anti-government forces and ultimately became violent.  Despite Maduro's fall from grace and praise following his departure, Burke said during a radio interview in 2023 that Maduro was "very popular with people." "We want social change that builds upon the civil rights movement and the women's liberation movement, the LGBTQ movements of the 70s and 80s, and especially the labor movement," Burke recently said in an interview with Fight Back! Radio several weeks ago. "We want to build up those movements to create a new society from the ashes of the one that the billionaires are destroying." El-Sayed also campaigned just recently alongside Shallal, a wealthy Iraqi-American business owner and entrepreneur, according to a web page advertising the event that included a domain belonging to the Democratic Party's ActBlue fundraising arm. Shallal has praised and commemorated radical far-left individuals, like communist Cuban leader Fidel Castro and radical American activist Assata Shakur, known for killing a state trooper in a gunfight with other activists, being sentenced to life, and then fleeing to Cuba. "Fidel Castro was a bigger than life figure whose impact reached far beyond his beloved country, Cuba," he wrote on Instagram in November. In February, Shallal also posted a letter from American activist Alice Walker praising Castro. Shallal visited the Cuban embassy as recently as last year, posting about it on social media in front of a statue at the embassy of Cuban political figure Jose Marti.  In addition to Burke and Shallal, El-Sayed accepted support from radical socialist professor Nancy Romer and Marxism philosopher Robert Meister, who both have donated to his campaign.  Romer has lambasted America's "savage capitalism," and claims she helped bring about a statewide Michigan chapter of the Human Rights Party decades ago, which historical reports show was often far-left of traditional Democrats and circumvented orthodox Democratic Party priorities.  DEMOCRATS' ‘UNITY’ DINNER DRAWS BACKLASH OVER ANTI-TRUMP ‘86 47’ SIGN LINKING MAGA TO NAZIS Meister, who has donated thousands to El-Sayed, is a Marxism expert who has posited that the Soviet Empire helped prevent anti-Imperialist movements from being squelched during the Cold War era and has written books on how to apply Marxism in the current political environment. Meister previously served as director of The Bruce Initiative on Rethinking Capitalism, and his published works include "Political Identity: Thinking Through Marx" and "Critique Of The Global Discourse Of Humanitarian That Followed The Fall Of Communism." Fox News Digital reached out to the Michigan Senate candidate about his comments and his ties to publicly avowed socialists, other radicals and their ideals, but did not receive a response.  However, according to Republican strategists who spoke with Fox News Digital, whether El-Sayed calls himself a socialist or not, Democrats running against him should be aware of the company he keeps and use it to their advantage. Fox News Digital reported last month that El-Sayed accepted money as a political candidate and has been seen as recently as 2023 rubbing elbows with Michigan-based Muslim Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, who complained in a eulogy following Khamanei's death that the Iranian Supreme Leader was killed by "the most wretched hands on Earth." Ali Elahi, whose social media pages were a who's who of Michigan and national level Democratic politicians until the photos were deleted after Fox News Digital inquired about the connections, showed him regularly meeting with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the Imam also showed himself taking trips to Iran as well.  At the latest gathering on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, pictures from the meeting showed it was also attended by the co-founder of the left-wing activist group CODEPINK, which has been accused of having close ties to China, and former U.S. intelligence official and U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter, whose house was raided by the FBI for what Ritter himself described as violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.  "Abdul El-Sayed is campaigning with, and for, extremists. If his recent comments weren’t bad enough, El-Sayed’s ties to the DSA, Maduro cronies, and Iranian regime sympathizers check all the boxes of radical leftism that has become all too commonplace in the Democrat Party," said Jessica Anderson, President of the conservative Sentinel Action Fund. "Michiganders are tired of the chaos and extremism. That’s why we see support growing for commonsense leaders like Mike Rogers." While El-Sayed did not respond to Fox News Digital's inquiries, he did go on Fox News channel's "America's Newsroom," during which anchor Bill Hemmer pressed him on his plans to hold a campaign event with controversial, communist-sympathizing podcaster Hasan Piker. Hemmer also gave El-Sayed a chance to respond to criticism about his comments, suggesting he was worried about upsetting people "sad" about the Iranian Supreme Leader's death at the hands of U.S. military forces with any statement about the matter. El-Sayed said in the recording he preferred to stay silent about it. "I just want to remind you that most people in the city of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights are not Arab-American. They are white. And they’re worried, just like I am, they’re saddened by the fact that their tax prices go up and they are watching their gas prices go up with it all to fight a war that we shouldn’t really be a part of," El-Sayed said, trashing the war as "illegal," "immoral" and described what was going on in Iran as a "regime change war." Hemmer also gave El-Sayed a chance to respond to his decision to campaign with Piker, which has earned him immense criticism. Piker has been slammed for justifying Hamas' attacks and slaughter, including rapes, on innocent Israelis, was forced to walk back comments about how Americans deserved 9/11, and recently told his followers that "you really don't need suicide bombing anymore," because cheap Chinese-made drones can be bought online for anyone who is interested in performing a terror strike. Piker sympathizes with communist ideals, but has labeled himself a socialist and Marxist while rejecting communist labels. However, Piker has also described communism as the "honorable end goal" of socialism. "It's an active decision to reach out to people who feel locked out of their politics to have a conversation, just like I'm making an active decision as somebody who is running in the Democratic primary to have a conversation on Fox News," El-Sayed said of his decision to campaign with Piker. "Just because you invite somebody to campaign with you, or you’re engaging with them, does not mean that you agree with them." Long-time GOP strategist Collin Reed agreed with other sources Fox News spoke to who said that, even though El-Sayed may be brushing off his ties to radical folks, if other Democrats in the upcoming primary want to win they should be zeroing in on his affiliations.  "Welcoming the support from open and avowed socialist sympathizers will no doubt make Mr. El-Sayed the belle of the ball at No Kings rallies and other left-wing resistance movements, but it’s a tough sell in a battleground state like Michigan," Reed said. "You are the company you keep, and the other Democrats competing in this primary would be wise to use these revelations to disqualify Mr. El-Sayed in the eyes of their voters. If they don’t, it will be another sign that the tail is wagging the dog and the far left driving the debate in these primary contests, which is poised to shape the overall contours of the midterm elections." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de22e8d8d5dabda3958995 Orioles manager Craig Albernaz takes line drive to face in terrifying scene te 2026-04-14T11:20:08.527Z Orioles manager Craig Albernaz takes line drive to face in terrifying scene Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was involved in a terrifying moment during the team’s victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night. Albernaz was struck by a line drive off the bat of Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson in the fifth inning. The ball hit the manager’s left cheek and he left to be looked at by the team’s medical staff. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Albernaz briefly returned to the game after Jackson hit a grand slam to help the Orioles to the 9-7 win. "He’s doing good. Just as a precaution, he’s going to get it scanned," Orioles bench coach Donnie Ecker said. Jackson said he had a sunken feeling when he saw Albernaz in pain after the errant liner. "I hit and then I kind of saw Alby holding his face. My heart kind of dropped," Jackson said. "I was able to see him afterward and see he was doing OK." AVALANCHE COACH TAKES PUCK TO THE FACE, WILL MISS FINAL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES "Knowing he was OK helped. It made me feel a little bit better," Jackson added. "I’m just happy he’s doing OK and in good spirits." Albernaz and Jackson embraced after the infielder hit the big home run in the sixth inning. "That was awesome," Jackson said of the impromptu embrace from his manager. "You never want to hurt anybody, and Alby’s awesome. It sucked. But he wore it well and he’s in good spirits so it made me feel better." Albernaz is in his first year as Baltimore’s manager. He served as a bench coach and assistant manager for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024 and 2025. Baltimore improved to 9-7 with the win and are tied with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de20a4d8d5dabda395890e Dem candidate blasted by GOP opponent over joke about bandmate convicted of child sex abuse te 2026-04-14T11:10:28.752Z Dem candidate blasted by GOP opponent over joke about bandmate convicted of child sex abuse FIRST ON FOX: Democratic congressional candidate and Latin music star Bobby Pulido is being criticized for a joke he made about a longtime bandmate exposed as a child predator. Pulido, a two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning singer who is the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, is facing scrutiny over bandmate Frankie Caballero, who is a registered sex offender convicted of indecent contact with an 8-year-old girl. Pulido has said he was not aware of the bandmate’s conviction and that he cut ties with him as soon as he learned. However, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, who Pulido is attempting to unseat, called out the musician-turned-politician for the joke, which he made at a 2018 concert, claiming, "Everyone knows he knew." Fox News Digital reviewed YouTube video of the concert, which took place in November 2018, where Pulido referred to Caballero as a "bad man." He quipped that though Caballero was born in South Bend, Indiana, he did not attend Notre Dame but went to "Penn State," which prompted Caballero to take a step back and Pulido to laugh, saying, "No, no, I’m just kidding, don’t worry."  DEM CANDIDATE'S UNEARTHED 'WINTER TEXAN' COMMENT COULD HAUNT CAMPAIGN A spokesperson for Pulido has pushed back on De La Cruz's comments, accusing the congresswoman of "telling lies" and saying that "Bobby Pulido had no knowledge of Caballero's sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with such a history." In an interview with Fox News Digital, De La Cruz asserted that "the question isn't whether Bobby Pulido knew what his close friend did to these children — everyone knows he knew — the question is why Bobby Pulido spent decades bringing a pedophile around to our families?" "The answer is, he doesn't care, because he is a celebrity who barely even lives in this country," she said.  As a singer and actor, Pulido has spent much of his career splitting his time between Mexico and South Texas. "This is someone who was already faced child sex abuse charges when Mr. Pulido personally recruited him and built his entire career around him," she said. "Then he goes on to molest an eight-year-old girl from our community and goes to prison. Once again, Mr. Pulido hires him," she said. "He starts bringing this pedophile into our parks, into our festivals, and my opponent is even on tape joking about this man's crimes." De La Cruz emphasized, "My heart breaks up for the families whose children were victimized by the predator that Bobby Pulido brought into our neighborhoods for decades, knowing full well what he had done." DEM CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE BOBBY PULIDO DEPICTS LEWD BEHAVIOR IN CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR HIS SONG "I'm raising my own kids in South Texas, and I want every family that Bobby Pulido put in danger to know I'm here for you." In response, a spokesperson for Pulido's campaign pushed back, telling Fox News Digital, "Monica and her máquina de mentiras (machine of lies) are at it again, telling lies because they don't want you to know the truth." "Bobby Pulido had no knowledge of Caballero's sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with such a history," the spokesperson added.  The spokesperson added that "Bobby, and his supporters, will not be lectured by Monica De La Cruz, who is the only candidate in this race who has been accused of child abuse under oath in a court of law and even had a restraining order issued against her to protect a child." During divorce proceedings in 2021, De La Cruz was accused by her ex-husband of pinching her then-step-daughter and of being verbally abusive. A temporary restraining order was granted, and no further charges were pursued, and the order was eventually dissolved.  De La Cruz has denied the accusations as false.   Meanwhile, a former Democratic prosecutor in Hidalgo County, Texas, told Fox News Digital that they "have thoroughly reviewed this case," and concluded that "Mr. Pulido has no plausible deniability." The prosecutor said that Pulido's "Penn State" comment "can only be inferred as either a child sex abuse joke or a reference to the fact that his friend spent four years in the state pen — both are devastating to Mr. Pulido's defense."  Caballero was first arrested for child sex abuse charges in 1992. Though he was hit with a $75,000 bond, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office website, the disposition of that case is unclear.  Pulido first collaborated with Caballero in 1995, three years after the 1992 arrest, and Caballero is credited on at least four of Pulido's studio albums in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999. In May 2014, Caballero was convicted of a second-degree felony involving indecent contact with an 8-year-old female and was incarcerated, according to the Texas Public Sex Offender website. He was incarcerated from 2014 to 2016.  Following his conviction and prison sentence, he toured again with Pulido between 2018 and 2021, with the two seen performing together in several cities, including Kansas City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Tucson, Arizona, per videos shared on YouTube. DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR 'SMEAR' OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL'S ACCUSERS: 'VERY BAD LOOK' Between 2020 and 2021, Caballero was charged with indecency by sexual contact with a child, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child, unlawful restraint of a child under 17, though those charges have been dismissed, according to Hildalgo County, Texas, Jail records. He was also charged with assault of a family member by impeding breathing and circulation, which resulted in him being released to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  He was also hit with failure to comply with sex offender registration in 2020 and 2021.  In a prior statement to Fox News Digital, Pulido's campaign manager, Abel Prado, said, "First and foremost, Bobby extends his deepest sympathies and support to all of the victims involved." "Frankie Caballero has long struggled with addiction issues and Bobby Pulido has acknowledged and attempted to help him with that battle," Prado continued. "When Jimmy Montez Management learned of Caballero’s criminal history in 2021 he was immediately fired and that relationship was severed."  "Bobby was never made aware of Caballero’s sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with that kind of history." Fox News Digital reached out to Caballero for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de20a4d8d5dabda3958905 Push to oust Trump exposes cracks among Democrats on strategy, timing te 2026-04-14T11:10:28.186Z Push to oust Trump exposes cracks among Democrats on strategy, timing Congressional Democrats want President Donald Trump out of the White House, but they are not on the same page about how or when to act. More than five dozen Democrats have called for Trump’s impeachment, but that push is likely dead on arrival absent GOP support. Others want Trump’s Cabinet and Vice President JD Vance to effectively usurp him by invoking the 25th Amendment, which has never been used to oust a sitting president in the nearly 60 years since the amendment was ratified. FLASHBACK: DEMS WANT TO BOOT TRUMP WITH 25TH AMENDMENT, BUT REFUSED TO DO SO UNDER BIDEN Most Democrats aren’t admitting the political realities of either option, and their typically unified front is showing cracks as they debate how best to push back against the administration. "I don't think it is the best use of our time," Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said last week at a news conference when asked about impeachment. "Let us get into the majority, let us get a Senate majority and then hold this president to account." "All options should be on the table," Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., a member of House Democratic leadership, said following Dean’s comments. Top Democrats in both chambers are not in direct alignment, either. TRUMP IRAN THREAT SPARKS CALLS FOR HIS OUSTER, BUT ONE DEM SAYS EFFORT ‘NOT REALISTIC’ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has stopped short of calling for either impeachment or the 25th Amendment, instead pushing for another war powers resolution vote this week to rein in Trump’s authorities in Iran. "Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment," Schumer said. "No president, Democrat or Republican, should take this country to war alone — not now, not ever. Republicans will once again have the opportunity to join Democrats and end this reckless war of choice." Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has appeared to encourage removal conversations among House Democrats and touted a caucus-wide briefing on the 25th Amendment led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., last week. "Shockingly, Donald Trump threatened to escalate his war of choice in a profane Easter Sunday rant and to eradicate an entire civilization," Jeffries wrote in a "Dear Colleague" letter. "We will continue to unleash maximum pressure on Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping the madness." The 25th Amendment has a much higher threshold for success than impeachment, given that it would require Vance, most of Trump’s Cabinet, and two-thirds of both chambers of Congress to align to remove Trump. TRUMP'S THREAT TO END IRANIAN 'CIVILIZATION' SPARKS UPROAR ON CAPITOL HILL Impeachment would have to start in the House, and it’s unlikely that formal proceedings against Trump would even begin under House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. But that hasn’t stopped Democrats from trying. Late last year, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, forced votes on two articles of impeachment against Trump, and nearly two dozen Democrats joined Republicans to kill the effort. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., filed 13 articles of impeachment against Trump last week, citing the president’s military intervention in Venezuela, the deployment of National Guard troops to cities across the country, and his executive order to curtail birthright citizenship, among other charges. It is unclear whether Larson, who is facing a heated primary challenge from a decades-younger opponent, will force a vote on his resolution. In the Senate, even fewer lawmakers are calling for drastic measures against Trump. Only a handful — including Sens. Andy Kim, D-N.J., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. — have called for impeachment or the 25th Amendment. "I mean, he's unfit for office," Kim said. "I think the 25th Amendment, and if not, then impeachment." It’s also a desire that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., contended was "not realistic right now, given his oddball Cabinet of sycophants and eccentrics." "We’re going to have to buckle down and win this the old-fashioned way," Whitehouse said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de20a3d8d5dabda39588fc Popular weight-loss medications linked to hidden side effects, study finds te 2026-04-14T11:10:27.443Z Popular weight-loss medications linked to hidden side effects, study finds In a sweeping analysis of more than 400,000 Reddit posts, researchers have revealed some little-known GLP-1 side effects. GLP-1 receptor agonists — such as semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) — have been most commonly associated with gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. A new study published in Nature Health, however, uncovered some overlooked effects. SHOULD YOU MICRODOSE OZEMPIC? EXPERTS ARE SPLIT ON RISKS VS BENEFITS University of Pennsylvania researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze more than five years of Reddit posts from more than 67,000 people taking the popular drugs for diabetes or weight loss. While clinical trials are still the "gold standard," the researchers noted that Reddit community feedback reflects a different population. "People often use medications differently than they're prescribed, so it's also important to look at real-world usage, which can diverge from usage in a clinical trial," lead researcher Neil Sehgal, a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital. "So there are many possible reasons we're seeing signals that the trials may have missed." Nearly half of the users reported one or more side effects. The most common were nausea, vomiting and constipation, which aligned with what clinical trials found, according to Sehgal. "We did notice a few side effects that have not previously been reported for these drugs," he told Fox News Digital.  "For example, about 4% of users who described side effects reported menstrual irregularities. Other Redditors described unusual temperature-related symptoms, like chills or hot flashes." OBESITY EXPERT REVEALS THE BEST WAY TO DECIDE IF GLP-1S ARE RIGHT FOR YOU Nearly 13% of users also experienced psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. More than 5% also complained of abdominal pain, acid reflux, headache and dizziness. "Fatigue was also the second most commonly reported symptom overall, but has met relatively few reporting thresholds in existing trials," Seghal noted. "This gap between what patients are self-reporting online and what gets captured in trials is really what motivated this whole line of work." Dr. Sue Decotiis, a New York City-based board-certified weight-loss physician, noted that many of the reported symptoms, such as disorientation and fatigue, are most likely due to dehydration and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). "Patients should be carefully monitored using a structured protocol that ensures proper nutrition and adequate hydration, ideally under the direct supervision of a physician experienced in metabolism and weight loss," Decotiis, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.  "Additionally, body composition analysis can help identify issues such as muscle loss, excessive water loss or insufficient fat loss." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER A significant concern, according to the doctor, is that many individuals are accessing these medications through online platforms or without receiving appropriate medical care.  "In my experience treating thousands of patients with various GLP-1 medications, complications are rare and typically occur only when patients are noncompliant," she added. As the data came from Reddit users, who tend to be younger, primarily male and mostly based in the U.S., it may not represent everyone taking these medications, the researchers noted. "And even within Reddit, the people who post about their side effects are probably not typical of everyone on the medication," Sehgal said. "If you had a good experience, you're less likely to be writing about it online. So we're almost certainly capturing a skewed slice of the full picture." The researchers also noted that the study can’t prove the drug caused the reported symptoms. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES "To be clear, we can’t say for certain whether these drugs are causing menstrual irregularities," Sehgal said. "Patients on Reddit aren't going to self-report every symptom they have, and they may also report things that aren't actually linked to the medications. So it's important to treat this as hypothesis-generating signals and do more research." The study also didn’t include GLP-1 dosage, duration of the medication and symptoms, or other health conditions the users experienced. There is also the chance that the AI tools misunderstood meanings or context, the researchers noted. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ The results must be confirmed with more rigorous research, Sehgal said. "That's how we'll get real answers about prevalence and causality, which social media data alone can't provide."  "These are signals, not conclusions – but I do think it's always worth talking to your doctor about anything unexpected you're experiencing while on a new medication, even if you're not sure if it's related," he advised. "So if something feels off, say something." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de20a2d8d5dabda39588f3 NYT columnist 'torn' about rooting for Iranian regime's downfall since it would give a win to Trump, Netanyahu te 2026-04-14T11:10:26.884Z NYT columnist 'torn' about rooting for Iranian regime's downfall since it would give a win to Trump, Netanyahu New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman said he's "torn" about efforts to remove the Iranian regime over concerns it would politically benefit President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I find myself, Michael, in a situation where I really want to see Iran defeated militarily," Friedman told CNN host Michael Smerconish on Saturday. "Because this regime is a terrible regime for its people in the region." "And nothing would improve the region more than the replacement of this regime with the regime in Iran that was focused on enabling its people to realize their full potential and integrating peacefully with other countries and stop occupying Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. So, I'm all for that," Friedman continued. WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST ARGUES MUSLIMS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASSIMILATE IN AMERICA Friedman then turned to what he calls the "problem" of a successful regime change in Tehran. "The problem is I really don‘t want to see Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump politically strengthened by this war because they are two awful human beings," the Times columnist said. "They are both engaged in anti-democratic projects in their own countries. They‘re both alleged crooks. They are terrible, terrible people doing terrible things to America‘s standing in the world and Israel's standing in the world." "And so I really find myself torn. I want to see Iran militarily defeated, but I do not want to see these two terrible people strengthened," he added. AL JAZEERA OP-ED PRAISES US-ISRAEL OPERATION AGAINST IRAN, SAYS DEMS, MEDIA CRITICS ARE WRONG The "torn" feelings from the New York Times columnist sparked a lot of attention among critics. "What kind of sick hate must @tomfriedman have that he roots for USA to lose to a terrorist regime who has killed thousands of Americans?" Trump's Israel Ambassador Mike Huckabee reacted. "I didn’t vote for Obama but I praised him for taking out Bin Laden," Huckabee added. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWS "I commend @tomfriedman for his refreshing candor," California Post opinion editor Joel Pollack wrote. "Yes, there are some Democrats who want America to lose militarily, so Trump and Netanyahu can't 'win' politically. Trump isn't running again and you can't vote for/against Netanyahu. The left has no foreign policy, only domestic." "A perfect distillation of TDS," Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de20a2d8d5dabda39588ea Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s Hollywood dreams hit wall as expert warns of ‘toxic brand’ stigma te 2026-04-14T11:10:26.524Z Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s Hollywood dreams hit wall as expert warns of ‘toxic brand’ stigma Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing growing questions about the strength of their brand, as experts point to stalled deals and waning public interest as signs that their Hollywood appeal may be cooling. Since leaving royal life, the Sussexes have faced a string of challenges, including the collapse of their Spotify deal, the scaling back of their partnership with Netflix, underperforming projects and growing criticism over ventures like a planned "faux royal tour" of Australia, according to experts.  In addition to downgrading Harry and Markle's $100 million comprehensive deal to a first-look arrangement in 2025, Netflix announced last month that it was parting ways with the former "Suits" star's "As Ever" lifestyle brand. MEGHAN MARKLE’S HOLLYWOOD COMEBACK MAY BACKFIRE AS ‘VANITY’ MOVE SPARKS PALACE SCRUTINY: EXPERTS While speaking with Fox News Digital, Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, weighed in on what the Sussexes' latest setback means for the staying power of their overall brand. "In Hollywood, there’s an old saying: ‘it’s not about talent, it’s about temperature,'" Eldridge said. "Interest and eyeballs are what validates investment in creative projects. When the temperature cools and the eyeballs wander, then deals are cut short, or in this case, simply aren’t renewed." Eldridge shared his view that the couple's brand is struggling due to a combination of identity confusion as well as messaging missteps they made after stepping back from royal duties, pointing to their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and Harry's explosive 2023 memoir "Spare." "In the years following their highly publicized exit from the Royal Family, in 2020, the couple made a series of decisions that directly altered the public sentiment and perception," he said. PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE COMPARED TO OBAMAS AS NEW NETFLIX DEAL SIGNALS THEY’VE TAKEN A 'BAD HIT' Eldridge continued, "From the Oprah sit-down, to the tell-all book, to the perpetual cycle of ‘victim marketing’ many observers on both sides of the Atlantic began to question their motives and gradually began to form a polarizing view of the couple or even worse, lose interest altogether." "Their identity was almost singularly defined by their membership in the Royal Family; when that was no longer in place — much less with the manner and media-centric nature of their departure — it left the public wondering how to categorize them moving forward," Eldridge added. "They took a scattershot approach to projects and public engagement, which to some, seemed like a ‘spaghetti against the wall’ approach to figuring out what sticks." Eldridge argued that the couple took an approach better suited for short-term solutions than lasting brand-building. MEGHAN MARKLE SLAMMED FOR SKY-HIGH PRICE OF LUXURY RETREAT IN AUSTRALIA "A Swiss Army knife is known for its ability to help with any project in a pinch; but that’s only if you don’t have the entire tool box on hand to complete the task," he said. "They’re not designed to be a long-term solution to building or fixing; only an in-the-moment option until you can find more baseline tools to do the job right." "In many ways, Harry and Meghan tried to use a Swiss Army knife approach to long-term brand-building and it’s simply not designed for that. A tool is only as good as the man wielding it and the blueprint he’s following." The PR expert expressed his opinion that the public may be weary of Harry and Meghan's repeated brand reinventions. MEGHAN MARKLE HAS ONE CONDITION FOR RETURNING TO THE UK WITH PRINCE HARRY: EXPERTS "A rebrand is effective once; maybe twice at most," Eldridge said. "Even then, it requires a ‘measure twice, cut once’ level of planning, discipline, and execution. The couple have been on an endless treadmill of purported rebrands at this point. Unfortunately, much like an actual treadmill, you can work your butt off, only to step off and realize you’ve actually gone nowhere." Eldridge told Fox News Digital that Harry and Markle's Hollywood dreams were now hitting a wall in the "most binary sense." "Markle isn’t being cast for acting roles and their $100m deal with Netflix is no longer in place," he noted. "That doesn’t mean they can’t or they won’t, but based on objective reporting, they simply aren’t at this point." Royal expert Hilary Fordwich shared her view that Harry and Markle have alienated audiences by continuing to capitalize on their royal ties despite distancing themselves from the monarchy.  "The couple continue to be hypocritical and that doesn’t sit well with the public either side of the pond," she told Fox News Digital. "Commercializing the very institution they claim to have left is at the core of all their issues. They can’t escape what they continue to use." PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE'S HOLLYWOOD STAR POWER RAPIDLY FADING 5 YEARS AFTER ROYAL BREAK: EXPERTS According to Fordwich, the couple’s recent hurdles may already be affecting how they are viewed by potential partners.   "Given their track record of failure, future deals are way less likely," she said. "There is now more market fatigue than fascination." Royal expert Helena Chard agreed, noting the couple's ongoing reputational challenges. "Both Harry and Meghan are constantly changing advisors and the circle of constant drama is draining," royal expert Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "No one wants to associate with a toxic brand." On Tuesday, Harry and Markle are embarking on a four-day trip to Australia with stops in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. The trip will include charitable visits, speaking engagements and commercial appearances. MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY ATTEND EVENT AT NETFLIX CEO'S HOME AFTER STREAMER CUTS TIES WITH HER BRAND Harry is a keynote speaker at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne and his remarks are expected to focus on workplace mental health and psychological safety. Tickets for the event range from $498 for virtual attendance to $2,378.65 for premium access. Meanwhile, Markle will headline a luxury women's retreat at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach in Sydney that is being billed as a "girls' weekend like no other." The retreat has already drawn criticism for its high ticket prices, which range from $1,860 for a standard ticket to $2,250 for a VIP experience. PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE ‘WRONG WINNERS’ OF HUMANITARIAN AWARD AMID ONGOING ROYAL TENSIONS: EXPERTS The biggest moment of the weekend – a gala dinner – is billed as an "in-person conversation" with Markle. VIP guests will be allowed to partake in a group photo with the Duchess of Sussex and will also receive a goodie bag plus access to an ocean-view hotel room. Unlike the Sussexes' 2018 tour of Australia, the couple's upcoming trip is privately organized and not officially sanctioned by the Royal Family. However, despite the trip being privately funded, Australian police are expected to provide security for public safety, with some costs likely covered by taxpayers, which has sparked controversy. MEGHAN MARKLE'S FAILED 'MARTHA STEWART' DREAMS MOCKED BY COMEDIAN: 'SHE WAS SLINGING JAM' Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams described Harry and Markle's upcoming trip as a "huge gamble." "They have arranged a 'faux royal tour' to Australia, which is certain to displease the Palace as it is one of the King's realms," he told Fox News Digital. "It will be fascinating to see, despite the adverse early publicity, how it goes as there will be memories of their 2018 tour which subsequently led, they later claimed, to jealousy from the other royals." MEGHAN MARKLE’S HOLLYWOOD DREAM CRUMBLES AS VIEWERS TUNE OUT ‘INAUTHENTIC’ SERIES: EXPERTS Fitzwilliams pointed to reports that following the Australia tour, Harry plans to visit the U.K. with his family. The Duke of Sussex reportedly has ambitions of involving his estranged father King Charles III in the 2027 Invictus Games. In 2014, Harry founded the Invictus Games which is an international sporting event for wounded and injured service members and veterans, aimed at supporting recovery through competition. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Assuming he gets automatic security, which is currently under review, Harry wants to bring his family to Britain and the plan reportedly is to visit the King at Sandringham over the summer when also commemorating 'One Year to Go' before next year's Invictus Games in Birmingham," Fitzwilliams said. "Their hope apparently is that the King will open those Games," he continued. "All this may not go according to plan, especially with the lack of trust between them and the royal family." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "There is a bitter rift and they have exploited their royal status abominably, åbut their plan is undeniably audacious and the way King Charles handles matters will be highly significant too." Despite the challenges currently facing the Sussexes' brand, royal expert Ian Pelham Turner expressed optimism about their long-term prospects. "She is a successful survivor and has climbed the slippery slopes to prominence," Turner told Fox News Digital of Markle. He continued, "And with Harry by her side they are a strong formidable team and given the space to reconvene and the will of King Charles to bring them back into the royal fold, they have a long-term bright future." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de20a0d8d5dabda39588da Olivia Troye, Ex-Pence Aide, Runs for the House as a Democrat te 2026-04-14T11:10:24.986Z Olivia Troye, Ex-Pence Aide, Runs for the House as a Democrat After spending most of her Washington career as a Republican, she joins a crowded field of Democrats running in a Virginia district that doesn’t exist yet. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de1e37d8d5dabda395885c WNBA commissioner plays gender card when asked about future te 2026-04-14T11:00:07.726Z WNBA commissioner plays gender card when asked about future WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been under the spotlight for about a year as she navigated the league through a stressful collective bargaining agreement before the start of the 2026 season. Engelbert addressed the media Monday night as the WNBA Draft was set to take place. She raised eyebrows among reporters and fans on social media with a response to a tough question she received. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM She was asked about her future as commissioner and responded by playing the gender card. "I do crack up how everybody's focused on me, and you should be focused on the hundreds of amazing women and thousands of women who run this league outside of myself," she said, via USA Today. "I appreciate that you're focused on me as well. I wonder if you would ask that of a man, by the way, but I realize as women we get asked different questions than men do." AZZI FUDD GOES NO 1 IN WNBA DRAFT TO WINGS, REUNITES WITH PAIGE BUECKERS WITH HISTORIC $500K SALARY Some social media users, including columnist Jemele Hill, agreed that she would have gotten the same question if she were a man. Engelbert is in an exclusive club of female commissioners of professional sports. Jessica Berman is the commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League. Meanwhile, commissioners in every other league face tough questions during their own press conferences in key points of the year. But Engelbert received the brunt of the criticism going into CBA negotiations. The players called on the league to pay its players more in a demonstration during the WNBA All-Star Game. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier blasted WNBA as having the "worst leadership" at the end of the 2025 season. Still, Engelbert is still the commissioner of the WNBA through the latest CBA. She added Monday night that the CBA still needs to be finalized. She also said the league was looking ahead to the future and hoped the league would be able to take the WNBA overseas whether it’s a regular-season or exhibition game. "We’re heavily looking at that," Engelbert said. "Obviously this year we have the FIBA World Cup. Next year we expect that we’ll do something outside of North America as a true global game." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de199cd8d5dabda3958763 Biden DOJ weaponized FACE Act against pro-life Americans, 882-report alleges te 2026-04-14T10:40:28.628Z Biden DOJ weaponized FACE Act against pro-life Americans, 882-report alleges The Justice Department released a report Tuesday alleging the Biden administration weaponized federal law by selectively prosecuting pro-life activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, following a review of more than 700,000 internal records. DOJ officials said prosecutors coordinated with abortion-rights groups to track activists, sought harsher sentences for pro-life defendants and, in some cases, withheld evidence or tried to exclude jurors based on religion. "This Department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. "No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system." This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de199bd8d5dabda395875a Macron under fire over Iran, Hezbollah policy as Trump admin hosts Israel-Lebanon talks te 2026-04-14T10:40:27.898Z Macron under fire over Iran, Hezbollah policy as Trump admin hosts Israel-Lebanon talks France’s President Emmanuel Macron is facing renewed criticism for his lack of support for President Donald Trump’s war against Iran and demands to include Lebanon in the current ceasefire as historic talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to begin Tuesday. The historic meeting brokered by President Trump between Lebanon, a former French mandate, and Israel will take place at the ambassador level as hopes for an agreement evolve ­— most noticeably without French involvement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to host both nations' ambassadors. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel’s government requested that France be excluded from the talks. An Israeli official told the paper that "France’s conduct over the past year – including initiatives aimed at limiting Israel’s ability to fight in Iran, and a complete lack of willingness to take concrete steps to help Lebanon disarm Hezbollah – has led Israel to view France as an unfair mediator." IRAN'S TERROR PROXIES FROM IRAQ-TO-LEBANON SAY READY TO RESPOND TO US-ISRAEL ATTACKS On Monday, Hezbollah chief Naim ​Qassem on Monday ‌called on the Lebanese government to ​cancel the ​Tuesday meeting in Washington, while ⁠describing the talks as pointless. In ​a televised ​speech, Qassem said the ‌armed ⁠group will continue to confront Israeli attacks on ​Lebanon. Hezbollah violated a ceasefire to enter the war on its patron, Iran’s side, in March when it launched rockets into Israel after the U.S.-Israel joint attack on the Islamic Republic began, still Macron has demanded Israel stop attacking Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in Lebanon. Israeli Brig. General (Res.) Yosef Kuperwasser told Fox News Digital that Macron was "working against the best interests of the Lebanese state and government. This is a very problematic direction." He accused Macron of "taking the side of Hezbollah and normalizing Hezbollah because he is focused on "narrow interests." IRAN THREATENS TO END CEASEFIRE OVER HEZBOLLAH'S EXCLUSION FROM TRUCE DEAL The former head of research for the Israel Defense Forces’ Military Intelligence Directorate, Kuperwasser, added that the "Americans want us to engage with the Lebanese along with the military [in Lebanon]. Our expectations are very similar. We want to see Lebanon do something about Hezbollah, something real, not just issue statements and pledges. We believe we have helped them by weakening Hezbollah militarily since they decided to launch missiles on March 2. If there is a breakthrough, Lebanon has a lot to gain," but said it has to "disarm Hezbollah." The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. Macron has faced accusations over the years that he has normalized Hezbollah. His government, in contrast to Germany, the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Austria and many other Western and non-Westen countries, refuses to designate Hezbollah’s entire organization a terrorist entity. France has classified Hezbollah’s "military wing" a terrorist organization but declined to ban its "political wing." Hezbollah considers itself a unified movement without branches. The French politician François-Xavier Bellamy, who is a member of the European Parliament for the Republicans Party, said last week on French television that "France must stop normalizing Hezbollah." Macron sparked outrage in 2020 when he reportedly held a private conversation with a top elected Hezbollah official, according to the Paris-based daily Le Figaro. Edy Cohen, an Israeli security expert on Hezbollah, who was born in Lebanon, told Fox News Digital, "France is forced not to come out against Hezbollah in order to legitimize its involvement in Lebanon." A French diplomat told the Times of Israel that "what we are hoping for is not a ticket to the meeting, but that Israel stops its offensive on Lebanon." When asked if France would pressure Lebanon to recognize Israel as a state, Pascal Confavreux, a spokesman for France’s Foreign Ministry, told "Fox News Sunday" that, "Iran has to stop terrorizing Israel through Hezbollah because Hezbollah chose to bring Lebanon into a war which is not Lebanon’s war… Lebanon has to be included in the ceasefire, something that we are pushing diplomatically," He continued that we are in favor of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. It is not known if France asked for a seat at the talks. Fox News Digital sent multiple press queries to France’s embassies in Washington D.C. and Tel Aviv. IDF UNCOVERS HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS STASH INSIDE HOSPITAL IN LEBANON On Saturday, Macron again pushed his desire for a ceasefire and wrote on X that he had discussions with Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkian on Saturday: "I stressed the importance of full respect for the ceasefire, including in Lebanon. France extends its full support to the actions of the Lebanese authorities, who alone are legitimate to exercise the sovereignty of the State and decide the destiny of Lebanon." Walid Phares, an expert on Lebanon and the region, told Fox News Digital that while the talks are important, problems exist. "It is at ambassadors’ level, which means it is not destined to reach a top level of decision-making." He added, "Strangely, the Lebanese president and prime minister declined to invite the Lebanese foreign minister to the Washington talks, provoking a representation by Israel, also at ambassadorial level, showing that Hezbollah still has a strong influence on the Lebanese government. The militia is being rejected by the population on the ground and fears a meeting in D.C. would ostracize Hezbollah further." Sethrida Geagea, a member of parliament from the Lebanese Forces party, posted on X ahead of the Israel-Lebanon talks an open letter to Nabih Berri, the powerful speaker of the Lebanese Parliament and leader of the Shiite Amal Movement. She issued indirect criticism of Hezbollah and its terrorist army within the state. Geagea appealed to Berri to unify the Lebanese to be "protected by a single army." Without naming Hezbollah, her letter stated that young Shiites have been plunged into war that has nothing to do with them and the conflict is really about an Iranian decision to retaliate for the joint U.S.-Israel war that assassinated the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, on February 28. The State Department did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital press query. Reuters contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de14d6d8d5dabda3958661 WNBA player faces backlash over op-ed criticizing IOC for policy to protect women's sports te 2026-04-14T10:20:06.156Z WNBA player faces backlash over op-ed criticizing IOC for policy to protect women's sports WNBA player Brianna Turner faced social media backlash after she wrote an op-ed expressing her displeasure with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) policy to keep men out of women’s sports. Turner, who recently signed a contract with the Las Vegas Aces after playing professionally in Australia, wrote in USA Today that she didn’t believe the new policy the IOC implemented actually protected the women’s sporting events. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The IOC said it would use genetic testing to ensure that women’s events only feature females. Turner accused the IOC of using the new policies to "scapegoat" transgender athletes while ignoring "real" issues regarding women in sports. "Policies that single out transgender women and athletes with intersex variations do not protect women’s sports. They manufacture a scapegoat while the real challenges to women’s sports go unaddressed: unequal funding, limited access to training and facilities, pay disparities, male-dominated leadership, gender-based violence and harassment across race, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity," Turner wrote on Friday. She also denied the IOC's argument that the new policy is being enacted to make sure that female sports are safe and fair, claiming there were no biological advantages in transgender athletes. WNBA PLAYER OPPOSES NEW OLYMPICS TRANSGENDER POLICY, SAYING THEY DO 'ANYTHING BUT' PROTECT WOMEN "In more than 15 years of organized basketball, I’ve played with and against people who are transgender and undoubtedly people with intersex variations, and I've never experienced any unfair advantages. I saw these players as my fellow athletes, not my enemies," Turner wrote. She concluded by demanding that the IOC do not use women athletes in efforts to "shame or exclude" transgender athletes. Turner received a torrent of social media responses to her critique of the IOC. Turner’s op-ed followed similar response from former U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Sue Bird. "We already know that biology, as much as we want it to be just nice and clean and tight and perfectly in one category and another, it’s not," Rapinoe said earlier this month. "We know that. So, now what we’re doing is subjecting everybody, all women and all people who are identifying as women to this really invasive testing that only to me says like, ‘Oh we’re just trying to whittle it down to a certain type of woman.' Is that what we’re doing? That’s really the whole game here." Bird said the IOC policy was akin to "fearmongering." Turner is set to play with the Aces this season. She was with the Indiana Fever in 2025 and the Chicago Sky in 2024 after spending the first five seasons of her career with the Phoenix Mercury. There are no known transgender athletes competing in the WNBA. Fox News’ Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de14d5d8d5dabda3958658 Azzi Fudd goes No 1 in WNBA Draft to Wings, reunites with Paige Bueckers with historic $500K salary te 2026-04-14T10:20:05.635Z Azzi Fudd goes No 1 in WNBA Draft to Wings, reunites with Paige Bueckers with historic $500K salary Azzi Fudd is reuniting with her old UConn Huskies teammate, Paige Bueckers, as the Dallas Wings took her first overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday night. And Fudd comes in with a historic payday in the league. After a new collective bargaining agreement was inked between the league and the players’ association last month, Fudd is set to make $500,000 in her rookie year – a massive pay bump compared to the $78,831 Bueckers earned last season as the WNBA Draft’s first overall selection. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM This comes as the salary cap for WNBA teams also jumped from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million, which also brought in the first-ever million-dollar contracts. From league veterans to newcomers in the Draft, the game’s best are getting paid. While Fudd will be certainly happy to see her paychecks, she’s also excited to make her impact with the Wings and within the WNBA. PAIGE BUECKERS MAKES WNBA HISTORY IN OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION, SPARKS VET GETS LAST LAUGH "I'm not really sure I have words to describe that feeling what that meant," Fudd said after being drafted, via ESPN. "I don't think it's fully sunk in. It's nothing I could have imagined. The feeling of sitting with my family, with Morgan (Valley), hearing your name called, go up there. Such a surreal feeling." Fudd was also excited while discussing her reunion with Bueckers. "Paige is an incredible player, everyone knows that," she explained. "She’s someone that makes playing basketball with easy." With Fudd taken, the Minnesota Lynx locked in Olivia Miles out of TCU – Fudd’s biggest competition for that first overall pick. But Miles isn’t missing out on the payday, as she’s slated to make $466,913 as the second overall pick. Center Awa Fam Thiam from Spain went to the Seattle Storm and will get a $436,016 salary for the 2026 WNBA season. Then, national champions Lauren Betts (Washington Mystics), Gabriel Jacquez (Chicago Sky) and Kiki Rice (Toronto Tempo) rounded out the top six. UCLA also broke UConn’s record of having four players drafted in the first round, which was set in 2002 by the Huskies. Angela Dugalić rounded out the bunch after Washington took her ninth overall, keeping her with Betts as they enter the league. Another notable name was LSU guard Flau’Jae Johnson, who was taken eighth overall by the Golden State Valkyries, but she was traded to the Storm for the rights to Marta Suarez from TCU. The Storm had taken her with the first pick of the second round. The Valkyries also received a 2028 second-round pick in the deal. Overall, every drafted player who makes a team entering the regular season will make more than any WNBA player did during the 2025 season, with a minimum salary of $270,000 that sits higher than last year’s maximum salary of $249,244. 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/69de1280d8d5dabda39585dd Trump endorses neighboring state lieutenant governors for re-election te 2026-04-14T10:10:08.637Z Trump endorses neighboring state lieutenant governors for re-election President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued full-throated re-election endorsements for the incumbent lieutenant governors of Nevada and Idaho. "Stavros Anthony has been a fantastic Lieutenant Governor for the Great People of Nevada!" the president declared in a Monday Truth Social post. "Stavros Anthony has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" he asserted. TRUMP-BACKED GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES BID FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE TERM Anthony thanked the president for the backing. "Thank you, President Trump, for your support for my re-election and for your support for Nevada. I look forward to seeing you this week in Las Vegas," the state official wrote in a post on X. REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR TARGETED BY DEMOCRATS LAUNCHES RE-ELECTION BID IN KEY BATTLEGROUND Trump also gave his stamp of approval to Idaho Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, declaring that he "has been a tremendous Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, a place I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024!" "Scott Bedke has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" the president declared in a Truth Social post. 24 STATES BACK CHALLENGE TO TRANSGENDER INMATE SURGERY RULING WITH NATIONWIDE STAKES President Trump previously issued posts in which he endorsed Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and Idaho Gov. Brad Little for re-election last year. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de1280d8d5dabda39585d4 Biden 'had to choose' Harris for VP but 'wanted it to be' Gretchen Whitmer: report te 2026-04-14T10:10:08.097Z Biden 'had to choose' Harris for VP but 'wanted it to be' Gretchen Whitmer: report Former President Joe Biden reportedly wanted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to be his vice president but "had to choose" former Vice President Kamala Harris. An Atlantic article profiled the Democratic governor and potential 2028 presidential candidate on Sunday and reported how Whitmer was being considered by Biden to be his running mate in 2020, particularly after her pushback against President Donald Trump. Though Whitmer was ultimately not chosen, the Atlantic claimed that Biden "wanted it to be Whitmer" and was pushed into picking Harris after the Black Lives Matter protests. GRETCHEN WHITMER DENIES DEMS TRY TO BE TOO INCLUSIVE, SAYS MESSAGE CAN BE 'TOO OBTUSE' FOR PEOPLE "All of this attention seemed like it might add up to something, and by summer 2020, Whitmer was being vetted for vice president," the report read. "She wasn’t sure about it at first, people familiar with her thinking at the time told me; she struggled to imagine herself as a creature of Washington, D.C. She got along well with Biden, though, and by the time he asked her to fly to Delaware for an in-person chat, she was ready to say yes. Biden didn’t ask." The report said a former senior staffer for Whitmer said, "The moment called for a Black running mate," and how Biden really wanted the Michigan governor instead. According to the Atlantic, a former adviser to both Biden and Harris said that claim carried "some weight." GRETCHEN WHITMER ANGERS DEMOCRATS, SUFFERS 'HUGE EMBARRASSMENT' WITH TRUMP MEETING AT WHITE HOUSE The Atlantic reported that Whitmer still "campaigned happily" for the pair and "never wavered in her support" for Biden until he officially dropped out of the 2024 presidential election. Fox News Digital reached out to Biden and Whitmer's offices for comment. Whitmer was reported to have been the first candidate to meet in-person with Biden in August 2020 as he was vetting potential running mates. GRETCHEN WHITMER CONFRONTED ON 'WEIRD' COVID RESTRICTIONS, SAYS SHE DID HER BEST WITH POOR INFORMATION In December 2020, Whitmer confirmed that she went through the vetting process to become Biden's running mate and would have accepted the role if it had been offered to her. "If Joe Biden had called and said 'I need you to be my partner and be my running mate' I would have said yes," Whitmer told Fox 2. "This election was that important." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de127fd8d5dabda39585cb Molotov cocktail attack on Sam Altman's home sparks fears of copycat strikes against tech executives te 2026-04-14T10:10:07.540Z Molotov cocktail attack on Sam Altman's home sparks fears of copycat strikes against tech executives The predawn Molotov cocktail attack on Sam Altman’s San Francisco home has signaled a volatile new era of anti-tech extremism, sparking fears among federal authorities that this could ignite a wave of copycat strikes against high-profile executives. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Monday that her office will aggressively pursue charges against suspect Daniel Moreno-Gama, citing a dangerous escalation in the debate surrounding artificial intelligence. "My office will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law," Jenkins said. "This should also be a moment where our nation reflects on the often incendiary rhetoric that is being used in discussions about artificial intelligence and its future impacts on our society." While the investigation continues, Jenkins said that ideological disagreements do not justify physical harm. GUNFIRE, ARSON AND VANDALISM: TRACKING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN AMERICA "In no way should we be at the point where a man could have lost his life over differences of opinion and concerns," she said. "We must, as I've said before, about political rhetoric, turn down the temperature of our discussions and engage in healthy dialogue." The use of incendiary weapons marks an escalation in the severity of the crime, according to Josh Schirard, the law enforcement director for weapons company Byrna and a former Galveston County police captain. "While an unprovoked attack on any person is a serious criminal offense, the use of explosive and incendiary devices puts it into a whole new category," Schirard told Fox News Digital. FBI RAIDS TEXAS HOME OF SUSPECT ACCUSED OF THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAIL AT SAM ALTMAN'S SAN FRANCISCO HOUSE Schirard said that despite their often crude construction, Molotov cocktails carry heavy legal weight. Under federal law, mere possession of such a device is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. When those devices are actually deployed, the legal consequences become even more severe. "In a case like this, where an explosive device was deployed in an apparent attempt to target an individual, sentencing exposure could reach decades," Schirard said. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Craig Missakian warned that the investigation could expand to include a domestic terrorism charge if a political motive is established. "We are at the beginning of this investigation, but if the evidence shows that Mr. Moreno Gama executed these attacks to change public policy or to coerce government or other officials, we will treat this as an act of domestic terrorism," Missakian said Monday. TWO ARRESTED IN POSSIBLE SHOOTING NEAR OPENAI CEO SAM ALTMAN'S HOME On Monday, federal authorities raided the Texas home of Moreno-Gama, the 20-year-old suspect accused of carrying out the attack at Altman’s San Francisco residence. Fox News was on the ground as authorities executed a search warrant in Spring, Texas. Authorities allege that Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas to San Francisco with the intent to kill Altman, according to a federal criminal complaint. He now faces a litany of charges, including attempted premeditated murder of both Altman and a security guard, attempted arson, and the possession and ignition of a destructive device with the intent to murder. Authorities say Moreno-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home early Friday morning, setting the front gate on fire. No injuries were reported. I SURVIVED ANTIFA VIOLENCE — NOW MINNESOTA IS REPEATING DANGEROUS LEFT-WING MISTAKES Investigators allege the suspect later went to OpenAI headquarters, where surveillance video captured him throwing a chair at the building’s glass doors. Security personnel told police he threatened to burn the building and kill those inside before he was arrested outside the facility. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly carrying a jug of kerosene and a lighter. Sources close to the investigation told Fox News that Moreno-Gama was motivated by anti-AI views and was carrying a manifesto described as a "three-part series." GOT A TIP? The document allegedly included a list of other AI executives and investors, along with their names and addresses, raising concerns among authorities about the potential for copycat threats. FOLLOW US ON X Moreno-Gama remains in custody and is also facing multiple state felony charges, including attempted murder, in connection with the incident at Altman’s home. The Justice Department is expected to pursue federal charges. Schirard said that attacks involving improvised incendiary weapons typically trigger a coordinated federal response, including involvement from agencies such as the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as increased monitoring for potential related threats. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL "And as we’ve seen with this administration, it is also likely that those possible threats will be handled swiftly and aggressively before they could be carried out," he said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS Hours after the attack on his house, Altman posted a photo of his husband and their toddler in a blog post addressing the threats against him. "Normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me," Altman wrote. He added that "fear and anxiety about AI is justified" but it was important to "de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally." In a separate incident over the weekend, two additional individuals were arrested following reports of gunfire near Altman’s home. San Francisco police said that event was unrelated and there is no indication the residence was being targeted in that case. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de127ed8d5dabda39585c2 House Dem reveals why his party should challenge Trump on Iran as gas prices soar $1 per gallon te 2026-04-14T10:10:06.982Z House Dem reveals why his party should challenge Trump on Iran as gas prices soar $1 per gallon Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., is demanding consideration of a Democrat-led war powers resolution that would require President Donald Trump to pull U.S. armed forces out of hostilities with Iran. "I think it's important for us to keep trying to push the issue forward, and eventually [Republicans] are going to have to allow us to bring it to the floor and have a vote on it. So, we're hoping that that's going to be sooner rather than later," Ivey said. "Now we're at a point where gas prices have gone up more than a dollar per gallon. We spent $54 billion on this war so far, and there's no end in sight." If passed, the resolution would prevent the president from engaging in additional military action, save for defensive reasons, and require a declaration of war for any additional operations in Iran. TRUMP'S THREAT TO END IRANIAN 'CIVILIZATION' SPARKS UPROAR ON CAPITOL HILL Republicans have panned the idea as an unhelpful restriction on an administration navigating international uncertainty. The House of Representatives already voted down one Iran war powers resolution earlier this year, offered by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. That measure failed in a 212-2019 vote in March. The effort drew the condemnation of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. "As you know, the War Powers Resolution failed. That is the right result. We are not at war. We have no intention of being at war. The president and the Department of War have made it very clear that this is a limited operation," Johnson said shortly after its consideration. "It would have been a very serious misstep by Congress," Johnson added. AOC TELLS TROOPS TO REFUSE 'ILLEGAL' ORDERS AHEAD OF TRUMP'S LOOMING IRAN DEADLINE The U.S. first began hostilities with Iran on Feb. 28, launching a joint bombing attack with Israel that targeted the country’s military leadership and killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump and Cabinet officials maintained the campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from securing a nuclear weapon. Since then, Democrat lawmakers have blasted Trump for what they viewed as the beginning of war efforts without the consent of Congress — something they maintain goes against the War Powers Act of 1973. That law states that any military engagement that extends past 60 days requires congressional approval. Despite a recent ceasefire agreement, Ivey said he doubts the negotiations will result in a lasting peace, raising questions about the scope of the conflict. ROGUE DEM BUCKS PARTY ON TRUMP WAR POWERS, CALLS IRAN ‘47-YEAR-OLD WAR CRIME’ "At this point, it's hard to know exactly what the administration has in mind or where they're trying to go. The 10-point proposal that Iran sent to us and the 15 points that we sent back, I don't see any common ground on that," Ivey said, referring to a contrasting set of demands the two countries have issued. "I'm not clear if we're going to be able to find some kind of common ground where we can resolve it in the short term," he added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de127ed8d5dabda39585b9 Inside teachers' union May Day 'dress rehearsal' critics warn will 'groom' students into Dem 'foot soldiers' te 2026-04-14T10:10:06.629Z Inside teachers' union May Day 'dress rehearsal' critics warn will 'groom' students into Dem 'foot soldiers' A recent webinar hosted by some of the top teachers' unions in the United States that pushed a curriculum focused on the upcoming May Day protests is prompting education experts and watchdogs to sound the alarm about alleged political indoctrination inside classrooms. The Chicago Teachers' Union and the National Education Association collaborated with the Zinn Education Project on an April 2nd seminar referred to as a "curriculum build" to "bring "social justice into the classroom" ahead of May Day, the traditional May 1st holiday that has long been embraced by communist and socialist movements as a day of mass political action. "There’s probably gonna be a lot worse things that Trump does, and so May Day is a dress rehearsal for maybe there’s a random day in, you know, June that we all are, like, no work, no school, no shopping, because of something Pete just did, right?" Dave Stieber, a history teacher in Chicago Public Schools, said during the presentation.  "So this is a continuation and a buildup of that." 500 GROUPS WITH $3B IN REVENUES ARE BEHIND THE #NOKINGS PROTESTS AND COMMUNIST CALL FOR 'REVOLUTION' The webinar also included guidance on how educators could bring activism into the classroom, including with very young students, with speakers who encouraged lessons centered on activism for children as young as three, presenting such engagement as a way to build early awareness and participation.  "I did want to say I really encourage teachers of young children not to feel like this is stuff that’s way beyond their students, not to be afraid of raising up social justice issues, including workers’ rights, anti-racism, pro LGBT, LGBTQIA plus issues, immigration and immigrants rights," Kirstin Roberts, a pre-school teacher in Chicago Public Schools, says in the seminar.  The North American Values Institute (NAVI), who first posted the seminar online, argues that the unions are attempting to "groom" students to push social justice platforms in protests across the United States including on May Day. WEALTHY MARYLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT PTA TRAINS PARENTS HOW TO DISRUPT ICE ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS "The webinar demonstrates clearly that our teacher unions view students as foot soldiers in their political and ideological battles and the classroom as an appropriate venue to wage their war," Mika Hackner, director of research at NAVI, told Fox News Digital.  During the seminar, one of the lessons on "May Day curriculum building" focuses on making the upcoming protest look less "scary" to children.  "In this lesson, we really want to introduce the idea that there’s going to be marches and protests on Mayday," Roberts says. LEFT-WING TOOLKIT FROM COLLEGE PROFESSORS GROUP URGES STUDENTS TO ‘CREATE A CRISIS’ OVER ICE "Sometimes those are made to look really scary on the news and so we, or in social media, and so we want to share images with our children of protests that lifts up the beauty and the humanity of the people involved." The Chicago Teachers’ Union, which has been pushing for schools to be closed on May Day, has long faced criticism for pushing far-left political agenda items in the classroom and encouraging teachers to take to the streets in opposition to the Trump administration.  Earlier this year, Fox News Digital reported that CTU appears poised to spend a substantial amount of money on "political activities" to the tune of $3.1 million dollars. In January, CTU members filmed themselves protesting federal immigration enforcement and anti-DEI measures at a local Target, sparking criticism both online and from experts. "It’s very clear that teachers unions seek to destroy our country by turning our students against it," Teacher Freedom Alliance CEO Ryan Walters told Fox News Digital.  "The Chicago Teachers Union is one of the worst. The fact that they are targeting students as young as 3 years old with this anti-American propaganda should be criminal. The teachers unions will continue to use students as Marxist pawns until we have driven them out of our schools."  The NEA has found itself facing criticism over political activism in recent months as well which Fox News Digital has extensively reported on, including federal labor filings in January that showed the nation's largest teacher's union funneling millions to far-left activist groups, ballot initiatives and social justice organizations. "They don't care about the students, they care about pushing these leftist, liberal Democrat people [politicians] so that they can get more money and just fund all these stupid initiatives," an NEA whistleblower told Fox News Digital in January. Fox News Digital reached out to the NEA, CTU, Chicago Public Schools, and Zinn Project for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de127ed8d5dabda39585b0 Curators at Library of Congress discover lost film by legendary cinema pioneer after spotting 'subtle clue' te 2026-04-14T10:10:06.079Z Curators at Library of Congress discover lost film by legendary cinema pioneer after spotting 'subtle clue' What began as a routine day for Library of Congress librarians turned into a major find when they discovered a lost 1897 film featuring one of cinema's earliest robots. The film, called "Gugusse and the Automaton," was made by legendary French filmmaker Georges Méliès in 1897.  Méliès was a pioneer of special effects and directed the famous 1902 film "A Trip to the Moon." The newly discovered film shows a magician battling a mischievous automaton in a brief slapstick sequence. ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER MYSTERIOUS CHRISTIAN ARTIFACT NEAR WATERS TIED TO JESUS' MINISTRY: ‘NO KNOWN PARALLEL’ The Library of Congress described the film as "the first appearance of what might be called a robot." It was uncovered by librarians who had been examining a collection of deteriorating film reels. They identified the film in September, though officials kept the discovery under wraps until late February. "It had not been seen by anyone in likely more than a century," the release said. The curators didn't immediately know what they were looking at, said Jason Evans Groth, a curator of the Moving Image Section at the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Groth told Fox News Digital that the team noticed a "subtle clue" in a frame that made them wonder if it was a Méliès film. "After looking closely at the film on their inspection table, they saw a star painted on one of the props," he said. "Knowing that Méliès’ film production company was called Star Film, and that he often used that iconography in his movies, they contacted a colleague who is a Méliès expert with a photo of the frame," Groth said.  The colleague responded, "Congratulations! You’ve discovered a lost Méliès!" Groth added, "They also identified the title for us — which cinema and Méliès historians knew had existed, but which had been lost for decades." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The reel was sent to the Library of Congress by Bill McFarland, a Michigan man whose family had preserved the films for decades, storing them in basements, barns and garages. Groth described the film as a "copy of a copy of a copy," indicating it had likely been widely duplicated and shared. "We don’t know exactly how [McFarland's great-grandfather] William DeLyle Frisbee got this one, or if it was one of his favorites, but having a French magic trick film to show to folks in Pennsylvania — especially one with a robot! — must have been something to see," he said. For those unfamiliar with Méliès' work, Groth said his influence spans from the earliest days of filmmaking to the 2011 Martin Scorsese film "Hugo," in which he is portrayed as a character. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES Méliès "made hundreds of movies, and rather than just documenting what he was seeing, he managed to weave imaginative stories into the shorts he created, conjuring atmospheres and moods that were rooted in fantasy, early science fiction and illusion," said Groth. "He created new worlds and mystified audiences, leaning on narrative storytelling to capture the audience’s minds and imaginations rather than just showing them the world on screen." Groth noted that a "very large percentage" of early silent films have been lost to history — making the discovery particularly special. "Luckily, more and more presumed lost films are coming to light," he said. "Some are buried in larger collections," he said. "Some are, like in this case, passed down from generation to generation but are not able to easily be projected and, thus, sit fallow until they get into the right hands." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de127dd8d5dabda39585a7 JONATHAN TURLEY: Eric Swalwell's enablers knew the truth — and protected him anyway te 2026-04-14T10:10:05.507Z JONATHAN TURLEY: Eric Swalwell's enablers knew the truth — and protected him anyway The resignation of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., came with one of the most spectacular falls in political history. Just days ago, Swalwell was the leading Democratic candidate for governor of California and positioned to be one of two final candidates, with the other a Republican. He expected that, regardless of his unpopularity, California Democrats would never vote for a Republican. Now Swalwell has pulled out of the race, left Congress, and was even tossed out of the home of a billionaire who had been letting him crash there during the scandal. Swalwell continues to deny the allegations against him and has pledged to fight them. For the record, I have been one of Swalwell's most vocal critics for the last 10 years. Yet while I am not surprised by the allegations, I am surprised by how quickly Swalwell was abandoned by his political patrons in Congress and the unions. SWALWELL ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS TORPEDOED GUBERNATORIAL BID In Washington, Harry Truman advised politicians that if you want a friend in this city, get a dog. However, even Swalwell's dog, Penny, has yet to appear in public with him. Presumably, she is consulting with her own canine crisis team. Swalwell has spent his entire career protected by an enabling establishment and liberal media machine. He was a made man in Washington, and those who made him protected him despite years of rumors and allegations of misconduct. He was never much of a legislator. One 2025 study showed that he was outvoted in Congress by a colleague who had died months earlier. His value was his vicious instincts. He was always first to a mob. When Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, received death threats, it was Swalwell who mocked her. In running for governor, he not only pledged to arrest ICE agents but also to deny them driver's licenses and jobs. He trafficked in unadulterated rage to a nation of rage addicts. 'SMART DECISION': SWALWELL'S RESIGNATION SPURS PRAISE FROM BOTH PARTIES AFTER BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS EMERGE His greatest patron was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who single-handedly saved Swalwell's career when he was found to have had an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. She told the media, "I don’t have any concern about Mr. Swalwell." For most of the media, that was enough, and they slinked away. When critics sought to remove him from the classified House Intelligence Committee, Pelosi shocked many by insisting that he remain in the sensitive position, lashing out at those who were "trying to make an issue of this." Now Pelosi and her media allies are gone. Even Swalwell's friend, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., has morphed into Claude Rains’ character, Captain Louis Renault in the classic film "Casablanca," and proclaimed that he is "shocked" by the allegations. SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING' Gallego, who served as national campaign chair for Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign, was pictured with him in a 2021 photo showing both men bare-chested and sitting atop camels during a luxury junket funded by Qatari business interests. The photo has not aged well for Gallego, any more than his earlier lament that the Democratic Party "used to be the party of sex, drugs, and rock and roll." The abandonment of Swalwell is a familiar move of political triage. By letting Swalwell succumb to the scandal, Pelosi and others hope to protect the Democratic establishment from any blowback after years of enabling his career. The media, as usual, is complying. 'THE VIEW' HOST SAYS ERIC SWALWELL'S REPUTATION WITH WOMEN WAS 'OPEN SECRET' EXPLOITABLE BY ENEMIES The media will cover a scandal involving a leading Democrat if there is no real alternative. What is interesting is how the Democratic establishment is now signaling that they want Swalwell destroyed, quickly and surgically. The media is content to call Swalwell a monster without delving into who created and released that monster. Swalwell is no self-made man. He is a made man of the Democratic establishment. The congressman’s alleged victims have lashed out not only at Swalwell but also at many in the establishment. They allege that they were rebuffed when they tried to bring their allegations to reporters. CALIFORNIA REPORTER CLAIMS ERIC SWALWELL’S CONDUCT ‘WAS KNOWN,’ RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT LOCAL SUPPORT One independent reporter said that he had been raising similar allegations about Swalwell with California Democrats since before Swalwell was elected to Congress. He was also turned away. Swalwell was useful, and that made his "appetites" irrelevant. If even half of these allegations against him are true, it shows the sense of license that Swalwell developed for years in Washington. He lost that political immunity this week and now faces real legal liability. That does not mean that Democrats will not try to control the damage. They want Swalwell to take a deal to avoid any investigations that will pull other Democrats into the vortex of the scandal. ERIC SWALWELL FACES MANHATTAN SEX ASSAULT PROBE AFTER ENDING CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN AMID ALLEGATIONS They are counting on New York and California district attorneys to produce the type of controlled explosion seen in the construction industry, where a hotel is brought down without damaging the adjacent structures. The problem is that Republicans may not just accept his resignation as the final act. They could call the women who are accusing Swalwell of crimes to testify and even call some of his congressional friends who took trips and partied with him. They could cite Swalwell himself for demanding such total transparency from others. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Swalwell's resignation on Tuesday may indicate that he is now fully briefed on what lies ahead. With a criminal investigation announced in New York and one expected in California, any competent defense counsel would advise Swalwell that he needs to jettison every extraneous concern, from his career to his office to his law license. Swalwell needs to fight for his liberty if these women are prepared to give statements not just to the media but to the police. In both New York and California, the statutes of limitations for rape and sexual assault have been removed. The published allegations, from raping intoxicated women to leaving victims bruised and bleeding, would likely satisfy those statutes if established by the police. Swalwell, ironically, will now join Hunter Biden as a political refugee. (Swalwell famously supported defying a congressional subpoena.) Like Hunter, Swalwell lost both influence and the ability to make money when he fell out of power this week. Hunter is now reportedly millions in debt and remaining in South Africa. Swalwell may have to burn through his wealth to fend off these criminal investigations in multiple jurisdictions. If any of the allegations are proven, he will likely lose his law license and ability to support himself as a lawyer. In the end, this is no morality tale because there are no more moral figures, from Swalwell to those who created or protected him. It is a Washington tale where morality, like villainy, is measured by your proximity to power. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM JONATHAN TURLEY Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de091ed8d5dabda39583c0 Los Angeles Schools Strike Narrowly Averted In Last-Minute Deal te 2026-04-14T09:30:06.975Z Los Angeles Schools Strike Narrowly Averted In Last-Minute Deal The strike would have shut down classes on Tuesday for hundreds of thousands of students in the nation’s second-largest school district. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de06c7d8d5dabda395833c In Leo, Trump Faces a Different Kind of Papal Opponent te 2026-04-14T09:20:07.925Z In Leo, Trump Faces a Different Kind of Papal Opponent Unlike his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV enjoys growing support from a broad swath of conservative Catholics. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de0470d8d5dabda39582ba MORNING GLORY: The US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad became Reykjavík 2.0 te 2026-04-14T09:10:08.769Z MORNING GLORY: The US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad became Reykjavík 2.0 From the moment the talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran commenced in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, only one of three results could follow: Munich, 1938 with the U.S. appeasing Iran; Reykjavík, 1986 with diplomatic deadlock; or Appomattox, 1865 with the exhausted and broken Iranians surrendering to the reality of hard power. Turns out it was Reykjavik 2.0 with Vice President J.D. Vance instead of President Reagan exiting the meetings looking stone-faced and irritated as he announced an end to the talks and the departure of the United States delegation. A blockade of all shipping from all Iranian ports commenced Monday at 10 AM pursuant to President Trump’s order to the U.S. Navy. The Navy has already commenced mine-clearing operations in the international waters in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday — during the talks. Quite a signal, that. President Trump has indicated that renewed strikes on the teetering Islamic Republic of Iran are possible as well. Israel continues to pummel Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon. TRUMP VOWS TO HIT IRAN 'VERY HARD' AFTER OBLITERATING NEARLY '90 PERCENT' OF REGIME MISSILES It was a very bad weekend for terrorists in the Middle East as well as for the mother ship regime that supports them all in Tehran. The ayatollahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that prop them up are down to their fifth string "generals," and the impotent "elected officials" of Iran who have never had other than the power the IRGC allocated to them. The Iranian regime has survived on terror and bluster for 47 years. Now it’s on the edge of collapse because of Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The fact the these two men are orchestrating the strategic defeat of a sinister, lunatic regime that as recently as January 8-9 murdered more than 30,000 of its own people in two days has the left in America and around the world working through cognitive dissonance. It would be amusing were the Iranian people not suffering so under the boot of the Islamist fanatics and the cost in American and Israeli lives in the dozens. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP’S IRAN ADDRESS Our domestic left know they should actually cheer the ongoing collapse of the power of the theocrats in Tehran and the threat they present to the world. But the fact that the cartoon villains living in their collective heads rent-free 24/7/365 — Trump and Netanyahu — are the pair deconstructing the baddies leaves the lefties in legacy media and the Democratic Party stuttering and mumbling. Many of them are also carrying the (very heavy) sunk costs of the absurd "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" from the halcyon days of peak Obama in 2015. The JCPOA was indeed the worst deal America ever made but the held it up as an achievement for the ages. Trump blew it up. They haven’t recovered. Like super-seniors pining for their glory days during the Elvis craze, the political equivalent of the 1950s teeny boppers from Team Obama and his supporters in the legacy media are downcast, feeling left behind and increasingly certain that no one will ever fall for their "echo-chamber-leading- from-behind" schtick again. IRAN WAR NEARS ‘COMPLETION’ AS TRUMP EYES DEADLINE — WHAT THE ENDGAME COULD LOOK LIKE Not only has their beloved JCPOA revealed as idiocy, but now Trump and Netanyahu have also revealed the Islamic Republic to have been less than the mighty superpower Team Obama built them up to be or at least put them on the path towards being. More danger is ahead but clarity is a wonderful thing. Serious people have always had the Iranian regime’s number. Silly podcasters and successive Democratic presidents may not have understood the depth of the evil they faced in Tehran, but the center-right and national security hawks never saw anything but menace. A reminder that it was Senator Tom Cotton who first and loudly blew the whistle on the fraud that was the JCPOA, just as he did on the Wuhan lab leak. Perhaps listen to Cotton next time an international crisis arises and not Beltway sharpies with podcasts? CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Team Obama may not have just been dense. They may simply have been afraid of confronting the killers in Iran. No matter. Their era of appeasement is over now. The Vice President gave the Iranian regime a third chance to back away from the edge. The Iranians missed their first chance during 60 days of negotiation in 2025 which was followed by Midnight Hammer. They missed on the second swing as well, just before the start of Epic Fury. Now they have swung and missed…again. Three strikes and you are out. And blockaded. Not to mention broke and broken. Bravo to the American military for the swift and nearly complete devastation of the Iranian military. And thanks to our superb ally Israel. Prayers continue for the families of the fallen in this battle, those who have been wounded and those still in harm’s way. It’s not over, but the beginning of the end of the Islamic Republic has arrived. Hugh Hewitt is a Fox News contributor and host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show" heard weekday afternoons from 3 PM to 6 PM ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh drives Americans home on the East Coast and to lunch on the West Coast on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel’s news roundtable, hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6 p..m ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996, where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcasting. This column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM HUGH HEWITT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de0470d8d5dabda39582b1 LIZ PEEK: Do Democrats hate President Trump more then they love America? te 2026-04-14T09:10:08.207Z LIZ PEEK: Do Democrats hate President Trump more then they love America? New York Times opinion writer Thomas Friedman has said out loud what so many Democrats appear to think but are reluctant to reveal: he seemingly so despises President Trump that he’d be okay with the U.S. losing the war with Iran. Does Friedman think deposing Iran’s "terrible regime" for a government that cares about its people and will bring peace to the Middle East would be a good thing? Sure, but "the problem is I really don’t want to see Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump politically strengthened by this war because they are too awful human beings." Friedman is, in other words, on the fence about rooting for the U.S. Maybe instead rooting for the fanatical mullahs who wantonly slaughter their own people, enrich and arm terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah that spread violence across the Middle East, push to acquire a nuclear weapon while routinely chanting "Death to America" and organize hit squads aiming to take out U.S. officials and politicians, including the President of the United States. ONE MONTH AT WAR WITH IRAN — CAN WASHINGTON DEFINE VICTORY? Those are the folks about whom Friedman is ambivalent, so deep is his loathing for the U.S. president. Imagine hating Donald Trump more than you love your country. Friedman is not alone. Democrat politicians have spewed despicable commentary about the war against Iran since it started, denying its purpose and legitimacy even though the core mission of the conflict is to accomplish something every U.S. president and candidate has committed to for 50 years — that Iran not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. Democrats apparently thought this was just a popular talking point, not an actual commitment. Hillary Clinton vowed to bomb Iran if the mullahs used nukes against Israel, Kamala Harris cited the theocracy as our greatest enemy. This was safe turf; Donald Trump went further and took an enormous political risk to act on those words. Imagine if you were the parent of a young man or woman in uniform risking their lives in this war and heard Hakeem Jeffries recently say about Pete Hegseth: "This guy can’t organize a two-car funeral…no wonder things are turning out so horrifically." Jeffries is not alone. Senate Minority Leaders Schumer recently posted on X that Trump is a "military moron," complaining about the $44 billion spent so far on trying to end Iran’s terror regime. Critics note that to date the New York senator has signed off on $114 billion to help fuel Ukraine’s resistance to Russia, a conflict in which America has little immediate stake. Should we support pushing back against Vladimir Putin’s aggression? Yes, but it is Iran, not Russia, that has been killing Americans for decades, ultimately inviting Trump’s aggressive response. TEVI TROY: TRUMP FACES THE BURDENS OF A WARTIME PRESIDENCY Jeffries doesn’t bother to articulate what exactly is turning out so poorly; he’s just scoring political points. The truth is of course the opposite. The U.S. military has performed brilliantly, eliminating most of Iran’s naval assets, its air force, its missile sites and other targets while sustaining few casualties for an operation of such magnitude. When has a heavily armed country been so crippled in such a short period of time? Democrats are not just criticizing the war; they want to bring down the president. They are calling for President Trump to be drummed out of the Oval Office, claiming that his over-the-top threats on Truth Social to eliminate Iran’s civilization prove he is not fit to serve. They insist that the 25th amendment be invoked, apparently ignorant of how that constitutional measure actually works. The amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to vote to remove the Commander-in-Chief should he (or she) be disabled. Does anyone in Congress seriously believe Trump’s cabinet thinks such a step is necessary or appropriate? The liberal press has skillfully played its role of useful idiot by portraying the war as a failure from the beginning, aiding and abetting the enemy by dividing our country and undermining support for the conflict. An article in the Hill titled, "Trump lost his nerve and surrendered to a beaten Iran," certainly does not build confidence. Nor did The Economist cover from a couple of weeks ago declaring the Iran conflict: "A War Without a Strategy". Or its most recent cover story: "Donald Trump is the War’s Biggest Loser." CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION The upshot of these relentless attacks on President Trump and his execution of the war is that public sentiment has soured on the conflict, leading the Iranian regime to believe that political pressure will push the president to bring it to a close. That accounts for the regime’s intransigence and refusal, for instance, to give up their nuclear weapons. Comments made by Iran’s leaders about the recent negotiations in Islamabad have all the bravado and truculence of a winning team. But Iran is not winning. The decimated leadership is communicating by written notes because they are terrified that any electronic signaling will reveal their whereabouts and lead to their speedy execution. Their conventional forces have been destroyed; their remaining ace in the hole is a bunch of speedboats with missile and drone launchers capable of scaring ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. That will not stand. Interestingly, for all the media nay-saying, the polling on the war is not as negative as Democrats might like. A recent CBS poll showed, for instance, "Big and bipartisan majorities" feel it's important for the U.S. to "open the Strait of Hormuz, make sure Iran’s people are "safe and secure", stop Iran from threatening other countries and "permanently stop Iran’s nuclear programs." Respondents don’t think those goals have been met, but they support the White House’s mission. The survey also shows 55% of Americans believe it would be "unacceptable" to end the war with Iran’s current leadership still in place — quite a hawkish view. Americans understand that Iran is an enemy. Democrats are not convinced. If Trump is successful in this war, they will look not only foolish, but unpatriotic. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LIZ PEEK Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de046fd8d5dabda39582a8 Swalwell’s former Dem rival unloads on his ‘lightweight’ career as sexual assault allegations emerge te 2026-04-14T09:10:07.660Z Swalwell’s former Dem rival unloads on his ‘lightweight’ career as sexual assault allegations emerge Andrew Yang, who ran against Eric Swalwell during the crowded 2020 Democratic primary for president, questioned why his one-time rival had ever thought he could win an election for some of the highest offices in the land, shortly before he announced on Monday that he was resigning his House seat. Yang slammed Swalwell's political career as "lightweight," arguing he is not "an intellect or deep policy thinker," and described the California congressman as someone whose actions reflect a stronger desire to get ahead than fighting for what he believes is right. "Eric made the first debate in 2019, which he spent challenging Joe Biden to ‘pass the torch’ and quoting Joe in his first Senate campaign saying that the incumbent was too old and out of touch and it was time to give way to the next generation. Joe came up to him during a commercial break, took Eric by both lapels, and said to him 'nice try, I’m not going anywhere.' Eric then dropped out a few days later," Yang recounted in his post. "After 2020, Eric became a fixture on cable news programs, particularly MSNBC and CNN, mouthing Democratic talking points. He burnished his social media following. In 2024, when Joe Biden’s age became one of the central issues of the day and Dean Phillips tried to force a primary, Eric was nowhere to be found. He had gotten the message that being a good partisan soldier was a better path." DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR 'SMEAR' OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL'S ACCUSERS: 'VERY BAD LOOK' Yang said that running for higher office, and particularly the presidency, candidates must have "vision, intellect, confidence, conviction, communication ability, charisma, [and] maybe even morality or principle." However, Swalwell has none of these, according to Yang, who ran for Mayor of New York City Mayor in 2021 and is currently leading a new political party he founded called the Forward Party. Yang also launched a nonprofit called Humanity Forward after his failed 2020 presidential bid, and began hitting the media circuit on various stations as a contributor and analyst. Yang, while familiar with Swalwell but not super close to him, described Swalwell as "in way over his head" when running for president, and also pointed out that Swalwell's sexual improprieties were an "open secret" within DC and California circles. ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS "I sometimes think of some of the other figures from my presidential primary ‘class,’ many of whom I’m loosely in touch with. I feel like Eric is Icarus from the Greek myths; he flew too close to the sun, and now he’s crashed to Earth," Yang added about Swalwell's ambition for higher office. Yang said he thought the best-case outcome for Swalwell would be that he retains his seat in the House of Representatives, which both Democrats and Republicans have said they want him expelled from, but then loses it a few years down the line when someone is in a strong position to challenge him. Swalwell announced his resignation shortly after the post started spreading on social media. Both Democrats and Republicans supported Swalwell resigning following the fresh allegations of sexual misconduct. Even Swalwell's "best friend in the world," as he described him at an event, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., was forced to walk away from supporting his long-time friend and colleague just a day after he was raked over the coals for supporting him and, as one Democrat strategist put it, running a "smear" campaign to discredit Swalwell's accusers. "The allegations against Congressmember Swalwell are deeply disturbing," California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks said in a statement. When asked whether she had requested Swalwell resign, Pelosi reportedly responded, "Oh, I think that was his decision. I think it's a smart decision to make," according to Politico. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who ran against Swalwell and Yang during the crowded 2020 Democratic primary for president, said she is "glad that [Swalwell] will be gone," adding that "people who are in positions of power and authority over others need to be held accountable when they take advantage of that position." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de046fd8d5dabda395829f Operation Epic Fury shattered Iran’s power, but exposed risks America can’t ignore te 2026-04-14T09:10:07.311Z Operation Epic Fury shattered Iran’s power, but exposed risks America can’t ignore We write this recently returned from Doha, Qatar, where the background sounds of air raid sirens warning of incoming Iranian missiles have thankfully gone quiet. Civilians are no longer being told to take shelter, and Qatar Airways believes the air space is now safe enough to resume commercial flights. As Operation Epic Fury moved into its second month, critics reached consensus: Israel and the United States blundered themselves into a war of choice that has caused unnecessary deaths and spiraling oil prices, all against the prospect of yet another deadly American quagmire like Vietnam and Afghanistan. Despite the emerging media narrative back home, on the Gulf we can see that the U.S.-Israeli military strategy worked. The critics are right that the nation was not adequately prepared for this. Unlike the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the objectives of Operation Epic Fury were never clearly communicated, either to the American people or our allies. MORNING GLORY: PRESIDENT TRUMP LEADS THE WEST TO A BIG WIN AGAINST IRAN Nevertheless, Operation Epic Fury, although uneven and far from perfect, was a success. From a military standpoint, Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles has been greatly depleted. More than 8,000 Iranian military targets have been decimated. Much of its nuclear infrastructure and air defenses, its navy and command architecture, all lay in ruins. While the Iranian regime is fragile but intact, even the harshest critics of Operation Epic Fury must acknowledge that it has been significantly weakened, and that the near 50-year Iranian reign of terror has been greatly diminished. We also saw the precision and skill of our Armed Forces as they snuck into Iran under cover of darkness to successfully rescue a weapons system officer who evaded capture for nearly 48 hours after his plane was shot down. With the pilot of that plane having been rescued quickly, the operation ensured that both crewmembers of that flight made it out of Iran safely. STEVE FORBES: IRAN’S NUCLEAR INSANITY LEAVES AMERICA AND ALLIES NO ROOM TO BLINK Yet by the same token, the war was costly — and not just in terms of precious human lives and property. America’s advanced air and missile defense systems, essential to our seeing the full battlefield space and taking out enemy threats, have likewise been depleted or damaged. Given that this shield is literally the only thing between us and enemy missiles, US decision-makers should consider several lessons learned in the first month of this conflict.  First, the US and its allies are burning through our inventory of interceptors at an unsustainable rate. Given that drones and missiles are clearly our adversaries’ weapons of choice, the US has exhausted hundreds of interceptors in the last year alone in Ukraine and the Middle East. Even if the US stepped up production, our military will still not have the luxury of an unlimited magazine, which means we are going to need to maximize our interceptor inventory in the short-term.  Second, fratricide continues to be a devastating reality. In early March, Central Command confirmed that three US F-15 fighters were inadvertently shot down. Kuwait forces mistook the US jets as incoming Iranian missiles during a barrage of fire, though fortunately all US servicemembers survived. WINNING THE BATTLES, LOSING THE WAR? AMERICA MUST DEFINE THE ENDGAME IN IRAN Third, this friendly-fire incident underscores that both the US and our allies still need a much more complete and instantaneous view of the battlespace. While the focus on foreign military sales has largely been focused on bombs and defensive interceptors, establishing a shared view of the battlefield must remain an investment priority. These lessons point to the importance of modern command-and-control systems and their growing role in modern combat. Simply put, more offensive fires, interceptors, and sensors are insufficient if there is not a way to integrate them across services and domains and with allies. Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, Army Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space, has laid out the appropriate vision, saying "The ability to leverage multiple sensors on the battlefield, have that data fused and managed … and then simultaneously being able to ensure that the right effector is applied against the appropriate threat, in a relevant, meaningful timeframe, is key to what we’re trying to achieve across the globe." IRAN’S NUCLEAR GAMBLE LEAVES AMERICA ONE CHOICE — AND IT CAN'T BE A DEAL In recent years, the U.S. Army has made significant progress on this vision with its highly successful and currently fielded Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). Known as a "plug-and-fight" network, IBCS replaces eight different anti-ballistic missile defense command systems and links radars across thousands of miles to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate range ballistic missiles, including those being used by Iran. Getting more IBCS units into the field should be an imperative for the Department of War. In addition, the Army is rightly pursuing IBCS modernization that will ensure the system can be rapidly moved and/or reconfigured before the enemy can turn it into a target. From both a strategic and operational viewpoints, IBCS makes the American war effort as efficient as possible and directly addresses interceptor scarcity. This while giving the warfighter greater decision time and larger defended area to protect troops and critical military assets. Iran is proving that agility, the ability to be rapidly mobile, will become increasingly critical in today’s warfare. An expensive sitting missile defense system has been a prime target for our enemies, so future modernizations must focus on being adaptive. With the Army’s backing, current contractors can continually advance such technology quickly. Deployment speed and limiting technical risk are key to our defense on the battlefield, especially given the urgent capabilities needs in the Middle East. Finally, for our joint defense over the long haul, however, our allies must make similar investments in allied systems like the Patriot and IBCS. This way, our allies in the Middle East, like UAE, become a force multiplier, making our common defense more efficient and effective. This also directly addresses the priority of greatly reducing incidents of friendly fire for US and coalition forces. A good model is Poland’s Wisla medium-range defense system, the underpinning of its military modernization. The Wisla system integrates Patriot radars and launchers with the advanced command and control capabilities of the American IBCS system, giving Poland a 360-degree defense capability against cruise missiles, aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles. Given the lessons learned from the Iran conflict, it is clear we need a Wisla-like system in Qatar and the other Gulf states. Lives, including our own, literally depend on it. Mark Pfeifle is the former deputy National Security Advisor for strategic communications and global outreach in the George W. Bush White House Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de046ed8d5dabda3958296 Johnson gets reinforcements as GOP swears in new member — but the edge could shrink within days te 2026-04-14T09:10:06.973Z Johnson gets reinforcements as GOP swears in new member — but the edge could shrink within days Relief is on the way for House Speaker Mike Johnson, as the GOP clings to a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. Republican Rep.-elect Clay Fuller of Georgia is expected to be sworn in by Johnson on Tuesday, one week after Fuller defeated Democrat Shawn Harris in a special election to fill the vacant U.S. House seat in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, in the crucial southeastern battleground state. The seat, in northwest Georgia, was left vacant when MAGA firebrand Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stepped down at the beginning of January. Greene quit Congress with a year left in her term, after a bitter falling out with Trump. DEMOCRATS BUILD MOMENTUM, BUT GOP STILL IN DRIVER'S SEAT IN BATTLE FOR SENATE MAJORITY The special election came as Republicans clung to a fragile four-seat majority in the House. The GOP was under the gun to make sure the Democrats didn't pull off an upset in a district that President Donald Trump carried by a whopping 37 points in his 2024 presidential victory. Fuller ended up topping Harris by 12 points. REPUBLICANS WIN BUT DEMOCRATS ALSO CLAIM VICTORY THANKS TO BALLOT BOX SURGE IN TRUMP TERRITORY Pointing to Fuller, Johnson in a statement to Fox News Digital said, "We look forward to welcoming him to our House Republican Conference and adding another strong member to our small but consequential majority." And the Speaker described Fuller, who was a local district attorney and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard who's served in the Air Force since 2009, as "a principled leader who is laser-focused on delivering results for Georgia." Fuller, in an interview last week with Fox News Digital minutes after winning the runoff election, described himself as a "reinforcement" for Johnson and said his victory was "extremely crucial." And referring to Washington, D.C., he said he was looking "forward to getting up there as soon as possible...to being up there and fighting." TRUMP-BACKED WIFE OF RNC CHAIR LAUNCHES CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN AS GOP CLINGS TO HOUSE MAJORITY When Fuller is sworn in, the House Republican conference will stand at 219, which includes Republican-turned-independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, who caucuses with the GOP. But the Democrats may soon boost their ranks by one to 215. Democratic congressional candidate Analilia Mejia is favored in Thursday's special election in New Jersey's left-leaning 11th Congressional District, in the race to fill the seat left vacant when then Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill stepped down late last year after winning election as governor. There's one more vacant seat in Congress, in California's 1st Congressional District, following the unexpected death in early January of Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa. A primary in the race to fill LaMalfa's seat will be held on June 2, which is primary day in California. And the special general election will be held on Aug. 4. The district, in northeastern California, is solidly Republican. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de046ed8d5dabda395828b Undocumented Immigrants Fear Tax Data Will Be Shared With ICE te 2026-04-14T09:10:06.255Z Undocumented Immigrants Fear Tax Data Will Be Shared With ICE Fears that the I.R.S. could share their data with ICE have turned tax season into a gamble for people who are in the country illegally. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de046dd8d5dabda3958282 At a House Republican’s New York Event, Flashes of an Iran Backlash te 2026-04-14T09:10:05.709Z At a House Republican’s New York Event, Flashes of an Iran Backlash Representative Mike Lawler, who is seeking re-election in a swing district in the Hudson Valley, faced tough questions from constituents about his stance on the war in Iran. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de046dd8d5dabda3958279 Trump’s Attacks on Pope Leo Create Fresh Midterm Headaches for G.O.P. te 2026-04-14T09:10:05.372Z Trump’s Attacks on Pope Leo Create Fresh Midterm Headaches for G.O.P. Republicans are counting on the votes of Catholics to maintain control of Congress. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de0469d8d5dabda3958254 Inertia moves to commercialize one of the world’s most elaborate science experiments te 2026-04-14T09:10:01.995Z Inertia moves to commercialize one of the world’s most elaborate science experiments Inertia has signed three agreements with the Lawrence Livermore National Lab, paving the way for the company to bring its pioneering fusion reactor to market. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de0221d8d5dabda3958224 Sen. Shamp Advances Law Ending Early Probation For Child Predators te 2026-04-14T09:00:17.134Z Sen. Shamp Advances Law Ending Early Probation For Child Predators By Ethan Faverino | Arizona Senator Janae Shamp (R-LD29) has successfully advanced protections for Arizona’s children and victims of crime after Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1092 into law. The new legislation eliminates a significant gap in Arizona statutes that previously permitted individuals convicted of dangerous crimes against children to petition the court for early termination of their probation. Under SB 1092, offenders convicted of these serious offenses will now be required to serve the full term of probation originally imposed by the court, with no possibility of early release. The bill ensures that sentences handed down for crimes such as child abuse, sexual conduct with a minor, and child sex trafficking are carried out as intended, without the possibility of early termination of probation. “Victims and families should never have to worry about whether someone who harmed a child will get a break or be released early,” stated Senator Shamp. “This law shuts down a loophole that allowed convicted child predators to ask for early termination of probation, and that is simply wrong. If you commit a dangerous crime against a child, you should serve every day of your sentence, no exceptions, no excuses, and no second chances to cut it short.” The provisions of SB 1092 specifically state that the court may not terminate the period of probation—or intensive probation—earlier than originally imposed if the defendant was convicted of a dangerous crime against children as defined in ARS Section 13-705. This probation applies to both standard probation and intensive probation terms. “Arizona is standing with victims and making it clear that protecting children comes before anything else,” added Shamp. “I have made it my mission to make sex offenders’ lives hell, and I won’t back down.” The law will take effect on or after January 1, 2027. Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link. The post Sen. Shamp Advances Law Ending Early Probation For Child Predators first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de021fd8d5dabda395821b Questions Mount Over Ruben Gallego’s Longstanding Relationship With Eric Swalwell te 2026-04-14T09:00:15.487Z Questions Mount Over Ruben Gallego’s Longstanding Relationship With Eric Swalwell By Matthew Holloway | U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is facing renewed scrutiny over longstanding personal, political, and financial ties to U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) following recent allegations against the California congressman and the subsequent collapse of his gubernatorial campaign. Swalwell suspended his bid for governor of California in a Sunday announcement after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including a former congressional staffer. Swalwell has denied the allegations, which were detailed in reporting published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle. The California Democrat has announced his intent to resign from Congress in a statement released Monday: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress. I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district.” The allegations triggered political fallout within Democratic circles. Gallego, who had previously endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, later revoked that endorsement. Gallego and Swalwell have maintained a close relationship for years, publicly describing each other as close friends and frequently appearing together in political settings during their time in Congress. Their ties extend beyond personal association into financial and campaign-related activity. According to a March report, Gallego invested campaign funds into an artificial intelligence startup launched by a business partner described as a close associate of Swalwell. The report documented that the startup’s leadership included individuals with direct ties to Swalwell, drawing attention to the overlap between political fundraising and private investment activity. The House Committee on Ethics has opened a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, according to an announcement released Monday. The committee stated it has “begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations that Representative Eric Swalwell violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities, with respect to allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision.” Additional attention has come from social media posts by former New York Congressman George Santos, who has highlighted the longstanding relationship between Gallego and Swalwell and suggested further scrutiny may be warranted. In posts on X, Santos pointed to the timeline of alleged incidents and Gallego’s tenure in Congress alongside Swalwell, raising questions about the extent of their association. Santos’ posts have fueled online discussion about Gallego’s association with Swalwell and other members of Congress. When I was in Congress I used to talk to Staff and reporters on the Hill a lot. During that time I learned about the activities taking place in the “cages” which are the storage rooms in the basement of the House office buildings. I reported it to House Admin Chair at the time… — George Santos (@Georgesantos) April 13, 2026 Other political figures, including Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer, have also pointed to Gallego’s past public support for Swalwell in response to the allegations. I’m old enough to remember when @azcentral ran front page headlines last year about unknown “republicans” from the east coast and local young republican ties to those people. Isn’t it weird how they haven’t even reported on Eric Swalwell or Ruben Gallego’s relationship with… pic.twitter.com/HJEvn7Trgb — Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) April 13, 2026 The questions surrounding Gallego’s relationship with Swalwell have also drawn attention from journalists. In a post on X, Yashar Ali wrote, “An important question everyone should be asking: what did Senator Ruben Gallego know and when did he know it?” An important question everyone should be asking: what did Senator Ruben Gallego know and when did he know it? — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) April 12, 2026 Swalwell has previously faced national attention over other controversies, including reported contact with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative earlier in his congressional career. U.S. officials stated at the time that Swalwell was not accused of wrongdoing and cooperated with investigators. Gallego initially appeared to publicly defend Swalwell as allegations emerged, before later distancing himself by withdrawing his endorsement. As of this report, Gallego has not issued a detailed public statement addressing the full scope of his relationship with Swalwell or the financial ties documented in prior reporting. 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 Questions Mount Over Ruben Gallego’s Longstanding Relationship With Eric Swalwell first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69de021dd8d5dabda3958212 Goldwater Report Alleges Arizona Universities Using DEI-Focused Courses To Fulfill Civics Requirement te 2026-04-14T09:00:13.984Z Goldwater Report Alleges Arizona Universities Using DEI-Focused Courses To Fulfill Civics Requirement By Matthew Holloway | A new report from the Goldwater Institute alleges that Arizona’s public universities are not complying with state requirements to provide students with instruction in American civics, history, and economics. The findings follow previous Goldwater reports examining the integration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion content into both honors and American civics courses. The report, titled “Civic Decline: Arizona’s Public Universities Smuggle DEI into Required American Civics Courses,” examines how the state’s three public universities are implementing the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) American Institutions policy within their general education programs. The policy requires universities to incorporate coursework covering key areas of American civics, explicitly stating: “The study of American Institutions will include at minimum (I) how the history of the United States continues to shape the present; (II) the basic principles of American constitutional democracy and how they are applied under a republican form of government; (III) the United States Constitution and major American constitutional debates and developments; (IV) the essential founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of American Institutions of self-governance; (V) landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped law and society; (VI) the civic actions necessary for effective citizenship and civic participation in a self-governing society – for example civil dialog and civil disagreement; and (VII) basic economic knowledge to critically assess public policy options and to inform professional and personal decisions.” The report asserts that some universities are allowing courses outside of traditional civics instruction to satisfy those requirements. At @ASU, students can satisfy civics requirements with courses like: • “Theatre and U.S. Democracy” • “Social Welfare, Work, and Justice in the US” At @NAU: • “Indigenizing Museums” • “Sociology of Chicanx Communities” This isn’t what the law requires. — Goldwater Institute (@GoldwaterInst) April 9, 2026 Timothy Minella, director of higher education policy at the Goldwater Institute and the report’s author, said universities are not meeting the intent of the requirement. “Arizona’s public universities are failing students by allowing niche courses steeped in DEI to satisfy the state’s robust history and civics requirements,” Minella said in a statement released with the report. At Arizona State University, Minella states that courses such as “Anthropology of American Democracy,” “Social Welfare, Work, and Justice in the US,” and “Theatre and U.S. Democracy” are being used to meet civics requirements. He argues that the first course, “ ‘Anthropology of American Democracy,’ fails to meet AMIT requirements and instead centers on the claim that American society oppresses certain groups.” “The syllabus states that the course ‘emphasizes the relationship between personal narratives and broader historical forces, highlighting how belonging, rights, and obligations are experienced differently across diverse social, racial, and cultural contexts.’ …  In the list of required readings for the course, there are only two that could plausibly be considered ‘founding documents’: the U.S. Constitution (which appears in only one section of the course) and the Declaration of Sentiments from the Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention. Almost every other reading comes from specialized anthropological studies, including ‘I’m American, not Japanese!: The Struggle for Racial Citizenship among Later-Generation Japanese Americans’ and ‘Replicate, Facilitate, Disseminate: The Micropolitics of U.S. Democracy Promotion in Bolivia.’ Revealing the course’s leftist orientation, one module covers ‘anthropology’s role in American Empire Building,’ requiring students to read excerpts from Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World.” At Northern Arizona University, Minella’s report identifies courses such as “Sociology of Chicanx and Latinx Communities” and “Indigenizing Museums and the Art World” as qualifying for civics and history requirements. The report also alleges that the University of Arizona has failed to implement the American Institutions policy. Minella wrote, “In utter defiance of ABOR’s directive, the University of Arizona (UA) has so far failed to implement AMIT at all. UA’s plan to integrate AMIT into general education has been mired in delays and troubling protocols.” In December 2025, Mark Stegeman, an associate professor of economics at the University of Arizona, warned the university was failing to implement a civics program in accordance with the ABOR mandate, describing the U of A proposal for a single 3-unit course as “a car crash in the making.” The report recommends that state lawmakers take action if universities do not fully comply with the policy. Arizona’s honors colleges have been HIJACKED by activist faculty. Our new report shows how bad it has gotten. Honors students are being required to take courses like: – “Eating the Globe: The Diverse, Weird, and Queer Food Politics” – Readings on “Compulsory Heterosexuality and… — Goldwater Institute (@GoldwaterInst) March 12, 2026 The findings follow a separate March report from the Goldwater Institute examining honors colleges at Arizona public universities, including Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, and the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona, and the integration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into honors programs and American civics courses. The Civic Decline report is available on the Goldwater Institute’s website. 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 Goldwater Report Alleges Arizona Universities Using DEI-Focused Courses To Fulfill Civics Requirement first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef5cd8d5dabda3957db9 Lady Wildcats place ninth at invitational te 2026-04-14T07:40:12.395Z Lady Wildcats place ninth at invitational By Greg Perkins The Wildcats joined over 20 teams at the 5th Annual Bubba Nielsen meet hosted by Payson on Friday. Snowflake easily won both divisions but the Lady Wildcats finished ninth overall with 22 team points. The boys team did not score any team points.  In the boys 100-meter, Maximus Bennally was 51st with a time of 13.38.  In the 200-meter, William Grant placed 22nd with a time of 25.73. Maximus Bennally placed 51st.  In the 400-meter, Wiliam Grant finished 10th with a time of 56.01. Noah Edwards finished 32nd.  In the 800-meter, Noah Edwards placed 43rd with a time of 2:35.43. Jimmy McLaws was 51st.  In the 1600-meter, Noah Edwards placed 21st with a time of 5:21.92. Brayden Bushman was 39th and Jimmy McLaws placed 40th.  In the 3200-meter run, Jimmy McLaws placed 18th with a time of 13:38.97. In the 300-meter hurdles, Brayden Bushman was 22nd with a time of 51.32.  In the shot put, Catrell Thomas placed 49th with a toss of 21-11. In the discus he finished 37th with a throw of 61-09.  In the long jump, Brayden Bushman placed 30th with a distance of 14-03.5. In the girls 100-meter, Gianna Brawley was 11th with a time of 13.92. Julianna Fraley placed 45th, Tori Beatty was 51st and Rylnn Young was 61st.  In the 200-meter, Gianna Brawley finished eighth overall with a time of 29.17. Peyton Bushman was 13th and Julianna Fraley finished 23rd.  In the 400-meter, Kim Iverson was 21st with a time of 1:17.72. Katie Baxter placed 34th.  In the 800-meter run, Karly Hansen placed eighth with a time of 2:45.27. She also placed eighth in the 1600-meter run with a time of 6:01.78.  In the 3200-meter run, Lileah Kinlicheenie was fifth with a time of 14:07.27.  Avril Coronado, Petyon Bushman, Julianna Fraley and Gianna Brawley combined to place eighth in the 4×100 meter relay with a time of 56.13.  In the 4×800-meter relay, Melody Miller, Lileah Kinlicheenie, Lena Linzmajer and Karly Hansen finished fifth with a time of 11:37.33. In the shot put, Tori Beatty placed 14th with a toss of 27-01. Brichelle Brawley was 17th, Kaci Palmer 30th and Kathleen Gardner finished 42nd.  In the discus, Brichelle Brawley was 37th with a throw of 53-08. Kathleen Gardner placed 40th, Shannon Baxter was 42nd and Liberty Rodriguez was 45th.  In the high jump, Kaci Palmer placed seventh with a height of 4-08.  In the long jump, Peyton Bushman captured first place with a distance of 16-02.25.  In the triple jump, Gianna Brawley finished ninth covering a distance of 31-02.25.  This week the Wildcat teams will compete in Show Low on Friday at the Cougar Classic. The post Lady Wildcats place ninth at invitational first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef5cd8d5dabda3957db0 Lobos crush the Bulldogs with an 11-1 victory te 2026-04-14T07:40:12.057Z Lobos crush the Bulldogs with an 11-1 victory By Greg Perkins The Lobos won their only regular season game played last week with an 11-1 region win over Winslow on Tuesday. Thursday through Saturday they competed in the Epic Tourneys Baseball Classic hosted by Horizon Honors, where they went 1-2 in three games reported.  Snowflake and Winslow were scoreless through the first two innings on Tuesday. The Lobos opened the scoring with a 5-run third inning. Winslow scored their only run in the top of the fourth. Snowflake scored another 5 in the fifth, then ended the game under the mercy rule with a single run in the sixth.  Maverick Greer had a good day at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a triple and a double. Edge Bryant also tripled in his 2 for 4 day. Graham Bawden was 2 for 3; Curtis Hollom, 1 for 3; Kasen Rogers, 1 for 3; Kyler Matthews, 1 for 4; Jaxon Merrill, 1 for 3; and Daxon Wahl went 2 for 3.  Hollom pitched all six innings on the hill, giving up just the 1 run on 3 hits with 13 strikeouts and no walks.  Thursday’s tournament game played at Indian School Park saw the Lobos defeat San Tan Charter 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel. Snowflake scored the only run of the game in the top of the fifth inning.  On Friday Snowflake fell to Mission College Prep (CA) by a final of 3-10. The Lobos trailed just 3-4 through four innings, but in the bottom of the fifth the Royals scored 6 runs to pull away for the win. Saturday, Snowflake faced Hozho, from Gallup N.M., and fell 2-5 in a close game. The Wolves scored 2 runs in the second, then added their final 3 runs in the third to lead 5-0. Snowflake cut into the lead with a single run in the fourth and again with a single run in the sixth, but that was as close as they would get.  This week Snowflake will play three times. Tuesday, they host Alchesay then Thursday, the Falcons visit Snowflake. Friday, the Lobos travel to face Winslow. The Lobos were ranked 12th in the 3A rankings entering this week with an 8-4 regular season record. Overall, they are 10-7-1. The post Lobos crush the Bulldogs with an 11-1 victory first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef5bd8d5dabda3957da7 Wildcats fall to the Redskins, 13-4 te 2026-04-14T07:40:11.727Z Wildcats fall to the Redskins, 13-4 By Greg Perkins The Wildcats dropped their only regular season game of the week at St. Johns on Monday, then went 1-1 through the first two days of the Epic Tourney over the weekend.  Monday’s game vs St. Johns looked good for Joseph City through the first inning and a half. After giving up 1 run in the bottom of the first, they scored 4 in the top of the second to briefly hold a 4-1 lead. St. Johns however, had other thoughts. The Redskins scored 6 runs in both the second and third innings, then held the Wildcats without a run the rest of the way in a 13-4 Wildcat loss.  Joseph City finished with just four hits. Colton Larson went 1 for 2. Kase Fish was 1 for 3, JJ Sander 1 for 2 and Cort Miller went 1 for 3.  Cort Miller pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 3 hits with 3 strikeouts and walked one batter. Kyan Larsen allowed 9 runs on 8 hits in 2.1 innings of work with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.  Their first tournament game on Thursday at the Epic Tourney was a 12-0 shutout win over Ganado. The Wildcats scored 1 in the first, added 3 runs in the third, then put the game away with 8 runs in the fourth frame.  At the plate Christian Delgado went 1 for 1, Larsen 1 for 3, Fish 1 for 3, Heston Miller 1 for 2, Justin Gardner 1 for 1 and King Robinson was 1 for 2.  Fish worked all five innings on the hill. He gave up just 1 hit with 11 strikeouts and no walks in an impressive performance.  Friday, the team met up with Window Rock and found themselves on the other side of a shutout. Window Rock won the competitive game 5-0, holding Joseph City to just 1 hit.  This week the Wildcats return to regular season play where they have six games remaining until the postseason. Joseph City enters this week ranked 15th in the 1A rankings and will need to remain inside the top 16 in the rankings in order to qualify for the state tournament.  Joseph City will play at Red Mesa on Tuesday, then host Bagdad on Friday. Next week they wrap up the regular season with a double header vs Greyhills on Monday, followed by a home game with Williams on Wednesday and their final home game vs Ash Fork on Saturday.    Joseph City enters this week with a 5-6 regular season record, and they are 8-8-1 overall. The post Wildcats fall to the Redskins, 13-4 first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef5bd8d5dabda3957d9e Lady Roadrunners down the Yellowjackets, 14-13 te 2026-04-14T07:40:11.178Z Lady Roadrunners down the Yellowjackets, 14-13 By Greg Perkins The Lady Roadrunners played three times last week going 1-2 in those games.  Two of the outcomes were by one run, while the other was mercy rule loss.  Hosting Blue Ridge on Tuesday, Holbrook fell behind 9-2 after two innings, but made it a 9-4 game with 2 in the third. Blue Ridge extended their lead to 13-4 going into the sixth inning and seemingly had the game under control. However, Holbrook took advantage of Blue Ridge errors and hit the ball well scoring 6 runs in the frame but still trailed 13-10 going into the bottom of the seventh.   The Roadrunners got a couple of timely hits and took advantage of some more Blue Ridge errors and eventually won the game 14-13, scoring the final 2 runs with 2 outs in the bottom of the seventh.  Holbrook had just 5 hits in the game, but along with errors by the Yellowjackets those 5 hits were enough to get the job done. Holbrook also had 3 errors.  Jaycee Greer went 1 for 2; Micah Winn, 1 for 1; Elena Philpott, 1 for 4; Heide Bahe, 1 for 4; and Angelica Uranga went 1 for 3.  Gardner pitched the first six innings allowing 13 runs on 16 hits with 1 strikeout.  Philpott worked one inning giving up only 2 hits with a pair of strikeouts.  Hosting Show Low on Thursday, the Cougars jumped out early with eight first inning runs. Holbrook scored twice in the second. Show Low put the game away in five innings with three runs in the fourth and 6 runs in the fifth to win the game 17-3.    The Lady Birds were held to just 4 hits in the loss. Bahe and Alexis Young each went 1 for 2 with a double. Emily Sanchez was 1 for 2, and Greer went 1 for 3.  Philpott worked all five innings in the circle, allowing 17 runs on 19 hits with 1 strikeout and 1 walk.  Hosting Page on Friday afternoon, the Sand Devils scored 3 in the top of the first but didn’t score again until the seventh. Holbrook went scoreless until the fifth, where they picked up 1 run. They tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with 2 runs.  In the top of the seventh Page manufactured the game winning run with a 4-3 win. Holbrook finished with 4 hits.  Leah Gashweseoma went 2 for 3 with a double. Bahe was 1 for 3 with a 2 RBI double. Kentrall John went 1 for 3.  Gardner pitched all seven innings allowing the 4 runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts and no walks.  Holbrook was ranked 13th heading into Friday’s game with 14th ranked Page. They need to finish the season ranked inside the top 16 to host a play-in game. The Lady Roadrunners still have seven games left on their slate with six of the seven played on the road beginning with all three games this week. Monday, they play at St. Johns, Wednesday, they visit Blue Ridge, then Friday, they will make the short trip to Winslow.  Holbrook is 10-7 overall, and 6-4 in regular season games heading into this week. The post Lady Roadrunners down the Yellowjackets, 14-13 first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef5ad8d5dabda3957d95 Bulldogs come away with a dramatic win te 2026-04-14T07:40:10.623Z Bulldogs come away with a dramatic win By K. Conner On April 9, the Winslow Bulldogs hosted the Golden Eagles of Bourgade Catholic Academy from Phoenix in a game that would have the Bulldogs trailing throughout the entire game with a very dramatic conclusion of the game. In the top of the first inning the Golden Eagles would come out swinging, scoring 4 runs. Alexander Guzak would start the scoring with a 2-RBI single, Jeremiah Steuter with an RBI single and Tyson Trijilo would come home on a ground out. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would score 1 run when Aiden Martinez would come home on a ground out. In the top of the second inning the Golden Eagles would score 1 run on a Guzak triple. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would score 2 runs. James Mendoza with an RBI single and Martinez with an RBI single. The third inning would have both teams quickly retiring the side. In the top of the fourth inning the Golden Eagles would score 3 runs all coming in off a 3-RBI triple by Tate Gatson. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would get 2 runs. With a Mendoza RBI single and a Martinez RBI double. In the bottom of the fifth inning the Bulldogs scored 1 run when Ehren Leonard would cross the plate on a ground out. In the top of the sixth inning the Golden Eagles would score 1 run on a Steuter RBI single. In the top of the seventh inning the Golden Eagles would score 2 runs when Santi Dominquez would score on an error and Steuter with an RBI single. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs trailing by 5 runs. Eli Farris would get the crowd on their feet with a 2-RBI single then with two quick outs and the bases loaded Brody Knight would come home on an error leaving the bases still loaded, then Martinez would hit a 3-RBI triple for the win by bringing the sixth run home. The final score was Winslow 12, Bourgade Catholic 11. Winslow had 12 runs on 11 hits with 2 errors. Winslow used four pitchers Jeremias Paddock with 1 strikeout, Mendoza, Farris with 2 strikeouts and Martinez with 1 strikeout. The post Bulldogs come away with a dramatic win first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef5ad8d5dabda3957d8c Roadrunners struggle after straight losses te 2026-04-14T07:40:10.063Z Roadrunners struggle after straight losses By Greg Perkins The Roadrunners struggled at the plate in all three games last week scoring just 1 run in each of the three losses. Tuesday, they fell in Show Low 4-1. Neither team did well at the plate. The first four innings were scoreless. Holbrook got their lone run in the top of the fourth and Show Low scored all 4 of their runs in the bottom of the fourth. Matthias Montijo went 2 for 3 and Hayden Eisele went 2 for 4.  Tildyn Larson pitched six innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits with 7 strikeouts and walked 4 Cougar batters.  Hosting Show Low on Thursday, Holbrook didn’t score their only run until the bottom of the sixth. By then the Cougars had posted 10 runs and went on to win 10-1.  Holbrook had just 3 hits in this game. Ben Eisele went 1 for 3 with a double. Levi Autobee was 1 for 2 and also doubled. Justin Maestas went 1 for 3.  Friday afternoon the Roadrunners played well but still struggled to score in a 3-1 loss to visiting Page. Holbrook scored in the second inning, then held that 1-0 lead until the Sand Devils tied the game in the fifth. Page scored their final two runs in the fifth to win the game by 2. Holbrook had 5 hits in the loss. Larson went 2 for 3. Ben Eisele went 1 for 3 with a double. Autobee was 1 for 2, Troy Francis went 1 for 2, and Montijo went 1 for 3.  Hayden Eisele pitched 5.2 innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits with 7 strikeouts and walked 4. Maestas pitched 1.1 innings allowing just 3 hits.  Holbrook was ranked 32nd heading into Friday’s loss with Page and is more than likely out of the postseason picture unless they can string together at least five wins in their final six games, which would help them climb into the top 24 in the rankings in order to make the play-in games. Holbrook will play at St. Johns on Monday, then will host Blue Ridge in a varsity-only contest on Tuesday afternoon. Thursday, they travel to face the Yellowjackets in Lakeside with the Varsity game scheduled for a 6 p.m. start time.  Holbrook is 8-9 overall and they are 4-6 in regular season games. The post Roadrunners struggle after straight losses first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef59d8d5dabda3957d83 Lady Wildcats dominate over the Cougars, 16-8 te 2026-04-14T07:40:09.721Z Lady Wildcats dominate over the Cougars, 16-8 By Greg Perkins Joseph City won their game over Phoenix Christian on Tuesday, then forfeited a game to Kingman on Saturday last week. Tuesday’s game with the visiting Cougars saw the Lady Cats start a bit slow but in the third inning they took control of the game. Phoenix Christian scored 2 runs in each of the first two innings and led 4-2 going into the third. Joseph City then took the lead for good with a 7-run third inning. They tacked on 2 more in the fourth, 1 in the fifth and 4 final runs in the sixth to win the game 16-8.  With that win and the forfeit loss, the Wildcats’ regular season record moves to 6-3. They were ranked second in 1A prior to Saturday’s forfeit. This week they will travel to take on the top ranked team in 1A in Superior. The Panthers are unbeaten through 10 regular season games and this could potentially be an early preview of a game played deeper in the postseason.  Friday Joseph City returns home to face Bagdad. The post Lady Wildcats dominate over the Cougars, 16-8 first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef59d8d5dabda3957d7a Lady Bulldogs fall to Lady Golden Eagles te 2026-04-14T07:40:09.180Z Lady Bulldogs fall to Lady Golden Eagles By K. Conner On April 9, the Winslow Lady Bulldogs hosted the Lady Golden Eagles of Bourgade Catholic Academy from Phoenix. In the bottom of the second inning the Bulldogs would score 2 runs on a 2-RBI double by Jaylyn Hartman. In the top of the third inning the Golden Eagles would quickly take the lead, scoring 4 runs. Esther Quezada had an RBI single, Taiva Gatson a 2-RBI double and Olivia Quihuis an RBI single. The Lady Bulldogs would get out of the top of the inning with a double-play when shortstop Angela Salazar would throw the ball home to catcher Emily Wilbanks to prevent a run from scoring and she in turn would throw quickly to first baseman Tatum Upshaw preventing the runner from reaching the base. In the top of the fourth inning the Lady Bulldogs again would get out of the inning on a double play when Salazar would tag out the runner on her way to second and then with a run-down Tatum Upshaw would tag out the other runner. In the top of the fifth inning the Golden Eagles would score 3 runs. Quezada would score on an error. Tiany Miranda scored on a passed ball and Brianna Torres scored on an error. In the top of the sixth inning the Golden Eagles would score 1 run when Annleeya Palenceo scored on a wild pitch. In the top of the seventh inning, they would score 2 more runs. Camilia Quinonez scored on an error and Riley Mulstead an RBI single. In the bottom of the seventh the Bulldogs would score 2 runs on a Kendra Ybarra 2-RBI single, for a final score of Bourgade Catholic 10,Winslow 4. Winslow had 4 runs on 10 hits with 4 errors. Winslow used two pitchers, Maci Flores with 6 strikeouts and Madi Breeze. On April 10, the Lady Bulldogs traveled to Whiteriver to face the Alchesay Lady Falcons in a game where the Lady Bulldogs would get a large lead early and keep it throughout ending the game in just four innings. In the top first inning the Bulldogs would score 16 runs. The scoring would start when Jewel Ben and Salazar would each come home on passed balls, Tatum Upshaw had an RBI single and would score on a ground out, Amatiel Gonzales scored on a passed ball, Ben an RBI single, Kassius Cody a 3-RBI double, Gonzales an RBI triple, Wilbanks an RBI triple, Livia Palfy an RBI triple and Hartman an RBI double. The Lady Bulldogs would also get 2 unearned runs. In the bottom of the inning the Falcons would get on the board when Danil Joe would score on an error. In the top of the second inning the Bulldogs would score 3 runs. A solo home run by Ben, a Tatum Upshaw RBI single and 1 unearned run. In the top of the third inning Coach Quinton Hayes would sub in batters and move around players and subs in the field. The Bulldogs would score 8 runs. Kendra Ybarra with an RBI double, Cody an RBI single, Tatum Upshaw an RBI single, Gonzales an RBI single, Wilbanks an RBI double, Bailey Upshaw an RBI single, Gigi Vasquez an RBI single and Salazar an RBI single. In the bottom of the inning the Falcons would score 3 runs. Santiana Colelay an RBI double and Tra’nasha Truax a 2-RBI single. The final score was Winslow 27, Alchesay 4. Winslow used two pitchers Madi Breeze with 1 strikeout and Ybarra with 4 strikeouts. The post Lady Bulldogs fall to Lady Golden Eagles first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddef58d8d5dabda3957d71 Lady Lobos earn a pair of wins te 2026-04-14T07:40:08.631Z Lady Lobos earn a pair of wins By Greg Perkins Snowflake earned a pair of region wins last week before stepping out of the region where they took a home field loss to Valley Christian on Friday.  Their week started on Tuesday with a hard fought 5-2 home field win over Winslow. Snowflake scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first but didn’t score again until the sixth frame with their 2 final runs. Snowflake did hold the Bulldogs without a run until the top of the sixth where they also scored twice.  Kelsey Scarbrough homered with 2 of those RBIs. Kloe Burden went 1 for 3 with a triple. Lyla Craner was 1 for 1, Brooklynn Lovingood went 2 for 3, Addie Coor 1 for 3, Riley Perkins 2 for 4, Paisley Solomon 1 for 3 and Brittyn Butler was 1 for 2.  Kashlynn Cantrell worked all seven frames in the circle giving up just the 2 runs on 4 hits with 11 strikeouts and only 1 walk.  Playing in St. Johns on Thursday, the Lobos played solid through five innings leading 5-0, but in the top of the sixth they exploded for 8 additional runs, ending the game early with a 13-0 win over the Redskins.  Cantrell and the defense behind her had another good day. She allowed only 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk.  At the plate Scarbrough went 2 for 3 with a home run and a double. Kinslee Claridge was 3 for 4 with a double. Cantrell went 3 for 5 with a double. Lovingood went 2 for 4 with a double. Brodie Cates was 1 for 3, Riley Perkins 1 for 3, Burden 1 for 2, and Coor went 1 for 3.  Friday the eighth ranked Lobos hosted the fourth ranked Trojans from Valley Christian. The Trojans built an early lead with 3 runs in each of the first two innings. They added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and led 9-0 before Snowflake scored their only 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Valley Christian tacked on one final run in the seventh to win the game 10-2.  Snowflake was held to just three hits in the loss. Kelsey Scarbrough went 2 for 3 and Kashlynn Cantrell went 1 for 3.  Cantrell pitched all seven innings, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits with 4 strikeouts and walked 3.  Snowflake enters this week with a regular season mark of 9-2. They are 12-9 overall. This week they play at Show Low on Tuesday, then will travel to Chinle on Thursday. Five of their final six games will be on the road over the next two weeks of the regular season. Their only home game in that stretch will be next Thursday when they host Blue Ridge. The post Lady Lobos earn a pair of wins first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dded04d8d5dabda3957d02 Federal plan to divide drought-stricken Colorado River water brings flood of pushback te 2026-04-14T07:30:12.398Z Federal plan to divide drought-stricken Colorado River water brings flood of pushback Photo by Christopher Clark/Bureau of Reclamation Lake Mead water levels behind the Hoover Dam in July 2022 show the effect of long-term drought. By Natalie Ogami Cronkite News WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation has been flooded with comments on its plan for dividing the Colorado River’s dwindling supply of water – over 18,000 from the states, cities, tribal nations, industry groups and others that rely on it. Few are happy about the plan. Most are very unhappy. “The Colorado River reservoir system cannot be stabilized simply by reallocating scarcity,” The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund and other groups wrote in one comment, criticizing the plan for focusing on emergency measures rather than conservation and planning. Arizona and six other states that rely on the river missed deadlines in November and February to find agreement on their own. Under the Draft Environmental Impact Statement issued in January, the federal government will impose sharp cuts to many users if the states fail to reach a deal by October divvying up the river. Mandatory cuts would fall most heavily on Arizona under each of five options in the plan, with cuts ranging as high as 58% for Arizona and 46% for Nevada. Upper Basin states would largely avoid mandatory cuts in their share of river water because, unlike downstream states, they don’t rely on releases from reservoirs. Lower Basin states – Arizona, in particular – argue that the federal plan fails to take into account previous voluntary cuts they have made, while leaving upstream states unscathed. “The Draft EIS fails to contemplate any water use reductions in the Upper Basin, and in fact assumes that the Upper Basin water uses will increase,” Thomas Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, wrote in a comment on file with the bureau. “As a result, the effects of the proposed alternatives fall disproportionately on the Lower Basin.” But Upper Basin states – Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – also oppose the plan, saying it ignores impacts of releasing water stored in their part of the basin and the fact that in times of drought, they already face scarcity from diminishing snowpack. Jeffrey Woodruff, chair of the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners in Aspen, Colo., urged the Bureau of Reclamation to revise its draft to reflect the growing disparities between supply and demand for the river’s water. He also urged the board to go further to protect Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir behind Lake Mead, downstream. The plan’s “focus on predictability disproportionately favors Lower Basin users who rely on reservoir releases, while Upper Basin communities live with hydrologic variability and limited storage buffering,” Woodruff said. The river starts in Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado, flowing 1,450 miles to the Gulf of California across the Mexican border, with 15 dams along the way. The biggest are the Hoover Dam, which creates Lake Mead, and Glen Canyon Dam, which creates Lake Powell. Across the Southwest, demand for water has grown steadily despite a prolonged drought that has pushed down reservoir levels sharply. In 2023, the states struck a temporary agreement that expires on Dec. 31, 2026, aimed at preserving river flows. Lower Basin states, arguing that they have cut usage the most, have pushed for a new deal that includes mandatory cuts for Upper Basin states. Officials in the Upper Basin states reject mandatory cuts, though they have conceded that more conservation measures are needed. Cronkite News reviewed hundreds of comments. In over 12,000 form letters, elected officials, non-governmental organizations and tribes expressed their concern over the dramatic cuts proposed by the federal government, citing the impact on business and municipalities and fear of uncertainty. According to the Central Arizona Project – which operates a system of canals that distribute river water across the state – the federal proposal would be a “crushing blow.” CAP distributes 1.5 million acre-feet of river water and serves four out of five Arizonans. The federal plan could mean cuts of up to 77% to its allowance from the river. In lobbying the Trump administration, Gov. Katie Hobbs has emphasized how important water is to Arizona’s huge semiconductor industry, which the president views as a top priority. CAP echoed that approach in its comments, noting that “the waters of the Colorado River are foundational to the economy and people of Central and Southern Arizona, supporting 6 million Arizonans, many tribal communities, a thriving advanced microchip manufacturing industry, and critical mineral and agricultural production.” “Water users in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima County who receive CAP water, that includes tribes, cities and industries, will all experience cuts if the cuts get very deep,” Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, said in an interview. The draft is a rare issue that has unified Democrats and Republicans in the Arizona congressional delegation. “The upcoming decisions that will be made by the Secretary will be felt in the West for generations,” Arizona’s six House Republicans wrote to the bureau, a part of the Department of the Interior that has managed water in 17 western states since 1902. “The alternatives currently being proposed in the DEIS impose all the required cuts exclusively on the Lower Basin … even though the Lower Basin has 75% of the total Basin population, 75% of the economy, 76% of the jobs, and 78% of the crop sales.” Arizona Democrats in Congress called the proposals “an unsustainable distribution of reductions and responsibilities across the Basin States” that would put Arizona residents in harm’s way. The Colorado River Compact of 1922 divided rights to the river between the Upper and Lower Basin states, with each entitled to 7.5 million acre-feet – enough to cover that many acres to a depth of 1 foot. That seemed ample at the time, when 18 million acre-feet were available. But decades of drought and warmer temperatures have caused the supply to shrink. In 2025, the flow was down to roughly 8.5 million acre-feet, according to Bureau of Reclamation data. Mandatory cuts were imposed. Arizona gave up 512,000 acre-feet for the year, out of the 2.8 million it is entitled to under the 1928 Boulder Canyon Act, which ratified the compact and set state-specific allocations. Eric South, chairman of the Coalition of Local Governments, which represents county commissions in Wyoming and Utah, argued for more generous allocations for upstream states because they have consistently drawn far less water than they were entitled to under compacts dating back a century – up to 4 million acre-feet less. “These past and current efforts should not be ignored in developing the post-2026 operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead,” he wrote. The comment period ended on March 2. The Bureau of Reclamation will publish a final version later this year that could include changes in how the water is shared. Cuts imposed under the federal plan would be imposed on a “priority” basis, in consultation with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and CAP. Within CAP’s service area, tribes have the highest priority, followed by cities. Non-tribal agriculture is among the lowest priority and would feel the largest impacts. In Yuma County, which produces most of the nation’s winter vegetables, river water is the backbone of a multibillion-dollar agricultural sector. The county consumes 8% of the Colorado River basin’s irrigation water, yet it generates 18% of the basin’s crop sales. Yuma farms generate nearly $4 billion in annual sales, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau. “The impacts of water reductions to Yuma would be especially severe,” wrote Ben Horwich, an attorney for four Yuma-area irrigation districts. Agriculture comprises approximately two-thirds of Yuma’s economy, and the federal proposal doesn’t adequately take into account the impact of water disruptions, he argued. While Yuma’s rights to the water are protected with Present Perfected Rights under the 1922 compact, they could still be impacted by the cuts and water unavailability despite having greater protection from typical shortages. Arizona’s mining industry has also pushed back against the federal plan, arguing it threatens high-tech manufacturing and reminding the bureau that roughly 70% of copper produced domestically comes from the Copper State. Copper is used for electricity generation and transmission, defense systems and advanced manufacturing. Freeport-McMoRan, which mines copper at five Arizona sites, warned federal regulators that its operations need reliable, predictable water supplies. “Copper mining, concentrating, leaching, and smelting are water intensive, continuous flow industrial processes. Significant, unplanned reductions in water deliveries cannot be absorbed simply by incremental efficiency measures; they can force curtailments or shutdowns,” wrote Francis McAllister, Freeport-McMoRan’s vice president of energy, land and water. The post Federal plan to divide drought-stricken Colorado River water brings flood of pushback first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dded04d8d5dabda3957cf9 Meet and greet Friday for superintendent candidates te 2026-04-14T07:30:12.066Z Meet and greet Friday for superintendent candidates Joseph City School District invites all staff, families and community members to attend a meet and greet with the finalists for the position of superintendent, followed by a question-and-answer session. The new superintendent will start with the 2026-27 school year. This special event will take place at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17, at the B.G. Bennett Auditorium on the Joseph City High School campus. The evening will begin in the foyer with an opportunity to meet finalists Eric Miller, the current principal at JCHS and Shannon Harvilla, who most recently served as superintendent and federal programs director for the Bristol Bay Borough School District in Alaska. Immediately following the meet and greet, the finalists will participate in a Q&A session in the auditorium. This is an opportunity for the community to engage with the candidates and be part of this important process for the future leadership of Joseph City School District. The post Meet and greet Friday for superintendent candidates first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dded03d8d5dabda3957cf0 Holbrook votes to partially privatize fitness center te 2026-04-14T07:30:11.721Z Holbrook votes to partially privatize fitness center By Shawn White The Holbrook City Council last week approved a partial privatization of the city-owned fitness center and will be co-operated by Specialized Exercise Professionals, LLC. Owner Dr. Morgan Black who also owns In Motion Physical Therapy in Holbrook plans on keeping the prices the same as they are currently and offering more options for classes and physical training. After months of growing usage and complaints about overcrowding and maintenance, the council voted to turn over day-to-day operations of the city fitness center to the private operator under a one-year agreement. City Manager Randy Sullivan told council members the facility had reached a point where staff could no longer keep up. “For city staff, the fitness center has outgrown itself in our capabilities,” Sullivan said, framing the move not as a cost-cutting measure but as a response to rising demand. Under the agreement, the city will split revenues and expenses with the Black’s while maintaining ownership of the building and equipment. Membership fees will remain at $20 per month, at least initially, while Black will be allowed to introduce additional services such as classes to generate new revenue. Council members described the current situation as unsustainable, with reports of worn equipment, lack of supervision and heavy use particularly after hours. Black told the council that the goal is not simply to run the gym but “to improve overall community health.” The agreement reflects a calculated risk: the city will give up some direct revenue in exchange for improved service and potential growth. Mayor Kathleen Smith said that the city took in $50,000 from fees at the fitness center and that could go down to $25,000 with the revenue split. Sullivan made clear the first year will function as a trial period, with frequent check-ins to evaluate performance and adjust operations. The council heard a presentation from Rikki and Corey Johnson from the “Giving Machine” initiative announced that local donations during the holiday season generated more than $16,000 for the Holbrook Emergency Food Bank but emphasized that the real impact is measured in meals, supplies and basic necessities delivered to families. Rather than presenting a single check, the group detailed how contributions translated into tangible aid, from hundreds of meal kits to tens of thousands of bottles of drinking water. The scale of support underscored both the generosity of the community and the ongoing need. “Holbrook brought in $16,040 for the charity,” Corey said, drawing applause from the room. He described the program as a way to connect donors directly with outcomes, allowing people to purchase specific items like food packages or household staples that are then distributed locally. In sharing stories from the effort, they highlighted moments of quiet gratitude from recipients, reinforcing how deeply the donations are felt in the community. The presentation served as a reminder of the role local organizations play in filling gaps particularly in rural areas where access to consistent food resources can be limited. Later in the meeting, council members began working through a proposed ordinance aimed at closing a gap in the city’s animal control laws. The proposed change would expand the definition of a dog attack to include incidents where no skin is broken something animal control officers say is critical for addressing repeat aggressive behavior before it escalates. Currently, officers have limited options in those situations, often issuing only minor citations even in cases where residents are chased or knocked down. Smigiel told the council that those limitations have led to frustration for both victims and enforcement. “You don’t know you have a problem until it happens,” Animal Control Supervisor Brandon Smigiel, said, describing a series of recent incidents that exposed the shortcomings of the existing ordinance. In one case, a resident was pulled off a bicycle and bitten but because the skin was not broken, the response was limited to a fine. In others, individuals were chased for blocks with no meaningful consequences for the dog’s owner. The proposed ordinance would allow those cases to be treated more seriously, potentially requiring court appearances and giving judges more authority to intervene. Smigiel argued that the change would help prevent more severe attacks by addressing warning signs earlier. At the same time, council members carefully debated how to balance enforcement with fairness, raising concerns about situations where dogs might be provoked or acting defensively. Smigiel emphasized that enforcement would still rely on context and officer discretion. “A reasonable person would feel threatened by that,” Smigiel said, explaining how the new language is designed to account for real-world situations without criminalizing normal behavior. The ordinance received its first reading, with additional revisions, potentially including language addressing provocation, expected before a final next month’s regular meeting vote. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office had its annual presentation before the council to highlight both the scale of its operations and the increasing reliance on specialized tools and partnerships to keep pace with crime across the region. Chief Deputy Randy Moffett, who delivered most of the presentation, outlined a year that included roughly 15,000 dispatch events, more than 34,000 calls for service and major drug seizures, including more than 533,000 fentanyl pills. He pointed to the growing impact of the department’s aviation unit, describing a recent case where a suspect who fled into the forest was located within minutes once a helicopter was deployed, a search that would have otherwise taken hours. Sheriff David Clouse also spoke and framed those efforts within the broader relationship between county and local agencies, emphasizing that deputies routinely back up Holbrook officers during overnight hours and collaborate through shared services like dispatch and records systems. The council also heard a presentation from Navajo County Public Health District Deputy Director Cierra Hensley who encouraged residents to participate in the county’s 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment Survey, describing it as a foundational tool for directing resources and shaping long-term policy. The survey, conducted every three years, gathers input on issues such as mental health, substance use, access to care and social factors like housing and transportation. Hensley said the results are used not only to identify priorities but also to strengthen grant applications and fulfill requirements for local hospitals, making community participation essential to securing funding and services. She emphasized that the data ultimately guides coordinated efforts among public health agencies, healthcare providers and local governments, with the goal of improving both quality of life and economic stability across the county. During the meeting the board also appointed Administrative Assistant Jacquelyn Dewyer as deputy city clerk as Clerk Lisa Hunt nears retirement. Holbrook resident Twyla Taylor spoke during call to the public and updated the council on efforts to promote the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Taylor told the council she is working to have a large bench with a Route 66 shield on the back and an arch over the top that says ‘Holbrook, Arizona’ with a sign next to it stating “Come sit on the corner of Route 66 with us” to be placed at Gillespie Park. She indicated that she believed this would be a big tourist draw. “There would be no cost to the city, NPC (Northland Pioneer College) has 4×4’s and it will be metal with metal posts.” She noted that the bench would be metal frame with a wooden seat and back. Sandy Johnson went before the council to inform those present regarding her position with Healthy Families, working to educate pregnant women and moms until their children are five. A monthly class will be set up for moms at the Holbrook Senior Citizens Center, teaching moms how to do massage and bonding. All services are at no cost. The meeting concluded with the council going into executive session with Attorney David Brown, as well as discussion pertaining to a lawsuit, Kristin Mayes vs. Fondomonte Arizona, LLC., pertaining to water rights issues. No action was taken on the matters. In other business, the council: *Approved proclamation in support of fair housing and declaring April as Happy Holbrook Month. *Reauthorized multi-agency agreement to allow Holbrook Police, Fire and EMS Departments to coordinate with other local emergency response groups including Joseph City Fire District, Winslow Fire Department, Winslow Police Department, Action Medical, Sun Valley Fire Department, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Navajo County Emergency Management, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Safety, Arizona State Fire Marshal, Guardian Air, Native Air, Tri R Towing, Puerco Valley Fire District and Blue Ridge Fire District. *Approved intergovernmental agreement with White Mountain Search and Rescue to share mutual aid resources at an annual cost of $3,500. *Approved a fog seal for the golf course road at a cost of $19,905. The post Holbrook votes to partially privatize fitness center first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dded03d8d5dabda3957ce7 Winslow teachers squash rumor at board meeting te 2026-04-14T07:30:11.179Z Winslow teachers squash rumor at board meeting By Shawn White A rumor circulating among staff at Winslow Junior High School and the confusion and fallout that followed took center stage during call to the public at the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board meeting on April 8, where three educators addressed the issue publicly, including one who took responsibility and issued an apology. During call to the public, Drew Luzier, an eighth grade social studies teacher, was the first to speak, pushing back directly against claims that a recent staff presentation involving Winslow Junior High School Principal Travis Dooley contained inappropriate material. Luzier told the board he had been present at the meeting in question and described the rumor as “categorically false,” explaining that the presentation had been part of an effort to lighten the mood following a difficult administrative decision not to fill a soon to be vacant assistant principal position. Dooley, who recently stepped into the principal role following the death of former principal Deb Lopez after a battle with cancer, “conducted himself with composure and professionalism throughout this entire episode,” Luzier said, adding that the spread of misinformation had unfairly undermined his credibility. Carlos Guerrero, an eighth grade algebra teacher, followed with a similar message, emphasizing how quickly misinformation can spread in a small community like Winslow. Guerrero said he was also present at the meeting and that the administration acted professionally, warning that rumors like the one circulating could have “major repercussions.” He urged staff to verify information before repeating it, noting that unverified claims can cause unnecessary harm and division. The situation culminated in a public apology from Tiffany Kolomitz, a first year English language arts teacher at the junior high, who acknowledged that her own presentation on March 27, had contributed to the misunderstanding. Kolomitz said she included an image intended to help staff process change and move forward following the administrative decision but failed to consider how it might be interpreted or to have it reviewed beforehand. “I unintentionally upset my colleagues… I take full responsibility for that oversight,” Kolomitz said, adding that the image was not meant to introduce politics or offend anyone but rather to support staff during a difficult moment. She said she is committed to rebuilding trust and being more thoughtful in future communication. Board members did not respond to the comments, in accordance with public comment rules. Following the public comment period, the board moved into its regular agenda, beginning with a series of recognitions honoring staff for their work across the district. Larry Oso, a district transportation employee, was praised for his reliability in covering routes, assisting in the shop and helping keep vehicles safe and operational, while March’s certified Employee of the Month, Jerron Jordan, was recognized for fostering a classroom culture built on respect, responsibility and kindness. Substitute teacher Susan Saint Germain was also honored as Substitute of the Quarter, noted for her consistency and strong relationships with students. The board then unanimously approved the consent agenda before moving into old business, where members signed off on a new U.S. history textbook for Winslow High School that had been on public display since January. Board members said the book was well organized and thorough prior to approval. The board also approved new curriculum for Navajo Language I and II courses, which had been available for review since February. In new business, the board approved its annual agreement with the Navajo County Special Services Consortium for the 2026–27 school year, continuing services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language support for special education students. In the superintendent’s report, Superintendent Dr. Amber Martinez, thanked staff for their work during the testing season and highlighted upcoming events, including a Winslow High School theater production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” and the district’s second annual Diné language competition scheduled for April 23. Board members closed the meeting with brief remarks recognizing staff efforts as the school year nears its end, along with updates on spring sports, graduation preparations and a call for volunteers and donations for an upcoming track meet hospitality room. The board announced its next meeting for April 22 before entering executive session. The meeting later adjourned after returning to open session with no additional action reported. In other business, the board: * Approved hiring Emmanuel Bollin and Ciara Garcia as bus drivers. * Approved the resignation of Zachary Atchison, a paraprofessional. * Approved a retire/return to work order for Bryan Larson. * Approved transferring Kylee Allen from substitute to special needs teacher and Stephanie Westover from paraprofessional to focus zone paraprofessional. * Approved summer work for Camelia James. * Approved the following fundraisers: Student council, concession at glow dance, face painting and photo booth; Drama Club, ‘Peter and the Starcatcher Play’; and Yearbook Club, the sale of Arizona Green Tea and Otter Pops. The post Winslow teachers squash rumor at board meeting first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dded02d8d5dabda3957cde Roadrunners take part in Payson invitational te 2026-04-14T07:30:10.836Z Roadrunners take part in Payson invitational By Greg Perkins Holbrook’s boys’ team placed 10th out of 22 teams at the 5th Annual Bubba Nielsen track meet held on Friday in Payson. The Roadrunners finished with 23 points.  In the boys 100-meter Ray-Sean Morris finished 50th with a time of 13.38. He finished 43rd in the 200-meter event with a time of 27.16.  In the 400-meter, Anthony Moyte placed 12th with a time of 56.87. Clayton Johnston was 53rd.  In the 800-meter run, Devin Kinlicheenie was seventh with a time of 2:09.37. Anthony Moyte finished 12th, William Nez was 15th and Marcell Haskie placed 47th.  In the 1600-meter run, Ian Masayesva took first place with a time of 4:29.87. Devin Kinlicheenie was eighth and William Nez finished 15th.  In the 3200-meter run Masayesva made it a double, winning this event with a time of 10:05.65. Kymani Dosedo placed 23rd.  In the girls 100-meter hurdles, DeAna Lee placed 27th with a time of 25.04.  Holbrook will compete in the St. Johns Invitational meet held on Tuesday, then travel to the Cougar Invite hosted by Show Low on Friday. The post Roadrunners take part in Payson invitational first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dded02d8d5dabda3957cd5 Lobos take top spot in Bubba Nielson Invitational te 2026-04-14T07:30:10.290Z Lobos take top spot in Bubba Nielson Invitational By Greg Perkins Snowflake won both divisions of the 5th Annual Bubba Nielsen Invitational track meet hosted by Payson High School on Friday. The boys team finished with 123.5 team points, just ahead of second place Round Valley who had 110.5, and Payson was third with 103 points. The Lady Lobos also won the team crown with 137.33 team points. Show Low followed in second with 111, and Blue Ridge was third with 105.  In the boys 100-meter dash, Christian Smith won the event with a time of 11.10. Otto Mills was sixth, Mason Raban, 17th and Jarrett Bjornn was 18th. In the 200-meter dash, Christian Smith finished second with a time of 22.70. Otto Mills was close behind in third, and Eli Willis placed 11th. In the 400-meter run, Carter Rogers placed eighth with a time of 55.34. Kaige Webb was 24th and Beck Johnson finished 30th.  In the 800-meter, Brayden Bentley placed 22nd in 2:18.31. Scott Brinton was 32nd.  In the 1600-meter, Talmage Flake was 23rd with a time of 5:25.31.Scott Brinton was 24th and Eli Hargrave 25th.  In the 3200-meter, Talmage Flake placed seventh with a time of 12:32.01. Dean Rhoton was 14th, Eli Hargrave was 19th and Grayson Wells 20th.  In the 110-meter hurdles, Seth Lancaster crossed the line first with a time of 16.07. Corwin Larson was third, Colter Willis was fourth and Levi LaDuke was 21st.  In the 300-meter hurdles, Seth Lancaster finished sixth with a time of 42.76. Corwin Larsen was right behind in seventh, and Colter Willis was 15th. Snowflake finished third in the 4×100 meter relay with Jarrett Bjornn, Masan Raban, Eli Willis and Otto Mills running a time of 43.92. They also finished third in the 4×400 meter relay. Carter Rogers, Seth Lancaster, Otto Mills, and Hayydn Nichols finished with a time of 3:34.75.  In the shot put, Ziggy Ulberg was sixth with a toss of 40-00. Jaxon Reidhead was 13th, McCoy Norton was 23rd and Zander Alcantar finished 25th.  In the discus, Ulberg placed seventh with a throw of 120-11. Jaxon Reidhead was ninth, Calvin Hansen was 12th and Jake Hatch finished 19th.  In the javelin, Cody Potter finished second with a distance of 158-08. Colter Willis was fourth, Eli Willis was 10th and Bryce Brimhall 12th.  In the high jump, Calvin Hansen placed sixth, clearing a height of 5-08. Rhett Hipps was 11th, Hayydn Nichols was 12th and Graham Rogers was 21st.  In the pole vault, Greg Wegleitner was third, getting up and over the bar at 13-00. Seth Lancaster was fifth and Hayydn Nichols placed eighth.  In the long jump, Eli Willis placed second with a distance of 19-06.5. Beck Johnson was sixth and Jacob VanVleet was ninth. In the triple jump, Cody Potter placed second overall, covering a distance of 39-11.75. Rhett Hipps was third and Jacob VanVleet finished ninth.  In the girls 100-meter dash, Jayci Ballard placed first with a time of 12.71, Kimee Johnson was 13th, and Addie Martin was 15th. Ballard also won the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.32. In the 400-meter dash, Kinzie Flake was third with a time of 1:04.11. Emree Mowers placed fourth, Kimee Johnson was fifth and Macy Hansen was 10th.  In the 800-meter, Grace Prestwich was fifth with a time of 2:43.03. Mallory Caldwell finished ninth, Hadley Flake was 11th and Alaina Johnson was 30th.  In the 1600-meter, Mallory Caldwell placed seventh in 6:01.56. Grace Prestwich was ninth and Brielle Reidhead was 34th.  In the 100-meter hurdles, Jayci Ballard won her third event of the meet with a time of 15.44. Ryah Denhalter was fourth and Brooklyn Davis finished fifth.  Ballard made it four for four by winning the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 44.15. Brooklyn Davis was third.  In the 4×100 meter relay, Addie Martin, Kimee Johnson, Kinzie Flake and Amry Cardon placed fourth with a time of 53.40. In the 4×400-meter relay, Kinzie Flake, Kimee Johnson, Emree Mowers and Macy Hansen finished third with a time of 4:26.20. In the shot put, Mairead Stradling was second with a toss of 33-08. Ryah Denhalter placed fourth, Josie Clare was sixth and Reagan Hall was 16th.  In the discus, Rebekah Frost was fourth with a throw of 90-11. Klaire Reidhead was seventh, Mairead Stradling was ninth and Moira Stadling finished 19th.  In the javelin, Ada Farnsworth placed eighth with a distance of 87-01. Emree Mowers placed 17th.  In the high jump, Ryah Denhalter placed sixth with a height of 4-10. Josie Clare was seventh and Macy Hansen finished 10th.  In the pole vault, Amry Cardon won the event with a height of 9-00. Leisl Shumway placed eighth, and Raegan Hall was 18th.  In the long jump, Addie Martin was fourth with a distance of 15-06. Amry Cardon placed ninth.  In the triple jump, Ryah Denhalter placed fourth with a distance of 32-01.25. Addie Martin was seventh and Amry Cardon finished 12th.  A handful of Snowflake’s top track athletes competed in the South Pasadena, Calif., High School’s Tiger Invite on Friday as well.  Jacob VanVleet placed 10th in the 100-meter and second in the 200-meter. Gionn Jones won the 4000-meter with a time of 48.93. Conover Pitts was second in the 300-meter hurdles.  Rebecca Ballard placed 39th in the 200-meter with a time of 26.91. Hailey Jones was 16th in the 400-meter run. Bryn Kupfer placed 18th in the 100-meter hurdles and Mariah Tingey was 19th. Ranell West placed second in the shot put.  This week Snowflake’s teams will stay closer to home to compete in the Cougar Invitational hosted by Show Low on Friday. The post Lobos take top spot in Bubba Nielson Invitational first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddeaaad8d5dabda3957c67 Students present ‘Faces of History’ te 2026-04-14T07:20:10.148Z Students present ‘Faces of History’ Photo by Shawn White Classical Conversations, a Christ-centered homeschool community in Holbrook held its annual “Faces of History” presentations last week, blending writing, performance and storytelling. Over the course of the academic year, students selected historical figures and developed research papers which become the foundation for a final presentation delivered entirely in character, with students dressing in costume and speaking from a first-person perspective. Pictured are (left to right) Essentials tutor Brigette Brimhall, Clare Bonefield, Jessie Jolley, Kimber Lee, Cooper Bonefield and Liam Brimhall. The post Students present ‘Faces of History’ first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddeaa9d8d5dabda3957c5e La Posada te 2026-04-14T07:20:09.824Z La Posada Photo courtesy of La Posada Hotel With exceptionally warm temperatures, the staff at La Posada Hotel in Winslow has gone into spring project mode including replacing the wood slats in the beautiful entry bridge made by local artist John Suttman several years ago. In addition to its beautiful grounds and rooms, the hotel includes the Turquoise Room and gift shop. The post La Posada first appeared on Painted Desert Tribune. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddd35fd8d5dabda39577e7 Phoenix police investigate violent group assault on teenage girl near light rail stop te 2026-04-14T05:40:47.637Z Phoenix police investigate violent group assault on teenage girl near light rail stop A high school student is recovering from being hospitalized in an assault by multiple boys. Her family tells 12News they want to see accountability. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddd108d8d5dabda395776e 'It was completely clear': Arizona pilot recalls moments emergency landing in Central Phoenix te 2026-04-14T05:30:48.371Z 'It was completely clear': Arizona pilot recalls moments emergency landing in Central Phoenix The pilot showed 12News inside his 1940s seaplane and recited what happened just before the emergency landing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddbc04d8d5dabda3957386 'I had no knowledge': How Ruben Gallego distanced himself from 'best friend' Eric Swalwell as sexual misconduct scandal unfolded te 2026-04-14T04:01:08.547Z 'I had no knowledge': How Ruben Gallego distanced himself from 'best friend' Eric Swalwell as sexual misconduct scandal unfolded Arizona senator was a Swalwell defender on social media before accusers went public Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddbbd8d8d5dabda3957351 Greg Abbott Threatens to Cut $110 Million From Houston Police Over ICE Policy Dispute te 2026-04-14T04:00:24.019Z Greg Abbott Threatens to Cut $110 Million From Houston Police Over ICE Policy Dispute The office of Gov. Greg Abbott wants the city to stop enforcing a new ordinance governing how its officers engage with ICE. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddb96ad8d5dabda39572d2 As parents seek out ‘vaccine friendly’ clinics, pediatricians worry about eroding trust te 2026-04-14T03:50:02.941Z As parents seek out ‘vaccine friendly’ clinics, pediatricians worry about eroding trust Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddb4d1d8d5dabda39571eb No Mayor Romero, TEP shareholders won't be paying for $64M electrical franchise side deal te 2026-04-14T03:30:25.327Z No Mayor Romero, TEP shareholders won't be paying for $64M electrical franchise side deal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddae0bd8d5dabda39570f0 Portal payoff: ASU baseball transfers thriving te 2026-04-14T03:01:31.855Z Portal payoff: ASU baseball transfers thriving PHOENIX – Dean Toigo was the 2025 Mountain West co-player of the year after hitting 18 home runs and driving in 74 RBIs at UNLV last year to go along with a 1.127 OPS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddadf8d8d5dabda39570e7 Portal payoff: ASU baseball transfers thriving te 2026-04-14T03:01:12.141Z Portal payoff: ASU baseball transfers thriving Pitcher Kole Klecker is one of 16 transfers on the Arizona State baseball team this season, many of whom are making a significant impact. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69ddade2d8d5dabda39570c8 Valley roadway closed because of crash te 2026-04-14T03:00:50.359Z Valley roadway closed because of crash 12News is at the scene and can see road closures on 7th Avenue from Montecito Avenue to Mackenzie Drive. Here's what we know. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dda92bd8d5dabda3956f0c Dave McGinnis, former Cardinals head coach and beloved Titans assistant, dead at 74 te 2026-04-14T02:40:43.504Z Dave McGinnis, former Cardinals head coach and beloved Titans assistant, dead at 74 Dave McGinnis, a former Arizona Cardinals head coach and Tennessee Titans assistant coach, died on Monday. He was 74. The Titans announced the death of McGinnis, who died after being hospitalized for an illness in early March. The Titans’ news release said that he passed away at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with his family by his side. "My heart aches with the loss of Coach Mac, who was so much more than a coach and broadcaster – he was family," Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell also released a statement on McGinnis. "As Dave often said, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through, and no one ever filled that role with more passion, enthusiasm and charisma," Bidwell said. "Coach Mac truly loved the game and everything – and everyone – associated with it, especially his players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed." McGinnis found himself in an interim head coaching role during the 2000 season with the Cardinals, the team for which he served as defensive coordinator in 1996. He was retained in the head coaching post from 2001-03. KIM WOOD, NFL'S FIRST FULL-TIME STRENGTH COACH AND WEIGHT-TRAINING PIONEER, DEAD AT 80 In 57 career games, McGinnis went 17-40 with the Cardinals, ultimately being fired after a 4-12 season in 2003. After he was fired, McGinnis landed with the Titans as a linebackers coach under head coach Jeff Fisher. He would become a mainstay in Nashville, holding that role and eventually being promoted to assistant head coach until 2011. "Coach Mac gave so much of himself to this organization over the years, and his passion, loyalty and love for the Titans never wavered," Strunk added. "He cared deeply about the people around him, and that kindness and authenticity left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He held a very special place in our family, and his presence in our lives and within this franchise will never be forgotten. We will miss him dearly, and we will always be grateful for the legacy he leaves behind." McGinnis’s coaching career began in 1973 when he was an assistant with TCU. He also held posts with Indiana State, Missouri and Kansas State until the 1986 season when he broke into the NFL with the Chicago Bears. McGinnis served as linebackers coach for Chicago from 1986-95 before getting a promotion with the Cardinals. He also held roles with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams before leaving coach after the 2016 campaign. McGinnis returned to Nashville to join Titans Radio in 2017, where he served as a color announcer for games. "I love Dave McGinnis, and I don't know that I've met anybody who was created for football, and a football life, more than Coach Mac," said Burke Nihill, president and CEO of the Titans. "He just loved the game. Obviously, he played it for a long time and coached it for longer, and with everything he has done for us over the years as color commentator and a Titans personality. He lived such a special football life. He was such a special guy. 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/69dda23bd8d5dabda3956dfb WWII Marine laid to rest in Arizona 83 years after going missing te 2026-04-14T02:11:07.593Z WWII Marine laid to rest in Arizona 83 years after going missing The military has been unable to confirm the Marine's identity since 1943. That changed when a relative submitted a DNA sample. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dda223d8d5dabda3956dcb Lena Dunham says her dad didn’t want to be seen voting with her in Obama election te 2026-04-14T02:10:43.270Z Lena Dunham says her dad didn’t want to be seen voting with her in Obama election Lena Dunham recalls her own father not wanting to be seen at the voting booths with her during the 2012 Barack Obama versus Mitt Romney election. On "The Interview" podcast, Dunham recalled that once she began receiving hate online, it affected even her personal relationships. "I remember there was a day, and this is not in the book, where I was going to vote with my father. And I had been campaigning for Obama. It was 2012. And I remember he said, 'I don't know if I wanna go vote with Lena Dunham,'" she recalled. "And I was like my father thinks going to vote with me is going to signal something," Dunham continued. JENNIFER LAWRENCE SAYS SHE AVOIDS POLITICS TO NOT 'ADD FUEL TO A FIRE THAT’S RIPPING THE COUNTRY APART' The actress and producer said that her father is her "best friend in the world," so him wanting to not be seen with her in public was the moment she understood "something was going on here." In 2012, Dunham faced offline drama for her HBO series, "Girls," which she wrote and starred in. At the time, viewers were unhappy with the lack of racial inclusivity and the economic privilege that was highlighted in the show that aired for five years. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Speaking on the New York Times' podcast, Dunham believes the negativity she received from the series stemmed from people disliking her as a person. "I'm going to say something that's going to sound like a cop out. And I don't, but I can only phrase it this way. I have annoyed people since I was so small. Like, I was an annoying kid," she said. Dunham believes that, paired with the intense female sexuality on the show, led to unhappy viewers.  LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Just before "Girls" premiered in 2012, old racially insensitive tweets that Dunham wrote resurfaced.  Over the years, Dunham has found herself in several controversies. Dunham compared producer Judd Apatow’s "obsession" with the rape allegations against Bill Cosby to an obsession with the Holocaust. She compared online hate from blogs to domestic violence, and she compared President Donald Trump to Dylann Roof, the man who murdered nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015 because of their race. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9fcbd8d5dabda3956d55 'Smart decision': Swalwell's resignation spurs praise from both parties after bombshell allegations emerge te 2026-04-14T02:00:43.511Z 'Smart decision': Swalwell's resignation spurs praise from both parties after bombshell allegations emerge Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced he was planning to resign from Congress following sexual misconduct allegations, leading top Democrats in the U.S. Senate, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to praise the decision. Meanwhile, Republicans are questioning how much top Democrats knew before the final ball dropped Monday with Swalwell's resignation, which came just days after he suspended his California gubernatorial campaign. Swalwell said Monday that he was "deeply sorry" to his family, staff and constituents for his "mistakes," but stood headstrong in calling the sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against him "false." "I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members," Swalwell said in his announcement. "Expelling anyone from Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But, it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress." SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ "It was a good decision," added Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., when asked about Swalwell's resignation. "You don't have to be a rocket science to figure that out. It's terrible – what has been alleged." Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., reportedly told CNN that he thought Swalwell made the right decision.  Swalwell's decision to resign keeps Democrats from having to vote on a contentious resolution to expel Swalwell, which was expected to happen if he had not resigned.  "With a criminal investigation in the works, the move will avoid the need to answer questions immediately in an ethics investigation that might present legal dangers," George Washington University professor and Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley pointed out. "Few defense attorneys would relish a client responding to an open-ended ethics investigation when the outcome seems likely expulsion." When asked whether she had requested Swalwell resign, Pelosi reportedly responded, "Oh, I think that was his decision. I think it's a smart decision to make," according to Politico reporter Riley Rogerson.  Furthermore, when asked whether she had any previous idea about the sexual misconduct allegations, Pelosi responded, "none whatsoever," Rogerson also noted. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend and colleague of Arizona who faced heat for defending him, said minutes before Swalwell's resignation that he "had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell."  ‘USEFUL PUPPET’: ERIC SWALWELL IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TRAVELING TO DOHA ON SEVERAL QATAR-SPONSORED TRIPS  Warren, who ran against Swalwell during the pairs' bids for the presidency, said she is "glad that [Swalwell] will be gone," adding that "people who are in positions of power and authority over others need to be held accountable when they take advantage of that position." Within an hour after Swalwell's announcement that he would resign, one of Swalwell's colleagues in the House of Representatives, Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, followed suit and resigned as well amid similar allegations of sexual improprieties.  "There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas," Gonzales said. Gonzalez last month said he would not run for reelection, so it is uncertain what may change. If Gonzalez and Swalwell left tomorrow, the slim margin in the House between Republicans and Democrats would not change.  Republican reactions to Swalwell's resignation Monday mirrored the praise from Democrats. Republican frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race Steve Hilton also slammed "career politicians" for letting Swalwell "get away with it."  "Of course Eric Swalwell had to drop out of the California governor's race. The question is, why was he ever in it, knowing he had all this going on?" Hilton told Fox News Digital.  "First smart thing he’s done," said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who added that Gonzales "needs to follow his lead" right before he actually did. "Eric, you did the right thing by resigning. However, don’t you dare say there weren’t grounds for your expulsion, because there absolutely were," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said after Swalwell's announcement he would be resigning. "He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail." Other Republicans questioned how much Democrats knew before the allegations of sexual misconduct became public against Swalwell. "The mainstream media doesn’t attack a Democrat unless it helps a separate Democrat. It’s axiomatic. The Swalwell episode proves that in technicolor," John Ashbrook, a co-host of the "Ruthless" podcast told Fox News Digital. "If he wasn’t jeopardizing their party’s ability to hold the California Governor’s mansion, none of them would have said a word." "Eric Swalwell should've been removed from Congress long ago, yet Democrats rallied around him over and over even after it was shown he was compromised by a Chinese spy," added Republican strategist Mark Bednar, who has worked for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and current Transportation Secretary and former Congressman Sean Duffy. "The real questions for Democrats close to him are what did they know, when did they know it, and will they question then-Speaker Pelosi's judgment regarding Swalwell’s committee assignments?" Hilton echoed Bednar's questions about how much top Democrats knew. "Machine politicians and unions that endorsed Swalwell and threw money at him — they knew about his past. It was an open secret on Capitol Hill and Sacramento. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, the teacher unions, SEIU  — they are all totally full of it with their fake outrage and condemnation," Hilton told Fox News Digital. "California is ruled by a corrupt Democrat elite that is collapsing into chaos, sleaze and scandal. That's why the Swalwell stand-ins that they send to run against me in the general election, whether it's Katie Porter or Tom Steyer, will be no better." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9c2cd8d5dabda3956c68 Los Angeles hotel industry 'struggling' under wage mandate signed by Mayor Karen Bass, new survey finds te 2026-04-14T01:45:16.999Z Los Angeles hotel industry 'struggling' under wage mandate signed by Mayor Karen Bass, new survey finds Hotels in Los Angeles, California are struggling, a new report from industry researchers claimed in a new report. "Hotels are struggling to keep up with rising operating costs coupled with falling demand," the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) researchers said last week. According to AHLA, the city’s minimum wage mandate and other policies led to increased "costs without flexibility to reflect market conditions and demand levels." A phased-in minimum wage hike in Los Angeles mandated up to $30 per hour for airport and hotel workers. The law was signed into law last year by Mayor Karen Bass, mandating that their hourly wage must be raised by $2.50 each year until they reach $30 in 2028. DAVID SPADE WONDERS IF HOLLYWOOD CAN RECOVER ITS MOVIE INDUSTRY AS PEOPLE FLEE LOS ANGELES The AHLA is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide. Its methodology stated it was a "member survey of Los Angeles hotel operators and owners" that featured "16 questions in multiple-choice, select-all-that-apply, and ranking formats." The report claimed that the policies led to reduced hiring and cuts in labor hours. Other issues that arose included delayed or canceled hotel investment and development, reduced airline operations and restaurant closures. "The report finds that hotels across Los Angeles are facing increasing financial and operational pressure as rising labor and operating costs outpace revenue growth, noting that development is slowing, investment is shifting to other markets, and some hotels have closed or delayed expansion plans," the report stated. The report found that none of the members believe Los Angeles is a favorable environment to make investments and 80% said that the city is not a good place for long-term hotel investment. Almost all the members surveyed said that rolling back the regulations would make the city’s market more attractive.  TAX AND RUN: HOW NY AND CALIFORNIA ARE BLEEDING PEOPLE AND PROSPERITY AHLA said that hotels are the backbone of Los Angeles’ tourism economy, investing millions of dollars in the city every year. "Los Angeles hotels generate $12.5 billion in annual economic activity, support nearly 64,000 jobs, and produce more than $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue that funds essential public services," according to the report. This isn't the first time the AHLA has released a report showing adverse effects of the minimum wage mandate after Bass signed it into law. The AHLA previously commissioned another study that found hotels have eliminated or expect to eliminate 6% of positions, roughly 650 jobs, since the Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance took effect in September. CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES INSIST ON RAISING MINIMUM WAGE TO $30 DESPITE RESEARCH SHOWING 'NEGATIVE OUTCOMES' The Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Bass' office did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9c05d8d5dabda3956c5b Longtime Tucson developer & Rio Nuevo boardmember Sheafe killed in plane crash te 2026-04-14T01:44:37.596Z Longtime Tucson developer & Rio Nuevo boardmember Sheafe killed in plane crash Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9bf1d8d5dabda3956c52 Folk Fest features 'handmade' music & tribute to prolific Tucson guitarist te 2026-04-14T01:44:17.861Z Folk Fest features 'handmade' music & tribute to prolific Tucson guitarist Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9bded8d5dabda3956c49 Pinal County board: County attorney acted as ‘vigilante’ by signing ICE deal without approval te 2026-04-14T01:43:58.055Z Pinal County board: County attorney acted as ‘vigilante’ by signing ICE deal without approval Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9bcad8d5dabda3956c40 Gallego pulls endorsement days after defending California Rep. accused of sexual assault te 2026-04-14T01:43:38.318Z Gallego pulls endorsement days after defending California Rep. accused of sexual assault Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9bb6d8d5dabda3956c37 Inside Trump’s effort to 'take over' midterm elections te 2026-04-14T01:43:18.862Z Inside Trump’s effort to 'take over' midterm elections Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9ba3d8d5dabda3956c2e States face another callenge with Medicaid work rules: staffing shortages te 2026-04-14T01:42:59.268Z States face another callenge with Medicaid work rules: staffing shortages Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b8fd8d5dabda3956c25 ‘Appallingly short’ of basic human dignity: Democrats demand answers about Mesa ICE facility te 2026-04-14T01:42:39.616Z ‘Appallingly short’ of basic human dignity: Democrats demand answers about Mesa ICE facility Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b7bd8d5dabda3956c1c Villegas: A Tucson perspective on housing, historic neighborhoods & getting the balance right te 2026-04-14T01:42:19.951Z Villegas: A Tucson perspective on housing, historic neighborhoods & getting the balance right Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b68d8d5dabda3956c13 City of Tucson holding public meetings to discuss proposed trash and water fee hikes te 2026-04-14T01:42:00.501Z City of Tucson holding public meetings to discuss proposed trash and water fee hikes Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b55d8d5dabda3956c0a Hungry hearts: Free & discounted food around Tucson this week te 2026-04-14T01:41:41.044Z Hungry hearts: Free & discounted food around Tucson this week Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b41d8d5dabda3956c01 TUSD to consider process to shutter schools; Amphi rewriting code of conduct te 2026-04-14T01:41:21.379Z TUSD to consider process to shutter schools; Amphi rewriting code of conduct Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b2dd8d5dabda3956bf8 Federal judge blocks Arizona AG from prosecuting Kalshi, says it violates the Constitution te 2026-04-14T01:41:01.819Z Federal judge blocks Arizona AG from prosecuting Kalshi, says it violates the Constitution Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b1ad8d5dabda3956bef Democrat JoAnna Mendoza hopes to unseat Rep. Juan Ciscomani in Southern Az's CD6 te 2026-04-14T01:40:42.290Z Democrat JoAnna Mendoza hopes to unseat Rep. Juan Ciscomani in Southern Az's CD6 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9b06d8d5dabda3956be6 ‘I thought it was me as a doctor:’ Trump downplays controversial post depicting himself as Jesus Christ te 2026-04-14T01:40:22.660Z ‘I thought it was me as a doctor:’ Trump downplays controversial post depicting himself as Jesus Christ Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd98afd8d5dabda3956b74 U.S. Is Negotiating an Iran Deal That Would Buy Time, Again te 2026-04-14T01:30:23.599Z U.S. Is Negotiating an Iran Deal That Would Buy Time, Again The United States proposed a 20-year “suspension” of all nuclear activity, even as President Trump demands assurances that Iran can never build a nuclear weapon. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd967ed8d5dabda3956a2e US military kills 2 suspected cartel operatives in latest Eastern Pacific lethal strike, SOUTHCOM says te 2026-04-14T01:21:02.356Z US military kills 2 suspected cartel operatives in latest Eastern Pacific lethal strike, SOUTHCOM says The U.S. military carried out another lethal strike targeting suspected cartel operatives in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, killing two individuals believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). "Applying total systemic friction on the cartels," SOUTHCOM said in a post on X. "On April 13, 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. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the post continued. "Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed." The strike comes two days after SOUTHCOM conducted similar operations against two other suspected vessels operated by designated groups. US, ECUADOR LAUNCH JOINT OPERATIONS TARGETING NARCO-TERROR GROUPS: SOUTHCOM Officials said intelligence confirmed those vessels were traveling along known drug trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were actively engaged in narcotics operations. Two men were killed in the first strike and three in the second, while one individual survived the initial attack. SOUTHCOM said it immediately called on the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue operations for the lone survivor. No U.S. forces were injured in either operation. US MILITARY LAUNCHES DEADLY STRIKE ON DRUG-TRAFFICKING VESSEL IN THE PACIFIC, LEAVING 2 DEAD AND 1 SURVIVOR The operations are part of a broader U.S. military effort to disrupt cartel-linked trafficking networks at sea, with officials increasingly describing such groups using terrorism-related designations. The strikes were carried out under Joint Task Force Southern Spear, an ongoing mission focused on targeting transnational criminal organizations operating along key maritime drug routes in the region. The Eastern Pacific remains a major corridor for narcotics trafficking, where cartels frequently rely on small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs north toward the U.S. and Central America. US KILLS 11 IN 3 STRIKES ON ALLEGED DRUG-RUNNING BOATS The use of the term "Designated Terrorist Organizations" reflects a more aggressive posture by the Trump administration, which has expanded the use of military force against suspected narcotics traffickers beyond traditional law enforcement approaches. SOUTHCOM has not released additional details about the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved. The command is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests. The U.S. has carried out dozens of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in recent months as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations and increase pressure on transnational criminal organizations. Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9656d8d5dabda3956a23 U.S. Military Strikes Another Boat in Pacific, Killing 2 te 2026-04-14T01:20:22.930Z U.S. Military Strikes Another Boat in Pacific, Killing 2 The attack was the 49th since the campaign against vessels in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific started in early September. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd9412d8d5dabda39569c9 Ro Khanna confronted by voter on California immigration policies in Jubilee appearance te 2026-04-14T01:10:42.772Z Ro Khanna confronted by voter on California immigration policies in Jubilee appearance Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., faced off with a speaker identified as "Marien" during a Jubilee debate on Sunday, where the two debated immigration policy, public safety, and accountability for elites tied to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Marien framed her concerns around personal safety and government priorities, arguing Democratic policies pose a great threat to everyday Americans. "My frustration is as a regular everyday American citizen, I feel that I am more likely to be harmed by Democratic policies such as open borders," Marien said. The exchange reflected a broader debate over immigration enforcement, crime, and policy priorities, with Khanna advocating reform alongside border security as critics pointed to gaps in California’s approach. ANGEL MOM, GOP BLAME SPANBERGER AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 30 ARRESTS CHARGED IN KILLING "In your state, something like 4,600 or so illegal migrants that had criminal records were re-released from jail," Marien said. "So when we're talking about harming Americans, when we're talking about children potentially being harmed, when we're looking into child trafficking, we have to acknowledge that illegal migration is the biggest funnel for child trafficking." Khanna responded by reiterating his position on border security while shifting focus toward enforcement priorities. "I’m for secure borders," Khanna said. "We have been for a secure border." The debate also touched on differing perceptions of enforcement in California, with Marien rejecting Khanna’s characterization of Democratic positions. "No one in California can say that they’re for a secure border," Marien said. DEMOCRATS HAMMER ICE FOR ARRESTING 2 AT SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT At another point, Khanna said he was opposed to ICE "putting terror in communities." "I feel comfortable with ICE… I’m not terrorized by them," Marien said. The conversation expanded beyond immigration to include accountability standards in cases tied to Epstein, as both participants debated how allegations should be handled. Marien stressed the importance of due process and a high evidentiary standard before punishment. "I am very much pro any abuser being in jail, but I'm also pro the complete burden of proof," Marien said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd91ced8d5dabda395695b Swalwell's 'best friend' in Congress turns on him after bombshell allegations torpedo his political career te 2026-04-14T01:01:02.321Z Swalwell's 'best friend' in Congress turns on him after bombshell allegations torpedo his political career One of Rep. Eric Swalwell's, D-Calif., closest friends in Congress is putting distance between himself and the lawmaker, contending he had no idea about the bombshell accusations of sexual assault that have surfaced against the former gubernatorial candidate. "I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a statement. "The women who have come forward have shown courage," he continued. "They deserve to be believed, to be supported, and to see justice served." HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLANS MOTION TO OUST SWALWELL FROM CONGRESS AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS Gallego's turn on Swalwell came just minutes before the lawmaker announced his resignation from Congress. He already pulled his endorsement of Swalwell’s now-defunct bid for governor shortly after the bombshell San Francisco Chronicle report was published, and said the lawmaker was "no longer fit to be a member of Congress" and supported the push to expel him from the lower chamber. It’s the culmination of a swift about-face for Gallego, who has signaled a desire for a 2028 presidential bid and was once described by Swalwell as his "best friend in the world." The pair have been friends since Gallego’s time in the House and both came under fire for photos that surfaced of the duo riding shirtless on camels in Qatar as part of a private trip in 2021. And just days ago, Gallego defended Swalwell online. PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: 'INDEFENSIBLE' "When you are in first place, is when they target you," Gallego said on X. "Eric is a fighter and he will win the Governors race." Now, Gallego said he doesn’t know his once close friend. "I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew," Gallego said. ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS Swalwell resigned from the House Monday night after ending his gubernatorial campaign in California, a move that was spurred by the San Francisco Chronicle's report that detailed allegations of sexual assault against him. He currently faces allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from a former staffer and three other women. In the House, Swalwell faced pressure from his colleagues to resign. That comes as the House Ethics Committee launched a probe against him and a campaign to expel him, and others, from the chamber was gaining steam. "I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," Swalwell said in a statement. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd91a6d8d5dabda3956949 Trump and MAGA Embraced Orban. Now, They’re Worried by His Loss in Hungary’s Election. te 2026-04-14T01:00:22.953Z Trump and MAGA Embraced Orban. Now, They’re Worried by His Loss in Hungary’s Election. Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, and his right-wing playbook were embraced by parts of the American right. Now some are worried by his defeat. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd8d09d8d5dabda395688a Dick Vitale announces fifth cancer diagnosis as biopsy confirms melanoma in his lung and liver cavity te 2026-04-14T00:40:41.822Z Dick Vitale announces fifth cancer diagnosis as biopsy confirms melanoma in his lung and liver cavity College basketball legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale announced he is battling cancer yet again. The 86-year-old announced Monday that a biopsy confirmed he has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity, and he is immediately beginning immunotherapy to combat it. This is the fifth time Vitale has been diagnosed with cancer, and melanoma is one he has had before. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "I’ve beaten melanoma," Vitale said in a statement released by ESPN. "I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal-cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph-node cancer. I’m 4 for 4 and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it 5 for 5." Vitale made a separate social media post on Monday, where he said he had gone through days of testing, which included scans, MRIs, bloodwork and the biopsy to confirm what doctors believed was cancer yet again. ESPN STAR RIPS ICONIC COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM WITH $22M ROSTER FOR DISAPPOINTING SEASON "I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called," Vitale said. "Now at least I know what I face." "Dickie V" is one of the most established broadcasters in American sports, providing countless memorable calls through his natural enthusiasm for the game and moments on the hardwood. Vitale’s impact on college basketball dates to ESPN’s launch in 1979, and he’s close to five decades in the sport with a contract with the "Worldwide Leader" going through the 2027-28 season. However, health issues arose in 2021 when he was diagnosed with melanoma for the first time. Lymphoma followed, and then he needed chemotherapy and radiation treatments for his vocal cord cancer. In 2024, he required surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck, and Vitale’s iconic voice could not be heard as he was unable to speak for a time after the vocal cord surgery. But like the other four diagnoses, Vitale remains optimistic and in good spirits, saying he feels "fantastic" and ready to take on yet another battle. "At 86 years young, I’ve lived a hell of a life, and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer," Vitale said. The New Jersey native spent time coaching at Garfield High School before taking over his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, where he led teams to two New Jersey state titles.  Vitale went on to coach as an assistant at Rutgers before heading to the University of Detroit as their head coach. He remained in the Michigan city to coach its Pistons from 1978-79. Once he was done coaching the Pistons, Vitale joined ESPN, calling its first-ever college basketball game in 1979, a game where DePaul beat Wisconsin. 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/69dd8ab0d8d5dabda3956810 OpenAI has bought AI personal finance startup Hiro te 2026-04-14T00:30:40.735Z OpenAI has bought AI personal finance startup Hiro The acquisition indicates a capability that OpenAI is building into ChatGPT: financial planning. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd8a9cd8d5dabda3956807 An Amazon warehouse worker died on the job at Oregon facility te 2026-04-14T00:30:20.753Z An Amazon warehouse worker died on the job at Oregon facility Though Amazon has faced issues with warehouse safety, the company said that the death was not work related. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd8845d8d5dabda39567a8 Vance Says Pope Leo Should Stay Out of U.S. Affairs te 2026-04-14T00:20:21.709Z Vance Says Pope Leo Should Stay Out of U.S. Affairs The vice president, a Catholic, defended President Trump, who had accused the pope of being too liberal and “weak on crime.”The pontiff responded that he had “no fear of the Trump administration.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd8602d8d5dabda395674a Alec Baldwin admits he 'doesn’t want to work anymore' after 'Rust' shooting death: 'I want to retire' te 2026-04-14T00:10:42.030Z Alec Baldwin admits he 'doesn’t want to work anymore' after 'Rust' shooting death: 'I want to retire' Alec Baldwin reflected on his future in the film industry nearly five years after the tragic, on-set death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. In July 2024, a Santa Fe judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin, 68, for the fatal shooting after ruling that the prosecution concealed evidence from his legal team. The "30 Rock" actor admitted the "painful" situation changed his entire outlook on his career. ALEC BALDWIN'S WIFE TURNS TO INSTAGRAM AFTER $20M HAMPTONS HOME SITS UNSOLD FOR YEARS "We had this incident, this tragedy, in New Mexico, where Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of the film, and that was unspeakably difficult to deal with," he said on an episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast. "Because of the situation in New Mexico, which was very painful, I wound up staying home a lot. I was home with my kids for three-and-a-half years — I hardly worked at all — and that’s just changing now." While Baldwin admitted he's going to "go off and do a bunch of things" now, he also became comfortable playing house with his family. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I was home and I got used to it, and I don’t want to leave my house anymore," Baldwin confessed. "I don’t. I don’t want to work anymore. I don’t. I really don’t. I want to retire and stay home with my kids." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Alec discharged a gun on the set of "Rust" in New Mexico on Oct. 21, 2021, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Assistant director Dave Halls had told the actor that the gun was a "cold gun," meaning it was unloaded or "not hot," after armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed had placed the gun on a cart on set. Gutierrez Reed was convicted of loading a live round into a revolver, which Baldwin fired, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. In July 2024, Hilaria wept alongside her husband when a Santa Fe judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec after ruling that the prosecution had concealed evidence from his legal team. The couple have seven children together: Carmen Gabriela Rafael Thomas, Leonardo Ángel Charles, Romeo Alejandro David, Eduardo Pao Lucas, María Lucía Victoria, and Ilaria Catalina Irena, 2. Alec was previously married to model Kim Basinger, and the former couple have one daughter together, Ireland. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd8415d8d5dabda3956700 Gov. Katie Hobbs signed 32 bills on Monday before announcing 'moratorium' te 2026-04-14T00:02:29.207Z Gov. Katie Hobbs signed 32 bills on Monday before announcing 'moratorium' The governor signed 32 bills and vetoed 20 others before announcing she would not be signing anymore bills until Republican lawmakers present a budget proposal. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd83fed8d5dabda39566e8 CHA Pet of the Week: Ruby te 2026-04-14T00:02:06.749Z CHA Pet of the Week: Ruby Hi there, I'm Ruby! I'm a soulful girl with a heart of gold and looks to match. I originally came from a reservation before landing at the Coconino Humane Association, and while I'm still figuring out the "big wide world,"… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd83ead8d5dabda39566df LOCAL ROUNDUP: Coconino softball extends win streak to three games te 2026-04-14T00:01:46.225Z LOCAL ROUNDUP: Coconino softball extends win streak to three games A look at how local teams have fared recently. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd83d6d8d5dabda39566d6 Arizona high school star Tianna Knighton transfers to NAU from Central Arizona te 2026-04-14T00:01:26.073Z Arizona high school star Tianna Knighton transfers to NAU from Central Arizona Knighton transfers to NAU from Central Arizona after playing at UT-Tyler and averaging over 30 points per game her senior season at Arcadia High School. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd83bfd8d5dabda39566ae WNBA player opposes new Olympics transgender policy, saying they do 'anything but' protect women te 2026-04-14T00:01:03.030Z WNBA player opposes new Olympics transgender policy, saying they do 'anything but' protect women WNBA player Brianna Turner opposed the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) new policies barring biological males from competing in female sports, claiming that they do "anything but" protect women. "The IOC has a documented history of refusing to actually protect women in elite sports, and their current invocation of protection does anything but," Turner wrote in a USA Today op-ed Friday. The IOC announced in March that, starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, it would be adopting a new policy limiting female category events to biologically female athletes as determined by genetic testing. CAITLYN JENNER BACKS IOC MOVE TO BAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM OLYMPICS AFTER REVIEW FINDS UNFAIR ADVANTAGE Turner accused the IOC of using the new policies to "scapegoat" transgender athletes while ignoring "real" issues regarding women in sports. "Policies that single out transgender women and athletes with intersex variations do not protect women’s sports. They manufacture a scapegoat while the real challenges to women’s sports go unaddressed: unequal funding, limited access to training and facilities, pay disparities, male-dominated leadership, gender-based violence and harassment across race, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity," Turner said. She also denied the IOC's argument that the new policy is being enacted to make sure that female sports are safe and fair, claiming there were no biological advantages in transgender athletes. WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO IOC POLICY CHANGE TO BAN MALES FROM WOMEN'S SPORTS AS ACTIVISTS CELEBRATE "In more than 15 years of organized basketball, I’ve played with and against people who are transgender and undoubtedly people with intersex variations, and I've never experienced any unfair advantages. I saw these players as my fellow athletes, not my enemies," Turner wrote. She concluded by demanding that the IOC do not use women athletes in efforts to "shame or exclude" transgender athletes. "Do not use the names of women athletes to target, shame or exclude transgender women. Transgender women are women. Women with intersex variations are women. I welcome these women—and all women—onto my teams," Turner wrote. "If we really want to protect the integrity of sport, let’s invest in fairness, opportunity and safety for every athlete. Let’s build a future where sport belongs to everyone." WINTER OLYMPICS MAKES HISTORY WITH FIRST OPENLY TRANSGENDER SKIER COMPETING IN WOMEN'S DIVISION Fox News Digital reached out to the IOC for comment. WNBA legend Sue Bird also claimed earlier this month on the "A Touch More" podcast that the new IOC policy was "fearmongering" and "not solving a problem that exists." In the same podcast, former U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe pushed back on the idea that the Olympics policy was based on science. "We already know that biology, as much as we want it to be just nice and clean and tight and perfectly in one category and another, it’s not," Rapinoe said. "We know that. So, now what we’re doing is subjecting everybody, all women and all people who are identifying as women to this really invasive testing that only to me says like, ‘Oh we’re just trying to whittle it down to a certain type of woman.' Is that what we’re doing? That’s really the whole game here. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd83abd8d5dabda39566a5 JD Vance says the ball is 'in Iran’s court' after Pakistan peace talks stall te 2026-04-14T00:00:43.504Z JD Vance says the ball is 'in Iran’s court' after Pakistan peace talks stall Vice President JD Vance said Iran holds the deciding hand in what comes next in the Middle East conflict, while rejecting reports that recent peace talks in Pakistan ended in failure. Vance’s remarks come after his weekend trip to Pakistan for face-to-face negotiations with Iranian officials – talks that reports suggested produced no breakthrough. "The ball is very much in their court," Vance told "Special Report" anchor Bret Baier on Monday. "You ask what happens next, I think the Iranians are going to determine what happens next." Vance said there were "good conversations" during the weekend talks that helped clarify U.S. priorities, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial international oil route. ROBERT MAGINNIS: WHY ISLAMABAD TALKS WERE ALWAYS DOOMED TO FAIL "I wouldn't just say that things went wrong. I also think things went right. We made a lot of progress," he said. "They moved in our direction, which is why I think we would say that we had some good signs, but they didn't move far enough." Vance told Fox News that the Pakistan peace talks ultimately ended because Iranian negotiators were unable to finalize a deal, adding that the discussions revealed insights into who holds decision-making authority in Tehran. PAKISTANI GENERAL SAYS IRAN DIPLOMACY STILL 'ALIVE, DESPITE US BLOCKADE, FAILED TALKS "We acquired some knowledge about how the Iranians are negotiating, and this is ultimately why we left Pakistan," he said. "What we figured out is that they were unable, I think — the team that was there, was unable to cut a deal," he explained. "They had to go back to Tehran, either from the supreme leader or somebody else, and actually get approval to the terms that we had set." Meanwhile, President Donald Trump instituted a naval blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, following weeks of tensions in which Iran barred U.S. vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. "What they [Iranians] have done is engage in this act of economic terrorism against the entire world. They’ve basically threatened any ship that's moving through the Straits of Hormuz. Well, as the President of the United States showed, two can play at that game," Vance said. U.S. navy ships have been ordered to identify and flag any Iran-affiliated vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Vance said that given the United States’ ceasefire agreement, he expects Iran to fully reopen the critical trade route, but admitted that it was a goal point that Iranians "tried to move" during the Pakistan talks. VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL 'FIND OUT' TRUMP IS 'NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND' IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART "We've stopped bombing the country. What we expect the Iranians to give up is a full reopening of the Straits of Hormuz," the vice president told Fox News. The administration’s strategy to target Iranian ships marks an intensification of its pressure campaign to force Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz – this time, by strangling Iran’s ability to transport its own oil. "If the Iranians are gonna try to engage in economic terrorism, we're gonna abide by a simple principle that no Iranian ships are getting out either," Vance said. "We know that's a big deal to them. We know it applies additional economic leverage." TRUMP’S IRAN CEASEFIRE ROCKED WITHIN HOURS AMID REPORTED MISSILE, DRONE ATTACKS Vance said the United States still maintains the upper hand, even as the next move rests with Iran. "We have the military advantage," the vice president said. "We now have additional economic pressure that we're applying on them through the blockade that we've imposed on their oil coming out of the Straits of Hormuz." "We have a lot of cards. We have the leverage, and we're going to see what the Iranians do with that," he continued. Vance also addressed reports that he was skeptical of Trump’s move to launch a war on Iran alongside Israel. "I give my advice to the President of the United States, and we all do. And I expect that when I give advice to the President of the United States that it's going to be private because the president should rely on his senior advisors without them running to the media." "What I will say, Bret, is that I 100% agree with the president on the fact that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd8156d8d5dabda395665c Former Cardinals coach dies at 74 te 2026-04-13T23:50:46.887Z Former Cardinals coach dies at 74 Dave McGinnis, the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2000 to 2003, died on Monday at the age of 74 years old. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f8dd8d5dabda395660d Goober te 2026-04-13T23:43:09.367Z Goober Goober is an adult male standard schnauzer mix. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f79d8d5dabda3956604 Artemis te 2026-04-13T23:42:49.327Z Artemis Artemis is a senior male shepherd mix. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f65d8d5dabda39565fb Gucci te 2026-04-13T23:42:29.616Z Gucci Gucci Flipflop is an adult female domestic shorthair mix. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f51d8d5dabda39565f2 306516.jpg te 2026-04-13T23:42:09.862Z 306516.jpg Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f3dd8d5dabda39565e9 Cartoon te 2026-04-13T23:41:49.893Z Cartoon Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f2ad8d5dabda39565e0 California man drowned Monday in the Colorado River off North Beach at Davis Camp te 2026-04-13T23:41:30.224Z California man drowned Monday in the Colorado River off North Beach at Davis Camp BULLHEAD CITY — A swimmer attempted to retrieve a hat drowned Monday morning off North Beach in Davis Camp. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f15d8d5dabda39565d7 Gary Hanson: War crimes no longer punishable? te 2026-04-13T23:41:09.954Z Gary Hanson: War crimes no longer punishable? Editor: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7f02d8d5dabda39565ce Scene pkg April 13 te 2026-04-13T23:40:50.127Z Scene pkg April 13 Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7d0bd8d5dabda3956549 Mistrial declared in case against former Phoenix police officer in death of 7-year-old daughter te 2026-04-13T23:32:27.227Z Mistrial declared in case against former Phoenix police officer in death of 7-year-old daughter The child was taken to a hospital and later died from cardiac arrest as a result of sepsis. Her father is accused of failing to provide medical care. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7cf4d8d5dabda3956531 Havasu man arraigned in alleged robbery te 2026-04-13T23:32:04.792Z Havasu man arraigned in alleged robbery Authorities say that a vehicle pursuit led to a foot chase with an alleged suspect last month near the Bridgewater Channel - and then, because it’s Lake Havasu City - the suspect attempted to escape by water. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7ce0d8d5dabda3956528 Police: Two men charged with trespassing after unauthorized hotel stay te 2026-04-13T23:31:44.733Z Police: Two men charged with trespassing after unauthorized hotel stay Two Lake Havasu City men were arrested last week, after they allegedly stayed in a hotel room without a reservation - or even permission - from the business. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7cccd8d5dabda395651f Police: Hit-and-run leads to arrest for DUI suspect in vehicle theft te 2026-04-13T23:31:24.649Z Police: Hit-and-run leads to arrest for DUI suspect in vehicle theft A Lake Havasu City man was arrested on a slew of felony charges Friday evening, after police say he caused a serious accident while driving under the influence of liquor. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7cb5d8d5dabda39564f7 Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Euphoria’ return sparks backlash as fans slam ‘humiliating’ storyline te 2026-04-13T23:31:01.845Z Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Euphoria’ return sparks backlash as fans slam ‘humiliating’ storyline "Euphoria" ignited a firestorm after the season three opener aired Sunday, as viewers questioned Sydney Sweeney’s storyline and denounced the show’s creative direction. Fans were quick to claim the award-winning HBO show was "humiliating" Sweeney, who stars as Cassie Howard. After nearly a five-year hiatus, "Euphoria" returned Sunday with Sweeney's character set to marry boyfriend Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi. In her opening scene, Sweeney is dressed up in a revealing dog costume filming provocative videos seemingly for social media. Sweeney barked like a dog and even drank water on all fours while wearing the revealing bodysuit. While the two struggle to make ends meet, Sweeney's character eventually floated the idea of beginning an OnlyFans account. Sweeney's storyline didn't sit right with fans, who have watched the actress undergo similar demeaning character arcs in seasons one and two. 'EUPHORIA' STAR SYDNEY SWEENEY GETS MAJOR JAMES BOND ENDORSEMENT FROM TOP HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR "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. "This is so embarrassing even for jacob," a user wrote about Sweeney and her co-star. "But, how Sydney sweeney can agree to do something like this? It's like a humillation [sic] ritual." "At this stage in her career I'm amazed they get Sydney to do this," another user added. "She's a true nymphomaniac attention w----. Sydney is a treasure." 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." Advertisement "This show literally depicts today's society and it's ironic that when the show does it, it's bad but when people do it in real life, it's easy to gloss over," another added. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER 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. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Series creator Sam Levinson says it's a thrill to see many cast members thriving. "The thing is when you’re casting, every person that walks in, you’re hoping this is the person, this is going to be the character," he told The Associated Press at the season premiere. "And sometimes when they do, they walk in, they have the talent, they’ve got the passion, the enthusiasm for it, and they inspire you. "To see them working with such incredible filmmakers like (Christopher) Nolan and (Guillermo) del Toro ... it's just exciting." Fox News Digital has reached out to HBO for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7ca2d8d5dabda39564ee DoorDash driver hails key Trump policy after delivering McDonald's to White House: 'I'm going to enjoy it' te 2026-04-13T23:30:42.235Z DoorDash driver hails key Trump policy after delivering McDonald's to White House: 'I'm going to enjoy it' Sharron Simmons, the first DoorDash employee to ever deliver a meal to the White House, said she hopes that the benefits she’s reaping from President Donald Trump's no-tax-on-tips policy will extend past its current 2028 lifespan. "Well, obviously, we would like for it to continue, but I'm going to enjoy it while I've got it. And, you know, it's not for me to decide that," she told Fox News Digital during a Monday interview shortly after delivering a McDonald's order to Trump. Overall, Simmons says she believes she’s taking home more than $11,000 in extra income. "I figure that I'm probably going to be saving about $3,000 to $4,000," Simmons said. SCOOP: TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' TAX CUTS PROMOTED IN NEW REPUBLICAN AD BLITZ Simmons’ story is one of the many ways the White House has attempted to highlight its work through Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the president’s signature tax and border security package. Alongside tax breaks for tips, that bill also temporarily eliminated tax obligations for overtime pay, increased the senior deduction to $12,000 and upped the child tax credit by $200 per child. WATCH IT: SPEAKER JOHNSON HEARDS FROM UBER DRIVER ON ‘NO TAX ON TIPS’ BENEFIT: ‘BIG DIFFERENCE’ Critics of the package have argued that the tax breaks are cutting down the country’s revenue and contributing to the national deficit, while its supporters contend it will grow the economy by putting more back in the hands of consumers. SEN TIM SCOTT: REPUBLICANS JUST GETTING STARTED, BUT NEED TIME TO STOP RADICAL LEFTISTS Simmons originally joined DoorDash as a way to generate a little extra revenue on the side, stating that she began her partnership with DoorDash because of its flexibility after the COVID-19 pandemic. "I've been doing DoorDash since 2022. And I just got into it because it was something that after COVID and everything, I didn't have to go into an office. And I kind of felt like by doing this, I would be able to help other people," Simmons explained. Despite the future uncertainty of the policy’s current timeline, Simmons said she would focus on the present moment. "[In] younger years, I didn't feel like my voice could be heard. And I feel now like we are heard," Simmons said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7a4bd8d5dabda3956490 Popular airline rolls out free bag perk for certain travelers — but there's a catch te 2026-04-13T23:20:43.115Z Popular airline rolls out free bag perk for certain travelers — but there's a catch One of America's biggest airlines is adding a new perk for wine lovers. On April 7, Southwest Airlines announced it was beginning a new program called "Sip and Ship," allowing its customers to check one case of wine at no cost. The deal applies to select West Coast locations and was announced alongside Southwest's launch of service in Santa Rosa, California, in the heart of Sonoma wine country. RED WINE OR WHITE WINE? DOCTOR REVEALS THE HEALTHIER CHOICE, AS WELL AS CAUTIONARY DETAILS Starting April 24, the perk allows passengers age 21 and older to check up to 12 bottles in one properly packaged wine case — subject to standard baggage limits and route restrictions, with no liability for damage. Wine cases "should be placed in a standard wine shipping box or wine suitcase that meets checked bag requirements," the company noted. The program is only offered to customers flying to and from certain West Coast locations, including Santa Rosa, according to the airline. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Southwest customers can fly to Santa Rosa directly from Las Vegas, Denver, San Diego and Burbank. In a statement, Southwest's chief operating officer Andrew Watterson said the airline was "excited to open the door to more of California’s incredible destinations." "[E]specially [to] the stunning wine region of Sonoma County, as we add our 14th airport to our already best-in-industry intra-California service," the official added. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "By adding service to Sonoma County Airport and launching Sip and Ship, we’re offering our customers even more convenience and an opportunity to continue sipping and savoring their time in wine country." The new deal is a "smart, experience-driven perk that taps into how people actually travel today," said Amy West, a travel expert based in Florida. West told Fox News Digital that travelers are increasingly seeking out food and wine experiences — and Southwest "is meeting them right at that moment of discovery." CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "Being able to bring a case of wine home without added cost removes a common friction point and makes the trip feel more rewarding," said West. "It also signals a broader shift where airlines are looking beyond just the seat and focusing on enhancing the overall travel experience." Overall, West said that the offering "encourages more intentional travel tied to specific destinations, especially wine regions, while adding tangible value without raising fares." Fox News Digital reached out to Southwest for additional comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7833d8d5dabda395645f 22nd Pat’s Run has special meaning to those who honor Pat Tillman’s legacy te 2026-04-13T23:11:47.181Z 22nd Pat’s Run has special meaning to those who honor Pat Tillman’s legacy TEMPE – Saturday’s Pat’s Run was a sea of gold on the streets of downtown Tempe. Runners wore commemorative gold T-shirts to honor the late Pat Tillman.  The race has come to represent even more than Tillman, however, as former service members run, including some in wheelchairs. “It’s not just Pat, there’s a lot of guys and women who serve, and maybe they did not come home to do something like Pat’s Run anymore,” said Ralph Arvizu, a Gulf War veteran who took part in the event. “It’s to memorialize them and to remember them.” Most sports legends are known for their achievements on the field. For Pat Tillman, it was as much what he did off the field as his accomplishments on it that made him an Arizona icon. Tillman played linebacker at Arizona State, helping the Sun Devils reach the 1997 Rose Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals selected him in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft and he played for four seasons with the team as a defensive back.  But it was Tillman’s decision to walk away from a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer from the Cardinals to join the elite Army Rangers in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that defined his legacy. Tillman served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was shot and killed by friendly fire near the village of Spera in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. He was only 27 years old. Soon after his death, some of his friends and family gathered to create an event to honor him. They settled on a 4.2-mile run that would finish on the 42-yard line of Frank Kush Field to honor him, as he wore the number 42 as a Sun Devil. Now, each year, thousands of people from across the country gather to run or walk in Tempe, raising funds to support the Pat Tillman Foundation to raise money for Tillman Scholars – scholarship recipients who have served the country. Saturday’s Pat’s Run marked the 22nd annual event. There are different aspects of Tillman’s career and life that stand out to people. Most admire the fact that he decided to forgo his NFL career to serve his country after 9/11. But others note that he did not do so blindly. “What makes him (Tillman) really stand out is his moral fiber,” said Thomas Burch, who served for five years in the Army.  “He saw that what was going on in Iraq was maybe not the right thing. He was willing to speak up at the time.” Tillman inspired Burch, who looked up information about Tillman to learn about him while Burch was in the Army. He was impressed by what he learned. Arvizu served in the Air Force for four years and was participating in his ninth Pat’s Run this year. He comes back to the school he graduated from because he likes to see the campus and community. Zach Wargo is a graduate student assistant in the Sun Devil Athletics media relations department who serves as the sports information director for ice hockey, swimming and diving, and women’s tennis.  “I’ve learned that he is one of the most genuine, caring human beings on the football team and one of the greatest student-athletes that we’ve had,” Wargo said. This was Wargo’s fifth Pat’s Run. He started running the race as a student at Arizona State before he began working in Sun Devil Athletics.  Wargo learned that Tillman was passionate about football and serving his country and heard firsthand stories about Tillman from his boss, Doug Tammaro, the senior associate athletic director at ASU, who was working in sports information when Tillman was a rising star for the Sun Devils. That 1997 team, under coach Bruce Snyder, reached the Rose Bowl and contended for a national championship. Tammaro was among those friends who came up with the concept for Pat’s Run. Corona del Sol teacher Dave Leonard holds a Pat Tillman Day at the Tempe high school every year on the Friday before the race and teaches his students about Tillman’s legacy. He has found that all of his students want to learn more about Tillman. “I ask kids, ‘How many of you know somebody who has done a Pat Tillman run?’” Leonard said. “About half of their hands go up,” People want to pass down Tillman’s story, and one way to do that is for families to run the race together.  Connor Banks of Phoenix ran his first Pat’s Run on Saturday while pushing his two kids in a stroller. He was still among the first runners to finish. “I thought it would be a great way to bond with the kids, out supporting a good cause,” Banks said. “I think it’s really cool to come honor him in this race.” Banks and his kids liked running into Mountain America Stadium to end the race. Tillman played his four years of college ball and all four years of his professional career in Mountain America Stadium – then called Sun Devil Stadium.  Leonard has run every race and saved every shirt from each race. He was wearing the 2007 shirt on Saturday. His wife has run all but the first edition of the race, and their son has run every Pat’s Run since he was born. Wargo ran the race with his mom and dad. This was the fourth year in a row they have run as a family. “It just means a lot to leave it all out on the course, and to be able to remember Tillman in the best way possible,” Wargo said.  Wargo plans to continue running Pat’s Run after he graduates from Arizona State in a month, no matter where his job takes him.  Burch, who is from Fayetteville, Arkansas, raced with fellow veterans and got to see his old friends again. It was the first time he had run in the race.  Leonard only laces his running shoes up for one occasion. Pat’s Run. “I’m not a runner,” Leonard said. “I hate running, but once a year I’m running this race because of what Pat did.” Some runners, like Burch, wore their military uniforms and a handful of firefighters wore their gear. A few donned costumes such as an American flag morphsuit and a Sonic costume. Others carried flags as they ran, with the most popular being “Old Glory.” This race is not just significant to everyday people; comedian Rob Riggle was the honorary starter for the race and ran in it. The Sun Devils’ mascot, Sparky, also ran the race. The total number of runners was estimated at just under 30,000. There are also Arizona State alumni chapters across the country who organize local Tillman Honor Runs, with most occurring on the same Saturday. And there are often Tillman “shadow” runs on military bases around the world. Through the years, the event has expanded in popularity and includes a  0.42-mile kid’s run. And after the race this year, there was the Tillman Tailgate for runners to enjoy. A lot has changed since the first Pat’s Run in 2005. The Sun Devils baseball field, Packard Stadium, and golf course, Karsten Golf Course, are gone. Those teams now play off-campus, northwest of the old sites. Hockey’s Mullett Arena has been built. Other assorted buildings, such as apartment buildings, campus buildings and new shops have sprung up along the way, changing the look of downtown Tempe.  The racecourse has also changed and corrals had to be arranged to send runners off in waves to get so many of them onto a 4.2-mile course. “We’ve seen a lot of change on this campus,” Leonard said. “But this race is always here.” One thing remains the same about Pat’s run: honoring his legacy. It’s one that can be defined as being passionate in what you do, while being kind and caring to others, expressing gratitude and therefore representing yourself in the best light possible. “Whenever I see the number 42, I think of Pat Tillman, I think of Jackie Robinson,” Leonard said. “Pat Tillman’s a little bit closer to home for me, but what those guys did for that number 42, it’ll live on.” In today’s society, issues such as politics can be divisive. Even in sports, there are rivalries, such as Arizona State and Arizona.  Those who participate in Pat’s Run set the rivalries and politics aside – at least for a day. “You see everyone come together with one purpose; it’s very special,” Arvizu said. The post 22nd Pat’s Run has special meaning to those who honor Pat Tillman’s legacy appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd781ad8d5dabda3956423 Embattled Rep Tony Gonzales announces plans to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations te 2026-04-13T23:11:22.094Z Embattled Rep Tony Gonzales announces plans to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, abruptly announced his decision to resign from Congress Monday evening amid calls for him to step aside after admitting to sexual misconduct with a staffer earlier this year. The embattled lawmaker was facing an anticipated expulsion vote that could have occurred as early as this week.  "There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office," Gonzales wrote on social media. "It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas." It is currently unclear when Gonzales will formally resign. A spokesperson for Gonzales did not immediately respond to a request for comment. His announcement came just an hour after Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said he planned to resign after facing allegations of sexual misconduct and rape. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7806d8d5dabda395641a Sunny Hostin doesn't know if president is the 'right position' for Harris, urges her to reconsider CA governor te 2026-04-13T23:11:02.506Z Sunny Hostin doesn't know if president is the 'right position' for Harris, urges her to reconsider CA governor "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin urged former Vice President Kamala Harris to reconsider running for California governor on Monday, as the co-hosts discussed Rep. Eric Swalwell's decision to end his campaign amid sexual assault allegations. "I think the bigger question for me now is, you know, California, it’s like running a country. Swalwell was running to be governor, and he was the lead candidate for the Democrats. I mean, California overtook Japan as the fourth-largest global economy. It has a GDP of $4.25 trillion. And so, I’d like to see Kamala Harris maybe put her hat back in the ring for Governor of California. I know that she’s talked about being President—I don’t know if that’s the right position for her—but my goodness, she certainly knows California," Hostin said. Co-host Ana Navarro said the deadline for entering the race had passed. The deadline to declare candidacy was March 6. The state's primary election will be held on June 2. SWALWELL CAMPAIGN REJECTS 'OUTRAGEOUS' ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AS DEM ACTIVISTS ISSUE VIRAL WARNING Swalwell announced Sunday that he would be suspending his campaign for California governor, citing personal issues and ongoing allegations in a statement posted on X. "I am suspending my campaign for Governor," Swalwell wrote. "To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past." "I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s," he added. Harris announced in July of 2025 that she wouldn't pursue the gubernatorial race in California. However, the former presidential candidate said she was thinking about running for president last week. Hostin was a staunch supporter of Harris in 2024 after she replaced former President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. She asked a pivotal question of Harris during an October 2024 interview with the former vice president that was seen as a big turning point for her campaign. Harris told the co-hosts during the interview ahead of the election that there wasn't anything she would have done differently than President Biden over their term. Harris' office did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd77f2d8d5dabda3956411 Gabbard claims ‘coordinated effort’ by intelligence community to advance narrative to impeach Trump te 2026-04-13T23:10:42.670Z Gabbard claims ‘coordinated effort’ by intelligence community to advance narrative to impeach Trump Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released newly declassified testimony that she alleges shows a "coordinated effort" by the intelligence community to "manufacture a conspiracy" used as the basis of President Donald Trump first impeachment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Monday released two declassified transcripts from closed-door House Intelligence Committee hearings that Gabbard’s office says show former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson advanced as credible a whistleblower complaint based on secondhand information from an individual who had previously worked with then-Vice President Joe Biden in Ukraine. Gabbard’s office argued that, based on this and other testimony, Atkinson’s actions "weaponize[d] the whistleblower process and exceed[ed] his statutory jurisdiction." Atkinson’s investigation helped trigger the first impeachment of Trump by advancing what he deemed a "credible" whistleblower complaint regarding a July 2019 phone call between the president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson "did not follow standard IG procedures and relied upon politicized, manufactured narratives" while investigating the whistleblower claim that ultimately led to Trump’s 2019 impeachment, Gabbard’s office said Monday. GABBARD UNAWARE OF FBI PROBE INTO JOE KENT BEFORE RESIGNATION, OFFICIAL SAYS Gabbard, citing previously classified House testimony by Atkinson, said the former inspector general "aggressively advanced" his preliminary probe while relying on secondhand testimony and what she described as politicized witnesses. Gabbard’s office also charged that Atkinson "never conducted a formal or complete investigation." "In his own words, IC IG Atkinson recognizes that his conclusions were based on a ‘preliminary investigation,’ noting that ‘I haven’t done an investigation to determine whether they actually, in fact, took place … that all of the alleged actions actually took place,’" according to the statement from Gabbard.  Under federal law, the inspector general's preliminary role is to determine whether a whistle-blower complaint "appears credible," rather than to fully investigate or substantiate the underlying allegations. Atkinson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The testimony reveals that Atkinson was aware that the primary whistleblower, whose identity has still not been officially disclosed, was a "registered Democrat" and had alerted staff on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence before submitting their "Disclosure of Urgent Concern" form, Gabbard's office said. The whistleblower also admitted having "worked closely with Vice President Biden" and "travelled with Biden to Ukraine and was part of conversations where LUTSENKO corruption was discussed," according to the DNI release. Yuriy Lutsenko, Ukraine’s prosecutor general from 2016 to 2019, was the official who inherited and closed the Burisma investigation and was subsequently courted by Hunter Biden-linked lobbyists seeking to facilitate connections between the Ukrainian government and Democratic political circles, Fox News Digital previously reported.  Gabbard also accused Atkinson of ignoring any bias, highlighting testimony in which he said, "I also want to make it clear that I never considered the whistleblower to be politically biased." FBI'S CONTROVERSIAL TRUMP-RUSSIA ACTIONS PREDICTED WITH 'ALARMING SPECIFICITY' BY FOREIGN ACTORS: SOURCES The office said that on the initial form submitted by the whistleblower, they admitted, "I do not have direct knowledge of private comments or communications" by Trump. Notably, whistleblower laws do not require a whistleblower to provide first-hand information, according to the National Whistleblower Center. Gabbard’s office said one of the "key" witnesses Atkinson relied on to corroborate the whistleblower's report during his preliminary investigation was also a co-author of the controversial 2017 intelligence community assessment on Russian collusion that Gabbard has previously said was instigated at the direction of former President Barack Obama. JAMES CLAPPER, JOHN BRENNAN HIT BACK AT TRUMP ALLEGATIONS ABOUT RUSSIA PROBE AS 'PATENTLY FALSE' Gabbard, herself a former Democrat, accused Atkinson of having "failed to uphold his responsibility to the American people, putting political motivations over the truth." "Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people and impeach the duly-elected President of the United States," said Gabbard. "And this, along with the politicization of the whistleblower process by a former CIA employee who was working hand in glove with Democrats in Congress, are egregious examples of the deep state playbook on how to weaponize the Intelligence Community." She added that "exposing these tactics and showing how they undermine the fabric of our democratic republic furthers the critical cause of transparency and accountability and will help prevent future abuse of power." Democratic lawmakers largely dismissed the disclosures from Gabbard, framing the declassification as an attempt by the DNI to win favor from Trump.  "This is a nothingburger — just another sad attempt by Tulsi Gabbard to get in Donald Trump’s good graces," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Politico's NatSec Daily newsletter.  Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also criticized the declassification on X.  "Everyone can read the transcript of Trump’s phone call to extort President Zelenskyy for dirt on Biden. That was an impeachable offense, and no amount of dust kicking and sycophancy can obscure it," Himes wrote. "Had Joe Biden made that call, Republicans would have burned the place down."  Fox News Digital reached out to House and Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats for additional comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd75c8d8d5dabda39563dd Faucets will run dry in Kearny by July 15, officials warn te 2026-04-13T23:01:28.388Z Faucets will run dry in Kearny by July 15, officials warn A small Arizona town faces a critical water shortage, with officials warning Kearny could run dry by mid-July. Town officials have declared a water emergency. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd75b1d8d5dabda39563c5 Hobbs to Republicans: Show me your budget or every bill you send me is dead te 2026-04-13T23:01:05.083Z Hobbs to Republicans: Show me your budget or every bill you send me is dead Gov. Katie Hobbs in January 2026. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0) Gov. Katie Hobbs says she won’t sign any more bills until Arizona’s Republican legislative leaders reveal their budget plan.  The Democratic governor paused budget negotiations three weeks ago after she said that the Republicans who control the Arizona House of Representatives and the Arizona Senate refused to negotiate on Proposition 123, a school funding measure that expired last year.  In response, Republicans said that Hobbs’s proposed budget was unserious and of “throwing a tantrum.”  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE At the time, Hobbs said her office would resume negotiations if the GOP leaders publicly release their own budget plan. Weeks later, they haven’t done so, and Hobbs is increasing the pressure.  “I know we can get big things done when we work together, but that isn’t possible when one side refuses to show us their plans,” Hobbs said in a Monday statement. Hobbs revealed her own budget plan in January, which Republicans said was “based on fantasy revenue.” Passing a budget by the June 30 deadline is the Arizona Legislature’s only statutory duty each year. Negotiations are always difficult since the budget requires approval from both Republican-led chambers of the legislature, as well as the Democratic governor, whose priorities often do not align.  Last year, the budget fight led to numerous late-night sessions, partly because of Republican infighting, with the budget finally passed and signed on June 27.  The dynamics of the negotiations this year are even more difficult because of cuts from the federal government that decrease available resources and election-year politics that are especially amplified because Hobbs is seeking reelection in November.  In her statement, Hobbs said that Republican leaders were focused on tax cuts for billionaires and taking away food and medical assistance for families who need it, instead of producing a balanced budget.  Senate President Warren Petersen placed the blame for the budget negotiation breakdown on Hobbs.  “The Governor’s blanket veto threat is an unserious approach to governing and puts politics ahead of progress,” he said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror. “In response, the Senate will focus on advancing amended bills that require final action while we continue working daily to reach a balanced budget. We’re ready to negotiate and get this done.”  Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro called Hobbs’s announcement “political theater.”  “Governor Hobbs quit the budget talks more than three weeks ago after it became clear her numbers did not add up, and now she is trying to distract from that failure with a bill-signing freeze,” he said in a statement to the Mirror.  At the center of Hobbs’s exit from negotiations was Republicans’ refusal to negotiate putting a renewal of Prop. 123, which expired last year, to voters.  Arizona voters narrowly favored Prop. 123 in 2016, a vital source of K-12 school funding that made up for the state’s failure to increase funding for public education to keep up with inflation. Its passage settled a lawsuit filed by public schools The $300 million in funding came from an increase in the percentage taken from the state’s land trust to fund public schools, raising the distribution rate from 2.5% to 6.9%.  The rate reverted back to the lower threshold in June.  Republicans have tried for the past few years to create a plan to renew or revive Prop. 123, but none of those efforts gained traction, and while they agreed to use the state’s general fund to backfill the lost $300 million in education funding last year, there’s no guarantee they’ll continue to do so. When Hobbs walked away from budget negotiations three weeks ago, gubernatorial spokesman Christian Slater blamed Republicans’ refusal to negotiate a Prop. 123 revival on Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican and head of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus.  “Rumors at the Capitol suggest that some Republicans may be tempted to cut a deal with Hobbs on Prop123,” Hoffman wrote in a March 12 post on the social media site X. “The only winner in a political drug deal like this is Hobbs If Republicans decide to surrender on 123, they will be effectively underwriting the Hobbs’ reelection campaign.” On Monday, Hobbs criticised Republicans for their failure to publicly release their own budget proposal after they promised to create their own balanced budget “in the next several weeks” in a March 19 statement. In the same statement, GOP leaders claimed they had already shown Hobbs’s budget team a balanced budget that conformed the Arizona tax code with changes at the federal level.  GOP lawmakers want to fully conform to the federal adjustments, changes that would result in tax cuts totaling an estimated $441 million this year. Hobbs wants to partially conform to the new federal tax codes, which would result in a smaller reduction in state income tax revenues.  The two sides have already been fighting over this issue for months, with Hobbs vetoing their proposals to align the state’s tax codes with federal tax law changes created by President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Republicans have claimed that Hobbs’s own budget proposal is unbalanced because it relies on funding sources that might not materialize. That includes Prop. 123 funding that would depend on approval from voters in November and a $760 million reimbursement from the federal government for border-security related expenditures made by the state after Jan. 20, 2021. Both Hobbs and Republican legislative leaders have requested more than $700 million from the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund, created by the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” But there’s no guarantee Arizona will receive that money, as the state must compete for funds with other border states, like Texas, which has asked for more than $11 billion in reimbursements from the $13 billion fund. “Arizona needs a balanced budget built on honest numbers, not press stunts and invented revenue,” Montenegro said in the statement. “House Republicans are at the Capitol, doing the work and ready to govern. The Governor can end her sideshow anytime by coming back to the table, doing her job and dealing with reality.” Hobbs said that Republicans were keeping their own plan under wraps so they could avoid the public’s scrutiny, and promised that until they revealed it, all of their bills would be dead on arrival.  “Arizonans deserve more than these political games,” she said. “They deserve a budget that cuts taxes for the middle class, funds our public schools and lowers costs for everyday Arizonans. I’m ready to negotiate. My door is open. The legislative majority needs to put forward their budget proposal and then join me at the negotiating table so we can pass a bipartisan, balanced budget just like we’ve done the past three years.” Petersen said in his statement that the Senate will “respond accordingly” to the governor’s threat.  “We’re not going to pretend business as usual can continue under a veto threat,” he said.  Hobbs said she would make two exceptions to the veto moratorium for bills that would provide death benefits to first responders and would give $4.8 million to the Arizona Department of Public Safety to support state troopers and first responders.  In recent years, Arizona governors have resorted to bill-signing moratoriums as a way to strong-arm Republican legislators to compromise. In 2012 and 2013, Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a series of bills after telling GOP lawmakers they needed to pass a budget, and Gov. Doug Ducey did the same in 2021.  This is the second year in a row Hobbs has vowed to veto bills to force Republican legislators to act: Last year, she employed the tactic to spur passage of emergency funding for programs that serve disabled Arizonans. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. SUPPORT Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7587d8d5dabda395639c Tony Gonzales, a Texas Congressman, Says He Will Resign te 2026-04-13T23:00:23.662Z Tony Gonzales, a Texas Congressman, Says He Will Resign The third term Republican lawmaker is accused of coercing a staff member into a sexual relationship. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7342d8d5dabda3956349 Butler man’s online rants to kill Trump end in guilty plea after FBI probe te 2026-04-13T22:50:42.545Z Butler man’s online rants to kill Trump end in guilty plea after FBI probe A Butler, Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to making threats to assassinate President Donald Trump, other U.S. officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Shawn Monper, 32, pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of threatening to assault and murder U.S. officials and federal law enforcement officers with intent to impede or retaliate against them while they were carrying out their duties. Law enforcement officials arrested Monper on April 9, 2025, after launching an investigation into threats posted on YouTube by a user identified as "Mr Satan." The FBI was notified about Monper’s YouTube account on April 8, 2025, and was able to link it to his home in Butler. BONDI PRAISES RYAN ROUTH VERDICT, SAYS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WAS AN 'AFFRONT TO OUR VERY NATION ITSELF' He made several threatening statements between Jan. 15 and April 5, including that he was "going to assassinate" Trump "myself," that "ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them," and that "eventually im going to do a mass shooting." On Feb. 17, he wrote: "Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon [Musk], all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way. Remember, we are the majority, MAGA is a minority of the country, and by the time its time to make the move, they will be weakened, many will be crushed by these policies, and they will want revenge too. American Revolution 2.0." The FBI investigation also found that Monper obtained a firearms permit after Trump’s inauguration, which he referenced on his YouTube account. MAN ACCUSED OF PLOTTING TRUMP ASSASSINATION CLAIMS IRAN FORCED HIM TO "I have bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office," he wrote after Trump's second inauguration. In March, he added, "I have been buying 1 gun a month since the election, body armor, and ammo." Monper threatened ICE again on April 1, writing, "If I see an armed ICE agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist, and an active shooter and open fire on them." The Butler Township Police Department in Pennsylvania investigated the case alongside the FBI. FBI 'STONEWALLED' HOUSE TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT INVESTIGATION, CONGRESSMEN ALLEGEU.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy scheduled Monper’s sentencing for August 12, 2026. Monper faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison on each count, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Butler on July 13, 2024. The shooter was killed by the Secret Service. Ryan Routh was also arrested for attempting to assassinate the president in September 2024 after he was found armed and lying in wait outside his golf course in West Palm Beach. In February, Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd7102d8d5dabda3955f04 Phoenix flight diverted to Tucson after 'issue with onboard oven,' American Airlines says te 2026-04-13T22:41:06.800Z Phoenix flight diverted to Tucson after 'issue with onboard oven,' American Airlines says The flight was headed from Phoenix to Miami originally, but landed in Tucson after an "issue with an onboard oven," American Airlines told 12News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd70efd8d5dabda3955efb Man drowns in Colorado River, police say te 2026-04-13T22:40:47.085Z Man drowns in Colorado River, police say Officials said the man drowned Monday morning around 11:15 a.m. near Davis Camp at the Colorado River. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd6ebad8d5dabda3955e73 Mike Breen says fans 'deserve to be thrown a bone' as NBA cuts all local broadcasts from the playoffs te 2026-04-13T22:31:22.806Z Mike Breen says fans 'deserve to be thrown a bone' as NBA cuts all local broadcasts from the playoffs Mike Breen, the New York Knicks’ play-by-play announcer and star NBA voice with ESPN, is not happy with a key league move heading into the NBA Playoffs. And he didn’t hold back his frustrations during the Knicks’ regular-season finale on Sunday night. For the first time in NBA history, all local network broadcasts are being pushed out of the playoffs for nationally televised games. Those networks paid a premium to air the playoffs, but the league had always allowed the local home broadcast to be aired as well as the national TV spots in previous seasons. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Breen, alongside his longtime partner, Knicks great Walt "Clyde" Frazier, ripped the league’s decision on the final day of his broadcasting duties for the Eastern Conference squad. "First time ever that no longer can the home team announcers and broadcasters televise the first round," Breen mentioned during the 110-96 loss to the Charlotte Hornets while broadcasting on MSG. KNICKS BROADCASTER'S JOKE COMPARING BULLS' 'OBLITERATED' DEFENSE TO IRAN LEAVES PARTNER STUNNED "The entire playoffs are exclusive to national TV broadcasters. I mentioned this earlier this season. I think, personally, Clyde, it’s a poor decision. Fans want to hear their home team announcers, at least in the first round. For so many of us, they become part of the family." Breen added that he understands "the networks pay a fortune for exclusivity," granted he works for one of those networks on ESPN. "But fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while in terms of letting the home team have a little bit of the first round," he continued. The NBA reached a whopping $76 billion broadcast rights deal that kicked in at the start of this season, and it will last for the next 11 seasons. Like other pro sports leagues, the deal is carved out across various platforms, both long-standing networks and streaming. While the NBA got together the deal it liked with Disney, Amazon and NBCUniversal, Breen hopes it would consider working something out to get local broadcasters back into the fold for the playoffs. However, he knows how the business is at the end of the day. "Somehow, if there’s any way they can work out some kind of compromise, I’m not hopeful for that, but it would be wonderful to have it because this is our final telecast of the season," Breen said. Breen, now, will focus on his ESPN duties as the lead commentator for the "Worldwide Leader" on the court. His famous "Bang!" call on clutch three-pointers has been synonymous with the biggest moments in the NBA Playoffs for years now, and that will get started very soon as teams in both the East and West gun for their shot at the Larry O’Brien Trophy and to call themselves NBA Finals champions. The Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning Finals champs, are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference once again, while teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers will battle them to be crowned conference champions. In the East, Breen’s Knicks own the No. 3 seed, while the Detroit Pistons (No. 1) and Boston Celtics (No. 2) had successful regular-season campaigns to earn a top spot heading into the playoffs. The Play-In Tournament will be the first games for the NBA Playoffs, which will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Then, the first round will split its tipoffs on NBC/Peacock, Prime Video and ESPN. 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/69dd6ea7d8d5dabda3955e6a Aubrey Plaza confirms pregnancy with first child after personal challenges and health struggles te 2026-04-13T22:31:03.100Z Aubrey Plaza confirms pregnancy with first child after personal challenges and health struggles Aubrey Plaza revealed she's pregnant with her first child. During an appearance on the "Smartless" podcast, the "Parks and Recreation" star recalled how birth control pills may have contributed to her past medical traumas, which included having a stroke when she was 20 years old. When the hosts inquired if Plaza would still pursue contraception methods, she casually admitted, "There's a baby inside me." JEAN SMART ADMITS SHE MISTOOK SERIOUS SYMPTOMS FOR BEING IN ‘CRAPPY SHAPE’ BEFORE EMERGENCY HEART SURGERY Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes were surprised as the "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" actress reiterated, "There is a baby inside of me right now." "Today was a big day. I went to the doctor's today and my dog also went to the doctor's," she recalled. "My dog's getting a scan right now, I got a scan earlier. I'm not kidding." ROSEANNE BARR REVEALS ‘DAMAGED’ HEART, FEARS SHE WILL ‘DIE ON THE SURGERY TABLE’ "She had to get an ultrasound on her stomach and then I got an ultrasound on my stomach and there is a baby in there." Plaza, 41, who is dating actor Christopher Abbott, admitted she's excited about being a mother and "always wanted to see what that's all about." "It just seems so interesting," she said. Earlier in the podcast, Plaza detailed how having a stroke in college impacted her life in a number of ways. "It happened like truly in mid-sentence out of nowhere," Plaza said. "It's a horrifying story." "I had taken my sisters to a Hilary Duff concert the night before, and you know how that goes. I was feeling normal. I had my coat on still. I walked into my friend's apartment in Astoria to have lunch with them, and I was telling them about the Hilary Duff concert." Just as Plaza was saying the "Come Clean" singer's name, she started experiencing stroke symptoms. "I stroked out and I kind of ... the first thing that happened was like my right arm was numb, and I looked down, and I was confused," she said. "I wasn't slurring, but I was looking at my arm like that's not my arm. It wasn't even numb, it was just not connected to my body." Plaza said she "blacked out" for a second and once she came to, she couldn't speak because of a blood clot stuck in her "language center." "It was like not even slurring; it was just like not talking, but I can understand everything," she remembered. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Her medical drama remains a mystery. Plaza said she believed birth control medicatio may have contributed to her stroke. "That was the only thing I was putting in my body," she said. "Like I wasn't on drugs or, you know, doing anything weird." She added, "It was a real fluke, and even to this day, like I still have to, you know, whenever I go to the doctors, I have to fill out like my history and ... I've seen top neurologists, I've been tested for, you know, all the blood disorders and clotting disorders and everything." Plaza said the stroke "100 million percent" impacted her outlook on spirituality. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I grew up very Catholic. I went to an all-girls' Catholic school my whole life, and so, my spirituality was like very wrapped up in the like saints and God and Jesus and, you know, things like that." She added, "I feel like I've always been a spiritual person, you know. Now I've shifted into more of the dark arts, you know?" Her pregnancy announcement comes more than one year after Plaza's estranged husband, director Jeff Baena, died by suicide. He was 47. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call on Jan. 3 in Los Angeles where a victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Fox News Digital confirmed at the time. Baena's representative directed Fox News Digital to a statement originally shared with Deadline. "The family is devastated and asks for privacy at this difficult time," the statement read. The couple was private about their relationship after meeting in 2011. It is unclear when they wed, but Plaza confirmed the couple's marriage status in 2021 in an Instagram post. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd6e7fd8d5dabda3955e5b What Happens in California Governor’s Race After Eric Swalwell Stepped Down? te 2026-04-13T22:30:23.337Z What Happens in California Governor’s Race After Eric Swalwell Stepped Down? For Democrats, the drama is reverberating well beyond the state. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd69e2d8d5dabda3955dbb TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez assaulted during Minneapolis ICE protest te 2026-04-13T22:10:42.289Z TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez assaulted during Minneapolis ICE protest Frontlines TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez was attacked while covering an ICE protest in Minneapolis on Saturday.  At the Whipple Federal Building, protests took place over a local ICE field office that is also a detention facility. Protesters swarmed Hernandez, blowing horns in front of her face, yelling obscenities and waving adult novelty products in front of her, as she tried to cover herself and run away.  "Get the f--- out of here," one protester is heard repeatedly yelling at Hernandez. HOW A TURNING POINT REPORTER TURNED THE TABLES ON A LIBERAL PROTESTER THROWING RACIST INSULTS AT HER VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE AND ITEMS Hernandez escaped from the swarm of protesters and then said, "get away from me" to a protester who continued to be up close to her. The protester then pushed Hernandez, who fell on the wired fence. Hernandez got up and attempted to leave again, while yelling at protesters to get away from her. Another protester attempted to tussle with Hernandez, but she was able to escape. "Stop touching me!" Hernandez yelled back at protesters, and almost immediately after, a grown man is seen pushing Hernandez forward to the concrete. Protesters continued to push Hernandez as she tried to get up and leave, and she was pushed down to the ground again. "Leave me, I am trying to leave!" Hernandez shouted at one point. In the video, other individuals at the scene claim they tried to help Hernandez escape the violent protesters, saying they stopped people from hitting her. CONSERVATIVE JOURNALIST ACCUSES LEGACY MEDIA OF COVERING UP MINNEAPOLIS ‘RIOT’ ANTI-ICE AGITATOR ALLEGEDLY BITES OFF FEDERAL OFFICER'S FINGER DURING MINNEAPOLIS ATTACK Some individuals at the protest can be seen trying to calm some of the others down. Following this, Hernandez posted on X that she sustained minor injuries. She posted, "Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on me today. My legs are scraped and my neck and back are sore, but I’m safe and doing okay. Just horrified that pockets of America are this dangerous and uncivilized." She also claimed three people, including the man seen shoving her hard to the ground, are being charged in the incident. According to Fox 9 Minneapolis, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. Fox 9 reported deputies said four people will be charged in connection to Saturday's protest, three of them in connection to the assault of a journalist and a deputy. Liberal streamer Andrew Mercado posted on X, in part, "what happened later shouldn’t have happened. Savannah was filming, not engaging with anyone, and it escalated into a physical confrontation that ultimately gave law enforcement a reason to step in and declare an unlawful assembly, shutting the entire protest down." Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon confirmed on X that the FBI has opened an investigation into the assault on Hernandez. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd655fd8d5dabda3955d3e ASU’s Cullen Potter enters the transfer portal, likely heading to Michigan State te 2026-04-13T21:51:27.313Z ASU’s Cullen Potter enters the transfer portal, likely heading to Michigan State PHOENIX – The transfer portal is reshaping college hockey rosters overnight. For Arizona State, which is coming off a last-place finish in the NCHC, the most recent change was both surprising and unwelcome. Cullen Potter, the team’s top player and a 2025 first-round NHL draft pick of the Calgary Flames, is entering the portal with Michigan State as his most likely destination, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler reported. The transfer portal opens tomorrow. One name two sources mentioned to me in Las Vegas: Sounds like Cullen Potter (Flames) will enter. And a little surprisingly, one source mentioned Michigan State, where Potter was previously committed before decommitting and landing at ASU. — Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) April 12, 2026 The transfer portal officially opened Monday and already includes more than 250 players. That cast included a number of Sun Devils, including defenseman Joel Kjellberg, defenseman Sam Court and forward Ty Nash. But none of the departures figures to be more impactful than Potter’s.  “We wish Cullen – and any player that is looking for other opportunities – all the best,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “The landscape is the landscape, and wow, we are disappointed to lose a player of his caliber, but he has every right to go look for whatever it is he wants. “We are very excited about all the prospects that we are adding that want to be a part of our program here at ASU and look forward to letting everyone know what next year’s roster looks like. We are hard at work to fill the holes that we believe we had and are confident that we will do so.” Landing Potter was a major coup for ASU. The United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) initially hoped to bring him back for another year prior to his freshman season, and his original college commitment, Michigan State, also remained an option. Ultimately, roster limitations with Michigan State left no available spots, leading Potter to commit to ASU, where he became a key contributor and totalled 25 goals and 48 points over two seasons in Tempe. When the 2025-26 season ended, all signs were pointing to Potter returning for his junior season. While Potter’s entry to the transfer portal comes as a shock, FloHockey NHL draft and prospect analyst Chris Peters said it should not. “I think that that’s the nature of the beast,” Peters said. “There’s still, I think, questions from NHL teams about Arizona State’s ability to develop pro players. I think sometimes players that maybe don’t feel like they took a big enough step are going to see if somebody else can bring that out of them. I think that’s probably more to do with the situation (with Potter).” As for other reasons behind the move, there are several possibilities, including the chance to play alongside higher-end talent. ASU also lost forwards Bennett Schimek and Cruz Lucius to graduation. “It could be the situation with the environment around them, in terms of, ‘Who am I playing with? Who could I play with? Where might I get an opportunity to showcase the full complement of my skills?’” Peters said. “At Arizona State, Cullen was able to kind of be more like a focal point of the offense. I think in a lot of other places where he’s going to go, he’s going to be a piece.” Another factor could be money. In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, especially college hockey, well-funded programs now have the resources to aggressively target and land the players they want. “Definitely in cases where maybe it’s a player that says, you know, it is an NIL situation where you get a larger sum of money,” Peters said. “I think in most cases in hockey, the money isn’t big enough to make a significant difference. It definitely helps, but it doesn’t make a significant difference in terms of where a player is going to go.” It is also important to note the decision was not, or at least does not appear to have been, influenced by the Flames, the team that made Potter the highest-drafted Sun Devil in program history during the 2025 NHL Draft. “There’s nothing negative at all about ASU and how he has been treated there,” Flames president of hockey operations Don Maloney said on Jan. 26. “He has really been well-handled. It has been a really good place and a good situation for him.” Potter’s departure is one of many reasons the Sun Devils roster will look drastically different next season. Among the many areas the team is looking at, the blue line remains top of mind for the coaching staff. ASU allowed 35.2 shots on goal per game, the fifth worst mark in the NCAA Division I last season.  But Potter’s departure, more than the others, leaves more questions than answers and raises concerns about timing, intent and the realities of the modern transfer portal.  Was Arizona State simply a stepping stone for him to access resources before moving on? Or did financial factors ultimately drive the decision, with compensation becoming the deciding line? Those are the kinds of questions that will continue to surround the program during the 15-day transfer window. How it all unfolds will go a long way in shaping not just ASU’s immediate future, but also the perception of how roster building works in this new era of college hockey. Maloney seemed to hint at this when asked about Potter’s future with ASU. “It’s really up to him, his family and his advisor,” Maloney said. The post ASU’s Cullen Potter enters the transfer portal, likely heading to Michigan State appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd6545d8d5dabda3955d04 Swalwell announces resignation from Congress after sexual misconduct allegations torpedoed gubernatorial bid te 2026-04-13T21:51:01.507Z Swalwell announces resignation from Congress after sexual misconduct allegations torpedoed gubernatorial bid Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced he would resign his congressional seat on Monday on the heels of multiple bombshell reports last Friday that forced him to drop out of a bid to become the next governor of California. "I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past," Swalwell said ina statement. "I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make." "I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," he continued. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress." While Democrats fell short of calling on Swalwell to resign his seat, the Chronicle’s scathing reporting left a wave of Swalwell's colleagues rescinding their support for his campaign — including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Pelosi urged that consideration of the accusations against Swalwell take place outside of the context of his campaign. SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: 'OUTRAGEOUS' "The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard. This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability. As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that this is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign," Pelosi said in statements given to NBC. A number of other Democrats soon joined the former speaker’s calls, with a handful rescinding previous endorsements of the campaign. "I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting, and I take it seriously," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a post to X. "What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed," he added. Swalwell first became a member of the House of Representatives in 2013. Before his time in Congress, Swalwell served as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office before becoming a city councilmember in Dublin, California, in 2010. ADAM SCHIFF MAKES ENDORSEMENT IN CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE As a member of the House, Swalwell helped spearhead impeachment efforts against President Donald Trump in 2019 and, before that, led inquiries on whether Russian interference had meaningfully impacted the 2016 presidential election. It’s unclear if Swalwell’s resignation marks an end to his political career. In its Friday report, the San Francisco Chronicle detailed graphic accounts from a woman accusing Swalwell of pursuing intoxicated women, pressuring employees into intimate situations and asking for explicit images from female contacts. Rumblings of misconduct from Swalwell first emerged earlier this month when Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer and a political media personality, began circulating testimony from women who said they had been sexually assaulted by the congressman. 'USEFUL PUPPET': ERIC SWALWELL IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TRAVELING TO DOHA ON SEVERAL QATAR-SPONSORED TRIPS "The Democratic candidate currently leading in the California governor’s race has a known history of being predatory towards women," Hunt claimed in a post to social media. Despite initially remaining moot on the allegations, Swalwell’s office broke its silence on the matter in comments made to the New York Post earlier this week. "This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race," Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell, said. Swalwell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd651ed8d5dabda3955cf6 What the Naval Blockade of Iran Might Look Like te 2026-04-13T21:50:22.057Z What the Naval Blockade of Iran Might Look Like The U.S. military has provided few details on how it might carry out President Trump’s orders as he seeks to pressure Tehran on a peace deal. But history and established practices offer some clues. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd6315d8d5dabda3955ca7 Trump’s McDonald’s order comes with cash surprise for ‘DoorDash Grandma’ outside White House te 2026-04-13T21:41:41.072Z Trump’s McDonald’s order comes with cash surprise for ‘DoorDash Grandma’ outside White House President Donald Trump turned a McDonald’s delivery into a Tax Day pitch Monday, bringing a DoorDash driver to the White House to tout the elimination of taxes on gratuities — and then surprising her with a cash tip from his pocket.  Trump welcomed Arkansas native Sharon Simmons to the White House on Monday, where the DoorDash delivery driver handed off two bags of the president’s favorite fast food while promoting Trump’s "no tax on tips" policy ahead of Tax Day. As he gaggled with reporters and Simmons, the "DoorDash Grandma" was asked about tips received at the White House.  "Are the White House good tippers?" a member of the media asked Simmons.  "Wait," Trump said before reaching into his pocket to whip out what appeared to be a $100 bill and hand it to Simmons. BESSENT BLASTS DEMOCRAT-LED STATES FOR BLOCKING TRUMP TAX RELIEF IN OBBBA "You reminded me," he continued.  After accepting the tip, Simmons responded that the White House has "very" good tippers.  VANCE WARNS OF 'PENALTY' FOR DEMS WHO OPPOSED THE 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL, BILL' AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tip earners may make up to $25,000 in tax-deductible income from 2025 through 2028, according to the Tax Foundation, a think tank that studies tax policy. "I heard you picked up an extra $11,000 that you wouldn't get because the tax bill was so big, the refund was the biggest you've ever had," Trump said while speaking with Simmons.  Simmons, a grandmother of 10, has completed over 14,000 deliveries since she began in 2022, according to a DoorDash press release. TRUMP BLASTS SPANBERGER AHEAD OF VIRGINIA MEETINGS, SAYS STATE FACES TAX BASE EXODUS LIKE NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA "Since No Tax on Tips was enacted, we estimate Dashers have saved hundreds of millions of dollars," the release read. Max Rettig, DoorDash global head of public policy, said in the release that this moment marks a win for millions of Dashers nationwide, who can now keep more of their earnings when filing their taxes this year. "DoorDash is proud to advocate on behalf of Dashers like Sharon and push for policies like No Tax on Tips because they deliver real impact to so many hardworking people and their families," said Rettig. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for additional comment. Fox News Digital's Leo Briceno contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd6301d8d5dabda3955c9e San Diego taco chain targeted by boycott over CEO's alleged Trump support te 2026-04-13T21:41:21.613Z San Diego taco chain targeted by boycott over CEO's alleged Trump support A popular San Diego-based taco chain is facing boycott calls after a social media user alleged the business's CEO supports President Donald Trump. Roberto's Taco Shop, founded by Roberto and Dolores Robledo in San Diego in 1964, says it serves "fast traditional Mexican food" at more than 80 locations in California, Nevada and Texas. The chain's current CEO is their son, Reynaldo Robledo.  SFGate reported that the Latino-owned business came under fire after a TikTok user posted a video targeting Robledo's alleged political views. The TikTok user, who says she exposes "Latino MAGA businesses that profit off La Raza," shared screenshots of posts supporting the president from a personal Facebook account bearing Robledo's name and image. MINNESOTA RESTAURANTS BY THE DOZENS PLANNING TO SHUT DOWN FRIDAY TO PROTEST ICE ENFORCEMENT The Facebook account appears to have since been made private. "Did this CEO really forget that all of his restaurants are based on Mexican dishes, who wouldn’t have made it here without the immigrants that are currently being affected by the current administration that you are supporting?" the TikToker asks in the April 8 video. "You also forget that the majority of your clients are Latinos?" "Are we going to allow these people to hide, say and lie to our face that they stand by us and then behind closed doors, they're somebody else?" she asked. A public Facebook group called "A Strong Nevada" also called for a boycott of the business. 'TASTES LIKE DEMOCRACY': SAN FRANCISCO BAKERY SELLS ANTI-ICE COOKIES "Did you know that Reynaldo Robledo, the CEO of Roberto's Taco Shop is a huge MAGA supporter and supports ICE!" the group posted last week. "Looks like you won't be getting our business anymore!" A post on a San Diego Reddit also drew hundreds of disgusted comments from users vowing to avoid the taco chain. SFGate also reported that Robledo appeared at a Latinos for Trump roundtable meeting with the president in 2020, where he thanked Trump for helping Latino businesses, according to a transcript from the American Presidency Project. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE The chain’s Las Vegas location posted a statement to Instagram distancing itself from the controversy. "Roberto’s Taco Shop is proud to be a Latino-owned and operated franchise that serves diverse communities across Nevada. While our CEO may hold personal political beliefs, it is important to note that each of our 49 franchisees operate their stores independently," the statement read. "The day-to-day operations and livelihoods of our 600 team members reflect the hard work, values, and cultural heritage of families, many of whom are Latino immigrants, who are dedicated to serving their local communities." Roberto’s did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd62dad8d5dabda3955c89 Harvard Says Trump Lawsuit Rehashes a Battle the School Already Won te 2026-04-13T21:40:42.308Z Harvard Says Trump Lawsuit Rehashes a Battle the School Already Won The government has accused Harvard of harboring antisemitism. Harvard says it prevailed in a similar case last year, and wants the lawsuit moved to the judge who ruled in its favor. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd62c6d8d5dabda3955c80 Eric Swalwell Resigns From Congress After Sex Abuse Accusations te 2026-04-13T21:40:22.639Z Eric Swalwell Resigns From Congress After Sex Abuse Accusations The California lawmaker said in a social media post Monday that he would quit. He has denied accounts of abusing women. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd6096d8d5dabda3955c2f WATCH: Rowdy teenagers swarm DC Navy Yard in waterfront takeover despite police juvenile curfew zone te 2026-04-13T21:31:02.602Z WATCH: Rowdy teenagers swarm DC Navy Yard in waterfront takeover despite police juvenile curfew zone A crowd of rowdy teenagers swarmed the Navy Yard waterfront in Washington, D.C., over the weekend, the latest in a series of "viral takeovers" challenging city officials. Video captured by D.C. activist Elissa De Souza posted on X showed a mass of people in a busy intersection in the city's Navy Yard neighborhood Sunday. "What should’ve been a great night out in Navy Yard turned into something we’re seeing far too often," De Souza wrote. "This isn’t a one-off—it’s a repeat pattern, and it’s happening later and later into the night. Residents and visitors should be able to enjoy a beautiful day, support new businesses, and have a peaceful meal without worrying about safety or disruption." The gathering came during a weekend when the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) implemented a temporary juvenile curfew zone in Navy Yard. WATCH: Swarm of teens floods DC streets in ‘takeover' GOT A TIP? From Friday through Sunday, the curfew restricted anyone under 18 from gathering in groups of nine or more within the designated area during evening hours, unless exempted. According to MPD, the curfew zone was in effect from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night. Police maintained an increased presence in Navy Yard and other areas where similar gatherings have previously occurred, they said. FOLLOW US ON X Authorities said that while some groups briefly engaged in disorderly behavior Saturday night, they dispersed without incident. No criminal offenses were reported in the curfew zone over the weekend, and no arrests were made by MPD in connection with the gatherings. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL However, Metro Transit Police made four arrests at the nearby Waterfront Metro station outside the curfew zone. Details about the four arrests were not immediately available. On Sunday night, officers recorded six curfew violations within the Navy Yard area, police said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS "MPD is committed to doing everything possible to keep D.C. residents and visitors safe, and that includes supporting spaces to enable youth to gather to enjoy our city," Interim Chief of Police Jeffrey W. Carroll said in a statement. A citywide juvenile curfew remains in effect daily from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and officials are urging parents and guardians to monitor their children’s whereabouts as spring break continues. Such "teen takeovers" have been happening across the District. The incidents typically involve large gatherings of young people and disruptive behavior. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd6082d8d5dabda3955c26 Cancer risk linked to common blood-related condition, research reveals te 2026-04-13T21:30:42.998Z Cancer risk linked to common blood-related condition, research reveals Anemia, a common blood disorder, may be a major risk factor for developing cancer. That's according to new research from Sweden, which sought to discover whether newly developed anemia is an early warning sign of cancer or death from any cause. The study, published in BMJ Journals, looked at registry data from more than 380,000 Swedish adults – half were people with new-onset anemia and the other half were the same age and gender, but did not have anemia. All participants were over 18 years old and cancer-free at the start of the study. The results showed that people with incident anemia – new cases occurring over a specific period – had a significantly higher chance of being diagnosed with cancer, especially in the first three months, according to a press release. This included 6.2% of men and 2.8% of women. Individuals with anemia also had a much higher chance of death during the 18-month follow-up. Specific types of anemia were individually linked to disease progression and mortality, the researchers discovered. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES Microcytic anemia – where the red blood cells are smaller than normal – was more frequently linked to cancer, especially types of disease that impact the digestive system and the blood. Macrocytic anemia, a type of anemia where the red blood cells are larger than normal, was more strongly linked to overall mortality than cancer. The researchers concluded in the study that new-onset anemia is a "strong and sustained risk marker" for both incident cancer and all-cause mortality. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Lead study author Elinor Nemlander, researcher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at the Karolinska Institutet, commented on the findings in a press release from the Swedish medical university. "We found that both the risk of cancer and the risk of death are highest during the first months after anemia is detected, but that the increased risk persists later during follow-up as well," she said. "Our findings suggest that anemia may be a sign of underlying disease rather than a condition in its own right." Speaking with Fox News Digital, Nemlander noted that measures like red blood cell size are already "routinely available" in primary care, and that the study highlights how this existing data can be used to identify early risk. "At the same time, the elevated risks persist over time, underscoring the need for structured follow-up and clear plans for continued evaluation, even when cancer is not initially identified," she said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ As the study was observational, it shows an association, but does not prove that anemia causes cancer or death. The research also did not measure for all causes of anemia, including alcohol use, malnutrition, chronic liver disease, inflammatory conditions and gynecological blood loss. "Some of the results may also be influenced by who gets tested, underlying illnesses and differences in how anemia is evaluated in different healthcare settings," Nemlander added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5e28d8d5dabda3955bc3 Uber and Nuro begin testing premium robotaxi service in San Francisco te 2026-04-13T21:20:40.527Z Uber and Nuro begin testing premium robotaxi service in San Francisco Uber employees can now hail a Lucid robotaxi as part of the testing. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5e14d8d5dabda3955bb7 Tucson sees sharp rise in drug arrests as officials get first update on Safe City Initiative te 2026-04-13T21:20:20.537Z Tucson sees sharp rise in drug arrests as officials get first update on Safe City Initiative Tucson police made more than 800 drug-related arrests in the first quarter of this year — a 67% increase compared to the same period over the past three years — as Mayor Regina Romero and the city council received their first update on the Safe City Initiative, an effort to address public drug use, transit safety and homelessness.  “Safe City is the umbrella of all the efforts that we’re doing to really address the challenges we have around shelter, the fentanyl public health crisis, and the violent crimes and things that are happening in our city,” Assistant City Manager Liz Morales said, opening the presentation.  The initiative covers three areas: public drug use enforcement and pathways to treatment; transit safety and security action plan; and housing and homelessness emergency.  Tucson Police Department Chief Monica Prieto said they’ve made over 700 arrests for felony and misdemeanor drug offenses, not including paraphernalia, in the first quarter of the current year, totaling 806.  “It just tells us that the opioid crisis continues to be an issue,” Prieto said, adding that officers are making more arrests with the same number of staff. Ward 4 council member Nikki Lee lauded Prieto, saying she sees the increase in arrests as evidence that law enforcement officers are working hard to respond to community concerns. Lee previously brought forth the idea of exploring a city-level ordinance to criminalize public drug use.  Lee had said the ordinance was meant to address a gap left by the Pima County Attorney’s Office not prosecuting many low volume drug possession charges. “We made a pivot to strengthening the existing tools and put the ordinance on the backburner,” Lee said. “There were some folks that were very relieved, but there were equal parts people that were really concerned that we were abandoning the work. So, I’m really grateful to hear this update today.” Prieto said they’ve also made 149 deflections, or instances in which individuals are offered social services instead of arrests, and 53 referrals to the new Sobering Alternative for Recovery center.  Keith Bentele, an associate research professor at the University of Arizona who studies homelessness, says deflection programs have shown benefits. “Folks who were deflected as opposed to arrested had better outcomes in terms of their mental health,” he said. “We also looked at housing stability and a bunch of other outcomes, but generally the pattern was the same.” Prieto reported that they continue their safe city deployments, working with nonprofit organizations and other departments to connect people with resources while using arrests as a leveraging tool. These differ from pure deflection as people are still being arrested, increasing their interactions with the criminal justice system. “I hear the argument from the local government that, you know, this is an effort to connect vulnerable people with resources,” Bentele said. “But this is, I would say, a very undesirable mechanism to use law enforcement to try to connect people to treatment. And generally the literature on addiction and recovery is very clear that coercive mechanisms are often, I would say, the least successful amongst a wide range of options.” Riders at the Ronstadt Transit Center in downtown Tucson May 19, 2022. Credit: Michael McKisson for AZ Luminaria Transportation safety Deputy Director of Transportation and Mobility, Andy Bemis,  gave an update on the transit safety and security action plan which was approved in December of 2025. The plan included 31 immediate actions, including developing shared data reporting standards; formalizing meetings between TPD, Sun Tran, and contracted security; and creating a dashboard for transit-related security incidents. Bemis said 29 are complete or in progress. “I look forward to sharing those dashboards at a future meeting,” Bemis said. He also said TPD just began special duty deployments. “There are two groups of two officers working Monday, Wednesday, Friday from noon to 6 p.m. on five priority corridors,” Bemis said. He added that the dashboards are intended to help modify those deployments as needed. Funded with $350,000  of a one-time allocation of $500,000, the deployments started on March 9 and through March 30,  have resulted in 69 arrests, 139 warnings and nine referrals for services. The remaining $150,000 is set aside for “environmental improvements” such as adding lighting or rock landscaping “to try and discourage some of the problematic behavior.” Bemis said eight locations have seen investment with more to come. “We’re working through the list of priority stops right now to continue those improvements,” he said. With the passage of RTANext, Bemis said there are further funds available to allocate for more work. “There is $51 million over 20 years included in that plan for transit safety and security improvements so that’s about $2.5 million a year. A large sum of which is expected to come to the city of Tucson for improvements on the Sun Transit system,” he said.  Star Village, a safe sleeping space created by the city of Tucson and nonprofit partners near Grant and Stone. Credit: Yana Kunichoff Housing and homelessness Ann Chanecka, director of housing and community development presented on the housing portion of the safe city initiative, specifically the department’s efforts to develop a process for the Planning and Development Services Department to approve temporary use permits for safe outdoor spaces and safe parking sites in the city. These sites provide space for people to set up camp or live in their vehicles while experiencing homelessness. “For a safe outdoor space, you’re all familiar with Star Village. So, that is the model for a safe outdoor space where tents or enclosures are used to connect the unhouse to services and provide a level of safety,” Chanecka said. “Safe parking sites are similar, however, they are for unhoused who have vehicles, whether that’s a car or a small recreational vehicle — and also connecting them to connecting unhoused families to services.” The draft policy limits safe outdoor spaces to either 30 tents or 50 people, and sets the same capacity for safe parking sites — allowing up to 50 vehicles instead of tents. There are other requirements ranging from staffing numbers to a monitoring and safety plan. Chanecka said the policy includes waivers so that the permits are accessible, even if all conditions aren’t met. “If a small nonprofit or a faith-based group feels that they can provide a level of safety and security, but they can’t meet one of their requirements or some of their requirements, there is a process to request a waiver for those,” she said. “Overall, with the site requirements, we’re really trying to balance different needs here. We want to ensure the clients who are unhoused have a level of safety.” The post Tucson sees sharp rise in drug arrests as officials get first update on Safe City Initiative appeared first on AZ Luminaria. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5bdbd8d5dabda3955ba4 Angius-backed bill targeting gap in handling dangerous defendants signed into law te 2026-04-13T21:10:51.190Z Angius-backed bill targeting gap in handling dangerous defendants signed into law PHOENIX — A bill championed by Sen. Hildy Angius to address a critical gap in Arizona’s criminal justice system was signed into law April 2 by Gov. Katie Hobbs. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd59bcd8d5dabda3955b3c What the return of Merrill Kelly means for the Diamondbacks’ rotation te 2026-04-13T21:01:48.980Z What the return of Merrill Kelly means for the Diamondbacks’ rotation PHOENIX – The return of Merrill Kelly to the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation will leave manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen with very important decisions to make.  After a successful rehab start in Triple-A Reno, Lovullo believes Kelly is prepared to make his 2026 debut against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.  “He felt good, looked good, (Kelly) seems to be in a very good spot,” Lovullo said.  The big decision management will have to make is what to do about the current rotation.  Will Lovullo use a six-man rotation? If not, who gets replaced, and what happens to that pitcher? Lovullo said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Friday that there are “no plans” to transition to a six-man rotation, so fans can cross that option off the list.  “You know that we love building depth; starting pitching depth is really important in this industry,” Lovullo said. “I don’t know exactly what we’re going to do; whether it’s sending a guy to Triple-A or putting them in the bullpen has not been decided.”  Initially, the consensus was that right-hander Michael Soroka was the most likely to move to the bullpen once Kelly returned. Soroka, who signed with the Diamondbacks this offseason, has started the season with a 3-0 record, pitching a 2.87 ERA in 15.2 innings. All things considered, it’s more than likely that Kelly will take right-hander Brandon Pfaadt’s spot in the rotation, based on the first group of starts from the Diamondbacks’ rotation. This means that Pfaadt will either be moved to the bullpen as a long reliever or sent down to Triple-A Reno. The latter would be a drastic move, but based on the current roster, there’s not many options for the Diamondbacks. Pfaadt has struggled in his first three starts of the season, posting a 5.94 ERA, which is fifth-worst in the majors among qualified pitchers, and giving up 12 total runs.   His most recent start against the Phillies saw the Diamondbacks’ first loss with him on the mound after he yielded back-to-back home runs to Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park.  The biggest problem Pfaadt has faced in the last few seasons is poor performance late in games, particularly the third time through the order.  During the first time through the order this season, Pfaadt has a 2.70 ERA and has yielded only five hits and one walk. After that, Pfaadt’s ERA balloons to 8.38. He has given up 10 runs, 12 hits and five walks after one time through the order.  The Diamondbacks agreed to a five-year, $45 million contract extension with the now-27-year-old in March 2025. Since that extension, Pfaadt has a 13-10 record with a 5.31 ERA. Another ripple effect of Kelly’s return is the pushback of left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez’s next start, which is now scheduled for Wednesday.  Rodriguez is off to a fast start to his season, pitching lights-out in his first three starts, dealing a 0.50 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 18 innings. The Venezuelan has seen great success with his offspeed pitches, ranking in the 99th percentile among MLB pitchers according to Baseball Savant. Kelly, a former Arizona State player, returned to the Diamondbacks this offseason, signing a two-year, $40 million contract in December.  He was traded to the Texas Rangers at the 2025 MLB trade deadline for pitchers Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt and David Hagaman. Kelly was named the Opening Day starter earlier in spring training. However, after suffering a back injury, the 37-year-old pitcher’s 2026 debut was delayed and Zac Gallen got the ball in the opener. Although there was pressure for Kelly to return to action as soon as possible, Lovullo knew that it was smart for the Diamondbacks to take their time, especially given Kelly’s injury history.  “We want to see him go out there and work, and work successfully,” Lovullo said.  Although the lifelong dream of getting the Opening Day nod was taken away from Kelly, the main concern for him was getting back to being 100% as soon as he could. “I had a little bit of a conversation with Merrill on that,” Lovullo said after announcing the news of the injury. “All he wants to do is get healthy.” Kelly is scheduled to go against Baltimore’s left-hander Trevor Rogers, who is 2-0 to start the season with a 1.89 ERA in 19.0 innings pitched.  The post What the return of Merrill Kelly means for the Diamondbacks’ rotation appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd59a7d8d5dabda3955b2a 2 arrested in crash that killed a 3-year-old in Tucson te 2026-04-13T21:01:27.857Z 2 arrested in crash that killed a 3-year-old in Tucson A 3-year-old girl died after the car she was traveling in was split in half during a crash, police say. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd598ed8d5dabda3955afa Katy Perry fights back against Ruby Rose's 'categorically false' sexual assault allegations te 2026-04-13T21:01:02.937Z Katy Perry fights back against Ruby Rose's 'categorically false' sexual assault allegations Ruby Rose alleges that Katy Perry sexually assaulted her 20 years ago, a claim the "Dark Horse" singer is strongly denying as "reckless lies." Over the weekend, the "Orange is the New Black" actress, 40, made the explosive claims while responding to an article about Perry's reaction to Justin Bieber's Coachella performance on Saturday. "Katy Perry sexual assaulted me at spice market nightclub in Melbourne. Who gives a s--- what she thinks," she wrote on Threads. RUBY ROSE WAS FIRED FROM 'BATWOMAN' BECAUSE OF 'MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR,' WBTV SAYS After a Threads user asked her to expand on the claim, Rose wrote: "After it I threw up on her. I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it. Later she agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret. But I DID tell yall she wasn’t a good person. Instead I got attacked by.. everyone." RUSSELL BRAND PUBLICLY DISAPPROVES OF EX-WIFE KATY PERRY DATING JUSTIN TRUDEAU AT PHOENIX EVENT A representative for Perry immediately shut down the "categorically false" claims. "The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous, reckless lies," a representative for Perry told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named." In another post, Rose said it had taken her almost 20 years to come forward with the claims. "I was only in my early 20s. I’m now 40. It has taken almost 2 decades to say this publicly," she wrote. "Though I am so grateful to have made it long enough to find my voice, it just shows how much of an impact trauma and sexual assault takes. Thank you for seeing me." Rose also went on to detail the alleged incident and wrote that "as a woman, for a myriad of reasons, opening up about W on W [women-on-women] violence and sexual abuse, seems to be 100 times harder than speaking about the male predators, at least for me." While Rose said she's not interested in filing a report, she welcomed legal action from Perry. AMBER HEARD CLAIMS JOHNNY DEPP LAWSUIT LEFT HER VOICELESS NEARLY FOUR YEARS AFTER EXPLOSIVE TRIAL "[Katy] is more than welcome to sue me (she won’t, because it happened, I have photos and it was literally in public and witnessed by multiple people). Plus there is so much more that happened in the years leading up to her silly song she won’t want me discussing. The psychological manipulation was strong with that one," she wrote. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER In 2019, Rose detailed her struggles with mental health, dating back to her childhood. "I've struggled with mental health my entire life," Rose captioned a photo of her in a hospital bed, taken just before her stint on "OITNB." "I was first diagnosed with depression at 13, then major depressive disorder at 16. When I was 18 I found out I had dissociative amnesia." After experiencing trauma at a young age, Rose explained that she was initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder but later discovered she suffered from severe depression and an overactive thyroid. Then came "many dark times," according to Rose. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "On medication, off medication, on and off and on and off per each wrong diagnoses," she said. Rose then said that she experienced multiple hospitalizations due to her mental health and that she'd attempted suicide "as young as 12." "What I have learned from the struggles of mental health is just how strong I am," Rose continued. "It’s how amazing people are because they love me and support me and yet you can’t judge those who don’t understand and don’t know how to do that either. It’s that you cannot judge people at all because you can never know what they have been through." She added one final thought: "It’s that self love [sic] and self care [sic] is more important than anything else." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5966d8d5dabda3955ae2 Microsoft is officially killing its Outlook Lite app next month te 2026-04-13T21:00:22.764Z Microsoft is officially killing its Outlook Lite app next month The app had already been scheduled for retirement. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd573bd8d5dabda39555fa ‘American Road Trip’ celebrates shared spirit te 2026-04-13T20:51:07.756Z ‘American Road Trip’ celebrates shared spirit The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix invites audiences to hit the open road this spring with “American Road Trip: Songs from Every Mile,” a concert series celebrating the music, stories and shared spirit of America. Featuring folk favorites, patriotic anthems, iconic popular songs and a stirring spiritual, this vibrant program reflects the landscapes and voices that have shaped the American experience. The program weaves together music that speaks to America’s history, resilience, and evolving identity. The program includes works by legendary artists such as Irving Berlin, John Denver, Ray Charles, and Bob Dylan, alongside traditional folk songs and spirituals that have been passed down through generations. This special concert series is underwritten by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in support of choral performances inspired by the National Garden of American Heroes as part of the nationwide America250 celebrations. Four performances will be offered, including Sunday, April 19, 3 p.m. at Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Dr. Tickets range from $20 to $35 (free for children 12 and under) and are available at www.orpheus.org or by calling the box office at 602-699-4556. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5724d8d5dabda39555b7 Daniil Medvedev fined after smashing his racket 7 times during shocking double-bagel loss te 2026-04-13T20:50:44.293Z Daniil Medvedev fined after smashing his racket 7 times during shocking double-bagel loss Daniil Medvedev is known for having on-court outbursts, and his latest resulted in a fine for his actions at the Monte Carlo Masters last week. The former world number one men’s singles star was assessed a $7,000 fine by the ATP Tour on Monday for smashing his racket seven times during a blowout loss to Matteo Berrettini. Medvedev, who ranks 10th in the world, was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct violation by the chair umpire during the tennis match after what transpired early in the second set of his match against Berrettini on Wednesday. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Berrettini was dominating Medvedev to the point where he didn’t win a single game in the 6-0, 6-0 loss. The match lasted just 49 minutes, and the crowd in Monte Carlo was egging him on as he had quite the outburst. "I wouldn’t expect to win like that and it doesn’t happen that often," Berrettini, a 2021 Wimbledon finalist, said after what’s considered a double-bagel loss for Medvedev. "It was definitely one of the best performances of my life." RUSSIAN TENNIS STAR ANDREY RUBLEV SOUNDS OFF ON US OPEN FINE FOR PROFANITY DURING MATCH The 30-year-old hit a forehand into the net to fall behind 2-0 in the second set after just losing swiftly in the first. He couldn’t contain his anger with his game, as he slammed his racket near the baseline, and then proceeded to throw it toward the end of the court. As Medvedev walked over to pick up the racket, he decided his equipment didn’t have enough. He continued to smash it until it was unrecognizable of its original shape. Medvedev threw the racket away as the crowd sent out their sarcastic cheers and continued with the match. It’s not the best look to be known for outbursts on the court, but Medvedev’s temper has been showcased in Grand Slams as well as ATP Tour matches. Last year alone, he was hit with much larger fines for his actions in the Australian Open and U.S. Open, being hit with $76,000 and $42,500 fines, respectively, for what occurred on the world stage. In this match, Medvedev also had five double-faults, while winning only 17 points. This was also his first match on clay this season. Fox news’ Paulina Dedaj and 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/69dd528ed8d5dabda3955542 Carmen Francis: All about oil te 2026-04-13T20:31:10.259Z Carmen Francis: All about oil Editor: Forget about Iran and nuclear weapons. That is a ruse to gaslight you. This war is about oil. President Donald Trump on Monday said he would like to “take” Iran’s oil. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd525dd8d5dabda39554f9 Thousands of rare concert recordings are landing on the Internet Archive — listen now te 2026-04-13T20:30:21.884Z Thousands of rare concert recordings are landing on the Internet Archive — listen now Chicago-based music superfan Aadam Jacobs has been recording the concerts he goes to since the 1980s, amassing an archive of over 10,000 tapes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5081d8d5dabda39554d1 Police: Investigation leads to trove of stolen goods at burglary suspect’s home te 2026-04-13T20:22:25.895Z Police: Investigation leads to trove of stolen goods at burglary suspect’s home A burglary suspect entered a California home earlier this year and allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars in property - including multiple firearms - before setting the building ablaze as the suspect made his getaway. That case led to… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd506dd8d5dabda39554c3 NAU ROUNDUP: Women's tennis secures No. 2 seed with home finale win te 2026-04-13T20:22:05.617Z NAU ROUNDUP: Women's tennis secures No. 2 seed with home finale win A look at news and results from NAU. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5059d8d5dabda39554ba Flagstaff softball wins eighth of nine games while honoring historic senior class te 2026-04-13T20:21:45.665Z Flagstaff softball wins eighth of nine games while honoring historic senior class The Eagles scored 5 runs in the first inning and held the Patriots to just 2 hits. Tatum Alex hit a laser two-run homer to secure the run-rule. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5043d8d5dabda3955493 Trump rejects American Bishop Robert Barron's call to apologize to Pope for 'disrespectful' comments te 2026-04-13T20:21:23.405Z Trump rejects American Bishop Robert Barron's call to apologize to Pope for 'disrespectful' comments President Donald Trump rejected American Bishop Robert Barron’s call to apologize to the Pope on Monday for comments he made on Truth Social, arguing that it was the Pope who is "wrong." Trump sparked a row with the Roman Catholic Church when he called Pope Leo out for his stance on the Iran war. Barron, while expressing gratitude for Trump’s defense of religious liberty, responded by politely suggesting that the president should apologize to the Pope for these comments. Trump was asked by a reporter whether he planned on making such an apology. "No I don’t, because Pope Leo said things that were wrong. he was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran," Trump replied. "Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result. You have hundreds of millions of people dead. And it’s not going to happen. So again, I think he’s very weak on crime and other things." POPE WARNS ESCALATING IRAN CONFLICT COULD TIP MIDDLE EAST INTO ‘IRREPARABLE ABYSS’ Trump went on to recall that he had praised the Pope’s brother, saying he likes him "better than I like the Pope." "You have to have law and order in our country. And that’s what we have now," Trump said. "We have the lowest crime numbers we’ve had in a long time, despite the fact that many criminals were allowed into our country. But we’ve gotten a lot of them out. We’ve done a great job on crime. So we have the lowest murder rate in 125 years, since 1900, the lowest murder rate." "So we believe strongly in law and order," Trump concluded. "And he seemed to have a problem with that. So there’s nothing to apologize for. He’s wrong. And the other thing is he didn’t like what we’re doing with respect to Iran. But Iran is a — wants to be a nuclear nation. So they can exterminate the world. Not gonna happen." "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump had written previously on Truth Social. "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 went on to make numerous other controversial statements in the post, such as declaring that he prefers Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's brother, more than the Pope himself, saying ""He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon." VATICAN DECLINES TO JOIN TRUMP’S GAZA ‘BOARD OF PEACE,’ CALLS FOR UN LEADERSHIP "The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful," Barron responded 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." "I would warmly recommend that serious Catholics within the Trump administration — Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance, Ambassador Brian Burch, and others — might meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place," he continued. "This is far preferable to the statements on social media." "I am very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith," Barron added. "It has been a high honor to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty. All that said, I think the President owes the Pope an apology."  CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE Shortly after feuding with the Pope over the weekend, Trump upset many Christians by posting what many have called a "blasphemous" AI art image of what many said appeared to be a portrayal of himself as a Jesus-like figure healing the sick. Some speculated that this was an attempt to troll the Pope, having been posted amid the administration's feud with Roman Catholic leadership. While Trump has denied he was trying to portray himself as the messiah, arguing of his image where he is in white and red robes with what appears to be holy light emanating from his hands that he was trying to portray "me as a doctor." He has since deleted the post. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd502fd8d5dabda395548a Eric Swalwell faces Manhattan sex assault probe after ending California governor campaign amid allegations te 2026-04-13T20:21:03.668Z Eric Swalwell faces Manhattan sex assault probe after ending California governor campaign amid allegations Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is investigating sex assault allegations against embattled Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat who suspended his campaign to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom after they became public last week. Separately, the House Ethics Committee announced Monday its own probe into allegations of sexual misconduct. A former staffer accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was blackout drunk twice, including once in New York City in 2024, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle published Friday. SWALWELL'S FORMER FEMALE STAFFER DROPS BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, EXPOSING HIMSELF: REPORT The unnamed woman told the paper that she was hired at 21 to work in Swalwell's district office in 2019 and claimed her married boss began pursuing her weeks later. She reportedly claimed he sent her naked pictures over Snapchat and asked for oral sex in a parking lot during a ride home from an event. On another occasion, she claimed to have awoken naked in Swalwell's bed after blacking out drinking. The New York investigation stems from separate allegations in the article, when she was no longer an employee of Swalwell's office. They allegedly met up for drinks after a gala in Manhattan at around 11:30 p.m. on April 25, 2024. SEND US A TIP HERE According to the report, she claimed to remember only "snippets of the night," including telling Swalwell "no." Three days later, she reportedly told a friend she believed she was sexually assaulted. "I have no skin in the game of who becomes governor of California, but I feel people have a right to know whether the person who leads a state that is a safe haven for so many women actually treats women with dignity and will protect their rights," the Chronicle quoted her as saying. "No one protected me from him, and so I have to protect the other young women like me who aspire to work in this field and he could prey upon." SWALWELL THREATENS FBI WITH LEGAL ACTION AS PATEL REPORTEDLY WEIGHS 'FANG FANG' FILES RELEASE She claimed she kept quiet for years, however, out of fear of retaliation. "We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373," a spokesperson for the DA's office told Fox News over the weekend. "Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner." Swalwell has denied the allegations and apologized to his wife in a video posted online. He said he planned to fight the accusations but stepped out of the California governor's race anyway. "I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made," he wrote on X Sunday. "But that's my fight, not a campaign's." Since the initial report, several other women came forward with other misconduct allegations. Fox News' Max Gorden and Kelly Phares contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd5008d8d5dabda395547f Police Arrest Woman Accused of Stalking Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac te 2026-04-13T20:20:24.217Z Police Arrest Woman Accused of Stalking Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac The guitarist, Lindsey Buckingham, had obtained a restraining order against the woman two years ago, but the police said she continued to follow him in March. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4ddcd8d5dabda3955452 Hobbs declares bill moratorium until Republicans publicly produce a budget plan te 2026-04-13T20:11:08.334Z Hobbs declares bill moratorium until Republicans publicly produce a budget plan Key Points: Gov. Katie Hobbs is pledging to veto all bills until Republicans release a budget The moratorium comes three weeks after Hobbs called off negotiations Republicans say Prop. 123 is off the table despite Hobbs’ pressure Gov. Katie Hobbs will not sign any bills until Republican lawmakers publicly release their own budget proposal. Hobbs’ office announced Monday that every bill heading to her desk in the coming days will be vetoed unless Republicans produce their plan to pay for federal tax conformity, address education funding without Proposition 123 and shoulder the burden of federal cost shifts from programs like Medicaid and SNAP.  “The legislative majority needs to put forward their budget proposal and then join me at the negotiating table so we can pass a bipartisan, balanced budget just like we’ve done the past three years,” Hobbs said in a statement. “But until the legislative majority shows us their plans for a balanced budget that works for middle-class Arizonans, their bills will be dead on arrival. I know we can get big things done when we work together, but that isn’t possible when one side refuses to show us their plans.” The bill moratorium comes a few weeks after the Democratic governor called off budget negotiations and accused Republican leadership of holding education funding hostage by flat-out rejecting any extension of Prop. 123, the voter approved funding measure that expired last year. Hobbs told reporters on April 9 that “nothing has changed” in the negotiation process since her office called off talks.  “You can’t negotiate with only one side at the table,” Hobbs said.  Republicans in both chambers seem to have a low appetite for a Prop. 123 renewal measure, with Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, telling the Arizona Capitol Times on April 8 that the odds of finalizing a deal this session are “almost zero.”  Hobbs has argued a balanced budget hinges on a Prop. 123 extension, because it will allow the state to remove the $300 million backfill included in last year’s budget after the measure expired. Between 2016 and 2025, Prop. 123 allowed the state to withdraw 6.9% annually from the state land trust to fund Arizona public schools. However, Hobbs’ executive budget, released in January, proposed extending Prop. 123 and keeping the $300 million backfill to increase school funding. Gress and other Republican lawmakers say the state budget cannot be balanced on the back of Prop. 123.  “We do not think that’s a responsible play,” Gress said on April 8. “We’re talking about a $300 million question mark that will have to be resolved at the ballot.” Republicans have widely criticized the governor’s budget proposal for its reliance on the creation of new revenue streams through ideas like a data center tax repeal and an event wagering fee. It also depends on a $760 million reimbursement from the federal government for border security funding, which is unlikely to arrive before the state’s June 30 budget deadline.  The state also has to address the ripple effects of House Resolution 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which is already straining Arizona’s budget and state agencies. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates it will cost the state around $1.1 billion to fully conform Arizona’s tax code to federal tax cuts imposed by H.R. 1. Additionally, Hobbs’ office says it will cost anywhere from $125 million to $175 million to adjust the state to new Medicaid and SNAP requirements while also backfilling federal funding cuts to emergency management, air quality and victims’ services programs.  For their part, Republican leadership says they have presented a balanced proposal to the governor’s office, while also pledging on March 19 to build a budget “in the next several weeks.” This is not the first time Hobbs has used a bill moratorium to force Republicans to the negotiating table. During the 2025 session, Hobbs pledged to veto all legislation until lawmakers sent her a bipartisan emergency funding plan for the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities.  That moratorium lasted one week, and Hobbs ended up signing the bipartisan funding measure without having to strike down any other bills as collateral damage.  Hobbs’ office said this year’s moratorium comes with two exceptions. She will sign a Department of Public Safety supplemental funding measure and a bill expanding death benefit eligibility for first responders if either crosses her desk. The governor took action on all the bills sent to her desk before the moratorium was announced, signing 32 measures and vetoing another 20. Whether or not Republican lawmakers will continue to send her bills in the wake of the moratorium announcement is currently unclear. The post Hobbs declares bill moratorium until Republicans publicly produce a budget plan first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4dc8d8d5dabda3955449 Election integrity: Review flags 28 of Arizona’s 2024 election ballots for possible fraud te 2026-04-13T20:10:48.559Z Election integrity: Review flags 28 of Arizona’s 2024 election ballots for possible fraud Key Points: Arizona’s 2024 presidential election review finds minimal fraud Only 28 of 3.6 million ballots cast were possibly fraudulent Maricopa County Recorder refers 207 non-citizen voting cases for investigation Amid renewed suspicions of election fraud as the midterm elections near, a review of voting in Arizona’s 2024 presidential election found only a sliver of the votes cast were possibly fraudulent. Only 28 of the 3.6 million ballots cast were flagged as potentially illegal by an organization that crosschecks Arizona voter data with other states. That works out to 0.0000083% of total ballots. In 25 cases, individuals were found to have first voted in Arizona’s November 2024 election and later cast a 2024 ballot in another state. Because it’s the second vote that makes the practice illegal, no one is being charged in Arizona. Another three cases are still under investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office, including one instance where an individual appears to have voted the ballot of a dead person. The numbers show it’s rare that people vote illegally, a finding that is consistent with past crosschecks that compared Arizona voting practices with those of other states. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said the results should quiet “the conspiracy theorists and liars” who stoke fears about election fraud. “The message will get through if people are paying attention,” Fontes told Capitol Media Services. “It shows we have a system that works because these folks were caught.” Shane Hamlin, executive director of the Electronic Registration Information Center, echoed that view. “A far smaller number of people want to commit voter fraud than what people suspect,” he said. The center crosschecked Arizona’s 2024 voter information with that of 18 other states — mostly states controlled by Democrats — that belong to the nonprofit organization. Although the match involved fewer than half the states, Hamlin said the results are a “good sample” and reflect the fact that member states have strong election programs. “All states have made massive improvements in administration of elections in recent years,” he said, adding he hopes the organization’s work reassures the public that the system works. ERIC came under fire from election skeptics in the wake of the 2020 election, causing its membership to drop, including the populous Republican states of Florida and Texas. But the numbers are ticking back up, with 26 states participating and New York and Virginia expected to join, Hamlin said. States that join ERIC share voter registration data as well as identification data from their motor vehicle divisions. They mask details such as the last four digits of a person’s Social Security number but provide enough data to pinpoint a voter. The center’s staff uses that information to create reports on voters who have moved from one state to another; voters who moved within their state; voters with duplicate registrations in the same state; and voters who died as reported to the Social Security Administration. These reports are cross checked with participating states to identify voting issues. ERIC’s initial comparison identified 316 cases of possible illegal voting in Arizona. Those cases were then reviewed by the Arizona Secretary of State and the 15 county recorders, resulting in the 28 referrals to the attorney general for review. All but two of the investigations involved Maricopa County voters; the others were from Apache and Mohave counties, according to data provided by the Attorney General’s Office. Of the 28 referrals, 15 were Republican voters, eight were independents, four were Democrats and one voter’s party affiliation was not discerned, records showed. One voter, who was flagged for voting in both Arizona and Washington in 2024, said she was flummoxed when she received a letter from the Attorney General’s Office stating she appeared to have voted twice in the 2024 election. The letter directed her to cancel her voter registration in Washington if Arizona is indeed her primary residence, and warned that any potential future violations could result in possible prosecution. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution but emphasized that she was 76, said she hasn’t lived in Washington for more than a decade. She has called the Attorney General’s Office to better understand the situation, and said she may contact authorities in her former state to find out why her name would still be on that state’s voter rolls — and how a ballot got cast under her name. There are varied reasons for double voting, from the accidental to the intentional. “Historically, when double voting has occurred it is usually an innocent mistake,” said Richie Taylor, communications director for Attorney General Kris Mayes. One example is a snowbird who mistakenly voted in two states, believing that was legitimate because they pay property taxes in both states. However, the law is clear: A person can only vote once in an election. A Green Valley couple admitted to double voting in the 2008 election. They voted by mail in their previous home state of Kansas, but later cast ballots in Arizona in the same election. James and Karen Marshall pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and were sentenced to a year of probation. A Bullhead City woman was found guilty of voting in Colorado’s 2010 general election by mailing her ballot from her Arizona address. She then cast a ballot in Arizona’s general election. She lost her voting privileges and was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Taylor said the 25 individuals investigated for double voting in 2024 were given a warning. The ballots they cast in Arizona were counted; any violation would have happened in the second state where they are suspected of having voted. Other cases of illegal voting involve voting a dead person’s ballot. In 2020, Krista Michelle Conner of Sierra Vista was sentenced to three years’ probation for voting her dead mother’s ballot in the 2020 election. She also was required to pay a $890 fine and complete 100 hours of community service. The cases are interesting, but uncommon. The Heritage Foundation tracks election fraud cases nationwide. It lists 17 cases of double voting that were prosecuted in Arizona over the 43-year period their database covers; there were three instances of voting a dead person’s ballot. One area not covered by the crosscheck process is non-citizen voting, a key concern of Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap. He recently referred 207 cases of voting by people suspected of not being U.S. citizens to the county attorney for investigation. Heap relied on a federal database called the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE system, to identify these potential illegal voters. That database was updated during the current Trump administration but even before that, it was viewed skeptically by many election officials because it has been found to rely on outdated immigration information. Hamlin said ERIC does not use the system, citing its shortcomings. Heap’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the 28 suspected cases of illegal voting. All but two of the cases involve Maricopa County voters. The post Election integrity: Review flags 28 of Arizona’s 2024 election ballots for possible fraud first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4b6ad8d5dabda39553da Charles Barkley gives terse message to NBA players complaining about 65-game eligibility rule te 2026-04-13T20:00:42.014Z Charles Barkley gives terse message to NBA players complaining about 65-game eligibility rule Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley ripped NBA players on Sunday night over player complaints about the 65-game eligibility rule to be considered for awards and honors. The NBA requires players to play at least 65 games in order to be considered for the league’s highest accolades. The rule became a source of consternation this year in a hotly contested MVP race as some players, who have been playing at a high level, have missed out on consideration. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM But Barkley had no time for players’ complaints. "I don’t think 65 games is a lot to ask," he said. "Man, shut the hell up. Y’all voted on that in the collective bargaining, now y’all want to complain. If y’all wasn’t sitting on your a-- half the time, sipping margaritas and stuff, they wouldn’t have put the 65-game threshold in there. Shut the hell up." San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic each came down to the wire when it came to eligibility. Wembanyama played 64 regular-season games with the NBA Cup Final counting toward his total. Jokic hit the 65-game minimum after playing 18 minutes against the Spurs on Sunday. Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is also in contention, having played 68 games. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO MAKES CLEAR HE WANTS TO 'F---ING PLAY' AS FEUD ERUPTS OVER INJURY STATUS But Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who is having one of the best seasons of his NBA career, will not be eligible after only playing 64 games and missing time with a collapsed lung. Cunningham’s injury sparked a statement from the National Basketball Players Association last month. "Cade Cunningham's potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and yet another example of why it must be abolished or reformed to create an exception for significant injuries," the union said. "Since its implementation, far too many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by this arbitrary and overly rigid quota." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stood firmly behind the rule. "I’m not ready to say it’s not working," Silver said in March. "It is working. I’m not ready to say that because there is a sense of unfairness for one player, the rule doesn’t work." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4924d8d5dabda3955388 Iran secures UN role with backing from UK, France, Canada, Australia as US stands alone te 2026-04-13T19:51:00.929Z Iran secures UN role with backing from UK, France, Canada, Australia as US stands alone Western democracies, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia, are facing backlash after allowing Iran and other authoritarian regimes to secure seats on influential United Nations (U.N.) bodies, with the United States standing alone in opposition. The controversy stems from decisions by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member body that plays a central role in shaping U.N. policy and staffing key committees. Critics warn the outcome could allow governments accused of human rights abuses to influence global policy and control which civil society groups are granted access to the United Nations. TERROR SPONSOR IRAN GETS UN LEADERSHIP OVERSEEING CHARTER PRINCIPLES ECOSOC nominated the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N.’s Committee for Program and Coordination Wednesday, a body that helps shape policy on human rights, women’s rights, disarmament and counterterrorism. The nomination is widely expected to be finalized, as the United Nations General Assembly typically approves such recommendations without a vote. At the same session, ECOSOC elected China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, which oversees accreditation and access for thousands of NGOs operating within the U.N. system. The United States was the only member state to formally break from consensus. MIKE WALTZ TURNS TABLES ON IRANIAN ENVOY AT HEATED UN MEETING In remarks delivered April 8, U.S. Representative to ECOSOC Ambassador Dan Negrea said the U.S. "disassociates from consensus" on both decisions, calling several of the countries involved unfit for such roles. "The regime threatens its neighbors and has, for decades, infringed on the Iranian people’s ability to exercise their basic human rights," Negrea said, adding that "we believe Iran is unfit to serve" on the committee. The decision drew sharp criticism from UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog group. Hillel Neuer told Fox News Digital: "By their cynical actions at the UN, major Western states have betrayed their own human rights principles, severely undermining the rules-based international order that they claim to support." "We note that the EU states clearly had another option. They did take action in recent years to stop Russia from getting elected to similar bodies, and so we deeply regret that they failed to do the same now to stop the election of serial violators such as Iran, China, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan." "We salute the United States for their moral clarity and leadership in objecting to the election of the Islamic Republic of Iran and other brutal regimes." Neuer warned the composition of the NGO committee could allow authoritarian governments to influence which organizations are accredited, potentially sidelining independent human rights groups. "This means dictatorships will have a majority on the committee in order to deny United Nations accreditation to independent organizations that call out their human rights violations, and to accredit more fake front groups created by the regimes," he said. Israel’s mission to the United Nations also pointed to political tensions surrounding the vote, saying Iran attempted to challenge Israel’s candidacy during the same ECOSOC session. AMBASSADOR MIKE WALTZ LAYS OUT ‘AMERICA FIRST’ VISION FOR US LEADERSHIP AT THE UN Israel was elected to several U.N. bodies, according to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, including the Commission on the Status of Women and the NGO Committee, despite opposition. "Iran also tried to turn the elections at the UN into an arena for incitement against Israel and failed," Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said. "Those who oppress women and trample on human rights in their own country will not teach us what women's rights are." Ahead of the vote, around 70 civil society groups warned that countries with poor human rights records could secure seats on key oversight bodies, but the elections proceeded without a formal vote, a process known as approval "by acclamation." Critics argue that this procedure allows controversial candidates to secure influential roles with limited transparency or accountability. The developments are likely to intensify scrutiny over how U.N. bodies are staffed and whether political considerations are outweighing human rights concerns. Fox News Digital reached out to the UK, France, Canada, Australia and U.S. mission for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication. The Iranian mission to the United Nations declined to comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4911d8d5dabda395537f Nicole Kidman plans on becoming a death doula as she admits it 'may sound a little weird' te 2026-04-13T19:50:41.330Z Nicole Kidman plans on becoming a death doula as she admits it 'may sound a little weird' Nicole Kidman is diving into a whole new career path. On Saturday, the "Babygirl" actress spoke with Vicky Nguyen — an investigative journalist and University of San Francisco graduate — as part of the private school's Silk Speaker Series and opened up about her plans to become a death doula nearly two years after her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, died at 84. "As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide," Kidman, who admitted the idea "may sound a little weird," told the crowd, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "Between my sister and I, we have so many children and our careers and our work, and wanting to take care of her because my father wasn’t in the world anymore, and that’s when I went, ‘I wish there was these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care.’" "So that's part of my expansion and one of the things I will be learning," she added. JAMES VAN DER BEEK’S DAUGHTER, 9, OFFERS MOVING ADVICE ABOUT GRIEF: ‘I JUST TELL HIM ABOUT MY DAY' An end-of-life doula advocates self-determination and imparts psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and practical care to empower dignity throughout the dying process, according to the International End-of-Life Doula Association. In September 2024, Kidman — who was awarded the best actress for her role in "Babygirl" at the Venice Film Festival, but had to miss the ceremony to be with family — shared the news of her mother's death in a statement delivered by the film's director Halina Reijn.  "I arrived in Venice and found out shortly after that my beautiful, brave mother, Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed," Kidman said in a statement, per The Associated Press. "I’m in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her. She shaped me and made me." SUSAN LUCCI WAS ‘LOST’ AFTER LOSING HUSBAND OF 53 YEARS, FEARED SHE’D NEVER ACT AGAIN A representative for Kidman confirmed the death at the time and told Fox News Digital, "The family is heartbroken and asks for privacy at this time." Throughout the years, Kidman has been open about her close bond with her mom and shared insight into her mother's health struggles. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER During an interview with NPR's Fresh Air podcast in 2022, Kidman said, "I'm at the place where I'm being given the chance to view the world, because of how close we are. My mom is giving me the chance to view the world through an 81-year-old woman's eyes. That is so beneficial right now, because she's so cognizant. She has every brain faculty available, so she hasn't lost anything. She hasn't lost any memory, which is fascinating, and she's extremely bright." "She's giving me access, because she's also very direct and very honest, and so I'm getting access to the world through her eyes, my mother's eyes, so therefore a part of me almost at 80," she continued. "It's her perspective, obviously. There's many different 80-year-old perspectives, but it's her perspective, and her particular path, but I'm drinking it in and learning." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS In 2020, Kidman opened up to the Sydney Morning Herald about how her mom has always inspired her to chase her dreams. "She’s given me the fire to pursue the career I have because I’ve always wanted to please her," Kidman told the outlet in 2020. "But she also carved her own path and wanted her daughters to have the same opportunity to carve their own paths." "Mom didn’t necessarily get the career that she wanted, but she was determined that her daughters would have opportunities that were equal," Kidman added. "That’s given me my life. And she gave me my life, she and my dad." Kidman's father, Antony Kidman, died in 2014. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd46d3d8d5dabda3955362 Familiar territory: New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark wins Thunderbird Collegiate te 2026-04-13T19:41:07.380Z Familiar territory: New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark wins Thunderbird Collegiate PHOENIX — The stars aligned in two major ways for Johnnie Clark at the 53rd ASU Thunderbird Collegiate. The first was the absence of 2025 champion Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopadkee, an Arizona State junior who earned an invitation to the Masters after winning the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai last October.  Second, Clark was basically playing in his backyard at the Papago Golf Club, the tournament venue. The New Mexico standout, who transferred from Oklahoma State, played high school golf at Red Mountain High School in his hometown of Mesa and grew up taking lessons at Papago.  Clark maneuvered the familiar course with confidence, especially on the greens. He fired a final round 66 to finish at 14-under, three strokes ahead of his closest pursuer, comfortably earning his first collegiate tournament win. “I’ve played this course at least 50 times at this point. I worked with a coach here and so I would come out and play quite a bit,” Clark said. “That course knowledge comes in a lot of help.” Although he said the course has changed slightly over the years, Clark identified his prior experience on the putting surfaces as key, allowing him to calculate his approach shots for comfortable putts. His previous experience in Stillwater, Oklahoma also prepared him for the windy conditions the field faced during the weekend. “I lived in Oklahoma for two years, and the wind blows like hell there,” Clark said. “I got used to it, and it just didn’t really affect me. It feels normal at this point.” Being only 20 minutes from his hometown, Clark celebrated with friends and family before returning to New Mexico to prepare for the Mountain West Conference championship in Tucson. Clark’s performance was key in the No. 20 ranked Lobos’ push to post their first team win of the season, beating the field by four shots at 32 under par. The No. 9 ranked Sun Devils finished second at 28 under with No. 28 Long Beach State close behind at 27 under. Although Arizona State had its three-year win streak in the event broken, promising rounds from freshman Boston Bracken and junior Connor Williams offered hope that the Sun Devils could get hot at the right time. “Boston is having a great week, which is exactly what we needed to see out of him. Connor is our leader, and he had another solid week,” Arizona State associate head coach Thomas Sutton said. “We are kind of forming our team where we want it to be going into the postseason.” Bracken started off hot, claiming the tournament single-round low after posting a bogey-free 7-under in the first round. However, he finished the tournament 11-under and tied for second with Alejandro de Castro Piera from Long Beach State after scoring 1-over in round two. “First round, I didn’t make any mistakes, really, and then kind of stumbled coming in on the last nine after the longer 36-hole day,” Bracken said. “But I stayed positive today after a double on the first hole and finished pretty nice.” Bracken edged his teammate Williams by one stroke after hitting his sand wedge from 108 yards out on No. 18 to within two feet of the cup for a tap-in birdie. It marked the second top-10 finish in his young college career. Arizona State junior Connor Williams hits his approach shot after being forced to take a drop and scramble from the desert waste on the par-4 16th hole at Papago Golf Club during play on Saturday at the 53rd ASU Thunderbird Collegiate. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Cronkite News) Williams had the save of the tournament during the third round after hitting his ball into the desert waste area left of the fairway on the 442-yard par-4 16th. He had to take a drop, hit the ball onto the green and made the long putt to save par – a crucial recovery on the way to a final-round of 4-under-par 68 that helped him get to 10-under for the tournament. “I was in the bush and kind of had this one area where I could drop to have a shot,” Williams said. “I dropped it on this little piece of grass in the desert, which gave me a shot to the green and hit a solid one. It was nice to make that 20-plus-foot (putt) dead center.” With the postseason right around the corner, teams now must shrink rosters from eight players to six and hope their best golf is ahead of them.  Arizona State competes at the Big 12 Conference Championships at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas from April 27-29. From there, teams compete in the NCAA Regionals, then individuals and teams will be invited to the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California from May 29-June 3 to crown the 2026 national champions. The post Familiar territory: New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark wins Thunderbird Collegiate appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd46bad8d5dabda395532c Appeals court lets Trump resume White House ballroom construction, seeks lower court clarity te 2026-04-13T19:40:42.221Z Appeals court lets Trump resume White House ballroom construction, seeks lower court clarity A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Saturday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to temporarily resume construction of his planned White House ballroom, granting a near-term win to the administration as it pushes forward with the nearly $400 million project.  The case stems from a lawsuit filed late last year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sought to block the construction. The group argued that the project violates multiple federal laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and charged that the plans amounted to executive overreach without required approval from Congress and federal planning bodies. A lower court judge last month put the project on hold, triggering the administration’s appeal. TRUMP ADMIN FIGHTS IN COURT TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE EAST WING DEMOLITION, $300M BALLROOM BUILD ON TRACK U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, in March issued a preliminary injunction blocking construction of the ballroom, finding the Trump administration likely lacked the legal authority to proceed without congressional approval. He said the government had not shown it had clear authorization to replace parts of the East Wing with a privately funded structure. Leon’s order paused most construction work on the ballroom, though he allowed activity tied to White House security concerns, and briefly delayed enforcement of his ruling until mid-April, to give the administration time to appeal the case to a higher court. The Trump administration quickly asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to intervene, arguing that the project is critical to the safety and security of the "president, his family, and White House staff." The 2-1 ruling from the circuit court did not immediately side with the Trump administration, but gave it temporary relief. A majority of judges on the panel said the court needed more explanation from Leon before deciding whether construction should remain blocked.  Specifically, the judges asked Leon to clarify whether stopping the project would harm national security, as the Trump administration claims. US APPEALS COURT HALTS TRUMP CONTEMPT PROBE ORDERED BY BOASBERG, FOR NOW The appeals court also paused Leon’s order through April 17, giving the Trump administration time to ask the Supreme Court for emergency intervention if it chooses. For now, the case will return to the district court for further explanation. Trump first announced plans for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom in July, initially estimating the cost at around $200 million. He has said the project would be funded "100% by me and some friends of mine." Lawyers for the administration have pushed back on the lawsuit, arguing the president has authority over White House construction decisions and that Congress does not need to approve the project. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW EL SALVADOR DEPORTATION FLIGHT CASE "No taxpayer dollars are being used for the funding of this beautiful, desperately needed, and completely secure… ballroom," Justice Department lawyers said in court filings. They added that past White House expansions, including the East and West Wings, did not require congressional involvement in their design or construction. The National Trust, meanwhile, maintains the project cannot move forward without complying with federal law and proper review processes. The Justice Department declined to comment on the ongoing litigation or whether it plans to seek Supreme Court intervention. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4461d8d5dabda39552e2 Bahamas authorities race against deadline to charge or cut loose husband of missing American woman te 2026-04-13T19:30:41.872Z Bahamas authorities race against deadline to charge or cut loose husband of missing American woman GREAT ABACO ISLAND, Bahamas – Bahamian authorities face a Monday evening deadline to either charge or release Brian Hooker, the husband of missing Michigan boater Lynette Hooker, as the investigation into her disappearance near Elbow Cay is up against the clock. Hooker has been in custody since last week after authorities detained him in connection with his wife’s disappearance. His attorney said officials have until about 7:20 p.m. ET Monday to decide whether to file charges or let him go. Police continue searching for Lynette by air, land and sea, though the effort has shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery operation. Lynette Hooker was last seen the night of April 4 after the couple left the Abaco Inn on a dinghy headed back to their anchored yacht. DINGHY ROUTE TAKEN BY MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN AND JAILED HUSBAND RECREATED AS DETAILS OF DISAPPEARANCE EMERGE Fox News Digital previously retraced the route — a short trip through waters local experts say are typically shallow, clear and heavily trafficked. According to Brian Hooker’s account, Lynette fell overboard in worsening weather and strong winds. He has said the couple was not wearing life jackets and that the dinghy lost power after the ignition key went into the water. In a recorded phone call obtained by CBS, Hooker described the incident as a series of mistakes, saying Lynette "basically just bounced off the dinghy" before he lost sight of her in the dark. He has said he later paddled for help after searching for her. WATCH: Volunteer fire and rescue team searches for missing Lynette Hooker In an interview on Ashleigh Banfield’s "Drop Dead Serious" podcast, Lynette’s mother described a volatile relationship and said her daughter had left her husband multiple times in the past. "They had a lot of highs and a lot of lows," she said. "When there were bad times, they were bad times." She alleged Brian Hooker could become "mean" and "hateful" when drinking and said there had been instances where he became physical, adding she had long feared for her daughter’s safety. Lynette had been planning to leave the marriage, her mother said in the interview. FRIEND OF BRIAN HOOKER SPEAKS OUT, QUESTIONS DISAPPEARANCE OF WOMAN IN BAHAMAS MYSTERY Separately, Lynette’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has questioned Brian Hooker’s version of events, saying the circumstances surrounding her mother’s disappearance "don’t add up."  In a previous appearance on "Fox & Friends," she also alleged he had been physically violent in the past. "I've seen him choke out one of his daughters before. And we had to go to court for that," Aylesworth said. "So he's just repeating patterns." MISSING AMERICAN’S HUSBAND HAD 'SPOTTY' CELL SERVICE DURING 8-HOUR TREK TO REPORT DISAPPEARANCE: TELECOM BOSS Brian Hooker has denied wrongdoing and has spoken publicly about the incident, saying in a Facebook post that he is "heartbroken." "I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas," he wrote. "Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus." FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Hooker’s attorney said his client wants "closure" to find out what happened to his wife. "He denied the allegations and he maintained his innocence," Terrel Butler said, adding that a decision on whether to charge him would likely come before the deadline. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER The attorney also said the case would ultimately be handled by prosecutors, not just investigating officers, and that Hooker is "drained and tired" as he awaits a decision. If he is not charged by the deadline, authorities would be required to release him, though re-arrest remains a possibility under Bahamian law. SEND US A TIP HERE A flotation device believed to have been thrown to Lynette was recovered, according to multiple reports, but authorities have not announced that they have found her body. Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commander Origin Deleveaux told NBC News that authorities were continuing to search for Lynette, and that early efforts were complicated by severe weather. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Fox News Digital has also reported that local boaters say it would be unusual for someone to disappear without a trace in the area due to the water clarity and proximity to land. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB The Hookers had documented their boating lifestyle online after buying and restoring a sailboat in Texas, eventually making their way to the Bahamas. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Hooker’s attorney for additional comment. Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4238d8d5dabda39552c1 Diana Taurasi, J.J. Hardy among seven Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductees te 2026-04-13T19:21:28.754Z Diana Taurasi, J.J. Hardy among seven Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductees PHOENIX – For Diana Taurasi, joining the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 marked the latest milestone in a career that helped transform women’s basketball.  Taurasi was inducted along with six others during a ceremony and dinner at the Chateau Luxe Event Venue Thursday that celebrated a class of athletes who not only defined their respective sports but left a lasting imprint on Arizona’s athletic tradition. Former major leaguer J.J. Hardy, past University of Arizona and Olympic swimming coach Frank Busch, retired NFL player and Olympian Michael Bates, decorated skydiver Craig Girard, former Yavapai College soccer coach Michael Pantalione and four-time track Olympian George Young were inducted alongside Taurasi.  After the Phoenix Mercury selected Taurasi No. 1 overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft, she arrived in the Valley as a college superstar from UConn and quickly became the face of the Mercury franchise, spending her entire 20-year career with the organization. “I came in 2004, and I was just a little kid,” Taurasi said. “To think about 20 years later, I’d be here in the Arizona Hall of Fame, it means a lot. It’s been such an amazing two decades. I call this my professional home, but this is our home.” Over the course of her career, Taurasi became the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, won three championships, won an MVP and was selected to 11 WNBA All-Star games. Internationally, she added six Olympic gold medals with Team USA, further cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.  Still, Taurasi pointed to the people and culture in Phoenix as the foundation of her success and gave a special shout-out to former Mercury and Suns managing partner Jerry Colangelo.  “The minute I met him and saw the commitment he had to winning championships, it shaped what I thought it meant to be part of the Mercury,” Taurasi said.  She also praised the Valley’s support of the game. “You ask anyone, they know Phoenix shows up. To see the crowds and the atmosphere downtown, it was electric.” Like Taurasi, Hardy reflected on his Arizona roots. A Tucson native and Sabino High School standout, Hardy was selected in the second round of the 2001 MLB Draft before going on to a 13-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.  “It feels great and it’s very humbling,” Hardy said. “This means a lot to me because I’m proud to be from Arizona. It makes me think about my childhood – Little League, school, all the people who were part of that journey.” Hardy’s career accolades include three Gold Glove awards, a Silver Slugger Award and two All-Star selections. Known for his power at the shortstop position, he led all MLB shortstops in home runs from 2011 to 2013. Despite those accomplishments, his advice to the next generation remained simple. “Stay present. Stay focused on today,” Hardy said. “If you take care of today, the future will take care of itself.” In his speech, Hardy emphasized the relationships that shaped his career.  “When I think about my career, I don’t think about seasons or stats, I think about people,” Hardy said. “This journey was never meant to be done alone.” For Busch, one of the most accomplished coaches in collegiate swimming history, the evening was a reflection on decades of building excellence in and out of the pool. Busch led the Arizona men’s and women’s programs from 1989 to 2011, where his swimmers won 48 NCAA individual titles, 31 relay titles during his career and captured the men’s and women’s team titles in 2008. Busch also collected multiple national and conference coaching honors. “My journey is all about family,” Busch said. “From my parents to my wife to every team I’ve coached, it’s always been about creating something bigger than yourself.” Before his tenure in Tucson, Busch coached at the University of Cincinnati and later served as USA Swimming’s national team director from 2011 to 2017, helping oversee Olympic success on the international stage.  But his focus remained on the culture he helped build at Arizona. His philosophy extended beyond wins and titles, instead focusing on mentorship and development.  “When I came to Arizona, every coach and athlete was part of one environment and it created a family atmosphere. That’s what made it special,” Busch said. “In sport, you take your gifts and transform lives. That’s the real impact. What you leave with the people you’ve touched.” Bates, an Amphitheater High and University of Arizona product, earned recognition as an Olympic bronze medalist in the 200-meter dash before becoming a five-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL. Girard, a Tempe native, rose to prominence as an eight-time world champion and one of the most accomplished formation skydivers in the world.  Pantalione built Yavapai College into a national powerhouse, compiling the highest winning percentage in collegiate soccer history while leading his teams to seven national titles. And Young, a University of Arizona graduate who was honored posthumously, made history as the first American track and field athlete to compete in four Olympic Games, capturing bronze in the 1968 Olympic steeplechase while setting multiple national and world records. He went on to a long career as a coach and administrator at Central Arizona College, coaching the cross country team to a national championship in 1988.  Together the Class of 2025 and the others represent different paths to excellence, but their stories are united by a shared foundation in Arizona, where community, opportunity and dedication helped shape careers. The post Diana Taurasi, J.J. Hardy among seven Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductees appeared first on Cronkite News. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd421fd8d5dabda395528b 'The View' host says Eric Swalwell's reputation with women was 'open secret' exploitable by enemies te 2026-04-13T19:21:03.808Z 'The View' host says Eric Swalwell's reputation with women was 'open secret' exploitable by enemies "The View" co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said on Monday that Rep. Eric Swalwell’s reputation with women was an "open secret" that made him exploitable by America's enemies. Swalwell, D-Calif., has suspended his campaign for California governor after he was accused of sexual assault, as well as multiple reports alleging other misconduct with women. Swalwell has acknowledged "mistakes in judgment" but claimed the assault allegations against him are false. Griffin, returning to "The View" after a stint on maternity leave, noted reports that Swalwell's alleged misconduct was not a surprise to many observers. "Swalwell sat on the intel committee, and there were allegations he had a suspected Chinese spy, Fang Fang, who was associated with him in his office," she said. "Now, he was not found to have engaged in wrongdoing, but to me, my spidey senses from having worked at the Pentagon go off, which is it was an open secret that he had issues with women, that he was somebody who was susceptible, potentially to heavy drinking, to impropriety with women." CALIFORNIA REPORTER CLAIMS ERIC SWALWELL’S CONDUCT ‘WAS KNOWN,’ RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT LOCAL SUPPORT Griffin added that allegations like those made against Swalwell were "disqualifying." "I think we need to remember that winning isn’t everything, and you lose the plot when you think that," Griffin said. "When somebody does something that’s beyond the pale, that should be it, and we should move on and get back to that kind of society." "I think of the victims. These allegations are horrible. They’re well-documented. This is, I mean, deeply reported," she added. The other victim of the situation, she argued, is "the American public," arguing that even the reputation of habitual sexual scandal makes one look vulnerable to bad actors from America’s rival powers. HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLANS MOTION TO OUST SWALWELL FROM CONGRESS AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS "America’s adversaries look for how to exploit that," she continued. "So that, to me, pinpoints it was openly known. Nobody did anything about it. But thank God that now Democrats, Adam Schiff and others and others have called for him to step aside, and he did the right thing by doing it." Swalwell has also been urged by some Democrats to resign from Congress. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "The accusations were 2019," co-host Sara Haines added. "This is post-MeToo, which was not just a ‘let’s dig out the ones that have done wrong things.' It was a loud warning that people will not be silenced anymore, and he arrogantly did that again in 2019." Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell's campaign and did not receive immediate reply. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd41f4d8d5dabda3955270 IBM pays $17M fine to end DOJ suit over DEI programs te 2026-04-13T19:20:20.907Z IBM pays $17M fine to end DOJ suit over DEI programs IBM entered into a $17 million settlement agreement on Friday with the U.S. DOJ over allegations that it engaged in “illegal DEI practices.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd4006d8d5dabda395525a 2 motorcyclists to be airlifted after crash north of the Valley with serious injuries. te 2026-04-13T19:12:06.708Z 2 motorcyclists to be airlifted after crash north of the Valley with serious injuries. The crash happened around 10 a.m. on SR 87 near the area of Sunflower, authorities said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3ff1d8d5dabda3955249 Arizona lawmakers propose 5 different ways to raise legislator pay te 2026-04-13T19:11:45.003Z Arizona lawmakers propose 5 different ways to raise legislator pay Key Points: GOP lawmakers are taking aim at the Arizona Attorney General over her public nuisance lawsuits Mayes has been using unprecedented public nuisance laws to curb the water use of large-scale agricultural businesses  Mayes argues she is stepping up to defend rural Arizonans when legislators have failed to act Republican lawmakers are moving to clip the legal wings of Attorney General Kris Mayes, with one legislator even calling her a “bully” for how she is pursuing companies over their groundwater pumping. Legislation approved by both the House and Senate would allow those who believe they have been damaged by an improper “nuisance” or “consumer fraud” lawsuit to sue the attorney general for damages — everything from legal fees to lost profits and even a reduction in the value of the business. It would not be absolute. The action would have to have been dismissed or found to have no merit. And the person filing the suit would have to show that the attorney general knew the action lacked merit — or, at least, that she publicized the lawsuit. But Rep. Lupe Diaz, R-Benson, said it should be enough to restrain any overly anxious attorney general from going after businesses using that nuisance claim. Mayes, however, says she is acting to protect residents from corporations that take advantage of the fact that state lawmakers have failed to regulate groundwater pumping in rural areas. Those nuisance laws, she said, provide the only legal avenue for relief. HB 2167 is just one of three measures filed by Diaz that he acknowledges are aimed at Mayes — and how he contends she is acting improperly in using public nuisance laws to go after companies over the amount of groundwater they are pumping. He is also behind a second measure that would make the attorney general automatically guilty of defamation if she filed a public nuisance lawsuit that, as in the case of HB 2167, lacked merit and she knew about it and publicized it. And a third would prohibit an attorney general from filing a nuisance action unless she first had the permission of the county board of supervisors. So far, though, only HB 2167 has cleared both the House and the Senate and is now on Gov. Katie Hobbs’s desk. What started all this was that Mayes filed suit two years ago against a Saudi company to force it to stop “excessively pumping groundwater” at its western Arizona alfalfa operations and require it to set aside funds to compensate neighbors it has damaged. More to the point, she is using a largely untested legal theory that the actions of Fondomonte have created a “public nuisance” by pumping so much water it has dried up the wells of nearby neighbors and resulted in subsidence of the land around Vicksburg in La Paz County. That case is still pending. And any new legislation would not affect it. Since that time, however, Mayes used the threat of a similar lawsuit to force Riverview, LLP, a Minnesota company that owns two large dairies in the Willcox basin to take 2,000 acres of farmland out of production and set aside $11 million for well drilling and water access for affected residents in Cochise County’s Sulfur Springs Valley. More to the point, Mayes has suggested she might use the same nuisance law to go after others who are withdrawing large quantities of groundwater in rural areas where there now are few, if any, state restrictions. “People are not trusting the government today,” he said of his legislation. “This will help to be able to bring some accountability and some comfort to those that may be feeling like Big Brother is coming against them.” But he made it clear that his aim was narrow: To rein in the use of nuisance laws by Mayes and any future attorney general. “I think that will help them think twice about pursuing these and putting the public in a position of having to defend themselves in court and spend all that money doing that,” Diaz said. Rep. Teresa Martinez had a simpler explanation for her support of curbing Mayes’ power. “I hate a bully,” said the Casa Grande Republican. But Rep. Mariana Sandoval said she sees the legislation through a different lens. “This is a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate the attorney general and shield powerful foreign corporations like Fondomonte and Riverview from accountability for draining Arizona’s scarce groundwater,” said the Goodyear Democrat. Fellow Democratic Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton of Tucson said she, too, isn’t buying Diaz’s argument that he is attempting to shield common people from the abuses of large government, especially when it comes to Mayes using the public nuisance law. That is the one option the attorney general says she has to deal with excessive groundwater pumping in rural areas. “When I think about standing up for the little guy, and I think about who the little guy is in the state, I can’t discount the stories that I’ve heard of people who go to turn on their tap water and there’s no water there,” she said. “I cannot discount the stories I’ve heard of foundations cracking, thus eliminating any kind of equity in home ownership,” Stahl Hamilton said. “And I absolutely think that our attorney general is listening to the little guy in this case and is paving a way forward.” All that goes to the regulation — or lack thereof — of groundwater pumping in rural areas. Major urban areas are located within “active management areas” where pumping is monitored and regulated. There also are “irrigation non-expansion areas” with certain limits. Pumping pretty much everywhere else is ungoverned. And efforts by some local officials in rural counties to force better oversight have so far gone unheeded. Mayes noted the gap in the law when filing suit against Fondomonte, a company that came to Arizona to grow alfalfa to feed dairy cattle in Saudi Arabia, where such farming is not allowed. “Fondomonte is taking advantage of Arizona’s failure to protect its precious groundwater resources,” she said. All that goes to her decision to use the tool Mayes says she has: The public nuisance provision in the state criminal code. She said that because Fondomonte’s operations are harming its neighbors, that fits the definition. Mayes wants a court order enjoining the “excessive” pumping of groundwater. Her lawsuit does not define that in actual terms. But Mayes said that in 2023 alone, Fondomonte used about 31,196 acre-feet of water — more than 10 billion gallons — considered enough to serve about 93,000 single-family homes. She also wants Fondomonte to set up an “abatement fund” to reimburse others who have been affected. Among the issues that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Minder has to decide is whether any of this fits within nuisance laws. There really is no legal precedent for the case. The only known use of the law in a situation like this came earlier in Mayes’ tenure, when she used it to go after a company’s plan to mine rock and gravel on a 25-acre parcel it owned in a neighborhood in a rural area near Chino Valley. The site was within 100 feet of homes. When the state mine inspector said he had no authority to block the plan, Mayes cited nuisance laws and got a court to issue a preliminary injunction. The only thing is, there was never a final ruling on whether the mine was a nuisance — or whether the nuisance law applied. The lawsuit went away when someone else bought the land and mining plans were abandoned. It is the future use of those nuisance laws, Diaz said, he wants to restrain. He said Mayes — or any other attorney general — legally still could pursue nuisance claims. But Diaz said his HB 2167 sets the stage for someone to be able to fight such a claim and recover damages. That kind of law, he said, might have resulted in a different outcome in what happened with Riverview. Diaz does not dispute that there are people in the Willcox area who found their wells were drying up. But he said most went down between 100 and 300 feet; Diaz said Riverview was drawing from a different layer in the aquifer at 1,200 feet. “And then she comes in and threatens that she’s going to take them to court,” he said, without any proof. The company never admitted it was part of the problem. But Diaz said that, under threat from Mayes, it decided it was better to settle — and pay the $11 million — than risk the same kind of litigation as Fondomonte. Under his measure, he said, a company could fight the attorney general with a better chance of recovering not just its legal fees, which are typical in many civil cases, but also any other damages it might incur like lost sales, lost profits, and loss in the value of the business. “I believe she was using her position to extort,” he said. But Sen. Lauren Kuby said it’s not like Mayes was simply out looking for someone to sue. “In the Riverview case, the Willcox basin residents were faced with drying wells,” said the Tempe Democrat. “They called upon her office after years of heavy pumping by a large dairy.” And that, Kuby said, is what led to the settlement to provide $11 million and to follow 2,000 acres. “This is a concrete fix for a real, ongoing harm,” she said. Kuby said that’s precisely what’s wrong with HB 2167. “It would tie the hands of one official, our attorney general, who can act and is acting when communities raise the alarm across our state,” she said. “Riverview shows the model: When harm is real and urgent, the AG must be able to act decisively.” Diaz, however, said not everything — including wells drying up — require intervention by the attorney general. “We have been in an almost close to a 30-year drought now,” he said. “With that, comes a lot of things that we are not prepared for,” Diaz said. “But we also are a very creative people.” Consider, he said, people in his Southeast Arizona district whose wells have run dry. “They have bought tanks, they transfer their water, and they continue to move on,” Diaz said, without “everything to be the government to bail everybody out.” And he said there are government programs designed to help rural communities to build or improve drinking water systems. Diaz also brushes aside claims that Mayes intervened because rural residents want that. “We are creative people and we get around these things,” Diaz said. Consider, he said, an acquaintance who has lived in the area a long time, with water trucked into her property every week “so that she can do the laundry and shower and all that kind of stuff.” “Yeah, they have to watch a little bit of their water use,” Diaz said. “But they trade that off because they like to live in rural Arizona.” But what of those who sought intervention by Mayes? “The ones that are complaining the most are the ones that are coming in from California,” he said. Mayes, for her part, says Diaz is ignoring the reality of the situation — and why she believes that what Diaz is trying to do is harmful. “Hundreds of residents in Cochise County came out to my town hall to beg for help because their wells were going dry and the land was cracking open around their homes and no one in power was doing anything to protect them,” she said. “This year, we got them help while the Legislature has gone another session without doing anything to protect rural groundwater,” Mayes said. “It’s outrageous that instead of doing their jobs, Republican lawmakers want to punish me for doing mine.” The post Arizona lawmakers propose 5 different ways to raise legislator pay first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3fdcd8d5dabda395523e Federal judge blocks Arizona AG from prosecuting Kalshi, says it violates the Constitution te 2026-04-13T19:11:24.594Z Federal judge blocks Arizona AG from prosecuting Kalshi, says it violates the Constitution The Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued Arizona on April 2, 2026, alleging the state is violating federal law by trying to regulate Kalshi and other online prediction markets. (Photo by Jim Small/Arizona Mirror) A federal judge has temporarily blocked Attorney General Kris Mayes from pursuing criminal charges against the online prediction market company Kalshi, concluding that the Trump administration is likely to succeed in its lawsuit arguing that federal law bars states from regulating the industry. Federal Judge Michael Liburdi granted a temporary restraining order late last week in the lawsuit brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency that oversees prediction markets. The CFTC filed its lawsuit in response to Mayes filing criminal charges against Kalshi for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation and violating a state law barring wagering on elections. The CFTC accused Arizona of infringing on the commission’s “exclusive” authority to regulate Kalshi and other companies, and it asked the court to declare that all state gambling laws in the United States “unconstitutional and invalid” if they are applied to prediction markets. The federal regulatory agency claimed that Arizona is effectively attempting to shut down federally regulated prediction markets, which runs contrary to the regulatory scheme Congress devised that gives exclusivity to the commission.  And the CFTC argued that applying state-by-state licensing requirements, fees, and hardware mandates to prediction markets would create the exact regulatory “patchwork” that Congress first sought to eliminate in the early 20th century when it passed laws allowing for commodity futures trading. “The CFTC has demonstrated a reasonable chance of success in showing that the (Commodity Exchange) Act, at a minimum, field preempts Arizona law,” Liburdi wrote in an April 10 order granting the temporary restraining order. “Defendants’ enforcement of Arizona’s gambling laws therefore violates the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution…” The Arizona Attorney General’s Office said it is weighing its options. “The Attorney General’s office disagrees with the court ruling and we are evaluating next steps,” spokesman Richie Taylor said in an email. Mayes’ 20-count criminal information filed in Maricopa County Superior Court claims Kalshi broke Arizona law prohibiting the operation of an unlicensed wagering business and similarly broke the law by allowing bets on Arizona elections.  Some of the bets Mayes’ singled out include betting on the 2028 Presidential election results, if Republican Andy Biggs would win the Arizona gubernatorial race, if Elon Musk would attend the Super Bowl and if a Democrat would win the Arizona Secretary of State race. Mayes’ charges focused primarily on Arizona sports and election bets, though some charges include federal election bets, as well as sports contests in other states. The New York-based company has been center stage in an ongoing battle over how to regulate prediction markets, which allow for bets on a variety of topics, from sports to politics to the war in Iran. The prediction markets have also been accused of insider trading, as unknown people have made large sums of money off bets placed shortly before real world events.  In 2024, Kalshi won a landmark case in federal court when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission couldn’t block its election wagering under federal law. As a result, the company now operates as a “designated contract market” that is regulated by the CFTC. Mayes is arguing that Kalshi’s authority to operate under federal law doesn’t preempt Arizona’s criminal laws, setting up a federalism clash that could reverberate nationwide, as more than a dozen states similarly outlaw gambling on elections. The lawsuits are the latest development in an escalating legal battle between state gaming regulators and prediction markets that could ultimately end up being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3fc7d8d5dabda395521d Illegal immigrant accused of Easter kidnapping, sex assault in college town; DHS rips second attack in weeks te 2026-04-13T19:11:03.221Z Illegal immigrant accused of Easter kidnapping, sex assault in college town; DHS rips second attack in weeks Federal authorities are warning Missouri officials not to release an illegal immigrant accused of raping and kidnapping a woman in a quiet college town on Easter Sunday — the second violent crime in the state in just weeks involving a suspect in the country unlawfully. The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that Cristian Lopez-Gomez, a Honduran national who entered the U.S. illegally in April 2024 and was released into the country under the Biden administration, is now charged in the attack in Kirksville, home to Truman State University. Authorities say Lopez-Gomez raped the woman and held her against her will during the holiday weekend. He remains behind bars in the Adair County jail, where ICE has lodged a detainer to keep him from being released. DHS reinforced that message in a social media post, urging Missouri officials not to release Lopez-Gomez and stressing that cooperation with ICE is key to ensuring suspects like him are not "released back into our communities." DHS reinforced that message in a statement on Monday, urging Missouri officials not to release Lopez-Gomez, whom it called an "animal" and a "monster." The agency stressed that cooperation with ICE is key to ensuring suspects like him are not "released back into our communities." "Thankfully, Missouri cooperates with ICE law enforcement," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said. "When state and local law enforcement work with ICE, we can safely remove criminal illegal aliens from our country and put the safety of American citizens first." FEDS CHARGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN LOYOLA STUDENT KILLING AS ATTORNEY SAYS PROSECUTORS LACK 'FAITH' IN STATE The disturbing case is rattling the college town and fueling broader outrage, coming just weeks after another high-profile attack in Missouri involving an illegal immigrant suspect. In that March case, 18-year-old Honduran national Yefry Archaga-Elvir is accused of luring 15-year-old Miles Young into a deadly ambush before chasing him down and shooting him as the teen reportedly begged for his life. ICE DETAINER LODGED FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANT ACCUSED OF MURDERING 15-YEAR-OLD MISSOURI BOY WHO BEGGED FOR HIS LIFE The killing sparked fierce backlash from Republican leaders, who pointed to the suspect’s immigration status as a broader public safety failure. GOT A TIP? "Unfortunately, this is just the latest example of a Missourian killed by an illegal alien," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said, calling for sweeping deportation efforts. FOLLOW US ON X Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., warned that "dangerous individuals who should not be here remain in our communities," while Rep. Mark Alford added, "Our children should NEVER fear murder on our streets." Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek also weighed in, calling the teen’s death "another Missouri family destroyed" and arguing the crime "never would’ve happened" if the suspect had not been in the country. GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL Schmitt went further in a separate statement, blasting what he described as an "invasion" and asking, "Where is the outrage when American sons and daughters are murdered by illegal aliens who have no business in our country?" The back-to-back cases have intensified concerns among GOP leaders, who say the attacks underscore growing risks tied to illegal immigration and the need for stronger enforcement. CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS DHS officials echoed that message, emphasizing that when local law enforcement works with ICE, authorities can remove dangerous individuals and "put the safety of American citizens first." It was not immediately clear whether the victim in the Easter Sunday attack was a Truman State student. Requests for comment were sent to the university, local police and ICE Midwest. Lopez-Gomez is not believed to have a prior criminal history in the U.S., but officials say he entered the country illegally in April 2024 and was released. Both cases remain under investigation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3f9cd8d5dabda3955203 Microsoft is working on yet another OpenClaw-like agent te 2026-04-13T19:10:20.841Z Microsoft is working on yet another OpenClaw-like agent The company has also previously introduced agents that are able to complete tasks, Cowork and Copilot Tasks. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3d80d8d5dabda39551cc Pakistani general says Iran diplomacy still 'alive, despite US blockade, failed talks te 2026-04-13T19:01:20.946Z Pakistani general says Iran diplomacy still 'alive, despite US blockade, failed talks The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic Monday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed without a deal. The move, announced by President Donald Trump, came after negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, despite what participants described as rare direct engagement between the two sides. But Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that the talks came far closer to success than their outcome suggests — and argued that diplomacy is still within reach. "Both sides are saying they were very close … even inches away from a solution," Saeed said. "They talked to each other in a very friendly manner. There was, from both sides, an expression of accommodation and understanding from each other. So, what you can briefly say is that the engagement has sufficient potential to resume." JD VANCE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON AFTER 16 HOURS OF IRAN PEACE TALKS COLLAPSE IN PAKISTAN Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, "Right now, there’s no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade … Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we’re going to keep it that way very easily." He added that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, saying its "Navy has gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone." Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, pressed Iran to accept a strict "zero enrichment" policy and remove its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.  "The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon," Vance said at a press conference in Islamabad. Iranian leaders rejected those demands, insisting that any agreement must include the immediate release of billions of dollars in frozen assets. Now, with the blockade in place, Saeed suggested the move may be designed less as a military endgame and more as leverage. "This blockade could be … a maneuver to build further pressure on Iran to negotiate," he said. TRUMP WARNS CHINA OF 'STAGGERING' 50% TARIFF IF CAUGHT SUPPLYING MILITARY AID TO IRAN The escalation has raised concerns globally, particularly for countries dependent on Gulf energy flows, including Pakistan. "Everyone in the world must be worried about what kind of economic negative spin-offs such a blockade would have," Saeed said. Saeed, who until recently sat at the center of Pakistan’s military leadership, framed the Islamabad talks as a critical reopening of dialogue after decades of hostility. "It is the first time in 47 years … that there was engagement at the highest level," he said, calling it "a great moment for diplomacy" and a demonstration of Pakistan’s ability to maintain credibility with both Washington and Tehran. He pointed in particular to Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, a figure who has drawn unusual attention in Washington.  Trump has publicly praised Munir, at one point calling him his "favorite field marshal," elevating his profile as a key intermediary in regional diplomacy. Munir, who rose through Pakistan’s intelligence ranks before becoming army chief, previously served as director general of military intelligence and later led the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His career has been defined by deep involvement in regional security and intelligence coordination, including longstanding engagement with Iran. ‘GATE OF TEARS’ AT RISK: IRAN THREATENS MAJOR NEW GLOBAL CHOKEPOINT IF US MOVES ON HORMUZ Those ties could prove critical in the current crisis, according to Saeed.  "What people do not know is that when he was director general of military intelligence … he was interacting with Iranians at multiple levels continuously," Saeed said, describing years of direct engagement with Iran’s military, intelligence and political leadership, including former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike during Trump’s first term. "He has had interaction with them for a long time … visiting Iran frequently and interacting on multiple issues," Saeed said, adding that many current Iranian officials would already be familiar with Munir from earlier roles. That continuity, he argued, gives Pakistan a rare advantage at a moment when formal diplomatic channels are strained. "What one can say is that he continues to be one figure internationally who has a personal interaction … in the intelligence community in Iran in the military hierarchy and also on the side of the political leadership," Saeed said. "So that’s a huge advantage he has on the other side." TRUMP VOICES FRUSTRATION WITH NATO, SAYS IRANIAN NAVY ‘DESTROYED’ AS US PREPS FOR BLOCKADE For Pakistan, that personal access — combined with its simultaneous relationship with Washington — has become central to its effort to position itself as a credible intermediary, even as the region edges closer to confrontation. At the same time, Pakistan’s role as a mediator has drawn scrutiny, particularly given its longstanding position on Israel and recent inflammatory remarks by senior officials. When asked whether Pakistan can be seen as a neutral broker while not recognizing Israel — an actor directly involved in strikes on Iran — Saeed downplayed the issue, saying Israel was not part of the diplomatic track. "Pakistan’s position with regard to relations with Israel has been consistent since our independence," he said, adding that Islamabad’s mediation efforts were focused solely on Washington and Tehran. "Neither of their representatives was on the table … Pakistan was mediating between the U.S. and Iran," he said. Despite the current escalation, Saeed maintained that diplomatic channels remain open. "There is a lot of space … for resuming the process," he said, suggesting talks could restart in Islamabad or elsewhere if both sides shift course. "On Pakistan's side, from my personal knowledge of the field marshal, they are relentless. They would not give up. They must not have given up. They must be continuously in touch with both sides. And they would try their best to convince both sides that the blockade is not going to be in their interest, in the interest of the region and in the interest of the international community." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3d6dd8d5dabda39551c3 WATCH: Spanberger knocked for ‘bait and switch’ hypocrisy as popularity plummets amid redistricting fiasco te 2026-04-13T19:01:01.122Z WATCH: Spanberger knocked for ‘bait and switch’ hypocrisy as popularity plummets amid redistricting fiasco EXCLUSIVE: One of the Democratic Party’s top rising stars, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, is coming under increasing fire as critics accuse her of pulling a "bait and switch" on voters by abandoning her affordability promises in favor of tax increases on "just about anything that moves." A new ad released by Unleash Prosperity on Monday slammed Spanberger over her affordability promises as Virginia Democrats propose new taxes on everyday expenses like dry cleaning, gym memberships and pet care. Unleash Prosperity’s ad puts it bluntly, saying, "Virginia can’t afford this." The governor has not publicly supported or signed the measures. A statement by the governor's office sent to Fox News Digital on Monday emphasized that Spanberger did not sign the tax bills into law "because the General Assembly never passed them, and the bills never reached her desk." The statement said that Spanberger has "remained laser-focused on addressing high costs for Virginians." However, Spanberger has supported a broader set of revenue measures since taking office, including proposals targeting digital services and business activity, as part of an effort to fund priorities such as education and health care. TRUMP BLASTS SPANBERGER AHEAD OF VIRGINIA MEETINGS, SAYS STATE FACES TAX BASE EXODUS LIKE NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA Steve Moore, an economist who co-founded Unleash Prosperity, told Fox News Digital that while Spanberger cashed in on Virginians’ worries over prices, she "raced out of the gate with all of these very liberal policies, including tax increases on just about anything that moves in Virginia." Moore said that Democrats across the country should take Spanberger's decline as a "warning" ahead of 2028. There has been much buzz around Spanberger and her gubernatorial victory last year, which resulted in Republicans being ousted from power in Virginia. The Democratic Party selected her to give its response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, further evidencing her stardom. Yet, despite the Democrats elevating her and even floating her as a presidential or vice-presidential pick, Moore said that Virginians have been "shocked about that," explaining why her approval ratings have "absolutely plummeted." "She has seen one of the swiftest declines in her popularity in the first six months in office that I've seen in many years of politics," Moore said. Forty-six percent of Virginians disapprove of her job performance, while 47% approve, according to a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll. Compared with Virginia governors from both parties since 1994, Spanberger has the highest disapproval rating at this point in her term. In contrast, predecessor Gov. Glenn Youngkin had a 54-39 job approval rating at this point in his term, with the highest favorability going to Democrat Mark Warner – now Virginia’s senior senator – at 78-20. Moore called Spanberger’s tumbling ratings "the price for her bait and switch tax hike on Virginia residents and small businesses." DEMS WHO RAN ON AFFORDABILITY NOW FACE BACKLASH AS COSTS CLIMB IN NY, VIRGINIA "She campaigned on affordability, and nearly on day one in office, she and Virginia Democrats in Richmond endorsed a catalog of left-wing tax increase proposals on everything from dry cleaners to dog groomers, which make Virginia look like California," he said. "Spanberger promised to be a pro-business moderate Democrat," he went on, quipping, "Maybe she should be known as ‘Scam-Berger.’" Moore said that Spanberger’s quick decline in the polls does not bode well for the Democratic Party’s hopes of taking back the White House in 2028. "Spanberger is not alone," he explained. "We're seeing that with a lot of Democrats around the country; they run as moderates and as soon as they get in, they move to the extreme left." "You're seeing Democrats who are governors and mayors across the country who are advancing very liberal pro-tax policies that are anti-business. And I think it's a very tough agenda for Democrats to run with in 2028 on the national picture," he went on. "That should be a warning signal to Democrats across the country." VIRGINIA DEMS TAKE TAX HIKES INTO OVERTIME, TARGET FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUES  Last week Trump took a similar line of criticism against Spanberger ahead of meetings in the state. He warned in a Truth Social post that her policies are triggering a tax base exodus similar to New York and California. "She is adding so many Taxes, a Food and Beverage Tax, Digital Services Tax, Utilities Tax, and more," Trump wrote. "It has lost its Energy, Vitality, and Strength. People are leaving that would never have even thought of doing so!" In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Spanberger's office slammed criticisms of the governor raising taxes as "misinformation." "The volume of misinformation — spread across social media and repeated in press coverage — made a clarification necessary. The facts are straightforward," the statement said. "Governor Abigail Spanberger did not sign dozens of tax bills into law — because the General Assembly never passed them, and the bills never reached her desk." The office added that "in the opening months of her administration, Governor Spanberger has remained laser-focused on addressing high costs for Virginians" and is "also working alongside legislators and local communities to attract new capital investment." Spanberger has also pushed back on the criticism herself. In a post on X, she said Trump and his allies were mischaracterizing her policies. "The president and his allies are talking about taxes that our state legislature never even voted on and I certainly didn't sign," she wrote. "Why? Because if they don't flood the zone with fake news about fake taxes, people might hear about the bills I am signing to lower energy costs, strengthen our schools, make housing more affordable, and bring billions of dollars of business investment to Virginia." A Spanberger spokesperson added that businesses have announced "more than $500 million in new investment in the commonwealth since Governor Spanberger took office in January," while accusing Trump of focusing on politics instead of economic stability. "The ballgame changed when the President — whose been busy raising costs for Virginians by starting a reckless war that has skyrocketed inflation and driven gas prices up to $4 — strong-armed states into drawing more Republican congressional seats that he asserted he was 'entitled' to before the midterms," the governor's spokesperson said. "As prices rise in Trump’s economy, Governor Spanberger will continue her work with both parties to address the high housing, healthcare and energy costs that Virginians are feeling." Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3d44d8d5dabda39551aa Stanford report highlights growing disconnect between AI insiders and everyone else te 2026-04-13T19:00:20.824Z Stanford report highlights growing disconnect between AI insiders and everyone else Stanford’s latest AI Index shows a widening gap between experts and the public, with rising anxiety over jobs, healthcare, and the economy. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3aedd8d5dabda3955162 FBI announces takedown of phishing operation that targeted thousands of victims te 2026-04-13T18:50:21.550Z FBI announces takedown of phishing operation that targeted thousands of victims Cybercriminals allegedly used the W3LL phishing kit to target more than 17,000 victims worldwide, stealing their passwords and multi-factor authentication codes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd38add8d5dabda3955138 City approves $748K in wastewater repairs te 2026-04-13T18:40:45.631Z City approves $748K in wastewater repairs Sedona City Council voted unanimously 7-0, with Councilman Pete Furman attending remotely, to award a nearly $749,000 construction contract to Fann Environmental LLC for the rehabilitation of the wastewater reclamation plant’s secondary clarifier during its March 24 meeting. While the wastewater pla Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd363ed8d5dabda39550c7 Trump Posted a Picture of Himself as Jesus. Now He’s Trying to Explain It Away. te 2026-04-13T18:30:22.448Z Trump Posted a Picture of Himself as Jesus. Now He’s Trying to Explain It Away. The image showed President Trump bathed in divine light and clad in religious robes. His interpretation was that the image depicted him as a doctor, not Jesus Christ. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3436d8d5dabda39550a3 Arizona lawmakers propose 5 different ways to raise legislator pay te 2026-04-13T18:21:42.453Z Arizona lawmakers propose 5 different ways to raise legislator pay Key Points: Lawmakers have introduced a variety of proposals to raise legislator pay Many say the current $24,000 salary, unchanged since 1998, is insufficient  Voters could decide on a raise via ballot measure come Election Day Katie Hobbs says when she was a state senator a decade ago she was making $24,000 a year. “It wasn’t enough,” she said in a recent message to followers while asking for money for her reelection campaign. But Hobbs, now governor and making $95,000 a year, is showing far less sympathy toward lawmakers who are still being paid the same $24,000. “It’s certainly not sustainable to live on $24,000 a year,” she said in response to a question from Capitol Media Services. “But it is intended to be a part-time salary,” with sessions lasting — at least according to legislative rules — just four months a year, though that hasn’t happened in years. Still, Hobbs acknowledged that for many lawmakers it ends up “being more of a full-time job,” with other legislative obligations through the rest of the year making it difficult, if not impossible, to convince another employer to allow them to be gone that much. But don’t look for the governor to champion any of the various efforts being proposed this year to ask voters — who under the Arizona Constitution now have the final say on salaries — for more money. And the reason is strictly political. “I think if they want Arizonans to pay them more, they need to show up, they need to present their budget, they need to work with me to get a 123 (education fund extension) passed so we can fund public schools,” Hobbs said. “That way they can make the case for voters to give them more.” The Republicans who control both the House and the Senate, for their part, contend that the Democratic governor is the obstruction. They say her $17.8 billion budget proposal is based on unrealistic revenue predictions, like getting $760 million in reimbursement from the federal government for money spent on border security. And then there are proposals with no realistic chance of support in the GOP legislature like putting income caps on families who want vouchers of taxpayer funds to send their children to private and parochial schools or home school them in an effort to save $80 million. And then there’s the fact that it was Hobbs who walked away from budget negotiations. But none of that is keeping lawmakers — from both parties — from proposing various ways to convince voters to approve plans that would raise their salaries, in some cases by quite a lot. The current constitutional language says a special commission is supposed to meet regularly and make recommendations on legislative salaries. But anything the panel proposes has to be ratified at the ballot. Voters approved the last raise in 1998, taking the pay from $15,000 to the current $24,000. Since then, there have been several attempts to boost the pay, with offers at $30,000, $35,000 and $36,000. All were rejected. And the commission hasn’t met in years because state officials — including the governor — have failed to appoint new members. Each of the five proposals would ask voters to scrap that system. And, each of them, upon approval, eliminates the need for lawmakers to get their approval for future pay hikes. Sen. Shawnna Bolick crafted one rather complex proposal to send to voters. It would set the salaries of state senators at 30% of what members of Congress are paid — currently $174,000 — with state representatives getting half of what senators get. But there’s more. Her SCR 1050 would give senators four-year terms, leaving representatives at two. It would prohibit lawmakers from leaving office to take a job in any position created while they were in office, or for four years after that. It would remove drunk and reckless driving from the list of offenses for which lawmakers cannot be arrested during session. And legislative candidates would have to list on the ballot their education level, any vocational training, professional licenses, whether they served in the military and were honorably discharged, and whether they voted in the last three general elections. Her proposal never got a hearing. Phoenix Rep. Stacey Travers proposed setting the salary at $35,000, with automatic cost-of-living increases after that, given voter approval. To sweeten the deal for voters, her HCR 2002 sought to limit legislative tenure to no more than eight years in the Senate and eight years in the House. There are current eight-year limits — but no prohibition against lawmakers going back and forth between the chambers forever. Her bill, too, never got a hearing. The same fate befell HCR 2025 by Tucson Democratic Rep. Chris Mathis, who simply wanted to ask voters to give up their right to ratify legislative salaries and leave it to lawmakers themselves. Currently, two measures are advancing. One is a proposal by Sen. John Kavanagh to change the Arizona Constitution to replace the requirement for voter approval of pay hike proposals with automatic inflation indexing. But what SCR 1020 does not make absolutely clear is that this indexing, if approved in November, would not be prospective only. Instead, it would require a computation going back to that last pay raise in 1998. The Fountain Hills Republican said that approach is appropriate. He said that, in approving the $24,000 salary at that time, voters decided that was appropriate compensation. Kavanagh said all this does is respect the will of the voters that $24,000 — in 1998 dollars — is appropriate compensation. That, however, still leaves the fact that $24,000 in 1998 dollars translates out to about $48,000 now. And that could prove too much of a one-time jump for some voters. The other measure also awaiting further legislative action is SCR 1012. Sponsored by Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, it would replace the current commission — the one that hasn’t met in years because of a lack of appointments — with a different panel chaired by the chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court and made up of members chosen by Democratic and Republican legislative leaders. They would recommend an appropriate salary for all state elected officials, from the governor on down — but not for legislators. And their recommendations would become law unless amended or rejected by the Legislature. And legislative salaries? The bill would automatically set the governor’s pay at 60% of whatever the governor makes — a provision that could encourage lawmakers to accept the panel’s recommendation, as it would affect their own pay, with the added political advantage of not actually having to publicly vote for their own pay. Right now the governor makes $95,000. So, if nothing else changed, that would boost legislative pay to $57,000. No other state pays its governor so little. That potentially could create pressure on the commission — if SCR 1012 goes on the ballot and is adopted — to boost the salary and, by extension, the legislative pay tied to it. But Hobbs, after questioning whether lawmakers deserve more money, sidestepped the question of what she considers a proper salary for the governor of Arizona. “It’s not up to me to decide,” she said. “I talk to Arizonans every day who are struggling,” the governor said. “And they make a lot less than I do as governor.” Hobbs, however, said she won’t be making the same promise as gubernatorial hopeful Hugh Lytle who is hoping to secure the No Labels nomination for governor. He has promised that, if elected, he would donate his entire salary to a qualified charity. “I cannot afford to do that because I am not a billionaire,” Hobbs said. A campaign spokesman for Lytle said he is not a billionaire but merely a multi-millionaire. The post Arizona lawmakers propose 5 different ways to raise legislator pay first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd3420d8d5dabda3955082 Florida teacher accused of sex with student whose parents tracked his location te 2026-04-13T18:21:20.238Z Florida teacher accused of sex with student whose parents tracked his location A Florida high school math teacher was arrested after investigators say she carried on a sexual relationship with a student, a case that began when suspicious parents tracked their son to a mystery location. Kirsten Rose, 37, a teacher at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School, was taken into custody in connection with the case, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said. The investigation began in March when the parents of a male student grew suspicious that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a teacher after he came home late from work and refused to explain where he had been, according to the sheriff's office. When his parents checked his location, they found he had been at an unfamiliar home. The teen initially claimed he was at a girlfriend’s house, but later admitted he was in a relationship with his teacher, investigators said. COLORADO SCHOOL STAFFER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING 13-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, NOW ON THE RUN Detectives determined Rose and the student had been communicating privately on Instagram since November 2025. Authorities said the relationship turned sexual in February and continued into March. Rose was arrested and booked into the Brevard County Jail, where she is being held without bond. FLORIDA TEACHER CHARGED FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENT WHO LIVED WITH HER Rose faces five counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, along with lewd and indecent exposure offenses against a student by an authority figure. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd340cd8d5dabda3955079 Tyler Robinson's defense calls on expert from Kohberger case to argue bias in jury pool te 2026-04-13T18:21:00.461Z Tyler Robinson's defense calls on expert from Kohberger case to argue bias in jury pool The defense of Charlie Kirk's accused assassin, Tyler Robinson, is expected to call on an expert witness who also worked for Bryan Kohberger's legal team at Friday's hearing on their motion to kick news cameras out of the courtroom, according to court filings. California-based trial consultant Bryan Edelman, who has a Ph.D. in social psychology, conducted a telephone survey for the defense and reported his findings on March 13. "It is Dr. Edelman’s opinion that the modern internet and social media ecosystem — especially algorithmic curation and personalization — has fundamentally altered how news is consumed and makes local, high-profile publicity substantially harder to avoid for residents of the locality where the events giving rise to the case occurred and the case is being tried," Robinson's attorneys wrote in a filing last week. ALLEGED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON'S FINGERPRINTS, PALM PRINT FOUND NEAR ROOFTOP SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Edelman's testimony is expected to delve into pretrial publicity and public opinion connected to the case against Robinson, who faces the potential death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder and Kirk's shooting death. Robinson, 22, is accused of firing the fatal shot from a rooftop at Utah Valley University as Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, spoke to a crowd of about 3,000 in the campus' central courtyard. In a summary of Edelman's opinions filed with the court, the defense suggested that social media algorithms promote prominent local news, making it harder for potential jurors to avoid pretrial coverage of a case, including online commentary. SEND US A TIP HERE "Experimental research indicates that hostile or uncivil comments can affect readers’ interpretations and perceptions," the defense wrote in the new filing. "In practical terms, the same news item may be encountered alongside inflammatory commentary that can heighten emotional response and shape impressions beyond the factual content of the reporting." Robinson's lawyers, Kathryn Nester, Michael Burt, Richard Novak and Staci Visser, also argued that pretrial publicity impacts the jury pool and can increase the likelihood of guilty verdicts. Judges are often tasked with balancing the public's right to access court proceedings and a defendant's right to a fair trial. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST Edelman also worked on a controversial juror questionnaire on behalf of Kohberger's legal team. It included questions that Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson alleged were aimed at tainting the jury pool in that case. Multiple people contacted for the survey called police, raising concerns about violations of a gag order meant to protect details ahead of trial. Judge John Judge, who was presiding over Kohberger's case at the time, called it "ironic" that the defense survey could have tainted the jury pool, rather than allegations from the prosecution. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Mark Calzaretta, a jury consultant and founding partner at Magna Legal Services, told Fox News Digital previously that surveys are common practice when the defense is seeking a change of venue. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Kohberger's push for a change of venue out of Latah County succeeded, but he ultimately pleaded guilty in Ada County to avoid the death penalty weeks before his trial was scheduled to begin last year. Robinson's defense has already tried to have the Utah County Attorney's Office disqualified from the case over an alleged conflict of interest. Judge Tony Graf Jr. denied the request. Other high-profile cases Edelman has worked on include the murder trial of former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke and Buffalo supermarket mass shooter Payton Gendron. Edelman's testimony is also expected to include topics related from a declaration he filed in Gendron's pending federal case, demographics in Utah County, where Robinson's trial is expected to be held, and the fairness of the jury selection process. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd33f9d8d5dabda3955070 Dave Chappelle says he’s considering revisiting ‘Chappelle’s Show’ decades after walking away te 2026-04-13T18:20:41.006Z Dave Chappelle says he’s considering revisiting ‘Chappelle’s Show’ decades after walking away Comedian Dave Chappelle said in a new interview that he was considering revisiting "Chappelle's Show" decades after walking away from the hit Comedy Central series. Chappelle, speaking about the possibility of reviving the show in an interview with the Associated Press, offered a notable shift from his past stance. "If you’d asked me that question a year ago, I’d have told you absolutely not," he said. "But in the last few weeks … I’m considering it." "Chappelle's Show," which premiered in 2003, became a cultural force through its satire on race, politics and American life before Chappelle abruptly quit production of its third season in 2005. In doing so, Chappelle stepped away from a Comedy Central deal to continue the show worth upwards of $50 million. COMEDIAN WANDA SYKES ARGUES THAT MODERN COMICS ARE TERRIFIED OF CRITICS FOR SAYING WRONG JOKES He said at the time he was suffering from creative burnout and felt others were trying to control his work. He also told Oprah Winfrey in a 2006 interview that some of his sketches were "socially irresponsible." Chappelle did not provide details about what a revival of "Chappelle's Show" might look like but acknowledged that his thinking had evolved. His comments came as he reflected more broadly on the changing entertainment landscape and his own place within it. Chappelle also pointed to how the comedy industry has shifted in the years since the show aired, noting the rise of digital platforms and a new generation of comedians shaping content in real time. He emphasized the importance of growth through experience. JERRY SEINFELD REVEALS HOW 'CLEAN' COMEDY FORCES HIM TO BE A MORE 'ELEGANT,' FUNNIER WRITER "One of the worst things that can happen to a comedian is becoming successful before they get good," Chappelle told the AP. "Because you miss the part where you get to explore and make mistakes." Despite criticism, Chappelle said he has remained committed to his approach to comedy. "Your responsibility is to be true to yourself and your work," he said, describing his philosophy toward public reaction. CONAN O'BRIEN SAYS 'F TRUMP' COMICS HAVE BEEN CO-OPTED BY ANGER, 'JUST SCREAMING' Chappelle framed the criticism as something to ensure rather than avoid, referencing historical figures who faced backlash in their time. "Sometimes people will attach things to your voice that don’t necessarily have anything to do with you," he said. "The media used to talk (expletive) about jokes that I did and none of that stuff swayed my audience." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd31b5d8d5dabda395502c Swalwell faces House ethics probe over alleged sexual misconduct as expulsion threat looms te 2026-04-13T18:11:01.682Z Swalwell faces House ethics probe over alleged sexual misconduct as expulsion threat looms Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., an embattled lawmaker facing a potential expulsion threat, is the target of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, the panel announced Monday. At least four women have accused the California Democrat of sexual misconduct, according to multiple reports. The House panel said it is investigating an allegation "that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision." Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign Sunday night amid widespread backlash following the sexual misconduct allegations. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has vowed to introduce a resolution this week expelling Swalwell if he does not resign. Some Democrats have said they will support the measure.  A spokesperson for Swalwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd318ed8d5dabda395501e Prosecutors Investigate ICE Agents Who Detained ChongLy Scott Thao in Minnesota te 2026-04-13T18:10:22.257Z Prosecutors Investigate ICE Agents Who Detained ChongLy Scott Thao in Minnesota ChongLy Scott Thao, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was briefly detained during a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota in January. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2f4ad8d5dabda3954fe0 Ancient ocean mystery deepens as long-misidentified fossil is finally revealed by researchers te 2026-04-13T18:00:42.674Z Ancient ocean mystery deepens as long-misidentified fossil is finally revealed by researchers More than two decades after scientists identified a fossil as the world's oldest octopus — officials now say it wasn't one at all. A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that the fossil Pohlsepia mazonensis — a 300-million-year-old sea creature found in the Mazon Creek fossil beds of northeastern Illinois — was closer to a nautilus than an octopus. Researchers now believe the creature was a relative of the nautilus, which is a shell-covered cephalopod with tentacles. NEW 'HELL HERON' SPINOSAURUS SPECIES FOUND IN REMOTE SAHARA 70 YEARS AFTER FOSSIL CLUE Cephalopods are a class of marine animals that includes octopuses, squids and cuttlefish, and are known for their tentacles and advanced nervous systems — and for lacking rigid skeletons. The fossil was identified as the world's oldest octopus in 2000 — but is now considered the oldest soft-tissue nautilus in the world. University of Reading zoologist Thomas Clements, the lead researcher of the new study, told The Associated Press the fossil is a "very difficult [one] to interpret." He added, "To look at it, it kind of just looks like a white mush." ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND ARTIFACTS OLDER THAN STONEHENGE BENEATH BRITAIN'S HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT: 'INCREDIBLY RARE' "If you look at it, and you are a cephalopod researcher, and you’re interested in everything octopus, it does superficially look a lot like a deep-water octopus." The determining factor, Clements said, was its teeth — which researchers examined using a synchrotron to peer inside the fossil. They found that each row had 11 teeth — more than the seven or nine typically found in octopuses. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ "This has too many teeth, so it can’t be an octopus," Clements said. "And that’s how we realized that the world’s oldest octopus is actually a fossil nautilus, not an octopus." The fossil had the same teeth as a nautiloid called Paleocadmus pohli, an ancient creature found in the same area. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Researchers say the mix-up likely occurred because the creature decomposed and lost its shell before it was fossilized. The next oldest-known octopus fossil is about 90 million years old — around 210 million years younger than the fossil Pohlsepia mazonensis. "It’s a huge gap," Clements said, noting it had long raised questions. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "And so that big gap got researchers sort of questioning, ‘Is this thing actually an octopus?'" The fossil is currently held in the Field Museum in Chicago.  Paul Mayer, who manages the museum's fossil invertebrate collections, said he was "a little surprised" by the new classification, but acknowledged that scientists have questioned the finding for years. "People have been questioning whether it was an octopus ever since the original paper was first published in 2000," Mayer told the AP. He added that the news "is great for our collections, and hopefully new discoveries will be made and new stories will be revealed." The Associated Press contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2d44d8d5dabda3954fa5 Mingus Union holds off Coconino amid Panthers pitching shake-up te 2026-04-13T17:52:04.456Z Mingus Union holds off Coconino amid Panthers pitching shake-up Begay's exit in the 1st inning threw Coconino's pitching rotation for a loop. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2d30d8d5dabda3954f98 NAU ROUNDUP: Women's tennis secures No. 2 seed with home finale win te 2026-04-13T17:51:44.109Z NAU ROUNDUP: Women's tennis secures No. 2 seed with home finale win A look at news and results from NAU. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2d19d8d5dabda3954f77 Scottie Scheffler takes issue with Masters' course conditions after second-place finish te 2026-04-13T17:51:21.798Z Scottie Scheffler takes issue with Masters' course conditions after second-place finish Scottie Scheffler finished just behind Rory McIlroy at the Masters this weekend, finishing just a stroke behind the back-to-back green jacket winner. Scheffler took issue with the conditions at Augusta National Golf Course and expressed it as much after wrapping up the fourth round of the tournament on Sunday evening, telling reporters he wasn’t "in charge of the course setup." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "I would’ve liked it to have been a little bit more equal in terms of the firmness on Thursday and Friday. I was a bit surprised at how soft things were on Friday afternoon, especially as it got late in the day. But the weather also changes, like it was a bit windy on Thursday," he said, via Golf.com. "So who knows, it’s just that’s part of the game. We play an outdoor sport, and you don’t know how conditions are gonna change — especially course conditions. Overall, like I said, just Friday for me, going out early, not being able to shoot an under-par round, that definitely hurt my chances. I think I started the weekend maybe 12 back, so to get within one was a pretty good run." Scheffler said that his second round "probably hurt" his chances of winning the tournament the most. He shot a 74 that day with four bogeys before storming back into contention. TRUMP CONGRATULATES RORY MCILROY ON BACK-TO-BACK MASTERS WINS: 'BECOMING MORE AND MORE A LEGEND' "We went out on Thursday afternoon were some of the most challenging conditions we had all week," he said. "I didn’t see many birdies out there Thursday afternoon, so going out on Friday, whatever they did to the greens to soften them up, they did some stuff, and I just wasn’t able to take advantage of that going on early on Friday. "And then you saw the barrage of birdies that Rory made and Cam Young and a bunch of guys made on Friday late in the day, and I think I finished maybe two over par on Friday. So that day probably hurt the most in terms of my chances to win." Scheffler made 12 birdies and two eagles in the tournament. But he also settled for five bogeys over the four rounds. He was 11-under par for the tournament. 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/69dd2d06d8d5dabda3954f6e Utah Valley University faces backlash over commencement speaker choice after Charlie Kirk's assassination te 2026-04-13T17:51:02.143Z Utah Valley University faces backlash over commencement speaker choice after Charlie Kirk's assassination Utah Valley University (UVU) is facing backlash over its choice of commencement speaker as critics object to her past comments about Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk following his assassination on the same campus. The university chose author and educator Sharon McMahon to address the graduating class. Days after Kirk was killed, McMahon wrote on X, "Millions of people feel they were harmed, and the murder that was horrific and should never have happened does not magically erase what was said or done." "To many Americans, especially if you are Black, LGBTQ or Muslim, Charlie Kirk was not a person who simply engaged in good-faith debates on college campuses." Turning Point USA chapter president at Utah Valley University Caleb Chilcutt called the selection of McMahon a "slap to the face" Monday on "Fox & Friends." ALLEGED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON'S FINGERPRINTS, PALM PRINT FOUND NEAR ROOFTOP: REPORT "They could have brought any other speaker. If they liked Charlie, didn't like Charlie — I honestly don't really care. But the fact they brought someone who was so critical, literally days after the assassination on my campus, is just shameful for me," he said. Chilcutt said attitudes were divided on campus, with conservative students generally upset while some liberal students chose to "celebrate." INFLUENCER JAKE PAUL SAYS CHARLIE KIRK WOULD HAVE BEEN 'THE NEXT PRESIDENT' Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz also joined the program and labeled McMahon a "horrific choice" of speaker just months after Kirk's death, calling her a "liberal hack." He said Utah's largest university should know better, but that there is still time to change course. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2cf2d8d5dabda3954f65 Hillary Clinton warns US in 'very weak position' with Iran, 'lost the leverage' in negotiations te 2026-04-13T17:50:42.611Z Hillary Clinton warns US in 'very weak position' with Iran, 'lost the leverage' in negotiations Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that the U.S. was in a weak position regarding negotiations with Iran. "I worry that the United States is now in a very weak position vis-à-vis Iran, which should be the outlier, should be on the back foot and should be the one held to account," Clinton told MS NOW's "Morning Joe" on Monday. Clinton told MS NOW that the U.S. would have to wipe the slate clean for negotiations with Iran and said they would "have to bring in people who actually know something about nuclear weapons." Peace talks between the U.S. and Iran collapsed over the weekend, with Vice President JD Vance departing Pakistan empty-handed. MIKE PENCE WARNS JD VANCE TO AVOID OBAMA-STYLE IRAN DEAL AS NUCLEAR TALKS SET TO BEGIN IN PAKISTAN "So we’re in a situation now where we are weak, where we essentially have lost the leverage and initiative that we had," Clinton added. "I supported Trump bombing the nuclear sites back in June. I thought that was an appropriate and limited strategic objective. I opposed his incoherent attack on Iran." Clinton said the administration needed to get back to hard negotiations with the "right people at the table." "And I also know from personal experience how [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu has tried to get every American president to agree to have an open-ended war with Iran, because I had many, many long hours-long conversations with him and his war cabinet about this and refusing to go along with a very inchoate desire to do something to Iran that, you know, with no real end state that could be described as sufficiently," she said. "So now here we are. I think you’ve got to get back into hard negotiations with the right people at the table who know what they are doing," Clinton added. President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to blockade Iran's ports in the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday. HORMUZ CHOKE POINT PERSISTS AS IRAN HALTS OIL TRAFFIC DESPITE TRUMP CEASEFIRE The U.S. began enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz at 10 a.m. ET on Monday. Trump ordered the blockade after peace talks with Tehran collapsed this weekend. A map of U.S. vessels in the region showed at least 17 ships deployed as of Monday morning. U.S. Central Command announced plans to enforce the blockade earlier Monday in a notice to seafarers. "Any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, ​diversion, and capture," the note said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2a84d8d5dabda3954f12 Tucson director documents one man's tiki obsession te 2026-04-13T17:40:20.659Z Tucson director documents one man's tiki obsession Josh Dragotta set out to make a short film about a man building a tiki bar. Four years and more than 100 interviews later, he ended up with something much bigger. Dragotta lived in Tucson in the late 1990s and early 2000s before moving to Los Angeles, where he spent the next 20 years making and editing films, beginning with short documentaries for productions like "Murder on the Orient Express," "The Magnificent Seven" and "La La Land." He later moved into film and television marketing, working on projects including "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," "Bullet Train" and "Severance," earning several Clio Awards for movie advertising along the way. "A lot of the ad work that I started in the mid-2000s were documentary oriented, but also in the marketing field," he said. "You'd see things like DVD special features, or short form documentaries, and then transition into trailers, TV spots, teasers, that kind of stuff." His work has shown up at film festivals across the country and around the world. His 2012 film "Satan's Angel: Queen of the Fire Tassels" was an official selection at Outfest. He returned to Tucson five years ago and started working on "Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession" the following year. He shared the story behind it at this year's TENWEST festival, an annual event celebrating entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The film follows Doug "Fini" Fincal, whose love for the tiki mug collecting subculture led him to build a $500,000 tiki bar dedicated to his collection inside Oro Valley restaurant The Landing, despite some reluctance from his business partner, Scott Mencke. "Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession" debuted at the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival with two sold-out screenings before its Arizona premiere at TENWEST. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. The film's website describes it as a movie about "community, passion, and purpose." "I wanted to tell the story over a lot of different voices, as opposed to just having a few voices," Dragotta said. "I wanted it to almost seem like one singular voice that represents this scene." The tiki subculture started in America and takes inspiration from the islands of Oceania and the Pacific. "Tiki" is the Māori word for human. The documentary grew out of a long friendship. Fifteen years ago, Dragotta and Fincal collaborated on a short film called "Save the Tiki," following Fincal's effort to move a three-story, 25-ton tiki head from Magic Carpet Golf to his bar, The Hut. "Fini reached out to me four-plus years ago and said, 'Hey, I got another idea. I'm going to build this bar, and I'm thinking maybe it'd be cool to do a little short film,'" Dragotta said. "He starts telling me all of these things about his involvement with tiki and tiki mugs." At the time, Fincal had amassed almost 1,000 tiki mugs and had decided he wanted to build a bar to show them off. As they documented Fincal and his collection, Dragotta's interest in the tiki mug subculture piqued. "We started to get into the history of it. How it developed, and how it harkened back to pre-internet days, and just how this subculture evolved from print and zines and guerilla marketing to essentially what it is now, long lines of people waiting out overnight to buy tiki mugs for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars," Dragotta said. Herb Stratford, film critic, co-founder and co-director of Film Fest Tucson, interviews Josh Dragotta during the 2026 TENWEST festival. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. But turning their shared interest into a documentary came with plenty of challenges. "They always say a documentary comes together in the edit, right? It's not a narrative. In a narrative, you have a script and you follow it, and it's a guide, you move through it, you get what you need, coverage and all, and then you put it together," Dragotta said. "With a documentary, it is a living organism, and it's not over 'till it's over. You're at the mercy of what you're capturing." Filming took three and a half years, in part because that's how long it took Fincal to establish his tiki bar in Oro Valley. Dragotta said the film's biggest challenge was its niche subject matter, finding the universal thread that would draw in viewers unfamiliar with tiki culture. He approached it as two films in one: a chronological history of tiki running nearly two hours, and a series of chapters following Fincal's construction of the bar. The editing challenge, he said, was finding the right moments to move between those two storylines. Ironically, it was Dragotta's Los Angeles connections rather than Fincal himself that opened doors to the tiki community's most prominent figures. "I had done a couple of short films over the years with my producing partner, Tony Marsico, and Tony's in a band called The Martini Kings," Dragotta said. "He's really tied into the music scene in LA and particularly a lot of people in this, what I refer to as the retro culture world. What Tony was able to do is start to reach out to a couple of really notable people within the community." The connection led Dragotta to notable figures in the subculture, including Sven Kirsten, who has written extensively about contemporary tiki culture, and Baby Doe and Otto von Stroheim, producers of Tiki Oasis, a festival dedicated to Polynesian pop and island lifestyle. The documentary spotlights tiki mug designers, self-described aficionados and casual fans, including artists who have built careers around the craft. "Crazy Al (Evans), he's a big, tough mug maker. One of the later lines in the movie from him is, 'Finally, finally, I can sell my mug for how much passion and creativity I was putting in,' for his case, decades into this art," Dragotta said. Josh Dragotta returned to Tucson five years ago after nearly two decades in Los Angeles, where he earned Clio Awards for movie advertising. Topacio "Topaz" Servellon / Tucson Spotlight. As he developed the documentary, Dragotta earned the friendship and trust of several members of the tiki mug community, saying that one specific interview impacted the entire project. "We were interviewing a couple, Derek and Roxanne Weaver, who had been in the scene since the 90s. I'm interviewing Derek, he's got this beautiful home tiki bar, and he has a pretty big collection. And he says to me, 'You know, I was going to do a documentary about this,'" Dragotta said. Weaver gave Dragotta the footage from his attempt at a documentary, saying, "I trust you guys. You guys seem cool. Just make something with it. It needs to be out there." The film debuted at the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival with three screenings, two of which sold out. The Arizona premiere at TENWEST also sold out, and the reception from those inside and outside the tiki community has been overwhelmingly positive. "Until we had that premiere in Newport Beach, I'm holding my breath, because you're representing a subculture, and that's not easy to do. Overwhelmingly, the people within that community have said to us, 'You have represented us well,'" Dragotta said. Cabali has proven so popular that neighboring businesses have caught tiki fever, according to Dragotta. He has also received screening requests from Washington, Hawaii and Dallas, is developing a vinyl soundtrack with Tucson-based band Mellow Exotica, and is working on a beer inspired by the documentary. "I think one of the biggest things is, when people watch the movie that have no idea what tiki is, they're blowing they're like, 'I need to go to one of these events. This is my tribe,'" Dragotta said. 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/69dd2868d8d5dabda3954ee0 Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham's alleged stalker arrested after attack on guitarist te 2026-04-13T17:31:20.294Z Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham's alleged stalker arrested after attack on guitarist Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham's alleged stalker has been arrested. On Saturday, Michelle Dick was taken into custody in Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to jail records obtained by Fox News Digital, the 55-year-old is currently being held without bond in the Allen County Jail awaiting extradition to California. A representative for the Fort Wayne Police Department told Fox News Digital that they received intelligence through law enforcement partners that Dick was at a specific hotel in the area. When officers checked that hotel, she was not there. However, Dick was located at a nearby hotel and was arrested without incident.  Last month, Buckingham, 76, was attacked by a woman when he showed up for an appointment in Santa Monica, California, according to NBC4 Investigates. The alleged suspect, who authorities described as "a stalking suspect," threw an unknown substance at Buckingham and immediately fled, the outlet reported. FORMER FLEETWOOD MAC GUITARIST LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM ATTACKED BY ALLEGED STALKER: REPORT Dick — who claims Buckingham is her biological father — told KTLA earlier this month that she had approached Buckingham in March and had previously gone to his Brentwood home.  According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Dick — who was previously accused of stalking Buckingham and his family — has been charged with two counts of stalking, two counts of threats to commit a crime with intent to terrorize, assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and battery. The offense dates range from October 2021 to as recently as last month. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER In court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Buckingham filed a request for a restraining order against Dick in December 2024.  "I am afraid her conduct may escalate into something physically dangerous to me and my family," Buckingham wrote in the petition. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The harassment began in 2021 when Dick allegedly got "ahold of my wife Kristen's business cell phone number and called the number dozens of times a day sometimes, leaving long drawn-out messages that included the claim that she was my child and threats to kill me and my family," Buckingham stated in the petition.  "She also blamed me for facial deformities she apparently suffered as a child and demanded money. I do not know Ms. Dick, and I am not her father," he added. "She is clearly mentally unfit and harbors delusions which makes her scary to me and unpredictable," Buckingham added.  A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted the restraining order, which states that Dick must stay at least 100 yards away from Buckingham and his family. She was also ordered not to harass or attempt to make contact with him in any way. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2854d8d5dabda3954ed7 Dementia risk could be tied to your mindset and outlook on life, study suggests te 2026-04-13T17:31:00.405Z Dementia risk could be tied to your mindset and outlook on life, study suggests New research has identified a possible link between a person’s outlook on life and their risk of developing dementia. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, examined whether having higher levels of optimism could reduce the chances of cognitive decline over time. Researchers analyzed data from more than 9,000 adults who were cognitively healthy at the start of the study. Participants were followed for up to 14 years, with more than 3,000 developing dementia during that period. SIMPLE BRUSHING ROUTINE COULD REDUCE DEMENTIA RISK, SAY DENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS Those who reported higher levels of optimism on a questionnaire had about a 15% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those with less optimism, even after adjusting for factors such as age, education, depression and major health conditions, according to a study press release. The findings were consistent across demographic groups and remained largely unchanged after accounting for health behaviors and mental health status. The results suggest that emotional and psychological factors may play a role in brain health as people age, the researchers noted. "Our personal emotional and social resources — like how hopeful and positive we feel about the future — may be related to keeping our brains healthy," said lead study author Säde Stenlund, a social and behavioral sciences researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in the release. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES The findings align with previous research linking optimism to other health benefits. People with a more positive outlook were shown to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and may be more likely to live longer. The researchers noted that the study was observational, meaning it only shows an association and cannot prove that optimism directly reduces the risk of dementia. Other factors not measured in the study may have influenced the results, and changes in mood might be an early sign of dementia rather than a cause of it, they added. Still, the findings point to a potential area for future research. "Since optimism may be increased through relatively simple, low-intensity programs, it is helpful to understand how it is related to health in aging," Stenlund said. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER More studies, including clinical trials, are needed to determine whether boosting optimism could have a measurable impact on long-term dementia risk. Fox News Digital previously reported that while dementia cases are rising, certain lifestyle habits may help reduce risk. New York neurologist Dr. Joel Salinas previously told Fox News Digital that factors such as diet, exercise and social engagement play a key role in brain health. "It’s about putting the odds in your favor that you'll be less likely to develop one of these conditions, or at least delay the onset of symptoms," he said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Experts also recommend addressing conditions such as hearing loss, limiting alcohol consumption and quitting smoking, as these factors have been linked to cognitive decline. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment. Melissa Rudy of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2840d8d5dabda3954ece WATCH: Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch reunites with dog after 10 days in space te 2026-04-13T17:30:40.845Z WATCH: Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch reunites with dog after 10 days in space A heartfelt video shows Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch reuniting with her dog after returning from a historic 10-day mission in space. The video captures the dog eagerly anticipating Koch’s arrival, barking as she opens the door and embraces her pet. The emotional reunion came just days after Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, following the mission around the moon. The crew — three Americans and one Canadian — became the first humans to travel to the moon since NASA’s Apollo era more than a half-century ago. ASTRONAUT TELLS CNN 'ENTIRE' TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DESERVES CREDIT FOR ARTEMIS MISSION SUCCESS The astronauts received a thunderous welcome home Saturday at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Mission Control after their splashdown the evening prior. After reuniting with their spouses and children, mission specialist Koch, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen took the stage inside the hangar, surrounded by space center workers and invited guests. During Artemis II’s mission, the astronauts traveled deeper into space than the moon explorers of decades past and captured views of the lunar far side never seen by human eyes. A total solar eclipse added to the spectacle. PETER NAVARRO: TRUMP'S ARTEMIS VISION IS NOW FLYING — AND CHINA IS PAYING ATTENTION At the mission’s farthest point, the crew reached approximately 252,756 miles from Earth before looping behind the moon, surpassing Apollo 13’s distance record. The mission also revealed a new perspective of Earth through an "Earthset" image, showing the planet setting behind the moon’s gray, cratered surface — echoing the iconic 1968 "Earthrise" photo taken during Apollo 8. "Honestly, what struck me wasn’t necessarily just Earth — it was all the blackness around it. Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbed in the universe," Koch said. "Planet Earth, you are a crew." Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen are the first humans to travel to the moon since Apollo 17 concluded NASA’s initial era of lunar exploration in 1972. A total of 24 astronauts journeyed to the moon during Apollo, including 12 who walked on its surface. NASA has emphasized the importance of Artemis II’s success as it prepares for future missions. The agency is targeting Artemis III, which is expected to involve crewed operations with a lunar lander, followed by Artemis IV — a planned mission aiming to return astronauts to the moon’s surface near the lunar south pole, later this decade. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd25ffd8d5dabda3954e9b ‘I have no fear of the Trump administration’: Pope Leo fires back after president attacks him te 2026-04-13T17:21:03.412Z ‘I have no fear of the Trump administration’: Pope Leo fires back after president attacks him President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in December 2025. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV Sunday night following the pontiff’s sharp criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and wider Middle East conflict. In a lengthy post, littered with falsehoods, on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump accused the first U.S.-born pope of being “WEAK on crime” and of supporting Iran having a nuclear weapon. The president also invoked the 70-year-old pontiff’s brother, Louis Prevost, “because Louis is all MAGA.” Leo, born Robert Prevost, is from Chicago. During a flight to Algeria on Monday, Leo told reporters, “I have no fear of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do.” “We are not politicians,” he said, as reported by Vatican media. “We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.” List of complaints Trump’s Sunday night post criticized Leo for not backing his foreign policy and aggressive immigration agenda, and generally for not being more supportive of his administration.  The United States and Israel ordered military strikes on Iran in late February, despite not facing an imminent threat from the Islamic state. Trump did not give a clear rationale for the strikes until about a month after they launched, saying they were meant to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country,” Trump posted just after 9 p.m. Eastern. “And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History,” the president continued in his 334-word message about the pontiff. Further, Trump claimed Leo should be “thankful” because Trump is responsible for the Chicago native being installed as the leader of the Roman Catholic church. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” he wrote. Less than an hour later, the president posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ blessing an ailing man as what appear to be angels in full military fatigues hover in the clouds above with fighter jets nearby. Trump deleted the post Monday morning. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. One minute after the Jesus depiction, the president posted an AI-generated image of a skyscraper bearing his name on the moon’s surface. Iran talks crumble In the hours prior to sounding off on the pope, Trump posted a video of himself shaking hands with mixed martial artist Paul Costa following an Ultimate Fighting Championship cage match he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended in Miami on Saturday night. At the time of the fight, Vice President JD Vance was wrapping up failed peace talks with Iranian leaders in Pakistan. U.S. and Iranian leaders reached a two-week ceasefire deal last week. Trump described it at the time as a major step toward a permanent peace deal. Trump threatened to establish a U.S. military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz Monday after talks collapsed. Not long after the war began, Iran effectively closed the narrow maritime passageway that moves one-fifth of the world’s oil. Vance, whose forthcoming book focuses on his conversion to Catholicism, was one of the last guests to visit Pope Francis before his death nearly one year ago. Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement Sunday night disapproving of Trump’s social media post about the pontiff. “I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father,” Coakley said. “Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd25e9d8d5dabda3954e7a Catholic California university to host Nancy Pelosi as commencement speaker despite abortion stance te 2026-04-13T17:20:41.674Z Catholic California university to host Nancy Pelosi as commencement speaker despite abortion stance A Catholic university in California will be hosting former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., despite her outspoken support for abortion, which is against Catholic teaching.  "We are deeply honored to welcome Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to Notre Dame de Namur University," Dr. Beth Martin, president of Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) in Belmont, California, said in a statement announcing Pelosi.  "Her lifelong commitment to public service, leadership, and advocacy for justice reflects the very values that define an NDNU education and the enduring legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur," Martin said. "During this 175th anniversary year of the Sisters in California, her presence powerfully affirms the impact of faith-inspired education on the world."  PRO-ABORTION NOTRE DAME PROFESSOR WITHDRAWS FROM INSTITUTE ROLE AFTER FIERCE CRITICISM FROM BISHOP, CARDINALS According to its website, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are an international apostolic congregation of Catholic sisters, founded in 1804 by St. Julie Billiart in Amiens, France, serving today in 16 countries on five continents. Their mission is to "make known God's goodness, especially among the most impoverished and abandoned people in the world," according to the group’s website.  Pelosi, who has called opposing abortion "sinful," will speak at the university’s commencement ceremony on May 2.  In 2023, Pelosi posted on X, then known as Twitter, calling out Republicans for passing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires doctors to provide care for infants who survive a failed abortion. NOTRE DAME STUDENT CALLS PROFESSOR APPOINTMENT A 'BETRAYAL' OVER PRO-ABORTION STANCE AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY "Today, instead of joining Democrats to condemn all political violence, [House Republicans] chose to push their extreme anti-choice agenda," Pelosi said in the post. "Democrats believe everyone deserves the freedom to access reproductive health services — without fear of violence, intimidation or harassment," she added. The Catholic Church teaches that, "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law."  In 2022, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said that Pelosi would be banned from receiving Holy Communion in her own San Francisco Archdiocese because of her pro-abortion position. 210 DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST BILL REQUIRING MEDICAL CARE FOR BABIES BORN ALIVE AFTER ABORTION ATTEMPT "A Catholic legislator who supports procured abortion, after knowing the teaching of the Church, commits a manifestly grave sin which is a cause of most serious scandal to others," Cordileone wrote in a May 2022 letter. "Therefore, universal Church law provides that such persons ‘are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.'"  Martin and Notre Dame de Namur University did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd23ccd8d5dabda3954e31 Anna Kepner’s stepbrother charged as adult with murder, sexual abuse in Florida teen’s cruise ship death te 2026-04-13T17:11:40.864Z Anna Kepner’s stepbrother charged as adult with murder, sexual abuse in Florida teen’s cruise ship death The stepbrother of a Florida teenager who died aboard a Carnival cruise ship will be charged as an adult, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida announced. The 16-year-old stepbrother, identified as T.H. in court documents, is accused of sexually assaulting 16-year-old Anna Kepner and intentionally killing her on Carnival Cruise Line’s Horizon ship. T.H was initially charged as a juvenile on Feb. 2. He is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, the teen faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST SEND US A TIP HERE Kepner was discovered dead around 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 7 inside her cabin aboard the cruise ship. Authorities later ruled her death a homicide caused by "mechanical asphyxiation," according to documents previously reviewed by Fox News Digital. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB According to investigators, Kepner was found under the bed in her cabin, wrapped in a blanket and covered with life jackets. The cabin was shared with her stepbrother. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X "Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. "A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care. As in every case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd23b9d8d5dabda3954e28 Obama CIA chief under DOJ scrutiny pushes fringe Trump ouster plan te 2026-04-13T17:11:21.265Z Obama CIA chief under DOJ scrutiny pushes fringe Trump ouster plan Obama-era CIA Director John Brennan called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office, joining a growing list of Democrats who say Trump's Truth Social posts threatening Iran were unlawful. Brennan, who is currently under investigation by the Justice Department, appeared on MS NOW for an interview with Ali Velshi. He said that the 25th Amendment, which establishes the protocol to remove the president, "was written with Donald Trump in mind." "Allowing someone like this to continue to be the commander-in-chief and to control the tremendous capabilities of the U.S. military, including our nuclear weapons capability, which he seemed to allude to when he said he’s going to just eliminate a entire civilization," Brennan said. "Again, we really are in very, very troubling times." More than 70 lawmakers are calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked against Trump following a slew of threats he made on Truth Social toward Iran regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz. TRUMP IRAN THREAT SPARKS CALLS FOR HIS OUSTER, BUT ONE DEM SAYS EFFORT ‘NOT REALISTIC’ The president made his first threat on Easter Sunday, giving Iran a deadline of Tuesday, April 7, at 8 p.m. Hours before the deadline, Trump posted on Truth Social that "a whole civilization will die tonight." "I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Right before the deadline, Trump announced that the United States and Iran had reached a two-week ceasefire agreement. But after negotiations in Pakistan this weekend, Trump announced on Truth Social Sunday that the U.S. Navy will begin to block all ships entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday. Since the start of the Iran war, Brennan has been publicly outspoken in his criticism of Trump's handling of the conflict. He's been a regular on MSNOW, suggesting a month ago that Trump is "flailing" and "clueless" about handling the war. Notably, the Justice Department launched an investigation into Brennan in July 2025, stemming from allegations that Brennan improperly handled a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, which found that Russia was seeking to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor.  The 2017 ICA included the Steele dossier, a debunked collection of memos alleging Trump colluded with Russia, but Brennan testified before Congress that the document "was not in any way used as a basis for the Intelligence Community assessment that was done." House Republicans alleged that Brennan had lied in his 2023 Judiciary Committee testimony by denying that the CIA used the Steele dossier in preparing the assessment. The DOJ investigation is ongoing.  Lawyers for Brennan said they have been informed he is a target of the investigation but have not been told of any "legally justifiable basis for undertaking this investigation," according to the Associated Press. Brennan also previously pushed back on the allegations of wrongdoing, including claims from Trump and his allies that Brennan helped promote a "contrived narrative" that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump, which became central to the FBI's Russia collusion investigation of Trump's 2016 campaign.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told Fox News that the DOJ probe is "heating up" last month in an appearance on "Hannity," and predicted that Brennan would soon face "accountability."  Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2390d8d5dabda3954e13 Booking.com confirms hackers accessed customers’ data te 2026-04-13T17:10:40.833Z Booking.com confirms hackers accessed customers’ data The travel giant notified customers that their personal data, including names, emails, physical addresses, phone numbers may have been accessed in a security incident. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd237dd8d5dabda3954e09 Tohono O'odham metal band Guardians AZ rocks on te 2026-04-13T17:10:21.148Z Tohono O'odham metal band Guardians AZ rocks on More than a decade after a casual studio jam sparked something bigger, Guardians AZ has grown into one of Arizona’s most recognizable Indigenous metal bands, carrying the sound of the Tohono O’odham Nation onto stages across the Southwest. What began in 2013 as friends playing riffs at Francisco Studios has evolved into a tight-knit group defined by heavy, riff-driven music and a deep commitment to representing home every time they plug in. Guardians is made up of Jayare on vocals and lead guitar, Gabe Mendoza on rhythm guitar, Andrew Pedro on drums and Raphael “Native Dave” Mendoza on bass. In 2013, drummer AJ asked Gabe Mendoza if he wanted to jam. Nothing serious or long-term, just a night at Francisco Studios. Gabe Mendoza hadn’t played with a band in some time, but he showed up to jam. “Suddenly we had full songs,” he said. “I didn't think we were forming a band. We were just playing.” A short while later, Raphael “Native Dave” Mendoza joined with his bass, also not expecting much from the sessions. “I didn’t see it going anywhere,” he said. But a few years later, in 2015, Guardians played its first show in North Komelik. The stage was unstable and the setup wasn’t ideal, but the crowd’s energy was different. Jayare takes the mic as vocalist and lead guitarist for the band Guardians AZ. Courtesy of Guardians AZ. That night marked a shift. “It went pretty good,” Raphael Mendoza said. “That was when it felt like, okay…maybe this is becoming something.” More shows followed — Tucson, Phoenix and neighboring communities — and Guardians slowly became a recognized name. This was something of a surprise for a band that didn’t even have a name at first, coming up with Guardians on the fly while signing up for a Battle of the Bands competition at the Rock. Raphael Mendoza suggested Guardians in a group chat, and the rest is history. “It just felt strong,” Gabe Mendoza said. “Like something uplifting.” They later added the “AZ” to help with searches on social media, but the original name has remained. Guardians’ sound grew out of the music they were raised on — the posters on bedroom walls, the hand-me-down tapes from cousins, the late-night rides and whatever was blasting through the house on any given day. It’s less about copying a specific style and more about those influences taking root over time. For Gabe Mendoza, one of the earliest sparks came from a giant Metallica poster in his brother’s room: James Hetfield with his guitar hanging low. From there, he dove into thrash, death metal and the wave of bands circulating at the time. Raphael Mendoza said his love of music started with a record player at home. The sounds of The Beatles, mariachi and Journey filled the house, eventually giving way to Kiss, Venom and a variety of metal bands. Andrew Pedro keeps the beat on drums during a Guardians AZ performance. Courtesy of Guardians AZ. Some of it felt intense at first, but it soon became the soundtrack that stayed with him. These early exposures became the roots of Guardians’ sound: heavy, riff-driven, fast and uncompromising. Those influences slowly took shape in rehearsals and small shows, sharpening into something unmistakably their own. Every band has its “Oh, this is actually happening” moment. For Guardians, it came during a show at the Rock. The venue was packed. People crowded toward the stage, and someone snapped a photo from above, a shot Gabe Mendoza still remembers today. “After the first song, the crowd’s response was unreal,” he said. “I turned around, grabbed water, and just looked at the guys like, yeah… this is it.” Raphael Mendoza described a similar moment — not tied to a single show, but to the feeling that comes when a crowd’s cheers feel personal. “That look of approval… I’ve gotten that a few times,” he said. “It’s overwhelming in a good way.” Gabe Mendoza lays down rhythm guitar during a live set with Guardians AZ. Courtesy of Guardians AZ. Those moments marked a turning point, when the band realized it was no longer just jamming. With that realization came a stronger sense of purpose. Guardians has always been clear about who they are and where they’re from. Every show begins with the band telling the audience they’re from the Tohono O’odham Nation. “It’s important,” Gabe Mendoza said. “Even if they don't know where it is, they know after we say it.” Over the years, the band has connected with Indigenous metal groups from Oregon to the Navajo Nation, Gila River and Salt River, eventually bringing those relationships back home to the Tohono O’odham Nation. Guardians is excited to see younger O’odham bands making noise as well, including Gunpoint, 4Xi and Thamju. “It’s good to see them out there,” Raphael Mendoza said. “If we can support them, we will.” The band’s relationship with home has evolved over the years. Early on, most of the people at their shows were friends and family. Over time, the presence from the Nation grew — slowly at first, then all at once. One of their most memorable shows took place at the Sells Livestock Building, a cold night packed with people, where a full mosh pit broke out during one of their songs. “Bodies were flying into us,” Gabe Mendoza said. “It was wild.” Raphael "Native Dave" Mendoza holds down the low end on bass for Guardians. Courtesy of Guardians AZ. Raphael Mendoza remembers being knocked into his own amp during the pit, the crowd helping him to his feet so that he could continue playing. Support also shows up in everyday places: someone wearing their shirt at a toka tournament — a traditional O’odham women’s sport — or someone else sporting it inside the local Bashas’. “Total rez moment,” Raphael Mendoza said with a laugh. Band members say these moments mean as much as connecting with fans at their shows. Raphael Mendoza and Gabe Mendoza made sure to acknowledge everyone who helped shape Guardians’ story, including former vocalists Chuck D and Duran, original drummer AJ and multi-instrumentalist JR, who played bass, guitar and sang for the band. They also pointed to current drummer Andrew Pedro, who stepped into the role and has become a consistent creative force. “He came in when we needed someone,” Gabe Mendoza said. “He’s been pushing us musically.” But the band’s evolution hasn’t happened onstage alone. While the band’s sound takes shape onstage, two women have played a major role behind the scenes. Treets has been behind the camera at countless shows, capturing live videos and media that document the band’s journey. Sarapheona manages merchandise, making sure shirts, patches and beanies make it into people’s hands. Both have been essential offstage, helping carry the band forward in ways that often go unseen but deeply matter. These days, Guardians is looking ahead — writing, practicing, performing and working toward one long-standing hope: hosting another major metal show back home on the Nation. “We’ve been talking about it,” Raphael Mendoza said. “Now it feels like it's actually time to look into it.” The band expressed gratitude for listeners, young bands coming up, new faces and longtime supporters. “People supported us,” Raphael Mendoza said. “Now we want to support others.” Gabe Mendoza echoed that appreciation for the broader metal community. “Horns up to everyone supporting Rez Metal,” he said. “We appreciate you all.” Trinity Norris is the founder of O’odham Media and has a master's degree from the University of Arizona in Global Media Studies. 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/69dd2166d8d5dabda3954df7 Powerball ticket worth $100K sold in Arizona te 2026-04-13T17:01:26.247Z Powerball ticket worth $100K sold in Arizona A market in Vail, Arizona, sold the lucky lottery ticket. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd214cd8d5dabda3954dc5 Soros-backed prosecutor set for Capitol Hill grilling as sanctuary policies face reckoning te 2026-04-13T17:01:00.998Z Soros-backed prosecutor set for Capitol Hill grilling as sanctuary policies face reckoning Steve Descano, the George Soros-backed prosecutor in Fairfax County, Virginia, will make his first Capitol Hill appearance next month as House Republicans press him on the county’s immigration policies following a murder tied to a repeat illegal immigrant offender. ​​Descano and Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid are set to appear May 14 before the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration subcommittee, according to letters provided to Fox News Digital confirming their participation. The hearing, titled "Fairfax County, Virginia: The Dangerous Consequences of Sanctuary Policies," will examine whether the county’s policy limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities threatens public safety. The hearing will put new federal scrutiny on Descano and Fairfax County’s limits on cooperation with immigration authorities as Republicans argue the county’s policies and prosecutorial decisions helped allow accused killer Abdul Jalloh — whom DHS says had been arrested 30 times — to remain free before Stephanie Minter’s fatal stabbing. Minter's case spurred the federal oversight and calls for legislative reforms, and Minter's family is now also backing a recall effort against Descano that could threaten his tenure, according to local reporting. ANGEL MOM, GOP BLAME SPANBERGER AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 30 ARRESTS CHARGED IN KILLING  Descano has previously testified in state-level legislative hearings, including before the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee, but the May 14 hearing would mark his first known appearance before a congressional committee. "CA Descano is looking forward to the opportunity to discuss Fairfax's record as one of the safest large jurisdictions in the country," Descano's office told Fox News Digital on Monday when asked about his upcoming testimony.  Upon first announcing the hearing in April, prior to the committee confirming Descano's attendance and a finalized date, Republican leaders said Descano’s testimony would help inform possible reforms targeting sanctuary jurisdictions. The scrutiny was driven largely by the murder of Minter, a Fredericksburg mother who was stabbed to death at a Fairfax County bus stop earlier this year. Her alleged killer, Sierra Leone national Abdul Jalloh, is an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal history whose prior encounters with law enforcement had raised concerns.  Fairfax County police had also previously warned Descano’s office multiple times, including last year, about Jalloh’s potential for violence, including one officer who cautioned in an email that it was "not a question of if, but rather when he will maliciously wound (or worse) again." Despite those warnings, prosecutors dropped multiple charges against Jalloh, allowing him to remain free. Department of Homeland Security authorities said Jalloh had been arrested 30 times, including for violent offenses, before targeting Minter. ILLEGAL ALIEN MURDER SUSPECT AVOIDED SYSTEM AS ICE PUSHES DEM GOVERNOR TO KEEP HIM LOCKED UP Descano has also faced criticism for his broader posture on immigration after campaigning on what he said was a two-tiered justice system that disadvantaged noncitizens, who could also see deportation as a consequence for their crimes. Descano, for his part, has received more than $600,000 in campaign support from the Justice and Public Safety PAC, a committee primarily funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros that supports progressive prosecutors, according to public records. DHS and House Republicans have also pointed to Fairfax County plea deals involving noncitizens, including a high-profile 2024 murder case where two defendants received five-year sentences, which they linked to Descano's avoidance of immigration-related outcomes. Kincaid, who will also testify, has drawn separate scrutiny for declining to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers and instead requiring judicial warrants before transferring inmates to federal custody once they leave local jails, a policy federal officials have said conflicts with how ICE operates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd2124d8d5dabda3954daf Mansour primero en calificar para tesorero en Arizona te 2026-04-13T17:00:20.849Z Mansour primero en calificar para tesorero en Arizona Leer en inglés Nick Mansour, oriundo de Tucson, se ha convertido en el primer candidato en la contienda por el cargo de tesorero del estado de Arizona en presentar las firmas de su petición de postulación, entregando más de 10.000 firmas al Secretario de Estado de Arizona, recabadas en los 15 condados del estado. Mansour, demócrata y arizonense de tercera generación, entró en la contienda el pasado mes de junio prometiendo aportar transparencia y rendición de cuentas al cargo, con un enfoque particular en modernizar la forma en que el estado gestiona sus activos de $31,000 millones, incluido un fondo de dotación para la educación de $8,700 millones. Graduado de la Escuela Secundaria Católica Salpointe, obtuvo posteriormente títulos en ingeniería industrial y un MBA de Stanford, antes de forjar una carrera profesional que abarcó los sectores de finanzas, servicios de seguridad vital y educación. La contienda por el cargo de tesorero está abierta, dado que la actual titular, Kimberly Yee, ha cumplido el límite de mandatos. El único otro candidato en la contienda hasta el momento es el republicano Elijah Norton, ex tesorero del Partido Republicano de Arizona y empresario, quien desafió sin éxito al congresista David Schweikert en 2022. La presentación se produce en medio del escrutinio sobre la actual Oficina del Tesorero. Una investigación de 12News reveló que los reembolsos del programa ESA para la educación en el hogar incluían la compra de anillos de diamantes, lencería y electrodomésticos de lujo con fondos de los contribuyentes. La Oficina del Tesorero, que coadministra el programa ESA junto con el Departamento de Educación, también retrasó o denegó solicitudes de registros públicos sobre el gasto total del programa durante casi un año, según el informe. “Nos propusimos construir una campaña verdaderamente estatal,” afirmó Mansour en un comunicado. “Los arizonenses están listos para un Tesorero que sea un férreo defensor de la transparencia fiscal, un inversor proactivo pero responsable, y un líder que priorice la inversión en educación sin aumentar los impuestos.” Mansour se desempeñó anteriormente como presidente y director ejecutivo del Arizona College of Nursing, haciendo crecer la institución de un solo campus a más de 20 campus en 14 estados. Su campaña recaudó más de $663.000 en 2025. Caitlin Schmidt es editora y publicadora del Foco de Tucson. Puede contactarla en  caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org. 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/69dd1ee6d8d5dabda3954d9b Today's poll: Should the federal government take a stronger role in managing and investing in the Colorado River system? te 2026-04-13T16:50:46.895Z Today's poll: Should the federal government take a stronger role in managing and investing in the Colorado River system? Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1cb4d8d5dabda3954d54 Se pronostican lluvias y nieve para Arizona, con acumulaciones de 1 a 2 pulgadas posibles en Flagstaff te 2026-04-13T16:41:24.718Z Se pronostican lluvias y nieve para Arizona, con acumulaciones de 1 a 2 pulgadas posibles en Flagstaff Algunos chubascos breves podrían presentarse en el área de Phoenix la noche del lunes, mientras las temperaturas descienden por debajo de lo normal. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1c9cd8d5dabda3954d2b FBI raids Texas home of suspect accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's San Francisco house te 2026-04-13T16:41:00.113Z FBI raids Texas home of suspect accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's San Francisco house The FBI raided the Texas home of a 20-year-old suspect who is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s house in San Francisco last week, Fox News has learned. Fox News was exclusively on the ground as agents gathered evidence while executing a search warrant in Spring, Texas, on Monday morning. The suspect, identified as Daniel Moreno-Gama, is accused of traveling from Texas to San Francisco to try and kill the OpenAI CEO.  Sources close to the investigation tell Fox News that Moreno-Gama was driven by his anti-AI views and was carrying a manifesto when he was arrested in San Francisco. The document, described as a "three-part series," includes a list of other AI executives and investors along with their names and addresses, sources said. MAN IN CUSTODY FOR ALLEGEDLY THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS INTO LA FEDERAL BUILDING, DOCS SHOW According to San Francisco Police, Moreno-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s house early Friday morning, setting the front gate on fire. No one was hurt. Police say he then went to OpenAI headquarters, where he was captured on surveillance video throwing a chair at the glass doors. Security told police he said he planned to burn the building down and kill anyone inside. Moreno-Gama was arrested outside the building  by San Francisco police and has remained in custody. Investigators say he was carrying a jug of kerosene and a lighter. NEW VIDEO SHOWS TERROR SUSPECT TACKLED AFTER ALLEGEDLY THROWING BOMB AT NYC PROTEST OUTSIDE MAYOR'S RESIDENCE Sources tell Fox News the Justice Department is expected to file federal charges Monday afternoon for attempted damage and destruction of property by means of explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm.  Moreno-Gama is already charged with multiple state felonies, including attempted murder, in connection to the incident at Altman's home.  Altman responded to the attack on his blog with a a picture of his family saying, "I love them more than anything," and, "normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me." Over the weekend, two more people were arrested in a separate incident, after reports of gunfire near Altman’s home, according to San Francisco Police. "The SFPD takes crimes involving guns extremely seriously, and anyone committing acts like these will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Chief Derrick Lew. "I want to thank our officers whose swift actions identified these suspects, took them into custody, and got dangerous weapons off our streets." An OpenAI spokesperson told Fox News Digital Monday morning that the incident was unrelated and had no connection to Altman, adding that there was no indication that Altman's home was being targeted. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1c88d8d5dabda3954d22 Trump warns China of ‘big problems’ over Iran weapons as Xi summit nears te 2026-04-13T16:40:40.628Z Trump warns China of ‘big problems’ over Iran weapons as Xi summit nears President Donald Trump warned China it would face "big problems" if it supplies air defense systems to Tehran as Iran remains locked in a conflict with the United States and Israel.  "If China does that, China is gonna have big problems, OK?" Trump told reporters Saturday. The warning comes as U.S. intelligence assessments indicate China may be preparing to supply, or already could have moved to supply, shoulder-fired air defense systems to Iran, according to multiple news reports reporting on intelligence assessnents, though officials caution the information is not definitive and there is no evidence the weapons have been used against U.S. or Israeli forces.  Trump’s warning also comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the two leaders expected to hold a summit in Beijing in May after it was postponed due to the ongoing conflict. The talks are likely to cover a range of issues, including trade tensions, Taiwan and the war involving Iran, placing additional pressure on U.S.-China relations as concerns mount over Beijing’s potential role in the conflict. TRUMP VOICES FRUSTRATION WITH NATO, SAYS IRANIAN NAVY ‘DESTROYED’ AS US PREPS FOR BLOCKADE The potential transfer of Chinese-supplied air defenses could increase risks to U.S. aircraft operating in the region, particularly low-flying missions already vulnerable to shoulder-fired missiles. China also has played a role in recent ceasefire efforts, pressing Iran to engage in talks with the United States and Israel through diplomatic outreach and coordination with regional partners, even as it denies providing military support to Tehran. Officials familiar with the intelligence say the systems in question include man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, which are capable of targeting low-flying aircraft and have already posed a threat to U.S. assets in the region during the conflict. MANPADS are shoulder-fired, heat-seeking missiles designed to target low-flying aircraft. U.S. officials believe a similar type of weapon was likely used to bring down an American F-15E fighter jet over Iran earlier in April, marking the first loss of a manned U.S. aircraft in Iran in the conflict.  Trump said at the time the jet was hit by a "shoulder-fired missile." It remains unclear whether any such systems have been transferred or are currently inside Iran, but the possibility has raised concerns among U.S. officials that additional air defenses could complicate future operations and increase risks to American pilots. CHINA SAYS IT WILL RESUME SOME TIES WITH TAIWAN AFTER VISIT BY OPPOSITION LEADER China has denied the reports, with its embassy in Washington saying it "never provides weapons to any party to the conflict" and calling the allegations untrue. The reports come amid heightened tensions over China’s growing alignment with Iran, with U.S. officials increasingly warning that Beijing could play a more direct role in supporting Tehran as the conflict continues. China has long played a role in supporting Iran’s military capabilities, supplying components used in ballistic missiles and drones as well as surveillance and targeting technologies, according to defense analysts. In recent years, Iran also has explored acquiring more advanced Chinese systems, including anti-ship missiles and air defense platforms, as it seeks to rebuild capabilities damaged in previous strikes. Separate from the reports on potential air defense transfers, investigations using satellite imagery and maritime tracking data have identified Iranian vessels departing Chinese ports carrying cargo believed to include sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient in ballistic missile fuel, according to a Washington Post report. Other reporting citing Western intelligence and shipping data indicates multiple such shipments have reached Iran during the conflict, raising concerns Beijing may be helping Tehran replenish missile capabilities even as it publicly calls for de-escalation. The Iranian mission to the United Nations could not immediately be reached for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1a46d8d5dabda3954ce3 1-year-old injured after teen driver crashes car off Oklahoma bridge te 2026-04-13T16:31:02.912Z 1-year-old injured after teen driver crashes car off Oklahoma bridge A vehicle went airborne off a Tulsa bridge early Saturday and crashed upside down onto an interstate below, leaving a 1-year-old child injured and forcing a highway shutdown as rescuers rushed to the scene. Officers responding around 5:08 a.m. near Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa found the vehicle overturned on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 244 after it crashed through a fence and fell from an overpass, the Tulsa Police Department said. Dispatchers reported hearing a child crying at the scene. A 17-year-old driver, an 18-year-old passenger and the 1-year-old child were inside the car at the time of the crash, police said. DRIVER HOPS CURB, STRIKES 9 STUDENTS DURING AFTER SCHOOL PICKUP IN IOWA The 17-year-old did not stop at a stop sign before he failed to make a turn in the slight curve in the road, striking a curb that sent the car airborne over a drainage ditch, police said. The vehicle then crashed through a barrier and dropped onto the interstate below. PROJECTED TOP 10 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT WAS DRIVER IN 2024 DEADLY CRASH Authorities said the child was not in a car seat and was injured but is expected to recover after being taken to a hospital. Police and highway patrol officers shut down lanes of the interstate to allow firefighters and EMS crews to reach the wreckage. The crash remains under investigation, and charges against the driver are possible. Officials are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Tulsa police. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1a1fd8d5dabda3954cd6 Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate te 2026-04-13T16:30:23.310Z Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate As the president threatens to wipe out Iran and attacks the pope, even some former allies and advisers are questioning whether he has grown increasingly unbalanced, describing him as “lunatic” and “clearly insane.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd17f0d8d5dabda3954cae Kathryn Anne Edwards: The US economy is replaying the 2000s, not the 1970s te 2026-04-13T16:21:04.705Z Kathryn Anne Edwards: The US economy is replaying the 2000s, not the 1970s When it comes to understanding the economy, the pull of the past is hard to ignore. Cause and consequence are difficult enough to parse in real time. How about predicting a sequence of events? Near impossible. Comparing today’s economy to… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd17dad8d5dabda3954c8c Democrats build midterm momentum, but Republicans still in driver's seat in Senate majority battle te 2026-04-13T16:20:42.474Z Democrats build midterm momentum, but Republicans still in driver's seat in Senate majority battle A leading nonpartisan political handicapper predicts that the Democrats' path to winning back the Senate majority in this year's midterm elections is getting wider thanks to a rough political climate for the GOP, but that capturing control of the chamber remains a "tall order." The Cook Political Report on Monday shifted the ratings in four key Senate races in favor of the Democrats, but added that Republicans "remain the narrowing favorites to retain the upper chamber." Republicans currently control the Senate 53-47 but are battling stiff political headwinds, as the party in power in the nation's capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms. The GOP faces a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns amid persistent inflation, as well as rising gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings. "Right now, we see the likeliest outcome is a one to three seat Democratic pickup — still just out of reach of the four seats the party needs to reclaim the majority," Cook Report Senate and Governors Editor Jessica Taylor said in a release. SNUBBED BY TRUMP, THESE GOP CANDIDATES ACT LIKE THEY HAVE HIS ENDORSEMENT ANYWAY The Cook Report shifted the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis in battleground North Carolina from toss-up to lean Democrat. Former two-term Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is facing off against former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley in what will likely be one of the most expensive and competitive Senate showdowns in the nation this autumn. In battleground Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is running for a second six-year term, the Cook Report also moved the race from toss-up to lean Democrat. Republicans view Ossoff as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking re-election this year, but he has built a massive war chest while the GOP faces a three-way primary battle for its nomination. STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING  In red-leaning Ohio, where appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted will face off in November against former longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Cook Report shifted their ranking from lean Republican to toss up, noting that "even recent GOP polling" has indicated the race is all knotted up. The Cook Report also shifted Nebraska, a red state where GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts will face a general election challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn, from solid Republican to likely Republican. "We concede that these ratings changes are coming as Trump is at a new polling low and still navigating a yet-to-be-resolved war in Iran. So it’s possible things could rebound for his party or that they could find a rallying cry to get his base out in November — a summer Supreme Court retirement certainly wouldn’t hurt," Taylor noted. And she pointed out that "Democrats are still contending with messy primary fights in Maine, Michian, Minnesota and Iowa, where Republicans are rooting for flawed or bruised nominees to emerge. And Republicans will have a significant institutional financial advantage." FOX NEWS POLL: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE 2026 MIDTERMS National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chair, Sen. Tim Scott, acknowledged in a Fox News Digital interview last month that "there's no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day, it seems like at times." But Scott added that he remains "incredibly optimistic" the GOP can not only hold but expand its current majority. The rival Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), in an email to supporters titled "Democratic Odds of Taking the Senate Increase as Four Ratings Shift in Their Favor," spotlighted the Cook Report's ratings shift. Earlier this year, DSCC chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital she was "very optimistic that with the quality of candidates that we have, with the recruiting failures and the poor candidates the Republicans have, and this very harmful climate that President Trump is creating, we have all the makings of a blue wave." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd15d0d8d5dabda3954c51 Greg Gutfeld's reality game show 'What Did I Miss?' returns to Fox Nation for second season on April 27 te 2026-04-13T16:12:00.348Z Greg Gutfeld's reality game show 'What Did I Miss?' returns to Fox Nation for second season on April 27 Late-night comedy king Greg Gutfeld is bringing back the fun. The Fox News host will return to Fox Nation on April 27 with a second season of his high-stakes reality game show, "What Did I Miss?" where contestants emerge from months of total isolation to face one simple question: can they tell real headlines from fake ones? "If season one proved anything, it’s that real life can be more unbelievable than the wildest of tales," Fox Nation President Lauren Petterson said, announcing the return. WINNER OF GUTFELD'S 'WHAT DID I MISS?' REVEALS 'HEART-WRENCHING' FAMILY SACRIFICE DURING 90-DAY ISOLATION "We are thrilled to offer Fox Nation subscribers exclusive access to the second season of 'What Did I Miss?' as our very own king of late-night, Greg Gutfeld, returns to test the contestants on what they missed in isolation." A fresh group of contestants will take on Gutfeld’s headline challenge after spending three months completely cut off from the outside world — no phones, no internet, no television, and no contact with friends or family — all for a shot at a $50,000 prize. GREG GUTFELD TO TEST CONTESTANTS ON REAL VERSUS FAKE HEADLINES AFTER THREE MONTHS IN ISOLATION ON FOX NATION "Against all logic, people volunteered to do this crazy game show again," Gutfeld said of the show's return. "And the only thing standing between them and victory is me." Like season one, contestants from across the country headed to upstate New York shortly after Thanksgiving, where they remained in total isolation until after Valentine’s Day, emerging months later to test their instincts against a world they haven’t seen. Season two will roll out in three parts, with additional episodes dropping May 4 and May 11. To stream episodes of "What Did I Miss?" subscribe to Fox Nation. CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOX NATION Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd15bcd8d5dabda3954c48 DC archbishop hits 'out of control' illegal immigration under Biden, but criticizes 'roundup' under Trump te 2026-04-13T16:11:40.851Z DC archbishop hits 'out of control' illegal immigration under Biden, but criticizes 'roundup' under Trump Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Robert McElroy said Sunday that former President Biden's open border policy was "out of control," but also took issue with President Donald Trump's immigration policy. "I feel it got to a point where it was getting out of control," he told CBS' "60 Minutes," as host Norah O'Donnell confirmed he meant under Biden's presidency. O'Donnell asked, "You believe in strong borders?" "Yes," he said. O'Donnell pressed McElroy on what was wrong with Trump's current policy if he believed in secure borders. POPE LEO PICKS NEW VATICAN AMBASSADOR TO US AS TRUMP TENSIONS MOUNT OVER POLICIES "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," he said. The White House and Biden's office did not immediately return Fox News Digital's requests for comment. McElroy served as the bishop of San Diego before becoming the Archbishop of D.C. Pope Francis tapped McElroy to become the archbishop of Washington, D.C., in January 2025. McElroy previously described Trump's immigration policy as an "assault." "We are witnessing a comprehensive governmental assault designed to produce fear and terror among millions of men and women," he said in September 2025, according to The Washington Post. SPEAKER JOHNSON USES BIBLE TO JUSTIFY SECURED BORDERS AFTER BEING ASKED ABOUT POPE’S RHETORIC ON MIGRANTS O'Donnell noted that Trump ran on mass deportations throughout his campaign. "And yet President Trump won the Catholic vote over Kamala Harris handily, 55 to 43%. He promised to secure the border. He talked about deportation. And a majority of Catholics voted for the policy," O'Donnell told the group of American cardinals she interviewed for the segment. O'Donnell spoke to McElory, as well as Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, and Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey. "I would like to know what Catholics feel about this indiscriminate mass deportation. I think that it's very clear the American people are saying, 'We really didn't vote for this,'" Cupich told O'Donnell. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE She also asked the group about what they would say to churchgoers who don't want their priests weighing in on politics. "I say fine. I want to preach the gospel. God wants us to promote peace in the world — because his desire is that we be one human family," Cupich responded. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd15a9d8d5dabda3954c3f LA-area street takeover shooting caught on camera; locals scared, vow to move te 2026-04-13T16:11:21.436Z LA-area street takeover shooting caught on camera; locals scared, vow to move Four people were hospitalized after gunfire broke out during a Los Angeles County street takeover early Sunday, authorities said, the latest violent episode tied to illegal gatherings that have drawn renewed scrutiny. "I'm moving, definitely," a woman who leaves near the Rosemead incident told Fox 11 Los Angeles. "That's scary. I come from San Marino — I don't belong here." The shooting happened around 2 a.m. local time Sunday, as cellphone video captured a large crowd fleeing as shots rang out. All four victims are expected to survive, according to authorities. OIL PRODUCERS ORG SHREDS CALIFORNIA DEM FOR BLAMING IRAN WAR FOR HIS DISTRICT'S GAS PRICES "It's disturbing, it's loud, and now they're shooting," the woman added. "It's ridiculous." Authorities have not announced any arrests. "Detectives are actively working leads, reviewing evidence and speaking to witnesses," Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Alex Ruiz said as investigators canvassed nearby businesses for surveillance footage and collected video recorded by witnesses. VIOLENT DC TEEN TAKEOVER IN UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD ESCALATES TO GUNFIRE Ruiz said investigators are continuing to review footage from the scene and urged the community to report takeover activity before crowds grow too large for deputies to quickly control. "Getting the community to call us out before it builds into a large crowd where we can’t control it with a few deputies," Ruiz said. The Rosemead shooting comes weeks after another violent street takeover near Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, where a crowd smashed windows and forced its way into a luxury apartment building. One person was stabbed in that incident. ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS DRIVE STREET TAKEOVERS BY USING KIDS TO STEAL CARS FOR WILD STUNTS: EXPERT That earlier takeover prompted condemnation from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who called for tougher enforcement and warned that participants would face arrest. Although Rosemead is outside Los Angeles city limits, Sunday’s shooting quickly drew political reaction as officials and residents alike voiced concern about the spread of increasingly violent street takeovers across the region. For neighbors living near Sunday’s scene, the fear was more immediate and likely to drive more out of the area. "This is very scary," the resident told Fox 11. "That’s why I’m moving. I’m not staying here." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1595d8d5dabda3954c36 Senate Republicans race to fund ICE, CBP without Democrats as shutdown drags te 2026-04-13T16:11:01.877Z Senate Republicans race to fund ICE, CBP without Democrats as shutdown drags Senate Republicans are moving to fast-track funding for immigration enforcement without any Democrat support as a partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown stretches into its second month. The upper chamber returns to Washington, D.C., on Monday, and the GOP already has its plan in motion to bypass Democrats’ blockade of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). With President Donald Trump's blessing, they are using the budget reconciliation process to front-load funding for immigration enforcement for the remainder of his presidency. Taking that route doesn’t require any Democratic votes, but Republicans will have to put aside any differences they have if they want the legislation to work. SENATE GOP VOWS TO ‘GO IT ALONE’ ON ICE FUNDING AS DEMS DOUBLE DOWN ON SHUTDOWN Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who chairs the committee that will launch the reconciliation process in the Senate, met with Trump on Friday to lay the groundwork for the package. Trump said on Truth Social shortly afterward that "Reconciliation is ON TRACK, and we are moving FAST and FOCUSED." "Radical Left Democrats like Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem ‘High-Tax’ Jeffries, will do their best to stop us, but we don’t need their votes on this Bill, as long as Republicans UNIFY, and stick together," the president said. "I am calling for the Bill to be done no later than June 1st, and on my desk," he continued. "The Department cannot wait any longer for full funding. We must beat the Radical Left Democrats at their own game." Trump’s push for a focused package is what Senate Republicans had been hoping for, given that several other items, like the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, making their way into the bill could slow down work or get nixed by the rules that reinforce the process. GRAHAM EYES ‘DOWN PAYMENT’ ON TRUMP-BACKED SAVE ACT WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT "The reconciliation train is on the tracks," Graham said on "Special Report." "We're gonna have a very specific bill coming out before June 1st that will fund the border patrol and ice for the entire presidency, the three years left of President Trump." Keeping both chambers in alignment will be key, too, given that reconciliation will officially start in the House. The whole reason Republicans are coalescing behind a reconciliation strategy is because of the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. The Senate, before leaving Washington for a two-week break, again passed a funding bill that carves out spending for ICE and parts of CBP. It remains unclear when the House, which returns on Tuesday, will vote on the Senate-passed DHS funding bill. House Republicans are frustrated that after passing their own 60-day extension to reopen the agency they again have to consider the Senate bill. GOP INFIGHTING REPLACES CLASH WITH DEMS, DERAILS PATH TO END HISTORIC DHS SHUTDOWN Many in the conference want to see the Senate make actual progress on a reconciliation bill before voting to fund DHS, while others on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s, R-La., right flank would rather fund the entirety of Homeland Security through reconciliation. And a source familiar told Fox News Digital that House GOP leadership is waiting to see the upper chamber take concrete steps on a reconciliation package funding ICE and the Border Patrol before holding a lower chamber vote on the Senate bill. Resistance in the House would guarantee that the partial shutdown, which hit 58 days on Monday, will continue. Barrasso urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to pass the bill quickly to fund the rest of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and others. "I would recommend that the Speaker of the House take it up and pass it as soon as possible," Barrasso said on "The Faulkner Focus." Meanwhile, he noted that Senate Republicans have already been working on their budget resolution, which will kick off the reconciliation process in the upper chamber, for the last two weeks, and blasted Democrats for spending weeks blocking DHS funding. "It's critical to get FEMA up again," Barrasso said. "The Coast Guard, cyber security, all those things are necessary. The Democrats are against the security of this homeland, and it is just wrong, and we're gonna put an end to it using reconciliation." Fox News Digital's Adam Pack contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd156ed8d5dabda3954c2a Trump Attack on Pope and Posting of Jesus Image Draws Widespread Criticism te 2026-04-13T16:10:22.255Z Trump Attack on Pope and Posting of Jesus Image Draws Widespread Criticism A prominent conservative bishop who serves on President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission was among those who called on the president to apologize. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1356d8d5dabda3954c04 Data center boom alarms state panel te 2026-04-13T16:01:26.965Z Data center boom alarms state panel A new state report warns that the boom in data centers and other “large-load” customers in Arizona poses a challenge to grid reliability and electric rates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd1343d8d5dabda3954bfb Woman cited after allegedly placing dog feces on neighbor’s doorstep te 2026-04-13T16:01:07.320Z Woman cited after allegedly placing dog feces on neighbor’s doorstep A Lake Havasu City woman was cited after allegedly placing dog feces on a neighbor’s doorstep during an ongoing dispute. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd132ad8d5dabda3954bd9 Could Somaliland base emerge as US foothold against Iran, Houthis in key sea lanes? te 2026-04-13T16:00:42.227Z Could Somaliland base emerge as US foothold against Iran, Houthis in key sea lanes? JOHANNESBURG: A strategically important air base and port have been offered to the U.S. as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz begins and Iran-backed threats target the key Red Sea chokepoint of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Top U.S. military officials, including the Commander of U.S. Forces in Africa, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, recently visited facilities being offered in Somaliland. Somaliland is a pro-U.S. outpost, having broken away from war-torn Somalia in 1991. Bab-el-Mandeb, which is Arabic for ‘gate of tears’, has become the main route for oil to ship out of the Middle East to Asia since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed.  Bloomberg News reported that Saudi Arabia has switched to shipping potentially up to seven million barrels of oil a day from its port at Yanbu on the Red Sea through the strait. It’s reported that up to 14% of the world’s shipping passes through the 16-mile-wide strait. IS TRUMP CONSIDERING BOLD AFRICA PLAY TO PUSH BACK ON CHINA, RUSSIA AND ISLAMIC TERRORISTS? Enter the controversial offer to the U.S. of an air and naval base at Berbera in Somaliland. The official Republic of Somaliland site on X extolled Berbera’s virtues last month, boasting that it has "a deep water port along the artery connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean", and "one of Africa’s longest runways, originally developed as a NASA emergency landing site." "Berbera obviously has huge strategic potential," for sea and air operations, Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former U.K. ambassador to Yemen and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital. The U.S. does have another Red Sea base in Djibouti, but Fitton-Brown told Fox News Digital the government there is increasingly uncomfortable with some of the Administration’s policies: "Djibouti becomes an increasingly reluctant, unwilling ally to the U.S. in helping enforce sanctions on the Houthis. Somaliland, which is almost equally well-placed to address issues on the western and southwestern coasts of Yemen, can help the U.S., Israel and the UAE combat the Houthis." The controversy comes over the question of U.S. recognition of Somaliland. President Trump, in the Oval Office last August, told reporters, "We’re looking into that right now," when asked about the recognition of Somaliland and the possible resettlement of Gazans there, adding, "We’re working on that right now, Somaliland." But this past week, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "the United States continues to recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the territory of Somaliland." Last year Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland. TRUMP SEEKS WARSHIPS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO HELP SECURE STRAIT OF HORMUZ Iran is pushing the Houthis to take action in the Red Sea. "Insecurity in other straits, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, is one of the options of the Resistance Front, and the situation will become much more complicated than it is today for the Americans," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-linked Tasmin news agency warned on March 21. Baraa Shaiban, an expert on the Houthis at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), says the recognition of Somaliland is problematic, as it "will upset the U.S. relationship with the Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, many of which are U.S. allies. It would be unwise for the United States to upset its allies in the region just to gain access to Somaliland ports." A spokesperson for the U.S. military in Africa (AFRICOM), told Fox News Digital, "The U.S. is not seeking to establish new basing, as such actions do not align with the America First security framework articulated by the President and Secretary of War." While publicly both the use of bases and recognition of Somaliland are no-go areas, analysts say that with Somaliland offering the use of its bases without immediate recognition by the administration, the issue is perhaps privately not off the table. And that could be why a recent video shared with Fox News Digital shows AFRICOM Commander Dagvin Anderson and a large group of senior military officials in Somaliland, where he met with its president and appearing to inspect the port in Berbera in November, just 5 months ago. That’s not the only reported visit. Somaliland’s top diplomatic representative in Washington, Bashir Goth, told a recent Foreign Policy Research Institute debate, "The war in the Middle East has elevated Somaliland’s strategic importance," Goth noted. " U.S. Military interest has been very strong. Every month, there has been a delegation from AFRICOM to Hargeisa. (The capital of Somaliland)". Fox News Digital reached out to the Republic of Somaliland, but they declined to comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd10d1d8d5dabda3954acd Judge dismisses Trump's $10B defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over Epstein story te 2026-04-13T15:50:41.354Z Judge dismisses Trump's $10B defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over Epstein story President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over a story on his ties to late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was dismissed by a federal judge on Monday. Trump filed the lawsuit last year after the Wall Street Journal published a July article claiming Trump signed a sexually suggestive letter that was included in a 2003 album compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday. The letter was subsequently released publicly by Congress, which subpoenaed the records from Epstein’s estate. U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Florida wrote in the order that Trump had failed to make the argument that the article was published with the intent to be malicious, but he gave the president a chance to file an amended complaint. MELANIA TRUMP ADVISOR SAYS SHE'S HAD 'ENOUGH' AFTER BREAKING SILENCE TO DENY JEFFREY EPSTEIN CONNECTION Trump will refile the suit, according to his legal team.  "President Trump will follow Judge Gayles' ruling and guidance to refile this powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other Defendants. The President will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in fake news to mislead the American people," a spokesman for Trump’s legal team told Fox News Digital.  Trump has denied writing the letter and creating the drawing, calling The Wall Street Journal report on it "false, malicious, and defamatory." The letter bearing Trump’s name and what was reported to be his signature includes text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a curvaceous woman. TOP DOJ OFFICIALS TO BRIEF HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR JEFFREY EPSTEIN PROBE White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said Trump "did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it."  Judge Gayles wrote that "whether President Trump was the author of the Letter or Epstein’s friend are questions of fact that cannot be determined at this stage of the litigation." A spokesperson for Wall Street Journal parent company Dow Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  Trump has been on a rampage against the media in the courts in recent years, filing lawsuits against a variety of outlets, including ABC, CBS, The New York Times and the BBC.  ABC agreed to pay $15 million in 2024 as a charitable contribution to a future presidential museum or foundation to settle Trump's defamation lawsuit. The suit was prompted by anchor George Stephanopoulos repeatedly saying on the air Trump had previously been held liable for rape, rather than sexual abuse. It also paid $1 million in legal fees. TRUMP THANKED FLORIDA POLICE FOR EPSTEIN PROBE IN 2000S, FLAGGED 'EVIL' GHISLAINE MAXWELL: FBI DOC Trump also launched an "election interference" lawsuit against CBS over its "60 Minutes" interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, saying its editing decisions amounted to deceiving the public. Ahead of a planned $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, CBS parent company Paramount settled the lawsuit in July to a total that could be upwards of $30 million. Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0ecdd8d5dabda3954aa7 Hobbs signs deed fraud bill backed by Mohave County assessor te 2026-04-13T15:42:05.042Z Hobbs signs deed fraud bill backed by Mohave County assessor PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed a sweeping anti-fraud measure aimed at protecting Arizona property owners, a bill shaped in part by efforts out of Mohave County. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0eb9d8d5dabda3954a9e Angius-backed bill targeting gap in handling dangerous defendants signed into law te 2026-04-13T15:41:45.273Z Angius-backed bill targeting gap in handling dangerous defendants signed into law PHOENIX — A bill championed by Sen. Hildy Angius to address a critical gap in Arizona’s criminal justice system was signed into law April 2 by Gov. Katie Hobbs. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0ea5d8d5dabda3954a95 Hobbs balks at push to raise Arizona lawmakers’ pay te 2026-04-13T15:41:25.431Z Hobbs balks at push to raise Arizona lawmakers’ pay PHOENIX -- Katie Hobbs says when she was a state senator a decade ago she was making $24,000 a year. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0e91d8d5dabda3954a8c AG powers bill targets Kris Mayes’ groundwater lawsuits te 2026-04-13T15:41:05.329Z AG powers bill targets Kris Mayes’ groundwater lawsuits PHOENIX -- Republican lawmakers are moving to clip the legal wings of Attorney General Kris Mayes, with one legislator even calling her a "bully'' for how she is pursing companies over their groundwater pumping. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0e7ad8d5dabda3954a69 US ‘coming after’ Iran beyond Strait of Hormuz blockade, ex-CENTCOM admiral warns te 2026-04-13T15:40:42.729Z US ‘coming after’ Iran beyond Strait of Hormuz blockade, ex-CENTCOM admiral warns The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz may be just the beginning, a former top CENTCOM commander warned Sunday, telling Fox News that the measure is just the "first step" in "coming after" the Iranian regime. "We made it very clear — passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and getting rid of your nuclear program is indisputable. You have to meet that, [and] they did not," retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward said while appearing on "One Nation with Brian Kilmeade." "We're not going to play your game. We're not going to be strung on, it's over," he continued. "We're cranking up the pressure. We're coming after you, and this is just the first step of that." TRUMP ORDERS A BLOCKADE IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS TENSIONS WITH IRAN SOAR Harward's remarks came on the heels of President Trump announcing an "all in, all out" blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after hourslong negotiations failed to produce a peace deal with the regime over the weekend. The blockade went into effect Monday at 10 a.m. ET. Harward praised the decision to implement the blockade, telling Brian Kilmeade that the president and vice president deserve to be "salute[d]" for taking action. TRUMP’S APOCALYPTIC IRAN WARNING RAISES STAKES FOR SWEEPING US STRIKE THREAT But beyond the blockade, Harward said the U.S. has the capability to monitor and stop vessels throughout the region, including using helicopter assets and Marine units to board ships. He called these potential actions part of what may be a "much more escalatory approach and strategy to increase pressure on the regime." "I still can't emphasize enough how important this is inside Iran, the pressure on the regime from the people and how this signals to them how weak they are, how strong the U.S. [is], and, as the president has said, help is on the way, and it's there now," he added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0c20d8d5dabda3954a14 Man Arrested After U.S. Military Aircraft Damaged in Ireland te 2026-04-13T15:30:40.945Z Man Arrested After U.S. Military Aircraft Damaged in Ireland A man was arrested on Saturday and accused of criminal damage at Shannon Airport in western Ireland, police said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0c0cd8d5dabda3954a03 Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch signals IPO readiness as AI agents fuel revenue surge te 2026-04-13T15:30:20.855Z Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch signals IPO readiness as AI agents fuel revenue surge "The company is ready and getting more ready for every day," Rauch said about an IPO at HumanX conference. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd09f0d8d5dabda39549ce Gubernatorial candidate vows to pardon cop convicted of manslaughter in death of fleeing suspect te 2026-04-13T15:21:20.971Z Gubernatorial candidate vows to pardon cop convicted of manslaughter in death of fleeing suspect Bruce Blakeman, New York's Republican candidate for governor, has vowed to pardon a former NYPD sergeant convicted of manslaughter in the death of a fleeing suspect, who he knocked off a scooter with a cooler. He made the announcement at a news briefing outside City Hall in New York City Monday morning. Sgt. Erik Duran, 38, has been sentenced to three to nine years in prison for manslaughter in the 2023 death of a suspected drug dealer named Eric Duprey, 30. NYC JUDGE SEEKS TO MAKE EXAMPLE OF OFFICER WHO THREW COOLER AT FLEEING SUSPECT, CAUSING FATAL CRASH Prosecutors from New York Attorney General Letitia James's office had requested a five-to 15-year sentence. Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer and fled arrest on a motorized scooter before Duran, who was wearing plainclothes at the time, grabbed a bystander's cooler and threw it at him. It struck Duprey, who lost control of the scooter. He crashed and died. SEND US A TIP HERE "I took this job to save lives," Duran told the judge at sentencing last week. "I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash." The NYPD sergeant is the first member of the department to be sent to prison for a duty-related death in decades. Duran's defense had opted for a bench trial, with no jury, under Bronx Judge Guy Mitchell, an appointee under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, in February. Mitchell rejected Duran's argument that the cooler throwing was justified in order to protect other officers from harm by the fleeing suspect and said the sentence would serve as a "general deterrent" for other officers. "They had enough to investigate and catch him on a different day," he said of Duran and other officers at the scene. "The distinction is that the deceased will no longer be seen again by his family." NYPD OFFICER JONATHAN DILLER'S WIDOW WEEPS AS SEA OF BLUE FILLS COURTROOM IN ACCUSED COP KILLER’S MURDER TRIAL Vincent Vallelong, the president of the NYPD Sergeant's Benevolent Association, called the sentence "one of the darkest days in the history of our profession." "It wasn't only Sgt. Duran, a great cop, who was on trial," he said after sentencing Thursday. "Every law enforcement officer who makes a split second decision in the performance of their duties to protect the public, was also on trial." The NYPD fired Duran after his conviction, which he is expected to appeal. Blakeman, who was commissioner of the New York-New Jersey Port Authority during the 9/11 terror attacks, is currently the county executive in Nassau County, a suburb just east of New York City. He has received President Donald Trump's endorsement in the race against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul. Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd09ddd8d5dabda39549c5 Trump's meme depicting himself as Jesus Christ draws backlash from allies te 2026-04-13T15:21:01.384Z Trump's meme depicting himself as Jesus Christ draws backlash from allies President Donald Trump irked Americans on both sides of the aisle on Sunday night by posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ. The image showed Trump healing a sick man while surrounded by followers and patriotic imagery such as the flag, a bald eagle and the Statue of Liberty. The post came as Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV as "weak on crime," "terrible for foreign policy" and accused him of "catering to the radical left" in a separate message.   While some interpreted the image as Trump "healing the nation," and others suggested it was merely intended to troll Pope Leo, it didn’t go over well with some of his own supporters.  POPE LEO SAYS HE'S UNAFRAID OF THE TRUMP ADMIN AFTER PRESIDENT CALLS HIM 'TERRIBLE' ON FOREIGN POLICY OutKick’s Riley Gaines responded, "Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?" "Either way, two things are true," Gaines continued. "1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked." RedState writer Bonchie noted, "God doesn’t care about your whataboutism," and suggested Trump remove the message.  "Guys, some things can’t be excused by turning them into online slap fights because some things have larger implications than online slap fights. Such as blasphemy," Bonchie wrote. "Trump needs to delete that meme and apologize. It’s that simple." POPE WARNS ESCALATING IRAN CONFLICT COULD TIP MIDDLE EAST INTO ‘IRREPARABLE ABYSS’ Journalist Megan Basham added, "He needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God," while OutKick’s Jon Root called the post "blasphemous" and "reprehensible." Influencer Mike Cernovich said it "would not be tolerated for any other religion," while influencer Brilyn Hollyhand said "faith is not a prop." "You don’t need to portray yourself as a savior when your record should speak for itself. The same God who saved Trump’s life from that bullet sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. He died for Trump just as much as for you and I," Hollyhand wrote.  Conservative pundit Carmine Sabia suggested all Christians should be offended by the meme.  "As a Christian, I’m offended by this, and I don’t know how any Christian would not be offended by this. There is only one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Sabia responded. "Mocking Him is not OK." Christian blogger Jackie Chea added, "No matter what Trump meant, the meme’s blasphemous. Doesn’t matter if he was trying to be funny. Not a good joke."  VATICAN DECLINES TO JOIN TRUMP’S GAZA ‘BOARD OF PEACE,’ CALLS FOR UN LEADERSHIP Trump’s Truth Social post was also heavily criticized by the left and members of the mainstream media. "I can't get over the blasphemous picture Trump put up comparing himself to Jesus Christ. Either he doesn't know that you're not supposed to compare yourself to the Lord and Savior, which is a stunning level of ignorance, or he did it on purpose to disrespect and mock people. Wow," Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur wrote.  NBC News’ Richard Engel pondered whether Trump was joking or if he truly believes he has been "elevated to the level of a prophet."  Left-wing influencer Harry Sisson suggested Trump was having a "mental health episode," while many simply captioned the image with the word "blasphemy." At least one person found humor in the situation.  "You guys are all freaking out and my uncle has been posting some version of that Trump as Jesus meme on Facebook since 2016," writer Bridget Phetasy wrote.  A pro-Trump account said critics were wrongheaded, noting the image was made by another supporter months ago and showed "President Trump carrying out God's work in healing and restoring our nation." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Eric Mack contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd09c9d8d5dabda39549bc AI is now powering cyberattacks, Microsoft warns te 2026-04-13T15:20:41.711Z AI is now powering cyberattacks, Microsoft warns Artificial intelligence promised to make life easier. Write emails faster. Build software quicker. Analyze huge datasets in seconds. Unfortunately, cybercriminals noticed those benefits too. A new report from Microsoft Threat Intelligence reveals that attackers are now using AI across nearly every stage of a cyberattack. The technology helps them move faster, scale operations and lower the technical skill required to launch attacks. In simple terms, AI has become a powerful assistant for hackers. Instead of replacing cybercriminals, it gives them tools that make their work easier. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report 5 MYTHS ABOUT IDENTITY THEFT THAT PUT YOUR DATA AT RISK   Cyberattacks usually involve many steps. Attackers scout victims, craft phishing messages, build infrastructure and write malicious code. According to Microsoft researchers, generative AI tools now help speed up many of those tasks. Attackers are using AI to: AI also helps threat actors move more quickly between stages of an attack. Tasks that once took hours or days may now take minutes. Microsoft describes AI as a "force multiplier" that reduces friction for attackers while humans remain in control of targets and strategy. Some of the most advanced cyber groups are already experimenting with artificial intelligence. Microsoft says North Korean hacking groups known as Jasper Sleet and Coral Sleet have incorporated AI into their operations. One tactic involves fake remote workers. Attackers generate realistic identities, resumes and communications using AI. They apply for jobs at Western companies and gain legitimate access to internal systems once hired. In some cases, AI even helps generate culturally appropriate names or email formats that match specific identities. For example, attackers may prompt AI tools to produce lists of names or create realistic email address formats for a fake employee profile. Once inside a company, that access can become extremely valuable. HOW TO OPT OUT OF AI DATA COLLECTION IN POPULAR APPS   Researchers also observed threat actors using AI coding tools to assist with malware development. Generative AI can help attackers: In some experiments, malware appeared capable of dynamically generating scripts or changing behavior while running. Meanwhile, attackers can use AI to build phishing websites or attack infrastructure more quickly. Microsoft also observed groups using AI to generate fake company websites that support social engineering campaigns. AI companies have placed guardrails on their systems to prevent misuse. However, attackers are already experimenting with ways to bypass those safeguards. One tactic is called jailbreaking. It involves manipulating prompts so that an AI system generates content it would normally refuse to produce. Researchers are also watching early experiments with agentic AI, which can perform tasks autonomously and adapt to results. For now, Microsoft says AI mainly assists human operators rather than running attacks on its own. Still, the technology is evolving quickly. One of the biggest concerns in the Microsoft report is accessibility. Years ago, launching sophisticated cyberattacks required advanced technical skills. AI tools now help automate parts of that process. Someone with limited programming knowledge can ask AI to generate scripts, troubleshoot code or translate scams into multiple languages. That shift could expand the number of people capable of launching cyberattacks. At the same time, AI also gives defenders new tools for detecting threats. Security teams are now using AI to analyze behavior, detect anomalies and respond to attacks more quickly. The technology is fueling both sides of the cybersecurity arms race. INSIDE MICROSOFT'S AI CONTENT VERIFICATION PLAN   Microsoft says its security teams are working to detect and disrupt AI-enabled cybercrime as it emerges. The company uses threat intelligence systems to monitor attacker activity, identify new tactics and share findings with organizations around the world. Microsoft also integrates AI into its own security tools to help detect suspicious behavior, phishing campaigns and unusual account activity faster. These systems analyze patterns across billions of signals each day to identify threats before they spread widely. The company says organizations should strengthen identity protections, monitor unusual credential use and treat suspicious remote worker activity as a potential insider risk. The rise of AI-powered cyberattacks can sound alarming. The good news is that many proven security habits still work. A few simple steps can dramatically reduce your risk. AI-generated phishing emails are becoming more convincing. Always verify requests for passwords, payments or sensitive information before clicking links or downloading files. Also, use strong antivirus protection on all your devices. Strong antivirus software can detect malware, block suspicious downloads and warn you about dangerous websites before they load. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com. A password manager can generate and store complex passwords for every account. This prevents attackers from accessing multiple accounts if one password is exposed. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com. Even if someone steals your password, multi-factor authentication adds a second layer of protection and can stop many account takeovers. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that attackers often exploit. Turn on automatic updates whenever possible. Cybercriminals often gather personal information from data broker sites before launching scams. Using a data removal service can help reduce the amount of personal information attackers can find about you online. 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. Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com. Unexpected login alerts, password reset messages, or unfamiliar devices connected to your accounts may signal a breach. Act quickly if something looks suspicious.  Artificial intelligence is transforming almost every industry. Cybercrime is no exception. Hackers now use AI to craft phishing messages, build malware and scale attacks faster than ever before. The technology lowers technical barriers and speeds up operations while human attackers remain in control. Security experts expect the use of AI in cyberattacks to grow as tools become more powerful and widely available. That makes awareness and strong digital habits more important than ever. Because the next phishing email you receive may not have been written by a person at all. If AI can now help hackers launch attacks faster and at a larger scale, are tech companies moving quickly enough to protect you? 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/69dd0802d8d5dabda3954994 Making the Grade: How High-Impact Tutoring Builds Student Success te 2026-04-13T15:13:06.483Z Making the Grade: How High-Impact Tutoring Builds Student Success Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd07eed8d5dabda395498b Making the Grade: How High-Impact Tutoring Builds Student Success te 2026-04-13T15:12:46.515Z Making the Grade: How High-Impact Tutoring Builds Student Success Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd07d7d8d5dabda395496d Patient-focused OB/GYN in Flagstaff named Northern Arizona Healthcare's physician of the year te 2026-04-13T15:12:23.104Z Patient-focused OB/GYN in Flagstaff named Northern Arizona Healthcare's physician of the year Dr. Lindy Vanlandingham is the Nate Avery Physician of the Year for 2026. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd07c3d8d5dabda395495f Public comment open until April 20 for the Rogers Lake County Natural Area Management Plan te 2026-04-13T15:12:03.256Z Public comment open until April 20 for the Rogers Lake County Natural Area Management Plan The updated plan addresses additional lands now being managed as part of the natural area. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd07afd8d5dabda3954956 City of Flagstaff set to begin construction on Montalvo STEM education center te 2026-04-13T15:11:43.436Z City of Flagstaff set to begin construction on Montalvo STEM education center Construction is anticipated to be completed by late 2026. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd079bd8d5dabda395494d Flagstaff Wool and Fiber Festival scheduled for June 6-7 te 2026-04-13T15:11:23.568Z Flagstaff Wool and Fiber Festival scheduled for June 6-7 The weekend will consist of live animal demonstrations, textile vendors, food and more. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0785d8d5dabda395492a Bodies of two iron workers recovered from rubble of Philadelphia parking garage 5 days after partial collapse te 2026-04-13T15:11:01.292Z Bodies of two iron workers recovered from rubble of Philadelphia parking garage 5 days after partial collapse The bodies of two iron workers have been recovered from the rubble of a Philadelphia parking garage that partially collapsed on Wednesday, city officials said Monday morning. The two men, and a third who was pulled from the rubble shortly after the collapse and later died of his injuries, were members of Iron Workers 401 union and Philadelphia and Construction Trades, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker told reporters at a news conference. "To the men and women of Local 401 and to every member of the Philadelphia Building Trades, let me say this: Philadelphia feels your pain, Philadelphia prays for you, and your city stands with you," Parker said. Officials have yet to release the identities of the three men to the public. MEDIEVAL TOWER'S COLLAPSE TRAPS MAN, LEADS TO 11-HOUR RESCUE MISSION WITH TRAGIC OUTCOME The parking garage near 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue in South Philadelphia was under construction at the time of the collapse.  Search and rescue teams pulled one man from the rubble at the time, though he died of his injuries at a hospital later that day. The two others initially remained missing. The search and rescue operation, however, turned into a recovery after search teams determined the two missing individuals had died. OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING AFTER DEADLY CRANE COLLAPSE IN COMMERCIAL AREA NORTH OF BOSTON Fire Commissioner Jeffery Thompson said the bodies of the two men were in a stairwell, which he described as a unique architectural feature of the garage. Technicians and other personnel used various tools to take apart piece by piece the area where the bodies were, using shovels, buckets and their own hands, Thompson said, adding that a human remains detection K-9 was also used to find the men. The chief said crews had to demolish what remained of the parking garage structure to make the site safe enough during the recovery operation. Parker said a medical examiner was working to determine the cause and manner of their deaths. The mayor also vowed to get to the bottom of what led to the partial collapse of the parking garage, saying there will be a full, comprehensive and independent investigation. "We should continue to keep the families and all of the loved ones in prayers," Parker said. "And we want God to bless the three souls and everyone who has been impacted by this tragedy." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd075cd8d5dabda395490f Swalwell’s Fall Punctuates Woes of Democrats in California, of All Places te 2026-04-13T15:10:20.721Z Swalwell’s Fall Punctuates Woes of Democrats in California, of All Places Democrats have struggled to find a candidate for governor who can capture the imagination of voters in one of their most important strongholds. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0530d8d5dabda39548ec Anti-abortion lawmakers seek to redefine ‘abortion’ to exclude medical treatment te 2026-04-13T15:01:04.099Z Anti-abortion lawmakers seek to redefine ‘abortion’ to exclude medical treatment South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden prepared to sign three anti-abortion bills into law last month in Sioux Falls. One of the laws redefines “abortion” so abortion ban penalties would not apply in cases where the death of an “unborn child” is the result of medical care provided to the pregnant woman. (Photo by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) Some anti-abortion state lawmakers are pushing to revise the definition of “abortion” so abortion bans don’t apply to cases in which the death of an “unborn child” is the result of medical care provided to the pregnant woman. In the four years since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to ban abortion, stories continue to emerge of women with doomed pregnancies who developed life-threatening infections, had to travel to another state, or even died because doctors were afraid to provide what was once considered standard pregnancy-loss care. Thirteen states have abortion bans, and all of them include a medical exception that allows abortions to protect the life of the pregnant woman. Some, but not all, of the bans also have exceptions to protect the health of the woman. But patients and providers have argued in lawsuits challenging the bans that such exceptions are too ill defined to give doctors and hospitals the confidence to provide timely care. As a result, they say, providers end up denying care until the woman’s condition deteriorates to a point where the exceptions definitely apply, jeopardizing her health and future fertility. Last year, states including Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee enacted laws designed to provide additional clarity. Confusion persists in those states and others, however, and research has linked abortion restrictions to higher rates of maternal death and injury. The latest measures, crafted and promoted by national anti-abortion groups, would redefine “abortion” as the intentional ending of the life of the “unborn child.” Supporters say they would clear the way for doctors to manage miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and other pregnancy-related emergencies. “No one wants a physician to hesitate or pause and further endanger the life of the mother,” said Ingrid Duran, director of state legislation for the National Right to Life Committee, which has advocated for all of the measures, in a written statement. “This is why providing clearer language in defining terms can be beneficial.” But reproductive rights advocates and many OB-GYNs say the real purpose of the bills is to fortify abortion bans that are broadly unpopular, even in states with full bans, and under legal challenge in multiple states. They argue the new measures are still too vague because they hang on the intentions of individual physicians, and many of the same procedures and medicines used in abortions are used to treat miscarriages. They also say the language in the bills could grant embryos legal rights, thereby making some fertility treatments illegal. “If you’re trying to define what is and is not an abortion, and you’re creating really specific, narrow guidelines, it could really unintentionally classify some pregnancy-related procedures as abortion care, and therefore within the law not medically necessary,” said Elias Schmidt, state legislative counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, an advocacy group. South Dakota is first In March, South Dakota became the first state to enact such a law. Its measure states that the state’s abortion ban only applies to “the intentional termination of the life of a human being in the uterus,” and not to medical treatment that results in “the accidental or unintentional death of the unborn child,” treatment to resolve a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, “the removal from the uterus of a deceased unborn child,” or a medical procedure that aims to save the fetus. To the concern of fertility-treatment advocates, the law also defines “human being” as “an individual living member of the species of Homo sapiens, including the unborn human being during the entire embryonic and fetal ages from fertilization to full gestation.” A similar bill introduced in Missouri defines abortion as “the act of using or prescribing any instrument, device, medicine, drug, or any other means or substance with the intent to destroy the life of an embryo or fetus in his or her mother’s womb.” It explicitly exempts miscarriage management and treatment for ectopic pregnancies from the definition. And a bill in Utah, where abortion is still legal up to 18 weeks’ gestation, would regulate how an abortion procedure is recorded in a patient’s chart, distinguishing between an elective abortion and a medically indicated abortion. It defines the latter as an abortion “to remove a deceased fetus,” resolve an ectopic pregnancy, or to avert the death or “serious physical risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function of a woman.” Wisconsin’s legislature recently voted not to advance a similar bill this past legislative session. Blame for the confusion Anti-abortion groups blame doctors and abortion-rights advocates for creating the confusion around the medical exceptions in abortion bans, insisting it is clear what is a medically indicated abortion and what is purely elective. “The fact that we’re in a place now that states actually have to define (abortion) is a result of my field, particularly (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) not clarifying it,” said Dr. Susan Bane, vice chair of the board of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which is made up of about 7,500 physicians and other medical professionals who oppose abortion. The organization has launched a medical education and messaging campaign arguing that abortion bans do not prevent necessary health care. According to Bane, the main difference between an induced abortion and medically indicated termination is that in the first case, “you want a dead baby at the end of whatever you do.” The author of the South Dakota law, Republican state Rep. Leslie Heinemann, said he sponsored the measure to quell some of the criticism that the medical exceptions in his state’s ban were ill defined. He admitted he underestimated how difficult it would be to codify in law when care for a miscarriage is necessary. “Even the medical community had trouble with helping define some of the issues,” he said. The version of the bill that became law names only a few conditions and leaves the rest up to the discretion of physicians, who must exercise “appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant female” to avoid felony charges. Heinemann insisted his measure would not restrict fertility treatments or birth control. But reproductive health and legal experts say that by defining the beginning of human life as “the entire embryonic and fetal ages from fertilization to full gestation,” it could have that effect. “Embedding personhood language into state laws does really bring up concern around contraceptive access and IVF access,” said Kimya Forouzan, principal state policy adviser for the Guttmacher Institute, a think tank that supports abortion rights. “As personhood provisions grow in the state code, it brings up the question: At what point are we granting the legal rights of a person and placing those rights above the individual themselves?” Dr. Amy Kelley, an OB-GYN in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who was the chair of the South Dakota chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists from 2023 to 2025, said lawmakers ignored her and other doctors’ concerns that the amended abortion ban is still too vague. “The whole point of medicine is to prevent people from becoming on the brink of death, right? So are they expecting us to wait until that?” Kelley said. “It’s still not very clear, and the definition for miscarriage and ectopic is also not the one we wanted. It’s just not helpful.” Kelley said that since her state enacted an abortion ban, she often waits longer to terminate a pregnancy for medical reasons, and will sometimes send patients out of state for care. She noted that the new law doesn’t explain what level of risk to the pregnant woman justifies terminating a pregnancy. “They want to say elective abortions are not allowed. But what do they consider elective?” she said. “Let’s say they have a heart condition and their risk of dying in pregnancy is 40%. Is that an elective abortion because their risk is not 100%?” 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/69dd051ad8d5dabda39548cb No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont shares early-onset Parkinson's diagnosis weeks before band's Sphere residency te 2026-04-13T15:00:42.684Z No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont shares early-onset Parkinson's diagnosis weeks before band's Sphere residency No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont has been diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease. On Saturday, the 58-year-old musician took to social media to give fans an update on his health less than a month before the highly anticipated No Doubt residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The last couple months, I'm getting ready for the No Doubt Sphere shows. It’s been very fun," Dumont said in the video posted to Instagram. "Looking through old footage and looking at old photographs and relearning old songs and rehearsing and creating all the video stuff for the screens at the Sphere. It’s kind of made me think about how grateful I am for the life I’ve gotten to lead, as a musician all these years." BILLY JOEL'S DAUGHTER OFFERS HEALTH UPDATE ON LEGENDARY SINGER AS HE BATTLES RARE BRAIN DISORDER "It’s thanks to our families and our friends and our listeners and you and everyone who’s come to our shows over the years, thank you," he continued. Dumont said that after experiencing various symptoms a number of years ago, he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease. "It’s been a struggle. It’s a struggle every day," Dumont admitted. "The good news is I can still play music, I can still play guitar. I’ve been doing really well." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I’ve just been very inspired by so many people who have come out to talk about their health issues on social media and that sort of thing," he explained. "I think it helps erase some of the stigma, and it raises awareness, obviously, and awareness is really important for prevention and for research." APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST "So, that's it. I'm really excited about the shows. I can't wait to see everybody," Dumont said. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Friends and fans quickly flooded the comment section with words of support. "My friend, bandmate, and hero……I love you brother," wrote No Doubt drummer Adrian Young. "Love you beyond words my friend. Can’t wait to get on stage with you again," bassist Tony Kanal added. "You are such a beautiful soul, Tom!! I love you so much and can’t wait get on stage with you!! LFG!!" Gabrial McNair, who has been performing with No Doubt since 1993, wrote. The Michael J. Fox Foundation's Instagram account also commented, writing, "Thank you for sharing your diagnosis publicly. We're sending you our support, and please know that you are not alone." Parkinson's disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages dopamine-producing neurons, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Symptoms include tremor, stiffness, slow movement and non-movement issues like depression or sleep issues. The band will kick off their Las Vegas residency next month, marking their first extended run in 14 years. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd02aed8d5dabda395484f Hack at Anodot leaves over a dozen breached companies facing extortion te 2026-04-13T14:50:22.001Z Hack at Anodot leaves over a dozen breached companies facing extortion The data breach at Anodot, which affects customers like Rockstar Games, is the latest hack aimed at stealing data from a large number of corporate giants. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd0081d8d5dabda3954839 Sedona Charter School students dig for dinos te 2026-04-13T14:41:05.240Z Sedona Charter School students dig for dinos Cardboard boxes with twine strings suspended in a grid on top were on four tables in Renee Miller and Carianna Liefland’s Upper Elementary classroom at Sedona Charter School on March 26. Students huddled around and reached in with small brushes to clear dirt from wooden replicas of dinosaur bones. A Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dd006ad8d5dabda3954814 From patio furniture to lawn equipment: Save up to 72% on outdoor deals te 2026-04-13T14:40:42.158Z From patio furniture to lawn equipment: Save up to 72% on outdoor deals Ready to get outside this spring? These outdoor deals help you upgrade your backyard or patio space for less. Save on grills, patio furniture, garden essentials and more, including over $300 off a grill and griddle combo and 72% off a three-person modular outdoor furniture set. You can even grab a smart bird feeder at 40% off. Prepare for grilling season with these deals on gas models, smokers and camping stoves. Coleman Triton 2-burner propane stove: $95.99 (26% off) Royal Gourmet offset smoker: $149.99 (25% off)  Royal Gourmet 24-inch charcoal grill: $139.99 (21% off) Traeger Grills Pro 22 pellet grill and smoker: $497.49 (10% off) Weber Spirit E-310 gas grill: $449 (10% off) Original price: $879.99 If you want to grill more than just meat, this option from Captiva Designs has a separate griddle side for everything from veggies to pancakes. Combined, there’s nearly 700 square inches of space across the grill and griddle. A deep front shelf holds barbecue sauce, tools and other supplies. READ MORE: We found the best grill deals for your summer cookout Original price: $279 Char-broil is a well-known brand, and its four-burner gas grill is a popular choice. With enough room to grill 25 hamburgers at once and a warming rack for sides, it handles backyard barbecues and weeknight meals with ease. A special sear burner gives you a steakhouse-quality finish. Original price: $999 Built to last, the Weber Genesis gas grill has flavorizer bars that trap juices, boosting the grill finish everyone loves. A warming rack toasts buns and keeps sides heated, while the side tables help you organize your grilling tools. Elevate your cooking with the brand’s other grates ranging from pizza stone to griddle.  These deals on modular outdoor furniture and dining sets upgrade your seating setup. Wicker furniture chairs with side table: $89.99 (25% off) 3-person steel swing: $329.99 (23% off)  Wicker and metal chaise lounge chair set: $319.20 (20% off)  Style Selections 4-piece patio conversation set: $498 (17% off) 7-piece rattan patio furniture set: $299.96 (12% off) READ MORE: Spring-ready outdoor furniture that can transform your deck and yard Original price: $1,142.82 Kick up your feet this spring with a three-person conversation set. The movable ottoman turns it into a sectional where you can lounge in the sun, and a glass coffee table provides a place for drinks and snacks. Made from weather-resistant wicker rattan, the whole setup can be left out in the rain. Save an impressive 72% — the biggest discount in this roundup. Original price: $269 At 59% off, these foldable Adirondack chairs won’t fade in the sun, can handle rain and create extra seating on your deck, patio or around the firepit. There are 14 colors to choose from, ranging from neutral black to bright orange. When you need to store them, just fold them in half for easy stacking.  Original price: $373.98 This four-person dining set is made from sturdy steel and breathable fabric that stays cool even on hot summer days. The slatted table top gives the essence of real wood, but is water-resistant and rustproof.  Original price: $99 Get 41% off this 108-inch umbrella and add some much-needed shade around your outdoor seating. It offers UPF protection and a tilt function for all-day coverage.   Warm weather is here — fix patchy grass and clear winter messes with these deals. Tietoc 6-inch mini electric chainsaw: $29.98 (40% off) Scotts Turf Builder grass seed sun and shade mix: $29.97 (34% off) 10-gallon grow bags, 5-pack: $17.99 (36% off) Worx corded electric lawn edger and trencher: $99.99 (23% off) DeWalt self-propelled mower: $899 (10% off) Original price: $44.99 Tackle unwanted growth with help from Grampa’s weeder. There’s no need to bend over — just place it over the weed, push down on the footpad, then tilt the handle towards it to pull the roots out. When you’re done, press the release lever and drop it into your waste pile. READ MORE: If winter wrecked your backyard, these spring deals can help — up to 39% off Original price: $349.99 Greenworks’ cordless mower is a no-maintenance option with a 40-minute runtime — enough to mow one-third of an acre. It’s lightweight enough for teens and elderly folks to use comfortably, with an ergonomic handle that helps reduce back discomfort. The five-position height control lets you easily adjust the cut to match your lawn.  Original price: $143.99 Save space with a five-tier vertical planter, while still growing veggies, herbs and flowers — now 59% off. Even those with frequent back and hip pain can garden comfortably with the lifted design, and the food-safe materials make it a smart choice for edible plants.  Feel safer and stay outside longer with these outdoor lighting deals. Clip-on deck lights, 16-pack: $29.99 (25% off) Solar rope lights: $9.48 (27% off) Solar garden lights, 4-pack: $23.73 (21% off) Solar pathway lights, 8-pack: $56.99 (10% off) 100-foot string lights: $30.59 (24% off) Original price: $29.99 A classic set of sturdy 50-foot string lights takes your patio from basic to a go-to backyard hangout. The shatterproof bulbs are compatible with a dimmer, so you can adjust the lighting for your family party or weekend gathering.  Original price: $189.99 For complete control over your lighting, these Govee string lights have 47 preset color modes. Use the Govee Home app or pair the lights with Alexa or Google Assistant to control them with your voice. Along with the smart features, the bulbs are shatterproof and waterproof for years of use.  Original price: $65.99 Attach these three motion sensor lights to your garage or home for an illuminated yard. They detect movement from 40 feet away and light up large spaces — improving your property’s security.  Save on smart bird feeders, garden flags and decorative torches. Dinosaur and gnome garden statue: $29.99 (40% off) Metal hanging bird feeder: $16.59 (28% off) Birdfy hummingbird feeder: $289.99 (17% off) Woodstock Chimes memorial chime: $97.20 (10% off) Garden bench: $129.99 (10% off) Original price: $249.99 Bird enthusiasts won’t be able to tear themselves away from this smart feeder. It shows stunning 4K livestreams of each visitor, identifying them for your records. Set real-time alerts and you’ll be notified the second one lands. READ MORE: 12 essentials every new birdwatcher should have Original price: $6.98 Show off your patriotism from every angle with this mini double-sided American flag. It stands out in your front yard or garden area and hangs on any standard flag pole. The thick stitching keeps it in place, even during windy weather. At just $5 right now, you can add a red, white and blue touch without overspending.  For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals Original price: $49.99 Decorate your yard and keep the bugs away with this four-pack of torches. Fill them with any natural citronella oil or tougher repellent fuel, and they light up your yard and help repel bugs. They’re built to handle rain and wind without bending or warping.  If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcfe11d8d5dabda39547c7 Bishop Barron says Trump ‘owes the pope an apology’ te 2026-04-13T14:30:41.945Z Bishop Barron says Trump ‘owes the pope an apology’ Bishop Robert Barron said Monday that President Donald Trump owes Pope Leo XIV an apology after Trump posted a 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." "I would warmly recommend that serious Catholics within the Trump administration — Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance, Ambassador Brian Burch, and others — might meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place," he continued. "This is far preferable to the statements on social media." "I am very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith," Barron added. "It has been a high honor to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty. All that said, I think the President owes the Pope an apology."  VATICAN DECLINES TO JOIN TRUMP’S GAZA ‘BOARD OF PEACE,’ CALLS FOR UN LEADERSHIP Barron’s response was to a Sunday Truth Social post from Trump where the president called Pope Leo out for his stance on foreign policy and the Iran war. "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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 went on to say that he likes Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's brother, more than the pope.  "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," the president wrote. "He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country." JD VANCE ADMITS HE SPOKE 'TOO HARSHLY' AGAINST US BISHOPS ON IMMIGRATION ISSUE Trump also defended himself, saying he is doing what he was elected to do.  "And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History," Trump said. "Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump." The president added, "If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested."  "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church! President DONALD J. TRUMP," Trump wrote.  POPE LEO PICKS NEW VATICAN AMBASSADOR TO US AS TRUMP TENSIONS MOUNT OVER POLICIES Pope Leo XIV told reporters on Monday that he is unafraid of Trump.  "I have no fear of the Trump administration," Pope Leo told reporters on the papal plane traveling to Algeria. Pope Leo added, "The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician."  Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment and was referred back to Trump’s Truth Social post. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcfbd3d8d5dabda3954798 DILLON & HITCHCOCK: Opt In Or Lose Big, Arizona te 2026-04-13T14:21:07.512Z DILLON & HITCHCOCK: Opt In Or Lose Big, Arizona By Kimmie Dillon & Sarah Hitchcock | Arizona is known as the national gold standard for education opportunity. With a decades long history of tax credit scholarships supporting families and the nation’s first education savings account (ESA) program, Arizona paved the way for other states to make bold education reforms. Senate Bill 1142, now on the governor’s desk, is the next iteration of such reforms. Arizona faces a choice: opt in to the federal education freedom tax credit (EFTC)—or lose big. Created by the Working Families Tax Cut Act, taxpayers can claim up to $1,700 in dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits for contributions to nonprofit Scholarship Granting Organizations, referred to as school tuition organizations (STOs) in Arizona. From there, STOs provide scholarships for numerous educational resources—including tuition, tutoring, and special education services—all designed to prioritize students.  And at what cost to state budgets? Absolutely none. Simply put, these private donations will have a tremendous impact for Arizona families. If Arizona rejects this opportunity, 177,000 scholarships may be lost over the next three years alone. That’s 177,000 kids who won’t receive the educational support they need. Access to the EFTC ensures that Arizona parents can continue tailoring education to the unique needs of each child. Importantly, Arizona taxpayers can donate to STOs regardless of their state’s opt in status. But states that decline to participate will effectively require residents to send donations across state-lines, instead of using funds to educate children in their home state. Arizona is positioned to immediately and uniquely benefit from the EFTC because of its mature network of STOs. These non-profits are well-established—ready to immediately process charitable donations without the ramp up period that may hinder less-prepared states. Where other states may spend the early years building up organizational capacity of the nonprofit sector, Arizona can spend them distributing scholarships. EFTC scholarships will be another avenue to fund the freedom for families who seek educational instruction alternatives. Denying families this simple yet effective tool will only hinder their ability to do what they need to for their child’s success. Research shows that choice benefits not only participating families, but traditional public school systems, too. A peer-reviewed study examined all 50 states and Washington, D.C., measuring access to private, charter, homeschool, and public school options. The findings were clear: states with higher levels of educational freedom consistently demonstrated higher student achievement. One of the biggest reasons families chose to privately educate their children is that they desire instruction aligned with their values; one school cannot meet the needs of all students. By providing an array of opportunities, families are free to choose what’s best for their child. Arizona now has an opportunity to provide an additional $983 million in funding over the next three years. Momentum is growing across the country with nearly 30 states opting in to the credit. A bipartisan coalition of governors and state legislators have embraced educational freedom, and now our state can supercharge education freedom for students and families. Opt in or lose big, Arizona. Kimmie Dillon serves as executive director of the America First Policy Institute’s Arizona state chapter. Sarah Hitchcock serves as director of the Education Freedom campaign at the America First Policy Institute. The post DILLON & HITCHCOCK: Opt In Or Lose Big, Arizona first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcfbbad8d5dabda3954772 Country star Ella Langley says 'very scary' Alabama church haunted house led to her getting 'saved again' te 2026-04-13T14:20:42.219Z Country star Ella Langley says 'very scary' Alabama church haunted house led to her getting 'saved again' Ella Langley is opening up about what it was like for her growing up in a small town as a Southern Baptist. During an interview on the "This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von" podcast, the 26-year-old country music star spoke about her upbringing in a small town in Alabama, recalling getting scared in the church's "judgment houses." "It's, like, they do it around Halloween," she said. "It's like a haunted house for Christians, I guess. Very scary. I remember our youth group took us. You get in there, and it's like this car crash scene, and it's pretty much like convincing you… that you could die the second you walk out of here, so you better settle up. You better get saved." She explained that the haunted houses "affected me so bad" that when they asked her youth group if anyone wanted to talk, she raised her hand and "got saved again." CARRIE UNDERWOOD WARNS HOLLYWOOD IS A 'SELF-SERVING BUSINESS,' CREDITS FAITH FOR KEEPING HER GROUNDED The "Excuse the Mess" singer recalled her dad telling her, "Well, you are kind of a dumba--, cuz that's the whole point of being saved." Langley explained that she was homeschooled for many years, and her life consisted of going to church, noting, "pretty much all we did was go to church." She noted it was a "really, really small church. It started in a barn. The house that I also grew up in, my dad grew up in, and there was an old barn across the street, and it started in hay bales on that barn, and then they moved it to a church, and I mean every Sunday and Wednesday until I was 18 years old." She compared growing up in a small town to her experience with fame, explaining, "You've known all these people your whole life," and growing up in that environment, "I would hear s--- about me all the time," adding, "you just get used to that." COUNTRY MUSIC STAR ELLA LANGLEY JOINS SYDNEY SWEENEY AS AMERICAN EAGLE'S NEW 'DENIM DARLING' Langley began her career on social media, gaining a following by posting covers on TikTok and Instagram, leading her to release her EP "Excuse the Mess" in 2023. The EP helped solidify her fan base and included many of her early hits, including "If You Have To" and "Country Boy's Dream Girl." She achieved mainstream success when she collaborated with Riley Green on her hit song "You Look Like You Love Me," which went viral on TikTok, got millions of streams on Spotify and Apple Music, and expanded her audience. Her debut studio album, "Hungover," was released in August 2024, and in April 2025, Langley was presented with the ACM New Female Artist of the Year award by country icon Miranda Lambert, who has become a good friend to the budding star. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I was singing constantly as a kid. Like I said, I've known my whole life what I wanted to do, so I was always doing it," she told Grammy.com in August 2024, adding she became a stronger songwriter during COVID, saying, "all I did was write, write, write." The "Choosin' Texas" singer told the outlet that storytelling is in her blood, noting, her "dad's an incredible storyteller" and so was her grandpa. "Storytelling is what my family did," she said. When speaking with Theo Von on the podcast, she credited her grandparents on her father's side for nurturing her love of music, saying her "grandpa could play anything by ear." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I was, like, the first girl in the family, and I started to match pitch with [my grandma] as a baby, and so she figured out I could sing, and singing was her thing, and my grandpa could, like I said, play any instrument by ear, and so at their house, that's all we did," she said "I sang at church a lot. I learned how to read from singing hymnals," she added. "I really, just the whole time, like, my whole family, we all just were like, 'this is what she's gonna do.'" Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcf71ed8d5dabda3954691 Trump warns China of 'staggering' 50% tariff if caught supplying military aid to Iran te 2026-04-13T14:01:02.796Z Trump warns China of 'staggering' 50% tariff if caught supplying military aid to Iran President Donald Trump warned China could face "staggering" new tariffs if caught supplying military aid to Iran, escalating tensions as the U.S. prepares to squeeze the regime with a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. "Maybe they [provided military aid to Iran] a little bit at the beginning, but I don't think they would anymore, no," Trump said in an exclusive "Sunday Morning Futures" interview. "But if we catch them doing that, they get a 50% tariff, which is a staggering amount." House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., warned that China risks serious economic consequences should it wade too far into the conflict, arguing Beijing "has an interest not to tick off" Trump. TRUMP ORDERS A BLOCKADE IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS TENSIONS WITH IRAN SOAR "I suspect if they do, he's not going to be like Obama and draw a line in the sand that they continuously walk over. He will impose that, and it's going to hurt," he told "The Big Weekend Show" on Sunday. Burchett also defended the administration’s broader pressure campaign, saying economic and military moves are necessary to counter adversaries like Iran and deter further escalation in the region. "He uses diplomacy very well. It may be at the end of his fist, but he does, and by sending JD Vance, I think he showed the seriousness of this country," he said, referring to attempts to broker a peace deal with the regime over the weekend. TRUMP’S APOCALYPTIC IRAN WARNING RAISES STAKES FOR SWEEPING US STRIKE THREAT He added, "These people [the Iranian regime] are demonic, and you've got to realize that's what they're dealing with... the only thing they understand is total destruction, and they want Armageddon... Trump was right to go in and try to stop their nuclear abilities, because that's exactly what they want to do. As soon as they get the ability, they will launch a missile against Israel. They will cause World War III. Trump is preventing that, and the price of gas is the cost we're having to pay right now, unfortunately." The president and his broader administration made moves in the foreign policy sphere over the weekend, with the vice president and other U.S. negotiators meeting with Iranian and Pakistani delegations for marathon ceasefire talks in Islamabad on Saturday. After those talks failed, Trump announced a sweeping "all in, all out" blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, slated to take effect early Monday. "We're not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don't like... It's going to be all or none and that's the way it is," Trump told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo. "You saw what we did with Venezuela. It'll be something very similar to that but at a higher level." Fox News' Greg Norman-Diamond, Michael Sinkewicz, Morgan Phillips, Preston Mizell, Robert McGreevy and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcf70bd8d5dabda3954688 Aaron Judge calls out Yankees' offensive struggles after getting swept te 2026-04-13T14:00:43.112Z Aaron Judge calls out Yankees' offensive struggles after getting swept The New York Yankees started the 2026 season hot, winning their first eight out of 10 games, but since last Tuesday, the bats have gone ice-cold. The Yankees lost a series to the Athletics and then were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a series over the weekend. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Aaron Judge put the team’s offensive struggles on notice after a 5-4 loss on Sunday. "We need to simplify some things at the plate," Judge told reporters via MLB.com. "We’re trying to hit every single pitch we see up there and getting ourselves in some bad counts and bad situations. As a group, if we simplify our approach a little bit, hunt the pitch that we’re looking for and pass the baton, I think we’ll be in a better spot." Judge has also been lethargic at the plate as he’s coming off three American League MVP awards in the last four seasons and some time with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. CODY BELLINGER’S ACROBATIC CATCH STUNS FANS AS YANKEES WIN HOME OPENER OVER MARLINS Through 15 games, Judge is only hitting .218 with four home runs, nine RBI and a double. He was 2-for-10 against the Rays, despite a two-run homer on Sunday. It was the Rays’ first three-game sweep of the Yankees since 2021. "We didn’t get a lot of traffic when we needed to in this series," Judge added. "We had one hit for the majority of the game, and a couple of these games. I think if guys take their walks when they need to and focus on a pitch they can drive, we’ll be in a better spot." New York is now 8-7 this season and in a three-way tie for the American League East division lead. The Yankees return home Monday for a seven-game home stand. The team will welcome the Los Angeles Angels for four games and then turn their attention to the Kansas City Royals. 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/69dcf49dd8d5dabda3954629 The Next Test in the Iran War: Which Side Can Endure More Economic Pain? te 2026-04-13T13:50:21.916Z The Next Test in the Iran War: Which Side Can Endure More Economic Pain? President Trump is trying to choke off the country’s lifeline with a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. But the Iranians are betting that his tolerance for political pain is limited. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcf029d8d5dabda39545b8 Lawmakers put expulsion threats atop House agenda as return sets up high-stakes week te 2026-04-13T13:31:21.159Z Lawmakers put expulsion threats atop House agenda as return sets up high-stakes week The push to forcibly remove multiple scandal-ridden members of Congress is picking up steam with several potential expulsion votes on deck this week. Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, are expected to face an immediate expulsion threat when the House returns from a two-week recess on Tuesday.  Swalwell, who dropped out of California’s 2026 gubernatorial race Sunday, is facing multiple sexual assault and misconduct allegations, including at least one involving a former staffer. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has also opened a criminal investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred in New York City. Swalwell has repeatedly characterized the allegations as "false," though he acknowledged a lack of judgment on Sunday. He has pledged to vigorously defend himself. TWO DEMOCRATIC REPS CALL FOR SWALWELL TO EXIT CONGRESS AS CONTROVERSY SWIRLS AROUND HIS BID FOR CA GOVERNOR Gonzales, who has admitted to having an affair with a staff member who later died by setting herself on fire, dropped his re-election bid in March after House GOP leadership called on him to suspend his campaign. He is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said over the weekend that she would introduce a resolution to expel Swalwell from the chamber if he does not resign. Meanwhile, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., is vowing to draft a measure that would expel Gonzales. The female lawmakers have said they support expelling both men from the House of Representatives. A growing share of lawmakers in both parties appear to share that view. "That vote comes to the floor, I will be voting yes on both measures," Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said on NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "These allegations are despicable and they demean the integrity of Congress. These things are just completely unacceptable. And as far as I’m concerned, both gentlemen need to go home." "I think that this is very important that we believe women and that we show people across the Capitol and across the country that we will not accept this kind of behavior," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., also said. PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: 'INDEFENSIBLE' Expelling a member of Congress is an incredibly high bar, and it is currently unclear whether both expulsion resolutions can obtain the two-thirds majority required to pass. To be successful, a significant portion of lawmakers will have to vote in favor of removing a member of their own party. Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who was removed from the House in 2023, is the most recent member to be expelled. President Donald Trump pardoned Santos in 2025 after he was convicted of wire fraud and identity theft and sentenced to more than seven years in prison. Both House Republican and Democratic leadership have yet to comment on rank-and-file efforts to expel Swalwell and Gonzales. Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Cory Mills, R-Fla., could also become potential targets of expulsion resolutions, though just a handful of members have thus far signaled they would support the removal of the lawmaker from their own party. "They should resign IMMEDIATELY. If they don’t, we should expel all of them," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on social media Sunday, referring to Swalwell and Gonzales, too.  Cherfilus-McCormick is facing more than five decades in prison after allegedly funneling more than $5 million in disaster relief money to fund her congressional campaign and personal lifestyle. A House Ethics adjudicatory subcommittee in March found her guilty of more than two dozen violations as part of an investigation separate from the federal criminal indictment. The panel is expected to formally recommend its suggested punishment later this month, which could be as severe as expulsion.  House Democratic leadership has indicated they will withhold judgment on Cherfilus-McCormick until the ethics panel announces its decision. Mills, a former Army combat veteran, has faced myriad controversies, including allegedly misrepresenting his military service, domestic violence and threatening to release sexually explicit photos of a former girlfriend, and abusing his committee assignments to benefit defense contracting firms he owns. He is also the target of a House Ethics Committee investigation. Both lawmakers have denied any wrongdoing and are running for re-election. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcf015d8d5dabda39545af The simple tax habit that could save you thousands over your lifetime te 2026-04-13T13:31:01.561Z The simple tax habit that could save you thousands over your lifetime It’s April 13, and if you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you’re not alone — but waiting until the last minute could be one of the most expensive financial habits you have. The difference comes down to timing. Early filers tend to receive refunds weeks sooner and are less likely to rush into errors or miss out on credits. That extra time — and cash — can be used to pay off bills, build savings or earn returns, creating small financial gains that add up significantly over the course of a lifetime. "I would simply say your tax return is your single largest financial transaction each year, and you'll be developing it for the next 30, 40, 50 and in some cases 60 or more years," Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, told Fox News Digital. TAX DAY IS THIS WEEK: AVOID THESE 5 COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN COST YOU MONEY "It's probably a good idea to start to develop some best practices, one of which is not to wait to the last minute to start trying to do your tax return," he added. Filing early won’t change how much you owe, but it can shape what you do with your money next. Getting a refund sooner gives taxpayers more time to pay down high-interest debt, build emergency savings or invest — moves that can compound over time. AVERAGE TAX REFUND TOPS $3,700, TREASURY SAYS, TOUTING NEW TRUMP TAX BREAKS The IRS issues more than 100 million refunds each year, totaling over $400 billion, underscoring how significant that money can be — and how much timing matters for those who receive it. It can be even more important for those who owe money to the IRS. "If you're gonna owe, you should have found that out several months ago, so you can start allocating money aside, and you won't run the risk of refund shock or disappointment or balance due trauma," Steber said. Filing early can also help protect taxpayers from fraud. Once a return is submitted, it becomes much harder for identity thieves to file a fraudulent return in someone else’s name. "You file early you get your money early, but more important than getting your refund early. You lock up your data, you lock up your personal information with the IRS and your state. That protects you from ID thieves, from refund thieves and a whole lot of other bad things that creep into the system," Steber added. Last-minute filers are also more likely to rush, increasing the chances of errors or missed deductions and credits — mistakes that can directly reduce a refund or increase what’s owed. "Give some attention to your tax return each and every year. Can't really do it this year at the last hour, but some best practices will save you money, lower your stress and put more tax refund dollars in your pocket over time," Steber said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcefecd8d5dabda395458c Slate Auto raises $650M to fund its affordable EV truck plans te 2026-04-13T13:30:20.744Z Slate Auto raises $650M to fund its affordable EV truck plans Slate Auto's latest funding round was led by existing investor TWG Global, a firm run by LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcedaad8d5dabda3954551 Kate Hudson says raising fame-obsessed kids would make her a ‘failure’ as a mom te 2026-04-13T13:20:42.063Z Kate Hudson says raising fame-obsessed kids would make her a ‘failure’ as a mom "Running Point" star Kate Hudson says raising fame-obsessed kids would make her a "failure" as a mom. Hudson beamed about her three children and the values she has instilled in them as they get older, while speaking with Fox News Digital about Netflix's "Running Point" collaboration with State Farm and the upcoming second season. "Well, my thing is, if my kids drive or purpose is for fame and success, then it's something that would feel like a failure of mine," the star began. "If that is how they equate feeling significant, then, you know, they're being fed a lie." Instead, Hudson has tried to teach her kids, Ryder, Bingham and Rani, to find what really drives their purpose and to stay true to their values. KATE HUDSON, DAUGHTER OF GOLDIE HAWN AND KURT RUSSELL, ON NEPOTISM IN HOLLYWOOD: 'IT DOESN'T MATTER' "So, for me, the most important thing for me with my kids is that they feel self-possessed, that they understand what really drives purpose, and what does a purposeful life look like for them, and where do they hold their values, right? What are those values and why? "And if you value fame and success, we'd probably have a big sit down," Hudson said. WATCH: ‘RUNNING POINT’ STAR KATE HUDSON SAYS CHASING FAME WOULD MAKE HER A ‘FAILURE’ AS A MOM Hudson has three children: Ryder, who she shares with Chris Robinson; Bingham, who she shares with Matt Bellamy; and Rani Rose, who she shares with Danny Fujikawa. Hudson noted that if her kids believed that fame and success equaled opportunity that she would understand the desire. "But the reality is that those things don't constitute or create a really fulfilling life. What does is that the work that they're doing is bringing them hopefully purpose and community purpose," she said. Ahead of the release of the second season of "Running Point," Hudson shared that her work ethic has been instilled in her since she was a child. "I think work ethic is something that I grew up with. I'm a worker bee. I work really hard, and I think that my thing with my kids is you just have to keep chipping away at the things that you love, and you have to show a really strong work ethic and get devoted to the things you love," Hudson said. "And keep working at it because everybody recognizes a hard worker and kindness. I mean that's success, right?" CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Hudson plays Isla Gordon in "Running Point" -- a reformed party girl who proves herself to be a businesswoman after she's unexpectedly put in charge of her family's professional basketball team. Hudson told Fox News Digital that she's 50-50 when relating to Isla's ambition and drive. WATCH: KATE HUDSON SHARES WHAT WILL TAKE YOU THE FARTHEST IN LIFE "I do in the sense that I do everything with my whole, with everything, you know. When I put my mind to something, I roll my sleeves up, I want to get it done, and I want to do it right. I think Isla really wants to get it right, but her drive and her ambition comes from a more, I think, a place where she loves what she does, which I can relate to, but there's also a dysfunctional side of it, which is what makes the comedy so fun," Hudson began. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "But I wouldn't say that I have calculated ambition. I love the arts and I wanna tell good stories and I want to do things that move me and that feel like I can do and that could be a great thing to be able to do if I get that opportunity," she continued. "But I don't have this like, driving ambition to win, and Isla does." "Running Point" teamed up with State Farm for their first-ever partnership with Netflix. In the cameo, Hudson's Isla Gordon and Chet Hanks' Travis Bugg are seen with Jake from State Farm. Hudson told Fox News Digital that once Jake from State Farm came on set, he was the most famous person there. WATCH: KATE HUDSON TALKS STATE FARM COLLABORATION WITH ‘RUNNING POINT’ "Jake from State Farm was like the most famous guy on the set. Everybody was all freaking out that Jake from State Farm was there. It was like, you had Ray Romano here and then Jake from State Farm and everybody was like, 'Is that Jake from State Farm?'" Hudson said, adding that it was an exciting day filming with the face of the brand. "Running Point" season two premieres on Netflix on April 23. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dceb51d8d5dabda3954505 AI tax filing sounds easy — until it leaves you owing the IRS thousands of dollars te 2026-04-13T13:10:41.888Z AI tax filing sounds easy — until it leaves you owing the IRS thousands of dollars Using AI to file your taxes might feel like a smart shortcut. It isn’t.  With the April 15 deadline approaching, millions of Americans are looking for ways to make tax season less painful, and some AI CEOs are promoting their tools as a helpful solution.  AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude and Grok, explain tax rules, flag deductions, and even help assemble a tax return in mere minutes. These tools are seductive, given how frustrating the endless stacks of IRS forms can be.  HOW TO OPT OUT OF AI DATA COLLECTION IN POPULAR APPS But don't be fooled: doing your taxes with AI puts you at serious financial risk. That is why the IRS is currently cautioning taxpayers against it for this purpose. AI is genuinely useful for helping people understand the taxation process. Ask an AI chatbot to explain the difference between a credit and a deduction and it will usually give you a clear answer. Ask it to summarize a rule and it can save you time.   But filing a tax return is not just about sounding informed. It’s about making sure all the information you input is correct.  AI tools might give you useful "suggestions" or even craft certain forms for you. However, have they done it competently and in accordance with the law? This is where things get tricky. AI tools must always be used with a strong degree of expert oversight, and unless you are a tax expert, you are at risk of making incorrect or even fraudulent filings. Using AI for tax preparation fails across all five core principles of the TRACE framework for safe AI use: task exposure (mistakes can have serious consequences), response tolerance (tax filing requires precision, not "good enough" answers), audit feasibility (most users lack the expertise to verify outputs), confabulation risk (AI can generate incorrect information), and environmental sensitivity (sensitive financial data may be exposed). Consumer AI tools are not built to guarantee accuracy. They generate answers that read well and sound convincing, but that’s very different from applying a complex tax code correctly, line by line, based on individual circumstances.  A recent study showed how wide that gap can be. When tested on standard tax scenarios, leading AI systems routinely made big mistakes — misapplying thresholds, miscalculating liabilities, and incorrectly determining eligibility for common credits that millions of taxpayers depend on and claim for themselves every year.  TAX SEASON SCAMS 2026: FAKE IRS MESSAGES STEALING IDENTITIES According to the study, "Our experiment shows that state-of-the-art models succeed in calculating less than a third of federal income tax returns even on this simplified sample set." Would you trust an accountant who had a 30 percent chance of filing your tax return correctly?  Often the tax errors made by AI aren't small. Another study found AI turning in results that were off by thousands of dollars. Again, would you ever tolerate that from an accountant?  The danger isn’t just that AI gets things wrong. It’s that it gets things wrong with confidence. A chatbot doesn’t hesitate or flag uncertainty. It delivers a polished answer that feels authoritative, even when it’s incorrect. That creates a false sense of security at exactly the moment when precision matters most.   Unlike a tax professional, an AI doesn’t bear any responsibility if you get penalized by the IRS. It’s very likely you’ll incur steep penalties if your taxes are inaccurate — and claiming "the robot ate my homework" is no excuse. Moreover, even if you are lucky enough to not be caught by IRS this time around, remember that later years’ tax preparation uses previous years’ as a blueprint, and so these error can propagate into the future.  There's also the matter of what you're revealing to the AI. To get meaningful tax help from an AI tool, you’re often prompted to share highly sensitive personal and financial data — income details, household information, addresses, and sometimes full tax documents. That’s the same information experts constantly warn people to protect so their identities aren’t stolen. TAX SEASON SCAMS SURGE AS FILING CONFUSION GROWS Once that data is entered, most users have no idea how it’s handled. How long is it stored? Who can access it? Could it be used to improve future systems? The answers are not always clear and the level of transparency varies across platforms.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Even advocates of AI tools, such as the general counsel for Elon Musk’s xAI (which produces Grok), tend to warn users to check the results for themselves.   You should treat AI like a translator, not a decision-maker. Let it help you understand terminology, prepare questions, and do research. But when it comes to actually filing your taxes, the tools and professionals are there for a reason. The appeal of handing your taxes to a chatbot is obvious, but when the margin for error is measured in large dollar sums, fast doesn’t mean correct.  AI can make tax season easier. Just don’t expect it to do everything for you. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dce922d8d5dabda39544a9 Trump congratulates Rory McIlroy on back-to-back Masters wins: 'Becoming more and more a legend' te 2026-04-13T13:01:22.251Z Trump congratulates Rory McIlroy on back-to-back Masters wins: 'Becoming more and more a legend' President Donald Trump praised Rory McIlroy after his latest Masters triumph on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club. McIlroy became the fourth golfer in history to earn back-to-back green jackets, edging the field by just one shot. "Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another Great Championship, The Masters! He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing. With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a LEGEND!" Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social during his return to Washington from Florida on Sunday evening. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Trump then pointed to McIlroy’s next stop, saying he’s eager to see him compete at Doral in Florida. "I look forward to watching him compete in two weeks at Doral. The quality of Professional Golfers today has become extraordinary, each and every one of them. They should all be proud of the way they played at The Masters this weekend!" RORY MCILROY REPEATS AS MASTERS CHAMPION, JOINS RARE COMPANY AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL Trump was on hand when McIlroy appeared at the 2016 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral Blue Monster Course in Doral. Trump also reflected on McIlroy’s career Grand Slam last year, saying the Northern Irishman showed "tremendous courage." "I have to congratulate Rory, he showed tremendous courage," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One in April 2025. "He was having a hard time, but he showed great guts, stamina and courage. People have no idea how tough that is... and (he) came back." After tying at 11-under par with Justin Rose, McIlroy entered a playoff to decide the green jacket. He ultimately outlasted Rose to win the 89th Masters, bringing an 11-year pursuit of the career milestone to a conclusion. But McIlroy’s victory Sunday also featured plenty of drama, as he edged two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler by one stroke to avoid another playoff. Tiger Woods was the last to accomplish the rare feat of back-to-back Masters victories, when he was a repeat winner in 2001 and 2002. McIlroy now joins a short list that includes Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo. McIlroy held a Masters-record six-shot lead after 36 holes, but an early stumble Sunday dropped him into a tie for fourth before he regained control and powered his way to the top of the leaderboard. McIlroy's first place finish earned him $4.5 million from the $22.5 million purse. Trump has been an avid golfer for decades and has owned more than a dozen golf courses across multiple countries. PGA Tour tournaments and LIV Golf events have been held at Trump-owned courses over the years. McIlroy and Trump have spent time on the course together, with the six-time major winner telling The Irish Times in 2025 that he played a round with the then-president-elect ahead of the inauguration. He also said Trump "loves golf." McIlroy could return in just over two weeks at the 2026 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, which returns to Doral on April 29. 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/69dce90ed8d5dabda39544a0 Two arrested in possible shooting near OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home te 2026-04-13T13:01:02.321Z Two arrested in possible shooting near OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home Two arrests have been made after a possible gunshot was fired near the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman early Sunday, just two days after a man allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at his residence. Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23, were arrested and charged with negligent discharge in connection with "possible shots" being fired in the Russian Hill neighborhood, the San Francisco Police Department said. Police did not name Altman or identify the residence as belonging to Altman in its press release. An OpenAI spokesperson told Fox News Digital Monday morning that the incident was unrelated and had no connection to Altman, adding that there was no indication that Altman's home was being targeted. The San Francisco Standard first reported that two suspects in a Honda sedan had stopped near Altman’s property at 1:40 a.m. Sunday and fired a shot from the car’s passenger window. OPENAI CEO SAM ALTMAN'S HOME TARGETED IN MOLOTOV COCKTAIL ATTACK; MAN ARRESTED: POLICE Security personnel at the compound reported hearing a gunshot before the vehicle sped away, though the car’s license plate was caught on surveillance footage, the outlet reported, citing a police report. Detectives determined the car belonged to Tom, which led officers to a home in San Francisco, police said. Tom and Hussein were found at the home, where they were arrested without incident. Officers also seized three firearms found inside the home. "The SFPD takes crimes involving guns extremely seriously, and anyone committing acts like these will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew. "I want to thank our officers whose swift actions identified these suspects, took them into custody, and got dangerous weapons off our streets." OPENAI DIDN'T CONTACT POLICE DESPITE EMPLOYEES FLAGGING MASS SHOOTER'S CONCERNING CHATBOT INTERACTIONS: REPORT The incident comes after a 20-year-old man allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home and threatened OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco on Friday, the company confirmed at the time. Officers arrested the man, who allegedly threatened to burn down the building, and recognized him as the same suspect in the Molotov cocktail incident, police said. Police did not immediately identify the suspect, though the Standard and local news outlet KNTV reported his name as Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama. Reports indicate he was charged with attempted murder, arson, criminal threats, two counts of possession of an incendiary device and two counts of possessing a destructive device. No injuries were reported in either incident. Police have yet to release a possible motive for the alleged attack on Friday. The Molotov cocktail attack came days after the New Yorker published an in-depth investigation that touched on concerns some people have about Altman and the company. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dce8fad8d5dabda3954497 Issa Rae says DEI has become a 'bad word' in Hollywood as executives of color 'tiptoe' to keep jobs te 2026-04-13T13:00:42.829Z Issa Rae says DEI has become a 'bad word' in Hollywood as executives of color 'tiptoe' to keep jobs Actress Issa Rae said Thursday that she believes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has become a toxic topic for the entertainment industry. "I’m seeing it," the "Insecure" actress said while participating in TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit. "Just blatantly. People are scared and just not necessarily investing the same way that they would have before. Even executives who, you know, are of color are also like tiptoeing like, 'Well, I can't co-sign you because I'm going to lose my job.' And that's scary to see and sad to see because it's kind of like a bad word now."  "We all know that, typically, when we're talking about diversity, equity [and] inclusion, it is about giving people opportunities that would otherwise not have them as opposed to pity hires and pity shows and the like," she continued. "It's changed meanings and has become a bad word, but it hasn't affected what we do and who I create for and what our company creates for and who we prioritize. And it never will." HOLLYWOOD'S 'PROGRESSIVE SNOWFLAKE ERA' IS OVER WITH SHOWS NOW 'HOT, HORNY AND WHITE,' NYT GUEST ESSAY SAYS Rae was asked about Hollywood and other major industries rolling back DEI initiatives since President Donald Trump took office again in 2025. As a series creator herself, Rae admitted that people have to be "smarter" about how they package diverse projects. "Like, ‘It’s not a show about a Black woman, it’s a show about class,'" Rae said. "As icky as that might feel, it gets the show sold. You know, a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down." Rae claimed that minorities were "back to limited representation" in entertainment that she hasn't seen since beginning her YouTube series "Awkward Black Girl" in 2011. BILL MAHER, TIM ALLEN CRITICIZE DEI PRACTICES HAMPERING CREATIVE PROCESS, SAY SITCOMS JUST 'GOT TO BE FUNNY' "I started ‘Awkward Black Girl’ because there was a dearth of representation in the industry, and it felt like this was my opportunity to put an archetype into the space that didn’t exist at the time," she said. "And now, even after so much progress, we’re kind of back to limited representation and having to stake claim of our stories. We’re back where we started, in a way, but wiser." Rae has pushed politics and representation in the past. In 2025, she canceled a sold-out show at the Kennedy Center after Trump was named chairman of the center. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE "Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I've decided to cancel my appearance at this venue," Rae wrote on Instagram. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dce6a3d8d5dabda395444b Giannis Antetokounmpo calls sidelining 'disrespectful' as Bucks' season comes to end te 2026-04-13T12:50:43.768Z Giannis Antetokounmpo calls sidelining 'disrespectful' as Bucks' season comes to end Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo remained peeved with the organization for keeping him sidelined when he feels like he could have played in the final days of the season. Antetokounmpo has had a roller coaster time with the Bucks over the last two seasons due to trade rumors and how the team has managed him with injury concerns. The Bucks have said that he was still not cleared to play after he suffered a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise when he landed awkwardly on a dunk on March 15. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He hasn’t played since then and Milwaukee went 4-11 with him on the bench, including the season-ending loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. "Being cleared to play, I don’t understand. I’ve never in my life denied participation in practice," Antetokounmpo said. "Whoever came up with that is disrespectful towards what I’ve done for this team and the way I carry myself. "I did what I was supposed to do. I wasn’t able to come on the court now. Who has that say? It comes from above. I thought I had control. OK, if I’m healthy, I’m going to play. This just shows me that not just me, players in general, don’t have no control. No, I didn’t feel like I had control." Antetokounmpo was seen warming up with no signs of injury. "It was draining for me, for sure," Antetokounmpo said. "If it was draining for me, it was definitely draining for me and the organization." BUCKS PART WAYS WITH DOC RIVERS AFTER NBA PLAYOFF MISS: REPORT The Bucks could look to trade Antetokounmpo in the offseason, or he could possibly sign a four-year, $275 million extension in October. Still, Antetokounmpo said he hasn’t formally been offered an extension and that it was still too far away for him to think about. "That’s too far away. It’s something I have to sit down with my family and see what’s best for me, what’s best for my family," Antetokounmpo said. "Money doesn’t mean nothing to me. Zero. Absolutely zero. What means something to me, it’s winning." Antetokounmpo was the centerpiece of the team’s 2021 championship and has won the NBA MVP award twice. Should he stay with the Bucks for the 2026-27 season and beyond, the team could look drastically different. Doc Rivers is not expected back with the Bucks next season. Several players have options to exercise for next year, while others are eligible for an extension. Milwaukee will have numerous decisions to make this summer. 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/69dcdf84d8d5dabda395431c Roblox introduces ‘Kids’ and ‘Select’ accounts for age-appropriate access to games and chat te 2026-04-13T12:20:20.688Z Roblox introduces ‘Kids’ and ‘Select’ accounts for age-appropriate access to games and chat Users aged five to nine will be assigned to a "Roblox Kids" account, and users aged nine to 15 to will be put in a "Roblox Select" account. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcdd6bd8d5dabda39542e3 Ex-NFL first-round pick suffers season-ending knee injury while attempting pro comeback in arena league te 2026-04-13T12:11:23.063Z Ex-NFL first-round pick suffers season-ending knee injury while attempting pro comeback in arena league The Denver Broncos took a flyer on quarterback Paxton Lynch during the 2016 NFL Draft, selecting him in the first round that year in one of the event’s biggest shockers. However, the former Memphis Tigers standout would only play five NFL games before he bounced around the league from practice squad to practice squad. He was last seen on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster in 2020. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Lynch was attempting to find a route back into the NFL and landed with the Colorado Spartans of the National Arena League before the 2026 season. He was in his third game with the Spartans when he suffered a torn LCL. "I was p---ed off," he told The Denver Post. "And it sucks. I didn’t want it to be like this." Lynch appeared to take solace in being able to play again – even if it was in an indoor football league. He suggested he was up for the challenge. PROJECTED TOP 10 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT WAS DRIVER IN 2024 DEADLY CRASH "I was like, ‘OK, if I play this year in arena football, I’m going to play as Paxton Lynch. I’m going to have full confidence in myself. I don’t really care.’ And that’s what I did," he told the paper. "It felt good to do that again." He had three touchdown passes in three games with Colorado. Javin Kilgo replaced him at quarterback. Through five games, Colorado is 2-3. Lynch told The Denver Post he wasn’t sure if he would play in 2027, but if the National Arena League is where his career ended, he said he was just fine with that. 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/69dcdd57d8d5dabda39542da Discovery at Monticello reveals construction secrets Thomas Jefferson left out of maps and letters te 2026-04-13T12:11:03.403Z Discovery at Monticello reveals construction secrets Thomas Jefferson left out of maps and letters Archaeologists have uncovered a previously unknown remnant of Thomas Jefferson's era at Monticello: a brick kiln used to build his home. The kiln was recently found on the east side of the Founding Father's home amid an excavation that began in March, officials said. Monticello historians believe it dates back to the early 1770s — some time before Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776. MASSIVE INDUSTRIAL SITE UNCOVERED IN UNLIKELY LOCATION AS ARCHAEOLOGISTS CITE 'ENORMOUS' POTENTIAL It was part of the construction of Monticello I, the first version of Jefferson's home.  The current structure reflects a later rebuild and expansion completed after his time in France, after 1789.  Photos from the site show researchers working around a rectangular dig at Monticello, exposing evenly spaced brick channels and revealing several bricks stamped with initials. The kiln was a large, temporary oven used to harden bricks, said Crystal O'Connor, manager of archaeological field research at Monticello. LEGENDARY CAPTAIN WHO INSPIRED 'THE THREE MUSKETEERS' MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND UNDER CHURCH ALTAR O’Connor told Fox News Digital that archaeologists found brick channels "filled with overcooked brick rubble, and the soil beneath them had been baked hard by intense heat." Archaeologists "immediately started hitting brick, and uncovered a series of low parallel brick walls, evenly spaced about a foot and a half apart, with channels running between them," she said. "While the team and I weren’t sure of what we were looking at initially, that pattern is a telltale sign of a brick kiln," O'Connor added. Workers once stacked thousands of unfired bricks atop the kiln and kept fires burning for several days until the bricks, eventually used to build Monticello, hardened. "When the firing was done, workers took the kiln apart and carried the finished bricks to the house," said O'Connor. She added, "This kiln was crucial to building the home of the author of the Declaration of Independence." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ O'Connor noted that it was likely run by George Dudley or William Bishop, two White workmen who were hired by Jefferson — and that it relied heavily on slave labor. Though Jefferson wasn't making the bricks by hand, the Virginia statesman was certainly aware of the kiln's existence. "Jefferson knew about this work because he contracted with his brickmakers for a set number of bricks before each major building campaign," O'Connor said. "He would not have overseen the firings himself. Dudley or Bishop would have managed that process." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER O'Connor said records show Jefferson calculated whether hauling finished bricks uphill or producing them on site was more efficient in late 1774. "We wonder if the brickmakers themselves pointed out the problem of dragging barrels of water and loads of firewood uphill, and if that helped push Jefferson to do the math and move the work downhill, closer to the raw materials," she added. O'Connor noted that "very few" artifacts were found at the site, other than bricks — but 18th-century remnants were interesting nonetheless. These included "several bricks shaped in special molds to match the design of the house." CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES "These are decorative bricks with curved and S-shaped profiles," said O'Connor. "Jefferson used them in the exterior brickwork of the dining room wall, which dates to around 1772." She added, "They don't appear anywhere else on the house and represent a crazy amount of customization. Finding them in the rubble next to the kiln is what tells us it dates to the early 1770s." The official stressed the importance of archaeology at Monticello, especially because the kiln was entirely unrecorded in Jefferson's maps, drawings, notes and letters. "The discovery has already changed how we understand the building of Monticello," she said. "Even at one of the best-documented historic sites in America, archaeology keeps revealing what the written record does not." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcdd43d8d5dabda3954241 China says it will resume some ties with Taiwan after visit by opposition leader te 2026-04-13T12:10:43.948Z China says it will resume some ties with Taiwan after visit by opposition leader China said Sunday it would resume some ties it had suspended with Taiwan such as direct flights and imports of Taiwanese aquaculture products following a visit by the Beijing-friendly opposition leader of the self-ruled island. The Taiwan Work Office under China’s Communist Party issued a statement saying it would explore setting up a longstanding communication mechanism between the Communist Party and Taiwan’s Kuomingtang Party. It said it will facilitate the import of Taiwan’s aquaculture products that it had previously banned. Cheng Li-wun, the head of the Kuomingtang, and China’s President Xi Jinping held a high-profile meeting Friday during which they called for peace, without offering specifics. China claims the island as part of its territory and hasn't ruled out the use of force to annex it. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees the relationship with China, said the measures that were announced, such as promoting a communication mechanism, were "political transactions" between the two parties that circumvented the government of Taiwan. TAIWAN OPPOSITION LEADER MEETS XI IN BEIJING AS TAIWAN DEFENSE FIGHT INTENSIFIES "The government’s position is clear: to ensure the interests of the nation and its people, all Cross-Strait affairs involving public power must be negotiated by both governments on an equal and dignified basis to be effective and truly protect the rights and well-being of the people," the Mainland Affairs Council said in response to the Chinese announcement. Relations between China and Taiwan, which remain split since 1949, have been tense since the election of pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen from the Democratic Progressive Party in 2016. Beijing cut off most of its official dialogue with Taiwan's government, and has started sending warships and fighter jets closer toward the island on a daily basis. BIPARTISAN HOUSE CHINA PANEL SLAMS BEIJING’S TAIWAN DRILLS AS ‘DELIBERATE ESCALATION’ In the statement, China said it plans to resume direct flights between Taiwan and mainland cities like Xi'an or Urumqi, although it remained unclear how the measures will be implemented without the approval of the Taiwanese government. China banned its citizens from individual trips to Taiwan in 2019. Taiwan's rules now require Chinese visitors to hold a valid resident visa from another country, like the U.S. or the European Union, to apply for a visitor visa. US INTEL SOFTENS ON CHINA THREAT, SAYS NO TAIWAN INVASION PLANNED BY 2027 DESPITE MILITARY BUILDUP China also said it would work toward construction of a bridge that would connect the mainland to Matsu and Kinmen, Taiwanese islands that are closer geographically to China. The project is a longstanding proposal that Beijing has previously announced. China banned the import of Taiwanese pineapples in 2021, and since then has extended it to other fruits and products including the grouper fish, squid and tuna. After the initial ban on grouper, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture said it approached China about making adjustments to ensure it met import requirements. China replied with a limited list of individual companies that were allowed to sell to China, but without explanation. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcdb01d8d5dabda3952dd1 Pope Leo says he's unafraid of the Trump admin after president calls him 'terrible' on foreign policy te 2026-04-13T12:01:05.105Z Pope Leo says he's unafraid of the Trump admin after president calls him 'terrible' on foreign policy Pope Leo XIV fired back after President Donald Trump attacked him on social media, saying his calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and should not be treated as a political argument with the White House. "I have no fear of the Trump administration," the pope told reporters aboard the papal plane Monday en route to Algeria. "The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician," he added. Trump had criticized the pope's positions on Sunday in a scathing rebuke on Truth Social. POPE LEO URGES WAR LEADERS TO HALT FIGHTING AFTER DEADLY STRIKE ON SCHOOL SPARKS OUTRAGE "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump began in a lengthy post. "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church," he concluded. The pope responded Monday, despite saying, "I will not enter into debate." POPE LEO XIV TO VISIT FASTEST-GROWING CATHOLIC CONTINENT DURING 4-NATION AFRICA TRIP "The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone," he said, speaking in English, adding, "I don't think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing. I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems." "Too many people are suffering in the world today," Leo added. "Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way." VATICAN DECLINES TO JOIN TRUMP’S GAZA ‘BOARD OF PEACE,’ CALLS FOR UN LEADERSHIP The pope's stance against Trump's peace efforts in the Middle East came after the president's Sunday night Air Force One tarmac comments. "We don't like a pope that's going to say that it's okay to have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters, echoing remarks from the Truth Social post. "We don't want a pope that says crime is okay in our cities. I don't like it." "I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo. He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime," Trump added. "He's a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world." POPE WARNS ESCALATING IRAN CONFLICT COULD TIP MIDDLE EAST INTO ‘IRREPARABLE ABYSS’ Leo claimed he was speaking for the church and not himself or Iran. "To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is," Leo said. "And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today." Trump claimed Leo has him to thank for being elevated to pope, the first American pope. "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," Trump wrote in his Truth Social post. "He gets it, and Leo doesn’t." "If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican," Trump said. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcdad8d8d5dabda3952c62 After Criticizing Pope, Trump Posts Image of Himself as a Jesus-Like Figure te 2026-04-13T12:00:24.505Z After Criticizing Pope, Trump Posts Image of Himself as a Jesus-Like Figure The image, posted on Truth Social, appeared to be A.I.-generated and depicts the president as a divine leader healing the sick. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcd3f7d8d5dabda395020e Eric Swalwell exits California governor race amid graphic accusations of misconduct and more top headlines te 2026-04-13T11:31:03.031Z Eric Swalwell exits California governor race amid graphic accusations of misconduct and more top headlines 1. Eric Swalwell exits California governor race 2. Trump enacts US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz 3. Iran’s president signals openness to US deal  CHOKEPOINT CHAOS — Iran threatens major new global chokepoint if US moves on Hormuz. Continue reading … PACIFIC OFFENSIVE — Multiple alleged 'narco-terrorists' killed in US strikes in the Pacific. Continue reading … SWEET RELIEF — 'Miracle fruit' could help cancer patients cope with overlooked side effect of chemo. Continue reading … SACRED STANDOFF — Catholic sisters face jail time for refusing to comply with NY gender mandates. Continue reading … BANDMATE BACKLASH — Bruce Springsteen's former drummer speaks out against the Boss's anti-Trump tirades. Continue reading … -- CODED INFLUENCE — The AI you use every day is biased — and it’s quietly shaping your worldview, new report says. Continue reading … NAME RECOGNITION — Republicans fighting for survival deploy risky strategy of faking Trump's support. Continue reading … HOLY WAR OF WORDS — Trump accuses Pope Leo of being 'terrible' on foreign policy over pontiff's anti-war comments. Continue reading … BIG APPLE DIVIDES — NYC mayor cites $180K racial wealth gap to justify taxes, police cuts. Continue reading … Click here for more cartoons…   BIG TECH BATTLE — Meta vows appeal of 'landmark' social media verdicts, warns of free speech erosion. Continue reading … OPEN SECRET — California reporter claims Eric Swalwell’s conduct ‘was known,’ raises questions about local support. Continue reading … BEYOND THE STARS — Victor Glover thanks God after Artemis II carries crew farther than any human voyage. Continue reading … FAITH UNDER FIRE — Actress Debra Messing says she hid Jewish identity after family faced antisemitism. Continue reading … HOWARD KURTZ — Why Eric Swalwell was forced to quit California governor race after sexual misconduct allegations. Continue reading …  AMY SWEARER — President Trump's birthright citizenship fight is about history, not hysteria. Continue reading … -- ‘GARBAGE’ — ESPN star calls for 2017 Masters winner to have his lifetime exemption removed after meltdown. Continue reading … TRANSFUSION TENSION — More patients demand ‘unvaccinated’ blood, doctors warn of growing health risks. Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on presidential proposals and astronaut appetites. Take the quiz here … COURTSIDE CHAOS — Bucks part ways with Doc Rivers after NBA playoff miss: report. Continue reading … DINNER TIME — ‘Cowboy’ Kent Rollins reveals how to save family life in America. See video ... MIKE POMPEO — NATO is failing to meet the moment. See video … DANNY DANON — Iran needs a reality check after failed peace talks. See video … Tune in for a closer look at the federal government’s new effort to track and tackle microplastics and what it could mean for public health. 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/69dcd3e3d8d5dabda3950205 Former NFL player Chris Payton-Jones dead at 30 after Florida car crash te 2026-04-13T11:30:43.268Z Former NFL player Chris Payton-Jones dead at 30 after Florida car crash Former NFL defensive back Chris Payton-Jones was killed in a car crash in Florida on Saturday night, officials said. He was 30. Payton-Jones was traveling in a vehicle when he struck a pickup truck and overturned, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Payton-Jones’ vehicle caught fire and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to FOX 2 Now. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He played for four NFL teams between 2018 and 2021 before he played for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL. He then joined the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League (UFL). The UFL released a statement on his death. "The United Football League is in mourning after the tragic passing of former St. Louis Battlehawks Defensive Back Chris Payton-Jones. Chris was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room, who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination, and resilience throughout his career. REX CULPEPPER, FORMER SYRACUSE QUARTERBACK, DEAD AT 28 FROM INJURIES IN GEORGIA DIRT BIKE CRASH "As importantly, Chris was always a bright soul who everyone throughout the league enjoyed spending time with off-the-field during his three-year tenure. From fan appearances and media engagements to his own content creation and openness to share the highs and lows of his personal journey, Chris carried himself with humility and integrity. Our condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and all others who are impacted by this loss." Payton-Jones was a standout collegiate player at Nebraska. He joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 as an undrafted free agent. He then played for the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans. He played in 29 NFL games and had 48 tackles and seven pass breakups. He played 18 regular-season games for the BattleHawks, recording 56 tackles and two interceptions. 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/69dccf85d8d5dabda395019b Man injured in shooting with officers in Casa Grande te 2026-04-13T11:12:05.711Z Man injured in shooting with officers in Casa Grande A man was hospitalized with a gunshot wound after an officer-involved shooting in Casa Grande on Sunday night, police report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dccf6ed8d5dabda3950174 ESPN star calls for 2017 Masters winner to have his lifetime exemption removed after meltdown te 2026-04-13T11:11:42.026Z ESPN star calls for 2017 Masters winner to have his lifetime exemption removed after meltdown ESPN star Mike Greenberg called for Sergio Garcia’s lifetime exemption into the Masters Tournament to be pulled after his antics on the course in the final round on Sunday. Garcia received a code of conduct warning after he smashed his driver in frustration at Augusta National. He slammed his club into the turf twice after hitting a shot that ended up in the bunker. Then he took a swipe at a table with a green cooler on it. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Greenberg seemingly saw Garcia’s anger as a detrimental issue. "A lifetime exemption is a privilege extended by Augusta to its champions out of respect," he wrote on X. "If that respect is not reciprocated, there is no law that says a past champ cannot be banned. RORY MCILROY REPEATS AS MASTERS CHAMPION, JOINS RARE COMPANY AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL "I’m not sure they should have Sergio Garcia back after the garbage he pulled today." Garcia, who competes in LIV Golf, won the Masters in 2017. It is his only major victory of his career. Since winning in 2017, he only made the cut for the final two rounds once. The feat came at this year’s tournament. He finished 52nd in the field. He joined LIV Golf in 2022 as he was among the PGA Tour stars who left the organization. He has two wins in the series – at LIV Golf Andalucía in 2024 and LIV Golf Hong Kong in 2025. He played his way into a playoff four times, only winning the Andalucía event. Fox News’ Ryan Morik 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/69dccf5ad8d5dabda395016b More patients demand ‘unvaccinated’ blood, doctors warn of growing health risks te 2026-04-13T11:11:22.471Z More patients demand ‘unvaccinated’ blood, doctors warn of growing health risks An increasing number of patients are requesting "unvaccinated" blood for transfusions, which can delay care and pose risks to patients’ health, experts warn. There is no evidence that unvaccinated blood presents any safety benefit, according to a new study published in the journal Transfusion. There is currently no process for checking whether donated blood comes from vaccinated or unvaccinated donors, experts say. CANCER SURVIVAL APPEARS TO DOUBLE WITH COMMON VACCINE, RESEARCHERS SAY Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, which conducted the research, received 15 requests for unvaccinated blood between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2025. The median age of patients was 17 years old and more than half were children, the university reported. Thirteen of the patients received blood donated specifically for them by family members, which is known as "direct donation." This can be risky, because most direct donors are giving blood for the first time, and their donations are more likely to contain "potentially harmful pathogens," the authors noted.  "Despite being framed as ‘safer,’ directed donations may paradoxically increase risk." COVID VACCINE UNDER NEW SCRUTINY AFTER STUDIES REVEAL POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS Among the studied patient group, two became much sicker after refusing a standard blood transfusion.  One patient developed anemia, a condition where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen. The other developed hemodynamic shock, a serious condition in which there is insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the body’s tissues, potentially leading to organ failure. Requests for unvaccinated blood spiked after the approval of COVID-19 vaccines, posing a "recurring challenge for transfusion services and clinicians," the researchers stated. "These requests were associated with care delays, escalation and inefficiencies," they indicated. FAMILY PLEADS FOR HELP AS TEEN FACES LIFE-THREATENING BONE MARROW FAILURE The researchers recommend that health systems create standardized policies to handle these types of requests. "Regulatory and professional organizations have opposed these non-evidence-based policies, emphasizing that blood centers do not record or convey donor COVID-19 vaccination status and that evidence demonstrates transfusion from vaccinated donors poses no unique risk." The Vanderbilt study had some limitations, the researchers noted. It looked at a small number of cases and only included situations where special blood donations made it to the blood bank, so it doesn’t show how often people made this request overall.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES It also didn’t include cases where concerns were resolved through conversations with doctors or ethics teams, the team noted. As this was an observational study and not a controlled experiment, it only showed an association and could not prove that refusing standard blood directly caused any specific patient outcomes. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Several states have introduced proposals aimed at allowing patients to receive blood specifically from donors who have not received COVID-19 vaccines. In Oklahoma, one such proposal called for the creation of a state-run blood bank dedicated to collecting and distributing blood from unvaccinated donors. Despite these efforts, none of the measures have been enacted into law. Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, was not involved in the research, but said these types of requests are "part of an ongoing fear culture." "It is also very difficult to test for, because the antibodies may be positive from COVID itself as well as the vaccine, and it can be difficult to tell the difference," he told Fox News Digital. The notion that receiving blood from someone who had the vaccine would be harmful is not based on any scientific studies, the doctor reiterated. "If people want to group up to get blood from other unvaccinated people, I respect that choice, though it will be expensive and will limit options," Siegel added. Diane Calmus, vice president of government affairs for America’s Blood Centers in Washington, D.C., said that requests for direct donations are "exceedingly rare" – representing about 0.06% of the U.S. blood supply. "Requests for unvaccinated blood are something we've seen wax and wane since the introduction of the COVID vaccine," Calmus, who also was not involved in the Vanderbilt study, told Fox News Digital. "The challenge is that there's no way to tell whether someone’s blood has been vaccinated – there's no test that exists." TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Any situation where someone requires a blood transfusion is most likely a "very scary time," she noted. "Family members want to be cautious, and this is why it's so important that people talk to a transfusion medicine-trained doctor," the expert advised. "These are physicians who have a specialty in blood transfusions … and who can answer those questions that any individual will have." Calmus pointed out that it takes some time to facilitate a direct donation, and that there is a specific process in place.  "Blood has to be prescribed. You can't just show up at the blood center and say, ‘I would like my sister to donate for me,’" she said. "There needs to be a prescription. It needs to go through the hospital … they need to make sure it is the right blood for the right patient." Calmus emphasized that the U.S. blood supply is "meticulously tracked," and that there have been no indications of a lack of safety. She also stressed the ongoing need for blood donors. "We need people – vaccinated or not vaccinated – to show up and donate blood, because it is the blood on the shelves that saves lives." Fox News Digital reached out to the Vanderbilt researchers for comment. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dccf46d8d5dabda3950162 Melania Trump’s Epstein remarks turn up the heat on DOJ, Acting AG Todd Blanche to do more te 2026-04-13T11:11:02.644Z Melania Trump’s Epstein remarks turn up the heat on DOJ, Acting AG Todd Blanche to do more First Lady Melania Trump’s call for public hearings for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims is piling fresh pressure on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who only days earlier signaled the administration wanted to move past the saga even as bipartisan lawmakers and survivors continue demanding more files, testimony and prosecutions. While the first lady called on Congress to take additional steps to let Epstein "survivors" tell their stories, Epstein victims and members of Congress themselves argued that the onus is with the Trump administration, not Congress.  "First Lady asks Congress to bring Epstein survivors in for testimony. With all due respect, that’s Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche's job!" Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has been at odds with the president and his administration over how it has handled the Epstein case, said after the First Lady's remarks. "Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and I already gave brave survivors a chance to tell their horrific stories on Capitol Hill. Pam Bondi wouldn’t even acknowledge them. PROSECUTE!" "Actually, Congress did act," added Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., in response to the First Lady's Thursday night remarks calling on Congress to do more. "But Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is violating the law and refusing to release the Epstein files as required by law." WHY MELANIA TRUMP IS DENYING ALLEGED SMEARS RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN–AND WANTS VICTIMS TO TESTIFY Meanwhile, in a letter released by over a dozen alleged Epstein victims, survivors also put pressure on the Justice Department to do more. "First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act," a letter allegedly signed by 15 Epstein victims, posted to social media by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., stated. "It also diverts attention from Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors' identities. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers." "Survivors have done their part. Now it's time for those in power to do theirs," the letter concluded. MELANIA TRUMP'S FORCEFUL EPSTEIN DENIAL DRAWS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM LAWMAKERS Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice and White House for comment on the First Lady's remarks and remarks from victims and members of Congress calling on the Trump administration to do more, but did not hear back.  However, in a statement to NPR following the First Lady's remarks, the Department of Justice said: "As we have always stated, we encourage any victims of Jeffrey Epstein — who wish to speak — to contact the FBI. Any survivor who has information on an abuser is encouraged to contact federal law enforcement." Not long after taking the reins from former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Blanche insisted it was time for the Justice Department to move on from the Epstein case.  "I think that to the extent that the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this Justice Department, it … should not be a part of anything going forward," Blanche said Thursday in an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. He added that the DOJ "has now released all the files with respect to the Epstein saga." Still, several members of Congress think there is more to be done on the matter.  Following the first lady's remarks, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., indicated that House Oversight chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., agreed to call four named co-conspirators to testify.  "And they won't be the only ones," the congresswoman added in a post on X.  "There are a number of doctors we also have questions for, and the list continues to grow," the Florida congresswoman continued. "I am calling on the DOJ to prosecute individuals who took plea deals under civil rights violations, and to consider additional charges where appropriate. If you traffic a young girl(s), you don’t get to pretend to be a victim. There is a massive difference." Meanwhile, Khanna also demanded the first lady come testify in front of Congress, arguing her remarks show she is privy to "relevant" information, while Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said following the first lady's Thursday night remarks that he and his colleagues still want to see Bondi testify to Congress.  "Pam Bondi knows more about this cover-up and why the botched release of the files happened the way they did in doxxing survivors and putting their information out there, not protecting their identities. Pam Bondi must testify, that is her legal obligation." "I think there's enough Republicans that also agree — she has been subpoenaed — they had a legal subpoena," Garcia told CNN. "The DOJ and Todd Blanche continue to cover up for Donald Trump, continue to want this to go away, but we are going to continue to push every single day." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dccf32d8d5dabda3950159 Trump beat back anti-family taxes in 2025. Here’s what needs to happen next te 2026-04-13T11:10:42.746Z Trump beat back anti-family taxes in 2025. Here’s what needs to happen next The United States set an all-time low for births in 2025, and it’s clear that we are nowhere near rock bottom unless lawmakers take resolute action to support families. The Centers for Disease Control announcement arrived not as a surprise, but as a final warning. For decades, the federal government ignored the slow-motion collapse of the American family. While Washington prioritized corporate subsidies and globalist trade deals, the foundational unit of our society withered under the weight of rising costs and a culture that views parenthood as a burden. The signing of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) marks a decisive end to this era of neglect. By expanding the Child Tax Credit and establishing Trump Accounts, this administration recognizes that the survival of the American family must be the primary objective of national policy. The economic reality for the next generation demands nothing less than urgency. Pro-family policy is not a niche concern for the wealthy. It is a lifeline for struggling parents who surrender ever-increasing shares of their paychecks to cover the costs of housing, healthcare, and education for their kids, as well as vacation packages for the millionaire retirees who own the home they are renting. Today, 69 million children aged 17 or younger live in the United States. Their families face a daunting financial landscape. A majority of our nation's youth — 40 million children — live in families with incomes below $100,000. More than 7 million live in households with household incomes below $20,000 annually. These are the families are the backbone of our country, yet they often struggle most to achieve the American Dream.  BENNETT, MOHRMAN: 2026 WILL GIVE US OVER 1,000 WAYS TO BOOST EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM The OBBB addresses this crisis by transforming the Child Tax Credit (CTC) into a permanent, robust pillar of the economy. By increasing the credit to $2,500 per child, the bill secures an average tax cut of $1,300 for more than 40 million families. This policy respects the immense work parents perform to raise the next generation of Americans. Research from the Institute for Family Studies indicates that financial incentives of this magnitude could increase U.S. fertility rates by as much as 10 percent. By reducing the financial penalty of parenthood, we empower young couples to have the children they already want but feel they cannot afford. Trump Accounts arrive in 2025 as the real estate mogul to seeks to build long-term generational wealth. For every child born between 2025 and 2028, the Treasury Department will provide a $1,000 seed contribution into a tax-advantaged account. These accounts allow families and employers to contribute up to $5,000 annually. This policy capitalizes every new American citizen from birth. It provides a tangible foundation for a child to eventually buy a home, start a business, or pursue an education. This strategy treats every child as an investment in the nation’s future rather than a drain on its resources. Furthermore, the No Taxes on Tips provision offers a massive boost to young parents in the service industry. Millions of Americans work in restaurants and hospitality, often juggling irregular hours to provide for their kids. By allowing these workers to deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxable income, the Trump administration provides immediate take-home pay. A server earning $20,000 in tips could save thousands of dollars annually. That money goes directly toward childcare, groceries, and rent. The political contrast is absolute. Democrats in Congress fought the OBBB with a ferocity usually reserved for terrorists. Had they succeeded, they would have overseen a $4 trillion tax hike on American families by letting the 2017 tax cuts expire. They were prepared to halve the Child Tax Credit for millions of parents while protecting corporate tax loopholes. This opposition reveals a fundamental lack of concern for the affordability crisis. Similarly, some libertarian activists criticize these family-focused policies while defending billions in corporate tax credits. This brand of fiscal purity is intellectually dishonest. The tax code is already a tool of economic engineering. We must use it to favor the family. Corporations are not the bedrock of our nation. Families are. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION We can find proof that policy works by looking at South Korea. That nation faced the lowest birth rates in history — a 60-year fertility death spiral driven in part by American tax dollars through USAID population control programs. Yet, South Korea just pulled off two consecutive years of monthly birth increases. This recovery is not the result of IVF or delayed parenthood. It is the product of marriage. South Korea’s mini baby boom exploded after the nation saw a 15 percent jump in marriages. This happened because the government and major corporations stopped propagandizing against the family and went all-in on marriage. The South Korean government now shells out as much as $38,000 to married couples in housing subsidies, baby bonuses, and tax breaks. If the Republican Party has any future, it will follow this example. Under the status quo, young couples stand to lose as much as $30,000 in benefits the moment they say, "I Do." These marriage penalties are not accidental. They are the product of an ideology hostile to the family. One can judge a tree by its fruit. For seven decades, American policymakers tinkered with the tax code to discourage family life. This brought us to a time of the lowest marriage rates, the lowest birth rates, and the highest rates of loneliness and depression in our history. President Trump and Vice President Vance are the first American leaders in generations to reject the myth that family formation is beyond the reach of good governance. They recognize that if bad policy can break a society, then good policy can fix it. As the midterms approach, congressional Republicans—and Majority Leader Thune in particular—should take up the mantle of the family. They must adopt the full $5,000 Child Tax Credit backed by Trump and pass the American Principles Project proposal for Home Savings Accounts. These accounts would allow young families to save for a home down payment in a tax-free environment. It is fitting that the CDC released the bad news about birth rates just days before Tax Day. For too long, April 15 has felt like an extraction from the American home. If Republicans get their act together, they may finally give American families something to celebrate next tax season. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dccceed8d5dabda3950111 Hasan Piker calls Republican Party the 'biggest domestic terrorist' in the country te 2026-04-13T11:01:02.166Z Hasan Piker calls Republican Party the 'biggest domestic terrorist' in the country Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker claimed on Sunday that the Republican Party was the world's "biggest terrorist" organization in both the U.S. and internationally. "I hate Republicans," Piker said on "Pod Save America." "I oppose them. I say that all the time. I think that the Republicans are far more damaging. The biggest terrorists, the biggest domestic terrorist in this country, the biggest terrorist internationally is the Republican Party. And not only that, but it's just like, they ... I want to fight against the growing fascist movement in this country." He also called out the Democratic Party's "conciliatory attitude" toward the Republican Party and "their lack of investment" in pushing back against a growing "fascist" movement. WHO IS HASAN PIKER? MEET THE FAR-LEFT STREAMER WHO IS STIRRING UP CONTROVERSY ONLINE AND DIVIDING DEMOCRATS "On the one hand, you say Donald Trump is a dangerous force," Piker said. "I see that. I recognize that. But then you turn around, and you take on his anti-immigrant narratives and anti-immigrant messaging from the 2020 election that you won and decide you're going to be the sincere candidate that ends up, you know, dealing with the growth of migration in this country. It's a failure."  Piker did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Piker has become an influential figure within the Democratic Party, with some politicians embracing and even campaigning with him ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Others, however, have called out Piker for making what they described as antisemitic and anti-American comments. POPULAR FAR-LEFT STREAMER UNLEASHES PROFANE TIRADE AGAINST VIETNAMESE COMMUNIST REFUGEE IN RESURFACED VID Among his past comments were claims that America "deserved" 9/11 and defending Hamas as being "a thousand times better than the fascist settler colonial apartheid state" of Israel. Piker doubled down on his Hamas comparison when asked about it on "Pod Save America." "I've also said I'm a harm-reduction voter," he 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." HASAN PIKER ACCUSES BILL MAHER OF BEING AN 'ISLAMOPHOBE' AND DEMONSTRATING 'ANTI-BLACKNESS' Piker was also asked about his 9/11 comments, which he had previously walked back as "inappropriate," and insisted that he was "anti-civilian death." "I'm anti-civilian murder," he said. "I'm anti-civilian death. That's one of my first principles is that I'm anti-imperialist. I'm anti-war for that reason, because I don't want civilians to die. I don't want random people to die. Hey, I don't even want people to go out and die in the process of trying to kill people." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcccdad8d5dabda3950108 Smart travel safety tips before your next trip te 2026-04-13T11:00:42.607Z Smart travel safety tips before your next trip You booked the flights. You're picturing great food, new sights and a break from your routine. Travel should feel easy. But here's what most people don't think about until it's too late. The biggest problems today often come from your phone, your data and your accounts. Before we get into the essentials, here's the question from Chuck V, from Georgia, that sparked this article: "My wife and I will be flying to Florence, Italy, next week and are wondering if there are any special tips we should be aware of before we leave." Chuck, you're asking the right question at the right time. A few smart moves before you leave can save you from frozen credit cards, locked accounts or a phone nightmare overseas. Let's walk through what actually matters. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report HOW TO MINIMIZE YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT WHEN YOU TRAVEL   Your phone holds your banking apps, email, travel confirmations and personal photos. That makes it more valuable than your passport to the wrong person. Start with updates. Install the latest version of your operating system and update your apps. Security patches close known gaps that attackers look for, especially on public networks. Next, turn on built-in protections: A lot of travelers assume their phone plan will work automatically overseas. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it leads to a shocking bill. Here are your main options: Easy to activate but often expensive if you use a lot of data. This is usually the best mix of price and convenience. You can install it before your trip and switch it on when you land. Often cheap but requires swapping your physical SIM and dealing with local setup. Before choosing, make sure your phone is unlocked. If it is tied to your carrier, some options will not work. Also, turn off automatic data roaming until you need it. That one setting alone can prevent surprise charges.  Want a deeper breakdown of which option is best for you? Read this guide on how to stay connected while traveling. POPULAR TRAVEL SCAMS AND SAFETY WARNINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TAKING VACATION   Airports, hotels and cafés offer free public Wi-Fi everywhere. It feels harmless. It is not always safe. Public networks can expose your data if they are not secured. That includes logins credit card details and emails. Using a virtual private network (VPN) adds a layer of encryption between your device and the internet. It helps protect your activity and reduces the risk of someone intercepting your data. Even with protection, avoid logging into sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi when possible. Wait until you are on a trusted network or use your mobile data. Tourist areas attract more than travelers. They attract scammers. Keep your setup simple: When you need cash, use ATMs attached to banks. Standalone machines in busy areas are more likely to be tampered with. Pay attention to your surroundings when entering your PIN. Distraction tactics are common in crowded areas. Also, notify your bank before you leave. That reduces the chance of your card being flagged and declined mid-trip. If you want more ways to protect your cards while traveling, read this guide. Your phone can make the entire experience smoother if you use it right. Translation apps help you understand menus, signs and conversations in real time. Camera features can translate text instantly, which is incredibly useful in unfamiliar places. Maps can be downloaded offline, so you are not stuck without directions when your signal drops. Location sharing adds peace of mind. Let a trusted contact see where you are during your trip. These small features make things easier and help you stay focused on the experience instead of logistics. STATE DEPARTMENT REVEALS WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES FOR AMERICANS   It is tempting to post your location in real time. That can expose more than you intend. Sharing that you are away from home can signal an empty house. Posting your exact location while you are still there can also create unnecessary risk. Instead, share photos after you leave a location or after you return home. It is a simple shift that protects your privacy. Before you head to the airport, run through this: These take minutes but can save hours of frustration later. Travel today is as much digital as it is physical. Your phone connects everything from your boarding pass to your hotel room. If you protect that one device, you reduce most of the common travel risks. You avoid surprise charges. You lower the chance of account lockouts. You keep your personal data from being exposed. It also makes your trip smoother. You spend less time troubleshooting and more time enjoying where you are. 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 Travel should feel exciting, not stressful. Most problems people run into are preventable with a little preparation. Take a few minutes before you leave to lock things down. It is one of the easiest ways to protect your trip. What other travel questions do you have when it comes to your tech?  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/69dcca81d8d5dabda39500bf Projected Top 10 NFL Draft prospect was driver in 2024 deadly crash te 2026-04-13T10:50:41.895Z Projected Top 10 NFL Draft prospect was driver in 2024 deadly crash Rueben Bain Jr., a top-10 prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft, was driving in a previously unreported March 2024 crash in which one of his passengers was hospitalized and pronounced dead three months later, according to a crash report and court records obtained by OutKick.  The standout Miami edge rusher was cited at the scene by the Florida Highway Patrol for operating a motor vehicle in a "careless or negligent manner." The charge was later dismissed because of a "defective citation," after Bain Jr. entered a not guilty plea, according to court records.  The crash report indicates that Bain Jr. did not show any impairment, and was not suspected of alcohol or drug use and that no tests were given at the time. Three NFL teams told OutKick's Armando Salguero over the weekend that they are aware of the crash, but no team would comment to what extent the incident would affect the first-team All-American defensive end's status for the April 23-25 NFL Draft.  The news of the first crash was first reported by Oliver Connolly. OutKick has reached out to Bain Jr., the University of Miami and the Florida State Attorney's office, but has yet to receive comment from  either.  The incident occurred March 17, 2024, when Bain Jr. was driving on South Florida's Interstate 95 shortly after 4 a.m. and he hit another vehicle from behind. That collision sent Bain Jr.'s vehicle — a 2021 Land Rover registered to a corporation named Miami Sports 27 — into the concrete wall on the east side of the highway, and then careening all the way across the entire multi-lane highway and into the west side concrete wall, according to the crash report.  Miami Sports 27 is a non-profit company owned by Eric Dounn, an agent, who also works with LAA Management, that also has ties to a memorabilia store on Ebay. To read the full crash report, click the link.  The Florida Highway Patrol was dispatched at 4:17 a.m. and once a trooper arrived at the scene, he found 22-year-old Destiny Betts, who was riding in a passenger seat without a seat belt, incapacitated, per the crash report. Betts was transported to Ryder Trauma Center by the Miami-Dade Fire Department.  According to a GoFundMe setup by a family member, Betts lost consciousness as a result of the crash. A note on the crash report indicated that Betts was pronounced dead three months later, on June 13, 2024, by a Northshore Hospice nurse.  The report does not specify an official cause of death. OutKick has reached out to the family attorney of Destiny Betts and received the following statement, which indicates they are not open to answering questions around the circumstances of the wreck and what happened in it's aftermath.  "As her family, we remain deeply committed to honoring her memory in a meaningful and appropriate way. Destiny’s passing was the result of a tragic accident that occurred several years ago. While the loss remains incredibly painful for our family, we have worked hard to find peace and move forward. At this time, we are not seeking public attention surrounding this tragedy and respectfully request that our family’s privacy be honored. We also wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career. Thank you for respecting our wishes during this difficult matter." Miami Hurricanes football players Nyjalik Kelly and Wesley Bissainthe and one other female passenger named LaDreama Roberts were also occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash. All three were listed as having possible injuries, but only the female passenger was taken to a hospital, according to the FHP report. OutKick reached out to all three, but has not received a response as of publication. Both Bissainthe and Kelly, who finished his college career at UCF, are also eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft, although neither is expected to be drafted nearly as high as Bain.  In addition to the crash in March 2024, court records show that Bain Jr. was issued a citation on Oct. 10, 2025, driving a 2025 Tesla Cybertruck, in which he was again cited for careless driving. The citation, shown below, lists a violation of Florida statute 316.1925(1), which is careless driving.  OutKick has inquired about who the owner of the Tesla was, but has not yet received that information. Records state there was an "accident indicator" that came with the charge, meaning he was involved in a crash, which the citation states. That case was dismissed in February of this year, also because of a "defective citation." Bain would go on to finish the season with Miami as one of the best defensive players in college football, helping lead the Hurricanes' to the CFP title game, where they lost to Indiana.  The NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh next week.  OutKick has reached out to the Florida Highway Patrol for comment on what led to the citations being dismissed. OutKick has also contacted the University of Miami for comment on whether it was aware of either incident. Neither has responded as of publication of this article. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcc5e5d8d5dabda3950035 US military conducts more deadly strikes against vessels of alleged 'narco-terrorists te 2026-04-13T10:31:01.225Z US military conducts more deadly strikes against vessels of alleged 'narco-terrorists The U.S. conducted two deadly strikes on Saturday against "vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," according to U.S. Southern Command. "Applying total systemic friction on the cartels," a Sunday night post on SOUTHCOM's X account declares. "On April 11, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted two lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," the post continued. COAST GUARD SEIZES OVER 4,500 POUNDS OF COCAINE WORTH $34M FROM SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORIST VESSEL ON EASTER "Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations," SOUTHCOM asserted. The post noted that one individual survived one of the strikes. ALLEGED NARCO-TERRORISTS KILLED AS US FORCES STRIKE SUSPECTED DRUG-TRAFFICKING VESSEL IN CARIBBEAN "Two male narco-terrorists were killed, and one narco-terrorist survived the first strike. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during the second strike. Following the engagements, USSOUTHCOM immediately notified U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivor. No U.S. military forces were harmed," the post stated. War Secretary Pete Hegseth shared SOUTHCOM'S post about the strikes on his personal X account. CARTELS FEAR US RETALIATION AS TRUMP-ERA PRESSURE RESHAPES STRATEGY: 'THEY FEAR THE UNITED STATES' President Donald Trump's administration has controversially carried out scads of such deadly attacks against alleged "narco-terrorists." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcc5bcd8d5dabda395001d Pope Leo, Hours After Trump Criticism, Says He Has ‘No Fear’ te 2026-04-13T10:30:20.983Z Pope Leo, Hours After Trump Criticism, Says He Has ‘No Fear’ President Trump lashed out on Sunday night at Pope Leo XIV, who responded hours later by saying he would continue to oppose war. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcc38ed8d5dabda394ff79 'Miracle fruit' may help cancer patients overcome chemo side effect that can lead to dangerous weight loss te 2026-04-13T10:21:02.084Z 'Miracle fruit' may help cancer patients overcome chemo side effect that can lead to dangerous weight loss A small, red "miracle fruit" is gaining attention for its ability to make lemons taste like lemonade — and for helping some cancer patients cope with an unpleasant side effect of treatment. For many chemotherapy patients, "chemo mouth" can make food taste metallic, bland or spoiled — leading to weight loss, poor nutrition and reduced motivation to eat. But a small red berry scientifically known as Synsepalum dulcificum — commonly called "miracle fruit" — is drawing attention for helping patients better tolerate food and, in turn, reclaim a sense of normalcy. CANCER DOCTOR SAYS AMERICANS SHOULD EAT MORE OF 5 KEY PROTECTIVE FOODS "A lot of side effects from cancer treatments are underreported," Dr. Mike Cusnir, a board-certified medical oncologist and co-director of gastrointestinal malignancies at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital. He noted that taste changes can become more than a minor inconvenience over time. "The alteration in taste will end up giving the patient the sensation that everything is absolutely bland," Cusnir said.  "And we may think that that's negligible, that it's not that important — but with time it becomes bothersome to the point where the patient doesn't eat, then there's weight loss." 5 ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS THAT MAY BE WORSE FOR YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, EXPERT SAYS The experience varies widely from person to person, but the impact can be significant. In some cases, poor nutrition and weight loss may complicate ongoing treatment, he added. In his research, he found that common workarounds such as using plastic utensils, adjusting food temperature or adding spices offered little relief for chemo mouth. Cusnir remembers the first time he encountered miracle fruit — a West African berry that looks like a cranberry and contains miraculin, which temporarily alters taste perception. A patient brought it to his office and told him to try it with a lemon. COMMON FRUIT FOUND IN AMERICAN KITCHENS MAY SLOW DEADLY FORM OF BREAST CANCER, STUDY SAYS "I'm like, 'That's going to be tangy,'" Cusnir recalled. "He's like, 'OK, try it.' So I tried it. It was tangy. Then he said, 'Now, try the fruit and then squeeze it again.' And it tasted like lemonade." The effect typically lasts about 30 to 40 minutes, though researchers are still working to better understand how it works and why it affects people differently. In a small clinical study, Cusnir and his team compared patients using the fruit with those relying on standard, everyday ways of managing symptoms. About half of the patients who tried miracle fruit reported improvements in taste, along with better overall quality of life, and 14% gained weight. CHOCOLATE, CHEESE AND YOGURT LINKED TO LONGER LIFE IN DETAILED STUDY OF 3 MILLION PEOPLE The fruit did not work for everyone, however, and the findings are considered preliminary. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center notes that while small studies have suggested possible improvements in taste among chemotherapy patients, the evidence remains limited and inconsistent.  More rigorous research is needed to determine how effective the fruit is and which patients are most likely to benefit, the experts say. The berry itself is delicate and often sold frozen or in tablet or powder form, as it can lose potency quickly after harvest. Availability has increased in recent years, though quality and effectiveness may vary between products. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Cusnir said the fruit has not shown clear safety concerns in limited observations to date, and there is no strong evidence of harmful interactions with cancer treatments. Still, comprehensive safety data are lacking, so patients should consult their care team before trying new supplements or therapies. There has also been some interest in studying the fruit for people with diabetes, Cusnir said, as its taste-altering effect could make lower-sugar foods more palatable. For patients dealing with taste changes, even modest improvements may help with day-to-day routines. "If a meal becomes a challenge for the patient, and they just don't want to be there because they're bothered by the food, they may isolate," Cusnir said.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES That loss, he added, can compound the already difficult experience of cancer treatment. "Patients are tired, fatigued and the time they spend with their family — if food is bothering them — it creates more isolation," he said. Helping patients enjoy even a small part of a meal again can make a meaningful difference, Cusnir said. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Patients are with us maybe 15 minutes every few weeks," he said.  "But they're at home, with their family, three meals a day." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcc37ad8d5dabda394ff70 SEN MITCH McCONNELL: Hungary’s voters offer a lesson for those on the right drawn to Orban te 2026-04-13T10:20:42.312Z SEN MITCH McCONNELL: Hungary’s voters offer a lesson for those on the right drawn to Orban On Sunday, voters in Hungary’s parliamentary electionsparliamentary elections ousted Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party, as polls had consistently predicted they would. Orban’s prompt concession suggests a peaceful, democratic transfer of power in the days to come. Most notably, Hungarians appear to have been unswayed by foreign attempts — both real and imagined — to subvert or manipulate their judgment. This should not come as a surprise to Americans. We, too, bristle at suggestions that anyone but our own lawful citizens ought to have a say in our democratic process. And beyond the extreme margins of our politics, there is little evidence that foreign influence campaigns are very successful in shaping the views of American voters. America’s own political leaders have traditionally abided by the idea that politics stopped at the water’s edge. They’ve sought to avoid even the appearance of telling other sovereign democracies how to run their internal affairs and resisted the urge to treat foreign policy as an extension of our domestic politics. I haven’t hesitated to call out departures from these prudent customs, like the increasingly flagrant ways that elected Democrats have sought to insert themselves into the lively democratic politics of Israel. Yet, for the better part of a decade, Hungarian politics has persisted as an object of intense fascination in certain corners of the American right. TRUMP CALLS INTO VANCE-ORBAN HUNGARY EVENT: 'MY KIND OF PEOPLE' This phenomenon is endlessly puzzling. America’s self-proclaimed national conservatives spoke of Orban’s Hungary as an oasis of traditionalism amid the wasteland of an ailing, liberal and decadent postmodern Europe. And some American politicians appear to have bought into the myth. To be clear, it is a myth. Orban’s champions on this side of the Atlantic may well consider his illiberal court-packing, crony capitalism or restriction of free speech an acceptable price for their desired social utopia. Yet for all the talk of reviving faith and family through statist intervention, Hungary’s religious participation and birth rates under his rule have declined right alongside the rest of the West. Of course, had any of the breathless pronouncements of Hungary’s unique virtue been true, they’d be a reasonable basis for personal affinity ... but not for U.S. foreign policy. Shared values can be a useful entrée into deeper cooperation with allies and partners. But to the extent that values have played a central role in successful U.S. foreign policy, it has been in service to, and aligned with, our strategic interests. TRUMP ALLY ORBAN ISSUES SCATHING LETTER DEMANDING ZELENSKYY CHANGE UKRAINE'S 'ANTI-HUNGARIAN POLICY' Clearly, Orban’s fawning servitude to authoritarians doesn’t reflect American values. But far more importantly, his government’s fealty to Moscow, its willingness to be a gateway into Europe for China’s predatory machinations, and its deepening ties with Iran run counter to America’s interests. These allegiances ought to matter a great deal to American conservatives who, quite rightly, expect European allies to carry a greater share of the burden of deterring threats to our shared Western interests. The Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy observes that America "will need a strong Europe to help us successfully compete" with strategic adversaries. But Europe’s tremendous progress toward greater burden-sharing on defense has come despite Hungary’s defense budget shrinking by 6% last year and Orban’s active opposition to European Union support for Ukraine. While other allies have decreased their reliance on Russian energy, Orban has doubled down on Hungary’s dependence on Russian gas. And in 2024, he struck an "all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership" with America’s foremost strategic adversary, the PRC. Orban’s Hungary offered America little in the way of strategic alignment, let alone "moral cooperation." Today, the highest shared value between Americans and the people of Hungary is the right to choose our own leaders, freely and fairly, without foreign or domestic interference. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Of course, American conservatives who still worry in particular about the social fabric and moral values of Europe’s 19th-largest economy should take heart: The next Hungarian prime minister is unlikely to turn Budapest into a den of iniquity or impose Sharia law. And I have yet to hear him propose opening the country’s borders or sacrificing its sovereignty on the altar of the European Union. Instead, what seems to have motivated Hungarian voters is a distaste for the crony capitalism and corruption that have weakened Hungary’s economy and the image of its ruling party. Their next prime minister is, after all, a product of that ruling party who campaigned on addressing Hungary’s economic woes rather than just scapegoating them. I suspect Hungary’s voters will, in turn, judge his government on whether he succeeds in doing so. Watching this from Kentucky, it is hard to understand how some on the American right thought that staking U.S. influence on the outcome of a parliamentary election in a small, central European country was putting America’s interests first. To the extent that what happens in Hungary matters to America, it is a question of whether its actions on the world stage — not its social policies — align with America’s strategic interests. The future course of U.S.-Hungary strategic alignment under the new government remains to be seen. But to the extent that Hungary’s next leaders behave with less obeisance toward our adversaries and a more serious focus on our shared interests, Washington may be wise to welcome this change. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb582d8d5dabda394f88f Our View: A shrinking river calls for big federal action te 2026-04-13T09:21:06.756Z Our View: A shrinking river calls for big federal action Interior Secretary Doug Burgum came to the Southwest this week with a clear message: the states that rely on the Colorado River need to reach a deal, and none of them will like it. He is right about one thing.… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb56fd8d5dabda394f886 Steven Roberts: The same Constitution te 2026-04-13T09:20:47.159Z Steven Roberts: The same Constitution President Trump has been pressuring Senate Republicans to trash the filibuster and pass a bill disenfranchising millions of voters and boosting their party's chances of controlling Congress after next fall's elections. But Sen. John Thune, the Republican leader, keeps telling… Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb387d8d5dabda394f1ce President Trump's birthright citizenship fight is about history, not hysteria te 2026-04-13T09:12:39.877Z President Trump's birthright citizenship fight is about history, not hysteria From the moment President Trump issued his executive order on birthright citizenship, critics derided it with a litany of adjectives nearly as colorful as they were unwarranted. It was racist. Ahistorical. Unprecedented. Un-American. During oral arguments at the Supreme Court last week, Justice Elena Kagan appeared to add another pejorative to the catalogue: revisionist. Kagan’s accusation was, to be sure, more professionally dressed than many of the others. But it’s equally erroneous. TRUMP’S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CRUSADE DRAWS BACKING FROM COHORT OF PROMINENT LEGAL SCHOLARS Solicitor General John Sauer wasted no time pushing back on Kagan’s characterization, which, in its specific context, was limited to the government’s contention that birthright citizenship for the U.S.-born children of illegally or temporarily present aliens remained an open question even after the Supreme Court’s 1898 decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark. Sauer pointed out the irony of Kagan’s characterization: the modern "consensus" that Wong Kim Ark settled these questions is the revisionist interpretation. The federal government only definitively adopted this view of Wong Kim Ark in the 1930s. And it did so at the prompting of a single senior State Department official who had earlier admitted in a law review article that his opinion was contrary to that of the general legal community. Sauer’s response hits on a truth that cannot be repeated enough to the American public: Much of the prevailing modern assumption about "universal" birthright citizenship is based on a revisionist interpretation. The view exists as the "consensus" today only because it won out in a hostile takeover, supplanting an original, and far more limited, understanding of the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. INSIDE SUPREME COURT: HOW TRUMP HEARD BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS Consider the ACLU attorney’s reference during oral argument to an 1896 State Department regulation that defined birth on U.S. soil as the sole requirement for birthright citizenship, excepting only the children of tribal Indians and foreign diplomats. Yes, that policy existed. It was apparently implemented during the latter half of President Grover Cleveland’s second term. But it was, itself, a revisionist policy: It broke not just from the policies of earlier administrations, but from the policy articulated by the executive branch during Cleveland’s own first term. In 1885, Cleveland’s first secretary of state, Thomas Bayard, had instructed federal officials not to issue an American passport to a man whom all parties agreed had been born in the United States to parents who weren’t ambassadors. Bayard concluded that the man, Richard Greisser, wasn’t a U.S. citizen, despite having been born in Ohio, because his German father and Swiss mother had never established permanent residency in the United States. In fact, they’d returned with Richard to Germany within a year of his birth and raised him there as a German subject. In stark contrast to the regulation issued more than a decade later, the first Cleveland administration declared that Greisser had been, at the time of his birth, "subject to a foreign power" and not "subject to the jurisdiction of the United States," as required by the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. Bayard’s position on birthright citizenship for the children of temporarily present aliens was the normative policy at the time. His predecessor under President Chester Arthur, Frederick Frelinghuysen, had similarly instructed federal officials not to issue citizenship documents to U.S.-born Ludwig Hausding. Like Greisser, Hausding was the son of "Saxon subjects" who were "only temporarily in the United States" and who raised him in Germany from infancy. Frelinghuysen’s State Department was clear that the mere "fact of birth [on U.S. soil], under circumstances implying alien subjection, establishes of itself no right of citizenship." The immigration status of Hausding’s parents at the time of his birth made his claims to birthright citizenship "untenable."" EXPERT FLAGS ‘DISAPPOINTING’ QUESTIONS FROM JUSTICES IN TRUMP BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CASE In 1890, State Department officials under Benjamin Harrison demonstrated their continued reliance on this operative theory of birthright citizenship, rejecting citizenship claims for a child born in a New York hospital to Mary Devereaux, a would-be immigrant mother awaiting a final determination of her eligibility to enter the country. The Irish mother had become ill while being held aboard a British ship in New York Harbor and was permitted to disembark for treatment at a New York hospital until after she gave birth. The State Department concluded that both mother and child were eligible for deportation because the child, though born on U.S. soil, was not born "subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in the sense of the [F]ourteenth [A]mendment." It also noted that this decision was consistent with the opinion of renowned legal scholar Francis Wharton, who wrote in his treatise that the same reasoning which excludes tribal Indians from birthright citizenship "would exclude the children born in the United States to foreigners here on transient residence." CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Whatever may have led to the 1896 change in State Department policy, it was, indeed, a change — a revision — of the earliest executive branch policies based on the earliest executive branch understandings of birthright citizenship. Those earliest executive branch interpretations of the Citizenship Clause are interchangeable with the allegedly "revisionist" theory now defended by the Trump administration. And the resultant policy lines drawn about who is or is not a citizen by birth are effectively the same. The Trump administration’s efforts to abide by the original public meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment aren’t revisionist. They’re just restorative. To the originalist, no distinction in words could matter more. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM AMY SWEARER Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb374d8d5dabda394f1c5 Four reasons why Markwayne Mullin may be the steady hand DHS needs at a critical time te 2026-04-13T09:12:20.466Z Four reasons why Markwayne Mullin may be the steady hand DHS needs at a critical time Kristi Noem may still be grabbing headlines, but we shouldn’t overlook her replacement at DHS, Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. Here are four reasons why Mullin, confirmed by the Senate in record time, could be the right man for the job. He’s the real deal. Unlike many other politicians, Mullin has worked with his hands and broken a sweat. He can ride a horse, drive a truck, haul sheetrock and unlike Chuck Schumer, likely grill a burger. He ran a company that employed more than 150 people in the state he represents — a plumbing business providing real services anyone can understand, not a consultancy or lobbying group or NGO feasting off government grants. Clinton once told voters "I feel your pain," but like millions of regular Americans, Mullin really knows what it’s like to suffer under arbitrary, dumb, or unnecessary policies. He reportedly got into politics after an Obama-era regulation shut down one of his businesses. While he is a solid Trump supporter and conservative Republican, he had no truck with those who entered the Capitol illegally on January 6, 2021. At the time, he reportedly helped Capitol police barricade the House chamber, and from the look of him at the time, the first man through any breach would not have fared well. His air is of a man who went to Washington because he felt it a duty, not because of perks, fame and future financial rewards. DHS SECRETARY MARKWAYNE MULLIN SIGNALS CLOSER SCRUTINY OF CUSTOMS AT MAJOR SANCTUARY CITY AIRPORTS He gets to be the good cop. Like Hulk Hogan coming in to save the day, Mullin just got tagged into the remaining three years of Trump’s term — and the boss’s promise to deport millions of illegal aliens. Mullin is following a DHS secretary who has had a tough time in the ring. Noem inherited a nightmare. She went from governing a state with a population under a million to managing 22 federal departments and 260,000 employees. It would have overwhelmed most people. After four years of an open border, rampant abuse of pardons and paroles, and a mix of purposeful mismanagement and incompetence, Noem was tasked with cleaning up. The Augean stables were a newly-detailed late-model Bentley by comparison. Noem achieved a lot: under her leadership, the border was mostly sealed. The number of illegal arrivals plummeted more than 90%. Bogus parole programs were stopped. Fraud was investigated instead of tolerated. Interior immigration enforcement, moribund under Biden, was resumed with great fanfare. Perhaps too much fanfare, because the huge challenge of enforcing deportation was the Achilles heel in Noem’s performance, through which came a poisoned arrow in the form of the Ryan Pretti and Renee Good shootings by ICE officers in Minnesota. The Democratic mainstream has hardened its position from Clinton’s reform-but-enforce to now opposing almost any immigration enforcement. Whatever really went down in the Twin Cities, the net result was a public relations disaster. By playing to the base over swing voters, seeming to put show over metrics, and presiding over the agency when things to get out of hand in Minneapolis, Noem had become a liability to Trump and Republican mid-term hopes. Mullin gets to throw off this baggage and make his own impression. He has a welcome measure of self-control. Ben Franklin once said that any three people can keep a secret — as long as two of them are dead. He died the year Congress decided that the future capital of the United States was to be in 10 square miles of what was then literally, and remains figuratively, a swamp. Scandals plague Washington like malaria once used to. But the vaccine that prevents it is clean living and a skeleton-free closet. No doubt Mullen will be under extreme scrutiny as Secretary of DHS. But provided his past is the no-nonsense westerner we’ve seen so far, he can survive the spotlight. He appears immune from capture by the Washington establishment blob. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION While affable and upright, he does have a temper. He is indeed "blunt and to the point," as he testified in his confirmation hearing. But his relatively calm and measured response to goading by Sen. Rand Paul showed some growth. "Let me earn your respect," he asked Paul, using "sir" in address throughout, as people still do in his part of the country. In an age where elitist politicians use profanity in a token effort to be "real," Mullin’s attempted self-control stands out — even if he doesn’t always succeed. He’s a brawler and can take a hit. In his brief career as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Mullen had a 5-0 record and made the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Senate is no picnic, but being a political appointee in a Trump administration is like covering yourself in honey and beating a beehive with a stick. You have to hold your friends close and your enemies closer. Democrats want your seat, and other Republicans want your job. Mullin has Trump’s confidence. He knows how the Hill works and he has allies in the Senate. The half of America that still respects borders and puts public safety ahead of left-wing ideology is rooting for him to succeed. Let’s give him a chance and see what he can do. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SIMON HANKINSON Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb360d8d5dabda394f1bc Snubbed by Trump, GOP candidates fighting for re-election act like they have his backing anyway te 2026-04-13T09:12:00.969Z Snubbed by Trump, GOP candidates fighting for re-election act like they have his backing anyway President Donald Trump's overall poll numbers are sliding, but among Republicans, the president's approval ratings remain sky-high. Trump's grip on a Republican Party he reshaped over the past decade remains extremely firm, and his endorsements in GOP primaries are highly influential. "The Trump endorsement is king in any primary," longtime Republican strategist and communicator Jesse Hunt told Fox News Digital. Veteran GOP consultant Matt Gorman highlighted that a "Trump endorsement is extremely powerful... it’s an undeniable force." So what should a Republican running for re-election who is facing primary challenge from a Trump-backed candidate do to survive? REPUBLICANS WIN BUT DEMOCRATS ALSO CLAIM VICTORY WITH BALLOT BOX SURGE IN TRUMP TERRITORY In two high-profile cases this year, incumbents fighting for their political lives are trying to make it appear the president is supporting them anyway. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is facing primary challenges from two Republicans in next month's primary: Rep. Julia Letlow and former Rep. John Fleming, who is currently the state treasurer. Trump earlier this year weighed into the race by endorsing Letlow. Cassidy was one of only seven Senate Republicans who voted in early 2021 to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters who aimed to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. Trump was acquitted by the Senate. But since the start of Trump's second term 15 months ago, Cassidy has been supportive of the president's agenda and his nominees. In his first campaign commercial after Trump endorsed Letlow, Cassidy, a doctor, highlighted a bill he authored that passed into law and increases penalties for criminals convicted of manufacturing and distributing fentanyl. "President Trump said it was the most important legislation he would sign this year," the senator said in the spot under pictures of Trump. In another spot, the narrator highlights that "Cassidy worked with President Trump to pass tax cuts," under pictures of the president and the senator and the words "Trump & Cassidy" repeatedly flashing on the screen. MIDTERM ALARM BELLS: TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATINGS KEEP SLIDING BUT DEMOCRATS' BRAND IN TOILET In Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, Rep. Thomas Massie is facing a challenge from Trump-backed Ed Gallrein in next month's primary. Massie has long been one of Trump's most vocal GOP critics in Congress, repeatedly taking aim at the president over the Epstein files and foreign policy. Trump allies have spent big bucks to boost Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, and to take aim at Massie. Massie spotlighted an old picture of himself and Trump smiling together at the top of a campaign ad last month. In Texas, longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn is fighting for his political life as he faces off in a late May primary runoff election against state Attorney General John Paxton, who is a MAGA firebrand and major Trump supporter. While Trump has stayed neutral in the showdown between the two Texas Republican titans, Cornyn has repeatedly spotlighted his support for Trump in his statements and on the campaign trail. He has also figuratively hugged the president tight in his ads. COMBUSTIBLE REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY IN TEXAS HEADING INTO OVERTIME The narrator in a recent spot noted that Cornyn "had his back" as it showed a picture of Trump and the senator standing next to each other giving the thumbs up sign. "We're especially grateful to your wonderful senators," Trump says in an old clip used in the ad, as the president referred to Cornyn and fellow Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. While Cornyn's ads aren't a total stretch, since neither he nor Paxton has landed Trump's endorsement, the messaging from Cassidy and Massie does not mention that their rivals are backed by the president. Hunt warns that could backfire by earning Trump's wrath. "If you haven’t earned it but portray as though you have, it could be the end of your campaign," Hunt said. "That’s if the President decides to take issue with it." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb34dd8d5dabda394f1b3 PRISHA MOSLEY, JOSH PAYNE: Our legal appeal could reshape justice for victims of gender 'care' cases te 2026-04-13T09:11:41.160Z PRISHA MOSLEY, JOSH PAYNE: Our legal appeal could reshape justice for victims of gender 'care' cases On Monday, a North Carolina appeals court will confront a question far larger than one case, one plaintiff or even one state. It will decide whether those harmed by ideology under the guise of medical care are entitled to justice. We believe the answer must be yes. As an emotionally distressed teenager, I, Prisha Mosley, found myself turning to dark places on the internet. Sucked in by chat rooms and subreddits, the addictive, alluring culture of inclusivity captivated my young, impressionable mind. While I struggled with multiple mental-health diagnoses and an eating disorder, I began to believe that what was truly wrong with me was that I was born into the wrong body. PRISHA MOSLEY: DOCTORS TOOK MY BODY APART FOR GENDER ‘CARE.’ NOW THEY ADMIT IT WAS WRONG I was told that instead of embracing my biological sex, I could turn myself into a boy. This seemed like the only way forward at the time, especially at the behest of my doctors, who swiftly agreed that this was what was wrong with me. They pressured me into believing that since I was already struggling with suicidal thoughts, I needed to complete the transition as soon as possible, since my life could be in danger. I was told that there was an easy and acceptable solution to my distress: testosterone injections and the surgical removal of my healthy breasts. My doctor even told me that by taking testosterone, I would go through puberty as a boy. This was a lie. This was medical fraud. The system that should have been designed to protect me instead threw me to the wolves. Rather than looking at my personal traumas and carefully considering the best way to resolve them, my doctors and therapists signed off on the complete mutilation of my body before I’d even gotten a driver’s license. TOP NEW YORK HOSPITAL TO END TRANSGENDER PROGRAM FOR MINORS I received deceptive affirmation, not medicine. My psychological suffering grew even worse than it was prior to my transition, compounded by the loss of my healthy, functioning body and body parts. And these consequences will never be reversible. For this reason, I contacted attorneys at Campbell Miller Payne to sue on the basis of medical malpractice. As her counsel, I, Josh Payne, have spent years examining the ins and outs of Prisha’s case — the first of its kind in the nation to proceed in court — and now others like it. Prisha’s case, sadly, isn’t unique. Around the country, vulnerable minors and young adults presenting with complex mental health conditions are directed toward life-altering medical interventions without the rigor, skepticism or informed consent that our legal and medical systems demand. CHLOE COLE REVEALS INTENSE PRESSURE TO TRANSITION AS A MINOR, PARENTS WERE TOLD SHE'D 'PROBABLY DIE’ When Prisha sought care, she was entitled to the most basic protections embedded in both law and medicine: evidence-based treatment grounded in transparency and the core medical principle of "do no harm." But instead, her doctors sold her a false story that she could change sexes, and they mutilated her body in service of that lie. In 2023, Prisha filed suit against the medical providers who facilitated her transition, alleging fraud, negligence and malpractice. But her case has yet to be decided by a jury of her peers. It was dismissed on a procedural technicality: time. TEXAS DETRANSITIONER SHARES HOW DOCTORS AND INTERNET ‘COSPLAY’ GROOMED HER INTO PERMANENT SURGERY The trial court ruled that her claims came too late. But this is precisely the injustice at the heart of this appeal. Prisha was completely unaware that the testosterone and surgery the defendants pushed on her as "treatment" could possibly harm her. Cases like Prisha’s are ill-suited to rigid statutes of limitation because the patient trusts her medical professionals to care for her honestly. When that trust is broken through deception, the harm is not immediately apparent. In fact, it is often obscured by the very authority and ideology that drive these decisions. Recognizing this, North Carolina lawmakers extended the statute of limitations for these cases, acknowledging that justice must account for delayed understanding in matters of profound medical consequence. Yet despite this legislative win, Prisha’s claims were dismissed with prejudice, barring her from ever presenting her case before a jury. FORMER TRANSGENDER CLINIC INSIDER CALLS $2M GENDER SURGERY VERDICT 'TIP OF THE ICEBERG' Courts exist to examine disputed facts, not to foreclose them. In Prisha’s case, there are legitimate questions that demand examination. What did her doctors know? What did they disclose? And did they meet the standard of care owed to a vulnerable patient? Those questions deserve answers and are precisely why we filed an appeal. That appeal is what we will be arguing on Monday, April 13, in our written submission to the court. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION This is first and foremost about principles. It is about whether the law will recognize that vulnerable patients cannot meaningfully consent to interventions whose consequences they cannot comprehend. It is about whether medical professionals may advance unproven treatments without accountability. We are told that cases like Prisha’s are rare. But whether or not they are, rarity is not a defense to negligence. The law does not exist to protect negligent and fraudulent conduct. The law exists to protect people from harm. Our case is not only about justice for one individual, but also about setting a precedent for other such cases nationwide. It stands at the intersection of medicine, ethics and accountability in an era where all three, at times, come into conflict. If our appeal is successful, it will not guarantee victory, but it will guarantee something far more fundamental: the right for detransitioners to be heard. A successful appeal will prove that accountability does not end when the medical procedure does. On the heels of the Fox Varian $2 million verdict this year, it would prove that justice for detransitioners nationwide is coming. Monday, the court will consider our arguments and determine whether justice can be advanced in our case. We believe this should not be a difficult decision. Joshua Payne is an attorney representing Prisha Mosley and co-founder of Campbell Miller Payne, a law firm dedicated to representing detransitioners and others harmed through medical transition procedures.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM PRISHA MOSLEY Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb324d8d5dabda394f19e The Last Day at Kids of Faith: Parents Navigating a Child Care Crisis te 2026-04-13T09:11:00.828Z The Last Day at Kids of Faith: Parents Navigating a Child Care Crisis Inside one of the hundreds of day care centers that have recently closed in one state, forcing parents to make difficult decisions about their careers. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb311d8d5dabda394f195 Trump’s Military Transgender Ban Is Keeping Workers on Expensive Paid Leave te 2026-04-13T09:10:41.256Z Trump’s Military Transgender Ban Is Keeping Workers on Expensive Paid Leave Highly trained service members have been put on paid leave for nearly a year as they wait for the military to decide their fate. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dcb2fdd8d5dabda394f18c After Charlie Kirk’s Death, a Fight for the Youth Vote te 2026-04-13T09:10:21.381Z After Charlie Kirk’s Death, a Fight for the Youth Vote A fledgling Democratic group and the far-right white nationalist Nick Fuentes seek to make gains on college campuses that have recently been dominated by Turning Point USA. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dca502d8d5dabda394f002 The AI you use every day is biased — and it’s quietly shaping your worldview, new report says te 2026-04-13T08:10:42.502Z The AI you use every day is biased — and it’s quietly shaping your worldview, new report says Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of everyday life, helping people search for information, complete schoolwork, and make decisions. But what many users don’t realize is that AI systems are not neutral. They are shaped by hidden design choices that influence how they respond — and, ultimately, how people think. The concern is not just theoretical. A recent Fox News Digital report highlighted the controversy surrounding Google’s Gemini chatbot after the system identified multiple Republican senators as violating its hate speech policies — while naming no Democrats.  The findings, based on a prompt evaluating all 100 U.S. senators, raised fresh questions about whether AI systems can reflect ideological assumptions embedded in their training data and design. GOOGLE GEMINI DECLARES ONLY GOP SENATORS VIOLATE HATE SPEECH POLICY, ZERO DEMOCRATS, AUTHOR CLAIMS That episode is not an isolated case. A new report from America First Policy Institute (AFPI) reveals that many AI systems consistently lean in particular ideological directions. These biases can affect how political issues, social topics and news sources are presented. Because users often trust AI as an objective tool, these subtle influences can shape opinions over time without users realizing it. Matthew Burtell, a senior policy analyst for AI and Emerging Technology at AFPI, said the pattern appears across the industry — not just in isolated cases. "What we found was a general ideological bias, not just in a particular model, but across the spectrum," Burtell told Fox News Digital, adding that the models tend to lean center left. The implications go beyond bias alone. Research shows that AI systems are not just reflecting viewpoints — they can actively influence them. That combination — bias and persuasion — raises deeper concerns about AI’s role in shaping public opinion. "AI is persuasive and it also leans left," Burtell said. "So if you combine these two things, it may certainly have an influence on people’s beliefs about different policies."  Recent examples have fueled those concerns. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has faced criticism from some researchers who argue its responses on political and cultural issues can skew in a particular ideological direction, while Microsoft’s AI tools have drawn scrutiny for how they frame controversial topics and limit certain viewpoints. Those concerns have been reflected in testing as well. In 2024, Fox News Digital evaluated several leading AI chatbots — including Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot and Meta AI — to assess potential racial bias. NEW AI COALITION TARGETS WASHINGTON, BIG TECH AS GROUP WARNS CHILD SAFETY RISKS OUTPACING SAFEGUARDS The report also raises serious safety concerns. AI systems have, in some cases, engaged in harmful interactions — especially with younger users. Without clear transparency about how these systems are designed and what safeguards are in place, parents and users cannot make informed decisions about which platforms are safe. To address these risks, the report calls for greater transparency from tech companies. This includes disclosing how systems are designed, what values they prioritize, how they are tested for bias and safety, and what incidents occur after deployment. WHITE HOUSE AI CZAR BLASTS BLUE STATES FOR INSERTING 'WOKE IDEOLOGY' INTO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The goal is not to control what AI systems say, but to give the public enough information to evaluate them critically. Ultimately, the report makes it clear that AI is not just a tool — it is a powerful force shaping how people access information and understand the world. Without transparency, users remain in the dark about the biases embedded in these systems. And as AI becomes more influential, that lack of visibility may have far-reaching consequences for individuals and society alike. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dca2d9d8d5dabda394efde 10-Year-Old’s Letter To NASA Sparks Viral Push To “Bring Pluto Back” te 2026-04-13T08:01:29.051Z 10-Year-Old’s Letter To NASA Sparks Viral Push To “Bring Pluto Back” By Ethan Faverino | A 10-year-old girl’s heartfelt plea to restore Pluto’s status as a full planet has gone viral, drawing responses from NASA leadership and highlighting Arizona’s deep connection. Mike’s Weather Page shared the story on X, saying, “Dear @NASA. From 10-year-old Kaela. She is mailing to you today. Too cute not to post. She and her family are friends of ours. #bringplutoback” In her handwritten letter, Kaela wrote: “Dear N.A.S.A… Please make Pluto a planet again. I really want it to be a planet again. Here are some reasons that Pluto should be a planet again: It is part of our solar system and used to be a planet. It is a dwarf planet and deserves to be an actual planet It might make a lot of people happy.” 🛰️ PLEADING FOR PLUTO: Earlier this week, Mike Boylan of Mike's Weather Page had a hand in getting a 10-year-old girl's message to NASA asking for Pluto to be made a planet again, and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman replied to his post on X. Boylan joins FOX Weather to talk… pic.twitter.com/32AZNq3zhs — FOX Weather (@foxweather) April 10, 2026 NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded directly to the tweet, saying: “Kaela – we are looking into this.” The office of Congressman Abraham Hamadeh also chimed in, stating: “Kaela – Congressman Hamadeh Agrees! He recently sent a letter to President Trump asking for the same thing. It’s time Arizona’s Planet was rightfully classified.” Kaela- Congressman Hamadeh agrees! He recently sent a letter to President Trump asking for the same thing. It’s time Arizona’s planet was rightfully classified! https://t.co/VuTQIDyXWR — Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) April 11, 2026 Pluto holds special significance in Arizona. It was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory. The story of that discovery impressed state Rep. Justin Wilmeth (R-LD2) enough that he introduced legislation in 2024 designating Pluto as Arizona’s official state planet. House Bill 2477, signed into law on March 29, 2024, simply states “Pluto is the official state planet,” making Arizona the only state to claim an official state planet. Arizona’s designation celebrates the state’s rich astronomy heritage. Flagstaff became the first designated International Dark Sky City in 2001, preserving pristine night skies ideal for observation. The area also boasts a strong lunar legacy: every astronaut who walked on the moon trained in Flagstaff, using sites like Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Grand Canyon National Park. “It might not be your choice, but if it is, please, please, please make it a planet, added Kaela. “It would make me very, very, very happy. If you can’t make it an actual planet, please consider it a planet.” Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link. The post 10-Year-Old’s Letter To NASA Sparks Viral Push To “Bring Pluto Back” first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dca2c4d8d5dabda394efd5 AZ Corp Commission Approves Small Credit To UNS Summer Electric Bills te 2026-04-13T08:01:08.459Z AZ Corp Commission Approves Small Credit To UNS Summer Electric Bills By Matthew Holloway | The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a temporary bill credit for UNS Electric customers, expected to reduce monthly costs during peak summer usage. According to a Wednesday press release, the Commission approved an $18.50 monthly credit for customers with average usage of 884 kilowatt-hours. The credit will be in effect from May 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The measure was approved in a 5–0 vote during the Commission’s open meeting on April 8. Open Meeting Adjourned: The ACC held its April Open Meeting on 4/8/26, voting on 30 agenda items. pic.twitter.com/EuLUQlYx13 — Arizona Corporation Commission (@CorpCommAZ) April 8, 2026 The adjustment is tied to the Purchased Power and Fuel Adjustment Clause (PPFAC), a mechanism which utilities use to recover fuel and purchased power costs. The Commission stated that utilities do not earn a profit on expenses recovered through the PPFAC. Commissioner Kevin Thompson said in the release that the credit follows the Commission’s earlier action to address a significant under-collection in the PPFAC balance. In May 2023, the Commission approved a temporary surcharge to reduce the balance, which was accruing interest costs that were being passed on to ratepayers. “The Commission had to make a tough vote in 2023 to pay down significant fuel cost debt that had been allowed to build as a result of circumstances outside the utilities’ control,” Thompson said. “As a result of the temporary surcharge, UNS was able to rapidly pay down the debt and save ratepayers money in the long run. Asking ratepayers to pay more in their monthly bills to pay down costs is never an easy task, but this solution removes the massive debt hanging over the heads of the ratepayers and provides additional bill relief when customers need it most.” The surcharge was eliminated in December 2025 after the balance was paid down. The Commission said that the change reduced the average residential customer’s bill by approximately $20 per month. Following the removal of the surcharge, the utility reported a positive PPFAC balance of $5.6 million in mid-February 2026, which has continued to grow. According to the release, UNS Electric began experiencing under-collection in October 2021, which grew to approximately $48 million. The deficit was attributed to increased natural gas prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events including Winter Storm Uri, and global energy market impacts related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “As we are approaching the summer heat, I am glad the Commission was able to provide some rate relief for customers in Kingman, Lake Havasu, Nogales, and other smaller communities in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties,” Chairman Nick Myers said in a statement. ELECTRICITY BILLS REDUCED FOR UNS ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS: The ACC approved 2 items at the 4/8/26 Open Meeting that will slash UNSE customers' monthly bills by approximately $15.50, from May-Dec 2026. See news releaseshttps://t.co/jyvjpm9NMX… &https://t.co/Dq9oBbytHq… — Arizona Corporation Commission (@CorpCommAZ) April 8, 2026 With the new temporary credit in place, the Commission said a typical residential customer is expected to see an average monthly reduction of approximately $38 this summer compared to the same period last year. “As regulators we often have to make difficult decisions as we balance the various interests involved in ratemaking,” Myers said. “In this case, I am pleased that our difficult decision to address the PPFAC in 2023 has resolved the problem and resulted in a meaningful reduction in rates for UNSE customers through the end of the year.”   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 AZ Corp Commission Approves Small Credit To UNS Summer Electric Bills first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dca2afd8d5dabda394efcc ASU Professor Praises Terrorists, Advocates For Violence Against Political Opponents te 2026-04-13T08:00:47.601Z ASU Professor Praises Terrorists, Advocates For Violence Against Political Opponents By Staff Reporter | An Arizona State University (ASU) professor is making the case that Americans are wrong to view Islamic terrorists abroad as terrorists.  Associate history professor Alexander “Alex” Avina also qualified violence as a moral and natural right to resisting tyranny and oppression in the “Psychic Militancy” podcast.  “The Iranian propaganda is helping us, too,” said Avina. “You can critique Zionism, you can critique the genocide in Gaza, but can you make that next leap forward and say, these people do have an actual right to resist tyranny via armed struggle, because that’s the only way to get rid of colonialism[.]”  🚨 “Iranian propaganda is really helping us,” Sinwar’s “political theory,” and no condemnation of terrorist groups — Inside an "anti-imperialist" discussion featuring an @ASU professor On Lara Sheehi’s Psychic Militancy podcast, Sheehi, a former GWU professor, spoke with former… pic.twitter.com/Nqw7pxIQVW — Stu Smith (@thestustustudio) April 4, 2026 “Psychic militancy” refers to an unyielding form of resistance against political systems perceived as violent. Most adherents of this school of thought focus on resisting that which they perceive to be imperialism, settler colonialism, and capitalism.  Avina described America as a “genocidal, Epstein empire,” accusing the Trump administration of “waging mass death, and using mass amounts of violence against civilian populations” as remedies to contradictions of policy.  Avina said the present day is defined as a “socialism vs. barbarism struggle” to avoid genocide, ecological collapse, and environmental degradation.   “It feels like we’re forced into a murder-suicide pact,” said Avina.  Avina argued those in the Middle East acting on Islamic beliefs weren’t terrorists, but defenders against an existential threat against humanity.   “What we’re witnessing right now is a lot of revolutionary cunning from people who we’ve been socialized in this country to continuously misidentify as dangerous terrorists, as barbarians, as somehow antithetical to our ‘civilizational values’,” said Avina.  Avina also joined in the praise of the late Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar. On the topic of those allegedly mislabeled as terrorists, Avina challenged the American narrative on South American drug cartels, calling it “bullshit.” Avina said the proper perspective was to understand U.S. drug demand as to blame for cartel violence in Mexico.  “If there wasn’t the world’s largest market for licit and illicit drugs north of the Mexican border, if that didn’t exist, then we wouldn’t see the type of violence we would see today,” said Avina. “[Media reporters] don’t get at the structural and historical reasons of this type of violence, and it’s because we are the world’s largest narco-state.”  Avina argued Americans need to understand “basic and historical education” that America is based on violence, torture, suffering, disappearances, and systematic murder of migrants. Avina also said the lack of support for Palestinians was rooted in racism.  “This is a history of [American] sovereignty,” said Avina. “Can you provide the historical and political coordinates for a nation that has been so thoroughly indoctrinated in racism and Islamophobia and other types of ideological edifices that prevent them from seeing that the struggle of Palestinians for self-determination is a very human one?” Avina has previously extolled the virtues of violence within political discourse.  Last fall Avina advocated for physical attacks on the right in the “Millennials Are Killing Capitalism” podcast responding to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.  “Today I read a quote by the writer Roberto Bolano where he says there’s a time for reciting poetry and there’s a time for fists, and this is definitely a time for fists,” said Avina. Avina is the brother-in-law of Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06).  Mi cuñado truly has no shame https://t.co/4dhlI7mF0v pic.twitter.com/ehVLyuC2Vl — Alexander Aviña (@Alexander_Avina) April 10, 2026 AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link. The post ASU Professor Praises Terrorists, Advocates For Violence Against Political Opponents first appeared on AZ FREE NEWS. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc994ed8d5dabda394eec2 'It looked like a landing strip': Pilot, passengers forced to make emergency landing on 7th Street in central Phoenix recall moments before impact te 2026-04-13T07:20:46.520Z 'It looked like a landing strip': Pilot, passengers forced to make emergency landing on 7th Street in central Phoenix recall moments before impact The pilot and passengers aboard a seaplane exclusively spoke to 12News following an emergency landing on Sunday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc9734d8d5dabda394ee24 Best Bets: Monday, April 13, 2026 te 2026-04-13T07:11:48.071Z Best Bets: Monday, April 13, 2026 Coming Up Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc9720d8d5dabda394ee1b Davis Dam releases for April 13 te 2026-04-13T07:11:28.434Z Davis Dam releases for April 13 Tuesday Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc9707d8d5dabda394ede8 Why Eric Swalwell was forced to quit California governor’s race after sexual misconduct allegations te 2026-04-13T07:11:03.346Z Why Eric Swalwell was forced to quit California governor’s race after sexual misconduct allegations Eric Swalwell was so close to becoming California’s governor that he was practically measuring the drapes. And then, suddenly, it all came crashing down, thanks to his own egregious conduct. Last night, after desperately trying to hang on, Swalwell suspended his campaign. He was delusional if he thought he could keep running. He finally faced the inevitable music.  The Democratic congressman didn't have much choice. His own party, led by Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Adam Schiff and Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, was demanding that he drop out of the race.  SWALWELL FACES EXPULSION EFFORT FOLLOWING BOMBSHELL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS He was denying many of the specifics when it came to sexually abusing women on his staff, but his candidacy was clearly toast. His campaign chairman immediately resigned. The state teachers’ union withdrew its support. The service employees’ union suspended its campaign activities. In a video Friday night, Swalwell seemed to soften his denials: "I do not suggest to you in any way that I’m perfect or that I’m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife and to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position." Nobody’s buying that. When you’re a public figure with three children, it’s not just between you and your spouse. It’s also between you and the voters. SWALWELL ATTORNEY DENIES MISCONDUCT, SAYS CONGRESSMAN TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 'LAPSES IN JUDGMENT' Why, knowing of the intense scrutiny a gubernatorial candidate faces, would Swalwell allegedly engage in sex with staffers, given the stark power imbalance between a member of Congress and starstruck young women? When Swalwell says all this emerged to torpedo his frontrunner campaign – "these allegations are false" – he is probably right. But he put the target on his own back. Actually, a bandwagon running on four flat tires may be the least of the candidate’s problems. The Manhattan district attorney’s office confirms that it has opened an investigation into some of the allegations, and openly invited "survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations" to get in touch with its special victims unit.   What’s more, both House and campaign staffers for Swalwell gave news outlets an unsigned letter saying they’re "horrified" by the allegations, calling them "abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office," which "betrays the trust of all Californians." And one Republican representative, Anna Paulina Luna, is pushing for the House to expel him. The media have clearly been driving the disclosures about the congressman, who represents the San Francisco area. One of the other two major Democratic candidates – former congresswoman Katie Porter or billionaire Tom Steyer – will inherit the frontrunner’s mantle. In California’s "jungle primary," the top two finishers make it to the fall ballot, regardless of party. President Trump has already endorsed former British politician and Fox News host Steve Hilton. But in the bluest of blue states, the Democratic candidate is virtually assured of winning.    SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING' The San Francisco Chronicle conducted a series of interviews with a woman who said Swalwell had assaulted her twice when she was too drunk to consent, including one encounter when he was her boss. The woman did not report the alleged assaults because she didn’t think she’d be believed, according to the Chronicle, which viewed texts that she sent to a friend at the time, and medical records showing she sought pregnancy and STD testing days after the alleged 2024 assault.     CNN also reported on this woman, along with three others who accused Swalwell of various kinds of sexual misconduct. The woman was shown in shadow to protect her identity, and said she felt comfortable meeting Swalwell – after a 2019 drunken encounter – because she now had a partner and felt more confident: "After that bar closed, we went to another, I went to the bathroom, and I don’t remember anything after that… I remember the next day, I can see flashes of that evening of him on top of me, me pushing him off, him grabbing me. It was a lot more aggressive. It was aggressive." "Did you say no?" asked anchor Pamela Brown. "Yes. I said no. I said I — in my flash that I can recall, I was pushing him off of me saying no." What did he do? "He didn’t stop." The unidentified woman said that in 2019, when she was still working for Swalwell, she woke up naked with him in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking. She said she had no memory of what happened but could feel physically that they’d had sexual contact. CNN reported that three other women said Swalwell sent them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos. The New York Times interviewed a social media influencer named in the CNN report, Ally Sammarco, who said the congressman sent her inappropriate messages on Snapchat in 2021. Snapchat content is programmed to disappear after a short period of time. Sammarco, now 28, told the paper that Swalwell told her she was attractive and asked about alcohol. "A lot of it was like photos of him going on trips, on airplanes, in hotels, him laying in bed, and then like things like, ‘What would you do if I was, like, with you’ or, like, ‘Wish you were here,’" Sammarco told the paper, adding that he also sent an unsolicited photo of his penis. PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: 'INDEFENSIBLE' "It made me feel gross and uncomfortable. I didn’t ask for that," Sammarco is quoted as saying. While posting pictures of the birth of his third baby, she says, he was messaging her: "When am I going to see you?"  Sammarco says she finally stopped responding after realizing the congressman wasn’t going to help her find a job. Politico, meanwhile, reports that a former Swalwell employee, upon leaving his office, signed an agreement that required confidentiality and non-disparagement.  This was related to workplace discrimination, not sexual harassment. A spokesman had denied that the office had used any NDAs. A Swalwell attorney sent letters to two of the women cited by CNN, demanding they retract their statements or face possible legal action. These letters said the women’s claims were "undermined" by their "voluntary and cooperative relationship with Mr. Swalwell over the course of many years," including the former staffer asking him for job references. I guess those letters are now moot. You think?  Had the allegations been made by just one woman, it would have been easier for the candidate to dismiss. It’s not like sexual accusations haven’t been made against Trump and the term-limited governor and 2028 contender Gavin Newsom, which he has admitted. Even a close personal friend of Swalwell, Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, pulled his endorsement, calling the conduct "indefensible." SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIES Eric Swalwell showed no sensitivity to the intimidation factor involving young female staffers. The overall pattern, according to their allegations, is the same. It’s hardly surprising that his party wanted Swalwell immediately booted from the race. Instead of heading to Sacramento, he wiped out his political career. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc96ded8d5dabda394edcc The largest orbital compute cluster is open for business te 2026-04-13T07:10:22.701Z The largest orbital compute cluster is open for business Kepler Communications is flying 40 GPUs in Earth orbit. And its latest customer is Sophia Space. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc7d29d8d5dabda394eae8 Dinghy route taken by missing American woman and jailed husband recreated as details of disappearance emerge te 2026-04-13T05:20:41.453Z Dinghy route taken by missing American woman and jailed husband recreated as details of disappearance emerge GREAT ABACO ISLAND, Bahamas — As more details emerge about Brian Hooker's final moments with his wife before she disappeared into the sea, Fox News Digital recreated the route Brian and his wife Lynette took moments before disaster struck. Mo Monestime, who has spent 15 years chartering boats in the Great Abaco Island area, guided the excursion through the tropical Bahamian waters. He first exited a small harbor across from the Abaco Inn, where the Hookers had drinks before attempting to return to their boat.  The route calls for a turn southwest after clearing the harbor, and followed by a short ride between the western coastline of Elbow Cay and the eastern coastline of Lubbers Quarters. That was the route the Hookers attempted to take at around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.  LYNETTE HOOKER MISSING IN BAHAMAS: TIMELINE OF MICHIGAN WOMAN'S DISAPPEARANCE, HUSBAND'S ARREST According to digital maps reportedly drawn by Brian and sent to his friends, the Hookers' return trip ended abruptly near the southwestern turn, about halfway through the ride to their anchored yacht, which sat in a popular channel used by tourists and locals alike.  The water surrounding the cays is clear enough to see to the bottom and sometimes as shallow as only four feet, Monestime said. At high tide, he estimated the water rises to about 10 feet.  The small channel between the two cays is rife with activity, as boaters motor through, anchor, and maneuver their dinghies in and out of shallow waters. Nearby is Tahiti Beach, along with a large sandbar that features a floating bar when weather conditions allow. The ride from the harbor to the popular anchoring spot took only about four minutes.  But wind gusts may have created choppy waters before Brian said his wife fell overboard, separating the pair. In a recording of a phone call Brian made to a friend on April 7 obtained by CBS, Brian gave the most detailed account yet about what he says is an accident that led to Lynette's disappearance.  "She basically just bounced off the dinghy in the middle of a little blow, like 20-something knot winds that popped up," he said on the call, adding that he and his wife were not wearing life jackets.  BOATYARD EMPLOYEE FOUND ‘EXHAUSTED’ MISSING AMERICAN'S HUSBAND WHEN HE WASHED ASHORE AFTER NIGHT ADRIFT "It was sun down, and the sun set like basically 10 minutes after she fell over," he said. "The dinghy key went over with he because it wasn't clipped to anything or anybody, and she had the spare dinghy key in her dry bag, which was with her."  Brian continued, saying the wind rapidly blew the couple apart and that he thinks Lynette tried to swim back to the yacht, which he said was about 1,000 yards or so from where the incident occurred.  "I yelled to her that I lost an oar, and then I threw the anchor out, anchored the dinghy, and just, yeah, I yelled. I couldn't see her anymore because the moon had not risen yet," he said.  Later, he said he threw a flotation cushion toward Lynette right after she went into the water, but he couldn't tell whether she was able to grab it. He said he yelled for her for about an hour.  "By the time I got the anchor set, I was probably a quarter to a half a mile away from her, and I decided that I had to go get help," he said, "but I could not get to the island, so I paddled." "And it was a cascade of failures, and it's something I'm never going to forgive myself for," he said. "We stayed to long, we left too dark, all kinds of s---. No life jackets. I f---ing threw the dinghy out last— the anchor out last — instead of first. Can't really explain it, you know?"  MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN'S HUSBAND HAD ‘SPOTTY' CELL SERVICE DURING 8-HOUR TREK TO REPORT DISAPPEARANCE: TELECOM BOSS Eventually, Brian claims, he washed ashore about four miles northeast of where the incident reportedly occurred, on a beach covered with jagged rocks, adjacent to a boat repair and storage facility called Marsh Harbor Boatyard. There, he was met by a security guard who eventually called the police.  Brian was arrested at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, four days after the incident.  He is currently being held in jail in Freeport, a separate Bahamian island, while police continue to investigate Lynette's disappearance. Bahamian law allows a 48-hour initial hold time before filing charges against a suspect, which can be extended under certain circumstances. The first deadline for his release was Friday night, but his detention was extended by 72 hours. He is expected to be released or charged with a crime by Monday night.  Lynette's fate remains uncertain, but local authorities have announced that their investigation has shifted to a recovery effort.  Butler said Brian has been cooperating with authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing."  Brian has maintained throughout the investigation that he is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing, and issued a statement on Wednesday mourning his wife's disappearance.  "I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus," he said on Facebook. "Not being found, that’s the mystery," Monestime told Fox News Digital.  "It is very hard to disappear, because, again, we’re so close to land," Monestime told Fox News Digital. "So if you do fall overboard [and] drown, somebody will see you the next day. Again, we can see bottom, you know? I’ll be driving the boat, I will see stingrays, I will see turtles, so I would see a human body. Somebody would see something. Somebody would say something, like, ‘Hey, we just saw something strange in the water.'" Monestime said drownings happen occasionally near Elbow Cay, but then reiterated that victims are recovered quickly.  "Again, you could see land all the way, the whole time," he said. "Even if you fall overboard in pitch dark, you still could see the lights from the shore." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc760ed8d5dabda394ea1b How JD Vance Tried and Failed to End the War in Iran That He Opposed te 2026-04-13T04:50:22.022Z How JD Vance Tried and Failed to End the War in Iran That He Opposed Vice President JD Vance led the highest-level talks between the United States and Iran in nearly 50 years. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc73c9d8d5dabda394e9db NYC mayor touts ‘socialist’ wins in first 100 days alongside Bernie Sanders te 2026-04-13T04:40:41.907Z NYC mayor touts ‘socialist’ wins in first 100 days alongside Bernie Sanders New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked his first 100 days in office Sunday alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, touting what he described as sweeping achievements driven by government intervention. Mamdani cited key wins, including securing $1.2 billion for universal child care, advancing plans for five publicly owned grocery stores, pursuing legal action against landlords, and boosting investment in services such as sanitation and infrastructure. In a reference to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her critique that socialists "eventually run out of other people’s money," Mamdani defended his administration’s approach. "I have thought often of the Margaret Thatcher's quote, the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money," he said. "If anything, my friends, it seems that you eventually need a socialist to clean up the mess," AOC, MAMDANI URGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PARENTS TO SIGN KIDS UP FOR FREE PRE-K Sanders also praised the mayor’s agenda, calling it an inspiration for strengthening communities. "This is the first time I was ever introduced by someone who talked proudly about democratic socialism," Sanders said. "And it feels great." Mamdani highlighted additional policy priorities during his first three months in office.  To address rising food costs, he proposed opening five publicly owned, affordable grocery stores — one in each borough — by the end of his first term, a proposal critics say represents a departure from free-market principles. Critics say the plan departs from free-market principles. He added that the first location is expected to open next year.   MAMDANI CLARIFIES NYC WON’T CHECK IMMIGRATION STATUS FOR UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE ENROLLEES The mayor also pointed to universal  child care as a major early win, though critics say the program relies on heavy taxation and could disrupt existing private daycare providers. Mamdani noted the initiative was fulfilled by his eighth day in office through a $1.2 billion partnership with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. The administration has intensified enforcement in the housing sector, with Mamdani saying it issued more than 195,000 violations against landlords and secured more than $34 million in settlements, judgments , and repairs for tenants. With murders at record lows, officials said the city has removed more than 1,000 guns from the streets and established its first Office of Community Safety to address gun violence and mental health. In addition, city workers also have filled more than 102,000 potholes in 100 days and are on track to repave more than 1,000 lane miles of streets by the end of the fiscal year. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc6816d8d5dabda394e89f Man in wheelchair dies days after being hit by car in Phoenix te 2026-04-13T03:50:46.605Z Man in wheelchair dies days after being hit by car in Phoenix Police say the man was in the roadway and may have been impaired when he was hit. The driver of the car tried to avoid the man but could not. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc6375d8d5dabda394e795 Heidi Klum unrecognizable in dramatic Coachella disguise as 'Techno Hexen' te 2026-04-13T03:31:01.606Z Heidi Klum unrecognizable in dramatic Coachella disguise as 'Techno Hexen' Heidi Klum loves a theme. The supermodel looked barely recognizable as she frolicked around the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival over the weekend in Indio, Calif. Klum, 52, smiled widely as she raised arms while walking the grounds at the Empire Polo Field wearing a jet black wig with mirrored sunglasses over her eyes. "Coachella day 2 'Techno Hexen,'" the "Germany's Next Topmodel" host wrote with a social media clip shared Saturday. SABRINA CARPENTER COMMANDS COACHELLA WITH SEE-THROUGH BODYSUIT AND A-LIST SURPRISES Klum sported a sheer white gown with layers of fabric cascading down her chest and tucked into the back of a lacy pair of bottoms. She slung a black leather bag across her shoulder and trekked through the dusty venue wearing fishnets with black-and-white leather cowboy boots. APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST The mother-of-four made an equally impressive fashion statement the night before to kick off the festival. JUSTIN BIEBER'S $10M COACHELLA COMEBACK DRAWS BACKLASH AFTER HE PLAYS YOUTUBE VIDEOS DURING HIS SET Dressed in a white cut-out bodysuit with oversized jeans and a white beanie to match, Klum danced to a Disclosure song on social media before catching the DJ's closing set on the Outdoor stage. The Victoria's Secret angel was in good company throughout the star-studded weekend. Katy Perry and boyfriend Justin Trudeau are quite literally heating things up in the desert. KATY PERRY SHARES PDA-FILLED COACHELLA PHOTOS WITH BOYFRIEND JUSTIN TRUDEAU DURING WEEKEND FESTIVAL In a series of photos posted on the pop star's Instagram, Perry and Trudeau put their budding romance on full display at Coachella. In one snapshot, the duo walked hand-in-hand throughout the fairgrounds, and in another, Perry cozied up to Trudeau as the pair enjoyed a snack break. They later caught Justin Bieber's return after a years-long hiatus. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The 32-year-old singer — who was reportedly paid $10 million for his return — took the stage for a headlining performance, only to be met with a wave of criticism from online trolls. For the first half of the set, Bieber focused on his latest tracks from "Swag" and "Swag ll" before diving into a YouTube-heavy track list. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "Tonight is such a special night," Bieber told the crowd while sitting on a stool behind a table that held his laptop. "I feel like we gotta take you guys on a bit of a journey. Do you guys remember this song?" Bieber played hit songs like "Baby," "Never Say Never" and "Beauty and the Beat" on YouTube, while singing along to the music videos playing in the background. At one point, Katy Perry poked fun at the moments in between YouTube searches. "Thank God he has Premium," the Grammy nominee, 41, said in a video posted to her Instagram. "I don’t want to see no ads." Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc634dd8d5dabda394e781 Trump Attacks Pope Leo as Too Liberal and ‘Weak on Crime’ te 2026-04-13T03:30:21.764Z Trump Attacks Pope Leo as Too Liberal and ‘Weak on Crime’ President Trump’s lengthy post on social media showed there were really no boundaries when it comes to people he might target, including the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc57d3d8d5dabda394e652 Humane Society offers vet care, more te 2026-04-13T02:41:23.894Z Humane Society offers vet care, more Every pet deserves a loving home – and every family deserves the support they need to keep their best friend by their side, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) says. With that in mind, the organization offers a range of resources designed to keep pets and people together. Among its many services, AHS now offers online veterinary appointments for pets located in Arizona. The medical team can answer questions about a pet’s health through a convenient video call. Thanks to the Patricia L. Fontana Family, AHS offers these services at a reduced fee for a limited time. Visit www.azhumane.org/online-vet-care. In addition, the knowledgeable veterinarians and caring staff at AHS’ two full-service clinics strive to keep your pet healthy and happy, offering wellness care, vaccinations and medical exams. Using state-of-the-art equipment and diagnostic tools while continuing to offer affordable pet care for the community. Visit www.azhumane.org/all-veterinary-services. Finally, with high temperatures in Phoenix already hitting the 100-degree mark in March, AHS offers guidance to families to help keep pets safe over the summer months. From breaking down the dangers of tethering dogs outside (scorching summer temps turn deadly quickly and tethered dogs can easily become tangled, trapped without water, food or shelter) to explaining the signs of heat stroke in pets and providing guidance on how to prevent paw burns on Phoenix’s hot sidewalks (if it is too hot for bare feet, it is too hot for bare paws), AHS offers practical and helpful guidance to pet parents. Find heat safety information and resources by visiting www.azhumane.org/heat-safety-tips-for-pets. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc57bfd8d5dabda394e649 Trinity launches ComposerFest te 2026-04-13T02:41:03.982Z Trinity launches ComposerFest Urban Nocturns will perform April 24 as part of the Music at Trinity ComposerFest event (submitted photo). Music at Trinity announced the launch of ComposerFest, a new two-day concert experience dedicated to exploring the work of a single composer in depth. Organizers said that the inaugural event will spotlight Franz Josef Haydn, “a towering figure of the Classical period whose innovation, wit and musical imagination helped shape Western music as we know it.” The event, held at Trinity Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt St., takes place Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, featuring two distinct concert programs that explore Haydn’s chamber, vocal and keyboard music. Both concerts are free and open to the community. Find additional information at www.trinitymusicaz.org. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc57acd8d5dabda394e640 Program offers camping experience te 2026-04-13T02:40:44.491Z Program offers camping experience With two more opportunities in the spring season, the Family Campout Program helps residents learn the ropes of camping in Arizona’s many state parks (photo courtesy of Arizona State Parks & Trails). Arizona State Parks & Trails’ Family Campout Program offers an opportunity for families to learn the ropes and experience all the fun of being outdoors. Guests will learn how to set up a tent and an introduction to cooking outside, plus try fun activities to do while camping. Upcoming campouts include May 9-10 at River Island State Park in Parker, and May 29-31 at Lyman Lake State Park in St. Johns. Families may sign up for one event per season, and three campouts total. Registration is $90 for a family of up to four for one night and $110 for two-night events. Additional family members are $5 each. For more information or to register, visit www.azstateparks.com/family-camp. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc5551d8d5dabda394e5e5 Trump voices frustration with NATO, says Iranian navy ‘destroyed’ as US preps for blockade te 2026-04-13T02:30:41.846Z Trump voices frustration with NATO, says Iranian navy ‘destroyed’ as US preps for blockade President Donald Trump addressed several pressing international conflicts after stepping off Air Force One in Maryland on Sunday, declaring that Iranian naval forces had been destroyed ahead of a planned energy blockade and expressing sharp disapproval of NATO for its perceived lack of support.  "Their military is destroyed," Trump said. "Their whole Navy is underwater. You know that 158 ships are gone. Their navy is gone. Most of their mine droppers are gone." "At 10 tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect," Trump added. "Other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil."  Trump further underscored the United States’ energy independence, asserting that international vessels are bypassing traditional routes in favor of purchasing American oil. "There are many boats heading toward our country to fill up with oil and then go and take it," he said.  The president then expressed sharp disapproval of NATO countries, indicating that America's financial commitment to support the alliance is going to be under "very serious" examination.  "But I'm very disappointed in NATO," he said. "They weren't there for us. We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren't there for us." While NATO countries are now stepping up to assist the U.S., Trump described the effort as too late. "Now they want to come up, but there's no real threat anymore," he said. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc52fad8d5dabda394e59f Bucks part ways with Doc Rivers after NBA playoff miss: report te 2026-04-13T02:20:42.217Z Bucks part ways with Doc Rivers after NBA playoff miss: report Doc Rivers is out as the Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach, ESPN reported Sunday, citing sources. Rivers left his broadcasting job to return to the NBA sidelines as the Bucks’ coach shortly after Adrian Griffin was fired 43 games into the 2023-24 season. Now Rivers exits Milwaukee after a 126-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, capping a 32-50 season that ended in a missed NBA playoff berth. Rivers coached the Bucks to first-round playoff exits in each of the past two seasons. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The Bucks will now launch their third head coaching search in the past three years. Rivers’ departure comes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The NBA trade deadline passed in February without a deal involving Antetokounmpo. The two-time league MVP saw limited action in the 2025-26 season, appearing in a career-low 36 games. Antetokounmpo dealt with a knee hyperextension and bone bruise during the season. He was later sidelined for a stretch of games, fueling speculation the Bucks shut him down despite his being healthy, prompting an NBA investigation into the handling of the star forward. Antetokounmpo’s frustration boiled over as he insisted he was healthy enough to play despite being sidelined for a 10th straight game when Milwaukee faced the Boston Celtics on April 3. "I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that’s like — I’m saying it publicly — I want to f---ing play. You know what I’m saying?" he said, via The Athletic. "I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out." He then said he was "available to play." Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo’s comments after the team’s 133-101 loss. "The tough part about all this is that I’m in the middle, and I have nothing to do with it," Rivers said. "Coaches don’t decide any of this. The problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front.  "And we have to sit here and answer this stuff. I think there are two sides to this — I will tell you that — but I don’t want to get too involved in it." Rivers added that he didn’t like that the feud had gone "public." Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points and 9.8 rebounds this season. He was named NBA Finals MVP when he helped the Bucks secure the franchise’s first championship since 1971. Rivers coached the Celtics to the NBA title in 2008. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1983. After retiring as a player, Rivers moved into broadcasting, calling NBA games. In 1999, he was named head coach of the Orlando Magic, a role he held until 2003. Before returning to the coaching ranks, Rivers was part of ESPN’s lead NBA broadcasting team. Fox News' Ryan Gaydos 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/69dc50a1d8d5dabda394e55e Trump accuses Pope Leo of being 'terrible' on foreign policy over pontiff's anti-war comments te 2026-04-13T02:10:41.718Z Trump accuses Pope Leo of being 'terrible' on foreign policy over pontiff's anti-war comments President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Pope Leo XIV of being "terrible" on foreign policy as the pontiff continues to criticize the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and call for peace. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Leo is "weak on crime" and "terrible" for foreign policy over his anti-war comments in recent weeks following the start of the war in the Middle East. "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. "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!" "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," he continued. "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History." The president went on to say that the pope "should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise." "He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump," he wrote. "If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican." "Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!" he added. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc4e4ad8d5dabda394e513 Starved toddler died of neglect after eating diapers, drywall in filthy room, as parents' room was kept clean te 2026-04-13T02:00:42.169Z Starved toddler died of neglect after eating diapers, drywall in filthy room, as parents' room was kept clean An Indiana couple was arrested after their malnourished toddler died in deplorable living conditions, with investigators alleging the child had eaten pieces of diapers and drywall before his death and that the parents waited roughly 14 hours after last seeing him alive to call 911, according to police and court records. Trevor Reichard-Hayes, 39, and Katherine Carter, 31, are facing murder and neglect charges in connection with the death of 2-year-old Erik Reichard, the Tell City Police Department said in a press release. Officers found the child dead at around 1:20 p.m. on March 31 after Reichard-Hayes called 911 to report that his wife found their son not breathing. The couple reportedly told police that the last time they saw their son alive was around 11 p.m. the day before. Responding officers and medics who arrived a short time later performed CPR on the 2-year-old, but the child was pronounced dead at the scene. TWO ARRESTED IN NC AFTER POLICE FIND 13-YEAR-OLD KEPT IN DOG KENNEL, 5 OTHER KIDS IN 'FILTHY' HOME "I could tell based on my training and experience that the child had been deceased for several hours. The child was blue and pale," a detective wrote in the probable cause affidavit against his parents, according to PEOPLE. The boy was "extremely skinny" and covered with dozens of sores or bug bites, the detective added. Erik also weighed just 15 pounds, about half of what a child his age should be weigh. Carter told police that Erik had been eating his diapers, and the detective "suspected the child had been eating his diapers due to hunger," the affidavit reads. Investigators found that the home, which also housed two other children, was in horrible condition. The other children were removed from the home, including one who was hospitalized for severe malnutrition and dehydration. The detective said he observed "poor living conditions that included feces on the floor in the two children’s rooms as well as an abundance of drywall and paint chips, dirt, and pieces of diapers [lying] everywhere as well as insects/bugs in the home." In one bedroom, officers found a small child's bed, pieces of diaper and drywall debris all over the floor and a training toilet full of feces and urine "that appeared ... hadn’t been cleaned in days or perhaps weeks," according to the affidavit. But despite the children's bedrooms being in deplorable condition, the parents were living in a clean and well-kept bedroom. The affidavit said the pair's bedroom had "nice bedding, the bed was made, there was no extreme clutter, and it was clean, unlike the remainder of the home." MICHIGAN WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STARVING, TORTURING DISABLED SISTER-IN-LAW SHE LOCKED IN BASEMENT An autopsy showed that the boy's colon contained "foreign material with a gel-like substance and small white pieces. These findings were consistent with the gel found in the diapers worn by [Erik] as well as the material of the diaper itself. Some of the white material removed from the colon was also consistent with the drywall, paint chips, or spackling," according to PEOPLE. Erik's cause of death was determined to be severe malnourishment and severe dehydration as a result of neglect, according to the affidavit. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc472dd8d5dabda394e3a1 Trump Says Gas Prices Might Not Drop By Midterms, Highlighting G.O.P. Peril te 2026-04-13T01:30:21.810Z Trump Says Gas Prices Might Not Drop By Midterms, Highlighting G.O.P. Peril The president has sent mixed messages on how long he expects costs to be high. Some in his party voiced fresh concern after his comments on Sunday. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc44ead8d5dabda394e37a Patriots' Mike Vrabel was never expected at team's pre-draft press conference te 2026-04-13T01:20:42.854Z Patriots' Mike Vrabel was never expected at team's pre-draft press conference New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was never scheduled to be at the team’s pre-draft press conference on Monday, a team spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital on Sunday. Vrabel’s absence coincided with the scrutiny he’s received after he appeared in photos published in Page Six last week showing him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini being questionably close together. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM However, the Patriots issued a notice to reporters in March that Vrabel wouldn’t be at the pre-draft press conference. ESPN reported that Vrabel isn’t expected to talk to reporters until the draft. Patriots executive Eliot Wolf will hold the pre-draft news conference at 2 p.m. ET on Monday. The NFL is more than a week away from welcoming in the next crop of college football talent into the league. The Patriots have the No. 31 pick in the first round, which begins on April 23. While The Athletic initially defended Russini, sources familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that the journalist was being investigated. "After Page Six reached out to Dianna for comment on Tuesday, The Athletic immediately began an investigation. While the apparent conduct in the photos raised questions for Steven and leadership at The Athletic, an initial review suggested the images provided lacked context, specifically the presence of a larger group of friends," a source said. SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DEFENDS MIKE VRABEL, NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER OVER LEAKED PHOTOS "New details from the Page Six report and information from the investigation raised additional concerns that are now being further reviewed. The investigation is ongoing." The source added Russini's coverage is being reviewed, which is expected to take time, and she will not be reporting for the outlet in the meantime. The New York Times declined to comment. The photos showed Vrabel and Russini holding hands and hugging on the roof of the Sedona resort. Vrabel defended himself in a statement to Page Six. "These photos show a completely innocent interaction, and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response," he said. Fox News’ Jackson Thompson 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/69dc42bcd8d5dabda394e33f Our guidelines for political letters in election season te 2026-04-13T01:11:24.146Z Our guidelines for political letters in election season This is a big election year. With every election comes the desire to voice views on political issues. As Sedona’s only newspaper and the largest news outlet in the Verde Valley both online and in print, we’ve had long standing policies about how to handle letters to the editor regarding campaigns, e Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc42a4d8d5dabda394e319 Senate Democrat avoids answering whether Swalwell should resign from Congress te 2026-04-13T01:11:00.411Z Senate Democrat avoids answering whether Swalwell should resign from Congress Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., did not answer on Sunday whether he believes Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., should resign from Congress after recent allegations of sexual misconduct. "I do want to ask about allegations against one of your fellow Democrats, Eric Swalwell, allegations of rape and sexual misconduct," CNN's Dana Bash said on "State of the Union." "He denies these allegations as false, says they never happened. You were a leader in your party. Do you think he should resign from Congress or face expulsion?" "You know, Dana, I have seen the reports," Warner said. "I think I‘ve met Mr. Swalwell once or twice. I want to hear his side of the story, but obviously, if any of these allegations are true, he should no longer be a candidate for governor. But again, I don‘t know any of the facts. And I‘m a little old-fashioned. I feel like I ought to hear the facts before I start weighing in." SWALWELL ATTORNEY DENIES MISCONDUCT, SAYS CONGRESSMAN TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 'LAPSES IN JUDGMENT' Warner did not elaborate on whether he believed that Swalwell should resign from his congressional seat if allegations were proven true. Bash did not follow up with Warner after his response. Fox News Digital reached out to Warner's office for comment. Swalwell was accused by a former staffer of sexual assault while she was intoxicated. The San Francisco Chronicle first broke the story of the anonymous ex-staffer, and three additional women have since spoken to CNN with allegations of misconduct. DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR 'SMEAR' OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL'S ACCUSERS: 'VERY BAD LOOK' Swalwell is a candidate for governor of California but has since faced calls to drop out, including from within his own party. He has pledged to fight the allegations against him. "A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly. These allegations of sexual assault are flat-out false," Swalwell said in a video posted Friday. "They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have." SWALWELL CALLS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS 'FLAT-OUT FALSE,' SAYS HE WILL FIGHT THEM 'WITH EVERYTHING' Some Democratic candidates have begun calling on Swalwell to also resign from Congress, including Virginia Rep. Eugene Vindman, New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal and California Reps. Ro Khanna and Jared Huffman. Fellow gubernatorial candidates Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Tony Thurmond have also called on Swalwell to resign. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc4290d8d5dabda394e310 Eric Swalwell exits California governor race apologizing for past judgment while denying claims te 2026-04-13T01:10:40.953Z Eric Swalwell exits California governor race apologizing for past judgment while denying claims Rep. Eric Swalwell said he is suspending his campaign for California governor, citing personal issues and ongoing allegations in a statement posted on X. "I am suspending my campaign for Governor," Swalwell wrote. "To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.  HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLANS MOTION TO OUST SWALWELL FROM CONGRESS AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS "I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s," he added. The decision comes as pressure mounted over sexual assault allegations, with lawmakers from both parties calling on him to drop out of the race and resign from Congress. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc4025d8d5dabda394e2ba Eric Swalwell Suspends Campaign for California Governor After Sexual Assault Allegations te 2026-04-13T01:00:21.359Z Eric Swalwell Suspends Campaign for California Governor After Sexual Assault Allegations In a social media post, the representative said he was ”deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” but promised to fight what he called “false allegations.” Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc3de4d8d5dabda394e2a0 Deputies investigate road rage stabbing on off-ramp in Mesa te 2026-04-13T00:50:44.844Z Deputies investigate road rage stabbing on off-ramp in Mesa According to authorities, the altercation happened around 1:30 p.m. on the Guadalupe Road off-ramp of the State Route 202. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc3948d8d5dabda394e213 New gas station, car wash could be coming to Lake Havasu City te 2026-04-13T00:31:04.042Z New gas station, car wash could be coming to Lake Havasu City A new gas station and car wash could be on its way to Lake Havasu City. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc3931d8d5dabda394e1f1 ‘Gate of Tears’ at risk: Iran threatens major new global chokepoint if US moves on Hormuz te 2026-04-13T00:30:41.911Z ‘Gate of Tears’ at risk: Iran threatens major new global chokepoint if US moves on Hormuz Iran could retaliate against a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by directing its Houthi allies to disrupt another critical global shipping route, a senior Middle East analyst warned Sunday. The Bab al-Mandeb — a narrow chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden — carries roughly 12% of global oil shipments and serves as a vital trade corridor between Asia and Europe, making it a strategic target for escalation that could further strain global energy markets. "If the U.S. proceeds with its plan to blockade the strait, Iran’s escalation strategy could dictate that it ensures Gulf countries can’t export, either," Mona Yacoubian, director and senior adviser at the Middle East Program, told Fox News Digital. TRUMP VOWS US WILL STRIKE IRAN’S POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES IF STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS NOT REOPENED "This could translate to further attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure or even deploying the Houthis to blockade the Bab al-Mandeb," Yacoubian added. Yacoubian’s remarks came after Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser on international affairs to Iran's Supreme Leader, signaled Tehran’s view of the Bab al-Mandeb in light of potential U.S. action to block the Strait of Hormuz. "Today, the unified command of the Resistance front views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz," he said in a post on X. WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN "If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move." U.S. Central Command released a statement Sunday saying the naval blockade would begin Monday and be "enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman." President Donald Trump also said the U.S. Navy would block "any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz" in a post on Truth Social. In March, the U.S. warned ships at the Red Sea chokepoint of Houthi attacks "The Houthis continue to pose a threat to U.S. assets, including commercial vessels, in this region," a maritime advisory said of the Iran-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen. TRUMP GIVES IRAN 48-HOUR ULTIMATUM TO REOPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR FACE STRIKES ON POWER PLANTS "Potential hostile actions include one-way unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks; unmanned surface vehicle (USV) attacks; unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) attacks; ballistic and cruise missile attacks; small arms fire from small boats; explosive boat attacks; and illegal boardings, detentions, and/or seizures," it said. "U.S.-flagged commercial vessels operating in these areas are strongly advised to turn off their AIS transponders," the advisory stated. Yacoubian also determined in a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report that Iran was threatening to expand the conflict further to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb compounding global market disruptions. "It could leverage the Houthis, its Yemeni proxy, to once again wage attacks on the strategic waterway, depriving Saudi Arabia of its key workaround for oil shipments given the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz," she added. The Houthis joined Iran’s war against the U.S. and Israel on March 28 when the organization launched two ballistic missiles at southern Israel. Both were intercepted. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc3483d8d5dabda394e16f Bruce Springsteen's former drummer pushes back on the Boss's political attacks on Trump: 'Gotta have respect' te 2026-04-13T00:10:43.315Z Bruce Springsteen's former drummer pushes back on the Boss's political attacks on Trump: 'Gotta have respect' Bruce Springsteen's former drummer Vini Lopez is speaking out against the Boss for slamming President Donald Trump while on his Land of Hope and Dreams Tour. Since kicking off the tour in Minneapolis on March 31, Springsteen, 76, has repeatedly unleashed blistering attacks on Trump during his shows, blasting the administration as "corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous" and mocking the 79-year-old as a "president who can't handle the truth" among other insults. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FACES GROWING CRITICISM OVER SKY-HIGH TICKET PRICES FOR ANTI-TRUMP DEMOCRACY TOUR LAUNCH During a recent interview with the California Post, Lopez, 77, who was Springsteen's original E Street Band drummer, pushed back against the singer for criticizing Trump while on tour. "You gotta have respect for the president," Lopez said. "Trump is the president of the United States — everyone should have respect for him," he continued. "He is the president of the United States. And if I was standing there talking to him, I would have mucho respect for the man," Lopez added, noting that he "wouldn’t talk to him about anything that’s going on" in politics. In 1969, Lopez, Springsteen and fellow musicians Vinnie Roslin and Danny Federici founded the band Child, which would later become known as Steel Mill. The band performed together until 1971 after which Springsteen formed the E Street Band with Lopez included in the original lineup. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DOUBLES DOWN ON ANTI-TRUMP, ANTI-ICE STANCE, SAYS 'BLOWBACK IS JUST PART OF IT' Lopez played with on Springsteen's first two studio albums "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." and "The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle" before leaving the band in 1974. While speaking of the reason for his departure from the E Street Band, Lopez told that California Post that he was "too jazzy for what [Springsteen] wanted to do." However, Lopez reunited with Springsteen for performances several times since his exit. In April 2014, Lopez was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band and played with the group and Springsteen at the induction ceremony. SPRINGSTEEN JABS TRUMP AS 'WANNABE KING' AS FAMED ROCKER LAUNCHES CONCERT TOUR ‘IN DEFENSE OF AMERICA’ In September 2016, he performed with Springsteen and the E Street Band in Philadelphia during a guest appearance on their River Tour. Lopez is currently performing with his group the Wonderful Winos and told the California Post that their shows were unlike those of Springsteen, who previously declared the Land of Hopes and Dreams tour would be "political and very topical about what’s going on in the country." "My band, whatever we think, we don’t go there in our music," he said. SPRINGSTEEN SAYS DEMS TOO FAR-LEFT FOR AMERICA, BUT TRUMP STILL BELONGS IN 'TRASH HEAP OF HISTORY' Lopez said he doesn’t consider himself strongly ideological, though he acknowledged voting Republican in races ranging from local City Council to Congress. Along with his music career, Lopez also worked as a golf caddy for many years. He said that he once met Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., before he became president. Lopez said that he was aware of Trump's conservative politics and shook his hand. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BLASTS RICH MEN IN AMERICA AS CRITICS CALL OUT HIS BILLIONS "He was very nice to me," Lopez recalled. "He was very inquisitive and introduced me to Melania," he added, referring to Trump's wife, First Lady Melania Trump. As he was heading out that day, Lopez recalled Trump pulled him aside and asked for a "big favor." SPRINGSTEEN TELLS ICE TO 'GET THE F--- OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS,' SLAMS 'GESTAPO' TACTICS AT CONCERT Lopez recalled that Trump then told him "‘Tell Bruce I’m his biggest fan.'" Meanwhile, Trump recently called on his supporters to boycott Springsteen's "overpriced" new tour. "Bad, and very boring singer, Bruce Springsteen, who looks like a dried up prune who has suffered greatly from the work of a really bad plastic surgeon, has long had a horrible and incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, sometimes referred to as TDS," the president wrote in a Truth Social post earlier this month. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN SLAMMED AS 'TRAITOR' AFTER RIPPING AMERICA DURING MINNEAPOLIS CONCERT RANT He continued, "The guy is a total loser who spews hate against a President who won a Landslide Election, including the popular vote, all Seven Swing States, and 86% of the Counties across America." Trump further claimed that under former President Joe Biden and Democrats, "our Country was DEAD, and now we have the ‘hottest’ Country, by far, anywhere in the World. MAGA SHOULD BOYCOTT HIS OVERPRICED CONCERTS, WHICH SUCK. SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. AMERICA IS BACK!!!" While speaking with California Post, Lopez that he is "not against what Bruce is saying" and supports the 20-time Grammy Award winner's right to speak out. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DROPS ANTI-ICE SONG AFTER MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTINGS However, Lopez shared his view that politics shouldn’t divide Americans. "Maybe when I was 20, I was a little more extreme, but I’m 77 now, so the extremities are gone," he said. "It’s so divided, the political part. It’s a tough one on me." Lopez told the outlet that he remains optimistic about Trump’s policies. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I would love to see something good come out," he said. Lopez also made it clear that there had been no personal falling out with Springsteen, saying that they are on "perfect" terms and occasionally keep in touch. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "If he wants me to do something, he’ll call me," Lopez said. "Sometimes it’s just because he hasn’t seen me for a while. And he’ll call me and say. ‘Hey, come around here,’" he continued. "And most of the time it’s terrible when I call him because it’s when one of our crew died and he doesn’t know that. That’s happening more and more." While Lopez told the outlet that he doesn't plan on attending any of Springsteen and the E Street Band's concerts during their Land of Hope and Dreams tour, he said he went to one of their shows in Philadelphia a few years ago. However, he noted that he didn't interact with Springsteen. "I don’t even think he knew I was there," the drummer said. "I was sitting over in the corner." Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/post/69dc322bd8d5dabda394e0e8 Britney Spears enters rehab after DUI arrest te 2026-04-13T00:00:43.368Z Britney Spears enters rehab after DUI arrest Britney Spears voluntarily entered into treatment nearly one month after her arrest for allegedly driving under the influence near her Southern California home. A representative for Spears confirmed to Fox News Digital that the "Toxic" singer voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility.  Circumstances surrounding her care were not immediately made available. BRITNEY SPEARS REPORTED FOR ERRATIC DRIVING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED BEFORE DUI ARREST BRITNEY SPEARS ARRESTED IN CALIFORNIA AFTER LATE-NIGHT INCIDENT Spears, 44, was arrested Wednesday, March 4, and booked for allegedly driving under the influence. She was released around 6:07 a.m. the following day, according to records reviewed by Fox News Digital. The "Womanizer" singer was allegedly spotted driving erratically at a high rate of speed while traveling southbound on U.S. 101. The California Highway Patrol was able to safely pull her over before conducting a series of field sobriety tests. This is a developing story. Check back for more updates. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana https://meenews.co/home